Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

The greatsword is indeed very heavy.

It was heavy, but when drawn from its scabbard, its sharpness was fully revealed; in other words, this was a heavy sword unlike any other.

Wei Zhuang then compared it with his original sword.

Hmm, not as good as Shark Tooth.

But verbally, he still praised Xu Qing.

"A fine sword!"

But I don't need it.

He then changed the subject and addressed Xu Qing.

"I already have a sword."

As he spoke, he raised the Shark Tooth Sword in his hand.

Xu Qing glanced at Wei Zhuang's raised sword and said calmly, "The demonic sword Shark Tooth is indeed a good sword. I know that the two swords in my hand are not as good as Shark Tooth, but I am confident that I will be able to forge a sword that can rival Shark Tooth, or even surpass it, in the future."

Wei Zhuang was somewhat surprised to hear this, not expecting that Xu Qing would recognize the sword in his hand.

Meeting Wei Zhuang's surprised gaze, Xu Qing explained, "As a swordsmith, the ability to appraise swords is also one of the skills that needs to be mastered."

"So, take one, just to make a friend."

It was the phrase "let's be friends" that made Wei Zhuang change his mind.

As a disciple of the Guigu School of Diplomacy, I was born to influence the fate of the world.

Wei Zhuang harbors ambitions and wants to change his homeland, the State of Han.

At this time, anyone with ability and potential can befriend, and make plans for the future.

Although the swords forged by Xu Qing are not as good as Shark Tooth, they are still among the sharpest blades in the world, which shows Xu Qing's skill in sword forging. Most importantly, Xu Qing is young enough that being friends with someone like him is definitely beneficial.

After some thought, Wei Zhuang decided to buy a sword from Xu Qing.

Even if he doesn't need it himself, this action can help him become friends with Xu Qing.

How much money do you need?

Wei Zhuang asked Xu Qing.

"We're brothers, talking about money would be too formal!" Xu Qing said with a smile. "You can ask around here. I never sell swords for money; I just want to make friends. Money isn't important."

"Of course, a contract still needs to be signed."

As he spoke, he pulled out a familiar animal hide from somewhere, giving Wei Zhuang no time to react.

Wei Zhuang raised an eyebrow slightly, but still glanced at the sword contract. After understanding the strange terms on it, his expression became odd. Such a way of selling swords by a swordsmith like this was unheard of. After confirming that the terms were not harsh, he finally chose to sign the contract.

After the contract was reached.

This heavy sword naturally belonged to him.

Xu Qing did not retract the Light and Agile Sword, but instead handed another sword to Wei Zhuang.

"Since there are two of you, you can have this sword with your senior brother."

"I'll make up another sword contract then!"

Forced buying and selling was also one of Xu Qing's methods of selling swords.

Chapter 9 The Young Master Reclaims His Land, A Web of Murderous Intent is Woven in the Dark.

With Jing Ke mediating, it was not difficult for Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie to meet Lord Xinling.

No one knows what they discussed with that once-powerful ruler. The result, however, was astonishing.

Lord Xinling, who had spent years indulging in the banquets of Xinling and seemed disheartened, actually straightened his back again. He left his fiefdom with only a few close retainers, traveling light and resolutely, heading towards Daliang, the capital of Wei.

A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

Any slight movement by this long-silent ruler was enough to stir the nerves of the entire world. His departure at this moment caused immeasurable waves and shocks in the State of Wei and even in the other states.

"Your Majesty!" Upon seeing that familiar yet unfamiliar tall figure, some of the old retainers who had followed him in the past couldn't help but shed tears.

It was the King of Wei's suspicion that dragged this former leader of the alliance and hero who defeated Qin down from the clouds to the dust. From then on, Lord Xinling drowned his sorrows in wine and lay drunk in Xinling. Although they accompanied him every day, how could they not yearn day and night for their lord to regain his former glory?

Today, they finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The group was extremely simple. Lord Xinling only had a few people to protect him and quietly went to Daliang, with Jing Ke accompanying him.

Having completed their mission, Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie also left the Xinling area.

Xu Qing didn't try to stop him, because he had already achieved his goal: selling Wei Zhuang a sword and providing Gai Nie with another. Although the quality was only "excellent" and the reward wasn't generous, Xu Qing had a longer-term vision: a steady and sustainable business.

As long as the two swordsmen are willing to use his sword, the more he clashes with masters, the more prestige he will gain. Only by accumulating enough prestige and raising his swordsmith level can he forge a true "famous sword." At that time, rich rewards will no longer be a pipe dream—can a powerful swordsman really use only one sword for his entire life? Old swords need new edges, and Xu Qing provides the convenience of exchanging old for new.

Perhaps Wei Zhuang already possesses the Shark Tooth sword and looks down on the sword forged by Xu Qing, but as Xu Qing said, his purpose is to make a friend.

In the future, he will surely forge a sword that surpasses even Shark Tooth.

He was still very confident.

"What exactly did Brother Gai and the others say to Lord Xinling that made him so roused..." Gongsun Liji, who was unable to go to Daliang with Jing Ke, remained in Xinling.

"It's nothing more than the Wei court being ruled by wolves and treacherous officials, and only Lord Xinling can save the country and the people from suffering..." Xu Qing replied casually, but his mind was quickly recalling those vague "plots".

It seems the two masters of the Guigu School descended the mountain for a trial, only to encounter a formidable foe—Xuan Jian, a top-tier assassin from the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven). This man, entrenched near Wei Family Village, sought revenge against Grand Minister Wei Yong. Amidst a web of entanglements, the inexperienced duo not only clashed with Xuan Jian but also became embroiled in the political vortex of Wei, unexpectedly uncovering Wei Yong's secret collusion with the Luo Wang and his plot to bring disaster to the state. However, Xuan Jian's revenge was thwarted by unforeseen circumstances, and seeing the culprit Wei Yong about to escape justice, how could they, as heirs of the Guigu School, stand idly by? This led them to request Lord Xinling's assistance.

"With Lord Xinling's move," Xu Qing sighed softly, "I wonder how many people will lose sleep and appetite all night."

Although Gongsun Liji was unaware of the full details, she deeply understood the weight of these words. Lord Xinling indeed possessed such power. In this chaotic world, compared to the newly arrived Guigu School, Prince Wuji, who had led a five-nation coalition to a great victory over the Qin general Meng Ao and besieged Hangu Pass, was more deserving of the saying, "His anger makes the feudal lords tremble, and his peace brings tranquility to the world."

……

A light rain arrived quietly, dispelling the heat of the past few days.

Streets shrouded in mist and rain, pedestrians hurried to find shelter.

Xu Qing lowered the edge of his straw hat and walked slowly among them.

Gongsun Liji did not accompany them today. After spending many days together, Xu Qing was witty and talkative, and the two had become familiar friends, but they were not inseparable all the time.

As I stepped over the wet stone slabs, water splashed everywhere.

A graceful figure emerged from the rain ahead. Unlike Xu Qing and the surrounding commoners wearing straw hats and raincoats, she carried an exquisitely crafted silk umbrella. In these times, paper had not yet been invented, so there were no oiled paper umbrellas like those of later generations. This silk umbrella was no ordinary object; its shape and color subtly implied a strict hierarchy, signifying power and status—ordinary families were not entitled to use such a thing.

The woman walked by, out of place, yet she became a scene in herself.

As she brushed past Xu Qing, a fleeting, strange glint flashed in her eyes.

Xu Qing also noticed this unusual movement, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, but he did not stop.

Two figures passed each other and quickly disappeared into the rain in their respective directions.

Back at the inn, Xu Qing couldn't shake the image of the woman he had just caught a glimpse of.

"The Net..."

Lord Xinling had been lying low for many years, and his sudden move indeed touched the most sensitive nerve. The first to bear the brunt was undoubtedly the State of Qin.

Why did Wei Wuji devote himself to Xinling and indulge in wine? It was because when he joined the alliance against Qin and his power shook Guanzhong, Qin used a counter-espionage plot to take advantage of King Wei's suspicion and easily strip him of his military power.

If he were to succumb to despair, so be it. But if he intended to return to the court… the young King of Qin and his prime minister would not stand idly by. To eliminate a threat, only the executioner's blade remained.

The net of cunning was precisely the most ruthless and sharpest sword wielded by the Qin state.

……

An ordinary residential house in a corner of Ningyi City.

A middle-aged man dressed in coarse cloth was bowing to the woman in front of him, reporting on the recent situation in the city.

"Is my identity properly arranged?" The woman's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.

"Drunken Moon Pavilion is the place where Lord Xinling frequented most often for pleasure. It is in dire need of a courtesan there," the man replied in a deep voice.

A place of pleasure and romance... the most beautiful courtesan...

A barely perceptible sneer curled at the corner of the woman's lips.

The organization truly "knows people and assigns them to suitable positions."

She was to use her beauty as bait to approach her prey?

But she had no choice but to refuse.

From the moment one becomes a slave of the Luo Wang Swordsman, all that remains is obedience. To complete the mission, everything can be abandoned, including this physical body itself.

After learning of her new identity.

She then began to peruse the organization's files and research matters related to the Xinling area.

The Luo Wang organization is deeply hidden among the seven kingdoms of the world.

Lord Xinling, Wei Wuji, was a man of great renown, and the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) had long been keeping an eye on him. However, Lord Xinling was extremely cautious. Although he seemed to be a frequent visitor to the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world), getting close to Lord Wuji was still an extremely difficult task. Fortunately, apart from this matter, everything about Lord Xinling was under the surveillance of the Luo Wang.

I don't know if it's a coincidence.

One person in the case file caught the woman's attention.

"A strange swordsmith!"

"He constantly sells swords to people in the martial arts world, but doesn't charge a single penny."

"The key point is that the quality of the sword is surprisingly good!"

"An interesting person!"

A strange smile appeared on the woman's lips.

Deep down, he felt a growing interest in this swordsmith.

The Luowang organization was strictly hierarchical.

Assassins are divided into eight levels.

May heaven and earth annihilate, and may demons and monsters vanish.

Demons and monsters are little devils who are specifically responsible for doing dirty work.

Those who are utterly ruthless and devastated are the elite.