Chapter Sixty: Dormancy

Lü Buwei was well aware that as King Ying Zheng of Qin grew older and his desire for absolute control over power intensified, it would become increasingly difficult for him to remain much longer in the position of Chancellor.

Compared to the deeply rooted Ying clan branches that had flourished in the state of Qin for centuries, he was, after all, an outsider. Moreover, the young king was now aided by maternal relatives from the state of Chu, such as Lord Changping and Lord Changwen; given the slightest opportunity, they would undoubtedly drag him down completely.

If he were to follow the advice of the Luo Wang assassin standing beside him and strike down Xuanqingzi of the Taoist Tianzong, it would simply hand his adversaries the ultimate pretext. The Imperial Right Protector, personally bestowed by the King of Qin, perishing at the hands of Luo Wang would, no matter how one looked at it, be an act of digging one's own grave.

Having reached this juncture, he was walking on ever thinner ice. He could no longer afford a single mistake—absolutely not. If the campaign against Zhao that he was currently plotting with the King of Qin succeeded, he would be able to expand his fiefdom in Hejian.

In a few more years, with vast territories, boundless wealth, and an army of retainers at his command, his standing would be much more secure. Therefore, he could not afford to make any missteps right now. If he bought himself time, everything would still be possible!

Without wasting words, Lü Buwei dismissed the cold remarks of Xuanqing of the Taoist sect. Besides, the disciples of the Tianzong had always been few in number; even if a careless operation by Luo Wang happened to cross paths with them, it was of little consequence.

The fact that someone had broken into his mansion today, towering over him and pushing him around, was a matter he would temporarily shelve. Another day, he would return the humiliation tenfold, a hundred times over. Glancing at the four peerless execution swords by his side, he could not help but emit a cold snort, flick his long sleeves, and turn to stride away.

******

"Your Majesty, last night Grandmaster Xuanqing of the Taoist sect broke directly into the Marquis Wenxin's estate, slayed several top-tier experts, and departed in a flurry!"

The following morning, the sunlight was pleasant, casting its lingering radiance across the Central Plains. Within the Xingle Palace, King Ying Zheng of Qin was reviewing administrative decrees arriving from all corners of Qin when Senior Attendant Zhao Gao softly whispered, detailing a major event that had occurred in the city of Xianyang the previous night.

Bowing deeply with a humble expression and hands hanging low against the multitude of affairs big and small that transpired in Xianyang daily, he figured this incident might at least capture the King's fleeting attention. Furthermore, Lord Chancellor Lü had gradually grown estranged from the throne over the years.

Recently, the Chancellor had been plotting against his own motherland. Although he had left his homeland many years ago, a motherland remained a motherland, just as Qin remained Qin; there was bound to be a special sentiment attached to it.

"Oh? Grandmaster Xuanqing forced his way into the Chancellor's residence? To what end?"

Sure enough, upon hearing this, King Ying Zheng of Qin, who had been steadily writing with a brush on bamboo strips, paused his movements. He then raised a dark eyebrow, his gaze—normally exuding a faint majesty—filled with a subtle trace of surprise.

Grandmaster Xuanqing had always resided within the Qin palace, consistently keeping a low profile and rarely venturing out. How had he come into conflict with the Chancellor? Furthermore, according to the laws of Qin, trespassing into the Chancellor's estate was a grave crime, and committing murder on top of that made it a capital offense of the highest order.

"Rumor has it that it was because the Chancellor's Luo Wang organization inadvertently killed three disciples of the Taoist Tianzong. That incurred the wrath of Grandmaster Xuanqing, leading to the Master wielding his sword to take lives yesterday."

Zhao Gao lowered his head deeply, his clear voice ringing out without carrying any extraneous undertones.

"Heh, it seems yesterday's affair was simply Grandmaster Xuanqing standing up for his sect's disciples. In that case, it is merely a private matter. At this morning's court session, the Chancellor acted as if nothing had happened, so it appears there are no serious repercussions."

"Even so, Zhao Gao, take my decree and lead the court physicians to the Marquis Wenxin's estate to convey my regards on my behalf. Bestow ten stalks of precious ginseng, a hundred yi of gold, and ten beauties!"

With those words, he ceased focusing on what Zhao Gao had reported, treating it as nothing more than a mildly entertaining triviality. Wielding his brush, black ink formed neat Qin-style seal characters on the bamboo slips. To the right of the dark red desk, more than a dozen scrolls of reviewed bamboo slips were already piled high.

"As you command!"

A strange glint flashed briefly through the eyes of Zhao Gao, whose head remained slightly lowered, though it vanished in an instant. He then bowed and backed away. The King's reaction to the incident had been remarkably calm, showing not a shred of punishment toward the primary instigator, Grandmaster Xuanqing.

Though gifts were being bestowed upon Marquis Wenxin, it felt more like a subtle gesture of appeasement. Having served by the King's side for many years, Zhao Gao fancied that he had grasped at least a fraction of the monarch's inner thoughts.

With soundless footsteps, careful not to disturb the King's governance, he withdrew from the grand Xingle Palace within moments.

Meanwhile, in another quarter of the Qin palace, following Zhou Qing's channeling of his inner energy to heal Zong Quan's injuries, coupled with a night of quiet meditation, Zong Quan's wounds had mostly recovered.

Upon learning of last night's events from their junior granduncle, both disciples were deeply shocked. To settle the matter concerning their three junior martial brothers, their junior granduncle had actually dared to break into the Marquis Wenxin's estate—an act that, by the laws of Qin, was a severe crime.

"There is no need for worry. Lü Buwei will behave himself very obediently for the next few years. Besides, in the entire city of Xianyang, we are hardly at the top of the list of those waiting for Lü Buwei's downfall. This warning will ensure that, for at least three years, none of you will be harassed by Luo Wang in your operations."

Inside the Xuanqing Palace, Zhou Qing sat by the window, gently accepting a cup of fragrant tea handed to him by Zong Qiong. He had to admit that living within the Qin palace, where all expenses were covered by the state, was a rather pleasant sensation.

Facing his two deeply worried martial nephews, Zhou Qing gave a slight shake of his head, dismissing the incident entirely. According to the normal course of history, Lü Buwei did not have many years left to jump around, and his scheme to attack Zhao in order to expand his Hejian territory seemed unlikely to succeed either.

"If junior granduncle had not intervened, given Luo Wang's temperament, their next assassination attempt would have been even more ruthless. Assassins at the Grand Spirit realm of martial arts are simply... impossible to guard against!"

What defined an assassin? To strike on the first blow; and if the first blow failed, to retreat afar—this was the core philosophy of Luo Wang's killers.

With the formidable might of a Grand Spirit realm martial artist, a single blow concentrated all their vital energy, spirit, and focus into a single point. Such an assault, if unleashed carelessly against even a peak-level martial artist of the Grand Spirit realm, would spell disaster—let alone for themselves.

"Although Luo Wang will not strike, there are plenty of organizations allied with them across the various states. When you leave, you must still take this hawk sword with you. Should you encounter formidable adversaries, retreat immediately. Having the hawk sword to protect you will ensure your safety."

"Zong Quan, with your cultivation, in another three years I can attempt to guide your spiritual perception to merge with heaven and earth, mastering the natural forces and stepping into the Grand Spirit realm. If you achieve that, given Taoist heritage, within a decade you can reach the upper tier of the Grand Spirit realm."

"As for you, Zong Qiong, though your cultivation is currently somewhat lacking, five years from now you too can attempt to enter the Grand Spirit realm!"

Displaying overwhelming might against Luo Wang last night was merely a warning to them. However, while Qin had Luo Wang, other states possessed various organizations of their own. Perhaps there were few Grand Spirit realm martial artists among them, but given Luo Wang's vengeful nature, minor troubles might still follow them.

Gazing at the hawk sword resting on the rack nearby, he took a soft breath. Stationed as he was within the Qin palace, this was all he could do for now.

Amplified by the power of his destiny, if their innate talent proved sufficient to break through into the Grand Spirit realm, they could employ Taoist methods to become upper-tier figures in the Central Plains. By then, they could hold down the fort in Xuanqing Palace on his behalf, allowing him to finally leave Xianyang and journey across the Central Plains.