Eleven years ago, during the ninth year of Feng Wuzheng's captivity as a hostage, in Lingyunpu, Guanzhong, Qin State.
Under clear skies, a procession slowly made its way from Xianyang, stretching over a mile long—its front and rear out of sight. Black-armored horsemen led the way, banners held high on either side, obscuring the sun and sky;At its center, a four-horse carriage stood beneath an umbrella canopy. Within sat Ying Zheng, Crown Prince of Qin, aged twenty-seven, clad in gleaming golden armor. Following the carriage rode the sons of Qin nobility, foreign ministers, and civil and military officials. Further behind came wooden cages for hawks and dogs, traps for beasts, and nets for hunting.Lingyun Garden, the royal estate of Qin, served as the hunting grounds for princes and nobles throughout the seasons. Located west of Xianyang, it stretched a hundred li in every direction, its landscape dotted with rolling hills, rivers, and lakes, lush with vegetation and teeming with wildlife.
Since entering Qin, Feng Wuzheng had consistently been among the attendants. Now, mounted on his horse, he observed a young man riding alongside him out of the corner of his eye. The youth was of similar age, broad-shouldered and slender-waisted, standing seven feet tall. His face was fair and beardless, his eyebrows fiery, his eyes like the celestial constellation Yu Heng. An aura of refined elegance emanated from him.Feng Wuzheng had never seen this man before. After pondering, he suddenly recalled that a young noble from the Kingdom of Qingqiu had recently arrived in Xianyang City, renowned for his peerless grace and charm. This must be him.
The Kingdom of Qingqiu lay in the northeast of the Central Plains, within the borders of Jizhou, on the shores of the Bohai Sea. It did not share a border with Qin. Legend held its people were descendants of the great Yu, a hybrid of human and fox. During the Xia Dynasty, Yu had married the nine-tailed white fox of Tushan, bearing two sons: Qi and Yi.Qi resembled his father, possessing more human traits; Yi resembled his mother, possessing more fox traits. After Yu's death, Qi killed Bo Yi and usurped the throne. Yi refused to conspire and fled far away to Liaodong to escape the calamity. There was a mountain named Qingqiu in that region, hence the name of their kingdom. Its people were handsome and possessed fox-like traits, with extremely keen senses, so it was also called the Fox Kingdom.
The men and horses formed ranks within the Yunling Garden. The court historian offered sacrifices and prayers to the heavens. Then Ying Zheng ascended the high platform and declared to the assembly:
"The sovereign is advanced in years; I shall perform the hunting rites in his stead. Today, I urge each of you to exert your utmost courage and skill. The most abundant haul shall be rewarded. However, trampling crops or disturbing dwellings is strictly forbidden. Any transgressor shall be handed over to the authorities for punishment."
As the third drumbeat faded, the nobles and aristocrats mounted their fine steeds, drew their carved bows, and rode deep into the garden grounds. Within the park, dense forests and crisscrossing waterways made it unlike the open plains where chariots could race. Hunters could only gallop on horseback to shoot, clamping their legs tightly against the horse's belly as they released their arrows—a technique reminiscent of northern nomadic warfare.The people of Zhuxia, lacking proper training, suffered frequent falls and injuries over the years. Wuzheng assumed the prince of Qingqiu must be a hostage in Qin like himself, and already felt a kindred spirit. Worried the prince might be unskilled in riding and archery, he approached him, bowed, and said:
"I am Wuzheng, Crown Prince of the Feng Kingdom. May I inquire about your noble surname?"
The man was adjusting his saddle and bridle when he turned at the words. Wu Zheng saw features as finely drawn as a painting, a face like polished jade, skin as smooth as goat's milk, and teeth like scattered pieces of white jade. Wu Zheng felt somewhat flustered. He had intended to treat him as a brother, but now it was as if he were facing a woman of unparalleled beauty. His heart fluttered, and he could only lower his head, his eyes fixed on the other's boots embroidered with gold and silver thread.
The figure turned back, returning the greeting:
"I am Prince Yan of the Qingqiu Kingdom."
"Wuzheng would be honored to hunt with you. What do you say?"
"Excellent! I am new to these parts and unfamiliar with the customs of the hunt. I would be most grateful for your guidance."
Both men rejoiced and prepared to mount their horses when suddenly a magnificent steed approached. This stallion towered over their own mounts by over a foot, its sinews taut and bones rugged as exposed rock. Its mane gleamed like polished jade, dark as a cloud obscuring the sky. Its breath thundered like rolling thunder, its nostrils flared with the roar of a tiger.Looking up at the rider, they recognized none other than Ying Zheng, Crown Prince of Qin! The two men hurriedly bowed in greeting. Ying Zheng, looking down from his lofty perch, asked Hu Yan:
"Would the young master care to hunt with me?"
Wuzheng, standing nearby, felt utterly mortified and ashamed. He should have anticipated that the newcomer would naturally accompany the Crown Prince, so why had he insisted on vying for this honor? As he prepared to bow and withdraw, Hu Yan spoke:
"Thank you for your invitation, Your Highness. However, I have just joined Young Master Wuzheng. I shall gladly accompany you next time."
Fox Yan dared to refuse Ying Zheng? Wuzheng's heart pounded. Ying Zheng shot Wuzheng a glance from the corner of his eye, snorted through his nostrils, then spurred his horse toward the garden. Only after the dust kicked up by the hooves settled did Wuzheng lift his head. He mounted his horse alongside Fox Yan and rode toward the garden as well.
This fox nobleman clearly knew nothing of the Crown Prince of Qin's temper...
As Wu Zheng spurred his horse forward, his mind raced. He had experienced Ying Zheng's temper firsthand. Though the prince couldn't vent his anger in this setting, he would surely seek revenge later. Within the Qin palace, the fiery, impulsive nature of youth was a recipe for disaster—especially for a foreign hostage like this new young noble. Wu Zheng needed to find a way to make him understand.
The two spurred their horses into a race, galloping freely across the plains. At times, Wuzheng would drive boars, hares, deer, or bears within Fox Yan's arrow range, whereupon the latter would draw his bow left and right, never missing a shot. At other times, Wuzheng would take up the bow himself, wounding beasts that fled, only for Fox Yan to pursue and capture them. Still other times, the two would chase after a single animal, competing to see who could seize it first. Within a single hour, they had already made several successful hunts.Wu Zheng never imagined Hu Yan to be so skilled in mounted archery—galloping and drawing his bow with unerring accuracy. He couldn't help but admire him silently. During breaks from the hunt, the two gradually struck up a conversation, and Wu Zheng learned that Hu Yan was not a hostage. It turned out that Qin pursued a strategy of "making distant allies and attacking nearby enemies." Since Qingqiu lay a thousand miles away, with Zhao between them, the two states had formed an alliance.Liaodong, being remote and untouched by the civilized ways of the Central Plains, had sent Fox Yan as a guest minister to observe its customs. Hearing this, Wu Zheng couldn't help but mock himself: How laughable that he, the most lowly of all, should presume to pity others!
Just then, Hu Yan spotted a fierce tiger sprinting ahead, its path leaving a trail of shattered trees and cracked rocks.Determined to claim today's top prize, he spurred his horse in pursuit, drew his bow fully, and released an arrow. Coincidentally, another arrow flew from the opposite direction. Wu Zheng looked toward its origin and saw Ying Zheng holding his bow, gazing toward the tiger to see if his shot had hit.Suddenly, Wu Zheng felt as if it were he himself fleeing with an arrow in his back. He frantically spurred his horse toward the spot where the beast had fallen. Dismounting, he saw the tiger lying dead beneath the thicket, its neck pierced by Fox Yan's arrow with its carved feather. Ying Zheng's arrow, adorned with a phoenix feather, was embedded in the trunk of a nearby tree.
Within moments, Ying Zheng arrived at the scene. Wu Zheng bowed respectfully and declared:
"Congratulations, Your Highness, on shooting the tiger!"
Ying Zheng saw his phoenix-feathered arrow embedded in the tiger's body and burst into laughter. He ordered his attendants to collect the kill before moving on. Just then, Hu Yan arrived. Seeing his failure, his expression resembled a cauldron of boiling water poured onto ice—the bubbling ceased abruptly, and the steam vanished in an instant.Seeing his dejected state, Wuzheng drew from his robe a broken arrow with carved feathers, still stained with tiger blood, and declared:
"You struck it. Yet Ying Zheng is arrogant and conceited—one cannot compete with him for victory. We outsiders must always remain humble, guard our words and actions, lest we invite disaster."
Hu Yan swatted the broken arrow from Wu Zheng's hand—along with his well-meaning words—to the ground, roaring with fury, "I never imagined you to be so cowardly!" Then he mounted his horse and galloped away.
It was high noon, and the hunt was halfway through. The two men continued to gallop their horses, yet not a word passed between them. Wu Zheng sensed that Hu Yan beside him had lost his earlier spirit, his face now twisted with resentment and anger, his mind elsewhere. Wu Zheng still drove the game, but Hu Yan no longer hit every shot; when Wu Zheng struck a beast, Hu Yan no longer spurred his horse to pursue.Wu Zheng saw a reflection of himself upon first arriving in Qin, and recalled how he had gradually learned the ways of survival over these nine years.
All of this is beneficial. You'll understand within a year.
As the two sat in awkward silence, a creature climbed vines and trees ahead. Resembling a monkey, it was fiery red, its limbs several times longer than its body. It alternated hands and feet to hook onto vines, swinging like a wheel from tree to tree;at other times it would leap to the ground and dash forward, covering several zhang in a few somersaults; and at still other moments it would stand utterly still, its form blending into the trees and foliage until it became nearly indistinguishable. Upon seeing this, Wuzheng shouted to Huyu:
"That creature is called a Shengsheng! Pursue it swiftly!"
The qingqing is a rare beast of the imperial gardens, craving human blood. Since arriving in Qin, Wuzheng had only encountered it three times, yet never once managed to capture it. Now, two men—one seeking to present it as an apology, the other driven by the frustration of having his kill snatched away—spurred their horses in pursuit.Wu Zheng heard the clatter of many horses' hooves behind him and knew the other princes were also pursuing this rare beast. He glanced back into the distance. Though he couldn't make out who was approaching, he knew it couldn't be Ying Zheng in his gleaming golden armor. Thus, he pursued with renewed confidence—this time, he wouldn't yield to anyone!
The fox darted through the woods, leaping and bounding southward. As it neared the thicket's edge, Wuzheng spurred his horse onward. Just as he surged forward like lightning, Fox Yan suddenly caught up from behind, yanking his reins with such force that the horse skidded to a halt, nearly throwing him clear.The fox darted and weaved ahead, vanishing into the thicket without a trace. Wu Zheng assumed Hu Yan was seeking revenge for earlier, deliberately sabotaging his pursuit. Just as he was about to erupt in anger, Hu Yan raised his index finger to his lips, signaling silence. From ahead came the rumbling of collapsing houses, mingled with the shrieks of numerous horses.Exchanging a glance, they rode three arrow-shots toward the noise. Parting dense underbrush, they saw a troop of horsemen charging into Qin peasants' fields. The frightened, unrestrained horses trampled crops into pulp; several farmhouses had been knocked down, with bleeding, moaning farmers trapped beneath the rubble.Wuzheng recognized the leader as Ying Zheng's younger brother, Cheng Jiao. Terrified out of his wits, Cheng Jiao had tumbled from his saddle, clutching the reins as he desperately tried to pull his horse back out of the field.
Hearing the commotion, Crown Prince Ying Zheng spurred his horse to the edge of the field. Cheng Jiao fell to his knees before his elder brother, pleading for mercy:
"I was chasing a gazelle and failed to notice the garden boundary. My horse couldn't stop in time, leading to this disaster. Please intercede with Father and show mercy to Cheng Jiao!"
Though the King of Qin wished to pardon his youngest son, the harsh laws of Qin held that princes were subject to the same penalties as commoners. He could only issue a decree: Cheng Jiao was sentenced for destroying property and injuring others. His face was branded, and he was exiled to the frontier to serve as a laborer. Simultaneously, a proclamation was issued nationwide, making this matter known to all the people to demonstrate the impartiality of the law.
Years later, when Wu Zheng recalled this incident, he couldn't help but suspect it was a scheme orchestrated by Ying Zheng. Rumors often circulated within Xianyang that Ying Zheng was actually the son of Lü Buwei, not the biological child of Ying Yiren, and thus unfit to inherit the throne. Consequently, his younger brother Cheng Jiao frequently harbored ambitions to seize power.The truth of these rumors remained elusive, yet had Fox Yan not reined in Wuzheng, he would surely have met a tragic end. Later, when Wuzheng asked Fox Yan how he had foreseen the danger, the man replied that the moment he saw the hyena, he had smelled the scent of human blood.
...
Early the next morning, Feng Wuzheng awoke in the Tongbai County post station and suddenly recalled last night's dream. Though merely a dream, it matched his memories perfectly.
Why would I dream of this case...
He pondered long and hard, concluding it was likely the scarlet branding of the knight-errant that reminded him of Cheng Jiao, who had suffered the same punishment.Yet his thoughts also turned to Hu Yan: the two had been as close as brothers. Four years younger, Hu Yan possessed a fierce and impatient temperament, calming only when Wuzheng was near. But the following year, Wuzheng's succession was revoked, forcing him to flee Qin in haste—without even bidding farewell to Hu Yan. At most, they had known each other for a mere year.
Yan, my brother, are you still in Qin? Should I enter Xianyang once more and see you, I would die without regret. If not, perhaps we shall never meet again...
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind: Could the swordsman traveling with him be Cheng Jiao?
Both bore branded marks on their faces. Having suffered such injustice, Cheng Jiao would surely seek vengeance against his elder brother Ying Zheng if he ever escaped. So that explains it! Everything falls into place! I sensed it long ago in the depths of my being—unconscious by day, yet revealed in nightly dreams.
He rejoiced at having pierced a corner of the fog his father had spread, but then reconsidered: the swordsman's appearance was hideous, vastly different from Prince Chengjiao of old. This part didn't add up. He pondered back and forth without resolution, then suddenly recalled the swordsman's request from yesterday. Suppressing his thoughts, he stepped outside.
Yesterday, upon entering the town, dusk had fallen thick, shrouding the county seat in darkness. Today, with daylight streaming in, its desolation and decay were laid bare: men, women, and children, all gaunt and sallow-faced, clad in rags, shouldering hoes with hunched backs, trudged listlessly toward the fields outside the city walls.The streets and alleys were empty and silent. Shops, inns, teahouses, and taverns were all closed for business, their faded signs still hanging in midair.Residential areas lay in sprawling ruins, courtyards overgrown with weeds, the remains of carcasses half-devoured by jackals faintly visible beneath the rubble. In the market, a handful of stalls offered sparse goods, devoid of the usual cries of buyers and sellers, or the clamor of haggling.Decades of warring states had left the countryside barren and untilled. Compounded by relentless floods and droughts, swarms of locusts descended, plunging the land into widespread famine. Tongbai County, once a major city of the State of Wei, had fallen into this state of ruin within a mere decade.
Wu Zheng scurried through the streets, but everyone he encountered treated him like a plague, scrambling to avoid him. After wandering aimlessly all day with no luck, he arrived at the prison behind the county yamen and struck up a conversation with the prisoners inside.It was an area enclosed by sharpened wooden stakes, holding roughly two hundred people. Qin law was harsh, and commoners easily incurred punishment. The old residents from the eastern regions were particularly unaccustomed to it, so much so that even the roofed cells were filled to capacity. Those convicted of minor offenses were left exposed to the open air.They were imprisoned for various reasons: some had pursued lowly trades or merchant ventures, others indulged in poetry and literature, while still others were lazy and unproductive in their farming. Wu Zheng squatted outside the fence, while the prisoners huddled within. Rarely seeing outsiders, they exchanged words, piecing together the outline of an event.It turned out that this county had indeed once been home to a pair of carpenter brothers. The elder was named Jing, the younger Hei Lu. After Qin conquered the county, craftsmen were conscripted to build the tomb of the former king, Ying Yiren, on Mount Li in Guanzhong. The wages were better than those of farmers, so the younger brother willingly went. But the elder brother regarded Qin as the enemy who destroyed their state and refused to serve, even at the cost of his life.The brothers quarreled fiercely. In the end, the younger brother, Hei Lu, went alone, while the elder, Jing, remained in their hometown. Later, the former king passed away, and the tomb was completed. The younger brother returned home to the county, only to find the county magistrate, intent on plundering the royal tomb, had fabricated charges against him. He was arrested, imprisoned, and tortured for information about the tomb's secrets.Fearing collective punishment, the elder brother fled into exile, his whereabouts unknown. Later, Hei Lu died under torture, and his family indeed suffered the consequences—his wife was exiled to the frontier. The entire village knew of this injustice, yet they could do nothing against the magistrate. To this day, the villain remains seated in his office, while Hei Lu's bones lie buried in the outskirts, mingled with the mass graves of laborers who died in punishment.
Upon hearing this tale, Wuzheng felt a deep sorrow. Returning to the inn at dusk, he lingered before the swordsman's door for a long while, unable to bring himself to enter. He paced back and forth, leaving and returning several times, yet his hand refused to knock. The man the swordsman sought was dead. What gift could he possibly present to the King of Qin? Without a gift, as the swordsman had warned, Ying Zheng might refuse to see him.If he couldn't gain an audience, how could he carry out the assassination? And if he couldn't assassinate the prince, how could he face his father to report back? A sudden evening breeze made him shiver.
Just as he hesitated, the swordsman heard footsteps at the door and invited him inside. They sat facing each other, and Wu Zheng recounted the events truthfully. The swordsman still wore his face-covering cloth, staring at the straw mat a foot before him. He listened intently, word by word. When he heard of Hei Lu's murder, he squeezed his eyes shut tightly, and the hands clasped on his knees clenched even tighter.
"Thank you, young master. I shall repay this debt tomorrow."
Wu Zheng understood he referred to the assassination attempt on the Qin ruler and concluded there might still be hope for the mission.
"In that case, I shall take my leave."
As Wu Zheng rose to leave, the swordsman stopped him.
"Hold on. Once tomorrow's business is concluded, I shall depart. We've known each other for several days now. If you're willing, young master, let's share a few cups here."
The swordsman's voice remained rough and strained, each word sounding like a taut string snapping.
"Since you've assisted me in this great matter, Wuzheng dares not refuse your invitation."
Over the past few days of travel, he had sought ten words from the swordsman but could not obtain them. Now, unexpectedly, he was invited to sit and drink freely. The swordsman produced wine vessels and filled two cups to the brim. The two men exchanged toasts and drained their cups in one gulp. As the sweet wine slid down their throats, the swordsman spoke first:
"Young Master, you were once held hostage in Qin. What do you think of Qin's governance?"
Recalling what he had seen in Xianyang and his home county, Wuzheng replied:
"The Confucian scholar Xunzi once visited Qin to observe its governance. He said: 'The common people are simple and honest, devoting themselves solely to farming and warfare. They do not indulge in pleasure, fear the officials greatly, and obey them. The officials are respectful, frugal, and earnest; they are loyal and trustworthy, showing no deceit. They possess the spirit of ancient times.' From this perspective, the Qin government seems commendable."
After speaking, he glimpsed through the mask the corner of the swordsman's mouth curling slightly, as if in a sneer.
"If that is the case, then your mission to assassinate the ruler of Qin—would that not be a grave mistake for the welfare of the world?"
"My sovereign and father has commanded it; I dare not disobey."
"This truly places you in a difficult position, young master!"
The mockery in the swordsman's words grew more pronounced. Wu Zheng realized his slip and hastily amended his statement:
"During my stay in Qin, I was like a bird in a cage, never venturing deep into the common people's world. I truly know little of the merits and flaws of Qin's governance. Please forgive my presumption!"
Seeing Wuzheng's flustered expression, the swordsman burst into laughter:
"Your words waver, young master—fearing I might refuse your aid tomorrow if we disagree, is that not so? Set your mind at ease. My word is as good as gold; how could I go back on it? Speak freely."
Exposed, Wuzheng felt even more mortified and downed his cup in one gulp. Fortunately, this allowed him to pour out his thoughts:
"I must confess, sir, I am of limited intellect and have yet to form a firm conviction. When the Kingdom of Feng fell to Qin's invasion, over a hundred thousand perished—bones bleached in the sun, rivers stained red with blood. How could my heart not ache? Yet if Qin unifies the realm, ending all future warfare, then this one dynasty's transgression might be a merit for all ages to come.Should my mission succeed, it might avert disaster for my homeland for a time. But who can guarantee another Qin won't rise? When war reignites, what good will it do?"
"How can you be certain that under Qin's rule, the people would find peace? Have you not heard of Shang Yang's five methods for controlling the populace: dumbing them down, weakening them, exhausting them, humiliating them, and impoverishing them? His harsh laws and oppressive labor demands all stem from this. Since Qin treats its citizens as cattle and beasts of burden, how could it ever grant the common folk true tranquility?"
"In my view, Qin's governance cannot be so utterly evil. If it were, why have the people of Qin borne Shang Yang's laws for over a century without complaint? Why does Qin, emerging eastward from Hangu Pass, exert such overwhelming pressure upon the feudal states?Without good governance, how could this be possible? Their national strength far surpasses the other states—there must be a reason. Take the twenty-rank nobility system as an example: in Qin, the lands conquered through warfare were largely distributed to the common people. In contrast, in the states east of the Pass, the profits from land holdings belonged either to the rulers or to the nobles, having nothing to do with the common folk. Comparing the two, isn't Qin's governance superior?"
The swordsman shook his head lightly, unconvinced:
"The simplicity of Qin's people and the diligence of its officials stem from the prospect of external gain. Each time Qin conquers a territory, it seizes land and wealth, leaving both officials and commoners content.Officials frequently earn rewards through military merit, thus sparing the need to exploit the people. Commoners, granted land and houses for beheading enemies, willingly endure harsh punishments and heavy labor—these benefits and costs balance each other out.However, once the realm is unified and warfare ceases, the Qin people will have no land to seize and no wealth to plunder. With no external gains possible, they will inevitably turn inward. At that point, the powerful and privileged officials will surely encroach upon the common people. With no avenue for profit, burdened by harsh labor and exploitation, the people will lose all benefits while suffering even greater oppression. How could they possibly endure this?
As for the twenty-rank feudal system, this is a legalist deception.With the realm still unsettled, Qin must drive its people to till the land and wage war—hence this policy. But once the Nine Provinces are pacified, the Qin King will surely reclaim every field he has granted. This is the logic of "killing the dog after the rabbit is caught" and "putting away the bow after the birds are gone." Not only will he reclaim the land, but with no rivals left under heaven, the Qin King will indulge his whims and likely oppress the common folk even more than before.
"Are you suggesting that after unification, the people's lives will be worse than during the Warring States period?"
"Precisely."
Wuzheng shook his head. Seeing this, the swordsman said:
"Since you do not believe me, would you wager with me?"
"You must depart far away tomorrow. How shall we determine the outcome?"
"My lord need only say whether you will wager or not."
"I accept."
The two men clasped right hands in a solemn oath. Wuzheng thought: Though this man's appearance is repulsive, his speech is far from commonplace. He doesn't seem like a smooth talker, yet he possesses genuine insight. It felt like ice and charcoal meeting—utterly incompatible. If given the chance, he would gladly swear brotherhood with the swordsman. Alas, they would part tomorrow, destined never to deepen their bond in this lifetime.
The swordsman continued:
"What do you think of the woodworking brothers in this county, young master? In my view, Black Limb brought his own misfortune by ignoring his elder brother's advice. His death was well deserved."
"Not so. A younger brother is young and may not see things clearly at times. It is not his fault."
"If you were Hei Lu's elder brother, would you not resent him?"
"What nonsense! How could a brother resent his own sibling?"
"If you were Hei Lu's elder brother, would you avenge him?"
"This... Our enemy is an official of Qin. What can a mere commoner do? It is better to preserve oneself and keep the bloodline of our clan alive."
"So you would abandon your own brother and flee?"
"It seems there is no other choice."
The swordsman's expression darkened once more, drinking silently without uttering a word.Seeing this, Wuzheng realized he must have said something wrong and regretted his rash words. After all, he didn't know the relationship between the swordsman and his brother, nor the story behind them. How could he presume to comment on someone else's family affairs? Perhaps the man before him was even Heilu's elder brother. He hated that he was like a pool of clear water, always transparent to others, never learning the smooth-talking ways of the silver-tongued.
Fortunately, after a moment of silence, the swordsman showed no sign of anger. He merely asked:
"Do you have brothers, young master?"
"I am the only son of my legitimate mother, though I have several half-brothers. Yet within the palace walls, familial bonds grow cold—far less warm than the simple joys found in common households." As Wu Zheng spoke, yesterday's dream suddenly returned to him. He drained his cup and added, "I do have one sworn brother, though our time together was brief, and now I have no word of him. I am a man of little fortune, wandering since my youth, forever alone."
Seeing the sorrow on Wuzheng's face, the swordsman refrained from further questions. The two simply raised their cups, toasting each other's longevity.Wu Zheng deliberately steered the conversation toward tales of the Qin palace. To his surprise, the swordsman proved remarkably well-versed in them—whether rumors or anecdotes, he recounted them with ease. This confirmed Wu Zheng's suspicion: this man was undoubtedly Prince Chengjiao of Qin. Years of harsh labor as a convict must have transformed his appearance beyond recognition.
As they passed cups back and forth, both men grew tipsy. Wu Zheng rose to take his leave. Just as he reached the doorway, the swordsman called him back and asked:
"Is this county magistrate still the one who caused Black-Spine's death?"
"Indeed."
Wu Zheng stepped back and left. That night, fueled by the wine, he slept soundly through the night.The next morning, the two sat facing each other in the same carriage again, still silent, as if last night's feast had never occurred. The carriage moved slowly toward the west gate of the county town. Wu Zheng didn't know where their next stop would be, nor how many more days of jolting travel lay ahead. He had no idea what the swordsman meant by "tomorrow will bring its own reward." He only had a vague sense that today would not be as calm as yesterday.
Lost in thought, the carriage abruptly halted beside the rear wall of the county yamen. The swordsman gripped his blade, leaped from the carriage, scaled the outer wall in two strides, and flipped into the courtyard. His movements were swift as a weasel. By the time Wuzheng registered what had happened, the swordsman had vanished behind the courtyard wall.Alone in the carriage, he felt utterly lost. The outer wall of the yamen blocked his view, leaving him unable to see what unfolded within. The courtyard remained silent at first, then suddenly filled with the dull thud of blades piercing flesh. Simultaneously, crimson blood spurted upward, spraying higher than the courtyard wall and splattering onto the roof rafters.No cries, no groans, no clanging of blades—only droplets of blood bursting from various points in the courtyard, near and far, left and right. Wu Zheng watched them fly, then fall, vanishing from his sight.Moments later, the swordsman scaled the wall, clutching a white cloth-wrapped head whose features stood starkly defined. He leapt onto the carriage, tapped the front wall, then lifted the seat as he had upon entering the city, slipping inside with the head concealed beneath him.The carriage immediately began moving forward, slowly approaching the city gate. After passing the guards' inspection, it exited the city, traveling along the main road before turning onto a small path. It veered south, turning into the wilderness outside the suburbs.
At that moment, a tremendous clamor erupted from the county town. Wu Zheng glanced back to see a Qin military commander riding from the city to the gate. He barked an order to the guards, who hastily locked the gate, trapping the Qin citizens waiting to exit inside.
The swordsman sat back down, bloodstained, placing the sack containing the severed head at his feet. Wu Zheng watched him, and he returned the gaze. Neither spoke.
The head they had come for belonged to the magistrate of Tongbai County.
The carriage had now reached a desolate graveyard on the outskirts of the city. The swordsman dismounted and began searching among the disordered mounds. A chilling wind swept through the gloom, where sunlight scarcely penetrated. Graves rose from the earth like festering boils, each marked only by a single tile serving as a headstone, roughly engraved with the deceased's hometown and title.The swordsman halted before one inscribed: "Tomb of Wu Heilu, Scholar of Tongbai County." He placed the magistrate's severed head beside the tile, took a fire-lighter from his attendant, and set it ablaze. Then, bowing three times before the grave, he declared:
"The kindness you showed me, I cannot repay; the wrong you suffered, I have avenged. May you rest in peace beneath the earth, benefactor."
Wuzheng had been watching the entire scene unfold, growing increasingly bewildered. The swordsman had been indebted to the carpenter Hei Lu? Wasn't this head meant as a tribute to Ying Zheng? Why burn it? Most crucially, he suddenly realized: How could the Qin King's enemy be a mere county magistrate from his own realm?
Before he could ponder further, the swordsman suddenly spoke:
"Feng Wuzheng, after ten years apart, I never imagined you'd remain so cowardly."
Wuzheng's mind exploded as if struck by lightning. All his blood rushed to his head. In an instant, the heavens and earth spun upside down. His limbs went numb, unable to move an inch. His entire body lurched forward, about to collapse to the ground.
"Catch the head I offer to Qin! Don't forget our wager!"
With that, the swordsman drew his blade and took his own life. The anguished cry pent up in Wuzheng's chest finally burst forth:
"Huyan!"