Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

At that time, the Confucian school was led by Fu Nian's father, Fu Shang.

This time is different. This is Xu Qing's third visit to the Confucian school. Fu Shang has been dead for several years. The current head of the Confucian school is Fu Nian, and his two junior brothers Yan Lu and Zhang Liang have also become the heads of the Confucian school.

With Fu Nian currently away on business, Yan Lu is the one truly in charge of the entire Confucian school.

When Xu Qing expressed his desire to browse the books, Yan Lu immediately granted him permission to enter the library and even allowed him to take some books out to read.

This is a very deep level of trust. You should know that many books in the Confucian library are unique copies. In the past, even if Confucian scholars allowed people to enter the library, they were extremely careful to prevent those unique copies from being damaged.

However, Xu Qing brought these rare books out with the risk of losing them.

Of course, in Xu Qing's view, allowing others to enter the Confucian library was itself a very risky thing.

This is because there is one thing that can easily destroy the Confucian library and all the books inside.

That is—fire!

The Confucian library was a large wooden building, and the books inside were all made of bamboo or wooden slips. A single spark could destroy them all.

But it's quite a coincidence.

I don't know which part of the process went wrong.

In the original work, the great fire that occurred many years ago in the Confucian library does not seem to have happened in this world.

This means that the secret is still hidden in the Confucian library.

Of course, that secret wasn't exactly a secret to Xu Qing either. The first time Xu Qing stepped into the Confucian library, he found that book through some special means.

It contains a clue to the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon.

Those are the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon of the State of Qi.

The Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions consist of seven parts, which were previously rumored to be controlled by seven different countries, but in reality, this is just a coincidence.

There happened to be seven powerful nations, and the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions also contain the number seven, so they were linked together. Some people believed that these seven nations were so powerful because they had obtained the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions.

The fact is, South Korea can confirm that it does not possess that technology.

Long ago, a list of the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon fell into the hands of the State of Zheng. Later, the State of Han destroyed Zheng, but the corresponding Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon could not be found.

Besides South Korea, there is another country whose Azure Dragon Seven Mansions have also been lost for a long time.

That was... the State of Qi!

Normally, the State of Qi should have mastered the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon, and even knew more secrets than other states.

After all, the birth of the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions is related to Jiang Ziya.

Jiang Ziya was the ancestor of the State of Qi.

However, something happened in the State of Qi later on.

That was Tian Chen usurping the throne of Qi.

The Tian clan usurped the throne from the Jiang clan. Although the country was still called Qi, the people who occupied the throne were no longer the legitimate rulers of the past.

Although the Jiang clan lost the throne, they did not do nothing in the end.

They hid the seven constellations of the Azure Dragon.

Then, the clues were left within Confucianism.

Confucianism is deeply rooted in the land of Qi and Lu, holding a prominent position. No one would have thought that the Jiang clan would so openly place such crucial clues within the Confucian tradition.

Yan Lu's master, Wuming, was a member of the Jiang clan.

After Tian Chen usurped the throne, the Jiang clan went into hiding, hence the name Wuming (meaning "nameless").

The Net, having somehow learned of Wuming's identity, sought to seize clues about the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations, which led to Jingni's pursuit of Wuming.

After Wuming's death, Yan Lu followed his last wish and joined the Confucian school.

This is no coincidence.

All of these are secrets that Xu Qing discovered through the book he found in the library years ago, and by studying the "Han Guang Sword" in Yan Lu's hands.

The previous owner of the Han Guang Sword was Wuming.

Wuming carried that sword with him at all times, and as a result, Xu Qing also gained access to many secrets through it.

Of course, Xu Qing's thoughts at this moment about the secret of preparing the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon in the Confucian Library were not about him wanting to find that thing.

After the secret of the Illusionary Sound Box was revealed, he completely gave up the idea of ​​finding it.

Well, at least for now, he has no intention of searching for this item.

We'll talk about the future later.

At this moment, thinking of the Confucian library, Xu Qing felt that perhaps he could find a way to get the paper out.

Relying solely on bamboo or wooden slips to carry books has two drawbacks: firstly, each bamboo slip can only record a limited amount of information; secondly, in the event of a fire, those rare copies are easily destroyed.

No, not just paper.

The art of printing can also be developed.

Xu Qing pondered these matters to himself, keeping them in mind, and planned to have the Gongshu family and the Mo family study the corresponding technologies after returning to Xianyang.

They can even create mechanical beasts that fly in the sky and swim in the water.

Manufacturing paper and then developing the corresponding printing technology should be a piece of cake.

Gathering her thoughts, Xu Qing began to peruse the rare book in her hand again. Sometimes, when she had nothing to do, reading a book was quite pleasant.

However, he is destined to have a hard time concentrating on reading today.

This is because visitors keep coming in droves.

Not long after Zhang Liangcai left, another aged figure arrived at Xu Qing's place.

"If I hadn't heard the news from Yan Lu, I wouldn't have known that Mr. Qing had come to Xiaoshengxianzhuang again."

"And what's more, your true appearance is...so young!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing slowly put down the bamboo slip in his hand and looked up.

The newcomer was dressed in a dark gray scholar's robe. Although the fabric was simple, it could not hide his gentle and dignified demeanor. He wore a tall, antique-style hat, and his hair and beard were all white, but his figure was as upright as a pine tree, showing no signs of old age.

His eyes were as deep as an ancient well, bearing the marks of time yet still sharp, as if they could see into people's hearts. He was none other than Xunzi, the Confucian scholar who had secluded himself in the mountains to devote himself to learning.

Although Xu Qing was surprised, he did not show it on his face.

He slowly rose to his feet, his tone utterly calm, and took the initiative to greet him: "It's been many years, but Xunzi still looks as sprightly as ever."

Upon hearing this, Xunzi nodded and said, "Indeed, it has been many years since we last met. In comparison, you seem to be getting younger with each passing year."

This statement corresponds to what Xunzi said earlier, and can be considered a sarcastic remark.

When Xu Qing first met Xunzi, he used the respectful title of "Master Qing," and at that time, he appeared to be a middle-aged man.

Now, Xu Qing is showing her true self.

Although so many years have passed and Xu Qing's actual age is not young, his profound strength and skill in preserving his youthful appearance have kept him looking like a young man.

Hearing Xunzi's words, Xu Qing smiled and asked Xunzi, "I have heard that Xunzi has been living in seclusion in the Bamboo Grove Hermitage, no longer concerning himself with worldly affairs. How come you have time to leave there and come here today?"

Xunzi said in a deep voice, "If I hadn't known that an old friend had come here, I wouldn't have bothered. But now that I know, I must at least see him."

Xu Qing said calmly, "Now that Xunzi has seen me, what does he want to do?"

"Of course I want to talk to you!"

Xunzi said calmly, and then looked at the place where Xu Qing had been sitting.

Xu Qing sensed Xunzi's gaze, paused for a moment, and then said, "In that case, please take a seat, Xunzi."

Immediately, the two sat down on either side of the stone table, looking as if they were about to discuss philosophical matters.

After taking his seat, Xunzi's first words were, "Master Qing really kept this from me for a long time!"

Xu Qing was surprised, "Where did I hide anything from Xunzi?"

Xunzi said, "That sword has nothing to do with Han Fei!"

He was referring to Xi Mo Kun Feng.

He is also one of the four famous Confucian masters.

Of course, for some people, the four famous swords they consider to be "Tai'a", "Bi Xue Chang Feng", "Yi Yi Guan Zhi" and "Mie Fan Chao Sheng" are actually excluded, and should be replaced by Xi Mo Kun Feng.

However, this is not surprising, because Xunzi lived in seclusion, so naturally few people knew about that sword.

"It seems you've already guessed, Xunzi." Upon hearing this, Xu Qing did not deny it and frankly admitted that he had given the sword to Xunzi under the guise of Han Fei.

"I only guessed it after learning some things afterwards," Xunzi explained to Xu Qing. "...In the past, there was a mysterious swordsmith in the State of Chu named Xu Zi. He forged nine swords in the State of Chu, called the Nine Swords of Heavenly Inquiry!"

"However, what the world does not know is that he forged far more than just these nine swords!"

Logically, after saying this, Xunzi would have continued talking about "Xu Zi". However, unexpectedly, after saying this, Xunzi changed his tone again, "...This is an era in which many famous swords have emerged. I don't know when it started, but many incomparably powerful swords have appeared in the world."

"The creators of these swords are unknown. Compared to those ancient swords that are famous throughout the world, some of these swords may not be well-known, but their power is in no way inferior."

"So, where did these swords come from?"

"Some appear silently in the world, while others are gifts from others!"

"The person who bestows those extraordinary swords upon swordsmen is an extraordinary individual. He gives away swords without charging excessive rewards, but only requires the recipient to sign a contract."

"The terms of the contract are also extremely lenient, and the name of the person who donated the sword, who signed the contract, is either Xu or Qing!"

"Xu must be the Xu Zi who left behind endless mystery in the State of Chu. And what about Qing?"

At this point, Xunzi's gaze fell on Xu Qing's face.

"Mr. Qing, what do you think of what I said?"

Xu Qing's expression remained unchanged; he simply said calmly, "Xunzi was a wise man!"

Xunzi showed no pride, saying, "I was just passing the time and connected the various clues together."

"Xu Zi, no, or rather Mr. Qing, the two should be the same person!"

Xu Qing nodded. "My full name is Xu Qing!"

"I see!"

Xunzi immediately understood.