The Deepest Affection in Qin's Time

Cao Yuan did some mental calculations.

It's already late July, and there are only forty days left.

It seems that the situation of the seven states is more severe than I thought. Even Qin may not have much confidence that it can withstand it. After all, the last time Lord Xinling led the alliance against Qin, the Qin army was defeated in the Battle of Hewai, and Qin was almost brought back to its original state.

Even though it wasn't Lord Xinling who presided over this event, Lord Chunshen, one of the Four Lords, and the veteran general Pang were leading the way.

The Qin state could only gamble that the alliance of the other states was not so united; otherwise, in a fight to the death, the Qin state would have almost no chance of winning. Naturally, it had to frantically gather manpower to increase its chances of victory.

A top-tier assassin like Jing Ni, who can be considered a strategic weapon and has extensive mission experience, is even less likely to be let go easily.

Cao Yuan thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "I understand. I will get my hands on the bronze box before September."

Even the Holy King's Heart Sutra couldn't help him cultivate it smoothly, so he had given up hope.

He began to think about how to get his hands on the bronze box and open it without attracting attention.

It's a bit challenging, but not too difficult.

It wouldn't be out of the question to confront the anonymous party directly.

Jingni and Liwu did not understand how high his level of "Confucianism" had become.

……

The next five days.

Every morning, Cao Yuan would take Xiao Mengjiang out, ostensibly to discuss classics with Xunzi Fu Nian and to have Wuming help enlighten Xiao Mengjiang, and then stay at Wuming's residence.

Sure enough, he actually found the bronze treasure box, which Wuming casually placed on the antique shelf inside the wooden house.

"Sword Saint, is that box the legendary bronze treasure box that holds the secret of the Azure Dragon?"

Inside the wooden house, Cao Yuan waited until Wanyan Lu of the Nameless Sect finally couldn't help but speak.

Wuming put down the scroll, scrutinized Cao Yuan, and asked in a cryptic tone, "You know?"

Cao Yuan calmly replied, "As you know, I'm a locksmith, and I've always wanted to study the legendary..."

Chapter 30 Suck it in! Suck it in more!

Inside the wooden house, there were only four people: Cao Yuan, Xiao Mengjiang, Wuming, and Yan Lu.

Xunzi was lecturing to his disciples in the courtyard of his residence.

Upon hearing Cao Yuan's explanation and request, Wuming said gently, "I understand. Mr. Cao Yuan, please feel free to do as you please. Just don't take him out of the manor."

Just as a swordsman loves his greatsword, a skilled locksmith, like a thief in a game, develops a deep love for treasure chests after unlocking his lockpicking skill.

Cao Yuan felt a little relieved. Just as he had expected, Wuming would not refuse his small request.

As for the option of stealing the bronze treasure box, he hadn't even considered it.

Instead of stealing from the Grandmaster Xunzi and the peak Grandmaster Wuming, he thought it would be better to launch a night raid on the giant salamander and get it pregnant.

At least the latter has a high success rate of hitting the target on the first try.

hiss~

You know what, maybe I could try to get the salamander's belly bigger?

If you succeed, you'll automatically get a half-step Grandmaster wife!

Immediately, Cao Yuan dismissed this unrealistic and whimsical thought.

If he dares to raid the giant salamander at night, Jing Ni will most likely kill him with a single blow.

Let's talk about that another time.

Afterwards, Cao Yuan, under the pretext of not disturbing Yan Lu's studies at the Nameless Sect, took Xiao Meng Jiang's hand and carried the bronze treasure box to the wooden house next door.

"Aman, does this box really hold the legendary secret of the Azure Dragon?"

Xiao Mengjiang asked curiously.

Cao Yuan gently stroked the treasure box. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, not like metal. The description of it as bronze only referred to its bronze color.

"it is true."

Cao Yuan said with certainty.

The moment he touched it, he knew he couldn't handle it.

Fortunately, the "golden key" within his soul flickered slightly, indicating that it could be opened.

Cao Yuan fell into deep thought, hesitating whether to open it now.

This is a legendary divine object; if it causes a huge commotion, it could easily get you into trouble.

Cao Yuan carefully examined the treasure box.

The front of the treasure box features an ancient star map with intaglio micro-carving, depicting the seven constellations of the Azure Dragon, with the constellation of Ji (箕) being slightly brighter.

The top is a slightly concave disc, like a sundial without a needle.

The other four sides are unremarkable, with only some patterns and designs of unknown meaning.

It's as if this really is just a rather old object.

Little Meng Jiang said with admiration, "Then Cao Cao must be able to open it, right?"

She believed that Aman could unlock all the locks in the world.

Cao Yuan smiled and said smugly, "Of course."

"Then why doesn't Cao Cao open it?"

“This…” Cao Yuan coughed lightly, “Let me think about it for a while.”

He was considering whether it was worth the risk to open up here.

Little Meng Jiang sat obediently next to Cao Yuan, her fair legs pressed together, and said, "Okay."

Just as Cao Yuan was making his plans.

Thousands of miles away.

Xianyang, the Prime Minister's Residence.

An elderly man in official robes was kneeling before a desk, handling government affairs.

His pale face was covered with wrinkles, but his eyes were bright and piercing, exuding great authority. In the large room, none of the court officials, high or low, who were reporting and handling government affairs, dared to meet his gaze.

"Prime Minister Lü, Hou Sheng's secret letter."

Zheng, an old man nearing sixty, who was Lü Buwei's bodyguard, spoke in Lü Buwei's ear.

"Go to the study."

After Lü Buwei got up and left, the tired officials in the room exchanged silent glances, all of them letting out a sigh of relief and briefly relaxing their tense nerves.

After the states were about to form an alliance, everyone was extremely busy under Lü Buwei's intense pressure. Lü Buwei himself became a workaholic, taking over all the decisions made by the court, leaving even the young King of Qin with little influence.

He is not the King of Qin, but he is better than the King of Qin.

Inside the study.

Lu Buwei opened Hou Sheng's secret letter, read it, and then snorted coldly.

"Damn it."

Old Master Zheng rarely saw Lü Buwei like this, and couldn't help but ask, "Prime Minister Lü, didn't Hou Sheng stop Qi from joining the alliance of states?"

Lü Buwei coldly said, "Hou Sheng took advantage of the chaos and demanded that I remove the people from his inner circle, and that Jing Ni be crippled and handed over to him, on the condition that Qi would not join the alliance."

Old Master Zheng's eyes turned cold. "Prime Minister Lü, should this old servant personally teach him a lesson?"

As a grandmaster, he had the ability; otherwise, he couldn't have guaranteed Lü Xiang's safety for decades.

Lü Buwei tapped the table slowly with his thick fingers, his mind filled with only reason and considerations of gain and loss.

"Now that four states have joined the alliance, and Qi has a superior geographical location, we cannot take any risks, otherwise I will certainly bear a heavy responsibility."

"What does Prime Minister Lü mean?"

Lu Buwei's expression was cold. "Leave two spies behind and eliminate the other members of the Luowang organization around Hou Sheng."

"What about Jing Ni?"

"He was just an assassin; his sacrifice is no loss. Let Yan Ri arrange for Ba Linglong to handle this. There must be no mistakes, or else Qin law will apply!"

"Yes."

……

"Open it."

Inside the wooden house, Cao Yuan stared directly at the bronze treasure box and finally made up his mind.

The worst outcome is simply that it becomes public knowledge.

He could accept this price.

At worst, I'll just have to get involved with Xunzi.

Although the old man had a fiery temper, at least he didn't have any bad intentions.

As for Wuming, there's even less to worry about; he's a true saint who can sacrifice his life for righteousness.

"Ring ring, ring ring..."

When Cao Yuan activated the "golden key," the bronze box emitted a soft, melodious sound.

It was beautiful, so subtle, like heavenly music.

"It sounds so good..."

Xiao Mengjiang said, completely absorbed.

"Om..."

The bronze box on the table trembled slightly.

The lid of the bronze box slowly slid off.

The next moment, an invisible barrier enveloped the entire wooden house.