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

"Gongsun's beauty is absolutely unparalleled in the seven kingdoms. If this were a peaceful and prosperous era, and if you were from a noble family, this beauty would perhaps be a gift from heaven."

"But unfortunately, this is the Warring States period, a chaotic world where human life is as worthless as grass! And you are just two exiled swordsmen who have lost the protection of their country and are barely able to afford food!"

Ying Chen suddenly stood up, placed his hands on the table, and looked down at Jing Ke with a sense of oppression in his eyes.

"Jing Ke, tell me, in this dog-eat-dog world, what does it mean for an orphan girl with unparalleled beauty to have no background or power to protect her?"

"It means she's a piece of meat exuding deadly allure! It means she's a plaything that any powerful man would want to possess!"

"Why do you think you felt those malicious glances from those people in the Hidden Dragon Hall just now? Do you think those thugs, outlaws, or even those high-ranking princes would put away their greed just because of that broken sword in your hand?"

"No way!"

Ying Chen's voice struck Jing Ke's heart like a heavy hammer.

"They'll lurk like hungry wolves, searching for even the slightest weakness in you! You'll always have moments of weakness, moments of illness and injury, moments when you'll be lured away by a diversionary tactic!"

"If you are even slightly careless, your junior sister will be dragged into the abyss by those beasts lurking in the darkness, suffering unimaginable humiliation and a fate worse than death! And you, besides clutching your sword and weeping in the rain, will be powerless to do anything!"

"Shut up! Shut up!"

Jing Ke suddenly stood up, his eyes bloodshot, like a raging lion. He grabbed the longsword on the table, and with a "clang," the sword was drawn half an inch from its sheath, the cold light reflecting on his face, which was distorted by extreme anger and fear.

"Anyone who dares to touch a hair on Li'er's head, I, Jing Ke, will tear them to pieces even if it costs me my life!" Jing Ke roared hysterically, his whole body radiating a violent killing intent.

However, when faced with Jing Ke drawing his sword, Ying Chen didn't even lift an eyelid.

Just as Jing Ni behind him was about to draw her sword, Ying Chen stopped her by slightly raising his hand.

Ying Chen looked at Jing Ke, who was on the verge of going berserk, and a cold, mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"Fight to the death? What are you going to fight with? Your worthless, worthless life?"

"You might kill one, or ten, but can you kill a hundred, or a thousand? What if the one who takes a liking to your junior sister is Ji Wuye, the great general of Han? Or Yan Chunjun of Yan? Or even... the kings, nobles, and generals of my Great Qin?"

"Faced with a massive army and the all-pervasive reach of the Net, your pathetic swordsmanship wouldn't even make a ripple!"

Ying Chen's words were like a bucket of icy, bone-chilling snow water poured over Jing Ke's head, instantly extinguishing his raging fury and leaving only a bone-chilling cold.

Jing Ke stood frozen in place, his hand gripping the sword hilt trembling violently.

He wanted to argue back; he wanted to loudly tell Ying Chen that he could protect Li'er.

However, the words stuck in my throat and I just couldn't bring myself to say them.

Because he knew that every word Ying Chen spoke was a stark reality.

He recalled the hardships of his escape, the greedy eyes he had received, and the helplessness he felt when he couldn't buy his junior sister a short sword she liked because he was broke.

His swordsmanship, which he was so proud of, seemed so pale and laughable in the face of this massive state apparatus and cruel reality.

"Senior brother..."

Gongsun Li felt as if her heart was being torn apart when she saw Jing Ke struggling in pain.

She stood up, hugged Jing Ke tightly from behind, pressed her face against his broad back, and her tears instantly soaked Jing Ke's clothes.

"Senior brother, don't listen to his nonsense... Li'er is not afraid. As long as Li'er can be with senior brother, even if it means death, Li'er is not afraid..." Gongsun Li said, crying, her voice filled with despair and determination.

She hated Ying Chen, hated that this prince of Qin had used such a cruel method to tear apart the false sense of security they had worked so hard to maintain.

But she hated herself even more, hated her troublesome appearance, and hated that she had become a burden to her senior brother.

Ying Chen looked at the two senior and junior brothers and sisters who were tightly embracing each other as if they were saying goodbye to each other for life and death, and a subtle glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

The heat is almost done.

He sat back down in his chair, picked up the slightly cooled tea, and took a small sip.

"Die? Dying is the easiest thing, but living, and living with dignity, is the hardest thing."

Ying Chen's voice returned to its previous calm tone, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet private room.

"The deadlock you are facing now is not unsolvable."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of light suddenly flashed in Jing Ke's eyes, which had been filled with despair.

He slowly turned around, shielding Gongsun Li behind him, staring intently at Ying Chen, and asked in a hoarse voice, "What...do you mean?"

Ying Chen put down his teacup and looked calmly at Jing Ke.

"The reason you are in such a vulnerable position is ultimately because you are too weak and have no foundation."

"In this chaotic world, the only way to protect those you cherish and avoid being used as a pawn or plaything is to become strong, or..."

Ying Chen paused slightly, then said, word by word, "Find a sufficiently powerful force and seek their protection."

"As long as this power is large enough, large enough to instill fear in all the feudal lords and ambitious men of the seven kingdoms, then as long as you stand under its wings, no one in this world will dare to lay a finger on you!"

Jing Ke frowned deeply as he listened to Ying Chen's words.

He admitted that Ying Chen had a point, but there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

"And then?" Jing Ke looked at Ying Chen warily. "You've said so much, belittling our situation to nothing, and then thrown out this bait. What exactly are you trying to say?"

"Do you intend for us to seek refuge with the State of Han? Or with the State of Yan?" Jing Ke sneered. "We are the remnants of the State of Wei. Which of those other states isn't a ruthless wolf that devours its prey? Seeking refuge with them is no different from lambs to the slaughter!"

"Korea? Yan?"

Ying Chen burst into laughter as if he had heard an extremely funny joke.

"Hahaha... Jing Ke, oh Jing Ke, your vision is ultimately too narrow."

Ying Chen's smile vanished, his eyes becoming incredibly deep and domineering, emanating an unreserved air of authority from him.

"The State of Han is nothing but a dying ant, and the State of Yan is nothing but a frog in a well, content with its limited territory. Do they even deserve to be called a powerful force?"

Ying Chen slowly stood up and walked step by step to Jing Ke.

He looked into Jing Ke's eyes, which were filled with doubt and wariness, and a charming smile curved his lips as he slowly spoke.

"I don't want you to join any particular vassal state."

"I want to recruit you, Jing Ke."

"Join me."

"Join the organization I founded—the Bad Guys."