The Wei River, vast and mighty, embraces Xianyang City before flowing northwestward. It is an anomaly among great rivers, rarely converging with others.

It is before the Wei River that the Great Qin, a mighty nation in this world, stands sentinel in the northwest, its gaze sweeping across the western borders, and even, it seems, over the entire realm.

The strength of Qin needs no elaboration. Within the western borders, none dare challenge it.

Furthermore, the fierce conflict that erupted on the river valley plain three thousand nine hundred and seventeen years ago directly propelled Great Qin to the pinnacle of power, subtly overshadowing Eastern Qi and seemingly capable of vying for supremacy with the Jing Country, which reigns supreme in the central domain.

The Great Chu, renowned for its strong soldiers, robust horses, and powerful magical artifacts – a nation whose national treasury was said to be full for three thousand years, and whose techniques and armor surpassed all others – was forced to swallow the bitter fruit of defeat. They were compelled to abandon their years of meticulous operations in the western borders and retreat to the southern domain to nurse their wounds, their influence in the west all but lost.

Xiang Longxiang, a world-renowned general, perished amidst the great army. Zuo Guanglie, a heaven-sent prodigy of his generation, was pursued for a thousand miles and died in an unnamed corner of Zhuang Country.

The former represents the demise of the “now.” The latter signifies the loss of the “future.”

Moreover, Zuo Guanglie was not merely “promising.” Before his death in battle, this individual was already a celebrated talent across the realm, a high-ranking general in the Great Chu military, the established young master of the Great Chu Zuo family, and, more importantly, the designated successor of “Chi Yan,” one of the Six Divisions of Great Chu.

The term “Chi Yan” signifies a blood-bound “touch,” daring to confront any adversary. Its core spirit lies in a vow to resist any enemy to the death.

And in the battle of the river valley, a powerful force like Chi Yan suffered casualties exceeding half its strength.

Zuo Guanglie alone broke through the enemy lines, at one point even penetrating Hangu Pass… He harbored the fervent hope of replicating Xiong Tu’s feat of leading a solitary detachment deep into enemy territory to inflict a crushing defeat upon Xia Country.

Alas, his efforts ultimately failed, and the heaven-sent prodigy fell.

The battle on the river valley plain, which involved nearly a hundred thousand cultivators and hundreds of thousands of ordinary soldiers, feels as though it happened just yesterday. Those who witnessed it are still tending to their wounds, the pain still raw.

Yet, it also seems incredibly distant.

This is because Xianyang City today shows no hint of the atmosphere of war.

Instead, one sees green pavilions adorned with scarlet makeup, and towering structures where strong wine intoxicates.

Pedestrians weave through the streets like threads, and carriages flow like water, horses like dragons.

As people of the time might say: “The Qin palace abandons the fat and the water, and the Wei flows can raise grease.”

This illustrates the prosperity of the Qin King’s palace, which is said to be filled with beauties like clouds.

Only in peaceful times can “beauty” truly be appreciated as “beauty.” Women have the leisure to adorn themselves, and men the inclination to pursue them.

The world is not inherently peaceful; the serene landscape of Qin is naturally a result of its strength.

Just as the people of Qi can roam freely in the suburbs, while the people of smaller countries dare only venture out for a long journey under the escort of cultivators – the reason is the same.

West of Xianyang City lies the mansion of Yi An Bo.

On this particular day, a man with listless eyes and a somewhat dishevelled appearance arrived at the entrance. Without a word, he strode directly into the Bo mansion.

Though not outwardly dirty, this person possessed an indescribable aura that didn’t immediately suggest he was a beggar.

His confident and self-assured stride, as if returning to his own home, made it difficult to discern his true identity. One could only wonder if he was some eccentric character or a heterodox scholar, or perhaps a descendant of a naturally distinguished family.

Thus, the doorkeeper did not immediately resort to force but instead inquired politely: “May I ask who the esteemed guest is? Do you have a visiting card?”

“No visiting card,” the newcomer said lazily. “I have traveled west to Qin and heard of the Wei family’s young master, said to be the foremost ‘Teng Long’ in the world. Hence, I have come to seek him out.”

The term “foremost ‘Teng Long’ in the world” may not necessarily signify the absolute best in the present world, but it is at least the undisputed best in Qin Country.

This person’s surname is Wei, and his given name is Yu. He is the son of Great Qin’s Yi An Bo, Wei Qiu.

Given that the newcomer dared to “seek out” Wei Yu, it was likely he possessed some form of backing.

As a doorkeeper in the Yi An Bo mansion, he was naturally not a fool and would not be so stupid as to offend someone of such unclear origin.

Therefore, he asked: “May I ask who recommended the esteemed guest to come?”

The newcomer stared with a pair of dead fish eyes, his voice also a little weak: “No one recommended me. I came myself.”

This appearance was far from that of an expert.

The doorkeeper did not believe that this person, who seemed to lack even two taels of strength, could possibly engage in a battle with their young master.

However, he did not humiliate him. He simply looked at the person with a difficult expression: “The Bo mansion has its rules. You have no visiting card and no one to recommend you. This humble one fears he cannot permit you to enter.”

He was not afraid of the newcomer acting rashly. In Xianyang City, no one could violate the law and escape punishment. Years ago, Wu Yang Jun violated the law and was still soundly beaten with a hundred canes. He was stripped naked and beaten outside the palace gates, and countless common people witnessed the royal buttocks.

While he wasn’t afraid, as the doorkeeper of the Yi An Bo mansion, he received a generous monthly salary and often received tokens of respect. His life was quite leisurely. Unless instructed by his master, there was no need to do anything that might offend people.

Constantly borrowing the master’s prestige to flaunt power and cause trouble would only lead to a short career, perhaps even endangering his life!

The newcomer also seemed to have no intention of causing trouble. He merely asked: “Could you trouble yourself to report once? I imagine your young master, being called the foremost ‘Teng Long’ in the world, should not fear a challenge.”

“My good sir,” the doorkeeper said apologetically, “I am truly sorry. This humble one is lowly and powerless and truly dares not casually disturb the master. Perhaps you could find another way, find someone to help you with an introduction?”

The newcomer sighed and said: “Since that is the case… I apologize for the offense!”

The doorkeeper quickly retreated a step, saying sternly: “What are you trying to do! This is Yi An…”

His voice abruptly stopped.

This was because he had not detected anything, yet the newcomer held a piece of deep black cloth between the two fingers of his right hand.

He lowered his head and looked at the hem of his own garment, discovering that a corner had been cut off at some point.

And the cut was remarkably neat. When he lightly rubbed it with his fingers, he felt a faint stinging sensation!

As a doorkeeper in the Yi An Bo mansion, his vision was, after all, somewhat discerning. He knew that this person was indeed an expert.

“…How did you cut my hem? I didn’t provoke you,” the doorkeeper said.

If it were someone else, their expert demeanor would likely be gone. What kind of expert would haggle with a doorkeeper?

Fortunately, this bearded uninvited guest also lacked any semblance of expert demeanor.

He simply flicked his fingers forward in parallel.

The corner of cloth in his hand suddenly shot out like an arrow leaving a bowstring, instantly speeding towards the doorkeeper, even bringing with it the sharp whistle of breaking wind!

But upon approaching the doorkeeper, it lightly floated down, landing precisely in his hand.

The uninvited guest then said: “Take this as a visiting card. If your young master is the real deal, he will come to see me.”

These words were originally quite imposing.

Alas, his eyes were listless, and his speech was lazily without strength. Listening to him felt very “airy,” making it difficult to muster any enthusiasm.

However, the doorkeeper of the Yi An Bo mansion had already sensed the extraordinary.

Clutching the piece of his hem, he asked: “This humble one will go and report… May I ask for your esteemed name?”

“Toward the front,” the guest seemed to yawn, saying with utterly no momentum.

“Still like old times roaming the upper garden, carriages like flowing water, horses like dragons.” – “Recalling Jiangnan,” Li Yu.