Ying Zheng paused, then said to Qingnu, "Gua Ren... is willing to believe!"
It was a willingness to believe, not actual belief.
Qingnu stopped in her tracks and looked at Ying Zheng. After a long silence, she lowered her head and gave a shallow laugh, waving her hand as she walked away.
Believe him?
One might as well believe Ying Zheng was the First Emperor of Qin...
Wait, he actually was!
Watching Qingnu depart, Ying Zheng turned his gaze toward Xu Fu. There was no trust in his eyes, only a bone-chilling killing intent. He spoke to Xu Fu, saying, "Xu Fu, remember this. This is your only chance. Bring the elixir back to Gua Ren!"
Xu Fu hurriedly knelt and kowtowed, replying, "Yes, Your Majesty!"
From beginning to end, Ying Zheng never trusted Xu Fu; all he wanted was the slight possibility that an opportunity might arise.
But Xu Fu did not know this.
One month later, Xu Fu took his retinue and a group of young boys and girls out to sea.
Watching the land recede until it was no longer visible, a look of arrogant joy finally appeared on Xu Fu's face.
However, his smile lasted only a moment before it was shattered by the figure of Qingnu standing at the bow of the ship.
Qingnu stood at the prow, the sea breeze whipping her azure dress. Her ink-black hair billowed in the wind, and Hongluan flew beside her shoulder.
Qingnu clicked her tongue, saying with disdain, "Xu Fu, that smile on your old face is far too hideous to look at!"
"Ma—Master?"
Xu Fu's expression turned frantic as he quickly bowed and cupped his hands to Qingnu. "This humble official, Xu Fu, greets the Master!"
"Has the Master come to relay His Majesty's orders to this humble official?"
Qingnu waved her hand and took a great leap from the bow, landing directly in front of Xu Fu.
Xu Fu hurriedly scrambled back several steps.
Qingnu stared intently at Xu Fu and asked, "Let me ask you, you were born and raised in Langya. In all these years, have you ever been out to sea?"
"Naturally, I have."
Xu Fu nodded, confused.
"It is good that you have! I thought you were one of the deluded ones too."
Qingnu let out a sigh of relief, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in her vertical pupils. She ground her sharp teeth and asked, "Since you have been to sea, you must know that the so-called immortal mountains are nothing more than a mirage, illusory and unreal. Where exactly were you planning to go? Wa Island?"
Xu Fu's pupils shrank in shock.
Qingnu actually knew his destination? Had she been to that island as well?
After his initial shock, Xu Fu turned to flee, but Qingnu's hand clamped down on his shoulder. With a light squeeze, Xu Fu's shoulder bone was crushed into powder.
Xu Fu turned pale, his body collapsing as he clutched his shoulder and screamed in agony.
Qingnu had no fondness for this man who was likely the ancestor of the Wa people. She ordered the stunned attendants to throw him into the sea and then sent Hongluan to comfort the children in the hold.
Hongluan tilted its head and asked in confusion, "Why don't you go?"
It didn't know how to look after children.
"Just go say a few words and fly around a bit!"
Qingnu winked at Hongluan. Skeptical, Hongluan flew into the cabin.
The little children had never seen a talking bird before. Hongluan's flight was more effective than any comforting words. They stopped crying and began chasing after the bird to play. In the cramped cabin, Hongluan was nearly plucked bald as they scrambled after it.
"Stupid snake! You bastard!"
Hongluan shrieked as it dodged the grasping hands.
Ignoring the bird, Qingnu manipulated the ship to turn back. Several days later, they returned to land.
The moment she stepped onto the shore, a breeze blew past, and Qingnu involuntarily shivered.
She looked up at the sky in confusion, her brows furrowing slightly as she murmured to herself, "It is not winter, yet I can feel the cold from the sea breeze?"
"Is this... also a price?"
"Stupid snake, what are you dazing off for? Come help!"
Hongluan shouted from behind, pursued by the swarm of children. Its beautiful feathers were now a messy heap.
It crashed straight into Qingnu's arms.
Smiling brightly, Qingnu rubbed Hongluan's head and began to soothe the children.
"Alright, alright, stop playing. Big sister will take you to find your mothers."
'Shameless.'
Hongluan muttered under its breath.
'How old are you, calling yourself their big sister!'
The smile on Qingnu's face remained unchanged as she pressed Hongluan's head into her bosom. She looked at the children and asked, "Do you still remember where your homes are?"
This question prompted a cacophony of answers: some said the east, some the south, some the northwest, and one even claimed to live in the sea.
Hearing these diverse replies, Qingnu fell silent.
Suddenly, she turned to the attendants who had followed her ashore. "You! From where did you find these children?"
"This..."
The men looked at each other and shook their heads. "Master, please understand... we do not know either."
These children had been gathered from all over by the Qin army under Ying Zheng's orders. How could they possibly know?
None of them knew?
Qingnu's gaze fell upon the group of children.
Taking them back to Ying Zheng was clearly out of the question. That brat would likely send another group to find the immortal mountains if he saw them, but she couldn't raise so many people herself.
After thinking it over, Qingnu came up with a plan. She threw some money to the attendants and said, "Take them to find a secluded place to live!"
The attendants were stunned. Before they could speak, Qingnu narrowed her eyes and raised a threatening fist. "Do not even think about playing tricks. If I find out you are not taking good care of these children, humph..."
As she spoke, she punched a nearby boulder—one so large it would take ten men to encircle it—shattering it into fragments.
The children let out a collective gasp of awe.
The attendants dropped to their knees immediately, kowtowing incessantly. "Rest assured, Master! We would never dare to neglect them!"
Qingnu placed her hands behind her back, nodding slightly with an expression that said they were quick learners.
"Very good. Go now!"
Once they were far away, Qingnu's expression changed instantly.
She clutched her reddened right hand and cried to Hongluan, "Waaaa, Sister Bird, my hand hurts so much..."
"Stupid snake, do you have no brain?"
Hongluan snapped reflexively, but then it quickly reacted.
It looked at her in shock, then at her reddened hand, and asked hurriedly, "Wait... how can you feel pain? Is it because you killed that Xu Fu?"
Qingnu blew on her hand and shook her head. "I don't know..."
This poor snake's life is so hard!
Seeing the girl-snake looking so miserable while rubbing her hand, Hongluan gently covered it with its feathers, saying pityingly, "Stupid snake, Ying Zheng already said that if you want someone dead, just let him do it. Why did you have to do it yourself? Now you've gotten your retribution, haven't you?"
"Can't you just comfort me without adding that last part?"
Qingnu looked pitiful as she covered her hand.
As they walked back, she instructed Hongluan again, "You cannot let Ying Zheng know about this."
"Don't worry, I am the best at keeping secrets,"
Hongluan nodded.
Hearing this, Qingnu complained, "You were the one who told me about the fangshi in the first place."
Hongluan didn't feel the slightest bit of embarrassment. It said, "I only keep my word for things you specifically ask of me. For others, it depends on my mood!"
"This snake is so moved!"
Qingnu grabbed Hongluan and used its feathers to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Hongluan: "..."
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