Rebirth of a Stunning Beauty (Complete) - 33

~Chapter Three: Beauty Doesn't Kill, Section One~

Fragrant, top-grade Longjing tea was served on the table, and Lian

Zhou Tianxiong diligently poured a cup for each of the Third Young Master and his companions. Watching them leisurely sip their tea, Lian Zhou Tianxiong finally felt relieved.

Lian Zhou Tianxiong was originally a master swordsman; in his youth, he was even ranked second among all swordsmen in the world, only after Qin Feng.

However, the terrifying strength displayed by the Qin brothers at the martial arts tournament four years ago—the Heavenly Sword, the Overlord Blade, and the Heaven-Covering Hand—deeply shattered his confidence. His martial arts skills stagnated, and he turned his attention to currying favor with the powerful.

Now, facing Qin Ren and Hua Rong, he naturally felt great fear.

He knew that either Qin Ren or Hua Rong was capable of killing him with a mere flick of their wrist. "So what if you two aren't afraid of poison?" Lian Zhou Tianxiong smiled coldly to himself. "The other four can't withstand the effects of this 'Dissolving Power and Softening Tendon Powder'! With four burdens, one of whom is one of ours, no matter how strong you two are, you won't survive!"

"Young Master, please have some tea. I'll go to the kitchen and urge them to prepare the food and wine as soon as possible." Lian Zhou Tianxiong prepared to take his leave.

The Third Young Master nodded and said, "Alright, you can go down first."

Lian Zhou Tianxiong, hunched over, backed out of the private room and quickly went downstairs. He said to Lian Zhou Fenghua, "They drank the tea, everyone drank it!"

Lian Zhou Fenghua sneered and said, "That 'Dissolving Power and Softening Tendon Powder' will make you lose all your power with just a little bit. The effects are incredibly fast; the four women around Qin Ren should be completely powerless by now!

Tianxiong, Tianying, close the door!"

Upon hearing this, Lian Zhou Tianying, who was waiting in the hall, immediately joined Lian Zhou Tianxiong in closing the door.

Lian Zhou Fenghua tore off his manager's clothes, wiped his face a few times, and then pulled off his disguise mask, revealing his true face. He strode towards the stairs.

Lian Zhou Tianxiong tore off his mask, drew his longsword, and Lian Zhou Tianying also tore off his mask, shouldered his broadsword, and followed Lian Zhou Fenghua towards the stairs.

The three of them went upstairs and headed straight for the Third Young Master's private room. As the three went upstairs, the doors to the three private rooms surrounding the Third Young Master's room slowly opened, and the three Japanese masters emerged. The first was

Kazeki Hideyoshi, seven feet tall, dressed in a white kimono with a black belt and wooden clogs, a long, thin Central Plains sword hanging from his waist. Kazeki Hideyoshi had long, flowing hair and an almost demonic handsome appearance.

His lips were painted bright red, and he wore eyeshadow, clearly a transgender individual.

The second was Kyouka Kisuke, a burly man dressed in Japanese samurai attire with a small braid. His appearance was twisted and terrifying, with eagle eyes, an eagle nose, and a wide, blood-red mouth. Two fleshy growths on his forehead resembled animal horns. He carried two swords, one long and one short, at his waist and wore straw sandals.

The third was Kobayakawa Hideaki, short and thin, dressed in monk's robes, wearing a scepter, and carrying a nine-ringed staff. He had a handsome appearance with a slight smile on his lips.

Lianzhou and his two sons joined up with the three top experts from Da Ri, placing the private room of the Third Young Master and his group in the middle. Before Lianzhou Fenghua could speak, the Third Young Master's voice came from inside the room: "Are you here to deliver wine? Why don't you come in?"

Lianzhou Fenghua sneered and said, "Qin Ren, we're not here to deliver wine and food, we're here to send you on your way!"

With a bang, the private room, which was surrounded by screens on all four sides, opened up, revealing the Third Young Master and six others sitting inside. The Third Young Master leaned back in his chair, his left arm around Shui Muwei and his right arm around Hua Rong. He glanced at Lianzhou and his sons and said lazily, "Lianzhou Fenghua, long time no see! Judging from your posture, it seems you want to kill me, young master. But there are six of us, and you only have six of your own. What makes you think you can kill me?" Lianzhou Fenghua sneered. "Qin Ren," he said, "you've poisoned your tea with a 'power-dissolving and muscle-weakening powder'! Yes, Qin Ren, I know you and Hua Rong aren't afraid of poison, but these four women aren't necessarily like you, are they?"

Hua Rong looked at Lian Zhou Feng Hua with an extremely seductive smile. This smile made Lian Zhou Feng Hua feel a sudden dizziness, his heart race, and his mouth go dry. He immediately used his internal energy to calm himself and pointed at Hua Rong, shouting, "Demon sect witch, stop showing off your seductive arts in front of me! Evil cannot prevail over good. Do you think I'll fall for your tricks?"

Lian Zhou Feng Hua was the second-best martial artist in the righteous path, second only to Qin Xiaoyao and Tie Kongshan. Although Qin Xiaoyao and Tie Kongshan had made rapid progress in recent years, while Lian Zhou Feng Hua had been busy scheming and his progress had been slow, in terms of true skill, he was still a top-ranking master in the world. Hua Rong's seductive arts were naturally ineffective against him.

Hua Rong chuckled and said, "Lianzhou Fenghua, you dare to say 'good will always prevail over evil'? Tell me, your daughter, Lianzhou Luo'er, is with us now. What do you plan to do with her?"

Lianzhou Fenghua glanced at Lianzhou Luo'er, their eyes meeting her cold yet pitiful gaze. A surge of anger rose within him. He waved his hand impatiently and said, "Such a wretched daughter! I severed all ties with her four years ago. Today, of course, I will kill her too!" Hearing this,

despair welled up in Lianzhou Luo'er's eyes.

The Third Young Master looked at Lianzhou Luo'er with pity, then at Lianzhou Fenghua, shaking his head and sighing, "As the saying goes, even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs. Lianzhou Fenghua, you are truly worse than a beast!"

Lianzhou Fenghua sneered and said, "Of course, I can spare her life. As for the four women beside you who have been poisoned by the 'Dissolving Power and Weakening Tendon Powder,' I can spare them all. As long as you obediently submit to Hua Rong's execution, I guarantee their safety with my integrity!" "

Third Young Master smiled mockingly and said, "Someone like you has any integrity? Lian Zhou Feng Hua, I'd rather believe a pig or a dog than you! Besides, how do you know Luo'er and the others have been poisoned by you? Don't forget, we were fooled once last year in Dingzhou City. Do you think we'd fall for the same trick twice?"

Lian Zhou Feng Hua was startled, but quickly calmed down and sneered, "Oh? Is that really so? Qin Ren, don't try to play games with me. You're still too green! Only Young Master Yu has the antidote for the Dissolving Power and Softening Tendons Powder, you..." Hmph...

Third Young Master chuckled and said, "Sorry to disappoint you. We've already concocted the antidote for the Dissolving Power and Softening Tendons Powder. If you don't believe me, feel free to try." Lian

Zhou Feng Hua was immediately filled with suspicion and uncertainty. He saw that the Third Young Master and the others were chatting and laughing as if they were not poisoned. However, he still harbored a sliver of hope, thinking, what if Qin Ren was playing a trick, stalling for time to summon the heavenly soldiers? Just as he was wavering, he heard the demonic Abi Sword Wind Hideyoshi say, "Lord Lian Zhou, they are already surrounded by us. Even if they are not poisoned, they have no chance of survival. Why are you hesitating? Hmph. Qin Ren, you really have a lot of beauties around you. They make this servant's heart flutter..." As he spoke, he slowly walked towards the Third Young Master and the others, his hand touching the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Upon hearing Feng Cheng Xiuji's self-designation, the Third Young Master couldn't help but laugh and scoff, saying, "Are you male or female, you freak? How dare you call yourself 'this humble servant'?"

Feng Cheng Xiuji smiled seductively, saying, "This humble servant likes beautiful women, but I like strong and handsome men even more! Qin Ren, boy. Don't worry, this humble servant won't kill you. This humble servant will cripple your martial arts and slowly, torment you to my heart's content..."

The Third Young Master sighed and said to Song Qing, "Qing'er, this kind of freak is truly disgusting. How about you deal with him for me?" Song Qing smiled slightly and said, "Originally, I didn't want to kill anyone, but this person is indeed too disgusting. I'll help you this time!" As she spoke, she turned to look at Feng Cheng Xiuji, and her two bright eyes suddenly changed, becoming fiery red, black, and silver-white. The three colors divided her pupils into three even parts, which slowly began to rotate.

Feng Cheng Xiuji's gaze met Song Qing's, and as they stared at each other, Feng Cheng Xiuji found himself unable to look away, only able to stare intently into Song Qing's eyes.

And from Song Qing's three-colored demonic eyes seemed to emanate an infinite suction force, drawing his soul in. Song Qing's gaze was like two sharp swords, piercing through his eyes and into the depths of his soul.

Song Qing was imagining.

She imagined her gaze transforming into two swords, piercing into Feng Cheng Youji's body. Then, those two swords transformed into two streams of water, flowing through every meridian and bone in Feng Cheng Youji's body. Wherever those two streams passed, meridians were severed, bones were broken, and organs were shattered.

Feng Cheng Youji screamed wildly, and suddenly, a series of crisp cracking sounds came from above him. Then, his body quickly went limp. The once alluring man, one of the ten greatest masters of the Great Japanese Kingdom, hadn't even had a chance to make a move before he had turned into a pile of lifeless, boneless flesh, all his meridians severed and all his organs ruptured.

Apart from Song Qing himself and the Third Young Master, no one knew how Feng Cheng Youji died. The terrifying, almost demonic strength that Song Qing displayed horrified Lian Zhou Feng Hua and his two sons, as well as Xie Xin Long Liu Sheng Gui Ma Jie and Da Nan Pusa Kobayakawa Xiu Qiu.

When Song Qing turned to look at Lian Zhou Feng Hua, Lian Zhou Feng Hua shouted, "She kills with her eyes! Don't look her in the eye!"

Lian Zhou Feng Hua and the others turned their heads away, avoiding Song Qing's gaze. Song Qing smiled and said, "Are all of you grown men afraid of a woman like me?"

Lian Zhou Feng Hua said with trepidation, "You..." You know demonic magic! "

Kobayakawa Hideaki shouted, stepped forward, placed his staff at the elbows of his arms, held it horizontally in front of his chest, and began to chant a spell rapidly in the language of Mahavairocana, forming hand seals.

Seeing this, Yoruichi Kima shouted, "The Great Calamity Bodhisattva is about to cast a demon-subduing spell! We must act now and hold off Qin Ren and the others!" "

Having said that, he swiftly drew two waist knives, transforming into lightning as he pounced on the Third Young Master and his companions.

At the same moment that Liu Sheng Gui Ma Jie made his move, the hundred assassins from the Life Gate, concealed in the second -floor hall using a sleight

of hand, also launched their attack. The instant they attacked, the sleight of hand failed, revealing their true forms. A hundred short assassins, their bodies completely covered in black cloth, only their eyes visible, appeared from all directions, from the ceiling, wielding gleaming short knives, swarming towards the Third Young Master and his group like a swarm of black bees. Nearly a thousand poisoned hidden weapons of varying sizes and shapes shot through the air towards them.

Only now did the hundred assassins reveal their true forms..." Strength. In this attack, they unleashed all their power, the combined strength of a hundred people resonating with each other, forming an aura powerful enough to crush a building. It pressed towards the Third Young Master and his group.

Just as Lian Zhoufeng and his two sons were about to strike, a muffled groan was heard. The one charging at the front, Yoruichi Kima, was suddenly sent flying backward, a bloody hole opening in his forehead. It went straight to the back of his head, blood and brain matter gushing out.

Hua Rong had killed Yoruichi Kima.

She could use the Immortal-Slaying Sword twice within seven days; she had used it to kill Tokugawa Kazumi the day before, and today she had just killed Yoruichi Kima with a single strike.

Lian Zhoufeng stomped his foot in anger, shouting, "How can the ten greatest masters of the Great Japanese Kingdom be so weak?" Before he could finish cursing

, he suddenly realized that the hundred Rashomon assassins who had been attacking the Third Young Master and his group were all frozen in mid-air!

They maintained their attacking postures, even their sashes were still fluttering, and the hidden weapons they had launched were also frozen in mid-air.

Lian Zhou Feng Hua didn't see it. The Third Young Master, surrounded by a hundred assassins from all directions, was now standing in a strange posture.

He was leaning to one side, his right hand in a palm strike to the sky, and his left hand in a palm strike to the ground. It looked extremely bizarre and comical, but it was precisely this bizarre and comical... The posture itself generated an irresistible power!

A full hundred people were frozen in mid-air by the force emanating from his two palms, unable to advance or retreat!

A cold smile appeared on the Third Young Master's lips. With a loud shout, he unleashed the power of both palms simultaneously, two surging jets of energy shooting out from them. *

Sizzle sizzle sizzle…* A storm of sharp weapons piercing flesh rang out, and all the projectiles frozen in mid-air were thrown back, piercing the bodies of the hundred assassins. The weapons in the assassins' hands snapped in two, embedding themselves back into their own bodies.

A hundred riddled corpses flew in all directions. They tumbled out, some crashing through rooftops and falling outside. Others smashed through walls and plummeted to the ground below.

The scene unfolded with astonishing speed; a hundred assassins were wiped out by the Third Young Master in the blink of an eye!

The seemingly invincible Kobayakawa Hideaki remained calm, still rapidly chanting his incantation. Before he could finish, Tai Ni'er swiftly appeared before him, waving her hand.

Kobayakawa Hideaki caught a faint, sweet scent, and his expression froze instantly. His lips remained in the same position as when he chanted the incantation, and he collapsed, lifeless in an instant.

In terms of true skill, ten... Qin Ni'er was no match for Kobayakawa Hideaki, but Kobayakawa Hideaki wasn't immune to all poisons. Furthermore, he mistakenly believed Song Qing was a demon, and all his attention was focused on her. He was chanting the demon's incantation, preparing to summon heavenly lightning to kill the demon, but unexpectedly, Qin Ni'er seized the opportunity and poisoned him to death with her most potent poison.

All of this happened so quickly that Lian Zhou Feng Hua hadn't even recovered before only the three of them—father and son—were left alive in the entire restaurant.

The Third Young Master looked at Lian Zhou Feng Hua and said with a faint smile, "Actually, even without the antidote, Rong'er and I could have killed you all. Lian Zhou Feng Hua, you are too arrogant. Shui Mu Wei has long followed me, and I already know all your plans. You still foolishly walked into this mess, truly not knowing the meaning of death!" Lian

Zhoufenghua trembled slightly, his two sons' faces already ashen. His supposedly flawless plan had proven utterly ineffective against the Third Young Master. Lian Zhoufenghua now deeply realized that, in terms of sheer terror, the Third Young Master was no less formidable than Gongzi Yu!

"Shui Muwei, you…" Lian Zhoufenghua swallowed hard, glaring at Shui Muwei with hatred.

Shui Muwei smiled sweetly, pressing herself against the Third Young Master's chest, and said, "He is my master. Everything I have belongs to him. Only the most powerful man is worthy to be my master."

"You filthy bitch!" Suddenly, Lianzhou Tianying flew into a rage, brandishing his sword and lunging towards the Third Young Master and his companions, slashing at Shui Muwei from a distance.

The Third Young Master casually waved his hand, a palm strike shattering Lianzhou Tianying's sword energy. The force of the palm struck Lianzhou Tianying's sword, shattering it with a crisp clang. Lianzhou Luo'er leaped forward, kicking Lianzhou Tianying in the dantian. Lianzhou Tianying screamed in agony and fainted.

Lianzhou Fenghua cried out in anguish, "Tianying!" Then, glaring angrily at Lianzhou Luo'er, he roared, "You vile woman, how dare you cripple Tianying's martial arts! I'll kill you!" "

Before he could finish speaking, and before he could even make a move, the Third Young Master, who was several feet away from him, suddenly appeared before him like a ghost, almost face to face.

Lian Zhou Feng Hua's heart skipped a beat, and before he could retreat, the Third Young Master had already struck his dantian with a palm.

With a crisp bang, Lian Zhou Feng Hua was thrown backward, his dantian shattered by the Third Young Master's palm, and his martial arts were crippled.

The Third Young Master leisurely returned to his original seat and looked at the only one who was still conscious, Lian Zhou Tian Xiong, and said: "When your father wakes up, tell him that having his martial arts crippled is better than losing his life. You take your father and brother back!"

Lian Zhou Tian Xiong, whose face had been ashen, was overjoyed to hear the Third Young Master's words and exclaimed: "You, you won't cripple my martial arts?"

The Third Young Master said: "If all three of you, father and son, are crippled, who will take you back to the East Sea?" "Go back and tell Gongzi Yu not to cooperate with the people of the Great Sun Kingdom. The Great Sun Kingdom wants to plunge the Central Plains into chaos, causing the people to kill each other and weaken their strength before invading again. Although Gongzi Yu and I are enemies, we are both from the Central Plains. I don't want the people of the Great Sun Kingdom to be involved and cause trouble while I'm vying for the world with Gongzi Yu!"

Lian Zhou Tianxiong nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, I will definitely pass on the message! Can I leave now?"

The Third Young Master nodded and said, "Take your father and brother with you! Remember, you must deliver my message, otherwise, I will search the entire world to find you three and have you executed by slow slicing!"

~Chapter 3 Beauty Doesn't Kill, Section 2~

Lian Zhou Tianxiong, carrying Lian Zhou Fenghua on his shoulder and Lian Zhou Tianying in his arms, stumbled out of the Sihai Restaurant. He glanced back and, seeing no one was chasing him, used his lightness skill to quickly run out of the town.

After leaving the town, Lian Zhou Tianxiong determined his direction and disappeared into a dense forest by the roadside, heading east. He had only traveled less than five miles when he heard the sound of wind behind him. Lian Zhou Tianxiong was startled and turned around, only to see that someone had appeared behind him!

Lian Zhou Tianxiong was already a frightened bird. The sudden appearance of the person behind him startled him greatly, but after a closer look, he relaxed. This person was none other than Zuo Tianzong, who worked under Gongzi Yu alongside Lian Zhou and his two sons.

Zuo Tianzong, dressed in a black robe with long, straight hair, his eyes calm as still water, quietly looked at Lianzhou Tianxiong and asked, "Young Master, what happened to Lord Lianzhou and Brother Jin?"

Lianzhou Tianxiong exhaled a long breath, wiped the sweat from his brow, and instead of answering, asked, "Lord Zuo, what brings you here?"

Zuo Tianzong smiled slightly and said, "I am here on your orders, Young Master, to meet you.

May I ask, Young Master, was the assassination of Qin Ren successful?"

Lianzhou Tianxiong shook his head, still shaken, and said, "That Qin Ren was truly terrifying! A hundred assassins from the Luosheng Gate couldn't even withstand a single move from him... and the women around him, each one of them..." They were terrified. When Song Qing, daughter of Longyin Gong Song Wu, killed Feng Cheng Youji with only a glance, Feng Cheng Xiuji collapsed and died. Xie Xin Longshen Sheng Guima Jie was killed without even making a move, his death unknown and inexplicable. Da Nan Pusa Kobayakawa Xiuqiu, seeing that Song Qing could use demonic magic, intended to recite a demon-slaying incantation to kill this demoness. Who knew that Qin Ni'er would poison her to death... My father and two sons, alas... My father and brother had their martial arts crippled by Qin Ren and the others. If Qin Ren hadn't wanted me to return to report to the young master, he probably would have crippled my martial arts as well...

Zuo Tianzong's expression remained unchanged as he asked, "What about Shura Dao Tokugawa Kakang and Rakshasa Yin Hun Shui Muwei?"

Upon hearing these two names, Lian Zhou Tianxiong's face was filled with resentment. He said, "That bitch Shui Muwei has already submitted to Qin Ren! If she hadn't leaked the secret, how could Qin Ren have so easily seen through our flawless plan?" As for Tokugawa Kagami, he's probably already been killed by Qin Ren! Lord Zuo, the people of the Great Japanese Empire are truly untrustworthy!

Zuo Tianzong nodded and said, "I see. But given Qin Ren's character, he always eliminates enemies completely.

Even if he spared your three lives for the sake of your sister, Lianzhou Luo'er, he should have crippled your martial arts. The fact that he didn't cripple your martial arts, but instead allowed you to take Lord Lianzhou and my brother away, suggests that the message he wants you to convey is very important?"

Lianzhou Tianxiong nodded, looked around, and cautiously asked, "Lord Zuo, did you come alone this time?"

Zuo Tianzong thought for a moment and truthfully replied, "Accompanying me this time are Luo Shengmen's deputy sect leader, Luo Shengjing, and a hundred Luo Shengmen assassins. However, it seems that with this number of people, killing Qin Ren is hopeless."

Lianzhou Tianxiong asked, "Then where are Luo Shengjing and the hundred Luo Shengmen assassins now?" Zuo Tianzong said, "They are lurking around the town. I was originally also lurking in that town, but when I saw you come out, I followed you alone."

Lian Zhou Tianxiong breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "Lord Zuo, what Qin Ren asked me to convey is related to the people of the Great Sun Kingdom. Qin Ren said that the people of the Great Sun Kingdom came to the Central Plains to stir up trouble. He said that we, the people of the Central Plains, are killing each other to deplete our strength before invading the Central Plains again."

Zuo Tianzong's expression gradually became serious. "Is this news reliable?" asked

Lian Zhou Tianxiong. "This was said by Qin Ren, and I haven't had a chance to verify it. However, since Qin Ren has subdued Shui Muwei, he must have learned this news from her. I suspect that the people of the Great Japanese Kingdom have been repeatedly invading our East China Sea in recent decades, and many of the Great Japanese pirates are actually official samurai and regular soldiers of the Great Japanese Kingdom. This shows that the Great Japanese Kingdom does indeed harbor ambitions towards our Central Plains.

" Zuo Tianzong pondered for a long time and said, "The three major powers of the Central Plains are divided among the world. Although each power is strong or weak, their strengths are not too far apart. Now, the leaders of the three major powers all have the ambition to unify the world, and the next few years will inevitably be filled with war. After the great war, the military and financial resources of the Central Plains will be greatly depleted. No matter who unifies the world, they will be severely weakened." "If the Great Japanese Kingdom takes advantage of the situation..." They might actually succeed in invading the Central Plains! This matter is indeed of great importance. Young Master, please wait here for a while. I will go and summon Luo Sheng Jingshen and the hundred assassins, and then I will come back to find you to return to the East Sea together."

Lian Zhou Tianxiong exclaimed, "Lord Zuo, what... what do you mean? Luo Sheng Jingshen is also a citizen of the Great Japanese Kingdom..."

Zuo Tianzong said, "Luo Sheng Jingshen and the hundred assassins came with me, so I naturally have to take them back with me, otherwise it would only arouse suspicion from the people of the Great Japanese Kingdom. Young Master, remember, from now on, not a single word about the Great Japanese Kingdom can be revealed, especially not in front of Luo Sheng Jingshen and the others. Otherwise, not only will I not be able to protect you along the way, but I might also get myself caught up in it!"

Lian Zhou Tianxiong nodded and said, "Lord Zuo, please rest assured, this matter concerns the lifeline of the Central Plains, and I will definitely keep my mouth shut."

Zuo Tianzong nodded and quickly flew out of the forest.

In the small town, the Third Young Master and his companions emerged from the Sihai Restaurant, now filled with corpses. The Third Young Master personally led their horses from the stables, helping each of the young women onto their backs. He then lightly leaped onto his own, spurring the horse's flanks, and laughed, "Girls, let's go!"

****

Half a month later, Zuo Tianzong, along with Lian Zhoufenghua and his two sons, Luo Shengjing, and a hundred assassins from Luo Shengmen, returned to Gongzi Yu's capital, Chen County in Donghai.

At this time, Gongzi Yu was already preparing to relocate the capital, intending to move it to Ling Province, a strategically important military location on the banks of the Nu River. Ling Province, located south of the Nu River, boasted fertile land, abundant grain production, and three formidable passes. Adjacent to the Nu River, it offered the option of advancing across to the north or defending against enemy attacks from the river's natural defenses.

For Gongzi Yu, the focus of his future military campaigns would be the north. In Gongzi Yu's eyes, Xiang Qi in the south was utterly insignificant; the only true contender for the throne was the Qin family in the north. However, Gongzi Yu was also worried about the alliance between Xiang Qi and the Qin family. If these two major forces allied, Gongzi Yu would face the predicament of fighting on two fronts. Although he might not necessarily lose, victory would be almost impossible.

Gongzi Yu had been preparing for the relocation of the capital for nearly two months. Chen County in the East Sea was only a temporary capital, so the relocation was quite simple. Moreover, the East Sea was now stable, and the bandits had been wiped out. The Great Sun Kingdom had also formed a friendly alliance with Gongzi Yu, exchanging supplies, so Gongzi Yu felt secure about his rear. Preparations for the relocation of the capital officially began.

Just then, Zuo Tianzong and Lianzhou Tianxiong brought important news revealed by the Third Young Master.

In the secret chamber, after listening to Zuo Tianzong and Lianzhou Tianxiong's reports and deductions, Gongzi Yu pondered for a long while before slowly asking, "Did Luo Sheng Jingshen discover anything about this?"

Zuo Tianzong replied, "Young Master Lianzhou concealed it very well. Luo Sheng Jingshen didn't discover anything at all, and all along the way she only mocked the incompetence of Master Lianzhou and his two sons."

Gongzi Yu sneered, "What right does she have to mock Lianzhou Fenghua? The main force of this expedition consisted entirely of experts from the Great Japanese Kingdom. The one who leaked the secret and defected to the enemy was also from the Great Japanese Kingdom. This matter is entirely not Lianzhou Fenghua's fault." Lianzhou

Tianxiong was immediately moved to tears. He choked out, "Young Master's eyes are discerning. I... am willing to give my life for you, without hesitation!"

Gongzi Yu nodded slightly and said, "I must thank you for bringing back this important news. If I hadn't known the wolfish ambitions of the Great Sun Kingdom, wouldn't I have sold the entire rear area to them by rashly moving the capital? Tianxiong, don't worry, although your father and brother have lost their martial arts skills, I won't leave them idle. Don't I also have many civil officials under my command who don't know martial arts? Not every official in this area knows martial arts."

Lianzhou Tianxiong immediately thanked him repeatedly, his gratitude overflowing.

Gongzi Yu thought for a moment and said, "Currently, Emperor Jinmu of the Great Japan Kingdom is supporting me with five of the Great Japan's top ten experts, Rashomon's deputy leader Rashomon Shizuka, along with 1,500 assassins and 7,000 Great Japan warriors. While this is a formidable force, if they were to stir up trouble in the Central Plains, they could create quite a stir. Minister Zuo, go and make preparations; I intend to host a banquet to entertain these Great Japan friends!" Zuo Tianzong

thought for a moment and said, "Your subject obeys. I believe this grand banquet could be used to celebrate the relocation of the capital. " "In this name, we will hold a grand banquet, inviting all our friends from Great Japan, including the assassins. Our military and civilian officials can also attend. We will make the banquet as lavish and grand as possible so that our friends from Great Japan will not suspect anything."

Gongzi Yu nodded and said, "As you wish. Let the banquet be held in the square outside the council hall! All the food and drinks should be seasoned with special condiments so that our people and our friends from Great Japan can eat the same food, thus avoiding any favoritism."

Zuo Tianzong understood, said "Yes, sir," and took his leave to carry out the order.

Gongzi Yu then said to Lianzhou Tianxiong, "Tianxiong, go to the naval axe battalion and gather three thousand axemen. During the banquet, have them disguise themselves as guards and patrol around the square surrounding the council hall. After my men arrive, they will enter and kill.

Although the Great Sun Kingdom has many experts and warriors, they will be helpless and await death after being affected by the 'Dissolving Power and Weakening Tendon Powder.' Three thousand men can easily kill eight thousand five hundred."

***

After a day and a half of intense preparations, Gongzi Yu's open-air banquet in the square in front of the council hall officially began at 3:45 PM on the evening of October 28th.

The weather was fine that night, with countless stars dotting the night sky, and a crescent moon hanging faintly in the sky, casting a hazy, clear light. In the square in front of the council hall, which could accommodate twenty thousand people, 1,500 tables of food and drink were set up. As early as the beginning of the hour ...

Two thousand large torches illuminated the entire square. Prince Yu sat on the platform in front of the council hall. At the same table were the five top masters of the Great Japanese Kingdom, Luo Shengjinghun, the deputy leader of the Luo Sheng Sect, as well as his subordinates such as Zhao Ziyang, Zhou Lingfei, Zuo Tianzong, and several important strategists.

After Prince Yu announced the start of the banquet, maids and servants brought out dishes and wine in succession. Prince Yu's table was naturally the first to be served. After the maids filled the cups at Prince Yu's table, he raised his cup to toast the Great Japanese Kingdom masters and the generals of the East Sea Navy and the Northern Frontier Army who were feasting in the square. Then, he toasted the five top masters of the Great Japanese Kingdom and Luo Shengjinghun at the same table.

"The soldiers are the foundation of the army. Therefore, although you all hold noble positions, I, this young master, must first offer a toast to the ordinary officers below. Please do not take offense." Gongzi Yu smiled at Oda Yoshinaga, the number one expert of the Great Japan Kingdom, known as the "Unrivaled Demon Blade," who was the leader of the five great masters.

Oda Yoshinaga smiled faintly and said, "You flatter me, young master. Although we are from a small country, we still understand these principles." Gongzi Yu chuckled and said, "In that case, I have been overthinking things! I admire Mr. Oda's magnanimity! Come, everyone, I will offer you another toast!"

After drinking another cup of wine, Gongzi Yu looked at Rashomon and said with a hint of teasing in his smile, "Miss Rashomon, I have a question I have always wanted to ask you, but I was afraid that I would speak inappropriately and offend the beauty." "

Luo Sheng Jingshen is the daughter of Luo Sheng Longye, the leader of the Luo Shengmen sect, and is known as the most beautiful woman in Luo Shengmen. The ten top masters of the Great Japanese Empire who have seen her beauty say that Luo Sheng Jingshen should actually be ranked alongside Mizuki Wei as one of the five most beautiful women in the Great Japanese Empire. However, because the assassins of the Luo Shengmen rarely show their faces and mostly carry out covert assassinations, Luo Sheng Jingshen, despite her high martial arts skills and striking appearance, is far less famous than Mizuki Wei. But within the dark world of Great Japan, Luo Sheng Jingshen's reputation is extremely high.

She is petite, only about 1.5 meters tall, but her proportions are perfect: long legs, a slender waist, and a moderately large bust. Her skin is also as smooth and beautiful as milk. If it weren't for her terrifying identity, the number of people pursuing her could probably form an army.

At this moment, Luo Sheng Jingshen is sitting diagonally opposite Gongzi Yu. Hearing this, she smiled politely and said, 'If you command me, I will speak frankly and without reservation.'" "Her Mandarin was rather strained, but her tone was gentle and her voice sweet, much more pleasant to listen to than those harsh-sounding Japanese men.

" Gongzi Yu nodded and said, "Miss Luo Sheng, since I first saw you, I have been captivated by your beauty, utterly mesmerized. I marvel at the existence of such a lovely woman. I wish to ask if you are already engaged. If not, I would like to propose marriage and take you as my concubine. Would you be willing?"

Gongzi Yu's words were quite impolite, but Luo Sheng Jingshen and Oda Yoshinaga showed no displeasure. Luo Sheng Jingshen smiled and said, "Young Master's martial arts are unparalleled, and your power is immense. It would be my honor to be your concubine. However, I must discuss this matter with my father. Perhaps you could tell him when he arrives in the Central Plains?"

Gongzi Yu smiled slightly and said, "Oh? Does the venerable Mr. Luo Sheng also intend to come to the Central Plains?" "

Luo Sheng Jingshen said, 'The Central Plains are vast and rich in resources, prosperous and flourishing, far surpassing that tiny island nation of Da Ri. My father admires the Central Plains and wishes to serve under you, sir, to serve you faithfully. He only asks that you grant him a place to settle down and make a living.'

Gongzi Yu pondered for a long time upon hearing this, and then said, 'Do all the people of Da Ri yearn for the Central Plains? Do they all want to go there?'

Luo Sheng Jingshen said, 'The Central Plains are the most prosperous and flourishing country in the world. Naturally, the people of Da Ri would be willing to migrate there and become part of the Central Plains. If you, sir, agree, I believe that all the people of Da Ri will submit to you.'

Gongzi Yu smiled and nodded, saying, 'Luo Sheng Jingshen, you are very eloquent.' " "But you people of Great Japan, if you wish to migrate to the Central Plains, I'm afraid you won't submit to me, but rather I will submit to you, so you can rule the Central Plains and make the people of the Central Plains your slaves, right?"

Oda Yoshinaga and the others' expressions changed slightly, and Rashomon Shizuka's eyes also flashed with surprise, but she immediately smiled sweetly and said, "You flatter me, sir. Great Japan is small and sparsely populated, while the Central Plains is a superior nation. How could Great Japan have such a rebellious idea?"

Gongzi Yu shook his head and smiled, "Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts. Although I have the heart to embrace the world, I absolutely cannot tolerate the existence of foreign races that threaten my people of the Central Plains! My friends from Great Japan, for the sake of future generations, I have no choice but to apologize to you!" "Having said that, he suddenly raised his hand, and a whistling arrow shot out from his sleeve. Then he flicked his finger, sending a spark flying from his fingertip, which struck the whistling arrow. The arrow exploded with a bang, turning into a brilliant firework.

With this signal, Lian Zhou Tianxiong led three thousand naval axemen disguised as guards, their longswords drawn, and rushed into the square. They hacked down any Japanese warriors they saw. In an instant, screams filled the square, heads rolled everywhere, and blood flowed like a river.

The Rashomon assassins and Japanese warriors in the square were all quite formidable." In a fair fight, these three thousand axemen would be no match for the eight thousand five hundred Japanese warriors. However, they were all poisoned by the "Power-Dissolving and Muscle-Weakening Powder," rendering them unable to even lift their swords and leaving them helpless to be slaughtered.

The generals of the Northern Frontier Army and the Eastern Sea Navy, as well as the civil officials under Prince Yu who were attending the banquet, were also poisoned and temporarily unable to move. They were not quite aware of this sudden turn of events, but the military generals, accustomed to scenes of bloodshed, remained calm, and even though the civil officials were slightly inferior to the military generals, they did not show any signs of panic.

The five top experts, including Oda Yoshinaga, and Rashomon Shizuka, were now filled with shock and rage. Just as they were about to attack, they suddenly discovered that their power had vanished without a trace, and their limbs were weak, making it almost impossible for them to stand!

~Chapter 3: Beauty Doesn't Kill, Section 3~

Hearing the shrill screams of their own countrymen in the square, seeing the heads rolling everywhere and the gushing blood, the five top experts of the Great Japan were heartbroken and their faces were ashen. Even the usually composed Rashomon Shizuka was pale and her eyes were dim.

They desperately wanted to fight Prince Yu, but their powers were now completely suppressed. They didn't even have the strength to swat a mosquito, let alone kill anyone.

"Young Master Yu!" Oda Yoshinaga roared, trembling with rage, "You betrayed us, slaughtering our warriors! You will die a horrible death!"

Young Master Yu chuckled lightly and said, "

Why should I, a young master, speak of loyalty to people like you?" Rashomon asked, his voice trembling, "Young Master Yu, why is this? Why did you slaughter our warriors? They came to help you conquer the world!"

Young Master Yu smiled calmly, "I have already made the reason very clear. You, the Great Japanese Empire, know best whether you harbor ambitions towards the Central Plains. You want to take advantage of the Central Plains after the war, when our strength is greatly diminished, to seize control of the Central Plains? Your wishful thinking is far too clever!"

Oda Yoshinaga said unwillingly, "Young Master Yu, who told you this?"

Young Master Yu smiled and said, "Naturally, Qin Ren told me."

Oda Yoshinaga said incredulously, "Qin Ren is your enemy, yet you believed him and killed someone who helped you?" Prince

Yu said solemnly, "Although Qin Ren is my enemy, he is a Central Plains person, just like me. Qin Ren doesn't want you people from the Great Japanese Kingdom stirring up trouble when I'm vying for power with him. I feel the same way! Although Qin Ren is cunning and despicable, on this matter concerning the lifeline of the Central Plains, I would rather believe him than you. Besides, your demonic spirit, Mizuki Wei, has now submitted to Qin Ren. Your plans naturally leaked from Mizuki Wei's mouth. I think no one is more reliable than your own people from the Great Japanese Kingdom!"

Rashomon, Shizuka, and the others finally despaired completely.

Oda Yoshinaga murmured, "Young Master Yu, I've heard you're a peerless martial artist, the strongest in the Central Plains. Why would you resort to such a despicable means as poison? Even if you knew our purpose, you could fight us fairly, using your own strength to kill us. Why resort to poison?"

Young Master Yu chuckled and said, "Mr. Oda, you're too naive. Killing a thousand enemies means losing eight hundred of your own. If I were to fight you elites of the Great Japanese Empire head-on, how many of my men would be lost? I'm not the kind of leader who doesn't care about his subordinates! Besides, strategy is also part of strength. For me, if something can be solved with strategy, I will never resort to violence! That's all I have to say. Zhao Qing, Zhou Qing, Zuo Qing, except for Luo Shengjingshen, kill the rest!"

Zhao Ziyang, Zhou Lingfei, and Zuo Tianzong responded with a "yes," grinning and rubbing their hands together as they stood up. They dragged Oda Yoshinaga and the others away from the table and killed them casually.

After killing Oda Yoshinaga and the others, Zhao Ziyang and his companions returned to the table. Zhao Ziyang looked at Rashomon Shizuka and smiled, "Young Master, you spared Rashomon Shizuka's life, do you truly intend to take her as a concubine?"

Young Master Yu laughed, "I've never been interested in women; what I said earlier was merely a joke! I intend to give Rashomon Shizuka to Qin Ren. Hehe, I've heard Qin Ren never kills beautiful women; I'll follow his example this time. Miss Rashomon, I wonder if you were to follow Qin Ren, would you be as devoted as Mizuki Wei?"

Rashomon Shizuka's face was ashen, and she coldly replied, "If I can't kill you, killing Qin Ren will be the same ." "You people of the Central Plains will be slaughtered by the people of the Great Japanese Empire sooner or later! Even if you are lucky enough to survive, you will become slaves of the Great Japanese Empire! You wait, His Majesty the Emperor will personally lead an expedition, cross the sea and enter the Central Plains sooner or later. At that time, His Majesty the Emperor will let you know what hell on earth is like!"

Gongzi Yu's smile remained unchanged, and he said, "I'm sorry, I will not let that day come."

He turned to Zhao Ziyang and Zhou Lingfei and said, "Zhao Qing and Zhou Qing, you two will lead an envoy to Xiang Yu's army. Take this woman with you and give her to Qin Ren. Tell him it is a gift from me to thank him for reminding me of the Great Japanese Empire's ambitions. There is one more thing you must tell Qin Ren." "I know. This young master plans to cross the sea and launch an expedition against the Great Japanese Kingdom, to annihilate it first. Ask Qin Ren for me if he is willing to send troops."

Zhao Ziyang hesitated and said, "Young master, although our country currently has 700,000 troops, if we launch an expedition against the Great Japanese Kingdom, the entire East China Sea navy will inevitably be mobilized. In that case, our country will only have 400,000 troops left, of which nearly 300,000 are newly trained soldiers. If Qin Ren and Xiang Qi reach an agreement to attack our country from two fronts, we may not be able to withstand it..."

Gongzi Yu waved his hand and said, "Since Qin Ren knows the Great Japanese Kingdom's ambitions, he must know that an expedition against the Great Japanese Kingdom would be beneficial for generations to come. Even if he is unwilling to send troops to help..." "This young master will not hold me back. In my opinion, Qin Ren has the world in his heart, his mind must be broad, and he knows how to assess the situation. He should be willing to cooperate with me temporarily and send troops to the Great Japanese Kingdom. As for Xiang Qi, ha, even if the Qin family reaches an agreement with Xiang Qi and forms an alliance, Xiang Qi will not dare to raise troops rashly if the Qin family does not send troops."

Zhou Lingfei said, "Young master, if we attack the Great Japanese Kingdom, our military strength will definitely be damaged. If we are weakened, our country will probably suffer losses in the future war for the world.

" Gongzi Yu shook his head and said, "The Great Japanese Kingdom has people in the Central Plains. How could I not have spies in the Great Japanese Kingdom? The Great Japanese Kingdom is very backward now. Although the emperor, Renmu, commands an army of 200,000 on the four islands, their metallurgical skills are not worth mentioning, and their weapons and armor are incomparable to those of the Central Plains." "I believe that with the strong and well-armored troops of the Central Plains, as well as their powerful bows and crossbows, the casualty ratio in an attack on the Great Japanese Kingdom would be no more than five to one."

Zhao Ziyang cautiously said, "Since the Great Japanese Kingdom is so backward, why don't we wait until we have pacified the Central Plains before advancing on it?"

Gongzi Yu replied, "This matter should be addressed sooner rather than later. The Great Japanese Kingdom has already learned advanced smelting and forging techniques from the Central Plains. They have also purchased excellent rice varieties from the Central Plains. You see, the weapons used by these seven thousand warriors of the Great Japanese Kingdom are already quite good, almost on par with the weapons of our navy and the elite iron army of the Northern Frontier. I have a bad feeling that if we miss the opportunity and allow the Great Japanese Kingdom to develop, by the time we have pacified the Central Plains, the Great Japanese Kingdom will probably no longer have an army of two hundred thousand, and the weapons they use will no longer be so fragile. At that time, it will be a great calamity for the Central Plains!" This world is a land to be fought for, but if we win it only to have foreign tribes take advantage, I will not do such a foolish thing. Zhao Qing, Zhou Qing, you must heed my advice and send an envoy to Xiang Yu's army as soon as possible! Qin Ren has probably already entered Xiang Qi's territory! " Gongzi Yu guessed correctly. The Third Young Master had indeed led five girls into Xiang Qi's territory in the southwest, but they had only just entered the gate. After destroying the Tang Dynasty, Xiang Qi established his capital in Jin Province

, which borders Lingnan. Most of Jin Province is plains, with abundant production of grain, cotton, and timber, but it has few strategic passes to defend. It is easy to attack but difficult to defend. However, because it borders Lingnan, it can retreat into the mountainous Lingnan region to defend its territory, or it can launch attacks in all directions. Transportation is quite convenient. The Third Young Master, along with Song Qing, Hua Rong, Lian Zhou Luo'er, Qin Ni'er, and Shui Muwei, traveled around, enjoying the scenery of Jiangnan. Although Jiangnan suffered the most from the war, with almost five or six out of ten houses empty and most villages and towns in ruins, the natural scenery remained, and the beauty reached its peak in the height of summer."

In mid-August, the Third Young Master and his companions finally entered the territory of Jin Province. Upon entering Jin Province, the security suddenly tightened, with numerous checkpoints belonging to Xiang Yu's army along the way, and small to medium-sized military camps visible everywhere. Outside some large cities, large military camps with around 50,000 troops could be seen. The Third Young Master roughly estimated that in Jin Province alone, Xiang Yu's army had amassed at least 300,000 troops.

Most of Xiang Yu's soldiers were of commoner origin and were exceptionally lenient towards the poor, but they made things difficult for the well-dressed and obviously wealthy Third Young Master and his group, charging them at least fifty times more in tolls, bridge fees, protection fees, and city gate taxes than ordinary people. However, the Third Young Master didn't care about the extra money and, adhering to the principle of making money through harmony, did not cause any trouble for Xiang Yu's soldiers.

Having been exploited all the way to Jin Province, the capital of Xiang Yu's army, the Third Young Master finally revealed his identity upon entering the city, declaring himself an envoy from the Qin Dynasty. Only then was he warmly received and settled into the mansion of a wealthy merchant in the provincial capital.

Long before the Third Young Master and his party entered the city, Zhao Ziyang and Zhou Lingfei had already led their men into the provincial capital and held several arduous negotiations with Xiang Qi, but still failed to reach an agreement.

Upon learning of the Third Young Master's arrival, Xiang Qi immediately announced the suspension of negotiations with Zhao Ziyang and his group, and arranged a welcoming banquet in the provincial capital, inviting the Third Young Master to attend.

The Third Young Master always enjoyed attending banquets; firstly, he could eat and drink for free, and secondly, he could use the opportunity to meet beautiful women. Therefore, he attached great importance to this banquet, dressing up carefully before leaving. Song Qing and the other women, dressed in men's clothing, accompanied the Third Young Master to the banquet as his attendants.

At the beginning of the evening of August 19th, when the Third Young Master led Song Qing and the other five women out of the gate of their temporary residence, the convoy sent by Xiang Qi to greet them was already waiting at the door. The Third Young Master said a few perfunctory words of thanks, and then boarded the carriage with the women, heading towards Xiang Qi's temporary capital, the provincial government office.

At this time, Jin Province had just been established as the capital, and the emperor's palace was still under construction, so Xiang Qi had no choice but to use the provincial government office as his capital for the time being.

After entering the provincial government office, the Third Young Master and his party were led into the reception hall. Xiang Qi had not yet arrived, but Zhao Ziyang and Zhou Lingfei, as invited guests, were already waiting in the hall.

After the Third Young Master entered, Zhao Ziyang moved his lips slightly and secretly told the Third Young Master, "Third Young Master, after the banquet, Lingfei and I will visit your residence to discuss important matters."

The Third Young Master glanced at Zhao Ziyang and nodded slightly.

Hua Rong stared at the two traitors, Zhao Ziyang and Zhou Lingfei, as soon as she entered, making them both blush with shame and lower their heads, unable to look at her. Seeing

this, the Third Young Master chuckled and said to Hua Rong, "Rong'er, times have changed. Don't go too far."

Hua Rong glared at the Third Young Master and said, "Of course I know. We must prioritize the greater good. You don't need to teach me that."

Suddenly, a hearty laugh rang out. The voice preceded the person: "Hahaha… The Crown Prince of the Great Qin Kingdom has arrived! I have failed to greet you properly, please forgive me!"

Hearing this voice, the Third Young Master knew that Xiang Qi had arrived. In terms of status, Xiang Qi was the monarch of a nation, while the Third Young Master was merely the Crown Prince. In diplomatic relations, the Third Young Master was still inferior to Xiang Qi. Therefore, when Xiang Qi stepped into the reception room, the Third Young Master quickly stood up and greeted him with a smile. Zhao Ziyang and Zhou Lingfei naturally did the same.

Approaching Xiang Qi, the Third Young Master performed diplomatic courtesies and uttered a few self-deprecating words before carefully scrutinizing the peasant leader.

Xiang Qi was short, only reaching the Third Young Master's shoulder, but remarkably robust, exuding a sense of steady strength. His eyes were bright and piercing, like two small torches, gleaming with unwavering determination. This man possessed a certain charisma, a quality that inspired trust and following.

"This man must not be allowed to live!" After clearly seeing Xiang Qi, the Third Young Master had already made this judgment. He knew that given Xiang Qi's impoverished background and his unconditionally convincing aura, he would undoubtedly gain the support of the lower and middle classes. However, the majority of the population in a country consisted of the lower and middle classes. If Xiang Qi gained the support of all the people and was given time to develop, he could absolutely become an emperor!

No matter what measures the Qin family and Prince Yu implemented that benefited the people, fundamentally, the Qin family and Prince Yu were completely different classes from the lower classes. One perched high in the clouds, the other groveled in the mud. Those in lower positions inherently harbor an inextinguishable hatred for those in higher positions; given the chance, they will undoubtedly overthrow their superiors and claim the throne.

Xiang Qi, undoubtedly, offered hope to those lowly in the mud.

Therefore, Xiang Qi was someone neither the Third Young Master nor Gongzi Yu could be allowed to live. However, the current state of affairs dictated that neither the Third Young Master nor Gongzi Yu could eliminate Xiang Qi alone, and for them to join forces against him would be a colossal joke.

During the banquet, the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely. The Third Young Master displayed great poise, responding appropriately to his seemingly casual yet subtly witty exchanges with Xiang Qi. After the banquet, Xiang Qi personally escorted the Third Young Master and his entourage out of the provincial government office, only returning after seeing them off.

Xiang Qi entered his study, dismissed the person on his left, and said softly, "Mr. Wu, what do you think of Qin Ren?"

Suddenly, the bookshelves in the study moved aside, and a middle-aged scholar in a scholar's robe, with a refined appearance and a folding fan in hand, emerged.

He walked to Xiang Qi's desk, pulled up a chair, and sat down, saying to Xiang Qi, "From what I've observed during this gathering, Qin Ren is extremely dangerous and must be eliminated as soon as possible, otherwise he will be even more terrifying than Prince Yu."

Xiang Qi responded with an "oh," his face showing hesitation: "But given the current situation, forming an alliance with the Qin family is the best course of action."

Mr. Wu smiled faintly and said, "An alliance is naturally only possible with the Qin family, but Qin Ren must also be killed. King Xiang, don't forget, there are two groups of envoys here right now. King Xiang could agree to Qin Ren's alliance agreement, then kill Qin Ren under cover of night and pin the blame on Prince Yu. This would intensify the conflict between Prince Yu and the Qin family." The two sides might even go to war. Then Xiang Yu could simply reap the benefits.

Xiang Qi pondered for a moment, then said, "I've long heard that Qin Ren's martial arts are superb, ranking among the top three in the world. Killing Qin Ren is no easy task."

Mr. Wu lightly shook his folding tablet, saying, "Qin Ren's martial arts are indeed terrifying, and he possesses the Heavenly Dragon's Roar. However, I've also heard that Qin Ren is a womanizer, unable to enjoy himself without women every night. Even on this mission to our country, the five people he brought with him were all women, showing how deeply he's obsessed with women. A forced assassination is certainly feasible, but we can use a honey trap!"

Xiang Qi said, "You mean... use beautiful women to seduce Qin Ren and kill him in bed?" Mr. Wu nodded, saying, "Exactly! No matter how powerful Qin Ren is, he won't be wary of a woman he's intimately acquainted with. Besides, in bed, he can't possibly still be wearing the Heavenly Dragon's Roar, can he?" Xiang Qi hesitated, then shook his head, saying, "

This matter is too dishonest. If it gets out, it will only give others a handle to use against me, saying that I, Xiang Qi, only know how to use underhanded tactics. Future historians will also write bad things about me...

" Mr. Wu sighed, "King Xiang, the affairs of the world are full of cunning and deceit. Whoever claims that honesty is the greatest virtue will be the first to die. King Xiang, if you control the world, the historian's pen will be in your hands. Who would record such a thing? Besides, we can make this matter flawless by handing it over to Gongzi Yu's people. Then who would know that it was you, King Xiang, who plotted to kill Qin Ren?"

Xiang Qi asked, "Flawless? What do you mean, sir?"

Mr. Wu said, "The beautiful woman who seduces Qin Ren must be absolutely loyal to King Xiang, willing to sacrifice everything for him. After it's done, let her deliberately get captured, then accuse Gongzi Yu's people of instigating it. Finally, make her commit suicide in front of everyone, or force Gongzi Yu's people to kill her. This will solidify the crime of Gongzi Yu's people!"

Xiang Qi was horrified and exclaimed repeatedly, "Absolutely not! Absolutely not! Sir, this is far too cruel! Doesn't this mean I, Xiang Qi, am to sacrifice my own people? "

Mr. Wu said earnestly, "King Xiang, for the sake of this world, for the sake of its people, there will be those willing to make sacrifices. If King Xiang agrees, I, Wu, can offer my own daughter!"

~Chapter 3 Beauty Doesn't Kill, Section 4~

"Mr. Wu!" Xiang Qi stood up in shock, knocking over the inkstone on his desk with his sudden movement, spilling ink all over the surface. He said excitedly, "How can you do this, sir? Your daughter is the apple of your eye, like a fairy untouched by worldly affairs. How can you allow her to participate in such a dirty and despicable assassination? You absolutely cannot!"

Mr. Wu said calmly, "King Xiang, why have we risen in rebellion? I, Wu, have lived in seclusion in the mountains, detached from worldly affairs. Why have I come out of seclusion to help King Xiang conquer the world? The world does not belong to any one person, but to all the people! For the people..." "For the sake of the people, soldiers on the battlefield are willing to sacrifice their lives, so why should I, Wu, care about a daughter? King Xiang, this is a war that concerns the fate of the world, but the outcome is not solely determined by the direct battles on the battlefield. I, Wu, am but a scholar, powerless and unable to fight for King Xiang, yet most of King Xiang's strategies originated from me. With a stroke of my pen, I have placed soldiers amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and the soldiers have never complained… King Xiang, although my strategies have defeated many enemies, they have also killed many of my own brothers. I… am deeply troubled!"

As he spoke, Mr. Wu was overcome with emotion, tears streaming down his face.

Xiang Qi looked at Mr. Wu, his expression shifting several times before finally nodding with a heavy heart, saying, "Very well! Since Mr. Wu insists on this, even sacrificing your daughter, what do I, Xiang Qi, fear of bearing eternal infamy? Let Mr. Wu arrange this matter!"

With that, Xiang Qi slumped back in his chair, staring blankly at the dark tabletop.

He was originally a commoner; though brave and resourceful, political maneuvering was not his forte. Mr. Wu was a renowned recluse in Lingnan, possessing great strategic acumen. It was said that Mr. Wu held the wisdom of a million soldiers within his heart, capable of pacifying the nation. Xiang Qi had visited Mr. Wu's hermitage several times, urging him to come out of seclusion. Initially, Mr. Wu refused to enter the world, but was eventually moved by Xiang Qi's words and came to his aid.

Xiang Qi fought across the southwest of Qin, winning every battle. While his invincibility was certainly due to his martial prowess and the unwavering courage of his impoverished soldiers, the greatest contributor was undoubtedly Mr. Wu. Most of the military strategies were devised by Mr. Wu. Without him, Xiang Qi's rebel army would likely have been wiped out long ago.

"King Xiang is decisive, and I thank him for his generosity!" Mr. Wu stood up, bowed respectfully to Xiang Qi, and then left the study through a hidden door behind the bookshelf.

****

The night was cool and still, the moon high in the sky. The stars filled the sky.

From within the provincial government office, the faint sound of a flute drifted, melodious and plaintive, like a lament. Under the moonlight, beside the artificial hill, the pond reflected the moon, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers.

In the center of the pond stood an exquisite octagonal pavilion. Layers of pure white gauze hung on all four sides. Soft lamplight shone through the gauze from the octagonal pavilion, casting a slender figure upon it.

The sound of the flute emanated from this pavilion; a pair of delicate, jade-like hands held a verdant bamboo flute, and rosy lips moistened the lucky flute.

Mr. Wu slowly strolled to the edge of the pond. Standing there, he stared blankly at the shadow cast on the gauze curtain, listening to the flute music that stirred the deepest emotions within him. His eyes gradually welled up with tears.

With a barely audible sigh, Mr. Wu stepped onto the bridge leading to the octagonal pavilion in the center of the pond. As he approached the pavilion, the flute music suddenly stopped, and a delicate, tender voice, seemingly filled with an overwhelming melancholy, rang out: "Is that Father?"

Mr. Wu sighed again, lifted the gauze curtain, and stepped into the pavilion, looking at his beloved daughter. His daughter, Wu Minrou, was sitting on a stone bench in the pavilion, holding a bamboo flute, smiling at him.

"Father, what brings you here to hear Rou'er play the flute?" She stood up, gracefully walked to Mr. Wu's side, and took his arm, saying, "Father, please sit down. It's rare for you to have time, so let Rou'er play a piece especially for you."

Mr. Wu sat down on the stone bench, looking up at his daughter, who was as delicate as a willow in the wind, and his heart ached.

His daughter's brows always concealed a secret; ever since she left the mountain to help Xiang Qi, her smiles and eyes had always carried a deep, unyielding melancholy.

Wu Minrou sat down beside Mr. Wu and began to play her bamboo flute again.

Mr. Wu was so close to his daughter, yet he didn't hear a word of the flute. He was preoccupied, his mind preoccupied with how to tell his daughter about this matter.

After Wu Minrou finished playing her piece, seeing her father's absent-minded demeanor, she knew he was troubled and softly asked, "Father, is something on your mind? Why don't you tell me?"

Mr. Wu looked at his daughter and slowly said, "Rou'er, you've been unhappy since you left the mountain.

" Wu Minrou lowered her head and forced a smile, "Why am I unhappy? Father left the mountain for the sake of the people, to overthrow the tyranny of Emperor Ying. What you've done is earth-shattering, a feat that will be recorded in history. How could I not be happy?"

Mr. Wu shook his head and sighed, "Rou'er, how could you be happy? I know you dislike these worldly affairs, dislike being tainted by worldly matters. Rou'er, how could I not want to take you back to the mountains, to live a carefree life beside your mother's grave? But I have no choice! Now that I've left the mountain and done my duty for King Xiang, I must see this path through to the end, and I cannot give up halfway."

Wu Minrou smiled and said, "Daughter understands Father's predicament, and daughter doesn't blame Father. Returning to the mountains after the world is at peace is the same." Hearing

this, Mr. Wu felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart. He knew that he and his daughter would never have the chance to return to the mountains. The torrent of the world had already swept them in; how easy would it be to escape unscathed? Moreover, he had already decided to sacrifice his daughter, to use her to kill Qin Ren, and to incite conflict between Gongzi Yu and the Qin family. He and his daughter were destined to become sacrifices in this struggle for power, destined to become stepping stones for the people's path to happiness.

Shaking his head vigorously, Mr. Wu completely cast aside his paternal love. In this moment, he became a cold-blooded planner, a ruthless politician.

"Rou'er, Father has come to see you because there is something I wish to ask you." "Mr. Wu looked at Wu Minrou and spoke slowly.

Sensitive Wu Minrou had already sensed the change in her father's tone. She looked into his eyes, only to find a pair of clear, emotionless, cold eyes, filled with solemnity and concentration.

"Father, what is it that requires such solemnity to tell Rou'er?"

Mr. Wu said, enunciating each word clearly, "I want you to kill Qin Ren, the Crown Prince of the Great Qin Kingdom."

Wu Minrou's heart skipped a beat, a wave of bitterness washing over her, completely engulfing her longing for the mountains and forests, for freedom.

She nodded slowly, her tone calm, "Daughter will obey Father's orders." The Third Young

Master

sat in the study of his temporary residence, eyes closed, mentally preparing for tomorrow's negotiations with Xiang Qi.

The oil lamp on his desk flickered dimly, and moths occasionally flew in through the window, fluttering softly into the light. Suddenly

, Hua Rong pushed open the door and entered. She walked behind the Third Young Master, supporting his broad shoulders, and said, "Zhao Ziyang and Zhou Lingfei have arrived with several people. I told them to wait in the living room."

The Third Young Master grasped Hua Rong's small hand in return, nodded, and said, "They've come to see me, presumably on Gongzi Yu's orders, to discuss matters concerning the Great Sun Kingdom. Rong'er, I know you hate them. But at this time, you can't just kill them."

Hua Rong nodded and smiled, "Of course I know that; you've already reminded me once."

The Third Young Master chuckled, stood up, and said, "Then let's go see them."

Third Young Master and Hua Rong entered the brightly lit hall, where Zhao Ziyang and Zhou Lingfei were drinking tea. Upon their arrival, they quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Crown Prince and Sect Leader." Third Young Master

smiled and said, "Please sit down. You two are not subjects of my Great Qin, so there's no need for such formalities." With that, he sat down in the main seat of the hall, gesturing for Zhao and Zhou to make themselves at home.

Hua Rong chuckled and teased, "Oh? Do you two still remember I'm the Sect Leader of the Demonic Sect?"

Seeing the embarrassed expressions on Zhao Ziyang and Zhou Lingfei's faces, Third Young Master couldn't help but glare at Hua Rong, who covered her mouth and giggled. She said, "Alright, you guys get down to business, I won't interrupt." With that, she sat down next to Third Young Master, smiling at Zhao and Zhou.

The Third Young Master picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "I wonder what important matters Lord Zhao and Lord Zhou have to discuss?"

Zhao Ziyang and Zhou Lingfei exchanged a glance, ultimately deciding that the more eloquent Zhou Lingfei would speak.

Zhou Lingfei said, "Brother Zhao and I are here on the orders of our young master to discuss a matter of vital importance to the Central Plains with the Crown Prince. Before that, please allow me to present a gift to the Crown Prince on behalf of my young master." As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and two men in black carrying sacks entered the hall.

The two men in black placed the sacks on the ground, bowed to the Third Young Master and his companions, and left the hall.

Zhou Lingfei walked to the constantly wriggling sack, reached out and gently twisted the rope tying the sack's opening; the rope snapped instantly.

Zhou Lingfei untied the sack, revealing a girl whose hands and feet were bound and whose mouth was gagged. The girl glared fiercely at Zhou Lingfei and Zhao Ziyang, then looked at the Third Young Master with eyes full of hatred.

The Third Young Master noticed that the girl was petite and appeared to be underage, but her breasts and other parts were quite well-developed and mature. She was also quite beautiful, with a pair of very attractive, clear black and white eyes.

The Third Young Master smiled slightly: "Who is this woman? Why is she looking at me like that? Could it be that she has a blood feud with me for killing my father and wiping out my family?"

Zhou Lingfei laughed: "This woman is Luo Sheng Jing Shen, the deputy sect leader of the Luo Sheng Sect in the Great Sun Kingdom.

My young master, reminded by the Crown Prince, has eliminated all the experts in the Great Sun Kingdom, leaving only this woman. My young master said that the Crown Prince likes beautiful women, and this woman was specially left for the Crown Prince, ordering us to deliver her to him. My young master also said that such a beauty from the Great Sun Kingdom is rare and hard to come by. Hearing that the Crown Prince has already subdued Shui Mu Wei, he wants the Crown Prince to subdue this woman as well, to enhance the prestige of our Central Plains."

The Third Young Master chuckled and said: "Young Master Yu is too kind! Hehe, this little girl... she must be fourteen years old, right?"

Zhou Lingfei said: "Luo Sheng Jing Shen is already nineteen years old. " However, most of the assassins in Rashomon are short, so this woman looks like a little girl.

The Third Young Master nodded and smiled, "Young Master Yu is very kind. Lord Zhao and Lord Zhou, thank you both for escorting this woman. Heh, this Crown Prince will definitely subdue this woman and continue to promote the prestige of my Central Plains! Rong'er, take her away, give her a bath, and change her into clean clothes. This Crown Prince will come to favor her tonight." Hua Rong glared at the Third Young Master and said, "Look at the way she looks at you, aren't you afraid she'll castrate you in bed?"

Zhou Lingfei hurriedly said, "This woman has been poisoned by the Power-Dissolving and Muscle-Weakening Powder, and all her internal strength is restricted. Her limbs are weak and powerless. The Crown Prince can ravage her to

his heart's content." The Third Young Master laughed loudly and said, "Lord Zhou, the word 'ravage' is used so well! What better way can we treat the women of the Great Japanese Kingdom than to ravage them? This is exactly what I wanted to say!"

Zhou Lingfei chuckled, his face full of humility.

Hua Rong pouted in dissatisfaction, walked over, grabbed the whimpering Luo Shengjing, and dragged her towards the back hall. The Third Young Master asked, "

Young Master Yu sent two of you here, surely not just to deliver this beautiful woman from Great Japan to this Crown Prince?"

Zhou Lingfei's expression turned serious, and he nodded, saying, "The Crown Prince is right. My young master sent the two of us here. The most important matter is to discuss with the Crown Prince the matter of sending troops to Great Japan."

The Third Young Master said "Oh," and asked with some curiosity, "Didn't Young Master Yu form an alliance with Great Japan? Why does he suddenly want to send troops to Great Japan?"

Zhou Lingfei said, "Young Master was reminded by the Crown Prince that after learning of Great Japan's ambitions, he eliminated all the experts of Great Japan and planned to send troops to Great Japan. Young Master said that sending troops to Great Japan should be done sooner rather than later." "Now, the Great Japanese Kingdom has been frequently trading with our Central Plains, and has acquired advanced smelting techniques and purchased superior rice seeds and cultivation methods from the Central Plains. Given time, the Great Japanese Kingdom will surely become well-equipped and militarily strong, and will then become a great threat to the Central Plains. My young master believes that rather than letting the Great Japanese Kingdom grow strong enough to wreak havoc on our Central Plains, it would be better to strike first while they are still weak and eliminate this venomous snake!"

The Third Young Master nodded and said, "I didn't expect Young Master Yu to be so farsighted! So, how does Young Master Yu plan to deal with the Great Japanese Kingdom? Will he send troops to conquer the Great Japanese Kingdom and then slaughter all its people and exterminate its descendants?"

Zhou Lingfei thought for a moment and said, "My young master didn't mention that."

The Third Young Master asked, "Why did your young master consult with me, the Crown Prince, about sending troops to the Great Japanese Kingdom? You should know that the world is now divided into three, and your young master's power is the greatest and strongest, making him the common enemy of both the Qin and Xiang families." "If Prince Yu intends to wage war against other nations, we will only stand by and watch, waiting until his strength is greatly diminished before taking advantage of his misfortune. Heh, even if Prince Yu truly intends to attack Great Japan, he should conceal this matter until he defeats Great Japan and recovers his strength before announcing it to the world."

Zhou Lingfei laughed, "My young master said that this matter is beneficial for generations to come. Even if the Crown Prince does not send troops to help my young master attack Great Japan, he will not hinder him."

The Third Young Master thought for a moment and laughed, "Prince Yu understands me! Since he prioritizes national righteousness, I, the Crown Prince, will certainly not hinder him. Not only that, I will also find a way to restrain Xiang Qi, so that he will not use troops against Prince Yu while he is fighting Great Japan."

Zhou Lingfei and Zhao Ziyang stood up and bowed, "Your Highness is truly wise and righteous; we admire you!"

The Third Young Master waved his hand and laughed, "Prince Yu is truly wise and righteous!" I thought he was a despicable villain, but now it seems he has principles. Good! To have a rival like Prince Yu is truly the greatest fortune of my life! Heh, you two gentlemen can reply to Prince Yu that after this matter is settled, I will personally travel to the East Sea to pay him a visit and discuss the matter of sending troops to aid the Great Sun Kingdom!

Zhou Lingfei and Zhao Ziyang immediately showed joy, saying, "So, Your Highness, you are willing to send troops to help?"

The Third Young Master chuckled and said, "Prince Yu has many soldiers and generals; his Demon Navy and Iron Army are the most powerful armies of the former Ying Dynasty. How dare my small force in my country embarrass itself before Prince Yu? I only wish to discuss with Prince Yu how to deal with the Great Sun Kingdom and how to completely conquer it."

Seeing the disappointment on Zhou Lingfei and Zhao Ziyang's faces, the Third Young Master changed the subject, saying, "However, although my family's army is not strong, it has a plethora of experts. In terms of the number of experts, I believe none of the three major powers can compare to me, right? I've heard that the Great Sun Emperor is incredibly powerful, protected by the Great Sun God, and that the two assassination sects within the Great Sun Kingdom, loyal to the Great Sun Emperor, are also full of experts. In battles between armies, Young Master Yu will undoubtedly have the upper hand, but in duels between experts, the Great Sun Kingdom has the advantage of timing, location, and manpower. Your young master may not be able to win completely, and some of the Great Sun Kingdom's experts may slip through the net. If they were to rise again in the future and wreak havoc on the Central Plains, it would be a considerable problem. Therefore, I have decided to lead a group of experts to support Young Master Yu."

Zhou Lingfei and Zhao Ziyang immediately laughed and thanked him repeatedly. They knew that although Gongzi Yu's forces were indeed filled with experts, the Qin family's combined strength—including Qin Xiaoyao, the three Qin brothers, Tie Kongshan and his son, Suiyue Buraren, Huanmo Zhenjun, Nu Hengmei, Xiao Tianci, Hua Rong, and her medicine man—was far superior to Gongzi Yu's.

With the Qin family's experts joining the fray, the losses from the campaign against the Great Sun would be significantly reduced, potentially even leading to a complete victory.

After the agreement was reached, Zhou Lingfei and Zhao Ziyang took their leave. The Third Young Master slowly made his way to the back hall, found the room where Hua Rong was bathing Luo Shengjing, and pushed open the door.

The bathhouse was steamy. Hua Rong, wearing only her underwear, stood in waist-deep water in a jade bathtub about two zhang square, washing Luo Shengjing, who had been stripped naked by her. As she washed him, she kept complaining: "Damn Qin Ren, you stinking Qin Ren, how dare you make me, the supreme master of the Demonic Sect, bathe a woman from another race! Just wait and see how I deal with you!"

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