Volume 2 Wu Zhong Ke Chapter 41 Answering Questions and Dispelling Doubts

  "May I ask your name, miss?"

  The girl was taken aback and hesitated: "Fan Yilan!"

  "Yilan?" Yin Xu nodded and smiled: "Good name, Yilan flowers bloom, people are like their names, beautiful like this!"

  Fan Yilan rebuked: "Last time we met, young master was polite and courteous, why does it seem like you've changed your temper today?"

  "Alright, I've made a mistake. But your beauty is breathtaking, and I couldn't help but be astonished. So, please forgive me!"

  Fan Yilan gave him a white eye and said: "Right, you haven't answered me yet. What's the name of that beautiful woman from Chu State?"

  "It's called Lin Feng, Chu Wei Wang's imperial guard, unfortunately..." Yin Xu shook his head, secretly observing Fan Yilan's expression, trying to see if she knew about the legend of Cheng Ying Duan Shui.

  Unfortunately, Fan Yilan didn't give him the chance. When he spoke, the beauty had already turned her body sideways. "Lin Feng? Unfortunately what?" When she turned back again, her calm face was filled with curiosity.

  Is she really unaware? Or is her acting skill too high?

  Yin Xu was somewhat perplexed and couldn't make up his mind. He told the story of Xiang Zhuang in detail, and Fan Yilan listened with rapt attention, exclaiming: "I never thought this sword had such a moving story behind it?"

  Yin Xu held up the 'Duan Shui' and said, "I have never had the chance to thank you for giving me this sword, as well as Fan Qing's help over the past few days. Today, I finally get to thank you in person."

  "This thank you is probably undeserved, it was I who implicated the young master, helping is a must." Fan Yilan politely and tactfully said: "A few days ago, I heard that the young master had arrived in Kuaiji, and I was thinking of finding an opportunity to invite the young master. Unexpectedly, we met today in the bustling streets, so I invited the young master here, and personally expressed my gratitude as a form of apology."

  Yin Xu smiled and said: "Alright, no need for thanks. I just want to hear Miss tell the story of this sword's origin, may I?"

  Fan Yilan nodded: "Since the young master has spoken, I will naturally obey!"

  "Shall we take a walk by the lake and chat along the way? Would you be willing to grant me this pleasure?"

  Fan Yilan raised her head and looked towards the lake, a pleasure boat, several fishing boats, were floating on the vast blue waves. In the autumn wind, the beautiful woman's hair was flying, she hesitated for a moment, then followed Yin Xiu walking away.

  "Yin Gongzi is curious, how did our humble abode come to possess this ancient famous sword?" Fan Yilan spoke softly, her breath as fragrant as orchids, walking shoulder to shoulder with him. Yin Xu's heart fluttered, wanting to take another glance, yet fearing he would be too forward with the beauty.

  "Not bad, I've heard that this 'Duan Shui' sword has been missing since the time of Chu Wei Wang, after Min Xing and Lin Feng's death. But you generously gave it to me, so I'm curious to ask."

  Fan Yilan said solemnly: "After Min Xing and Lin Feng, where did this sword fall? How was it passed around? I don't know. But the previous owner of this sword must tell you, sir, that he has caused you trouble before, and maybe in the future, there will be some benefit!"

  "Oh?" Yin Xu saw that she was serious and his curiosity quickly swelled up, he leaned in to listen carefully.

  The sword's previous owner was General Meng Tian!

  "Is it 'Meng Tian'?" Yin Xu's jaw dropped in shock. He never could have imagined that 'Duan Shui' was actually Meng Tian's sword.

  "He then sent Meng Tian to build the Great Wall in the north and guard the frontier, driving back the Xiongnu more than 700 li; the barbarians did not dare to come south and pasture their horses, and the soldiers did not dare to draw their bows and report their grievances."

  In middle school, this passage from "Guo Qin Lun" was memorized fluently, and Meng Tian's great name was also well-known. Meng Tian was the first pillar general of the Qin dynasty after Bai Qi, Wang Jian, and Wang Ben, but unfortunately he was harmed by Zhao Gao and Li Si, and died unjustly, which is really a pity.

  At the same time, he vaguely guessed that the second time Zhou Kang's 30,000-strong army was defeated, wasn't it because of this sword? He remembered when he sneaked into the camp that day, the little general who was wounded by himself saw the expression of shock when he saw this sword. The little general escaped with injuries, and since then, the Qin army suspended its siege until the Jiangdong Great Bandit several months later. It seems that Zhao Gao knew the news and thought there was some connection between him and Meng Tian, so he would make such a big effort.

  I didn't expect that! I really didn't expect it to be like this... It seems that Fan Yilan owes herself an apology! But how did Meng Tian's sword end up in Fan Yilan's hands? And why did she want to give it to herself? What is her identity anyway?

  Yin Xu had too many doubts, and these doubts had been troubling him for too long. The answer was on her body. His gaze fell on Fan Yilan, and after a long time, he asked: "I suppose Miss knows what I want to ask, may I ask if you can dispel my doubts?"

  Fan Yilan smiled faintly and said: "People are always greedy, after getting something, they want better ones, it's always like this, do you agree, young master?"

  Yin Xu nodded: "Human desires are boundless, indeed so. I wonder if Miss has any profound meaning in asking this question?"

  "So, young master, what do you think is the greatest desire under heaven?"

  "Different people have different views on this. Generally speaking, it is probably wealth, beauty and power."

  Fan Yilan said slowly: "When a person has all the wealth and beauty in the world, when he stands at the peak of power, what else does he want?"

  "You're talking about the Emperor?" Yin Xue said thoughtfully, "Yes, the Emperor is rich and powerful, with supreme authority, what more could he want?"

  Wait, Emperor... power... endless desires... having become the Emperor, wanting to become immortal... a flash of inspiration in Yin Xu's mind, and he blurted out: "Elixir of Immortality?"

  Fan Yilan's slender body trembled, and a hint of surprise and admiration flashed in her deep eyes. She said, "You guessed it! Does the young master think there is an elixir of immortality in this world?"

  "Birth, aging, illness and death are the normal human experiences. How can one possibly live forever? Qin Shi Huang was a clever person, but he was too attached to power and wanted to maintain his absolute power forever. In fact, the rise and fall of things in this world is a natural change, and no one can change it. It's just that they are too foolish to see through it, so they were deceived by the alchemists."

  Fan Yilan's eyes sparkled with delight at Yin Xu's words, and she was full of praise for him. However, towards the end, her expression turned somewhat melancholic: "Actually, Fang Shi also has his helplessness!"

  "Oh?"

  Fan Yilan let out a long sigh and said, "My family was originally wealthy merchants. In the past, when the First Emperor was searching for an elixir of immortality, my father and Mr. Xu Fu were both ordered to participate. There was also a Mr. Wu Zhen, who was the younger brother of County Magistrate Wu Rui of Fan District. That day, we let the crown prince pass through our territory because of this old friendship."

  "You know that this world is inherently empty, so Mr. Xu will repeatedly delay and even disappear forever. Finally, he dragged it until the First Emperor died in Sand Hill."

  Yin Xu suddenly said: "So that's how it is, your respected father has been wronged!"

  Fan Yilan shook her head helplessly and continued: "It's precisely because the elixir of immortality has not been found that Zhao Gao wants to take action against my family, wanting to kill us quickly. It's just that my father has always been on good terms with Fusu Gongzi, Meng Tian Jiangjun, and Li Si, so we temporarily escaped disaster. You know why Fusu was demoted to Shang Jun, it's because he once spoke the truth that the elixir of immortality is also an illusory thing."

  Later, Fu Su and General Meng were harmed by treacherous people, and before they died, they gave this sword to my family. Later, Prime Minister Li was also under house arrest and could only escape from Xianyang with his whole family. However, Zhao Gao did not give up and continued to pursue and kill them along the way. If it weren't for meeting you, Young Master... On that day, seeing that your words and actions were extraordinary, he gave this precious sword to a hero, first as a thank-you gift, and secondly hoping that one day you would use this sword to cut down the treacherous and evil people, which would also be a way to avenge General Meng. Now it seems that you are capable of doing so.

  "Really? Thank you for your compliment!"

  "The young master's heroic deeds in Fan Village I have heard of. Now under General Xiang Liang's command, tomorrow will surely be a boundless future."

  The horse let out a loud whinny, and Yin Xu looked up to see that the carriage had already stopped by the side of the road, with Fan Qing waiting respectfully beside it.

  Fan Yilan said: "Today's outing has been going on for a long time, it's time to go home, I'll take my leave!" With a gentle smile, she turned and left.

  "Thank you, Miss. Goodbye!" After seeing Fan Yilan get on the carriage, Yin Xu had mixed feelings and also turned to leave.