In the capital of the Qin state, Xianyang, at the Prime Minister's residence.
Everything was just as it had always been.
Lü Buwei, the current Prime Minister of Qin, was holding a brush (yes, even though this is the Qin's Moon world, where high heels exist, don't be surprised), seemingly writing something.
Behind him, a man in black, covered in blood, knelt on one knee. The door opened, and a maid entered, glancing at the man in black with a slight frown. She respectfully bowed to Lü Buwei and said, "Prime Minister, the Empress Dowager has ordered me to inform you that she invites you to the palace tonight to discuss state affairs."
Lü Buwei frowned, snapping the brush he held in his hand, and said coldly, "Kindly inform the Empress Dowager that Lü Buwei is feeling unwell and unable to attend. Please forgive me, and once I recover, I will visit her personally. Show her out."
With that, Lü Buwei waved his hand dismissively.
The maid, having no other choice, left through the back door escorted by guards.
When it came to the Empress Dowager Zhao Ji, Lü Buwei always had a headache. Zhao Ji had once been one of his concubines, but when they met Ying Yiren, the hostage prince of Qin in Handan, Lü Buwei sensed an opportunity. He offered Zhao Ji to Ying Yiren and spent all his wealth helping Ying ascend to the throne of Qin. In return, Lü Buwei gained the title of Prime Minister.
Years later, when Ying Yiren passed away, Lü Buwei supported the young Ying Zheng to become king, and his power in Qin grew, especially since he secretly maintained an affair with Zhao Ji.
However, the situation had its downsides. As Ying Zheng grew older, he was beginning to slip out of Lü Buwei's control. Zhao Ji, now in her prime, was too much for his aging body to handle. Just thinking about it gave Lü Buwei a headache.
"So you're saying that the boy wielding the Xuanjian's Black Sword is at least of the 'killer' rank?" Lü Buwei asked coldly.
"Yes, Prime Minister," the man in black replied, his voice trembling. Having failed his mission, he feared for his life.
If Zuzong were present, he would have recognized the man in black as the one who escaped from him the previous night.
Lü Buwei glanced at the man's groin area, always bulging, and waved his hand. "That's enough, Lao Ai, you may leave."
The man in black, Lao Ai, feeling as though he had been granted a reprieve, limped out of the room.
After he left, a masked woman emerged from behind a screen.
The woman held a pink and gold sword with a lotus-shaped hilt. She wore a purple, fitted metallic battle suit with white stripes. Her legs and right arm were covered in fish-scale armor, and the fish-shaped patterns on her chest plate matched the elegance of her sword, creating a visually stunning appearance.
"Prime Minister," she said coldly, her voice devoid of emotion.
"What's your assessment?"
"I have not yet discerned his strength."
"Oh?" Lü Buwei was surprised. This woman was one of the top-tier assassins in the Luo Network, second only to Yanri and Xuanjian. "Very well. Tomorrow night, I will send several 'killer'-rank assassins to invite him to join the Luo Network. If he refuses, they will kill him and retrieve the Black Sword. You observe from the shadows, and only strike when you're sure."
"Yes, Prime Minister. I'll take my leave now."
Before she could exit, Lü Buwei spoke again. "Once this task is done, your next target will be the Lord of Letter, Wei Wuji, of Wei."
The masked woman nodded and vanished from the room.
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The next morning, after enjoying breakfast brought by Xiao Wu, Zuzong returned to the Qin's Moon world.
Wandering the streets of Xianyang after his training, Zuzong noticed there were more people monitoring him than the day before. He wasn't particularly bothered. He welcomed any assassins that came after him, looking forward to honing his swordsmanship against these battle-hardened opponents.
Zuzong entered an inn and made his way to the second floor, choosing a seat by the window.
As he looked around, his gaze was drawn to a familiar figure.
A woman wearing a dark blue gown, with long hair tied up, a hairpin in place, and adorned with dark blue gemstone accessories. Her dress had a design resembling the three-legged golden crow.
"Could that be Yanfei, the Eastern Empress of the Yin-Yang clan?" Zuzong thought to himself.
Now that they had met, Zuzong wasn't going to pretend otherwise. He had always been intrigued by Yanfei, the most mysterious woman in the original story of the Yin-Yang clan. Saying he wasn't interested would be a lie.
In the original story, Yanfei betrayed the Yin-Yang clan for Yan Dan and killed the Six-Fingered Black Hero to become the head of the Mohist clan. But in return, Yan Dan abandoned her.
She looked around 16 or 17 now, still far from being involved with Yan Dan.
While Zuzong observed her, Yanfei also studied him.
At that moment, Yanfei frowned slightly.
Before her departure, Donghuang Taiyi had told her to protect the 'Son of the Stars' and also keep an eye on a certain individual. She would know who it was the moment she saw them.
This boy, with his long blue-silver hair, unusual attire, and a face so beautiful that it made women envious, must be that person. He also carried one of the Xuanjian's swords, the Black Sword. What was his purpose in Xianyang?
Curiosity stirred within Yanfei as she watched the mysterious youth.
As Zuzong enjoyed his meal, he took out a bottle of soul wine from his coat. He had purchased it at the Heaven Dou Auction House for 100,000 gold soul coins, buying 20 bottles in total. He had gifted three to Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie but had yet to try it himself.
As soon as he popped the cork, the second floor was filled with a rich, intoxicating aroma. The fragrance was refreshing, and one sniff was enough to invigorate the spirit.
Just as Zuzong was relishing the wine, a deep male voice came from upstairs.
"Ha ha! Young man, that fine wine of yours is truly divine! Just one whiff has me enchanted."
As the voice finished speaking, a man in his twenties with a goatee slowly descended the stairs. This was none other than Yan Dan, the crown prince of the Yan state. Following him was a bodyguard who wasn't in the original story, likely a minor character.
Zuzong frowned, surprised to see the notorious Yan Dan.
Yanfei, on the other hand, was merely watching the scene unfold with amusement.
Yan Dan approached Zuzong, his gaze briefly falling on the Black Sword at Zuzong's waist. Bowing, he said, "I am Yan Dan, crown prince of the Yan state. Might I have the honor of sampling your exquisite wine?"
Zuzong didn't reply immediately. Instead, he poured himself a glass of soul wine and, after taking a sip, said indifferently, "This wine is fit for those who align with my sense of character, whether they are saints or sinners. But there is one type of person who can never drink it, no matter how noble or powerful they are."
"Oh?" A flash of surprise crossed Yan Dan's eyes. Since Zuzong had walked into Xianyang wearing the Black Sword openly, many factions had taken notice of him.
The Luo Network under Lü Buwei was the first to act, but Yan Dan had also been watching closely. Although he had only just entered Xianyang, he had already established an intelligence network. His spies had reported how Zuzong easily dispatched Luo Network assassins the previous night.
A mysterious and highly skilled swordsman like Zuzong would be a valuable asset. To gain his favor, Yan Dan even ignored the poised and elegant Yanfei standing nearby.
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