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

Chapter 413, Xu Qing: Send him down the mountain (Seeking monthly votes!)
"Xu Qing? His medical skills are superb. He's already a master of the Celestial Realm at such a young age. His talent is unparalleled in the world. What's even more rare is that he has a compassionate heart, noble medical ethics, and unwavering loyalty."

Although he didn't know why Xiong Qi asked that question, Tian Guang thought for a moment and then shared his opinion on Xu Qing.

Listening to Tian Guang's various praises of Xu Qing, Xiong Qi's brows furrowed, and a complicated expression appeared on his face.

"My lord, what's wrong?" Tian Guang asked, noticing Xiong Qi's unwell expression.

"It's nothing, it's just that the more outstanding Xu Qing is, the more worried I become," Xiong Qi said, shaking his head.

Tian Guang portrayed Xu Qing as a virtuous gentleman, but Xiong Qi knew that Xu Qing was not so noble and upright, and was extremely skilled in scheming and trickery.

The thought of a potential enemy with low moral standards, ruthless methods, unparalleled cunning, and immense prestige is terrifying for Xiong Qiguang.

"Besides Wu Kuang and Ji Dan, what I want to talk to you about most is Xu Qing. The plan to win him over is suspended. If there is an opportunity, I hope you can get rid of him."

“This person is terrifying. I have a gut feeling that he can’t be our friend.”

Xiong Qi looked at Tian Guang with a complicated expression and said with a very solemn tone.

Tian Guang was startled at first, his fist clenched slightly, and he asked with a mixture of surprise and doubt.
"Get rid of him!? My lord, you must be joking."

“I’m not joking. We have to find a way to get rid of this person. He’s too terrifying,” Xiong Qi said firmly.

Tian Guang glanced at Xiong Qi with a complicated expression. He wondered if his lord was ill or had suffered some kind of shock, which led him to say such unrealistic things.

Who is Xu Qing? He is the junior brother of Chisongzi, the head of the Tianzong Sect, the Grand Chancellor of Qin, the Imperial Physician, a Taoist master of the Celestial Realm, the winner of the Celestial Pact, the next head of the Tianzong Sect, the deputy head of the medical family, a world-renowned divine physician, a disciple of Gongyang Confucianism, and a model of a good minister.
Pick any one of these titles, and who would dare kill Xu Qing? Unless the person who makes the move can simultaneously face attacks from the Heavenly Sect, the Qin Kingdom, the Medical School, and all the scholars of the world.

Tian Guang felt that this person could not be himself, and he did not want to be infamous for eternity, or even bring utter disaster to the farming community.

"My lord, I think it's best to abandon this mission. Not to mention the peasants, even the Chu Kingdom couldn't afford the cost of killing Xu Qing," Tian Guang said.

“I know, so we must find a reasonable way to get rid of him. Even if we can’t get rid of him, we must find a way to restrict him,” Xiong Qi said resolutely.

Tian Guang looked troubled, but as Xiong Qi's retainer, he had to obey his lord's order, even if he knew it was impossible.

"My lord, perhaps we don't necessarily have to kill him. There might be other ways. Please give me some time to think about it," Tian Guang said in a deep voice.

"There's no rush. Don't take action unless you're absolutely certain. If you can't solve it, don't force it. I'll find a solution myself."

Xiong Qi nodded, glanced at the sky, and continued...
"I've been out for quite a while now. Staying any longer will inevitably arouse suspicion. I'll head back now."

"Okay, you go back first, I'll return to Taiyi Palace later."

As Tian Guang watched Xiong Qi's departing figure, a resolute look appeared in his eyes. If things really came to an unavoidable point, he would rather be infamous for eternity than let Xiong Qi kill Xu Qing.

This is the duty of a retainer.

If you treat me as a national hero, I will repay you as a national hero.

"Is killing Xu Qing really the only way out?"

Tian Guang looked at the towering main hall of Taiyi Palace in front of him, and was caught in a dilemma.

Inside the main hall where the banquet was being held, the disciples from all the different schools were still exchanging lively conversations, their chatter echoing throughout the hall.

"Haha, Brother Gongsun, there's no need to be so polite. If..."

Situ Wanli was chatting and laughing amidst the crowd, but when he glanced at the palace gate out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly stopped talking.

Those around Situ Wanli, who had suddenly fallen silent, followed his gaze. When they saw the figure slowly walking towards the palace gate, they were stunned and fell silent as well.

The person who arrived was none other than Xu Qing, who had already changed his clothes.

Xu Qing was dressed in a white robe and trousers, with a pair of common boots on his feet. His long black hair was held in place by a jade hairpin, and a jade pendant of unknown material hung at his waist. His handsome face had a faint smile on it, and his tall figure exuded an elegant and otherworldly temperament.

As more and more people noticed Xu Qing approaching, the noise in the hall gradually subsided like the receding tide, and everyone's eyes were fixed on Xu Qing.

"He has a face like jade, an extraordinary appearance, and an outstanding temperament."

Looking at Xu Qing's appearance, everyone couldn't help but admire him.

Feiyan and Yueshen, who were sitting at their seats drinking tea, couldn't help but glance at Xu Qing a few more times. Tian Mi, who was standing with several female disciples of the Heavenly Sect, couldn't take her eyes off Xu Qing either, her gaze fixed on him, her light pink eyes flashing with barely suppressed excitement.

"It's such a pity that such a talented person can't be used by me. Ying Zheng is truly blessed!"

Ji Dan looked at Xu Qing, a barely perceptible ruthlessness flashing in her eyes, and her hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched involuntarily.

Upon seeing Xu Qing approach, Tian Guang's gaze instinctively turned to his disciples. After glancing at Situ Wanli, Zhu Jia, Tian Meng, and others, his eyes lingered slightly when he saw Tian Mi, an inconspicuous four-star Pearl Grass disciple.

Seeing Tian Mi's excited and expectant face, a glint flashed in Tian Guang's eyes, and a three-birds-with-one-stone idea couldn't help but emerge in his mind. Under everyone's gaze, Xu Qing slowly walked into the hall and headed towards Chi Songzi and the other sect leaders.

"Xu Qing greets the Sect Leader, Senior Brother, Martial Uncle, and all the Sect Leaders." Xu Qing bowed respectfully to everyone.

"Junior brother, there's no need for such formalities. I was just talking about you with the other sect leaders. Now that you're here, please meet everyone."

"Let me introduce you to the sect leaders."

Chisongzi helped Xu Qing up and then began to introduce the identities of everyone to Xu Qing.

Seeing Xu Qing talking with many sect leaders, the other disciples from the hundred schools continued to make noise. Although they wanted to say a few words to Xu Qing and befriend him, their status and position were not worthy of him.

Xu Qing straightened up and looked at the leaders of various sects. Many of them were acquaintances of his, including Six-Fingered Black Knight, Nameless, Tian Guang, Nian Duan, and some others who had come to him for medical treatment. However, Xu Qing did not recognize most of them.

Through Chisongzi's introduction, Xu Qing gradually learned about the identities of these people and the sects they belonged to.

"Six-Fingered Master, Mr. Nian Duan, and his Nameless Senior Brother"

"Oh my, it's the renowned Master Gongsun! I am Xu Qing, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh, are you the geomancer, Master Luo? I have long admired you. The art of geomancy benefits the country and its people. After the banquet, I will come to ask for your guidance."

"Is it really such a coincidence? My teacher once told me that Mr. Zhou, a scholar of the astronomy school, was a renowned master of divination in our time. I personally have a deep understanding of divination."

Xu Qing smiled warmly and, before Chi Songzi could speak, began to greet and talk to everyone.

These are all talented individuals. If all of them were brought back to Xianyang, the power of the Qin state would expand to a terrifying level once again.

The heads of the geomancer family and the Zhou family of the astronomy school, among others, were somewhat flattered by Xu Qing's enthusiasm. Although they claimed to be the leaders of their respective sects, in reality, they probably had fewer disciples than some small martial arts sects.

Although they are among the Hundred Schools of Thought, they are nowhere near the likes of the Celestial School, the Mohist School, or the Medical School. Some of these schools are even facing extinction due to a lack of successors.

Now that they were being treated so warmly by the renowned Xu Qing, everyone was naturally both delighted and surprised. They didn't put on any airs of elders and chatted with Xu Qing enthusiastically.

Although everyone found Xu Qing's enthusiasm a little strange, they didn't take it to heart.

Chisongzi introduced them to Xu Qing to give Xu Qing a fair identity, so that all the sects would know that Xu Qing was a member of the Daoist Heavenly Sect and would be the future representative of the Daoist Heavenly Sect outside. Anyone who touched Xu Qing would be going against the Heavenly Sect.

As Xiong Qi watched Xu Qing chatting enthusiastically with the leaders of the various sects, his heart sank slightly, and his already low spirits became even more depressed.

However, Xiong Qi was soon surrounded by Zhang Kaidi and the other envoys from the six other countries, and they began to talk.

For a time, the Taiyi Hall was filled with noise and a joyful atmosphere.

While everyone was chatting and laughing, the disciples of the Heavenly Sect had finished setting up the banquet.

"Sect Leader, Martial Uncle, the banquet has been arranged." The Tianzong disciple walked to Chisongzi's side and said with a cupped hand.

"Now that everything has been arranged, I'll trouble you all to make the move."

Chisongzi gestured for everyone to enter.

The members of the Hundred Families followed Chisongzi and Xu Qing to the banquet venue. As is customary at banquets, drinking was an essential part of the event. Xu Qing, as the main figure, carried a wine jar in one hand and a wine cup in the other, toasting the leaders of the Hundred Families.

Some disciples from various schools who had interacted with Xu Qing also came forward to offer their congratulations, and Xu Qing naturally drank with everyone.

Xu Qing had a good capacity for alcohol, but faced with round after round of being forced to drink, he couldn't hold on any longer before the banquet was even halfway over. The others didn't say anything and had two Tianzong disciples take Xu Qing away.

As the noise gradually faded away, Xu Qing also regained some of his senses from his drunken state.

"Junior Uncle, how are you feeling? Do you need someone to bring you some hangover soup?" a disciple of the Heavenly Sect asked with concern.

Supported by two disciples of the Heavenly Sect, Xu Qing glanced at the twilight on the horizon and said drunkenly...

"No need, just take me to the town at the foot of the mountain."

"town?"

"Yes, I have an old friend there, and I need to go see him."

Xu Qing rubbed his slightly dizzy head. His Zi Nu and Nong Yu were still waiting for him at the foot of the mountain. He had been terrified by the battle with Xiao Yao Zi that morning, and he needed Zi Nu's warm embrace to soothe his soul.

"it is good."

The disciples of Tianzong had no suspicions and helped Xu Qing down the mountain, intending to take him to the town at the foot of the mountain.

(End of this chapter)