Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Madam Xu was about the same age as him; both were elders of the Mo family.

It's truly heartbreaking to witness an old friend die like that.

After listening to Master Ban's explanation, Six-Fingered Black Knight finally understood. No wonder Master Xu was so upset; it turned out his mother had died!

and many more……

He then thought of what Master Ban had said earlier.

His expression changed instantly, becoming extremely solemn. "You mentioned the dragon-slaying plan earlier?"

"What's going on?"

What kind of plan requires an executor and a sharp weapon?

What dragon slaying? It should be assassination!

This aligns with Master Ban's earlier statement about his ambition to stop the Qin state from harming all the people of the world.

Were they trying to assassinate someone from the Qin state?

Master Ban didn't think much of what Six-Fingered Black Knight said. After all, the assassination plan against Qin had been unanimously approved by the Mohist high-ranking members. In their minds, even if the Grand Master knew about it, he should agree with it.

So he didn't hide anything and spoke directly, "There are no real dragons in the world, but the kings of various countries are dragons. The reason why the Qin state is so violent is because King Ying Zheng of Qin, in order to satisfy his own ambition, ordered the Qin soldiers to conquer at will. In a short period of time, the Qin state has successively destroyed the Han and Zhao states, and now the army is near the Yi River, and may attack the Yan state at any time."

“If Qin initiates war, the people of Yan will be displaced, their families destroyed, and their lives ruined. Qin’s actions contradict the Mohist principles of universal love and non-aggression.”

"Therefore, for the sake of the people of Yan and all the people under heaven, at the suggestion of His Majesty Yan Dan, we decided to carry out the Dragon-Slaying Plan. At that time, the Jing brothers disguised themselves as envoys of Yan to approach King Ying Zheng of Qin, and then used the sword forged by Lady Xu to kill him in one blow."

"As soon as Ying Zheng dies, the Qin state's conquest of the world will come to a halt."

"The people will also have a chance to breathe!"

Master Ban recounted the entire story of his assassination attempt on the Qin emperor, or rather, his plan to slay the dragon, in one breath.

The Six-Fingered Black Knight had already made some guesses in his mind.

However, when he finally learned the whole story, his expression changed again and again.

He immediately voiced his opinion: "No! This plan is absolutely unacceptable!"

This resolute objection instantly froze the atmosphere in the hall.

Master Ban looked at the Grand Master in astonishment and hurriedly asked, "Grand Master, why not? Qin Shi Huang is tyrannical, and the people have suffered under Qin for too long. If we can eliminate him, we can stop the fighting and save the people from suffering. This is exactly what our Mohist school of universal love and non-aggression desires!"

Previously, when Yan Dan mentioned the assassination plan against Qin, he had thought about it carefully and was convinced that even if the Grand Master knew, he would definitely agree, since the Grand Master cared about the people and Qin was the greatest scourge to the world.

If assassinating Ying Zheng could save the common people, the Mohists would not hesitate to take on the task.

"Universal love and non-aggression should prioritize weighing the pros and cons, rather than acting rashly and plunging the people into greater calamity!" Six-Fingered Black Knight shook his head, his tone tinged with heartache. "You only saw the peace after the assassination of Qin, but you didn't foresee the enormous risks behind this plan. Whether it succeeds or fails, it is the common people who will ultimately suffer!"

His gaze swept over the Mohist leaders present, and everyone he looked at involuntarily lowered their eyes.

"If the assassination succeeds and Ying Zheng dies, the Qin court will inevitably be thrown into chaos. But have you considered this? The Qin state has been built up over generations, and its foundation is already solid. Although Ying Zheng is dead, his powerful ministers and generals are still alive, and the members of the royal family are not mediocre either. They will never let this go easily; they will only unleash their anger on the world, especially on the Yan state and my Mohist school!"

"At that time, the Qin state will no longer be limited to gradual conquest, but will launch a thunderous retaliation. The Yan state will bear the brunt and will inevitably be engulfed by the flames of war. The people of Yan will suffer a more tragic massacre than before. As for my Mo family, as the mastermind behind the assassination plan, even if our Mechanized City is hidden, it will eventually be found by the Qin army. At that time, we will all perish, and the Mo family will never have a peaceful day again!"

After a pause, the Six-Fingered Black Knight's tone grew increasingly somber: "If the assassination fails, the consequences will be unimaginable. Ying Zheng is by nature suspicious and ruthless. If this assassination attempt fails, he will inevitably create numerous prisons and investigate dissidents throughout the land. Countless innocent people will be implicated, and rivers of blood will flow. Qin's conquests will not only not stop, but will become even more rapid, using an even stronger iron fist to suppress resistance from other states, plunging the people of the world into even deeper suffering!"

"You think killing Ying Zheng will stop the fighting? How naive!" The Six-Fingered Black Knight's voice carried a hint of rebuke. "The ambition of the Qin state is not just Ying Zheng's idea, but the inevitable result of generations of Qin's accumulation. Killing Ying Zheng will only bring about a more wary and cruel successor, and then the calamities of the world will only double."

"No one can bear such consequences, and our Mohist school must never willingly get involved in such a catastrophe!"

Six-Fingered Black Knight's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over the hearts of all the Mohist leaders present.

Previously, they were all driven by the idea of ​​"saving the people from suffering," and had never so deeply considered the terrifying consequences of the failed assassination attempt on the Qin emperor.

Upon hearing Six-Fingered Black Knight's analysis, the determination on everyone's faces gradually faded, replaced by hesitation and doubt.

Gao Jianli frowned and subconsciously gripped the Wind Howl Sword and the Water Cold Sword at his waist.

Although he was grateful for Xu Qing's kindness and agreed with the Mohist philosophy, the consequences that Six-Fingered Black Knight mentioned were something he had not thought deeply about before.

If, as the Grand Master said, the assassination attempt on the Qin Emperor would not only fail to save the people but would instead plunge them into even deeper suffering, then this plan would truly be questionable.

Dao Zhi also put away his previous complicated expression, and his face became more solemn.

He possessed exceptional lightness skills and traveled between various states year-round, making him more aware than others of the military might and ruthlessness of the Qin state.

Once the Mohists are involved in the assassination attempt on the Qin emperor, there will be no place for them in the world. This is not an exaggeration.

Master Ban opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found that he couldn't find the right words for the moment.

The consequences mentioned by the Six-Fingered Black Knight all pointed to destruction, forcing him to re-examine the "Dragon-Slaying Plan" that they had all agreed upon.

Seeing the hesitation on everyone's faces, Six-Fingered Black Knight breathed a slight sigh of relief, but his expression remained serious.

He knew that he had to strike while the iron was hot and completely dispel everyone's desire to assassinate the Qin emperor.

Then, he turned his gaze back to Master Ban and said in a deep voice, "Things have come to this point, there's no point in saying more. I will not agree to the Mohists doing this, and this assassination plan must be stopped immediately!"

"Now, tell me, how is this so-called dragon-slaying plan progressing? Has Jing Ke already set off?"

Silence fell over the hall once more, all eyes fixed on Master Ban, awaiting his answer.

This answer will directly determine the fate of the Mohist school.

Master Ban felt the gazes of everyone and his heart was heavy.

He realized he had miscalculated.

When Yan Dan mentioned the assassination plan, he thought that the Grand Master might hesitate or waver, but in the end, in front of all the people, he should still agree.

After all, the fact that the Grand Master helped Emperor Dan of Yan escape from Qin was already considered an offense against Qin.

The Luo Wang and Yin Yang Schools were mobilized one after the other.

Anyone who isn't an idiot will trace the matter back to the Mohist school.

The Mohists were already deeply entrenched in the situation and unable to extricate themselves.

Therefore, for the Mohists, the only option was to fight the Qin state to the bitter end.

The assassination attempt on the King of Qin may seem like a risky gamble, but if successful, the rewards would be immense.

More importantly, Yan Dan proposed assassinating the King of Qin. Although it seemed like a risky move, he had made thorough preparations. The many strategists of Yan must have given it serious thought.

This was a plan devised by the nation's top strategists; the Mohists only needed to provide assistance.

Unexpectedly, Six-Fingered Black Knight reacted so strongly after learning about this.

But upon careful consideration of what the master had said earlier, Master Ban found it quite reasonable.

Ultimately, it was because the leader had disappeared and his fate was unknown, and they were all blinded by hatred, thus losing their rationality.

The assassination attempt on the Qin emperor was a double-edged sword; whether successful or not, it would harm both the assassin and the assassin.

Chapter 256 Rushing to Jicheng, Jing Ke's Thoughts

With a multitude of thoughts swirling in his eyes, Master Ban met the anxious gazes of the entire hall and slowly spoke, his voice as steady as a rock: "Your Excellency, since the plan was finalized, Brother Jing Ke has remained in Ji City, diligently studying Qin etiquette and refining his rhetoric while awaiting the best opportunity. As of today, not a single word has been sent back from him about setting off for Qin."

These words were like a timely rain after a long drought, instantly extinguishing the stagnant atmosphere in the hall.

The frowns on everyone's faces immediately eased a little. The giant's opposition had really surprised everyone. Now, a huge weight was lifted from their hearts. As long as the dragon-slaying plan had not been officially launched, there was still room for maneuver.

The Six-Fingered Black Knight's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, also eased considerably. His tone softened a bit, but it still carried an undeniable determination: "It's good that we haven't set off yet."

He looked up at Master Ban, his gaze resolute. "Immediately send a messenger on horseback to Ji City to inform Jing Ke that I have returned. The matter of slaying the dragon requires careful consideration; order him to return to the Mechanical City as soon as possible!"

Because of Yan Dan, Six-Fingered Black Knight could not directly express his opposition, so he had to change his words to "consider it carefully".

As for how long this "long" period will actually last, that's another story.

The Yan Kingdom was not destroyed after all!

"What the Grand Master says is absolutely right!" Master Ban hurriedly agreed, and was about to turn around to arrange for people when a Mohist disciple rushed into the hall in a panic, holding up a scroll sealed with wax, his voice filled with barely concealed urgency: "Grand Master, Master Ban, urgent news from Ji City! It was sent by His Highness Yan Dan overnight!"

The nerves that had just relaxed tightened up again in an instant, and the air in the hall seemed to freeze into ice once more.

Six-Fingered Black Knight frowned and said in a deep voice, "Bring it here."

The disciple quickly stepped forward and handed the small scroll to Master Ban.

Master Ban flicked open the sealing wax with his fingertips, unfurled the scroll, and quickly scanned it. His expression gradually became complex and unreadable, showing both surprise and undisguised embarrassment.

After reading it, he handed the scroll to the Six-Fingered Black Knight, his voice deep and resonant: "Master, His Highness Yan Dan has already chosen a departure date, which is three days from now. He stated in his letter that everything is ready, and now all that remains is for Brother Jing Ke to set off on the auspicious day!"

Six-Fingered Black Knight's gaze swept over the words on the scroll, and his face darkened again, as if covered with a layer of frost.

At the end of the letter, Yan Dan earnestly invited the leaders of the Mohist school to come to Ji City to bid farewell to Jing Ke. The letter read: "After this parting, life and death are uncertain. Mr. Jing Ke, mindful of his friendship with the Mohists, wishes to bid you farewell in person and drink a toast to your departing spirit."

"What a perfect plan!" Six-Fingered Black Knight's voice was as cold as ice, his words carrying an undisguised dissatisfaction. "Yan Dan is so confident, completely disregarding the enormous risks behind this plan!"

Because of the Dragon Slaying Plan, Six-Fingered Black Knight had to re-evaluate Yan Dan.

In particular, he saw through the clues in this letter at a glance, realizing that the timing of Jing Ke's departure for Qin was not a hasty decision, but rather a premeditated plan.

The letter arrived at the city only three days before departure.

This was clearly forcing the Mohists to make a choice: either not to see them off, or to set off immediately.

Located on the border between Yan and Qi, the Mechanical City could reach Ji City within three days with the help of the mechanical beast Vermilion Bird. However, the time left for them to communicate with Jing Ke was already very limited.

Yan Dan's actions clearly indicate that he intends to make the situation irreversible.

Hearing the Grand Master's cold words, Master Ban was shaken. Recalling his previous conversations with Yan Dan, he suddenly had a new realization: "I'm afraid... Yan has no way out."

He paused, his voice filled with helplessness, "The Qin army is at the Yi River, and could crush the Yan capital in a matter of days. The Yan state is far weaker than Qin, and a direct confrontation would only lead to its demise. That is why all our hopes are pinned on assassinating the Qin emperor. If we succeed, the Yan state can be saved; if we fail, we will only die a few days sooner."

These words plunged the hall into dead silence once again.

Everyone knew that Master Ban's words were true. The momentum of Qin's unification of the world was unstoppable. After the fall of Han and Zhao, Yan was already a frightened bird. Assassinating Qin might be the only lifeline they could grasp.

Even so, the Six-Fingered Black Knight must not allow the Mohist school to be involved in such a dangerous matter.

Yan Dan ultimately overlooked one thing: he, the Six-Fingered Black Knight, the leader of the Mohist school, had already returned.

His existence is the biggest variable.

As long as the assassination plot against the Qin emperor has not been officially launched, even if there is only one day left, he can prevent it from happening.

Originally, the Six-Fingered Black Knight planned to send someone to call Jing Ke back, but he changed his mind now.

He was going to Jicheng in person.

Just as the atmosphere in the central hall of the Mo family was tense and deadlocked, Xu Qing suddenly spoke calmly. His voice was not loud, but it instantly drew everyone's attention.