Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 262

In chaotic times, only the strong can survive. If this child were to die from a stray arrow without being noticed by Gai Nie, that would be his destined fate.

At this moment, Tianming was far less valuable to Yan Dan than the fact that he had waited until the critical moment to save Gai Nie and then invited him to join the Mohist school.

But three hundred iron cavalrymen are not the limit of the Imperial Sword Saint!

A dazzling sword aura flashed from Yuanhong, and the Hundred-Step Flying Sword shot out like a meteor...

...

"This is not a trivial matter of arresting two people. Judging from the various pieces of evidence collected by the Luo Wang, Gai Nie's defection is the prelude to an anti-Qin plan orchestrated by the remnants of the six states!"

Li Si lowered his head and faced the King of Qin, who was furious upon learning of the annihilation of his three hundred cavalrymen. His tone was solemn: "The spearhead of the rebellion against Qin comes from the Jianghu (江湖, a term referring to the martial arts world). Rather than sending more troops to resolve the issue, we should incite infighting among the Jianghu themselves and completely eliminate the threat to the long-term stability of the empire!"

"Oh?" Ying Zheng looked at Li Si with a cold face. Under his gaze, the latter raised his hands and said, "There are inherent contradictions among the six states, and the conflicts of interest among the Jianghu forces are even more numerous. They can only band together now because of the pressure from Qin. Once the pressure is gone, infighting is what they are best at!"

Chapter 306 Severely Injured Gai Nie

After instructing Li Shiqi and Ziwu to monitor the Mo family stronghold in Sanghai City, Lu Wei immediately changed direction and headed straight for the southern end of the Taihang Mountains.

Returning to Zhao after many years, he felt no particular emotion, only the changes in the scenery along the way were fully observed.

The fields were gradually filled with many elderly people and women, even young children, who were thin and pale.

The able-bodied men were either serving labor service, in prison awaiting labor service, or had already escaped into the mountains to become bandits.

The situation in Zhao was far worse than in Qi. Zhao was located at a more central point between Guanzhong and the northern frontier, unlike Qi, which, despite its remoteness, was almost always subject to the decrees for conscription.

Moreover, the straight-line distance from the old Zhao capital Handan to Hangu Pass was about a thousand li. This distance meant that the First Emperor's decrees had to be modified and implemented by officials in places outside major cities, adapting them to local conditions.

The people’s hearts can be used!

After meeting up with Ji Yan in the Taihang Mountains, the spirited young Yan reported on her achievements there, then took out a map, spread it out, and pointed to two special locations marked on it:

"The locations of Wushuang Gui of Liusha and Xiang Shi have been confirmed. As Brother Lu said, I have been keeping an eye on the Spy Wing Birds of Liusha. Sure enough, I found two of them next to Wushuang Gui without exposing themselves."

"Judging from Wushuang Gui's actions, he may have recently received orders from Wei Zhuang and is consciously following the Spywing Bird's actions."

"This is most likely related to what Brother Lu mentioned about Gai Nie's whereabouts."

The whereabouts of the Xiang family were confirmed in advance in the Taihang Mountains through clues from the former Chu troops in Mi Lian and the combined efforts of the farmers. As for Wushuang Gui, as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Liusha, it was not surprising that he would be cultivating in the Taihang Mountains.

Of the Four Heavenly Kings of Liusha, only Chilian and Baifeng stayed by Weizhuang's side. The other member of the Four Heavenly Kings, Canglang Wang, needed a large enough forest with plenty of food to raise his wolf pack, so he was located further south.

In addition, there is the Hidden Bat of the Reverse Flow Sand who has been cultivating in the southern border for ten years.

Speaking of the southern frontier, the Qin's conquest of the Baiyue was not smooth. In addition to environmental factors, the logistics and food transportation were also a major problem. Therefore, in recent years, His Majesty the Emperor has once again conscripted a large number of laborers to build the Ling Canal in the south. After the Ling Canal was completed, the grain transport teams could use boats to enter the Li River from the Xiang River via the Ling Canal, and then transport the grain directly south to the Baiyue region.

Even after three years, the war against Baiyue was still progressing slowly. With the affairs of the Central Plains being of utmost importance, Lu Wei paid little attention to Baiyue. With Xiao He monitoring the area and knowing the situation recorded in the original history in advance, he did not care about Baiyue affairs. He only needed to confirm that Baiyue, which he had influenced, was still holding back a large number of Qin troops.

He came to the Taihang Mountains this time to cover up the anti-Qin organization behind Nie Tianming.

“I’ve been friends with the Xiang family for many years. Take me to their camp.” Lu Wei said with a carefree smile.

The combination of the Xiang clan and the Mohists alone was enough to make Xianyang take this alliance of the remnants of the six states seriously.

Since the assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang more than a decade ago, the Mohists had been on Ying Zheng's kill list. Now that the empire is unified, the Mohists could be wiped out with a single move if the army were mobilized. However, both Li Si, who was misled by the intelligence from the Luo Wang (a secret intelligence network), and the Yin Yang School advised His Majesty to use the Jianghu (martial arts world) forces to incite internal strife among the six kingdoms. After careful consideration, he readily accepted the advice.

It has been roughly five years since the empire was founded. Beneath the surface of peace and tranquility, undercurrents are surging and ready to erupt.

Ying Zheng carried out the massacres of the royal families of the six states to the extreme, except for the state of Qi. However, he was well aware that too many nobles from the six states were still rooted in their former territories, exploiting the Qin territory and plotting rebellion.

This cannot be solved simply by bringing 120,000 wealthy households to the area surrounding Xianyang.

Even if the Mohists and the Xiang clan hadn't intervened, Ying Zheng would have continued to 'plow' the former territories of the six states every so often. Therefore, Gai Nie's defection at this time was, in a sense, an inevitable consequence of the prevailing trend rather than a coincidence.

After the plot of this group of people is exposed and sacrificed, the emperor and Zhao Gao, who have achieved great success, will relax for a while. This period of time is exactly what Lu Wei needs!

The greatest value of the peasant school lies in providing a buffer for the Mohists and the Xiang clan, who were rebels against the six states. After this buffer, the various schools of thought and the remnants of the six states, whose strength had been greatly diminished by the empire's suppression, could be either subdued by the peasant school or eliminated from the game.

This is the final performance before the final curtain falls.

The Xiang family's strength can now be described as dismal: the strongest person in the entire Xiang family's secret stronghold is actually the young master Shao Yu, who is not yet fifteen years old.

Before Ji Bu arrived, neither the Peerless Ghost in the quicksand nor the Wolf King could extinguish the last embers of the Xiang clan.

It can be said that the Xiang clan now has nothing left but their self-proclaimed title of 'the strongest clan'.

"The leader of the Mohist school sent word that the Qin state is about to launch an operation against the martial arts world, and our stronghold here may no longer be safe. Therefore, the Mohist school invites us to hide in the Mechanical City for a while."

Fan Zeng unfolded the cloth he had just taken from the Vermilion Bird that carried the message and displayed it to Xiang Liang and the newly arrived Ji Bu.

“Since even the leader of the Mohist school believes there is danger, we should not act rashly just in case.” Compared to when he first met Lu Wei more than ten years ago, Xiang Liang had grown a longer beard, and he seemed to have shed the arrogance that the Xiang clan had been born with, becoming more humble: “Moreover, the gathering of anti-Qin righteous men is not far away. This year’s gathering will definitely still be held in the Mechanical City. If we go there now, we can kill two birds with one stone.”

The Xiang family was not what it used to be. With the death of his elder brother Xiang Dong and the young master Xiang Yu not yet grown up, Xiang Liang shouldered all the external communication work since the fall of the Chu state.

Although the remaining forces of the other five states and the righteous men of the Hundred Schools of Thought have remained polite to the Xiang family over the years, Xiang Liang understands that he cannot afford to be arrogant and offend his external allies.

The Xiang family lost everything by losing their army. Before Xiang Yu grew up, they had to restrain their arrogance and leave a friendly situation for the future of their young master.

"The Mo Family's Mechanical City is known as a celestial realm and a paradise on earth. I'm quite curious about it," Ji Bu said, twirling his longsword with interest.

Ji Bu's attitude was somewhat frivolous. If it were still the state of Chu, he certainly wouldn't have dared to speak like that in front of Xiang Liang. But now, as the first former Chu soldier to take the initiative to join the Xiang family, Xiang Liang simply chuckled and let it go.

Back in the countryside, there were too many martial arts experts, so Ji Bu was nothing special among them. Even when he entered the territory of the Four Mountains Hall in Daze Mountain, he had to report in advance and wait for the approval of those lowly henchmen of the One or Two Star Pearl Grass. In contrast, Ji Bu received respect from his old superior, the Xiang family, and he gradually forgot the sadness of being kicked out by Mi Lian.

"Then let's inform Shaoyu first. Ji Bu, you take Shaoyu and leave first. Master Fan and I will stay behind to cover the rear."

"Okay..." Ji Bu's smiling agreement was barely finished when suddenly a firework burst into the sky outside.

"The patrolling disciples used an alarm flare!" Fan Zeng's expression changed: "Go find Shao Yu quickly!"

They had barely begun discussing the movements of the Qin state when signal flares were immediately set off from the periphery, naturally leading them to believe that the Qin people had arrived.

As for Shao Yu, whom Fan Zeng was concerned about, he had already rushed out of the stronghold and headed straight for the launch site the moment the signal flare went off...

------

Half an hour ago.

"That's Gai Nie?"

Sitting on a treetop, swinging her legs, Ji Yan flicked her ponytail, her eyes sparkling, watching the silent man walking along the mountain path and the happy-looking child behind him. She never expected to run into the man halfway there.

"He was seriously injured, and he had fought against people using different weapons multiple times in a short period of time by bursting out his internal energy. Logically speaking, his physical weakness should have reached its limit long ago."

His pupils turned gold in an instant, and Ji Yan skillfully activated her Autumn Water Bright Eyes to observe Gai Nie's physical condition clearly: "He can still walk now only because of his willpower, but once he stops, it will be very difficult for Gai Nie to take another step."

Then, when her gaze returned to Tianming, she raised an eyebrow: "That child has been afflicted by the Yin-Yang Curse."

Xiao Yan'er was very clear about the relationship between the Yin-Yang School and Lu Wei, so she only said this one sentence and then shut up.

Leaning against the tree trunk, Lu Wei's posture was as stable as a mountain. It was the first time he had met this Imperial Sword Saint, who was in a rather disheveled state.

He and Ji Yan were not far from the path that Gai Nie Tianming had taken, and they did not make any special effort to conceal their presence. Even so, Gai Nie did not notice them, which was enough to prove that what Ji Yan said was true.

Now would be the best opportunity to kill this sword saint.

"It is no coincidence that Gai Nie would bring the child to the Xiang clan's stronghold. There must be Mohist disciples secretly interfering with his choice of path."

Lu Wei's eyes were like the surface of a lake in winter. He released his inner energy and sensed the auras of the other people around him.

Just as he deliberately released his inner energy, Gai Nie abruptly stopped on the path, instinctively reaching out to grasp Yuan Hong. This action aggravated his internal injuries, causing his vision to blur instantly...

"He is a top-tier master in the world; his inner energy is unlike anything I've ever seen."

That was all he could think of; Gai Nie's sturdy body fell straight down...

"Uncle!" Tianming had no idea what had happened. He rushed forward to help Gai Nie, but Gai Nie's broad and muscular build, hidden under his clothes, was far beyond what a twelve-year-old boy like him could suddenly support.

*Thud*, Tianming was knocked to the ground by Gai Nie...

"Gai Nie's injuries can probably only be healed by Sister Rong or Physician Nian Duan. If he collapses here, it seems that neither the Xiang family nor the Mo family has anyone with high medical skills."

Ji Yan saw through Lu Wei's intention to force Gai Nie to stop by using his internal energy. She jumped down from the tree branch, landed steadily, and probed meaningfully.

"No, there is one more person who can cure it, although he is not a doctor by profession."

Lu Wei smiled slightly: "But I feel that he is nearby, and that other person is also there."

'That person?'

Ji Yan's mind raced; she tried desperately to keep up with Brother Lu's train of thought...

Chapter 307 Meeting an Old Friend

For the past three years, Ji Yan has been actively helping Lu Wei solve many problems and has come into contact with some secrets, but she still only has a rough estimate of the most important ones.

As Lu Wei said, "There is still one person who can be saved." Based on his understanding of the anti-Qin forces, Ji Yan was able to guess that the target was Xiaoyaozi. This leader of the Human Sect was known for his many acts of saving lives and healing the wounded. His internal energy had healing properties, which was quite similar to the Rejuvenation Technique.

Although they cannot eradicate the ailments and hidden dangers accumulated by martial arts practitioners or enemies through medical means like doctors, simply being able to quickly heal external injuries is enough to earn them a place in the martial arts world.

After all, everything comes at a price. Xiaoyaozi's treatment method requires little investment and yields quick results, which naturally gives it a huge advantage.

However, the methods of physicians inevitably require the use of many rare medicinal materials, many of which are precious items that ordinary wandering knights cannot afford.

Therefore, Xiaoyaozi was able to gain widespread fame.

However, regarding Lu Wei's statement that "that person is also here," Ji Yan couldn't think of a suitable target for the time being.

Xiaoyaozi is the leader of the Human Sect, and anyone who can be listed alongside him in Lu Wei's words must be of equal status. Therefore, Ji Yan actually thought of the leader of the Mohist School first, but quickly ruled him out: the leader of the Mohist School is indeed of the same status, but his relationship is far from enough to match the expectant tone Lu Wei used when mentioning 'that person'.

Xiao Yan'er, who considers herself Lu Wei's right-hand woman, has done special research on Lu Wei's tone of voice and usually applies it correctly, and this time will be no exception.

The person ranked alongside Xiaoyaozi will be extremely important!

Silently noting this down, Ji Yan stayed by Lu Wei's side, watching the child named Tianming struggle to crawl out from under the unconscious Gai Nie on the path, and then do his best to drag him to a suitable rock to lean against.

This process was very long because, as mentioned before, Gai Nie was very important.

Practicing martial arts is inseparable from physical training. Most swordsmen are very strong. Under normal circumstances, a stronger body can unleash greater power. Therefore, female swordsmen, who are at a disadvantage in terms of innate conditions, basically all follow the path of agility and speed.

Of course, simply focusing on physical training is not enough. The second key point is that while becoming strong, one should not compromise normal flexibility. This is different for everyone, and each person's physical condition is different, so one needs to find the right balance for themselves.

Unexpectedly, Tianming did not act rashly and avoided causing secondary damage to Gai Nie's wounds.

The hidden Xiaoyaozi was also attracted by the internal energy released by Lu Wei and moved closer to this side. However, he did not show himself when he saw the fallen Gai Nie: firstly, he could not find the source of the powerful internal energy and dared not move rashly, and secondly, Gai Nie's condition had not yet reached the worst point and there was still room for maneuver.

The name of the internal energy cultivation technique that Gai Nie practiced was very simple, but the addition of the words "Guigu" in front of it instantly made it sound more sophisticated.

This time, Lu Wei and Ji Yan concealed their presence and whereabouts.

Several figures who could be considered the best in the world hid and watched as Tianming, who had temporarily settled Gai Nie on the flat ground, comically caught a pheasant, started a fire, used Yuanhong as a tool to roast the pheasant, and then accidentally ignited the signal flare that Xiang had buried.

This signal flare not only attracted the Xiang Clan's guards led by Young Master Shao Yu, but also the Peerless Ghost who had already dealt with two of the Xiang Clan's secret guards...