Wind Howls, Yi River Is Cold

Over the past several years, under Verdant Green Maiden's tutelage, Fusu had gradually grown, and Great Qin had grown with him.

In the seventeenth year of King Zheng of Qin's reign, Qin destroyed Han.

In the eighteenth year of King Zheng of Qin's reign, Qin destroyed Zhao.

A few dozen words flashed by, and with them, one magnificent chapter of history after another.

Under the trampling hooves of Great Qin's iron cavalry, the King of Han was forced inland, the King of Zhao fled into exile, and the State Altars of both kingdoms crumbled to dust! The Qin Army's blades now pointed straight at Yan.

Yan Capital, Ji City.

"Violent Qin is a beast! It destroyed Han, then Zhao! Now its troops are massed along the Yi River. Great Yan is in peril!"

Crown Prince Ji Dan of Yan paced back and forth through the palace, his expression fraught with anxiety.

As a child, he too had been held hostage in Zhao at Handan, just like Ying Zheng. But Ying Zheng had Qing Xiao Jade Maiden, a capable tutor, looking after him, while Ji Dan had no such protection. On top of that, Yan was weaker than Zhao. He had already lived a miserable life as a hostage; now, even after finally returning to Yan and becoming its Crown Prince, he still had to live in Ying Zheng's shadow!

"Why? Why does Heaven have to favor that Violent Qin?"

Ji Dan roared, but no one dared answer.

Inside the palace, the eunuchs and maids knelt prostrate on the floor, their bodies trembling as they tried not to make a sound.

"Guards! Guards!"

Someone hurried forward on their knees and kowtowed. "Crown Prince, please give your command..."

Ji Dan seized him by the collar and whispered, "Go find them! Find me someone—anyone! As long as he's a bold and fearless warrior, bring him to me!"

"Yes! Yes, Crown Prince, please calm down!"

The man nodded frantically, then took his leave.

Soon, countless people inside and outside Ji City were searching for the man Ji Dan needed. Many who claimed to be brave and formidable were brought to the palace, where Ji Dan met them in person. But when they learned he wanted them to assassinate the King of Qin, they all took their leave.

After a long search, just as Ji Dan was nearing despair, one man agreed.

His name was Jing Ke!

In the Crown Prince's palace, Ji Dan looked at the young swordsman standing before him and asked, "Warrior... you truly agree?"

Jing Ke nodded. "I do! Rest assured, Crown Prince. I'll make sure the King of Qin and I die together! But I can't do it alone. To get close to the King of Qin, I'll need something more!"

"What do you need? Say the word, and I'll prepare it for you!"

Ji Dan asked at once.

Jing Ke clasped his hands together, bowed to Ji Dan, and said solemnly, "I want Fan Yu Qi's head, and a map of the Du Kang region of Yan. I'll approach the King of Qin under the pretense of offering him land, presenting General Fan Yu Qi's head as a gift, and then kill him!"

"Du Kang can be arranged, but General Fan Yu Qi..."

Ji Dan furrowed his brow, hesitating. But when he saw Jing Ke's solemn expression and remembered that this was his only hope of assassinating the King of Qin, he took a deep breath and nodded decisively.

"Very well! I'll prepare it for you. I'll also assign you an assistant. There's a man in Ji City named Qin Wu Yang. He killed someone when he was only twelve and is exceptionally brave!"

Jing Ke knelt and bowed. "Thank you, Crown Prince!"

By the banks of the Yi River.

The winter air was bleak. The sun was hidden, and dark clouds blanketed the sky.

Qin Wu Yang held a lacquer box in both hands and stood behind Jing Ke. Before the two men stood Ji Dan and his retainers. The bitter wind sweeping through You Yan snapped the Yan banners.

Ji Dan clasped his hands and bowed to Jing Ke in farewell. "Master Jing Ke, I entrust Yan to you!"

"Jing Ke will not fail the Crown Prince's trust!"

Jing Ke bowed to Ji Dan, then crossed the Yi River with Qin Wu Yang and set off toward Xianyang!

Ji Dan climbed onto a nearby platform and played the guqin himself. Its high, sonorous notes carried across the riverbank.

"Wind howls, Yi River is cold; the brave warrior departs, never to return!"

"Entering the dragon's lair like a tiger's den, gasping at the sky, becoming a white rainbow."

Qin Capital, Xianyang.

As the capital of Great Qin, Xianyang had been expanded several times over the past century. Now it was a vast and magnificent city!

"It's even more magnificent than Ji City!"

Qin Wu Yang gazed up at Xianyang City's walls, filled with awe.

Jing Ke sat in the carriage without a word. He looked around, watching residents come and go along both sides of the streets, and noticed many people carrying sacrificial meat and grain toward the same destination.

He had the carriage stopped, then called over a passerby and asked, "Where are you headed, sir?"

"Winter's almost here. I'm going to worship Qing Xiao Jade Maiden and pray for auspicious snow!"

The man answered and went on his way.

Qing Xiao Jade Maiden?

Jing Ke watched the people heading in the same direction, curiosity stirring in his expression. He had never heard of Qing Xiao Jade Maiden in the legends of any kingdom. Yet the people of Xianyang worshiped her so earnestly. Could this Qing Xiao Jade Maiden truly be so effective?

Should I go pay my respects, too?

Jing Ke considered it, then said, "Let's go take a look."

At this, Qin Wu Yang looked a little flustered. He murmured, "Master Jing, we came here to assassinate the King of Qin. Why would we..."

"Precisely because of that, we mustn't show the slightest sign of anything amiss. The more composed we are, the safer we'll be."

Jing Ke reassured Qin Wu Yang, and the party turned toward the Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple.

Quite a few Xianyang residents had already gathered inside. The shift from autumn to winter was always the busiest season at the Jade Maiden Temple. Snow would soon fall, and people came to worship the Frost Snow Goddess, who held power over wind and snow.

Jing Ke blended into the crowd and bowed again and again.

In the Qin Palace, Qing Xiao Jade Maiden turned over, then abruptly sat up. She walked to the main hall of the Jade Maiden Shrine, looked at her own statue, then glanced outside.

Fusu, who was studying there, noticed and asked, "Tutor, what are you looking at?"

Fusu had inherited the fine qualities of his father and Imperial Concubine. Though he was only fifteen, he was already eight feet tall and strikingly handsome!

Qing Xiao Jade Maiden took a fruit from the offering table and ate it as she asked, "Is something important about to happen in the Qin Palace today?"

Fusu shook his head. "Nothing important."

Strange. Then why do I have this odd feeling?

As Qing Xiao Jade Maiden puzzled over it, Fusu added, "But in a few days, the Yan Envoy is due to meet Father. A message came back from the border half a month ago. Yan intends to present Father with a map."

At this, Qing Xiao Jade Maiden furrowed her brow and asked, "What's his name?"

Fusu thought for a moment, then answered, "I think it was... Jing Ke! Yes, his name is Jing Ke."

"Jing Ke..."

After Fusu spoke the name, Qing Xiao Jade Maiden repeated it and let out a long sigh.

Seeing this, Fusu asked quietly, "Tutor, is something wrong?"

Qing Xiao Jade Maiden shook her head and looked at Fusu. "It's nothing. Focus on your studies. You don't need to think about anything else for now!"

Fusu said earnestly, "But Father says I should be thinking about these things now!"

At this, Qing Xiao Jade Maiden rolled her eyes. "He's still in the prime of life and could live for decades. Why make you worry about all that?"

Fusu pressed his lips together and looked at Qing Xiao Jade Maiden. After a moment's silence, he suddenly asked, "Tutor, do you know the legends that there's an Art of Longevity in this world? If you cultivate properly or meet an Immortal, you might live forever! If it exists, I'll find it for Father!"

"Which storybook did you read that in?" Qing Xiao Jade Maiden glanced at Fusu.

She waved a hand. "It's all nonsense! If anyone really had that power, why hasn't a single Longevity Being appeared in the world?"</numerusform