Chapter 722 - 18: No Need to Look Back
At this moment, what is he thinking?
No one knows.
Though as he appeared, many people in the ruins park started to take notice of him.
He continued walking forward.
"... Speaking of which, I am a native Zhao Kingdom person, this is the capital of us Zhao people!"
"What Zhao person? So what, I’m from the Northeast, so I belong to the Yan Kingdom, and we’re not a match family-wise, huh?"
"No, just boasting a bit, don’t be mad... don’t raise your fist!"
"..."
Suddenly, the conversation between a couple could be heard.
Ying Zheng heard their dialogue, slightly turning his head to look at the young couple.
Not far away.
A girl raised her fist, looking at her boyfriend with a broad smile on her face, amusedly saying, "Still claiming to be Zhao person? Waiting for Emperor Shi to overthrow you? Idiot, just introduce the landmarks, be a true Handan person, why dress up your words?"
"Hehe, I’m just letting you feel the historical depth of our Handan."
"The depth of being conquered by Emperor Shi?"
"Some want to be conquered but aren’t even qualified! Look at all the regimes that later established a capital here: Later Zhao, Ran Wei, Former Yan, Eastern Wei, Northern Qi... I know others might not know them, the only decent one is Cao Wei, but Boss Cao fought so hard, only for their lineage to be changed eventually...
To be honest, truly not as great as Zhao Kingdom! By the way... Emperor Qin Shi Huang was also born here! So this is truly a place of dragon rising! Xiao Yan, marry me, and our son can enjoy the same beginnings as Emperor Qin Shi Huang..."
"Idiot!"
Facing this sudden proposal.
The girl immediately glared at the boy, blushing, and turned away to leave.
The boy then, foolishly, chased after her, continuing his efforts.
The two gradually walked farther away.
Ying Zheng watched them leave, completely stopping his steps.
Then, he glanced around.
Romantic entanglements.
Laughing and playing.
Peaceful and leisurely.
No deep-seated hatred, no endless cycles of combat and alliances.
Ordinary people are in the ruins of Zhao King City, yet can speak of Zhao Kingdom, Emperor Shi with a joking attitude.
Over the span of more than two thousand years.
Those profound hatreds have long vanished, as they should have.
The Six Kingdoms of those days.
Have long turned to dust.
The Divine Land... truly has been unified.
Ying Zheng thought of this, slowly looking towards the remaining yellow earth high platform in the distance.
The feelings he had when he was hiding all over, watching this capital, what were they really like?
Was it at that moment that the desire for a unified Divine Land arose?
Even those feelings of hatred from Zhao people at that time.
He seemed to have forgotten them.
Because, in reality, too much time has passed.
"..."
Ying Zheng slowly withdrew his gaze, then once again glanced at the couple who claimed to be Zhao and Yan people, looking at those peaceful and leisurely tourists, a slight smile suddenly appeared in his eyes.
Then he stepped forward and disappeared again.
Without a trace.
The Zhao King City no longer exists, nor does Emperor Shi.
The old era.
No need to look back.
Handan, just the street Ying Zheng walked by.
A figure appeared again.
This time.
He still attracted a lot of eyes.
And Ying Zheng still did not pay attention to the gazes of others, he just started to look around at this unfamiliar city, observing this entirely alien modern city.
Until four in the afternoon.
He stopped walking and approached a small shop selling noodles.
Because it was only a bit past four, there weren’t many customers... but there were a few.
And right at the entrance.
Ying Zheng encountered the little boy who had bumped into him not long ago again.
He held a basketball, standing obediently.
And a middle-aged woman, patting the dust off him, said helplessly, "Little rascal, how did you get all covered in mud playing basketball?"
"I accidentally fell down..."
"Huh? Did you get hurt? Spin around."
The middle-aged woman heard this, and the previous helplessness and irritation immediately turned into worry.
She spun her son around, carefully checking his condition.
"I’m fine."
The boy struggled, trying to break free from his mother’s control, but once he turned around, he saw Ying Zheng again.
Ying Zheng looked down at him.
The little boy was startled again, frozen in place.
"Sorry, sorry, are you here for noodles?"
The mother was also startled, quickly approaching her son’s side, apologizing while looking curiously at the man in front of her.
"Yes."
Ying Zheng nodded, then walked straight inside.
Perhaps it was the influence of this very mundane action of eating.
The little boy suddenly found that the man with the fearsome gaze wasn’t so terrifying after all.
He couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the man.
Ying Zheng sat down by himself, noticed the boy’s gaze, but did not respond; instead, he glanced at the food on the other two guests’ tables, and calmly said, "...The same, please."
The boy’s mother followed his direction and looked over. Although she found it a bit odd, she nodded and said, "Alright, please wait a moment."
Ying Zheng sat down quietly, then looked at the little boy staring at him.
Upon noticing Ying Zheng’s gaze.
The little boy immediately dropped the basketball and ran towards the kitchen.
...
...
At the same time.
Celestial Strategy Mansion Headquarters.
Underground.
After a moment of mutual bewilderment, Chen Lusi and the others, unsure of what to say, stepped out of the underground and returned to Ji Xin’s office.
Mount Tai followed them out.
Although the state of the Goddess of Longevity remained unstable.
But seeing her appearance, one wouldn’t necessarily feel a strong sense of caution.
So there was no need to continue confining Mount Tai.
Then, in Ji Xin’s office.
Mount Tai finally learned about all that had transpired while he was unconscious.
Roman Catholic Church, public accusation, Emperor Shi’s tour...
Listening to Chen Lusi’s account.
He began to gasp frequently, finally fixating his gaze on the Tai’e Sword held by Chen Lusi, motionless.
"Originally, I wanted to ask the Goddess of Longevity if she had any suggestions on this, but unfortunately..."
Chen Lusi concluded, "So for now, we can only take one step at a time."
"Emperor Shi’s tour!"
Mount Tai suddenly snapped out of it, then exhaled deeply: "So where is he now!? Have you found him!?"
"No."
Ji Xin shook her head, replying on behalf of Chen Lusi: "Chen Lusi has just returned, they’re probably arranging things over there. Even if we were to find him, it would still take some time."
Mount Tai: "..."
"Chen Lusi!"
Just then.
The door was suddenly pushed open.
Xia Panqiu, Tang Language, Si Yujie, and others had also returned.
Chen Lusi looked over and then asked: "Is there any situation at the tomb?"
Si Yujie shook her head, then glanced at Mount Tai.
The group exchanged some information.
Afterwards, everyone fell silent.
The current issue is... everyone knows where the problem lies.
But Emperor Shi’s tour, the Goddess of Longevity descending to the mortal realm.
These two matters are quite difficult to handle.
None of them had any leads.
Even Ji Xin had no idea.
Let alone anyone else.
These two matters are too troublesome.
"The current situation..."
After a long silence.
Ji Xin hesitated and said, "It seems we can only wait, find Emperor Shi first, as for the Goddess of Longevity, there’s no choice but to let her be; since her humanity is dominant now, we should let her remain like this for some time first..."
"Ji Xin."
As soon as she finished speaking.
Shanli’s voice came from the doorway.
She stood at the entrance, gently knocking on the open door.
Instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
Ji Xin turned her head, slightly frowning: "What’s wrong?"
"Two matters."
Shanli looked around at the present people, then directly said: "The first matter, according to the intelligence sent back by the personnel from Goryeo, Roman Catholic Church Cardinal Lamar Aihai visited the Mujin New Church, purpose unknown.
It’s only known that the Sect Leader of Mujin New Church personally welcomed him, and they communicated for roughly two hours.
Additionally, rumors in the black market regarding ’Holy Coffin Knight Black Sun Igli Saba, not dying from the trial, he will soon descend to represent the Celestial Kingdom for judgment’ have been growing increasingly rampant lately."
Ji Xin’s delicate brows furrowed tighter: "...Cardinal? Lamar Aihai? That person from the Eastern Church Department?"
"Yes."
Shanli nodded, then took a deep breath and continued: "The second matter... the Security Army has found a man suspected to be Emperor Shi."
Upon hearing this.
The previous news seemed much less important.
Everyone’s movements came to an abrupt halt.
Ji Xin looked at Shanli and immediately asked: "Where?"
"Handan."
Shanli’s expression was a bit strange, she said softly: "Just saw him walk into a noodle shop... However, although the man’s features match the photo, the Security Army is not sure, so they want Chen Lusi to verify."