Simultaneous travel: I am a talented person in all the worlds

Chapter 195 A man's heart is as firm as iron until death!
The night was as dark as ink, and the cold wind was biting.

After learning from Mo Yu that Lord Xinling might be in danger, Jing Ke was so anxious that he even forgot about Gongsun Li and used all his energy to speed away.

Traveling day and night, he finally arrived at Lord Xinling's fiefdom at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM).

His sleeves were covered in dust and fallen leaves, and were soaked by the cold night fog, making him look disheveled.

The long journey and his anxiety had made him look haggard, with beads of sweat on his forehead and his cheeks slightly flushed from the cold wind, but his eyes remained bright.

"Phew~" As the outline of Lord Xinling's residence emerged in the night, he felt a little relieved and exhaled a long breath of white air.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he stopped, straightened his disheveled clothes, and took a few slow steps to calm his rapid breathing.

To be honest, he had never been this nervous, not even when he was meeting the legendary Six-Fingered Black Knight.

This was not his first visit to Lord Xinling's residence. Lord Xinling was hospitable, and Wei and Wei were not far apart. Jing Ke had come to the residence many times to drink, exchanging cups and chatting with this famous scholar of the Warring States period.

Lord Xinling, Wei Wuji, was unrestrained and carefree, never bothered by trivial matters, yet everyone who came to pay him a visit would sincerely observe basic etiquette.

This is not fear, but respect!

A tribute to this man who dedicated his life to chivalry, stole the tally to rescue Zhao, and decisively defeated the Qin army.

His charm is like strong liquor, rich and intoxicating, making people willing to bow down to him.

When Jing Ke arrived at the gate of the mansion, he could not smell the familiar faint scent of wine. The mansion was deathly silent, and even the sound of the wind seemed particularly harsh.

His expression darkened, and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

It should be noted that after Lord Xinling returned to the State of Wei, he was not given important positions due to the King of Wei's suspicion. In his disappointment, he held banquets in his mansion every day and night.

At its peak, one could smell the faint aroma of wine as soon as they entered the fiefdom.

That was Lord Xinling drinking and making merry with his subjects.

This situation worsened after King Jingmin of Wei ascended the throne.

Many people advised him that such indulgence in alcohol and women was bad for his health, but he just smiled and raised his glass to invite others to drink.

Lord Xinling was such a free-spirited and unrestrained person.

His mansion had never been so desolate. Even when he went on trips, the servants in the mansion would still entertain the wandering knights and scholars who came to admire him.

"Bang, bang, bang!" With trepidation, Jing Ke knocked on the gate of the mansion.

The heavy knocking echoed in the night, striking his heartstrings like a drumbeat.

He held his breath, listening intently, trying to catch any sound from inside the door.

A cold wind swept by, ruffling his soaked clothes and bringing a chill, but he was oblivious, his gaze fixed on the tightly closed vermilion door.

A moment later, a soft footstep came from the crack in the door, low and slow, as if deliberately suppressed. The door slowly opened, and an old servant peeked out, his wrinkled face appearing even more weathered in the dim light.

Upon seeing Jing Ke, he was taken aback at first, then a hint of wariness flashed in his eyes, and he said in a low voice, "Young Master Jing? What brings you here so late at night?"

Jing Ke bowed respectfully, trying to keep his tone calm: "I have urgent business to discuss with Your Majesty. Please inform Your Majesty."

The old servant's gaze swept over him, noticing his disheveled clothes but resolute eyes. After a moment's hesitation, he said in a low voice, "Young hero, you have come at an inopportune time. His Majesty is unwell today and has been resting for some time. He is not in a position to receive guests."

"Not feeling well?" Jing Ke frowned, his unease growing.

Although Lord Xinling loved wine, he never let it interfere with his affairs. Even if he was drunk and asleep, he would still hold a banquet in his mansion to entertain guests. How could he refuse to let even an acquaintance like him out?

Suppressing his doubts, he said in a deep voice, "This matter is of great importance. I beg you to make an exception for me. I will be leaving in a moment."

The old servant sighed, as if he had something difficult to say, and after a long while said, "In that case, young hero, come with me, but do not disturb the emperor."

He turned and led the way, his steps faltering, carrying a dim yellow lantern that cast a faint shadow in the night.

Jing Ke followed him into the mansion, passed through the front courtyard, and glanced around. He saw that the courtyard was deserted, and the brightly lit scene of the past was gone.

The corridor was deserted, the tavern was empty, and even the servants were few and far between. Only a few servants were busy with their heads down, as if they were trying to cover something up.

His nose twitched slightly as he faintly smelled a faint, almost imperceptible, metallic scent of blood mixed in with the cold wind, and his heart sank.

The old servant led him to the main hall and stopped him there, whispering, "Young hero, please wait a moment while I go and inform them." After saying that, he turned and went inside, leaving Jing Ke standing alone outside the hall.

A night breeze blew by, swirling up a withered leaf from the ground and making a soft rustling sound.

Jing Ke gripped the sword hilt tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. The ominous premonition in his heart grew stronger, as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heartbeat.

A moment later, the old servant returned, his face even more grave, and said in a low voice, "His Majesty has granted you permission to enter. Please follow me."

Jing Ke nodded, suppressing his unease, and quickly stepped into the bedroom.

The room was dimly lit, with only a single lamp flickering, casting a burly figure on the screen—a silhouette that was by no means that of Lord Xinling!

Jing Ke's pupils contracted sharply, and his long sword was drawn half an inch from its sheath. Since he did not sense any killing intent and was more worried about Lord Xinling's condition, he slowly stepped forward, walked around the screen, and saw the face of the burly figure clearly.

"Brother Zhu Hai, how could it be you?!" Jing Ke exclaimed, his voice filled with astonishment and confusion, but he sheathed his sword.

Back when Lord Xinling stole the tally to rescue Zhao, it was this fierce man who took out a forty-pound iron hammer from his sleeve and killed Jin Bi with a single blow.

It should be noted that Jin Bi was a veteran general of the Wei Kingdom, a ruthless man who had fought his way up from the battlefield. Although he was old, his strength had not declined much, and he was a true first-class master.

Even if it were Jing Ke today, let alone killing him in one move, he might not be able to defeat the veteran general Jin Bi in a head-on confrontation.

This man was arguably the most skilled bodyguard by Lord Xinling's side, possessing both courage and wisdom. For over a decade, he faithfully protected Lord Xinling, shielding him from countless open and hidden attacks. Anyone could betray him, but he was the only one who would not; otherwise, Lord Xinling would have died long ago.

However, Zhu Hai at this moment was a completely different person.

That face, which had never shown weakness and was always resolute, was now haggard, with sunken eyes and bloodshot veins, as if it hadn't slept for many days. The spine, as upright and unyielding as Mount Buzhou, was slightly hunched, as if bent by an invisible burden.

"It's you, Brother Jing." Zhu Hai's voice was hoarse and low, with a hint of weariness. His gaze swept over Jing Ke, and he seemed to relax slightly after recognizing him, but he could not hide the deep sorrow hidden in his eyes.

Jing Ke stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "General Zhu, where is the emperor? Why is the mansion so strange?"

He spoke urgently, his eyes scanning the hall, trying to find traces of Lord Xinling, but all he saw were empty tables and scattered wine cups, the remaining wine in the cups long since cooled.

Zhu Hai remained silent for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing as if suppressing some emotion. He opened his mouth several times but made no sound, his tiger-like eyes red as he silently shed tears.

When Jing Ke saw him like this, his heart sank, as if he had fallen into an ice cave. The terrible thought could no longer be suppressed and surged into his mind like a flood breaking through a dam.

No longer caring about etiquette, he stepped forward and grabbed Zhu Hai's arms, his knuckles white, his hands trembling, his urgent and panicked tone tinged with hope: "Brother Zhu Hai, tell me! Where is Lord Xinling?! Where is the Emperor?!"

Zhu Hai's physical training had long since reached a top-tier level, his muscles and bones as strong as iron, yet at this moment his body was limp, swaying with Jing Ke's trembling hands. He remained silent, large tears sliding down his dejected face, hitting the ground with a soft "plop," shattering Jing Ke's last glimmer of hope.

Jing Ke stiffly turned his head to look at the cold, half-empty cup of wine on the table. The wine reflected the dim light of the solitary lamp, creating a slight ripple on the surface.

My mind went blank, my legs went weak, and I collapsed to the ground, my knees hitting the ground with a dull thud.

"Impossible, impossible, absolutely impossible!" Jing Ke murmured to himself, his voice trembling and low: "He was our sovereign, the invincible Lord Xinling, how could he be dead?"

The bright light in his eyes gradually dimmed, replaced by endless shock and grief, as if an invisible sword had pierced his chest, torn apart his beliefs, and left him breathless.

Lord Xinling, Wei Wuji, stole the tally to rescue Zhao, defeated the Qin army, commanded the troops of five states, was the foremost of the Four Great Lords of the Warring States period, and an invincible monument in the hearts of countless heroes, yet he perished.

This news struck like a bolt from the blue, shattering Jing Ke's world.

Zhu Hai looked down at him, his throat choked with emotion, and placed his rough hand on Jing Ke's shoulder. After a long silence, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence: "His Majesty passed away two months ago."

"Two months ago?" Jing Ke was suddenly stunned, his body stiff as a stone, his mind a complete mess. "Two months ago... then why did no one know? Why was it still possible for the manor to keep it a secret until now?"

Zhu Hai closed his eyes, took a deep breath, suppressed his grief, and slowly said, "This is the arrangement of the sovereign. Now the Qin army is pressing on the border. As soon as the war started, my Wei state lost several important cities in succession. The reason why the Qin army did not continue to attack but instead attacked Wei is simply because they are afraid of the sovereign's prestige."

"Qin is also afraid of pressing too hard, lest the current King of Wei reinstate the ruler. As long as they haven't confirmed the news of Lord Xinling's death, the Qin army won't dare to launch a large-scale attack on Wei."

He clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles cracking, and gritted his teeth, saying, "This is the last thing the king did for this country! He was worried about the future of this country that had failed him until his death!!"

The last sentence was almost roared from his throat, filled with endless grief and resentment, but he dared not speak too loudly because of Lord Xinling's last wish. The extremely suppressed voice made it sound even more desolate.

"Your Majesty..." Jing Ke's voice was hoarse, filled with heart-wrenching pain, and tears streamed down his cheeks, dripping onto the ground.

Lord Xinling, Wei Wuji.

He was unrestrained in life, but worried about the country until his death.

For the sake of the country, not even a decent funeral was given.

Even if the king cannot tolerate him, he will burn his last bit of strength and use his own body to support the collapsing edifice.

Let me say this: a man's heart is as firm as iron until death. Let's see if I can mend the crack in the sky!

"Before his death, the emperor instructed me to guard the mansion and conceal the truth."

Zhu Hai squatted down, his rough hands pressing on Jing Ke's shoulder again, and whispered, "He knew that the King of Wei was incompetent and the court was corrupt. If the news got out, the Qin army would take advantage of the situation and invade, and the State of Wei would be in danger. He sacrificed his life to buy this moment of respite. I urge Brother Jing to be careful with his words and not reveal any news from the mansion to outsiders."

Suppressing his grief, Jing Ke patted his chest and solemnly said, "Brother Zhu Hai, rest assured, even if I die, I will not utter a single word!"

But as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly thought of something, frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then said in a deep voice: "To be honest, the reason I came here is because my Mo family's 'Six-Finger Qin Demon' has calculated that the assassins of the Luo Wang may be planning to assassinate Your Majesty, so he sent me to investigate."

"The Six-Fingered Demon of the Qin?" Zhu Hai's voice revealed a hint of confusion.

He was a seasoned veteran, having roamed the martial world for decades and encountered countless heroes, but he had never heard of this name before. He asked in a low voice, "Who is this?"

"Ahem." Jing Ke coughed lightly, lowering his head to cover his embarrassment for a moment.

Mo Yu revealed his true identity because he trusted him. He was a man of integrity and would not easily reveal his identity even when facing Zhu Hai.

"The Six-Fingered Qin Demon is a disciple of the Grand Master of the Mo Family. A few days ago, when Brother Zhang, the commander of Wei Moyuan, was assassinated by the Luo Wang, the Grand Master sent him to clean up the mess."

Zhu Hai's eyes revealed a look of understanding, and he sighed deeply, his voice full of regret: "There are so many outstanding talents in the world. If this brilliant student had come to Wei earlier, perhaps..."

"Was the matter concerning the emperor truly the work of the Net?"

"Yes, the top-ranked assassin of the Luo Wang organization, one of the Eight Swords of Yue King—Jing Ni!"

"She was a woman of unparalleled beauty, the most favored concubine of the emperor recently. No one expected that she was actually an assassin sent by the Luo Wang, so I was unable to stop her when she made her move."

Zhu Hai paused, a flash of anger and self-reproach in his eyes. "When I realized it, His Majesty had already been stabbed in the abdomen. I wanted to kill the woman, but His Majesty stopped me, saying that he had already been poisoned and that even without this sword, he would not live much longer."

"For the next three days, despite his severe injuries, His Majesty continued to hold banquets and drink heartily with everyone, and at night he painstakingly made arrangements while enduring excruciating pain."

He paused, as if something was blocking his throat, and he could no longer speak. He lowered his head and remained silent for a moment before whispering, "It is precisely because of this that the Luo Wang has been unable to confirm whether His Majesty is dead."

"I see, as expected of Your Majesty!"

Jing Ke recalled Lord Xinling, who, even in his final three days, remained unrestrained, drinking heavily with others, and using his iron-willed courage to hold up the last vestige of Wei. A heavy blow struck his chest; a mixture of bitterness and admiration made it almost impossible for him to breathe.

“Brother Zhu Hai, I will never reveal anything to anyone else, but can I tell the person who sent me? The Emperor’s sacrifice cannot be hidden for long. Perhaps that person can carry on the Emperor’s legacy!”

(End of this chapter)