During the Qin Dynasty, he was in charge of the net.

Two days later, two figures were hurrying towards Li Ji's courtyard.

One of the dishes looked quite familiar; it was Xiao Liu, the handyman who had been with Uncle Chen two days ago.

The other figure was around sixty years old, of medium build, with a slightly hunched back.

"Butler Wang, this way, this is the courtyard."

As Xiao Liu walked, he pointed out the way and said this.

The old man, whom Xiao Liu called Steward Wang, glanced at Xiao Liu and said:

"Xiao Liu, did Uncle Chen really fall ill from being frightened by a sword?"

"If you dare to lie to me, you'd better prepare to go back and get a beating."

"How dare I! After seeing that sword that morning, Uncle Chen didn't eat all day and fell ill the next day."

"Anyway, I've never seen a sword like that before. When we get to that courtyard, could I please not go in?" (Butler Wang)

Xiao Liu huddled behind Butler Wang and said nervously, glancing up every now and then as if afraid that the person he had seen in the courtyard that day might be nearby.

Seeing Xiao Liu's appearance, Butler Wang shook his head repeatedly.

A short while later, Butler Wang appeared in Li Ji's secluded courtyard with Xiao Liu.

"The young master inside, I am the steward of the Lü family, here to pay you a visit."

Li Ji had heard the commotion early on, and upon hearing the voice, he appeared under the eaves.

Xiao Liu hid behind Butler Wang, pointed at Li Ji, and whispered:

"Butler Wang, that's him. Uncle Chen was so frightened by the sword in his hand that he fell ill."

Although Xiao Liu's voice was very soft, Li Ji, who was several feet away, still heard it.

Although he sheathed Duan Shui that day, it still emitted a trace of malevolent energy.

The old servant was already frail, so it wasn't surprising that he fell ill after encountering a trace of malevolent energy emanating from the Eight Swords of Yue.

Despite this, Li Ji didn't care. The whole thing started because the old servant wanted to order him around, and now that he was sick, it was only his own fault.

He was never a good person; he was a top-tier assassin in the Luo Wang organization, his hands stained with blood.

He simply disdained to attack ordinary people casually; if he wanted to kill that old servant, it would only take a moment.

Butler Wang did not immediately respond to Xiao Liu's words, but instead looked intently at Li Ji.

The young man standing in the corridor was dressed in a simple black robe. Although there were no luxurious embellishments, he was tall and upright with a composed demeanor. He exuded an extraordinary air about him, which was far beyond what ordinary servants or mediocre retainers could match.

Having served in the Prime Minister's residence for many years and seen countless people, Steward Wang felt a surge of appreciation. Turning to Xiao Liu beside him, he spoke with a hint of reproach:

"Old Chen is getting more and more confused as he gets older; he has no sense of right and wrong at all."

Such a person of such character and integrity must possess strategic acumen and genuine skill; how could they be assigned to menial labor?

They are utterly blind and have offended our distinguished guest for no reason.

Having said that, Steward Wang turned around, took a few steps forward, and politely cupped his hands towards Li Ji under the eaves, saying:

"Young master, the servants in my household were rude and impetuous, and they offended me the other day. I hope they will forgive me."

Tomorrow night, the Prime Minister will host a banquet at his residence, and all the powerful officials, noble families and guests will attend.

The front hall of the manor is currently lacking a reliable person to guard it. I wonder if you, sir, would be willing to go and take up the post?

Xiao Liu, who was standing to the side, widened his eyes instantly and was completely stunned.

He had assumed that Chen Bo had fallen ill from fright because of this man, and that the steward's visit was to hold him accountable. At best, the unruly guest would be expelled from the mansion; at worst, he would be severely punished.

But who would have thought that after only meeting him once, Steward Wang would speak so highly of him?

Guarding the banquet hall at night was a coveted position that many people in the mansion would fight tooth and nail for.

This is no ordinary gatekeeper. In such a large mansion, is there really a shortage of people to guard the front hall?

The front hall is where the Prime Minister receives guests. Those who come and go are all powerful and influential people. Even a simple guard duty cannot disgrace the Prime Minister.

Therefore, those on duty in the front hall are mostly young men with a distinguished air.

Standing guard in the front hall where powerful and wealthy people gather, if any high-ranking official takes a glance at you and casually offers a word of encouragement, you can secure a stable job, or even gain the favor of the prime minister, and it's not impossible for you to rise rapidly in your later years.

But faced with this extraordinary good fortune for ordinary people, Li Ji remained calm and unmoved.

He first bowed to Butler Wang across from him in return, then slowly replied:

"I am a lazy person, and I thank you for your kindness, butler."

The atmosphere inside the courtyard instantly became awkward.

The faint smile on Butler Wang's face suddenly froze, and his expression turned somewhat ugly.

He was already prepared for the other party to accept, and secretly felt a slight sense of pride in his ability to judge people.

The intention was to create a memorable story of how a young talent could be recognized at a glance.

Who would have thought that my good intentions would be rejected so decisively, without leaving any room for negotiation?

However, as one of the stewards in Lü Buwei's mansion, although he was harboring resentment, he was shrewd and would not show his anger in public.

"Tsk tsk tsk, very good, very good."

Butler Wang nodded slowly, looked Li Ji up and down, and said in a calm tone:

"As expected of someone young and ambitious, with such high aspirations."

You look down on the ordinary chores in the mansion, and you don't care about guarding the Prime Minister's front hall.

In that case, I have been presumptuous.

"But if I may ask one more question, young master, who brought you into our household, and where did you previously hold a high position?"

At this moment, if Li Ji were willing to point out that his relationship with Lü Buwei was unusual, it would surely make Steward Wang look at him in a new light and treat him differently.

But Li Ji did not.

He rested his left hand on the hilt of the Broken Water Sword, looked directly at Steward Wang, and said calmly:

"Without any introduction, I came here on my own initiative. In the past, I wandered from place to place, a nomadic wanderer."

In fact, Li Ji felt that what he said wasn't wrong.

Indeed, no one introduced him to Lü Buwei; he came to Lü Buwei's residence on his own.

For the past decade or so, he has spent most of his time on the road completing missions; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he has been wandering.

Luo Wang (罗网) probably doesn't qualify as a home in the conventional sense.

Li Ji thought this was true, but when Butler Wang heard it, his expression quickly turned indifferent.

The slightly admiring look she had given me earlier was gone, replaced by a polite indifference.

"Since one can enter the government office without an introduction, one must have at least one or two skills."

I heard that two days ago, Old Chen fell ill after being frightened by just glancing at your longsword a few times.

Bring me the sword that scared Old Chen, so I can see it for myself.

Li Ji unsheathed the Broken Water Sword from his waist, held it horizontally in the air, and slowly said:

"My sword is nothing special. If the steward is interested, I can sell it to him for ten gold coins."

Upon hearing this, Butler Wang was slightly taken aback at first, then his face tightened, and he hurriedly waved his hand in refusal, all traces of politeness on his face vanishing.

Steward Wang had already figured out that Li Ji was just another person who came to the mansion to freeload, and it was a pity that he had such an ordinary appearance.

Having reached this conclusion, Butler Wang turned to leave.

After taking only half a step, Butler Wang suddenly turned his head and said:

"I've lived most of my life and seen all sorts of people."

Young man, you are quite a handsome man, yet you are unwilling to do this or that.

The fact that someone can sell even their own sword so freely is infuriating.

If you don't correct this bad habit in the future, I'm afraid I'll have to come here again and ask someone to kick you out of the mansion. That would be awkward for everyone.

That's all I have to say. Take care of yourself.

After saying that, Steward Wang turned and left.

Xiao Liu secretly glanced at Li Ji, filled with suspicion and not daring to linger. He quickly lowered his head and followed, leaving the small courtyard in a hurry.

Li Ji remained calm throughout, his expression serene and unwavering, showing no sign of taking the matter to heart.

He held a top-ranking position in the Luowang (a secret intelligence network) and secretly plotted with Lü Buwei for an important post in Qin. The lectures and ridicule of ordinary people were nothing more than dust and ants to him, not worth mentioning.