Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Every high-level assassin has their own exclusive squad.

If she can complete this mission, she will be promoted from the Killer level to the Heaven level, and naturally she has also considered recruiting subordinates and cultivating confidants.

Chapter 10 Drunken Moon, Salamander in a Cage, Golden Gauze Illuminates the Net

Zuiyue Tower is the premier pleasure quarter in Ningyi City.

To be precise, there are actually quite a few places like this in this world.

Although the Feixue Pavilion in the Yan Kingdom was famous for its singing and dancing, it was actually also a place of pleasure.

The Zilanxuan, the gathering place of the Quicksand organization, was extremely famous in Xinzheng, South Korea, but unfortunately it was destroyed by fire. In addition, there was also a Zuimenglou in Dongjun in the future.

As for the news about Zuiyuelou, Xu Qing overheard it from tea drinkers by the roadside.

As an ordinary man, he naturally had a sense of curiosity about such a place.

It wasn't that he was greedy for seeking pleasure; it was simply that he had some "knowledge" to share.

So on this day, he specially changed into a neat set of clothes, brushed away his usual unruly and unrestrained manner, and followed the path he had inquired about to enter the Drunken Moon Pavilion.

The Drunken Moon Pavilion is built by the water, backed by a clear stream in the city. After passing through winding corridors and flying bridges, walking along a straight passageway, and turning a corner, you will find the magnificent main gate.

As dusk settles, this place comes alive with its most vibrant and bustling activity.

Xu Qing arrived at that moment.

The moment you enter, a rich, perfumed scent wafts over you. Alluring women, dressed in vibrant colors, flit about, while many wealthy patrons in brocade robes and embroidered garments spend lavishly.

Xu Qing's reasonably decent attire at least prevented him from immediately becoming an object of cold treatment.

He found an empty table in a corner of the noisy hall and sat down.

He was only there to "broaden his horizons" and didn't specifically request any girls to accompany him, only ordering some drinks and snacks as a token gesture. As far as he knew, there was a unique performance taking place at the Drunken Moon Pavilion that day.

That's why he came here specifically.

As for the other hidden purpose in his heart, only he himself knows it.

As night deepens, the city lights illuminate the night.

The stage in the hall, which was usually filled with singing girls performing in turn, was now empty. Zuiyue Tower had clearly gone to great lengths to promote a newly arrived girl, drawing eager anticipation from all the guests.

When the time came, the brothel madam, dressed in her finest attire, swayed onto the stage, her soft, seductive voice whetting everyone's appetite.

"Distinguished guests..."

She showered the newcomer with lavish praise, and without further ado, she gracefully withdrew.

Not long after the madam left, a slender woman gracefully stepped onto the stage. She wore a veiled hat that concealed her face. Without any further introduction, the musicians around her began to play their instruments, and soft, seductive music flowed out like water.

The woman, draped in golden gauze, lightly raised her jade-like wrist.

A graceful dance begins.

Her figure was exquisite, and though her face was not visible, every gesture she made exuded a captivating allure. She twirled like a startled swan, moved with the grace of a swimming dragon, instantly drawing the breathless attention of even the most seasoned patrons—this dance was no ordinary performance!

The dance ended, but its lingering charm remained. The woman, with composure, gently removed the bamboo hat covering her face.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating a face that was as beautiful as snow and could topple kingdoms.

"Long'er greets all guests."

Her voice was soothing and captivating; she gave a graceful bow, her voice barely a whisper.

Needless to say, her stunning dance skills and breathtaking beauty were enough to captivate the hearts of most of the men in the hall.

Stunning!

A breathtakingly beautiful sight!

Xu Qing had already picked up a cup without anyone noticing, took a small sip, and a barely perceptible hint of understanding flashed across his lips.

"It really was you..."

"Cage," was the name the woman gave.

In Xu Qing's heart, there was another name that was even more terrifying—Jing Ni!

This name is both the name of the sword and the name of the person.

In the assassin organization Luo Wang, the path to advancement means gradually becoming a servant of the sword. The more elite the assassin, the easier it is to lose their original name and become a code name for a deadly weapon.

Ever since Lord Xinling, Wei Wuji, regained his footing and began intervening in the Wei court, Xu Qing had a premonition that Lord Xinling might suffer a severe punishment.

After all, in the original timeline, this person was assassinated by the Luo Wang organization!

On that rainy day, he brushed past a woman on the street.

Others might only think that the woman's appearance was too exquisite.

But Xu Qing instantly recognized her identity from the deeply concealed aura, the meticulously sculpted face, and the strange sense of familiarity that welled up in his heart.

Back at her lodgings, Xu Qing laid out those deeply buried memories one by one.

In the teaser trailer for the sixth season of the anime, Jing Ni has a flashback where she assassinated a man who appeared to be a nobleman, but unexpectedly became pregnant with his child as a result. Ultimately, moved by the unborn child and the selfless act of remonstrance by Wuming, she chose to betray the Luo Wang organization.

The man's identity was not revealed until the sixth film.

It was Lord Xinling.

Jingni's past is thus revealed.

Unfortunately, that anime is now a thing of the past, ending halfway through its run... It's unknown whether the second half ever saw the light of day after he transmigrated.

In the Drunken Moon Pavilion, "Long'er" became famous for her dance.

Xu Qing watched the breathtaking dance from the sidelines, but without lingering for long, he quietly slipped away and returned to the inn.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, a knock was heard at the door.

"Who is it?" Xu Qing opened the door in response, thinking it was a waiter, but standing outside was a middle-aged man he had never seen before.

"Are you Mr. Xu Qing?" the man asked, his gaze sharp. "I have come specifically to seek the sword."

"I'm sorry, I've stopped forging swords long ago," Xu Qing replied calmly, intending to decline.

Unexpectedly, a strange smile appeared on the man's lips as he slowly said, "The swords you forge, sir, are of unparalleled sharpness, attracting swordsmen from all sides to vie for them. I can understand why you are currently without a sword."

He then changed the subject meaningfully: "I just wonder... if you would be willing to make an exception for us and restart the furnace? If you agree, we will offer you rare gold and materials, and a peerless sword manual, for you to choose from!"

"Oh?" A strange light flashed in Xu Qing's eyes, and the corners of his lips subtly curled up. "Such a good thing?"

He leaned forward slightly, his voice carrying just the right amount of probing: "So, what price will I have to pay?"

"Join us!" the middle-aged man declared resolutely, his eyes sharp as hooks. "As long as you join us, wealth and glory are within your grasp. Beauties, divine weapons, peerless secret manuals... whatever you desire, you can have it."

Xu Qing's eyes suddenly lit up, as if ignited by that promise, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

He quickly suppressed that fleeting impulse, turning it into a low, soft question, tinged with restraint and hesitation: "Really...everything you could want?"

“Of course!” the middle-aged man said decisively, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Whatever you ask for, sir, we can fulfill. Of course…”

He changed the subject, his tone turning sinister, "To obtain them, one must also achieve corresponding merits. With your superb sword-forging skills, sir, forging just a few high-grade swords to exchange for these would be a piece of cake."

"You just said... 'we'?" Xu Qing caught the key word, his eyes suddenly deepening. "It seems there's more to your story?" He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "May I ask... what is the name of your organization?"

The middle-aged man stared directly at Xu Qing and, slowly and deliberately, uttered the name that made the martial arts world of the Seven Kingdoms tremble with fear.

"A net."

Chapter 11 The Recruitment of the Net: Weighing the Pros and Cons!

"The Net? It's you!"

Xu Qing spoke in a deep voice, clearly having heard of this organization.

The middle-aged man was not surprised by Xu Qing's reaction. Although the Luo Net was hidden in the shadows of the Seven Kingdoms and lay dormant for a very long time, its name was renowned.

All because of those "heroic deeds" that shocked the nations and assassinated countless important figures, the nobles of the nations turned pale at the mere mention of them and could not eat or sleep in peace.

It is like an omnipresent ghost, hanging above everyone's heads, yet no one knows its true form.

"It seems you've heard of us, sir," the middle-aged man said again, his tone steady.

Xu Qingshen remained silent for a while before speaking, "...I have indeed heard about it."

"However, I've heard that your organization's reputation... is rather poor." He changed the subject slightly, with a hint of doubt, "I don't understand, why me?"

"The world has misunderstood the Net for too long." The middle-aged man's voice carried a hint of explanation, yet also an undeniable authority. "We were born in darkness, but we are not bloodthirsty wolves, vicious and ruthless. Sir, you need not worry. As for why you were chosen..."

He paused slightly, then emphasized, "It's because—we are eager to find talented people!"

“Your talent is exactly what our net needs.”

The Net, a fearsome assassin organization, boasts its top assassin, the "Sword Slave," who wields a legendary sword renowned throughout the world. From its inception, the Net has been like an invisible giant net, searching the world for and capturing all sorts of precious and powerful weapons.

The sword thus became the most common and symbolic weapon of the Luo Wang assassins.

In this world, besides the valiant swordsmen who wield their swords with unparalleled skill, there are also the ingenious swordsmiths. Swordsmen wield their swords, while swordsmiths are the ones who give life to them.

The Luo Wang organization employs numerous assassins, and their demand for fine swords is insatiable. In the eyes of the Luo Wang, a top-tier swordsmith sometimes surpasses even the value of an ordinary top swordsman. Therefore, when the high-ranking "lord" who had just arrived in Xinling showed great interest in the young swordsmith before him, the middle-aged man felt it was perfectly natural.

"This matter... please allow me to consider it." Xu Qing frowned, his voice carrying just the right amount of "chaos" and "heaviness".

The middle-aged man did not show the slightest displeasure upon hearing this.

Although Luo Wang is an assassin organization, it is not a chaotic slaughterhouse. As a recruiter, he is well-versed in the art of manipulating people's hearts.

Desire is the core of human nature.

Wealth, power, beauty... different goals require different keys to unlock.

Coercion and intimidation? That would only backfire on this target with unique value. The best strategy is to lure him into a trap.

Moreover, he himself had tried swords forged by Xu Qing. The swords that Xu Qing seemingly sold casually in Ningyi were actually under the strict surveillance of the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven). When he first came into the Luo Wang's sights, several samples, some exquisite and some crude, were presented to him. Regardless of their quality, the unique craftsmanship and potential they contained led the Luo Wang leader in charge of this matter to make an accurate judgment—if this young man was truly a swordsmith, he would be a master craftsman with unfathomable potential.

More importantly, he was too young, possessing an unparalleled age advantage over the aging swordsmiths within the Luo Wang organization.

……

The people from the snare have left.