Chapter 674

So fast that it was impossible to guard against.

After returning to the state, he first executed Lao Ai on the day of his capping ceremony, and after executing Lao Ai, he dismissed Lu Buwei from his position as Chancellor due to evidence obtained from Lao Ai; within a short period, he had successively removed the two greatest constraints beside him.

It can only be said that there were coincidental factors contained within this process.

No one expected that Lao Ai, who was deeply trusted by the Empress Dowager, would harbor such rebellious thoughts and intend to start a riot during Seeing Ying Zheng's capping ceremony; even more unexpected was that Lu Buwei would be in collusion with him, and Lao Ai's downfall subsequently influenced Lu Buwei's dismissal.

Of course, Gai Nie did not think this was just Seeing Ying Zheng having good luck.

It must be known that in the process of seizing power over the Qin court, Seeing Ying Zheng encountered countless dangers and difficulties; from Xinzheng to the journey back to the state, crises came one after another, and even the Lao Ai rebellion could have resulted in an accident if not handled well.

But as it happened, Seeing Ying Zheng stood until the end and became the final victor; this can only be said to be Seeing Ying Zheng's strength, in addition to his luck.

Of course, even if Seeing Ying Zheng had seized power, Gai Nie did not believe that Qin could immediately begin the conquest of Han.

It can only be said that in this duel between him and his junior fellow apprentice Wei Zhuang, he had gained a slight advantage.

But immediately afterward, another event occurred.

That was the great drought in Nanyang, and Qin raising its army to destroy Han.

Gai Nie believed that in the face of Qin's destruction of Han, his junior fellow apprentice Wei Zhuang would not sit idly by and wait for death, so even if Qin possessed overwhelming strength, it would not be easy to destroy Han.

Yet the fact was that Wei Zhuang had indeed tried his best, but he could never change the result of Han's destruction.

Han was destroyed with ease.

The duel between the Ghost Valley fellow apprentices ultimately ended with Gai Nie's victory.

Gai Nie won, but he was not as happy as he had imagined.

Because he felt that his victory was unearned.

His junior fellow apprentice Wei Zhuang had at least tried for the sake of Han, but what about him? Apart from guarding the Qin Wang, he had done nothing.

The true culprit behind the destruction of Han was never him, but... Su Xuan!

Even the fact that the Qin Wang was able to soar from a trapped dragon and shake off numerous predicaments that day was largely due to the help of Su Xuan.

He, this Ghost Valley descendant, had harbored great ambitions from the moment he finished his apprenticeship, and when he later joined Qin, he was also filled with high aspirations, swearing to accomplish great things; but later, the situation changed too fast, so fast that Gai Nie had no opportunity to participate in the great trends of the world.

Starting from Han and ending in Qi.

In the process of Qin destroying the six states, he had actually become a bystander, never participating in the great trends of the world, let alone influencing them.

What truly made him famous in Qin was, instead, that exquisite swordplay.

From the initial Chief Swordplay Instructor to the current Sword Saint.

This swordplay was the key to him truly gaining the high regard of the Qin Wang.

Yet, what does the Ghost Valley school possess besides swordplay? Strategy, military tactics, and calculation—the Ghost Valley school is proficient in everything; although Ghost Valley swordplay is famous throughout the world, it is merely a means for Ghost Valley disciples to defend themselves; the Ghost Valley school influences the world, and it has never relied on swordplay to do so.

Even when he later returned to Ghost Valley to duel with his junior fellow apprentice Wei Zhuang and won, according to tradition, he could have become the new Guiguzi, but Gai Nie chose to give it up.

Because he knew that he did not have the qualifications to become Guiguzi.

His journey into the world as a Ghost Valley descendant was truly difficult to describe; even though he won against Wei Zhuang, he asked himself, he was actually inferior to his junior fellow apprentice Wei Zhuang—at the very least, Wei Zhuang had returned to Han and tried.

After the destruction of Han, he had also been drifting through the world, intending to cultivate a powerful force that could influence the great trends of the world.

After speaking of the confusion in his heart, Gai Nie said softly: "Now, Qin has unified the world; in this world, there will be no more war. The Ghost Valley school of Vertical and Horizontal has lost its value for existence. Perhaps I should leave Qin, find a place in the mountains and wilderness, and live in seclusion!"

"Is this what you think in your heart? You want to leave Qin?" Su Xuan looked at Gai Nie, who had said these words, his eyes deep.

Gai Nie sighed: "I really cannot think of what else I can do if I stay in Qin!"

He was happy to become the Sword Saint, but the Ghost Valley school of Vertical and Horizontal possesses more than just swords!

To have ten thousand brilliant strategies in one's belly but nowhere to display them, and to find that in the end, the only thing one can rely on is the three-foot blade in one's hand—this feeling is truly not easy to bear.

Su Xuan also felt some emotion in his heart.

In the original work, Gai Nie did indeed betray Seeing Ying Zheng and defect from Qin, but the reason in the original work could still be attributed to him finding the whereabouts of Tianming; for the sake of Tianming, the son of his close friend Jing Ke, and to protect Tianming, he had no choice but to betray Qin.

But now, there is no such thing as Jing Ke dying in an attempt to assassinate the Qin Wang.

As for whether Tianming exists?

Well, Tianming still exists; this is something Su Xuan learned from the Six-Fingered Black Hero. Jing Ke does indeed have a son, and he is called Tianming.