Hearing Zhao Feng's words, a gentle smile appeared on Xia Dong'er's face.
"How long do you plan to stay this time?" she asked.
"The war is settled."
"I can stay in Shazhou for at least a month," Zhao Feng replied with a smile.
"A month is good. That way, I can spend more time with you all," Xia Dong'er said, delighted.
"Mother," Wang Yan interjected, "we came this time also to bring you back to Xianyang with us."
"It's inconvenient for you to stay in Shazhou alone."
"As your daughter-in-law, I wish to be by your side and fulfill my duty of filial piety."
Hearing the mention of going to Xianyang, Xia Dong'er immediately shook her head, her eyes filled with rejection.
"Shazhou is very nice. I don't want to leave."
"As long as you can return once a year, that's enough for me," she said warmly.
Seeing how resolute his mother was, Zhao Feng could only shake his head helplessly.
"Then we'll wait until Mother is willing to go to Xianyang in the future."
However, deep inside, Zhao Feng couldn't help but wonder, Why Mother rejected Xianyang so strongly.
It's as if Xianyang harbors some terrible danger. Could it be that she once lived there?
Zhao Feng was no longer the young man who had just left the village. Now, as a high-ranking official, he had experienced much and understood things more clearly.
"Steward, prepare the meal."
"The rest of you, withdraw," Zhao Feng ordered.
"Yes."
The steward led the servants away.
Now that there were no outsiders, Zhao Feng sat on a cushion in the courtyard.
Xia Dong'er also took a seat.
Zhao Qi and Zhao Ling, the two little ones, clung to their grandmother affectionately.
"Mother," Zhao Feng suddenly asked, "when I was leading the campaign against Wei, did anything happen at home?"
The unexpected question made Xia Dong'er pause momentarily, a trace of panic flashing through her heart. She quickly composed herself and replied, "Nothing happened."
"But about half a year ago, some men in black infiltrated the residence."
"They were secret agents."
"They came and left quickly," Zhao Feng said, watching his mother carefully.
"Oh, you mean that matter?"
"Yes, I know about it."
"They were investigating your maternal grandfather."
"After your grandfather left to wander the world, a group calling themselves the 'Black Ice Platform' came specifically to search for his whereabouts," Xia Dong'er explained with a light smile.
Hearing this, Zhao Feng was reassured.
This aligned with his suspicions.
For the Black Ice Platform to take action, it could only be because of Xia Wuque.
After all, he was the Qin King's father-in-law!
"So that's how it is." Zhao Feng nodded in understanding.
But as he looked at his mother, he still felt uneasy.
"Mother," he said seriously, "I am now a Great Qin General, and I have made many enemies at court."
"The fallen aristocrats of Zhao, Wei, and Han the ones whose lives I have taken hate me to the bone."
"By extension, they would not hesitate to harm you."
"I won't oppose you staying in our hometown, but you must be cautious."
"If you ever leave the estate, you must have guards with you," Zhao Feng instructed firmly.
"Don't worry."
"I rarely leave home. I spend most of my time studying medicine."
"But Feng'er, you must also be careful," Xia Dong'er said with deep concern.
"Mother, you don't need to worry about me."
"I am always accompanied by my guards."
"And in this world, the only ones who can kill me are perhaps the immortals," Zhao Feng said with a confident smile.
Afterward, the family shared a warm and joyful meal.
Yan Kingdom
In a small town, within a modest courtyard, a group of people had gathered.
One of them, dressed in simple clothing, appeared completely unremarkable his aura held no sharpness, and he seemed like an ordinary man.
Yet just moments ago, when an unexpected group of people arrived, this seemingly ordinary man's demeanor changed drastically.
Murderous intent erupted from him, and he gripped a sword in his hand.
At that moment, Yan Dan realized that the reports were true this man was indeed a top-tier assassin.
He could conceal his presence so completely that no one could see through him.
"Stand down."
"Do not engage," Yan Dan commanded loudly.
His guards hesitated but eventually withdrew, though they did not lower their weapons.
Eyeballing Yan Dan, the man's expression flickered with surprise, but sensing no hostility, he sheathed his sword.
Seeing this, a smile appeared on Yan Dan's face.
Then, he took a step forward and bowed deeply.
"I am Crown Prince Ji Dan of Yan."
"I pay my respects to Master Jiang Qing."
Hearing that this man was the Crown Prince of Yan, the assassin raised an eyebrow.
Then he said indifferently, "Jiang Qing is no more."
"There is only Jing Ke."
"Then I greet Master Jing Ke," Yan Dan said without hesitation, bowing once more.
"What brings the Crown Prince here?"
"Are you here to accuse me of crimes?" Jing Ke asked calmly.
"Master Jing Ke, you have traveled the world, and your sword has slain only the wicked."
"Every man you have killed deserved their fate."
"How could I come to harm you?" Yan Dan replied sincerely.
"Then why are you here?" Jing Ke asked.
Yan Dan said nothing.
Instead, his bow deepened.
Then, suddenly
He dropped to his knees.
"Your Highness!"
"What are you doing?!"
"Your Highness!"
His guards were stunned and immediately rushed to help him up.
Even Jing Ke was shocked by this unexpected action.
Hearing the voices behind him, Yan Dan raised his hand, signaling them to stay back.
He remained kneeling before Jing Ke.
For a prince to kneel before a commoner
If this were not shocking, then what was?
For the first time, Jing Ke felt uneasy.
He quickly stepped forward, reaching out to help Yan Dan up.
"Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?"
"If you have something to say, we can talk properly."
Jing Ke spoke gravely.
But Yan Dan remained steadfast, refusing to rise.
"Master, please save Yan Kingdom," he said in a low voice, his tone filled with despair and unwillingness.
Hearing this, Jing Ke was taken aback.
"I don't understand."
"Isn't the Yan Kingdom still standing? Why do you need saving?"
"Yan Kingdom may exist for now," Yan Dan said, lifting his gaze, his eyes filled with sorrow.
"But shortly… it may cease to be."
One had to admit
Yan Dan was a remarkable actor.
If Zhao Feng were present, he would have praised him as a true master of performance.
For a prince to humble himself so completely, kneeling before a commoner with such desperation
It was a performance that no one could ignore.
It was easy to imagine the impact this had on Jing Ke.
Perhaps, in the words of a later era, this was a case of "a warrior dies for one who truly understands him."
Indeed, Yan Dan had some means.
"Why?" Jing Ke looked at Yan Dan in confusion.
Unknowingly, Jing Ke had completely fallen into Yan Dan's trap.
"Qin State," Yan Dan gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with hatred and unwillingness.
"The King of Qin is cruel, greedy for the world, and has waged countless wars.
"Now, the Zhao, Wei, and Han states have already been destroyed by the tyrannical Qin.
"Only three states remain apart from Qin, and among them, Yan is the weakest.
"With the King of Qin's cruelty and ambitions, he will surely march against Yan. When that day comes, our state will be engulfed in the flames of war and reduced to ruins.
"Nearly ten million people in Yan will fall under the rule of the tyrant Qin and suffer fates worse than death."
Yan Dan spoke with gritted teeth, his voice carrying immense grief and compassion.
Watching Yan Dan's exaggerated performance, Jing Ke's expression also changed accordingly.
"Your Highness, even if what you say is true and Qin does plan to attack Yan,
"I am but an ordinary man, merely one person.
"I alone cannot change the course of Qin."
"So please, Your Highness, rise," Jing Ke sighed and tried again to help Yan Dan up.
"No."
But Yan Dan shook his head, remaining kneeling before Jing Ke.
His eyes burned with fervent trust.
"Under the heavens, only you, sir, can save Yan," Yan Dan declared with unwavering conviction.
"How can I save it?" Jing Ke was bewildered.
If not for Yan Dan's serious expression, he would have thought he was joking.
"The wars and tyranny of Qin all stem from the King of Qin himself. If the King of Qin were to die...
"Then Yan could survive.
"If he dies, the world will have peace.
"Only if he dies can the people live good lives." Yan Dan's words were filled with murderous intent.
"The King of Qin is heavily guarded. Killing him is easier said than done," Jing Ke shook his head.
Seeing this, a flicker of joy flashed in Yan Dan's heart.
He understood this man was already swayed.
"Sir, if you had the power to save Yan from destruction and to protect its people, would you do it?"
Yan Dan stood up, grasping Jing Ke's hands tightly.
He appealed to righteousness, using a grand cause to bind Jing Ke.
If this were in a later era, it would be considered moral coercion.
Feeling Yan Dan's intense gaze and recalling his earlier sincerity in kneeling, Jing Ke sighed inwardly.
"If my death can save the people of Yan from the horrors of war, then for the sake of righteousness, I am willing."
"Sir, you are truly righteous!"
"Yan Dan salutes you."
Yan Dan solemnly bowed deeply to Jing Ke.
"Your Highness,
"I may be willing to sacrifice myself for a just cause, but how could I ever get close to the King of Qin?
"The Qin palace is heavily guarded it would be impossible to infiltrate."
Jing Ke voiced his concerns.
"Rest assured, sir.
"I have already devised a foolproof plan that will allow you to get close to the King of Qin without suspicion." Yan Dan assured him immediately.
Jing Ke nodded.
Unknowingly, he had completely fallen into the grand scheme that Yan Dan had meticulously laid out.
Shaqiu
Deep within a forest.
Zhao Feng rode atop a warhorse, holding his two children, Zhao Qi and Zhao Ling, in front of him.
The horse galloped swiftly.
Though they moved fast, Zhao Feng's exceptional riding skills kept the two children safe and laughing with joy.
"Father!"
"This is so fast!"
"Father rides much faster than Grandfather!" Zhao Qi cheered.
"Grandfather?" Zhao Feng was taken aback. "Who is Grandfather?"
"The one who lives in that big palace!"
"We often go to visit Grandfather. He treats us very well, always giving us delicious food and taking us horseback riding." Zhao Ling said sweetly.
"The Great King?"
Zhao Feng was stunned. He hadn't expected this.
"You often go to the palace to see the Great King?"
His wife, Wang Yan, had briefly mentioned before that the children had visited the Great King.
At the time, Zhao Feng hadn't thought much of it.
But now, it seemed his children had grown quite close to the King, even riding horses with him.
"Grandfather treats us so well!" Zhao Qi said cheerfully.
Zhao Feng smiled slightly, but internally, he was puzzled.
"The King of Qin is treating our family a little too well, isn't he?"
"Has any other minister ever received such favor?"
"Could it be that the King truly values me that much and, therefore, extends his kindness to my family as well?"
Thinking this over, Zhao Feng felt somewhat reassured.
"The King of Qin has shown me such kindness.
"If the end of the Qin dynasty truly arrives,
"I must protect his bloodline."
"That is the least I can do for him."
Zhao Feng pondered.
As for the future,
There was little he could change.
After all, there was only one Qin Shi Huang and Zhao Feng truly respected him.
If Hu Hai were to ascend the throne, Zhao Feng would not accept it.
With the power he had amassed and the influence of the Dark Court he had established, he could shake the world.
To serve under an incompetent ruler,
To one day possibly be forced to turn against himself,
Zhao Feng had no interest in such a fate.
Of course,
If there was any other possibility
It would be if Qin Shi Huang could live forever.
Then the fall of Qin could be averted.
Even if uprisings erupted and chaos spread,
Everything would still be under control.
"Awwooo"
Just then, a wolf's howl echoed through the forest ahead.
"Father!"
"What was that sound?"
Zhao Ling asked curiously.
"A wolf's howl," Zhao Feng replied with a casual smile,
Showing not a trace of fear.
With his current level of power, he was practically invincible.
Wolves, tigers, lions any beast would fall before him in a single strike.
If anything could challenge him, it would have to be true cultivators or immortals.
But so far,
He had yet to encounter such beings.
Just then
A rumble of galloping steps filled the air.
Dozens of wolves, mouths open, fangs bared, charged straight toward Zhao Feng.
"Qi'er, Ling'er."
"Are you afraid?"
Watching the incoming pack, Zhao Feng smiled.
Though the two children looked a bit flustered,
Seeing their father's calm expression,
They quickly steadied themselves.
"As long as Father is here, we're not afraid!"
Hearing his children's unwavering trust,
Zhao Feng smiled warmly.
"Qi'er, Ling'er."
"You are nearly five years old now."
"Soon, it will be time for your formal education."
"But before that,
"Let me show you what you can aspire to learn in the future."
With that,
Zhao Feng turned his gaze toward the approaching wolves.
Raising his right hand slowly,
An invisible force of true energy gathered in his palm.
As the wolf pack charged within a few dozen feet,
Zhao Feng struck out with his palm.
Boom!
A terrifying force erupted instantly from his palm.
In an instant
"Aooong!"
A dragon's roar echoed through the forest.
A dragon-shaped shadow soared through the air,
Crashing down upon the pack of wolves.
In just a blink
Boom!
The dragon's shadow struck the ground amidst the wolves,
And a terrifying energy wave instantly spread outward.
The ground within a thirty-foot radius was blasted into a massive crater.
The dozens of wolves were swallowed up by the energy in an instant,
And silence followed.
Yet, the blood-stained pit and the scattered remains of the wolves made it clear what had happened.
Upon witnessing this scene,
Zhao Qi and Zhao Ling both stared at their father in shock.
"Father is amazing!" Zhao Ling exclaimed in awe.
"Father!"
"How... how did you do that?" Zhao Qi asked curiously.
"Do you want to learn?" Zhao Feng asked with a smile.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
The two children nodded eagerly.
Seeing this,
Zhao Feng chuckled, "When you turn eight, you'll be able to start learning. Right now, even if I teach you, you won't be able to grasp it, and there isn't a suitable method for you yet."
Upon hearing this,
The two children looked slightly disappointed.
They had just witnessed their father perform what seemed like a magic trick
With a single palm strike, dozens of wolves were wiped out, and a massive crater was left in the ground.
It was simply too incredible.
"Alright,"
"In a few days, we'll return to Xianyang."
"For now, let's enjoy horse riding."
Zhao Feng smiled, spurred his horse forward, and continued galloping ahead.
Time flew by!
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
"Mother,"
"There's no need to see us off."
"Stay home and take care of yourself."
"I will return in some time."
Outside the town,
Zhao Feng waved farewell to his mother.
"Grandmother, goodbye!"
"We will come back again."
"Grandmother…"
Amidst their goodbyes,
The convoy gradually moved away from the town.
"A month passed so quickly,"
"If not for the king's orders, I really would have liked to stay a bit longer."
"But now, with Wei just recently pacified, the king already plans to wage war against another nation."
"He is eager to unify the world."
Zhao Feng thought to himself.
Before leaving Shacheng,
Zhao Feng had naturally visited the palace.
Before his departure,
Ying Zheng specifically ordered him to return to Xianyang within two months,
A timeframe that also accounted for travel.
As they traveled halfway through their journey
Zhang Ming suddenly approached Zhao Feng, holding a sealed intelligence report.
"Master,"
"A secret report from Yan Ting."
"It concerns the State of Yan."
Zhang Ming reported respectfully.
Hearing this,
Zhao Feng's expression changed as he quickly took the report.
"The State of Yan has dispatched an envoy to Qin."
"At the same time,"
"They have also sent envoys to Qi and Chu."
The report detailed these developments.
"This is bad."
"The Assassination of Qin!"
"The king is in danger!"
Zhao Feng's face darkened as a historical event came to mind.
"Master, what do you mean by the king being in danger?" Zhang Ming asked, puzzled.
In his view,
The king resided deep within the palace,
Guarded by tens of thousands of imperial troops.
How could there possibly be any danger?
Zhao Feng did not explain further.
Immediately, he rode up to the carriage where Wang Yan was.
"Yan'er,"
"I have urgent business in the capital." Zhao Feng said solemnly.
"Husband, go ahead." Wang Yan responded without hesitation.
"Zhang Ming!"
Zhao Feng called out.
"Present!" Zhang Ming immediately replied.
"Lead 1,500 elite guards and escort my wife safely back to the capital."
"Han Chenyan!"
Zhao Feng continued.
"Awaiting orders!"
Han Chenyan spurred his horse forward.
"Follow me ride nonstop to the capital!" Zhao Feng commanded firmly.
"Yes, sir!"
The soldiers responded in unison.
Without delay,
Zhao Feng led 500 elite guards,
Detaching from the convoy,
And galloped toward Xianyang at full speed.
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