Ying Zheng paused, then said to Verdant Green Maiden, "I... am willing to believe!"
He was willing to believe, not convinced.
Verdant Green Maiden stopped and looked at Ying Zheng. After a long silence, she lowered her head, gave a faint smile, waved her hand, and walked away.
Believe him?
She might as well believe Ying Zheng was Qin Shi Huang...
Wait, he really was!
As Verdant Green Maiden walked away, Ying Zheng turned to Xu Fu. There was no trust in his eyes, only a cold killing intent. He said to Xu Fu, "Xu Fu, remember. This is your only chance. Bring the Immortal Medicine back to me!"
Xu Fu hurriedly knelt and kowtowed. "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Ying Zheng had never trusted Xu Fu. All he wanted was the chance that the Immortal Medicine might exist.
But Xu Fu didn't know that.
A month later, Xu Fu took his followers and led a group of boys and girls out to sea.
As he watched the land recede until it vanished from sight, a wild grin spread across Xu Fu's face.
But his grin lasted only a moment before it was shattered by Verdant Green Maiden, standing at the bow.
Verdant Green Maiden stood at the bow. The sea breeze billowed her green gown and tossed her ink-black hair, while Red Phoenix flew beside her shoulder.
Verdant Green Maiden clicked her tongue in disgust. "Xu Fu, that grin on your old face is downright ugly!"
"P-Professor?"
Xu Fu looked flustered and hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting. "Your humble servant Xu Fu pays his respects to Professor!"
"Have you come with an order from His Majesty for me?"
Verdant Green Maiden waved her hand, then leaped off the bow and landed in front of Xu Fu.
Xu Fu hurriedly backed away several steps.
Verdant Green Maiden stared at Xu Fu. "Tell me, you were born in Langya and raised there. Have you ever been out to sea?"
"Of course I have."
Xu Fu nodded, not understanding what she was getting at.
"Good! I was afraid you'd been fooled too."
Verdant Green Maiden breathed a sigh of relief. A hint of savagery flashed in her slit pupils as she bared her fangs. "Since you've been out to sea, you know those so-called Immortal Mountains are nothing but mirages, illusions that seem real but aren't. Where are you really headed? Wa Island?"
Xu Fu's pupils shrank. He was utterly astonished.
How did Verdant Green Maiden know his destination? Had she been to that island too?
After his surprise, Xu Fu turned and tried to flee, but Verdant Green Maiden clamped a hand on his shoulder. With a light squeeze, she crushed his shoulder bone to powder.
Xu Fu's face turned deathly pale. His body crumpled to the ground, and he clutched his shoulder, screaming in pain.
Verdant Green Maiden felt no fondness for this fellow who might have been the ancestor of the Wa People. She had the followers, who had been gaping in shock, throw him into the sea, then sent Red Phoenix to comfort the children aboard the ship.
Red Phoenix tilted her head and asked in confusion, "Why don't you go?"
She didn't know how to handle children.
"Just say a few words to them and fly around a bit!"
Verdant Green Maiden winked at Red Phoenix, who flew into the cabin, still unsure.
The little ones had never seen a talking bird before. Red Phoenix's arrival worked better than any words of comfort; they stopped crying and chased after her, eager to play. As they raced around the cramped cabin, Red Phoenix nearly had her feathers plucked out.
"Stupid Snake! You jerk!"
Red Phoenix shrieked as she dodged their grabbing hands.
Verdant Green Maiden ignored her and steered the ship back. It took several days to reach land.
The moment she stepped ashore, a gust of wind swept past and Verdant Green Maiden shivered.
Puzzled, she looked up at the sky, her slender brows knitting together. "It isn't even winter, so why does the sea breeze make me feel cold?"
"Is this... the price too?"
"Stupid Snake, what are you standing around for? Hurry up and help!"
Red Phoenix shouted from behind, pursued by a flock of little children. Her beautiful feathers were now a bedraggled mess.
She flew straight into Verdant Green Maiden's arms.
Verdant Green Maiden beamed, rubbed Red Phoenix's head, then soothed the children.
"All right, all right, stop fussing. Big Sister will take you to find your mothers."
"Shameless."
Red Phoenix muttered under her breath.
"How old are you, still calling yourself their big sister!"
Verdant Green Maiden kept smiling as she pressed Red Phoenix's head against her chest. Then she looked at the little ones and asked, "Do you still remember where your homes are?"
Some said east, some said south, others said northwest. One even said home was in the sea.
Hearing these wildly different answers, Verdant Green Maiden fell silent.
Suddenly, she turned to the followers who had come ashore and asked, "You! Where did you find these children?"
"Well..."
The men exchanged glances and shook their heads. "Professor, please understand. We... don't know either."
Ying Zheng had ordered the Qin Army to find them in various places. How could they know?
None of them knew?
Verdant Green Maiden looked at the children.
Taking them back to Ying Zheng was out of the question. That brat might send more people in search of the Immortal Mountain, but she couldn't raise all these children herself either.
After thinking it over, Verdant Green Maiden came up with a plan. She tossed the followers some money and said, "Take them somewhere secluded, and settle them there!"
The followers froze. Before they could say anything, Verdant Green Maiden narrowed her eyes and clenched a fist in warning. "Don't even think about pulling anything. If I find out you haven't taken good care of these children, just you wait..."
As she spoke, she smashed a boulder beside her into pieces with a single punch—a rock so large it would have taken ten people with their arms outstretched to encircle it.
The children let out a chorus of gasps.
The followers dropped straight to their knees and kowtowed without stopping. "Professor, rest assured! We would never neglect them!"
Verdant Green Maiden clasped her hands behind her back and gave a slight nod, looking pleased with their promise.
"Good. Off you go!"
Once they were far away, Verdant Green Maiden's expression changed.
Clutching her reddened right hand, she wailed to Red Phoenix, "Waaah, Bird Sister, my hand hurts so much..."
"Stupid Snake, do you have a brain?"
Red Phoenix blurted out the insult, then quickly realized what was going on.
She stared at Verdant Green Maiden, then at her reddened hand, and hurriedly asked, "Wait... why are you in pain? Is it because you killed Xu Fu?"
Verdant Green Maiden blew on her hand and shook her head. "I don't know..."
Poor Snake!
Seeing Snake Girl rubbing her hand with a miserable look on her face, Red Phoenix gently draped her feathers over it, heart aching. "Stupid Snake, Ying Zheng told you that if you wanted someone killed, you could just let him do it. Why did you have to do it yourself? Now you're getting your comeuppance, aren't you?"
"You're supposed to comfort me. Why did you have to tack on that last bit?"
Verdant Green Maiden looked pitiful and clutched her hand.
As they walked back, she reminded Red Phoenix, "You can't let Ying Zheng find out about this."
"Don't worry. I'm the best at keeping secrets."
Red Phoenix nodded.
Verdant Green Maiden couldn't help teasing her. "You were the one who told me about the alchemists in the first place."
Red Phoenix wasn't embarrassed in the slightest. "I'll keep quiet about anything you ask me to. Everyone else? That depends on my mood!"
"Snake is so touched!"
Verdant Green Maiden grabbed Red Phoenix and used her feathers to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Red Phoenix: "..."
Before you continue