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

Chapter 327, Yan Ri's Identity and Purpose

Seeing that someone was coming to his aid, Gai Nie no longer needed to protect Ying Zheng while fighting the enemy, and also had to be careful of the archers lying in ambush.

The moment Gai Nie released Ying Zheng, an invisible sword aura instantly enveloped him. His eyes were cold, and as he moved, sword energy swept in all directions. He showed no mercy, and every move was deadly.

In just a few breaths, the dozen or so guards around him were all slaughtered.

On the other side, Meng Tian also killed more than a dozen guards and rushed to Ying Zheng's side. Holding a long halberd, he protected Ying Zheng behind him. In order to protect Ying Zheng, his mask was shattered and blood flowed down his forehead, making his already fierce and resolute face look even more bloodthirsty.

Wang Yi stared at Meng Tian, ​​who was standing in front of Ying Zheng, his gaze dark and brooding, and said in a cold voice.

"Meng Tian, ​​how dare you betray me and collude with traitors! This is a capital offense!"

Wang Yi gripped the large axe beside him, a weapon resembling a spear. Clad in heavy armor, he exuded a domineering and imposing aura, as if he were the one protecting the King of Qin, rather than a traitorous minister seeking assassination.

Meng Tian gripped the halberd that had fallen from his personal guard, his gaze unwavering as he stared at Wang Yi, and said in a deep and firm voice.

"The Meng family is loyal only to the King and to the Qin Dynasty! We will die without regret!"

"Very well, I'll grant your wish!"

Wang Yi didn't want to waste any more words. Since he couldn't drag Meng Tian down with him, he didn't need to hold back anymore.

The other party was determined to die. So what if he was a direct descendant of the Meng clan? Anyone who dared to obstruct him had to die!

Wang Yi stepped forward, his moves wide and sweeping, like a heavy battle-axe in his hand. He stomped on the floor, exerted all his strength, and slashed the battle-axe heavily at Meng Tian.

"clang!"

Meng Tian showed no intention of retreating in the face of this attack, for Ying Zheng was right behind him, leaving him nowhere to retreat. He gripped his halberd and met the attack head-on.

The ear-piercing sound of metal clashing against metal echoed throughout the arena.

Meng Tian and Wang Yi were both military strategists who practiced external martial arts. Every move they made involved powerful and sweeping clashes of strength. The impact of this pure external martial arts confrontation was so great that it overturned a nearby table, which then cracked in mid-air.

Even though Wang Yi was old, his experience in battle and his mastery of external martial arts were far superior to those of the young Meng Tian.

The heavy axe kept striking the halberd, each blow sending numbness through Meng Tian's arm, but he still gripped the halberd tightly, resisting Wang Yi's attacks.

Ying Zheng looked at Meng Tian, ​​who was desperately blocking his way, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes. It seemed that he was not without help. Apart from Xu Qing and Gai Nie, the loyalty of the Meng clan had not wavered in the slightest.

Although he did not recognize Meng Tian, ​​he knew the name; Meng Tian was an outstanding member of the third generation of the Qin military.

He is also hailed as the most talented young man in the military.

Gai Nie glanced at Meng Tian, ​​who had fallen below, but did not immediately go to help him. Instead, he stepped on a soldier and charged toward the archers below the command platform.

Only by eliminating these people could he and Meng Tian fight each other without fear.

The five archers saw Gai Nie charging towards them and were just about to draw their swords when they saw a flash of sword light. Their hands, which had just gripped the hilts, loosened their grip, and the five men fell to the ground.

After eliminating the five men, Gai Nie leaped back onto the command platform and charged towards Wang Yi.

Meanwhile, in the other camp...

Xu Qing's figure flew backward from the battlefield and crashed heavily into the wooden fence of the camp. The strong impact shook Xu Qing's internal organs, and a trace of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth and fell to the ground.

"You're quite good. A first-class level fighter can hold his own against a Celestial Realm expert for a hundred moves. I would call you the strongest first-class fighter." Yan Ri lowered his Yan Ri sword and looked at Xu Qing with more approval in his eyes, but his voice was already hoarse and cold.

Xu Qing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and glanced at the wound in front of him. It was a sword wound that was neither too light nor too heavy, only cutting his skin but not his flesh. It was clear that Yan Ri had stopped at the last moment.

"Heh~ Top-tier strongest? That doesn't seem like a good title. If you're going to be someone, be the strongest, not some goalkeeper." Xu Qing spat out the blood in his mouth, stood up, and looked at Yan Ri, who had already withdrawn his killing intent.

Yan Ri clearly didn't know what "goalkeeper" meant, but he didn't dwell on it and said in a cold voice...
"The strongest? That's a good ideal, and I hope you live to see that day."

Seeing Yan Ri arguing with him, Xu Qing's eyes flickered slightly, and he asked directly.

"Your goal isn't to kill me; is Lü Buwei behind you?"

"Wenxin Marquis does indeed wield immense power, but not everyone wants to be subordinate to him, nor is everyone like Li Si." Yan Ri's voice became slightly more normal, no longer so hoarse and cold. Beneath his calm words, it seemed as if he was trying his best to hide something, perhaps anger, or perhaps resentment.

Xu Qing looked at Yan Ri in front of him, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He remembered that in the original work, all the Yan Ri in the past seemed to have connections with the Qin military and had a noble status.

Currently, the mastermind behind the net is Lü Buwei and Lao Ai. Although the latter came from a humble background, he was still granted the title of Marquis and had Empress Dowager Zhao Ji behind him.

Moreover, both of them are people who value power extremely. Yan Ri, an assassin who is used as a murder weapon, is in charge of the Luo Wang organization with the two of them. It seems that Yan Ri's identity must be at least that of a general, or at least he used to be one.

"So you disobeyed Lao Ai's orders and also disobeyed Lü Buwei. What is your purpose?" Xu Qing asked in a deep voice.

Yan Ri spared his life because he clearly wanted to get something from him.

Although doing business with such a dangerous top-tier assassin is no less than negotiating with a tiger for its skin, it is still better than directly fighting to the death with the other party.

As soon as Xu Qing finished speaking, a pink sword aura cleaved open the camp gate, its force undiminished as it hurtled towards Yan Ri.

Yan Ri blocked the incoming killing intent with his sword and took a few steps back.

Jing Ni, clad in a purple and white metallic combat suit, descended from the sky and landed in front of Xu Qing. Her beautiful legs, encased in metallic fishnet stockings, were spread apart in an attacking stance, and the Jing Ni sword in her hand pointed directly at Yan Ri.

"It seems I underestimated you. If you manage to return to Xianyang alive, I will answer your questions when we meet next time."

Looking at Jing Ni, whose expression remained indifferent but who no longer resembled a murder weapon, Yan Ri sheathed the Yan Ri sword in his hand and turned to walk away into the distance.

Watching Yan Ri leave directly, a hint of doubt flashed in Jing Ni's eyes. She turned to look at Xu Qing, and a hint of tension flashed in her eyes as she saw the long sword mark on his chest.

"Yan Ri didn't kill you? What did you say to him?" Jing Ni asked in confusion.

As a top-tier assassin of the Luo Wang organization, she knew Yan Ri's personality all too well. Although he rarely took action himself, he never left any survivors when he did.

The battle between Xu Qing and Yan Ri was extremely intense, clearly indicating that both were aiming to kill each other. However, judging from the wound on Xu Qing's chest, Yan Ri eventually stopped, only managing to scratch Xu Qing's skin.

This is highly unusual, and unusual things often indicate a larger conspiracy.

Xu Qing naturally noticed the concern that flashed in Jing Ni's eyes, and seeing the bloodstains on her clothes, he sheathed his Cheng Ying sword and said with a smile.
What? Are you worried about me?

Seeing Xu Qing grinning again, Jing Ni gave him a cold look and said...
“I won’t let you die until you help me escape from the Net. Yan Ri is not an easy person to deal with. As the only one in the Net with command authority, he is very cunning.”

"You should show your concern boldly; it will help your condition improve," Xu Qing said with a light smile.

A look of speechlessness flashed across Jing Ni's face. She suddenly thrust forward with the hand holding the Jing Ni Sword, the pink hilt aimed directly at Xu Qing's abdomen.

Xu Qing quickly crossed his arms to block the hilt of Jingni's sword, and chuckled twice as he said...

"Don't be impulsive, I'm injured right now."

“Yan Ri did indeed let me go, but you heard what he just said. He said he would only tell me why he let me go after we meet again in Xianyang. However, judging from his words, he seems to be dissatisfied with both Lü Buwei and Lao Ai. I suspect this is related to his status.”

Upon hearing this, Jingni looked thoughtful. She and Yanri had indeed collaborated a few times, but she wasn't familiar with him and didn't know his identity. She said in a deep voice...
“I’m not familiar with him. His identity is a secret. I’m afraid no one else knows it except Lü Buwei. But every time he appears, he is wearing Qin army armor and can easily command the Qin army. It seems that he has connections with the Qin army’s high command.”

“I’ve heard that every top-tier assassin in the Luo Wang organization has a hidden past before becoming a weapon of the organization,” Xu Qing said to Jing Ni in a deep voice.

"There's no need to pry into my past. I've lived within the Net since I can remember, spending my days and nights in various training and assassinations. As for other people's pasts, I don't know them, nor am I interested."

Jingni thought Xu Qing was trying to flirt with her again, so she turned around and said coldly.
"Moreover, Wang Yi has already made a move against the King of Qin. No one knows whether Gai Nie can stop him alone. If you waste any more time, you may end up taking his corpse back to Xianyang."

After Jingni finished speaking, she walked out of the camp.

Seeing that the other party had misunderstood him, Xu Qing stroked his chin. Did he really not look like a frivolous person? He was really talking about serious matters, not trying to find out about Jing Ni's past.

However, Xu Qing knew one thing well: women are all hypocritical.

Jingni said she didn't need to investigate, but didn't she still reveal her past? She said she didn't care about him, but didn't she abandon Ying Zheng's safety to come and save him directly?
If it was truly to escape the Net, then stepping in to save Ying Zheng at such a critical moment would be a meritorious act of protecting and saving the emperor. Once Ying Zheng ascends to the throne and takes power, not only will he escape the Net, but he might even hand it over to Jing Ni.

Seeing Jingni walk away, Xu Qing quickly followed. While flirting with girls was one thing, Ying Zheng's safety still needed to be ensured, as it concerned his ability to flirt with girls even better in the future.

(End of this chapter)