Hearing this news, all the soldiers and civilians of the Qin Kingdom were overjoyed. On the path of conquering the world and unifying the world, the only person they had to worry about was Zhao State, or more precisely, Eunuch He. Yet, the Qin Emperor didn't believe this news at all, thinking that it must be a conspiracy. Eunuch He had a strong foundation in Zhao State, and his methods were not inferior to the Qin Emperor's. He had just appointed a child as the new emperor, and he was in his prime. How could he suddenly abandon everything and disappear?
Countless secret agents and highly achieved swordsmen were sent out to Xianyang City, looking for Eunuch He everywhere in the world, but to no avail. Besides the Qin Emperor, many other forces tried to find the whereabouts of Eunuch He, or to take over his political and military legacy in the world, or at least to ascertain whether he was dead or alive; but they didn't find any clues.
Eunuch He had disappeared, just like Jing Jiu.
Even though the great man had left, the sun would still rise. Time elapsed, and a few years had passed. It had been forty-two years since the Dao Competition began.
Under the rule of the Royal Dowager, Zhao State didn't have any trouble, but it couldn't be as powerful as before. It had lost its edge, and it couldn't compete with the Qin Kingdom anymore.
After absorbing the strength of the Chu Kingdom, the Qin Kingdom became even more powerful, and its cavalry was invincible.
One early morning, as the morning sun rose, the Qin Emperor got up and walked to the window. He frowned slightly as he smelled the burning paint coming from outside the palace.
In order to prepare for the upcoming war, the Qin Kingdom had been stockpiling weapons and armors. The smell and the smoke were unavoidable.
The Qin Emperor had gotten used to the smell a long time ago, and he even enjoyed it. But his coughing had gotten worse recently, casting a shadow over his mind.
He was a Cultivation practitioner, so he knew that he was not sick; but for some reason, he still felt uncomfortable.
The Empress walked over with a bowl of white fungus soup in her hands, and three pieces of autumn pear paste candy on the side of the plate. "Your Majesty, should we ask the royal doctor to come and have a look?" she asked gingerly.
The Qin Emperor furrowed his eyebrows even more. He shot her a look of disgust, saying, "You are just a woman who knows nothing; why do you have so much to say?"
Having said that, he turned around and left.
The Empress stood on the same spot with a pale face. and came to her senses after a while. She put down the plate hastily and saw him off on her knees.
She knew that His Majesty was going to Shu Palace to see the princess.
Whenever something big was about to happen, His Majesty would go there. Even if there was nothing big, His Majesty preferred to drink tea there. His Majesty and the princess met more times than she did, but she didn't dare to complain because she knew that the princess's position in His Majesty's heart was many times higher than hers.
…
…
The Shu Palace was as quiet and secluded as it had been in the past. The remnant lotus in the pool did not give off the feeling of dilapidation. Perhaps it was because the lanterns hanging in the corridor still had the smell of last night's incense and candles.
The Qin Emperor took off the overcoat and tossed it to a palace servant girl. He sat on the opposite side of the zither platform and took a deep breath, feeling much calmer now.
Bai Zao sat on the other side of the zither, his fingers lightly pressing on the zither strings. His black hair was casually tied behind him, as natural and beautiful as the white satin hanging between his arms.
"The Eunuch He must have gone out to sea, and he won't be back in a short time. Even if the Chu Emperor is still alive, he won't dare show up. And like what you said back then, one person can't cause any trouble." The Qin Emperor picked up the teacup and took a sip, and continued, "I want to push the situation forward."
Bai Zao lifted up his head and said to him, "You seem to be in a hurry today."
His tone made the Qin Emperor feel uncomfortable. After coughing twice, he said, "We have to do what we have to do. It's better to get it done as soon as possible."
Bai Zao lowered his head and looked at the zither strings under his fingers, asking, "What about the Qi Kingdom?"
"Yun Qi's reputation is too high right now. He has many followers in Qi, Zhao, the old Chu, and even in my Xianyang City; but he insists on not having a war."
The Qin Emperor put down the teacup and said with a cold expression in his eyes, "This emperor intends to unify the world. He and his doctrine will bring me a lot of trouble."
Bai Zao didn't lift up his head, as he asked, "What are you going to do? We can't kill this kind of person easily; otherwise, the populace will be divided, and it will be more troublesome to conquer the world. "
The Qin Emperor said, "This emperor wants to see if I can persuade him."
"It's hard to persuade the scholars of Yimaozhai, because they are very clear about their own doctrine."
Bai Zao continued while stroking the zither strings, "Though Xi Yiyun has forgotten his origin, it's still the case."
The Qin Emperor said, "This emperor will tell him with the hard facts that if he wants to resist this emperor's armored cavalry, he will bring more disasters and sufferings to the populace in the world; it's better for him to surrender directly."
Bai Zao said, "If you want to persuade him in this way, do you think he will be willing to come to Xianyang?"
Though the Qin Emperor had a powerful martial art prowess, he had never left the Royal Palace of Xianyang, especially after the assassination attempt by the men in black.
"This emperor will inform the whole world to ensure his safety. If Yun Qi still doesn't dare come under the circumstances, it's fine," said the Qin Emperor.
Bai Zao lifted up his head and stared at his eyes in Silence for a long time. "That's fine," he said.
…
…
In the late autumn, the famous scholar Master Yun Qi of the Qi Kingdom came to Xianyang City with more than one hundred disciples.
The city gate of Xianyang City was opened wide. Countless populace came to watch this rare event in the land. Even many famous scholars of Zhao State and the old Chu State came.
Master Yun Qi and his disciples wore the long robes with wide sleeves and long swords, looking extraordinary. They attracted a great deal of attention as they walked on the street.
The populace of the Qin Kingdom stood on both sides of the street, looking at these rumored scholars curiously.
Some of them didn't understand, thinking that it was difficult to pull out such a long sword, so what was the use of such a sword on the battlefield?
Someone explained that the long swords of Master Yun Qi and his disciples were a kind of ornament, used to express their attitude, rather than to be used in combat.
The populace who asked the questions nodded their heads, thinking that the scholars of the Academy of the Qi Kingdom were indeed meticulous in their conduct. But … they still felt that the swords were a bit of a burden.
More than one hundred disciples were invited into the Academy of Xianyang City, to talk with the imperial academicians of the Qin Kingdom and the famous scholars of Zhao State and the old Chu State.
The conversation naturally turned into a debate, which was very exciting. However, the celebrities from Zhao and the old Chu were actually paying more attention to another place.
Countless gazes were fixed on the cluster of black palaces.
All the knowledgeable scholars of the land were waiting nervously to see if Master Yun Qi could persuade the Qin Emperor to give up his ambition of unifying the land.
If Master Yun Qi failed, this land would be plunged into blood and fire in a few years' time.
…
…
The Royal Palace of Xianyang and the Academy of the Qi Kingdom were the two most magnificent palace buildings in the world.
Yun Qi had lived and taught in the Academy of the Qi Kingdom for dozens of years, so he was used to the magnificent buildings; but he still felt a bit pressured walking in the Royal Palace of Xianyang.
Those black palaces were like countless reefs, standing silently in the raging sea, giving off an unshakable feeling of power.
Yun Qi wasn't sure if he could persuade the Qin Emperor. In fact, he didn't have any hope for this trip.
As he walked into the grand hall, he narrowed his eyes to get used to the changes in the brightness, and then he saw the Qin Emperor sitting in the deepest and highest part of the hall.
Back then, the Qin Emperor liked to wear the armor made of mithril, which looked like the snow, and he called himself the White Emperor.
But he didn't like the white armor as much as he did at some point.
He wore an ordinary black robe that day, sitting casually on the throne, as if he had become one with the surrounding grand hall.
"Mister, please sit down," the Qin Emperor reached out his right hand to greet him from a distance.
Yun Qi sat down on the empty ground in the grand hall. Glancing at the cup of green tea on the table, he said, "The way the Emperor treats his guests is indeed unique."
What he meant was not the cup of green tea, nor the simple and honest customs of the Qin Kingdom, but the distance.
The place the Qin Emperor sat was three hundred feet away from his current position.
No matter how formidable an assassin was or how powerful an arrow was, it was impossible for him to strike a fatal blow from such a long distance.
"Mister is a smart man. This emperor likes to be straightforward. The time it takes to drink a cup of tea should be enough."
The Qin Emperor didn't respond to Yun Qi's words.
Yun Qi looked at him in Silence, and said, "Please speak your mind, Your Majesty."
The Qin Emperor said, "What this emperor wants is the land and the people, and what you want is the hearts of the people. Both of them are conquering each other, but the essence is the same. If you are willing to cooperate with this emperor, it will be easier for you to carry out your Dao."
This suggestion seemed simple, but it was actually quite formidable. There were countless details hidden in it, and the details were all devils, and the devils were good at enticing people.
If He Zhan were in Yun Qi's position, he might even agree to the Qin Emperor's suggestion.
Yet, Yun Qi didn't accept it, saying, "It's a pity that the Dao I seek can be found anywhere in the world, but not in Qin State."
The Qin Emperor leaned forward slightly and looked at Yun Qi in the distance. "Why?" he asked in a cold voice.
Yun Qi said, "It's because Your Majesty wants to rule the world by force, and I want to rule the world by force."
The Qin Emperor said, "If this emperor wants to rule the world, I have to rule the world by force. After I rule the world, I will rule the world by force."
Yun Qi asked, "How can Your Majesty persuade me?"
The Qin Emperor said, "This is not the Education Palace of the Qi Kingdom, and this emperor is not your student. Do you want to test this emperor?"
Yun Qi said calmly, "I just want to discuss it with Your Majesty."
Having said that, he took out a scroll from his sleeve and put it on the table.
A eunuch took the scroll and checked it carefully. After making sure that it was not poisoned and had no hidden traps, the eunuch handed it to the Qin Emperor.
The Qin Emperor opened the scroll and skimmed through it a few times, saying in a mocking tone, "These are all boring topics for the older students to talk about."
Yun Qi said, "If Your Majesty wants to be the ruler of the world, you have to understand what you have to bear."
Ruling the world was never a simple task, but one had to be careful not to stir the oil in the pot carelessly.
It was important for every person in the world to know how a ruler would determine his position in history and what he would pursue in the mortal world.
After a moment of silence, the Qin Emperor said, "This emperor can't solve these problems."
Yun Qi sighed, and said, "Let's call it a day then."
There was no need to talk about the unification of the world, and there would be no more wars; the populace would live and work in peace and contentment; the world would be at peace.
There was no need to say that there was no righteous war in troubled times, and that ordinary people shouldered the world.
Each of them had their own reasons.
Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together.
The world would never have imagined that the negotiations that had attracted the attention of the world would end so quickly.
The Qin Emperor suddenly said, "It's true that this emperor can't solve the problems raised by my Teacher, but this emperor can deal with the person who raised the problems."
Hearing this, Yun Qi smiled and stood up, saying, "So the reason Your Majesty invited me to Xianyang is to kill me."
The Qin Emperor laughed aloud and said, "Mister, you misunderstood me. This emperor wants to give you a chance to kill me."
Yun Qi remained silent for a long time before asking, "Why does Your Majesty know me so well?"
The Qin Emperor stopped smiling, as he said, "It's because this emperor knows better than you who you are. You are a bunch of stubborn people who only believe in your own principles. Today is your only chance to come before me. You can either convince me or kill me. If you miss this chance, you will never forgive yourself. "
Yun Qi didn't say anything else, his right hand slowly grasped the hilt of his sword.
A sword as an accessory could also be used to kill.
After a long period of silence, the hall was deathly still. It was like a graveyard, but no one knew who would be lying here.
…
…
A faint smell of burning paint blew in from outside the hall, tousling the rims of Yun Qi's cloth.
Yun Qi leapt up, drifting forward like a patch of cloud. His long sword had already come out from the sheath and was grasped in his hand.
The Qin Emperor looked at the scene expressionlessly while standing three hundred feet away. Whoosh!!!
Whoosh!!! Whoosh!!! Whoosh!!! The sounds of countless crossbow strings being pulled rang out. Countless crossbow bolts fell down like a rainstorm, occupying all the space in the grand hall.
The sharp arrowheads could cut through his cloth easily, but they couldn't pierce into his body. In the Illusionary Realm of the Green Sky Mirror, Jing Jiu's speed was the fastest, and He Zhan's movement was the most unpredictable. As such, Yun Qi's movement was the most unpredictable, like a feather that couldn't withstand any force, or a real cloud.
However, the crossbow bolts in the grand hall were too dense. By the time Yun Qi arrived one hundred feet away from the Qin Emperor, his body had already been pierced by a dozen crossbow bolts, blood gushing out.
The Qin Emperor was still expressionless. He slapped the armrest of the throne chair with his right hand, ready to leave through the underground tunnel.
Back when the iron plate in the grand hall was pierced through by Zhuo Rusui with one punch, he had to change his last means of self-preservation.
The underground tunnel was built with green rocks a few feet thick. As long as he could enter it, no assassin would be able to hurt him.
It was then that he suddenly sensed a subtle change in the energy in the grand hall.
It was a faint burning smell. He was certain that it was not the smell of the burning paint outside the palace.
The expression on his face changed slightly. He saw a tiny spark coming out from the scroll through the corner of his eye.
The seven questions raised by Yun Qi were written in the scroll.
The spark spread out at an unimaginably fast speed, turning into a flame and a dreadful explosion in the end.
Boom!!! The throne chair was blown to pieces, and the mechanism at the entrance of the underground tunnel was destroyed. The Qin Emperor was knocked back a few feet, his black robe in tatters. He was wounded severely.
Yun Qi landed in front of him and thrust his sword forward.
Pah!!! Pah!!! Countless sounds of air waves colliding with each other occurred, and the smoke and dusts danced chaotically, blocking the view in the grand hall.
The Qin Emperor's face and body were full of cuts, looking like a broken wineskin, bleeding incessantly.
Yun Qi couldn't stand anymore and fell to the ground.
The arrows the Qin Emperor used to deal with Jing Jiu were all specially made. They were dipped in poison and mixed with secret silver, and their sharpness was enough to pierce through the armor. Even a Cultivation swordsman couldn't withstand them.
Dozens of swordsmen of the Qin army swarmed into the grand hall. Some of them stood in front of the Qin Emperor, and some of them charged toward Yun Qi, ready to cut him into pieces.
"Stop!"
The Qin Emperor shouted sternly. He was enraged to the extreme. He pushed away the experts of the Qin army and came before Yun Qi like a ferocious tiger ready to devour someone.
Yun Qi ignored him and kept coughing blood with his head lowered.
Seeing this, the Qin Emperor suddenly calmed down. He waved his hand tiredly to signal for everybody to leave.
Yun Qi's chest was pierced through by a dozen crossbow bolts, and he had a head-on collision with the Qin Emperor. He couldn't even stand up, to say nothing of fighting back.
Of course, the warriors of Qin army were worried, but none of them dared to defy the decree of His Majesty. Slowly, they retreated out of the hall.
The hall became deathly silent once more, as if it was a real graveyard.
The Qin Emperor stared into Yun Qi's eyes and asked, "What is in that scroll?"
Yun Qi said, "It's a talisman."
The Qin Emperor exclaimed in surprise, "Didn't you forget everything? Why do you still know how to write the talismans? "
Yun Qi was taken aback, and then he suddenly laughed out, saying, "It turns out that I have known how to do it before."
…
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