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

Chapter 222, Jing Ni's Initiative
Above the corridor leading from Myeongju Palace to the Royal Medical Center in the Han Royal Palace.

Xu Qing walked down the corridor with her head down, recalling what the Tide Demoness had told her.

"Jade Tiger's wealth, is it? It seems Jade Tiger doesn't have much cash on hand; he has more assets in various businesses and estates," Xu Qing thought to himself.

In the original story, Han Fei and Emerald Tiger made a bet about grain prices, with the Iron Blood Alliance as collateral. In the end, Han Fei won, and Emerald Tiger went bankrupt.

When the Iron Blood Alliance liquidated Emerald Tiger's assets, they only had five thousand gold coins in cash.

The rest included two boxes of top-quality pearls and jade, three boxes of jadeite and agate, nine hundred antiques, three hundred thousand mu of land in Nanyang, one hundred thousand mu of land in Fushu, three hundred thousand mu of land in Huayang, Emerald Villa, Embroidery Villa, indentures of five thousand people, and so on.

"Forget it, we'll have to wait until they come to us first before making any plans regarding the Jade Tiger. The most urgent thing is to open up the route to Qin."

Xu Qing then turned around and headed towards the outside of the Han King's Palace.

Now that he has decided to surrender to Qin, he naturally needs to make plans as soon as possible.

With Nian Duan promoting him in various countries, his reputation was already quite high, but reputation alone was not enough to successfully establish a relationship with Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng risked coming to the state of Han to find Han Fei because he was attracted by Han Fei's talent. However, Ying Zheng may have known his name, but he was unaware of Han Fei's abilities, so the possibility of him valuing him was very low.

However, Xu Qing has no shortage of resources. He is a member of the Taoist Tianzong sect, and his teacher, He Guanzi, is a renowned sage.

He needed to write a letter and send it to Mount Taiyi, so that Tianzong could deliver it to Ying Zheng on his behalf. This would definitely pique the other party's interest.

Although the Qin state valued Legalism and Qin Mohism, it also attached great importance to the Tianzong school.

In the original novel, Xiaomeng represents the Tianzong sect and chooses to support the Qin state. She even personally helps the Qin state to suppress the Confucian Xiaoshengxianzhuang.

He didn't believe that there was no connection or trade between Tianzong and the Qin State.

Moreover, Mount Taiyi is located within the territory of the Qin state, and the land near Mount Taiyi that belongs to the Tianzong sect is completely exempt from taxes.

Based on this alone, if there were no connection between Tianzong and the Qin state, how could the Qin state, which was based on agriculture and warfare, possibly give up this tax-paying land?

"Even if my guesses are wrong, having Tianzong help me submit the invitation will definitely attract more attention than if I take the initiative."

Xu Qing thought to himself, but he didn't have much of a relationship with Tianzong after all. He would have to think carefully before asking them to support him.

Thinking as she walked, Xu Qing quickly left the Han King's Palace and headed straight for her home.

After returning home, Xu Qing locked himself in his room and began to carefully consider how to write a letter that would persuade Tianzong to help him.

Sitting at the table, Xu Qing looked solemn, at a loss as he stared at the cloth in front of him. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he knew how to write this letter to Tianzong.

Thinking about this, Xu Qing leaned over the table and began to write quickly.

Meanwhile, the Feng family next door, seeing Xu Qing return, finally stirred again.

In the backyard of the Feng residence.

Jingni wore a long blue and yellow dress, her fair shoulders exposed to the air. Her skin, as smooth as jade, glowed in the sunlight, crystal clear, white with a rosy tint, more beautiful than a peach blossom.

Her brown hair was piled up on the back of her head and secured with a white jade hairpin. Her stunningly beautiful face was lightly made up, her rosy lips were tightly closed, and her beautiful eyes were full of indifference.

Her long, beautiful legs were encased in flesh-colored stockings, hidden beneath the bright yellow skirt, while her delicate little feet were covered in white socks and adorned with a pair of yellow round-toed shoes.

Jingni sat on the railing of the pavilion, leaning slightly against a pillar. The bright sunlight shone on her, casting a soft halo around her.

"Commander, the target has gone home and locked himself in his room, and I don't know what he's doing."

The assassin from the Luo Wang organization, who was responsible for keeping an eye on Xu Qing, walked down to the pavilion and said in a deep voice.

"Finally home."

A glint of light flashed in Jing Ni's cold eyes; she had been waiting for Xu Qing for a long time.

Since she had been honest with Xu Qing and reached a cooperation agreement, Xu Qing's interactions with her had become much closer than before, and they would often joke around when they met.

But after Xu Qing obtained a list of some officials who had secretly sided with the Qin state, he acted like a scumbag who had taken advantage of her and then abandoned her, never taking the initiative to contact her again.

She had considered taking the initiative to find Xu Qing and create a chance encounter. However, Xu Qing had been staying at Zilan Pavilion almost all the time lately, only returning home in the morning to change clothes and go to the Imperial Hospital.

This meant that she had no chance to contact Xu Qing on a daily basis, let alone get close to or win him over.

"Make arrangements, send someone to invite the target over later," Jing Ni said coldly.

Since Xu Qing had come home, she had to seize the opportunity to make him remember her again; otherwise, he might completely forget her after a while.

“Yes,” said the assassin from Luo Wang.

After the assassin left, Jing Ni stood up and turned to look in the direction of Xu Qing's house.

"Since you're not taking the initiative, then I'll have to take the initiative."

Jing Ni's eyes flashed with a cold light. Although she didn't want to do this, she was willing to use any means necessary for the mission, including sacrificing her own body.

Xu Qing was still writing a letter to Tianzong, unaware that Jing Ni next door had already decided to launch an attack on him. Meanwhile, the people of Zilan Pavilion were waiting for Xu Qing.

Meanwhile, in a secret prison somewhere in Xinzheng.

"Crack~"

As the flames flickered, sparks scattered, and the faint light illuminated and dispelled the darkness in the prison.

The iron cages were either placed on the ground or hung in mid-air, containing mottled skeletons or rotting corpses.

The few survivors were huddled in a corner of the iron cage, their bodies completely black, except for their bright eyes which were filled with numbness and terror, clearly indicating that they had suffered a great deal of inhuman torture.

Upon seeing that faint light, they frantically scrambled to the outside of the iron cage, reaching out towards the light like struggling demons.

Clearly, they hadn't seen the light of day for many years, and the rare sight of firelight filled them with excitement that even overshadowed their fear.

At the deepest part of the secret prison stood a bronze door with multiple locks, and intermittent roars came from behind the door, as if they were the wails of demons from hell.

"Whoo~"

Just as the prisoners were enjoying the rare light, a cold wind blew in from outside the gate, and the firelight along the passageway dimmed instantly.

The already chilly prison became even colder. The biting cold awakened the half-human, half-ghost prisoners, who withdrew their hands and curled up in their iron cages again. But every pair of numb eyes stared intently at the exit of the corridor.

Dressed in blood-red clothes, with long, silvery-white hair that seemed completely out of place, he was dressed in luxurious attire, forming a stark contrast with the death row inmates around him.

The newcomer was none other than Bai Yifei, the Marquis in Blood-Clad Robes.

Upon seeing Bai Yifei arrive, the fear in the prisoners' hearts was instantly awakened, their eyes filled with terror, and they shrank back into the cage.

Their fear of Bai Yifei was ingrained in their very bones.

Bai Yifei glanced indifferently at the prisoners, his cold eyes devoid of any emotion, like a farmer inspecting his livestock.

To Bai Yifei, the prisoners here were no different from livestock; these were all enemies he had captured during his campaigns in the north and south.

After capturing these people, he did not kill them, but kept them in this secret prison, squeezing out their most useful value and turning them into containers for cultivating his poisonous insects.

Unfortunately, most of them did not survive his poison and eventually turned into withered bones.

Bai Yifei paid no attention to the prisoners in the iron cages. To him, they were merely low-grade spoils and experimental consumables, utterly unworthy of his attention. Walking along the corridor, Bai Yifei arrived at the deepest bronze door and took out his key to unlock each lock.

"Kakaka~"

The sound of bronze gears turning rang out, and the bronze gate in front of Bai Yifei was opened, with dust billowing up.

The dark cell door was opened, and a fierce and tyrannical aura rushed out. Blood-red eyes appeared in the darkness, revealing bloodlust and coldness, staring intently at Bai Yifei like sinister venomous snakes.

The oil lamps on both sides suddenly lit up, their faint light dispelling the surrounding darkness and revealing the prisoners held inside the jail.

Numerous iron chains extended down from above the prison, suspending a figure in mid-air.

The figure hanging there was naked from the waist up, with tattered cloth wrapped around the lower body. The skin of the person was a sickly blue-white with a hint of purple. Most incredibly, there were scales distributed on the skin, making it look like a humanoid beast.

This man was none other than the Crown Prince of Baiyue, the Red-Eyebrowed Dragon-Snake Heavenly Ze.

Seeing Bai Yifei enter the cell, Tianze's bloodlust intensified, radiating a violent aura. He began to struggle, causing the iron chains binding him to shake wildly.

"Wow~"

"After all these years, you still haven't learned your lesson."

Bai Yifei calmly looked at Tianze, slowly extended his hand, and suddenly clenched his fist, causing the struggling Tianze to freeze.

"Roar!"

Tianze did not answer, but only let out a low growl like that of a beast.

The iron chains linked to his body rose up as if alive, emitting a hissing sound like snakes. A dark, malevolent aura emerged and flowed throughout his body, making his aura even more terrifying.

But this terrifying feeling only lasted for a moment before an indescribable pain coursed through Tianze's body, instantly suppressing all of his actions.

Tianze frowned, staring at Bai Yifei without saying a word.

"After being imprisoned for so long, you still haven't learned your lesson. Every time, I have to help you recall the taste of the poison. Don't you think you're being incredibly stupid, Tianze!"

Bai Yifei's eyes flickered, a red light swirling within them, and he spoke softly.

Tianze stared intently at Bai Yifei, his eyes filled with bloodlust and hatred. He wished he could kill him, but the pain from the Gu poison in his body rendered him completely incapable of taking action.

As the poison took effect, Tianze's eyes gradually became vacant, his struggling limbs lost their strength, and the iron chains around his body, which resembled living things, slowly drooped down, as if he had given up.

"However, I am satisfied with your eyes. Resentment is the weak's affirmation of the strong."

Bai Yifei looked at Tianze, who had given up, and a mocking smile appeared on his face. He was not worried about Tianze's hatred for him, and even admired this aspect of the other party.

The reason he kept Tianze was to make him submit to him and become a mad dog under his command, so that he could help him eliminate enemies at crucial moments.

Over the years, he has been tormenting Tianze with Gu poison to ensure Tianze's hatred for him.

Resentment can give people power, drive them mad, and ultimately turn Tianze into a mad dog.

The Gu poison within Tianze's body is the rope that controls the mad dog. As long as the mother Gu remains in his hands, Tianze will never be able to resist him.

"Would you like to go out?"

Bai Yifei suddenly spoke up.

The unexpected words jolted Tianze awake, and he stared intently at Bai Yifei, wondering what the other was up to.

“I know you’re constantly thinking about revenge, and I can give you that chance to go out and take it,” Bai Yifei continued.
"What do you want to do?"

This time, Tianze spoke, his voice low and hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time, his words were stiff and unnatural.

He knew that Bai Yifei wasn't so kind as to give him freedom; there must be some ulterior motive behind letting him go.

"I need you to help some people recall their past fears and make them understand who the masters of South Korea are and who their protectors are."

A red light flashed in Bai Yifei's eyes, and a sinister smile appeared on his face.

Does that include you?

Tianze stared coldly at Bai Yifei and slowly said.

Bai Yifei's smile deepened as if he had heard something amusing, and his eyes were filled with mockery as he looked at Tianze.

"As a mad dog, constantly thinking about killing its master will easily lead to its own demise."

"However, I'm satisfied that you haven't forgotten your hatred, so I won't kill you. But don't misunderstand, I'm just letting you out for some fresh air; you'll eventually come back here."

Bai Yifei's tone was full of confidence, or rather, arrogance.

Because he had absolute confidence in his poison, he believed that no one could help Tianze untie the rope around his neck except himself.

Without the antidote, Tianze is nothing more than a vicious dog he keeps. Unless this vicious dog wants to die, it will not do such a foolish thing as trespassing on its master.

Tianze stared coldly at Bai Yifei without saying a word, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes, his mind seemingly calculating something.

Looking at the silent Tianze, Bai Yifei also remained silent. He gathered cold energy around him, and icy thorns extended towards the mechanism, activating the mechanism that controlled Tianze.

The shackles on Tianze's body began to gradually fall off, loosening the rope that bound the vicious dog.

"Kaka~"

As the iron chains binding his limbs came off, Tianze instantly felt the breath of freedom.

"Brush~"

As the remaining chains fell away, Tianze was completely freed. He fell from mid-air, his beast-like paws landing on the ground, releasing an invisible force of oppression.

Tianze clenched his fists, looked at Bai Yifei in front of him, and without any hesitation, a murderous aura surged from his body.

Five snake skull chains floated up behind him, seemingly alive, with scarlet halos appearing in their eye sockets, and they lunged at Bai Yifei.

"Crack!"

The moment Tianze made his move, a powerful chill swept out, freezing everything around Bai Yifei.

At the same time, a dozen huge icy thorns instantly appeared on the ground, quickly climbing up Tianze's body, binding him, and then violently flung him away, slamming him heavily against the wall.

"It seems you haven't learned your lesson yet. You need more time to learn how to be a good dog."

"Cherish this hard-won freedom; this may be the last chance you ever have to connect with the outside world."

Tianze stared menacingly at Bai Yifei's retreating figure, his hands clenched tightly, exuding a chilling aura.

"You'll regret this!" Tianze said viciously.

"Heh~ Now that I was able to release you, I can naturally bring you back again."

Bai Yifei didn't even glance at Tianze before turning and walking out of the secret prison, completely ignoring Tianze's words.

Because people don't care about the threat of stray dogs.

(End of this chapter)