Qin Dynasty: Ying Zheng is my brother, I am the Bad Commander

"Because this is his way, and it is also the way of the Great Qin! If our ways differ, then only a fight to the death will ensue!"

Ying Chen's words were like thunderclaps, exploding in Jing Ke's mind.

Jing Ke stood there, stunned, his right hand gripping the sword hilt frozen in mid-air. In his bloodshot eyes, a flicker of intense struggle and pain flashed through them.

He understood the reasoning behind Ying Chen's words.

Each serves their own master, and they have no grudges even in life or death.

Gongsun Yu died on the battlefield where the two armies clashed, in a fair fight, not from a despicable ambush.

Qin soldiers fought for military merit and national expansion, while Gongsun Yu fought to the death to defend his country. Who can truly distinguish right from wrong in this?

Does Qin deserve to be thwarted just because it wants to conquer the world for territory? Does Wei deserve sympathy just because it is weak?

In this dog-eat-dog world, weakness itself is a kind of original sin.

Jing Ke took a deep breath, the icy air flowing through his trachea into his lungs, cooling his heart, which was pounding violently with anger, slightly.

Slowly, bit by bit, he loosened his right hand, which was tightly gripping the hilt of the sword, and looked deeply at Ying Chen, his eyes filled with extreme complexity.

There was hatred, helplessness, and a hint of acceptance that even he himself was unwilling to admit.

"You're right... On the battlefield, each serves their own master, and there's no regret in life or death..." Jing Ke's voice was terribly hoarse, as if he had a handful of sand in his throat. "My master... he got what he wanted and died a worthy death. I, Jing Ke, although I hate your Qin state to the bone, I am also a swordsman. I can distinguish between battlefield combat and personal vendettas."

Jing Ke took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent emotions in his heart. He picked up the empty white jade wine cup that he had just placed aside and gave Ying Chen a very stiff cupped-hand salute.

"Thank you for this cup of 'Ice and Fire Dream.' It is fine wine, and I, Jing Ke, will remember your kindness in inviting me. But you are a prince of Qin, and I am a descendant of Wei. Between us, there is ultimately a blood feud."

Jing Ke's eyes turned cold again. "I may not kill you today, but I will repay this debt of gratitude with my sword, with interest!"

After saying this, Jing Ke turned around without hesitation, grabbed Gongsun Li's cold, trembling wrist, and said in a deep voice, "Li'er, let's go!"

Gongsun Li was pulled by Jing Ke and staggered around, but her hateful gaze was still fixed on Ying Chen, as if she wanted to etch that face into the depths of her soul forever.

The two took heavy steps, preparing to leave this place that had made them feel so oppressed and painful.

Just as they had taken two steps, Ying Chen's calm and slightly lazy voice rang out again behind them.

"Wait a moment."

Jing Ke abruptly stopped, but he didn't turn around. With his back to Ying Chen, he said coldly, "Young Master Ying Chen, it seems there's nothing left for us to discuss. What, do you intend to wipe out these two remnants of the Wei Kingdom right here?"

Ying Chen chuckled softly and slowly walked to the side and behind Jing Ke.

"Kill you? If I wanted to kill you, you wouldn't even have had a chance to draw your swords just now."

He watched Jing Ke's tense back, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, and said softly, "I called you back because there's something I want to talk to you about. Something... very important."

"I told you, there's nothing to talk about between us!" Jing Ke refused without hesitation, pulling Gongsun Li along as they continued walking forward.

"Oh? Is that so?" Ying Chen's voice was unhurried, yet it carried a captivating charm. "The matter I'm about to discuss will directly affect you, and... the fate of your beautiful junior sister beside you, for the rest of your lives."

Ying Chen deliberately emphasized the words "the fate of a lifetime".

"Are you sure you really don't want to hear it?"

Upon hearing this, Jing Ke's foot, which had just been lifted, seemed to be nailed to the ground, unable to fall again.

His body stiffened abruptly, and a look of intense struggle and hesitation flashed across his face.

If Ying Chen were talking about Jing Ke himself, even if it were a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire, even if it were a matter of life and death, Jing Ke would laugh loudly three times without hesitation, and then leave without looking back.

He was a worthless man, and apart from the sword in his hand and the wine in his flask, there was nothing in this world that could frighten him.

but……

Ying Chen mentioned Gongsun Li.

He mentioned his junior sister, whom he grew up with and whom he considered more important than his own life.

Before his death, his master entrusted Li'er to him, instructing him to protect her at all costs.

This was his promise to his master, and his only motivation to live.

This was his promise to his master, and his only motivation to live.

He absolutely could not be careless about anything involving Gongsun Li's safety and future, and dared not gamble on it.

Gongsun Li, standing nearby, felt the cold sweat and trembling on Jing Ke's palms. She reached out and tugged at Gongsun Li's sleeve, urgently saying, "Senior brother, don't listen to him! He's from Qin, our enemy! He won't say anything good! Let's go, let's get out of here!"

Jing Ke slowly turned his head and looked at Gongsun Li's face, which was full of worry and anxiety.

He shook his head.

"Li'er, don't be afraid. With your senior brother here, no one can hurt you."

After saying that, he removed Gongsun Li's hand from his sleeve, turned around, and faced Ying Chen directly.

His eyes had regained the calm and sharpness of a swordsman. He stared intently into Ying Chen's eyes and asked, word by word, "What exactly do you want to say? What could possibly affect our entire lives?"

Ying Chen casually placed the valuable white jade wine cup in his hand on the display stand next to him, then turned around and took Yan Fei's soft, boneless hand in his.

"It's too noisy here; this isn't a place to talk."

Ying Chen walked towards the gate of Qianlong Hall without looking back, leaving only a light, fleeting sentence echoing in the ears of Jing Ke and Gongsun Li.

"If you want to know the answer, follow me. Of course, you can also choose to flee to the ends of the earth with your junior sister now, living forever in the fear of the unknown."

Jing Ke watched the departing figures of Ying Chen, Yan Fei, and Jing Ni, his teeth grinding together.

He knew he had no other choice.

"Let's go." Jing Ke grasped Gongsun Li's hand and pulled her along, following Ying Chen's steps without hesitation.

Seeing them follow, Ying Chen smiled.