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

Chapter 445, Bai Yifei's Choice, The Sword's New Master
"King An of Han only has Han Fei as his sole heir. Even if King An of Han dislikes Han Fei, he will still make Han Fei the king in order to prevent the throne from falling into the hands of others."

"My lord should understand that quicksand and night are like fire and water, and can never make peace. In the end, there can only be one of them."

After Xu Qing finished speaking, he drank all the wine in his glass and glanced at Bai Yifei.

Bai Yifei's cold face was filled with contemplation, his scarlet eyes were fixed on Xu Qing, and his well-defined hands held a wine glass, the wine in the glass gradually freezing.

Even though Bai Yifei was reluctant to admit it, Xu Qing's analysis of the future situation in South Korea was quite accurate.

Only one of Nightfall and Quicksand can survive, but as long as Han Fei lives, Nightfall can never truly defeat Quicksand, and the victor in this power struggle in Han can only be Han Fei.

Of course, he could try to kill Han Fei, but Han Fei was no longer the helpless Ninth Prince he once was. He was now protected by Wei Zhuang, one of the masters of the Ghost Valley School. The success rate of killing Han Fei was less than 20%. If he failed, it would give Han Fei, Han Wang'an, and Zhang Kaidi a handle to deal with Nightfall.

Although Xu Qing was right, Bai Yifei, as the uncrowned king of the Nightfall and a hereditary marquis of Korea, was not someone who could be easily manipulated. Therefore, he said coldly...

"Nightfall is no match for Han Fei, but there are many other people in this world who want Han Fei dead."

"Pfft~"

However, Bai Yifei's words drew a sneer from Xu Qing.

"I thought you were a very realistic person, but I didn't expect that you and Ji Wuye both like to have unrealistic dreams. If Qin doesn't take action, who do you think can kill Han Fei, and who would dare to kill Han Fei?"

Xu Qing looked at Bai Yifei with a hint of disdain in his eyes and spoke.

Sensing the disdain and contempt in Xu Qing's eyes, Bai Yifei understood that it was not mockery, but rather Xu Qing's confidence in his own strength and the power of the Qin state. It was not deliberate, but the oppressive feeling he exuded in every gesture made Bai Yifei feel irritated.

He came to Xu Qing today with high hopes, seeking her help, and Xu Qing did indeed help him. However, this was not the path he wanted, but it was a path he had no choice but to take.

"The drought in Nanyang is not over yet, and the Emerald Tiger is not dead yet. Nothing is settled yet."

Bai Yifei drank the wine in his glass, got up from his seat, and left.

“Then let’s wait a little longer. There are still seven days until the end of the bet between Han Fei and Jade Tiger. Let’s give the Marquis seven days to consider. However, I hope the Marquis can make a decision as soon as possible.”

“You can wait, but the people of Nanyang cannot. A Nanyang filled with disaster victims and starving corpses is not the Nanyang that Qin desires.”

Xu Qing looked at Bai Yifei, who was sitting by the window, and said in a calm voice.

Bai Yifei stopped in her tracks as she was about to leave, turned around and looked at Xu Qing again, her eyes flashing with a complex expression.

Xu Qing's words carried a threatening undertone. If he delayed in surrendering Nanyang to Qin, the drought in Nanyang would worsen, which would undoubtedly affect the value of Nanyang and consequently the benefits he would gain from surrendering to Qin.

"If you have time, go to Xinzheng and visit her," Bai Yifei said after a long silence.

As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Yifei turned around and left through the window without any hesitation. Under Xu Qing's gaze, his figure disappeared into the night.

"Seeking advantage and avoiding harm, fearing death and liking life, are all equally true."

Xu Qing looked at the creaking window in the wind, a look of emotion on her face, and said softly.

He would naturally go see the Tide Demoness, but only after the matter in Nanyang was resolved. Bai Yifei's previous reaction was within his expectations. Bai Yifei must have a clearer understanding of the future situation in Nanyang and Korea than he did.

The other party had considered surrendering to the Qin state, otherwise they wouldn't have said so much to him.

However, as this day approached, Bai Yifei couldn't help but hesitate and struggle, and Han Fei's bet with Emerald Tiger also gave Bai Yifei hope.

To get Bai Yifei to make a decision, all that's needed is to kill any hope Han Fei gives him. In the original story, Han Fei's methods for stabilizing grain prices and gathering provisions to provide disaster relief to Nanyang were essentially twofold.

One plan was to take Honglian to the State of Wei and use the money from the King of Han's birthday banquet to buy grain from Wei, while also spreading the word to attract merchants from various countries to Nanyang.

Another plan was to have Wei Zhuang lead men to rob the military rations that Fei Cui Hu had secretly hoarded.

If these two points are disrupted, it will be absolutely impossible for Han Fei to stabilize the grain price in South Korea within the next seven days.

"Zhen Gang, have Luo Wang investigate where Emerald Tiger has hidden military rations. Once they're found, don't take any action yet; wait for my news," Xu Qing said in a deep voice.

Xu Qing's voice echoed in the empty room, but in the blink of an eye, Zhengang's figure appeared in the room.

"promise."

"Just now, our scouts brought news that the Moon Goddess of the Yin-Yang School has arrived in Nanyang from Xinzheng, accompanied by some disciples of the Yin-Yang School."

Zhen Gang cupped his hands in greeting to Xu Qing and said, "Moon Goddess? Why is she here? Didn't Dong Jun come with her?"

Xu Qing looked surprised and asked.

“The Lord of the East is not here. The Lord of the Yin-Yang School should be in Xianyang right now. Marquis Wenxin said that if the Yin-Yang School contacts you, he wants me to tell you something,” Zhen Gang said.

"What's the matter?" Xu Qing asked curiously.

"Back then, Gan Luo, the Left Vice Minister, was sent as an envoy to the State of Zhao by the King, and he allowed the State of Qin to obtain twelve cities without firing a single shot. Later, in order to take away the power of Marquis Wenxin, the King appointed Gan Luo as a high minister. When Marquis Wenxin learned of this, he used a net to assassinate Gan Luo on his way back to the State of Qin."

"I witnessed Gan Luo die with my own eyes, but a month ago, I discovered Gan Luo's figure among the assassins of the Luo Wang organization near Jiugong Shendu Mountain. However, he is now known as Xing Shen and is the Left Protector of the Yin Yang School."

"Therefore, Marquis Wenxin sent people to prevent the Yin-Yang School from entering Qin, and ordered the Luo Wang to wipe out six Yin-Yang School strongholds in Qin, and even expelled the retainers of the Yin-Yang School from his residence."

Zhen Gang slowly recounted the events surrounding Gan Luo and how Lü Buwei targeted the Yin Yang School.

Xu Qing nodded thoughtfully. If that was the case, then the fact that the Moon Goddess and the Eastern Lord had come to him on Mount Taiyi would be clear.

In the original story, the Yin-Yang School entered Qin and, with the help of scholars and Xu Fu's alchemy, gained Ying Zheng's support. They also tricked Ying Zheng into refining the elixir of immortality. However, their real purpose was to create a mirage in order to sail out to sea and find the secrets contained in the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon.

Now that Lü Buwei has intervened to obstruct the Yin-Yang School, if the Yin-Yang School loses its opportunity to enter Qin or suffers heavy losses, it will inevitably affect the Yin-Yang School's search for the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions.

Given the importance that the Yin-Yang School attaches to the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions, it's understandable that the other party would try to break the deadlock and target him, a confidant of the King of Qin, at this time.

"You want to use me to bring down Marquis Wenxin, not only to eliminate a major enemy for the Yin Yang School, but also to bring the Yin Yang School into Your Majesty's sights ahead of time, thus making contributions to Your Majesty, is that right?" Xu Qing stroked his chin and chuckled softly.

Zhen Gang glanced at Xu Qing without saying a word. Even he, an assassin, could see through the Yin Yang School's thoughts, let alone shrewd people like Xu Qing and Lü Buwei.

However, he felt that the Yin-Yang School's approach was not problematic. After all, from the outside perspective, Ying Zheng and Lü Buwei were still at odds, and Xu Qing, as a confidant of the King of Qin, would naturally try his best to bring down Lü Buwei.

What the Yin-Yang School didn't know was that the King of Qin had already reconciled with Marquis Wenxin through Xu Qing's intervention. He felt that the Yin-Yang School had tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice instead.

"Then, Grand Master, should we leave the Yin-Yang School people in Nanyang?" Zhen Gang asked coldly.

"No need. I promised my senior brother, the sect leader, that I would make the Yin Yang School not only return their initial investment but also repay it fivefold. The Luo Wang doesn't need to worry about Dongjun and Yueshen's affairs. As long as they don't affect the plan, let them do whatever they want," Xu Qing said, shaking his head.

He hadn't even torn away the veil from the moon goddess's eyes yet, how could he bear to let this seemingly cold and aloof but actually innocent beauty perish?

Xu Qing was still unsure whether the Moon Goddess was a true match for the Gang, but she was definitely no match for the Luo Wang. Faced with the Luo Wang's endless tricks, she would surely be defeated by the Gang.

"What about Marquis Wenxin?" Zhen Gang asked hesitantly.

"You can simply relay my words to Marquis Wenxin," Xu Qing said.

He has helped Lü Buwei so much, Lü Buwei will give him face. Besides, Lü Buwei doesn't necessarily want to kill the Yin Yang School, he's just too old to stand being played.

"Yes," Zheng Gang nodded.

Xu Qing suddenly turned around and looked at Zhen Gang, his eyes narrowed as he sized him up.

As Zhen Gang met Xu Qing's gaze, he felt as if he had been seen through, which made him feel a great sense of crisis. As an assassin, the thing he feared most was being seen through, even by the person who wielded his sword.

"Zhen Gang, you talk too much for an assassin," Xu Qing said with amusement.

Zhen Gang's heart tightened, and he instinctively wanted to back away. A hint of panic flashed across his face beneath the mask, but he ultimately steadied himself and said to Xu Qing...
"Swords are weapons, but they don't want to be destroyed."

"So you want to change owners?" Xu Qing asked.

"No, I just want to find a younger swordsman."

Zhengang took off his mask and knelt on one knee.

Although the assassins of the Luo Wang are all murder weapons, and what Luo Wang needs are emotionless killing machines, even someone like Jing Ni has her own ideas, let alone Zhen Gang, who will be the leader of the Six Sword Slaves in the future.

Even if Lü Buwei reconciled with the King of Qin, Lü Buwei would inevitably lose all power and influence after the King of Qin assumed personal rule. As the murder weapon in Lü Buwei's hands, he would certainly not be accepted by the new wielder.

In order to survive, Zhengang had no choice but to actively seek a new swordsman.

Seeing Zhen Gang's genuine expression, a glint flashed in Xu Qing's eyes, and he asked in a deep voice.
"Is this your idea, or is it the will of Marquis Wenxin?"

(End of this chapter)