Qin Dynasty: They've all turned into zombies, what's there to fear about a rebellion?

"Another one?"

Su Ming looked at the woman in hemp clothing at the door, who was holding a famous sword and exuding an aura of "keep away," and felt his temples throbbing.

Is there a problem with the feng shui of this alchemy room?

Why do we keep attracting these violent women? Can't we find a virtuous girl who can do laundry, cook, and serve tea and water?

"Master, should I help you... burn her to ashes?"

Beside her, Yan Lingji finally stopped her shameful "electric dance." She walked barefoot to Su Ming's side and naturally took his arm. Her light blue eyes flashed with a dangerous light as she stared intently at the uninvited guest at the door.

It was a sense of vigilance against the invasion of territory.

"Why are you burning it? Be civilized."

Su Ming patted Yan Lingji's hand, signaling her to calm down.

He squinted and looked the woman at the door up and down.

She wore coarse linen clothes, a simple hairpin, and a plain skirt, and even deliberately smeared some ash on her face, giving her the appearance of a weathered peasant woman. But her eyes were so bright, like two stars hidden in an abyss, filled with a calmness and wisdom completely incongruous with her attire.

Especially the sword in her hand.

The long, narrow blade was covered with eerie pink patterns, which shimmered with an uncanny luster under the light. The hilt was shaped like a ferocious fish head.

Jing Ni.

A top-tier assassin of the Luo Wang organization, and one of the Eight Swords of the King of Yue.

"If I'm not mistaken..."

Su Ming, hands in his pockets, spoke lazily in a voice that, though not loud, carried clearly throughout the hall, "You must be Tian Yan, the legendary young lady of Lieshan Hall, the one who is said to have flawless strategies and manipulated the entire peasant family like a puppet?"

The woman at the door, Tian Yan, suddenly narrowed her eyes.

The fragility and panic on her face froze instantly, replaced by an unfathomable coldness.

Exposed?

How is that possible?

Her disguise was flawless; even the leaders of the farming families who worked with her day and night couldn't see through her true identity. How could this sorcerer from far away in Xianyang recognize her at a glance?

"Sir, what are you saying?"

Tian Yan reacted extremely quickly; the shock in her eyes lasted only a moment before being replaced by a perfectly timed look of confusion and fear.

She sheathed the Jingni sword in her hand, timidly took half a step back, and spoke in a voice as soft as a frightened deer:

"I am just a country woman. I heard that an immortal has been born in Xianyang City, so I came here to ask for medicine... I accidentally got lost and trespassed into the forbidden area of ​​the Grand Preceptor. Please forgive me, sir."

This acting is so good, it's a waste that it doesn't deserve an Oscar.

If Su Ming hadn't had the system as a "cheat code," knowing that beneath her gentle face lay a heart more venomous than a scorpion, he probably would have been completely fooled.

"Alright, alright, stop acting."

Su Ming waved his hand impatiently, interrupting her performance directly. "Don't try that 'tea art' with me. We're all seasoned foxes, why pretend to be innocent little rabbits?"

He walked up to Tian Yan, his dark eyes seeming to see right through her. He stared intently into her eyes, a playful smile curving his lips.

"Farmhouse"

"Sister Luo's net has startled the future 'female Guan Zhong'...tsk tsk tsk, with that identity, that intelligence, those methods, she came to my little alchemy room just to put on a 'Lost Little Red Riding Hood' act?"

"Do you think I'm stupid, or do you think you're an amazing actor?"

"Clang!"

A sharp killing intent flashed in Tian Yan's eyes.

Since the disguise has been exposed, there's no need to pretend anymore.

The Jingni Sword in her hand emitted a clear dragon's roar, and its sword energy surged instantly, no longer concealing the terrifying pressure belonging to a top-tier assassin.

"Su Ming, you are indeed extraordinary."

Tian Yan's voice was no longer soft but had become clear, cold, and magnetic: "There are no more than three people in this world who can see through my identity at a glance. How did you manage to do that?"

"secret."

Su Ming smiled mysteriously and pointed to his head. "What's inside me isn't paste, it's 'big data'."

"But what I really want to know is, what are you doing here?"

Su Ming looked at her with great interest. "Assassinate me? Or... do you want to steal some technology from me to help you unify the agricultural people and then contend for the Central Plains?"

"Guess?" Tian Yan asked back.

No need to guess.

Su Ming shook his head, a smile on his face that made Tian Yan extremely unhappy, a smile that seemed to indicate that he had everything under control.

He suddenly clapped his hands, as if he were presenting an award to the Best Actress.

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

"Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!"

Su Ming looked at Tian Yan with an expression of "admiration," his tone exaggerated:

"Miss Tian Yan, I, Su Ming, would like to call you the 'Number One King of Involution in the Warring States Period'! With your intelligence, cunning, and methods, not only in the peasant school but also in our Qin Dynasty court, you would be a formidable character who could fight Li Si for three hundred rounds!"

"You came here to assassinate me?"

Su Ming shook his head with a look of regret, "What a waste of talent! It's a complete misuse of his abilities!"

"With your abilities, you should be on a higher stage, making great strides and serving the nation... helping me manage those tens of millions of mouths waiting to be fed!"

Su Ming's eyes instantly turned fervent, the kind of fervor an HR professional displays when they see top talent:

"Tian Yan! Stop messing around in that little pond at the farmhouse!"

"Come to me! I'll give you an offer!"

"If you nod your head, from this day forward you will be the first Minister of Agriculture of my Great Qin Empire! Concurrently serving as the Director of the Strategic Grain Reserves Bureau!"

"How about it? This position and the pay are much better than being that shady assassin you used to be, aren't they?"

Tian Yan was completely stunned.

She had imagined countless possible reactions from Su Ming—shock, anger, fear, or even lust.

But what she never expected was that this man's first reaction after discovering her identity was...

Should we offer her an official position?

And he's the Minister of Agriculture?

Isn't this brain circuit a bit too unusual?

"What...what nonsense are you spouting?" Tian Yan gripped her sword tighter, looking at Su Ming warily. "You want to recruit me?"

"It's not about offering amnesty, it's about valuing talent."

Su Ming said with a sincere expression, "What the Great Qin Dynasty needs most right now is a versatile talent like you who understands both political maneuvering and agriculture. As for your identity as a Luo Wang assassin... that's not a problem! In my eyes, heroes don't ask about origins. As long as you have the ability, even if you used to be a latrine cleaner, I can make you the CEO of the 'Royal Sanitation Group'!"

"..."

Tian Yan felt like her brain wasn't working properly.

Is this man truly insane, or is he plotting something?

In the instant she hesitated.

Su Ming was closing in step by step, and the smile on his face was becoming somewhat malicious.

"Since Minister Tian is not saying anything, I will take that as his consent."

"As a welcome bonus, I'll 'upgrade' this broken sword for you."

Before Su Ming could finish speaking, his figure suddenly blurred, leaving a trail of afterimages.

Tian Yan felt a blur before her eyes and a numbness in her wrist. The Jingni Sword, which she cherished as her life, had already fallen into the hands of her opponent!

"You!" Tian Yan exclaimed in shock, about to retaliate.

But Su Ming didn't give her a chance, and instead threw the sword to Gongshu Chou beside him: "Old Shu! Take this! Use our latest 'Corpse Qi Enchantment' technology to sharpen this sword and poison it while you're at it!"

He then turned around and gave Tian Yan, who looked completely bewildered, a kind smile.

"Minister Tian, ​​welcome to the company."

"Don't rush into action. Let's talk about... the feasibility report on tripling the Qin Dynasty's grain production next year?"

Tian Yan looked at the short, fat old man who was excitedly rubbing his sword on the whetstone, and then at the seemingly benevolent Taoist priest in front of him. For the first time, the confidence in Tian Yan's mind began to waver.

What... what kind of operation is this?

If you can't beat them, join them?

No, this is clearly stealing your weapon and forcing you to work for them!

"I refuse!"

A cold glint flashed in Tian Yan's eyes. Although she had lost her sword, she herself was the sharpest sword. With a flick of her wrist, several poisoned silver needles slid out from her sleeve, transforming into a pink rain of light that rushed straight towards Su Ming's face.

However, she was not greeted by Su Ming's screams.

Instead, it was a... crisp sword cry.

"Clang—"

A sharp sword aura appeared out of thin air and precisely struck the rain of light.

Sparks flew everywhere.

Tian Yan stared intently, and her pupils suddenly contracted.

Suddenly, the purple-haired woman (Shao Siming), who had been standing behind Su Ming, appeared in front of him.

She held a strange longsword made of countless green leaves in her hand, the blade radiating a chilling aura, pointing it at herself from afar.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the alluring woman engulfed in flames (Yan Ling Ji) walked over with her arms crossed, a playful smile on her lips, and a fiery lotus slowly spinning at her fingertips.

"New girl, you've got quite a temper."

Yan Lingji chuckled, "Want to mess with Master? You'll have to ask us 'seniors' for permission first."

Tian Yan's face darkened completely.

She looked at the two women in front of her, whose strength was no less than her own, and then at Su Ming, who was standing behind her with a look of anticipation.

She finally understood that today...

It seems like we've really messed up.

"Su Ming..."

Tian Yan took a deep breath, suppressing all her murderous intent, her bright eyes flashing with a dangerous light.

She didn't make another move, but instead spoke slowly, word by word:

"I agree to your terms."

"However, I have one request."

"Oh?" Su Ming raised an eyebrow. "Tell me about it."

"I want to personally... kill Tian Guang, the leader of the Farmer's Clan!"