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

Chapter 274, The Right to Choose

When Yan Lingji heard that Tianze had lost, she was slightly stunned. She hadn't expected that even Tianze was no match for Xu Qing.

"It seems you've gained quite a bit. Why aren't you in the Han King's Palace receiving your reward? What brings you to the Hidden Dragon Hall to find me?"

Yan Lingji pulled her small feet out of the pool, stood up, looked up slightly at Xu Qing, and said softly.

"I did have some gains, but I came to see you because I missed you." Xu Qing chuckled and pinched Yan Lingji's cheek. The Crimson King Serpent stretched out from his sleeve and flicked its tongue at Yan Lingji.

Looking at the Crimson King Serpent so close to her, Yan Lingji showed no fear, but rather a look of surprise.

"The Crimson King Serpent? This is the most precious treasure of the Hundred Poison King. You even stole this. The Hundred Poison King must be heartbroken." Yan Lingji reached out and stroked the head of the Crimson King Serpent, saying with a light laugh.

Chi Lian dodged Yan Ling Ji's hand, opened her mouth and roared fiercely at Yan Ling Ji, displaying her sharp fangs.

Yan Lingji's little face froze for a moment, then she puffed out her cheeks, put her hands on her hips, and said indignantly.

"Little brat, you dare yell at me? Believe me or not, I'll have this stinky man throw you away!"

"How old are you? Why are you still arguing with a snake? I came to see you because I have something important to tell you."

Xu Qing reached out and took Yan Lingji's small hand in his. He held her smooth, fair hand in his own, and he was reluctant to let go.

"Hmph~ What is it? You have to come in person." Yan Lingji said with a snort.

"Han Fei intends to use one wolf to devour another, planning to use the Nightfall to deal with Tianze and thus rescue Crown Prince Han," Xu Qing said.

Yan Lingji didn't break free from Xu Qing's grasp. Her icy blue eyes looked at Xu Qing with suspicion, and her rosy lips moved as she asked...

"Hmm? Aren't Han Fei and Nightfall enemies? Would Nightfall willingly work for Han Fei?"

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Moreover, Tianze's deal with Han Fei is seen by Nightfall as an attempt to betray them, which Ji Wuye and Bai Yifei will naturally not allow."

"Moreover, for the two of them, the Crown Prince of Han is not only a banner, but also the key to whether they can continue to control Han in the future."

"So naturally we won't risk Prince Han's life. You'd better inform Tianze of this news in time, lest he be captured."

Xu Qing patiently explained to Yan Lingji, and after thinking for a moment, he took out a medicine bottle from his pocket and placed it in Yan Lingji's hand.

"This is the antidote for the withering poison. After Tianze takes it, the poison in his body will be completely neutralized."

Xu Qing originally did not intend to give the antidote to Tianze, but he was worried that Tianze, who was poisoned and injured by him, might be captured by Han Fei and Bai Yifei if he was not careful.

After much deliberation, he decided to take the risk and give the antidote to Tianze.

"Aren't you afraid that after Master takes the antidote, he won't honor the deal?" Yan Lingji asked.

"I value integrity very much. Although Tianze's two-timing behavior made me very unhappy, he has received the punishment he deserved, so I don't hold a grudge."

“Since I’ve chosen to do business with him, I’m not worried that he’ll break his promise. If he takes the antidote and then chooses to break his promise, then he should be prepared to bear the consequences of his breach of contract.”

"If I can defeat him once, I can kill him next time!"

Xu Qing's voice was calm, with a slight smile on his face, but to Yan Lingji, it sent a chill down her spine.

"You scared them~ Can't you be a little gentler?"

Yan Lingji reached out and grasped the medicine bottle in her hand, speaking softly.

"Did I scare you? Should I comfort you?" Xu Qing resumed his irreverent manner, looking at Yan Lingji's chest and saying with a smile.

"You stinky man~ He starts acting inappropriately after saying just a few words."

Yan Lingji gave Xu Qing a charmingly disdainful look, then covered her chest with both hands, her ample breasts squeezed together under the protection of her hands, revealing large expanses of snow-white skin from her collar.

She might tease anyone else, but with Xu Qing, if she dared to say yes, this jerk would definitely make a move.

The slightly trembling hemisphere made Xu Qing's heart itch with desire.

Beneath the veneer of peace lies a turbulent global situation, prompting him to seek to tear away the facade of peace and shoulder the heavy responsibility of global responsibility.

"Alright, the antidote is yours now. Take the antidote and the message to Tianze. I think he should know what to do," Xu Qing said reluctantly, turning her gaze away.

Yan Lingji glanced at the medicine bottle with the Teng Snake pattern in her hand, leaned forward slightly, rested her arm on Xu Qing's arm, slid her small hand on his chest, and looked up at Xu Qing.

"Aren't you afraid that I'll give the antidote to my master, then run away with them and never come back?"

Yan Lingji's voice was alluring and gentle, her icy blue eyes filled with Xu Qing's reflection. Even without using her fire charm technique, she could easily make a man fall for her.
"Even the most beautiful flower will eventually wither, and even the most beautiful person cannot keep me if her heart is not with me."

"If you want to leave, no matter how much I try to persuade you to stay, you will eventually leave."

"I will not force you to stay by my side, even in the name of love and affection. That would be unfair to you. I respect all your choices."

Xu Qing looked into Yan Lingji's eyes, which were full of deep affection, and spoke earnestly, like a lovesick fool.

For a moment, Xu Qing also became somewhat immersed in the role. Yan Lingji was slightly lost in thought; she saw sincerity and respect in Xu Qing's eyes, clearly showing genuine respect for her choice.

"What would you do if I really left you?" Yan Lingji asked softly.

"I will keep this love deep in my heart. If we are destined to meet again in the future, I may choose to keep you by any means necessary. If we never meet again in this life, as the saying goes, life is always full of regrets."

"It is because of regrets that things are worth remembering."

Xu Qing reached out and touched Yan Lingji's face, a hint of sadness and restraint flashing in his eyes, as if he was suppressing his possessiveness towards Yan Lingji.

After a moment of stunned silence, Yan Lingji knew that if Xu Qing wanted to, she would never be able to leave him and could only stay by his side as a kept canary.

Yet even someone as powerful and influential as Xu Qing, with countless connections and influence, was willing to restrain himself and give her the power to choose.

This confirmed for the first time that Xu Qing liked her. While she was happy, she couldn't help but feel some dissatisfaction and disappointment.

"How do you know I don't like you forcing me to stay? You jerk, you're just deluding yourself!"

After mentally making a couple of complaints, Yan Lingji pouted and said...
"Save those sweet words to fool others. I won't fall for them. Once I get the antidote, I'm definitely not coming back."

"is it?"

Xu Qing smiled faintly, turned around and walked out of the courtyard, speaking to Yan Lingji with his back to her.

"If this is your choice, I respect it. You didn't have the opportunity or ability to choose before, but today I will give you the power to choose."

He wasn't afraid that Yan Lingji would just leave, after all, Tianze had already been consumed by the fire of hatred.

If Tianze were to launch a frenzied revenge against Korea after being freed from the control of the Huaku Gu, he wouldn't be Tianze anymore.

As long as Tianze stays in Xinzheng, he will eventually meet Yan Lingji again.

That would be the second time the two had met. By then, keeping Yan Lingji by his side would be a perfectly legitimate way for him to fulfill his promise.

Xu Qing is a man of his word.

"The right and opportunity to choose?"

Yan Lingji watched Xu Qing leave with a complicated expression. Her icy blue eyes were filled with a mix of emotions. This was the first time she had ever had the opportunity and power to make her own choices.

From the initial tribal fire, to joining Tianze's Crown Prince's Palace, to fighting alongside Tianze against the State of Han, and now to following Tianze in seeking revenge.
She had always been swept along by others in the past, but now, with Xu Qing, she felt respected and had the ability to choose for the first time.

After Xu Qing's figure disappeared, Yan Lingji glanced at the medicine bottle in her hand, a slight smile playing on her lips, and whispered...
"You jerk~ I'm definitely not coming back~"

After finishing her sentence, Yan Lingji placed the bamboo slip on the table, put on her black high-heeled boots, and prepared to leave.

But before leaving, Yan Lingji took the bamboo slips with her, climbed over the wall and left Qianlong Hall, heading towards where Tianze and the others were.

After leaving Qianlong Hall, Xu Qing rode his horse towards Xinzheng City, shaking his head in disappointment.

"That heartless little vixen, she actually left~" Xu Qing thought to himself.

Suddenly, Xu Qing reined in his horse, his eyes sweeping over the surrounding woods with hostility, and said in a cold voice...

“Friend, since you’re here, why not let him out and show himself? Those who hide their heads and tails are no heroes.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark figure rushed out of the woods and blocked Xu Qing's path.

Upon closer inspection, the newcomer was none other than Jing Ni. She was still wearing that purple and white metallic combat suit, and the purple skirt was slightly fluttering in the wind, revealing her beautiful legs covered in black metallic fishnet stockings.

Her long, shapely legs were exceptionally straight, and she wore black pointed-toe high-heeled boots, making Jing Ni look exceptionally neat and tidy.

Her delicate and pretty face was unadorned, her brows furrowed with a cold and stern expression, her eyes as indifferent as a merciless sword.

Black hair was coiled at the back of the head, secured with only a hairpin, with two strands of hair hanging down slightly in front of the forehead.

Xu Qing noticed a glint in Jing Ni's eyes. Jing Ni's expression remained as cold as ever, but he keenly sensed a change in the indifference in her eyes.

It was as if something was stirring, wanting to break free from the shackles of indifference.

"So it's Lady Jingni. You intercepted me halfway. Did you want to rob me? I don't have any money on me."

Xu Qing dismounted and said with a light laugh.

Not robbing me of my money? Then robbing me of my virtue! Go ahead and rob me, I absolutely won't resist.

Jing Ni glanced coldly at Xu Qing, a look of speechlessness flashing in her eyes, and said in a cold voice.

"Are you making a deal with Tianze, a remnant of the Baiyue tribe? Your target is Han Yu, the fourth young master of Korea."

"As the Imperial Physician of Korea, you secretly instructed Tianze to murder the Fourth Prince. This does not seem to be the behavior of a subject."

(End of this chapter)