Chapter 43 The Swordsman from Ten Years Ago

"So sweet!"

Ying Shu's eyes lit up. Like all young girls, she was passionately fond of sweets.

"You... how is it that you know how to make so many things? Could it be that you are a master chef?"

The more Ying Shu looked at Zhao Zheng, the more curious she became. Even any renowned chef in the world today could not possibly compare to Zhao Zheng, could they?

"It's a secret." Zhao Zheng smiled mysteriously, then looked somewhat annoyed. "Actually, with just a few more ingredients, these two dishes would taste even better..."

It was just a pity that in the current era, the Silk Road had not yet been established, and many Western seasonings and spices could not be imported. Take cumin, for instance; although it was only introduced during the Tang Dynasty, regions like ancient Egypt had already discovered it long ago. It seemed the Silk Road would have to be developed as well...

However, the most pressing matter right now was to send this pampered young lady away.

Looking at Ying Shu, Zhao Zheng rubbed his temples in a headache-inducing manner. "My dear ancestor, can you please leave now?"

"No! Who told you not to come and see me for so long?"

Ying Shu's words carried the willful spoiledness of a young lady from a wealthy family, leaving Zhao Zheng utterly helpless. Exactly when had he managed to provoke this troublesome ancestor? Judging by her attitude, he should have been very familiar with her, right? Yet, in truth, he had only met her a few times and had almost been tricked to death by her within the Mohist clan.

"Speaking of which, how did you even come to know the Mohist clan?" Recalling this matter, Zhao Zheng voiced his lingering doubt.

Hearing this, Ying Shu was momentarily stunned, her expression turning somewhat complex.

"Forget it, if you don't want to talk about it, I won't press." Seeing this, Zhao Zheng tactfully dropped the subject. After all, anyone capable of associating with the Mohist clan was bound to be formidable.

"Thirteen years ago, my father and I were attacked by bandits on our way back to our homeland. The bandits were overwhelming, and our guards were wiped out in an instant. We were on the verge of falling victim to their cruelty," Ying Shu recounted slowly, recalling the past events.

"And then, members of the Mohist clan appeared and saved you, and that's how you came to know them?" Zhao Zheng guessed. If that were truly the case, Ying Shu's luck was not bad at all...

Ying Shu, however, shook her head and continued, "Of course not. Just as we were about to meet our doom at the hands of the bandits, a swordsman happened to pass by."

"Fighting multiple opponents single-handedly, he slew every last one of the bandits and then escorted us all the way to the foot of Mount Moyuan."

A swordsman taking on multiple opponents alone?

Zhao Zheng's brain raced. The renowned swordsmen of this era were Zhuan Zhu, Yao Li, Gai Nie, and Jing Ke. However, Zhuan Zhu and Yao Li belonged to the Spring and Autumn period, while Gai Nie and Jing Ke belonged to the late Warring States period, none of which matched the timeline. Perhaps he was simply a swordsman who had failed to leave his name in history.

Thinking of this, Zhao Zheng asked again, "That swordsman fought off many single-handedly, so his martial arts must have been extraordinary, right? It would have been wonderful if he could have been recruited for the service of our State of Qin."

Ying Shu slowly shook her head, pain welling up in her eyes. "He... having sustained heavy injuries while fighting off the enemies to save us, he had to keep his mind and body in a state of extreme tension all the way as he escorted us. By the time we reached Mount Moyuan, his face was deathly pale and his body utterly exhausted."

"He died? What a terrible pity." Zhao Zheng sighed in regret. Such a talented individual was truly a loss!

"I don't know..." Ying Shu's voice carried a deep sorrow. "After resting for a brief moment, he forced his failing body up and disappeared into the deep forests surrounding Mount Moyuan."

Zhao Zheng's mouth twitched. *Oh no, because of this question, someone is going to have trouble sleeping again tonight.*

"Alright, stop thinking about those things. Have some food, yes, eat." Zhao Zheng hurriedly fed a piece of fruit and some mutton to Ying Shu's lips.

Faced with the food offered by Zhao Zheng, Ying Shu did not refuse. Just then, Zhao Zheng noticed a speck of powdered sugar clinging to the corner of Ying Shu's mouth, making her look like a greedy little cat that had failed to wipe its face clean.

Driven by an inexplicable impulse, he sat up and reached out a finger, intending to wipe it away for her. "You're all grown up, yet your table manners are still—"

Before his finger could reach her and before he could finish his sentence,

"Damn it!"

Zhao Zheng let out a low cry as he suddenly lost his balance. His entire body lunged uncontrollably straight toward Ying Shu in front of him.

Instinctively, Zhao Zheng threw out his hands to catch himself, but instead grabbed Ying Shu's slender shoulders. In an intensely ambiguous posture, the two of them tumbled heavily onto the woven mat.

Half of Zhao Zheng's body pressed against Ying Shu's delicate curves, their noses nearly touching. Ying Shu felt a wave of intense heat instantly rush through her entire body from the point of contact. With a buzzing sound in her mind, her face turned completely scarlet, and even the roots of her neck burned hot.

As their eyes locked, the air became awkward to the extreme.

"Cough... cough..."

Two abruptly sounded dry coughs shattered the awkwardness hanging in the air.

Ying Shu and Zhao Zheng stiffened simultaneously and turned their gazes sharply toward the source of the sound. Standing right in the doorway were two people before they even realized it!

It was Ying Quliang and Wei Yang!

Ying Quliang looked at Zhao Zheng with the expression of a spectator enjoying a juicy piece of gossip, as if silently saying: *Not bad, young man.*

Wei Yang narrowed his eyes, the corners of his mouth curving into a meaningful smile as his gaze swept back and forth between the two of them.

"I... I slipped, would you believe that?"

Zhao Zheng hurriedly stood up, giving a couple of dry coughs to cover up his embarrassment.

"Right... Second Brother, Zhao... Sir merely slipped. I, I'll be leaving first..."

With that, Ying Shu glared fiercely at Zhao Zheng and bolted away like a startled little deer making a panicked escape.

"Sir, I couldn't tell... Could this romance possibly have been picked up from roaming around pleasure quarters?" Ying Quliang asked with a satisfied nod, stepping forward to pat Zhao Zheng on the shoulder.

Zhao Zheng gave Ying Quliang a sidelong glance and retorted unhappily, "I already said, it was an accident!"

"Besides, what pleasure quarters? I was attending to important matters!"

"Right, right, right."

The two of them nodded their heads like chicks pecking at rice.
"I see the two of you simply have nothing better to do," Zhao Zheng said, exasperated. "You never visit a temple without a purpose—state your business if you have any, and get lost if you don't!"

Seeing that Zhao Zheng was truly annoyed, Ying Quliang stopped teasing him and put on a serious expression. "All joking aside, the stratagem Sir devised has completely restored the credibility of our State of Qin."

Wei Yang, standing beside him, nodded. "Trust may be lost, but it can always be re-established!"

"So, it's just because of this trivial matter?" Zhao Zheng was somewhat speechless; he had thought it was something major.

Ying Quliang shook his head. "No, naturally not. Spies have reported that the State of Qi has established some kind of Jixia Academy, widely recruiting scholars from all over the world to come to Qi for debates."

Hearing this, Zhao Zheng furrowed his brow. The Jixia Academy? This was definitely not good news...

"What is it, Sir? Is there a problem with this?" Seeing Zhao Zheng frown, Ying Quliang asked hurriedly.

Zhao Zheng nodded. "Of course. What 'widely recruiting scholars from all over the world for debates'? In reality, it's merely a sweeping recruitment of talented scholars from everywhere."

"This... if that's the case, won't the power of the State of Qi grow yet again..." Ying Quliang furrowed his brow deeply. This was indeed bad news.

Wei Yang was also well aware of the true purpose of the Jixia Academy. Moreover, unlike Qin, Qi would naturally attract countless scholars rushing to its name.

"Sir, what should we do?" Wei Yang cupped his hands and looked toward Zhao Zheng.

Zhao Zheng glanced at Wei Yang and let out a cold huff. "What should we do? You've already blocked the only possible solution yourself, and you still have the nerve to ask me what we should do?"

"Just let it stew in its own juices!"