People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 169, Ambushed, Zi Nu Rescues (Seeking Monthly Tickets!!)

Xinzheng, South Korea.

Xu Qing closed the door and sat down at the table.

"The events in Wei that Han Fei mentioned should be Nian Duan helping me build up my influence in Wei."

Xu Qing recalled Zi Nu's words and sighed helplessly.

On his way back, he thought carefully about Nian Duan's purpose, and after much deliberation, he vaguely guessed what it was.

Ultimately, the reason things have come to this point is due to his and Nian Duan's discussion about the current state of medical practitioners.

Although the doctrines of various schools of thought differ, they all ultimately aim to govern the country and restore peace to the world, and the medical profession is no exception.

The medical community prides itself on being the guardians of all people, but what has truly harmed them is the centuries of chaos since the Spring and Autumn Period. If the medical community wants to change the world, relying solely on the opposition faction led by Nian Duan is utterly useless.

It is still necessary for physicians to be sent by the court to persuade the monarch to restore peace to the world.

Nian Duan helped him build his reputation, probably because he saw in him the hope of reviving the medical school's political ideology. So he used his decades of accumulated reputation to pave the way for him.

"That's why they say doctors aren't suited for the imperial court; who paves the way for others like this?" Xu Qing thought to himself.

Although Nian Duan's intention to help him build momentum and pave the way for him was good, the timing was wrong. He is currently deeply involved in the power struggle in South Korea, and such a high profile will only backfire.

"That first-class opportunity back then was probably not only the inheritance of medical skills from a medical family, but also Nian Duan's help in creating momentum for me."

Xu Qing finally understood why he had said earlier that this first-grade opportunity should be chosen with great care; the cause and effect involved were too great.

"Well, for now, we can only take it one step at a time. Han Wang An is easy to fool, and the other party still needs me. As long as I perform normally, the other party won't say anything."

"With my dear Lady Mingzhu here, there isn't much of a problem with Ji Wuye. The only one we need to be wary of is Han Yu, but it doesn't matter anyway, since we're already sworn enemies."

After analyzing the current situation, Xu Qing's solemn expression gradually faded, eventually turning into helplessness.

"The Qianlong Hall's treasure exchange event is tomorrow night. I wonder what good stuff they'll have this time."

While thinking about the Qianlong Hall's treasure exchange event, Xu Qing took Lingxu off the wall and prepared to practice his swordsmanship.

The sword was drawn, its bright blade illuminating half the room. Just as Xu Qing was about to practice his swordsmanship, the orb of light in his mind lit up again.

Two fortune sticks flew out from the middle. Xu Qing put the Lingxu sword back into its sheath and focused on the fortune sticks.

[Undercurrents surge beneath the abyss; treasures are exchanged for riches under the bright moon; danger lurks everywhere, making progress difficult.]

[A moderate fortune; you travel alone to the Hidden Dragon Hall, encounter danger, but escape unharmed, your wishes come true, and you obtain a fourth-grade opportunity. A peaceful outcome.]

[A less than ideal outcome. Staying at home is extremely dangerous; you may end up imprisoned, ultimately achieving nothing but a mirage. Minor misfortune.]

Looking at the fortune slip in her mind, Xu Qing immediately thought of the two previous times she had encountered the same fortune slip.

"Could it be that someone is trying to assassinate me again? As expected, the best imperial physicians are still those from the Ming Dynasty. They managed to kill two emperors in a row and still escape unscathed."

Xu Qing mentally grumbled a couple of times before focusing on analyzing the fortune.

If, as he suspected, someone was trying to assassinate him, then leaving the city would indeed be safer than staying at home; once outside the city, he could act as he pleased.

If he stays at home, and the fighting becomes too intense, attracting the attention of birds or patrolling soldiers, his martial arts skills will be exposed.

"Does one have to go to the Hidden Dragon Hall alone to achieve their goal? It's rare for someone to offer me practical experience; wouldn't it be a waste of their kindness if I didn't go?"

Xu Qing has been diligently practicing martial arts these past few days and has acquired considerable skill, but he has never had the opportunity to put it into practice. Now that someone is giving him experience points, he naturally wants to pick them up.

After making his decision, Xu Qing turned his attention to another matter: who was trying to assassinate him?
"I don't think I've offended anyone recently. Could it be that Han Yu saw Han Fei looking for me today and is now getting restless?"

Xu Qing's eyes flashed with coldness. After thinking it over, she realized that Han Yu was the most suspicious person, since he was the one with the most motive.

"I was planning to slowly boil you down like a frog in lukewarm water, but since you're so eager to die, I'll just add fuel to the fire."

Stroking the Lingxu Sword in his hand, a hint of killing intent flashed in Xu Qing's eyes.

He originally thought Han Yu was a respectable person, and that conflicts in the court should be discussed in court. But since Han Yu was no longer respectable, he would help Han Yu to be respectable.

As for the outcome, that depends on whether Han Yu can accept it.

Without much time to hesitate, Xu Qing sat cross-legged and began to adjust his internal energy, preparing to cultivate and deal with the possible assassination attempt the next day.

Nothing happened that night. The next day was a day off, so Xu Qing stayed at home as usual. After eating some simple food, he continued his cultivation.

Xu Qing went out and rented a horse, intending to use it for going out that evening.

The sun is setting in the west and it is getting late.

Inside the guest room, Xu Qing was preparing things she might need for tonight.

"Jade silver needles, silver needles, crossbows, Lingxu sword, wasteful powder, three-day blood."

"With a total of thirteen kinds of poisonous incense, large and small, plus my own strength, the probability of successfully surviving this assassination attempt without injury should be 98%."

Adhering to the adage that caution throughout life brings lifelong benefits, Xu Qing never fought a battle he was not confident of winning. He carefully concealed the silver needles and incense on his person, put the Lingxu sword in its case, slung it over his shoulder, and went out.

Leading his rented horse, Xu Qing headed towards the Hidden Dragon Hall outside the city.

Just after Xu Qing led his horse across the stone bridge in the east ward, the person secretly watching Xu Qing immediately reported the news.

At the Fourth Young Master's residence, Han Qiancheng found Han Yu undergoing rehabilitation training. Han Yu was using foot braces made by the Mo family to practice walking, trying to make himself walk like a normal person.

"Qiancheng, why do I always feel a bit bumpy no matter how I practice? Could it be that there's something wrong with the footrests made by the Mo family?" Han Yu asked, looking at his footrests with a puzzled expression.

Han Qiancheng did not answer upon hearing this, but instead asked...
"Fourth Master, should we send someone to Qin again to ask the Gongshu family to make a pair of leg braces?"

Han Yu shook his head slightly. The Gongshu family had already submitted to the Qin state. If he sent someone to ask them to make foot supports, it would certainly not escape the eyes of the Qin state.

If the Qin state were to learn that the fourth prince of Han was lame, who knows what methods they might use against him in order to weaken Han.

"No need. I have faith in the Mo family's techniques. I should just practice and refine them myself."

"You came to see me suddenly, is it because Xu Qing has made some moves?"

As Han Yu spoke, he continued practicing walking by stepping on his feet.

"Yes, our men on the lookout spotted Xu Qing riding alone out of the city. He's probably going to attend the Qianlong Hall's treasure exchange event," Han Qiancheng said.

"Riding alone to Qianlong Hall? Are you sure he has no one protecting him?" Han Yu asked.

Previously, Xu Qing had always traveled to Qianlong Hall by carriage, but now he was suddenly riding a horse, which made Han Yu wary.

“No, he has no one around him for protection,” Han Qiancheng said.

After thinking it over for a while, Han Yu assumed that Xu Qing had just had a sudden idea and changed her mode of transportation on the spur of the moment.

"This saves us some trouble. Let the people in the city leave and escort the Imperial Physician along," Han Yu said coldly.

"Yes, I'll go and inform them right away."

After bowing respectfully, Han Qiancheng headed out of the mansion.

Han Yu looked up towards the direction of the Hidden Dragon Hall outside the city, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

With thirty-two assassins lying in ambush, unless Xu Qing could truly communicate with the gods, Han Yu didn't know how a physician who didn't know martial arts could survive.
"Imperial Physician Xu Qing, don't blame me. Blame Ninth Prince instead."

Han Yu sneered and continued practicing walking.

As Xu Qing rode out of the city, night fell over the entire city of Xinzheng.

The barren forest, no longer thriving, was filled with desolation and barrenness. The bright moon was obscured by dark clouds, and the world was pitch black, making the forest seem even more dangerous and secluded.

The sound of horses' hooves continued, attracting the attention of the assassins hiding in the shadows.

Xu Qing rode his horse leisurely on the road to Qianlong Hall, humming an unknown tune.

Xu Qing appeared relaxed and without the slightest suspicion, but in reality, he had already activated the Evergreen Skill, and his hand, hidden under his sleeve, had already formed the hand seal for the Autumn Water of Ten Thousand Rivers, ready to strike at any moment.

The assassins hiding in the shadows peeked out, their cold eyes flashing with murderous intent.

Looking at the completely unguarded Xu Qing, the assassin leader's eyes flashed with contempt.

When he first received the order to mobilize his thirty-two best men, he thought the target was some very difficult opponent.

He even set up numerous traps to ambush Xu Qing, only to find out that he was just an arrogant and conceited high-ranking official.

The assassin leader nodded slightly to the assassin closest to Xu Qing, signaling him to finish the job quickly.

The assassin nodded slightly, looked at Xu Qing with icy eyes, raised the sharp sword in his hand that was gleaming coldly, and instantly rushed out, thrusting straight at Xu Qing.

Hearing the sound of a sword cutting through the air, Xu Qing's eyes narrowed. Just as he was about to unleash the Autumn Waters of Ten Thousand Rivers technique, another sharp sound of a blade cutting through the air rang out.

Xu Qing looked over and saw a purple chain sword rushing towards the assassin. The chain sword struck the sharp sword, knocking the assassin back.

Seeing the familiar chain sword, Xu Qing naturally knew who had come, so he followed the chain sword to find the other person's figure.

Seeing this, the assassin quickly took a few steps back and looked around warily. The assassin hiding in the shadows also looked around, trying to find out who had made the move.

Xu Qing looked at the familiar chain sword, then looked up at the treetop beside her. A purple figure was on the treetop, with a purple chain sword swirling around her.

The dark clouds in the sky dispersed, and the bright moonlight illuminated the figure of the person who had just arrived—it was Zi Nu.

Looking at the purple maiden in the tree canopy, Xu Qing was somewhat surprised but more delighted, and winked slightly at her.

With Zi Nu present, the assassination attempt seemed less dangerous. Although Zi Nu's strength wasn't exceptionally high, it was more than enough to deal with these assassins.

Zi Nu glanced at Xu Qing, who was winking at her, a hint of helplessness flashing in her cold purple eyes. She then jumped down from under the tree canopy and charged towards the assassin.

She was originally preparing for the opening of Zilan Pavilion, but Wei Zhuang learned from Qijue Hall that Xu Qing had left the city, but Xu Qing was followed by others.

Remembering what Wei Zhuang had told her yesterday about several members of the Feng clan from Yangdi arriving in Xinzheng, she worried that these people might harm Xu Qing. So, disregarding the matter of Zilan Pavilion, she grabbed her weapons and went out of the city to find Xu Qing.

When they finally found Xu Qing, they were just about to be assassinated.

Upon seeing Zi Nu charging towards him, the assassin immediately brandished his longsword and attacked her.

Zi Nu dodged the thrusting sword to the side, and with a flick of her wrist, the Crimson Serpent Sword coiled around the opponent's sword like a venomous snake, its sharp blade aimed at the assassin's neck.

Before the assassin could react, Zi Nu kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying with her purple high heels, and the sharp blade of her sword slashed across his neck.

Blood splattered everywhere, and the assassin collapsed, clutching his neck.

(End of this chapter)