Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

The Yin-Yang School, as a sect that has existed for hundreds of years.

There are countless forbidden techniques alone.

The original text mentions the Eight Yin Meridians and the Eight Yang Meridians.

There is nothing of this kind in these classic texts.

However, given that it was already difficult to get Chu Nan Gong to agree to all the rewards he had mentioned, Xu Qing naturally couldn't push the issue any further, lest he force Chu Nan Gong into a desperate situation.

"These things from the Yin-Yang School are really quite sinister."

As he slowly flipped through the pages, looking at the strange cultivation methods recorded therein, Xu Qing couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

He benefited from the support of many people in the martial arts world.

His talent and comprehension were already quite good.

Not to mention, Xu Qing was also quite greedy back in Yunmengze.

Despite Chu Nan Gong offering numerous bargaining chips, Xu Qing still managed to get him to sign another "sword contract," though it was probably just good luck.

What he received from Chu Nan Gong was some insights into cultivation.

The cultivation insights gained from Chu Nan Gong, combined with the secret manual obtained from him, were like wings to a tiger, allowing Xu Qing to better understand its contents.

It's precisely because I can understand it.

Only then did I realize the danger involved.

No wonder the Yin-Yang School produced so many masters in the original work, and those masters didn't seem to be very old.

This is because Yin-Yang arts emphasize quick learning.

In Taoism, there is a slight emphasis on "cultivating the mind," which values ​​mental cultivation. For example, Bei Mingzi used special methods to help Xiaomeng comprehend the three thousand worlds of mortals and gain enlightenment. Afterward, Xiaomeng secluded herself for ten years and mastered the supreme technique of the Heavenly Sect, "Harmony with the World," before emerging from seclusion to take over the position of the Heavenly Sect leader.

Despite her exceptional talent, she remained in seclusion for a full ten years.

Those who follow the Yin-Yang school don't have these concerns.

They only pursue power blindly.

They completely disregard mental cultivation.

As long as you don't die from training, you can train to the point of exhaustion.

In short, acquire power first, then consider other things.

It is like a single rope suspended over a bottomless abyss, its power shining on the other side, but those who go forward must fight with their lives. If they are not careful, their foundation will collapse and they will die a miserable death.

"These methods are good, and if one can master them, one can gain great power in a short period of time."

"But the risks are also very high!"

Xu Qing sighed.

It's not that I can't grasp it at all.

Some things are worth learning because the risk is relatively low.

However, it still needs careful consideration.

Collecting his thoughts, he took out another item—the Yellow Stone Heavenly Book.

In the original story, it was ultimately because of Zhang Liang that Chu Nan Gong gave the Yellow Stone Heavenly Book to Tianming.

Whether Tianming in the future comprehended the Heavenly Book remains unanswered, as the anime did not continue.

Now that this celestial book has temporarily fallen into Xu Qing's hands, he naturally wants to study it.

Compared to ordinary bamboo slips, the Yellow Stone Heavenly Book is incomparably gorgeous, with a warm and smooth feel that also exudes a sense of desolation. The curved wings on both sides support the body of the slip, and the back of the slip is engraved with twisted tadpole-like runes, which are not any kind of script in the world. Upon closer inspection, it can be found that although it is shaped like a bamboo slip, its material is actually a material that has never been seen before, neither bamboo nor stone.

Xu Qing often deals with all kinds of materials, but he can't recognize its origin and can only attribute it to something from outer space.

"Om..."

The moment the bamboo slips were unfurled, a magnificent and boundless aura swept over them like a tide, only to vanish just as quickly, as swift as an illusion.

The page is blank.

A wordless book? No, it's just that the time isn't right yet.

Xu Qing understood, but showed no disappointment. If the Heavenly Book could be easily deciphered, what would be the point of calling it "Heaven"?

The fleeting glimpse of its immense aura just now was enough to prove that this thing was extraordinary.

He stroked the smooth, icy body with his fingertips, his interest growing stronger.

It's unknown whether he can glean anything from these three years.

Chapter 117 The Place of Verification, A Reunion with an Old Friend!

South Korea, the smallest of the seven states, was already weak and exhausted. If it had a wise ruler and capable ministers, and if the people were united and emulate the ambition of the small states of the Spring and Autumn Period to strive for strength, it might very well have created a miracle of defeating the strong with the weak.

Unfortunately, South Korea cannot do it.

The nation's power is declining, yet those in power are still vying for personal gain and engaging in endless internal strife.

This scene was already present when Han Fei returned to his country.

King Han was incompetent, and power was divided and contested between two major factions: General Ji Wuye and Chancellor Zhang Kaidi. Ji Wuye, in particular, was ruthless; to consolidate his power, he didn't hesitate to commit acts of terror in Xinzheng, causing widespread fear in the capital. Relying on his ironclad alliance with Marquis Bai Yifei, he firmly grasped military power. King Han knew of Ji Wuye's wolfish nature, yet he had no choice but to rely on him.

This seemingly helpless move, upon closer examination, reveals a degree of forbearance and skill on King An of Han's part. The world only sees his incompetence, unaware that Ji Wuye's growing power was the result of his father's more than thirty years on the throne. After the disastrous defeat at Changping, Han was crippled and subsequently invaded by Chu. It was Ji Wuye who led the army to repel the Chu forces, earning the late king's utmost favor, but also sowing the seeds of his eventual dominance.

By the time King Han An ascended the throne, Ji Wuye had become a major threat. Under such a precarious situation, it was truly remarkable that he was able to support Zhang Kaidi to counterbalance him and barely maintain the balance of power.

Perhaps it was precisely because he had glimpsed his father's art of checks and balances that Han Fei was confident he could change the state of Han. If the King of Han continued to indulge Ji Wuye, he would have no chance.

During his time in the State of Chu, Xu Qing, though desiring to forge a fourth-tier sword, did not force the issue. Along the way, he continuously honed his sword-forging skills, accumulating experience by forging lower-tier swords, and generously gifted swords to those he found agreeable. After many twists and turns, he eventually crossed the border between Han and Chu, returning to the State of Han.

With no one to accompany him along the way, Xu Qing combined clues from the original work with his own observations to ponder the various chaotic phenomena in South Korea, in order to dispel his loneliness.

He was already used to traveling alone, but amidst the mountains and rivers, he still couldn't help but feel lonely from time to time.

His thoughts turned to Han Fei, and he couldn't help but sigh.

Ultimately, human calculations cannot defy the workings of fate.

The sudden death of King An of Han plunged everything into an irrecoverable abyss.

Even though in the original timeline, Han Fei never managed to overthrow Ji Wuye through the law, that's another story. At least he dealt with him for a long time, gradually weakening his supporters.

Now, however, things are completely different. The old king has died suddenly, the crown prince has disappeared, and the country cannot be without a ruler for a day. After a thrilling power struggle, a new king quickly ascends to the throne.

For the sake of that crown, the new ruler did not hesitate to side with Ji Wuye, who held considerable military power.

Zhang Kaidi, the prime minister, suddenly lost his support. Even though he still held his position, he was powerless to resist Ji Wuye's rapidly expanding power and found himself in a precarious situation.

Han Fei's situation took a sharp turn for the worse. As the Minister of Justice, in charge of criminal law, he could have used the law to investigate wrongful convictions and expose the evil deeds committed in the night.

But he overlooked one point: the monarch is above the law. When the monarch insists on favoring one side, even with overwhelming evidence, the law will find it difficult to uphold its authority.

This is the current situation. Han Fei has solved many strange cases, and each one points to the claws of the night, but because of the protection of the new emperor, the punishment is as light as a feather - at most a few months' salary deduction.

You should know that the crimes those people committed are punishable by death according to the law!

Returning to South Korea, Xu Qing had many feelings.

This place, which Situ Wanli regarded as a "quagmire," was, in his eyes, an excellent place to test certain ideas.

The appearance of Chu Nan Gong was not merely to allow him to witness the "legacy" sword and comprehend the mysteries of the fourth tier. Along his journey, he studied the Yin-Yang School's classic texts, and the many dangerous secrets within sparked his imagination, suggesting that he might try to incorporate them into the art of sword forging. Furthermore, he had intended to return to Han before leaving Chu. With all these reasons intertwined, his return was a natural progression.

The State of Chu is vast, and it has taken quite some time to leave its borders.

South Korea, on the other hand, has been gradually encroached upon and swallowed up by its neighboring countries over the years, resulting in a shrinking territory.

Upon entering the country, Xu Qingfu quickly learned about the dramatic changes in South Korea after making some inquiries.

“In just a few months, everything has changed dramatically,” Xu Qing sighed softly.

From the time he left until his return, only a few months had passed.

The political situation in South Korea has undergone a complete transformation.

Who is the new king? It is not unexpected—it is none other than Han Yu, the fourth prince of Korea.

This person once cultivated a reputation for virtue, but in reality harbored malicious intentions. In the original story, when Tianze attacked the Crown Prince's residence, he sent his subordinates to infiltrate and assassinate the Crown Prince of Han. Later, the Crown Prince escaped but died accidentally after falling into the water. While it seems natural, many details are suspicious, confirming a connection to Han Yu.

It is not surprising that such an ambitious person, with the throne within his grasp, would choose to collude with Ji Wuye.

"So... how should you proceed with your game?" Xu Qing pondered to himself, his gaze turning to Han Fei once more.

Compared to the original story, Han Fei's current situation is more than ten times more difficult.

He continued onward, heading straight for Xinzheng.

On the way, I heard something else.

To win over Ji Wuye, the new emperor Han Yu made another deal—a marriage decree.

He betrothed his younger sister, Princess Honglian, to Ji Wuye's son, Ji Yihu.

Because the late king has recently passed away and the mourning period is not yet over, the engagement has only been made so far. The formal marriage will take place after the one-year mourning period.

Previously in Nanyang, upon first hearing of the sudden death of the King of Han, Xu Qing and Situ Wanli had no interest in investigating the subsequent developments and left on their own, staying away from the troubles in Han. They traveled to the Chu capitals of Chenying and Shouchun, where they profited greatly and had no time to spare.

Returning to this familiar place, I realized the dramatic changes that had taken place in South Korea over the past few months.

On that day, King An of Han died, leaving the position of heir apparent vacant.

At first, everyone's goal was to find the crown prince.

Unfortunately, the search failed.

Although the crown prince was not found, it was not without its gains—Princess Honglian returned.

It wasn't that they found Tianze; quite the opposite, after the fire at Snowcloth Fortress, Tianze vanished without a trace. Even though Bai Yifei wanted to eliminate him, there was still no news of him.

Just then, Princess Honglian returned alone.

What exactly did she go through?

No one knows.

The princess who returned was no longer as bright and cheerful as the sun; she had become melancholy and unhappy.

Everyone only knew that she was grieving over her father's sudden death and had no time to think about anything else.