Love-Struck Fool, and the Weight of Being Number One

After two months of hard work, the crops were finally nearing maturity. Ying Zheng personally led a group of officials to the fields. Seeing the flourishing crops that were about to be harvested, everyone showed looks of amazement. Ying Zheng's eyes shone with excitement, as though he could already see the Qin Kingdom's future prosperity.

At noon the next day, sunlight streamed through the carved windows of Yong Palace, adding a gentle warmth to the entire hall. Yan Fei raised her delicate hand and elegantly brewed tea for Jun Lin and the King of Qin. Steam curled upward as the fragrance of tea filled the air.

Yan Fei dipped slightly, gently pushing the teacups toward Jun Lin and Ying Zheng. In a soft voice, she said, "Lin, King of Qin, please."

Though Yan Fei, deeply immersed in love, desperately wanted to cling to Jun Lin's side every moment of every day, she restrained the impulse in her heart in such a public setting and did not act all lovey-dovey with him. Still, the threads of affection quietly revealed themselves in her gaze. Anyone could see the deep love and attachment she felt for Jun Lin.

Ying Zheng nodded slightly, picked up his cup, and inhaled the tea's fragrance, a trace of appreciation appearing in his eyes. Jun Lin smiled at Yan Fei, then lifted his own cup and took a small sip, savoring it carefully. For a time, a quiet and warm atmosphere filled the palace.

After a brief silence, Yan Fei smiled and congratulated Ying Zheng. "I heard that the King of Qin recently came of age and took personal control of the government, eliminated the treacherous rebels, and seized great power. Even Luo Wang has fallen into your hands. Congratulations indeed!" Her clear, pleasant voice echoed through Yong Palace.

As Yan Fei spoke, however, her gaze remained fixed on Jun Lin. Her beautiful eyes were filled with tenderness. Though she appeared to be speaking with Ying Zheng, she was actually reminding him that it was time to fulfill the bargain he had made with Jun Lin.

And in order to be with Jun Lin as soon as possible, Yan Fei had put in no small amount of effort over the past two months. Whether during Ying Zheng's coming-of-age ceremony, when Lao Ai rebelled, or with Lü Buwei, she had secretly planted the Six-Soul Terror Curse in all of them.

When members of the Yin-Yang School who had noticed something was wrong appeared and prepared to intervene, Shui Linglong dealt with Donghuang Taiyi while Yan Fei casually eliminated those obstacles standing in the way of her pursuit of love.

It could be said that only Yan Fei and her useless yet overconfident younger sister remained in the Yin-Yang School. At this moment, Yan Fei's heart was filled with longing for the future. She looked forward to taking Jun Lin's hand and growing old with him.

Hearing Yan Fei's words, Jun Lin felt rather awkward. This girl's grasp of social etiquette is seriously worrying... he sighed inwardly. How was this Yan Fei, who had fallen headlong into love, anything like the clever, calculating, ruthless Eastern Lord she had once been?

Understanding what Yan Fei was trying to say, Ying Zheng's deep eyes swept over her, yet he showed no displeasure.

His expression remained calm as still water. His thin lips parted, and he spoke slowly. "Eastern Lord, you flatter me. If Linglong and you had not acted, I fear it would not have been so easy for me." Ying Zheng's voice was steady and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority.

He paused slightly, his gaze drifting between Jun Lin and Yan Fei as though seriously contemplating something important. The Yin-Yang School's performance during this coming-of-age ceremony and assumption of power had truly been unexpected. They had cast aside their usual ambiguous, noncommittal attitude and given their full support. Before this, Ying Zheng simply could not understand why the Yin-Yang School would act this way.

But now, he suddenly understood. So the Yin-Yang School's Eastern Lord, Yan Fei, and Lord Jun Lin shared a special affection. The two had clearly taken a liking to one another.

After a moment, Ying Zheng continued, "I have already prepared the item I agreed to trade to Lord Jun Lin. It is outside the hall. However, there is one matter I do not understand. I hope Lord Jun Lin can enlighten me."

"Please speak freely, King of Qin." Jun Lin smiled, seemingly not noticing the strange atmosphere at all as he replied.

"May I ask whether Lord Jun Lin is an immortal?" Ying Zheng asked seriously. His eyes were full of doubt and curiosity. He recalled everything he had witnessed during this period: a figure capable of flying through the heavens and burrowing through the earth, green radiance emanating from his body, crops rapidly maturing wherever he went, and surging life force spreading through the land.

Then there was the mountain range where the Yin-Yang School resided, which had suddenly been frozen over. And his ability to create things from thin air—every one of them was an immortal's method.

All of it lay beyond his understanding. As a suspicious emperor, Ying Zheng could not help wondering whether Jun Lin was truly an immortal descended into the mortal world. He stared intently at Jun Lin, awaiting his answer.

Upon hearing Ying Zheng's question, Jun Lin wore a faint smile, while his heart remained as calm as still water. He had clearly expected this question long ago. As the King of Qin, ruling over the realm, Ying Zheng naturally craved immortality and eternal control over great power.

It reminded him of an interesting question someone had once raised in his previous life: what would happen if his charming ancestor had become immortal, or if someone had given him a world map?

And then there was this: if a language other than Chinese appeared, or if a phone with countless interfaces appeared, would those people end up playing Nine Clans Match-and-Eliminate? Jun Lin was quite curious about that as well.

Though such a thing could no longer be accomplished in his previous life, wasn't there still the Douluo Continent? As the saying went, if you wanted the horse to run, you had to feed it grass. He still wanted Ying Zheng to help gather faith, so naturally, he had to give Ying Zheng some benefits.

After all, no one would work for another person for nothing. Jun Lin knew that, as the ruler of a kingdom, Ying Zheng had his own ambitions and aspirations. If he could offer enough temptation, Ying Zheng would certainly give it his all.

And for Ying Zheng, immortality and vast territory were undoubtedly the most tempting things of all. Jun Lin could use a Godhood to let him see hope for attaining immortality.

That way, Ying Zheng would work even more actively, while Jun Lin could better carry out his plans across the Douluo Continent through Ying Zheng's power.

With that in mind, Jun Lin slowly said, "Does the King of Qin seek immortality? If so, would you like to hear about my past?"

Ying Zheng and Yan Fei both revealed curious expressions upon hearing this.

Ying Zheng nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "I am all ears."

Expectation also shone in Yan Fei's beautiful eyes. She too wanted to know what kind of past Jun Lin had.

Jun Lin then began to tell a story. In that story, Jun Lin had been a commoner from a place called the Douluo Continent... There were miraculous Martial Souls and Soul Power there... powerful Titled Douluo possessed long lifespans... and there was even the legendary path of becoming a god at level one hundred. Once one became a god, one gained eternal life. Yet though gods stood high above all others, they were not always benevolent. At times, they toyed with the mortal world for their own desires, bringing endless disasters and suffering upon it...

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