Chapter Two: The Taoist Profound Clarity

Clutching her child tightly to her chest, the noblewoman let out another mournful whisper. She could not fathom that even before they had reached the State of Zhao, someone was already intent on killing them. Who could possibly want them dead?

Yet, none of that mattered anymore. On the brink of death, everything had lost its meaning.

Boom!

With another dull, violent crash, the roof of the carriage was sliced away by the swords of the masked assassins. The remaining assailants did not hesitate; brandishing sharp blades, they swarmed forward, eager to slaughter those inside and finish their task.

"My Lady, Xiao Huan shall go first!"

In the next instant, streaks of sword energy tore through the air and struck inside the carriage. The maid, who had been by the noblewoman’s side, suddenly lunged forward, shielding the lady and Zhou Qing with her own body. In an instant, a mist of crimson blood swirled through the air.

"Xiao Huan!"

The noblewoman pressed one hand tightly over her mouth, whimpering, her bright eyes filled with boundless terror, disbelief, and a vacant stupor. With her other hand, she clutched the infant Zhou Qing to her bosom once more.

Following that, despite the maid's sacrifice, those destined to die would die. A moment later, more sword energy descended. A flicker of resolve crossed the mother’s eyes as she curled her body around Zhou Qing, shielding him completely with her own frame.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The sword energy struck. How could a mortal body withstand it? In an instant, as the blades tore through her, Zhou Qing was left in a daze. He felt the lingering warmth of liquid on his face and the encroaching chill of death.

At that moment, Zhou Qing lost all hope of survival. Having arrived in this world in a haze, to die in a haze now—perhaps that was a complete ending.

Hum! Hum! Hum!

His small, naive eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of resolve crossing his face. Would these damned assassins not even spare a child? They were truly beasts!

However, after waiting for several breaths, he felt no further strikes from the killers. Had they changed their minds? Had they seen he was but a child and decided to let him live?

The surroundings fell into an eerie silence. Sensing this, he cast a glance from the corner of his eye. The next moment, Zhou Qing’s eyes widened in shock. Under the dim sky, as far as he could see, the black-clad men seemed to be gripped by an invisible force, all of them hovering in mid-air.

"Zhao Wang!"

From the depths of the void, an ethereal, ancient voice resonated. Following this, a figure shimmering with faint, mysterious light appeared before Zhou Qing. Glancing at the assassins suspended in the air, the figure waved a hand, and they were instantly extinguished into nothingness.

"Alas, you were born into a chaotic era. I know not whether saving your life today is a blessing or a curse."

Reaching out, the figure used an invisible force to lift Zhou Qing from his mother’s embrace and cradled him gently. The man muttered to himself, looking at Zhou Qing’s bright, sparkling eyes, and couldn't help but smile faintly.

"Perhaps, it is better to live, after all."

Every life is a gift from the Way; death is the end of every life, and it is his ultimate destination. Perhaps this was all he could do.

With mysterious light shimmering around him and crystalline Daoist essence permeating the air, he took a step and vanished from the blood-stained scene.

***

The next day, in a secret location within Xianyang City.

"Reporting to my Lord, Young Master Xiang and Young Master Hai have perished. None of their companions survived."

A man dressed in black bowed and spoke.

"And what of Young Master Qing?"

Opposite him stood an elderly man in fine silks, his hands behind his back, radiating the faint, imposing pressure of a superior. Hearing the reply, he raised an eyebrow and asked.

"It appears he was taken away by a powerful individual. According to the evidence at the scene, his mother, Lady Zhou, and the maid are both dead, but Young Master Qing is nowhere to be found."

The man in black spoke in a low voice, his head bowing instinctively.

"Useless, all of you are useless! Is this how the Net handles things? I spend so much money on them every year, yet they cannot even complete a simple task. Tell your superiors that even if they must deploy a Heaven-grade assassin, they are to find Young Master Qing and finish the job."

"Of the five princes left by the late King, Young Master Qing is missing, and Young Master Zheng has already claimed the throne. The only one who could pose a threat to Zheng is the Lord of Changan, but that is only a matter of time."

"You may withdraw."

The elderly man in silk looked deeply displeased, extremely dissatisfied with the Net’s results. Despite the failure, the two older princes were dead. Even if Young Master Qing survived, it was no great matter; by the time he grew up, Young Master Zheng’s position should be secure. The only real threat was Chengjiao, the Lord of Changan. His identity was a bit troublesome, but only a bit.

***

"Junior Uncle Xuanqing, run! If Master Chisongzi catches you, you're going to be in trouble!"

This was a mountain range deep within the Ba Commandery of the Qin State. Countless towering trees stood in every direction. Although the sun was high, the depths of the forest remained shrouded in thick, swirling white mist—truly a magnificent sight.

In an open area within the mountains, a cluster of ancient buildings spanned several miles. They were built against the ridges in an orderly fashion, complete with pavilions, terraces, and towers. Brooks murmured through the grounds, and cranes circled overhead.

Expansive bamboo forests swayed in the breeze, lush and verdant. Looking down, one could see figures walking along the paths, with clear, resonant voices occasionally drifting through the air.

At this moment, however, the sounds of shouting and laughter dominated. On a path paved with stone stairs winding through the building complex, a small figure was running at full speed, covering several meters with every stride.

Not far away, the young men who witnessed this scene burst into laughter. Seeing the phantom-like figure chasing the small child, they shouted loudly, as if this were a common occurrence.

Ten breaths later, the commotion ended as the small child was plucked up by one hand.

"Hehe, Senior Brother, you caught me again! I didn't do anything this time, I didn't even kill the white crane you raised!"

The small figure was a child of no more than four or five years old, with red lips, white teeth, and a handsome face. Clad in a well-fitted Daoist robe with his smooth, long hair tied back, he felt the strength of the hand on his back and turned around with a giggle.

"Hmph, I know you didn't do anything. But why did you run when I called you? Master Beiming has been in seclusion for years. Before he entered, he entrusted your training to me."

"Junior Brother Xuanqing, you are gifted. At three, you mastered the scripts of the Seven States, and in the past two years, you have read many of the classics in the Pavilion. Counting the time, it is time for you to learn the cultivation techniques passed down by our Founder."

"Only by cultivating the Founder’s methods can you better comprehend the mysteries of heaven and earth, understand the changes in all things, and perceive the ways of the world, in the hope of reaching the realm our Founder once attained!"