As his body weakened by the day, Qin Shi Huang's temperament grew ever more violent. Day after day, he drove the alchemists to burn the midnight oil and pour out their heart's blood, demanding that they refine the legendary elixir of immortality—hoping only that, once he swallowed it, he would ascend as an immortal, secure his throne for eternity, and become the supreme monarch who stood above life and death, imperishable through endless calamities. Yet the more his desire boiled over, the more reality poured ice water over his head, leaving behind nothing but hollow, aching disappointment.
One day, an alchemist suddenly announced himself as "Xu Fu," knocking at the palace gates to request an audience and claiming to know the art of immortality. Upon hearing this, Qin Shi Huang was so overjoyed he nearly lost his composure and immediately summoned him into the hall.
Before the emperor, Xu Fu spoke with eloquence: beyond the sea indeed lay three immortal mountains—Penglai, Yingzhou, and Fangzhang—shrouded in clouds and mist, where immortal traces appeared and vanished; upon those mountains dwelled True Persons who neither aged nor died, and within their cave abodes were spiritual medicines that prolonged life and preserved the soul. Qin Shi Huang's eyes shone at these words, and he urgently ordered Xu Fu to depart at once and bring the medicine back to court.
Yet Xu Fu said that immortals were lofty and proud, accepting none without sincerity, and that lavish gifts were required before one could land upon the islands. Qin Shi Huang agreed without a second word—three thousand young boys and girls were to be offered as sacrifices, exotic treasures were to fill the ship holds, and strong bows and heavy crossbows were to escort them and hold the line.
By then, the First Emperor had already