Chapter 2 Lord of the Nine Provinces
Huang Rong is the daughter of Huang Yaoshi, the master of Peach Blossom Island. She is an excellent cook, and dishes such as beggar's chicken, smoked frog legs, eight-treasure fatty duck, and silver thread rolls are all her specialties!
If they stay by your side, you'll never have to worry about food or drink.
Originally, Ying Xuan planned to travel around instead of going through the border.
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But the system suddenly activated, prompting him to check in at each city to receive a reward. He immediately changed his mind and decided to go to Suizhou City to complete the check-in task.
"What?"
"You want me to be your maid for a year? You..."
Huang Rong's eyes widened, her face blank. She didn't realize that the elegant young man opposite her had already seen through her disguise as a man. In her excitement, she nearly exposed herself and quickly changed her story to cover it up.
"Is there anything wrong with this? Is it putting you in a difficult position?"
"Don't forget, your internal injuries are severe. If I hadn't saved you, you would have been dead in the wilderness long ago."
"If you really want to leave, it's simple. Just take out ten thousand taels of gold, and you can leave right now."
Ying Xuan said calmly.
"Ten thousand taels of gold? You might as well just rob someone!"
Upon hearing this, Huang Rong stared wide-eyed at Ying Xuan, her face filled with disbelief.
She couldn't even produce a hundred taels of gold, let alone ten thousand.
"From what you're saying, you think your life isn't worth that much money?"
Ying Xuan smiled faintly.
Huang Rong remained silent.
"Okay, I promise you, one year!"
A moment later, a determined look appeared on her dark face, and she spoke.
"That's more like it."
Ying Xuan smiled slightly.
The Qin Dynasty, Xianyang Palace.
Deep underground, in a gleaming golden stone chamber, a middle-aged man dressed in a black and gold dragon robe sat on a stone platform.
Suddenly, a phantom figure appeared in the opposite stone wall and slowly spoke: "Your mind is unsettled, which will affect your breakthrough."
"The remnants of the six kingdoms have not yet been eliminated, and the princes are constantly fighting amongst themselves. How can I be at ease?"
A sharp glint flashed in the eyes of the man in the black and gold dragon robe.
"You just focus on breaking through; I can hold on for another six years."
The illusory figure finished speaking in a low voice and then quietly disappeared.
"Six years..."
Qin Shi Huang took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and continued his cultivation.
Two weeks later.
"Young master, we have arrived at Suizhou City."
The guard, Tie Yunying, stepped forward and respectfully reported.
"good."
Ying Xuan dismounted and looked at the city ahead, his eyes filled with anticipation. "I wonder if I can trigger the sign-in reward this time in Suizhou City."
Over the past two weeks, they passed through six cities, four of which were smaller than Qingzhou and did not trigger the sign-in event. Only Linyuan City and Jinhu City, which were comparable in size to Qingzhou, yielded ten bottles of Strengthening and Nourishing Pills and a Five Elements True Qi Sword, respectively.
Tie Yunying walked to the city gate and handed over the documents and tokens.
Shortly afterward, he returned and reported, "My lord, you may enter the city now."
"Squeak—"
The city gate slowly opened, and Ying Xuan rode in on horseback.
"Ding! Congratulations, host, you have arrived in Suizhou City and triggered the sign-in task! Sign in now?"
A system notification sounded in my mind.
Sign in now!
Ying Xuan responded without hesitation.
"Ding! Sign-in successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining five thousand Imperial Guards and Cao Zhengchun, the supervisor of the Eastern Depot!"
"Ding! Congratulations, host, for triggering the Emperor Sign-in Enhancement effect. The current sign-in reward will be enhanced in half a month."
The system notification sounded again.
"Unexpectedly, this sign-in event yielded five thousand Imperial Guards, and Cao Zhengchun was also included as a bonus!"
Ying Xuan felt a surge of joy.
But the time is not right.
Now is not the time to subdue the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Cao Zhengchun. Ying Xuan headed straight for the city tower of Suizhou's main city.
Suizhou.
Inside the city gate tower, in the main hall.
"Meng Tian greets the Ninth Young Master!"
A general in golden armor, exuding an imposing aura, strode forward and bowed to Ying Xuan with clasped hands.
"General Meng, there's no need for such formalities."
Ying Xuan returned the greeting, and the two then took their seats.
At this moment, a figure walked over from the side. It was a handsome young man with an outstanding temperament and a scholarly air. He quickly approached, grasped Ying Xuan's hand, and his eyes were filled with surprise.
"Ninth Brother, so many years have passed in the blink of an eye, and you've grown taller than me now."
"Yes, brother."
Ying Xuan looked at Fu Su and nodded gently.
Among all the princes, Fusu was the only one who always treated him kindly.
In my memory.
Fusu believed in Confucianism and valued loyalty and filial piety, but in the end, he was forced to commit suicide by Li Si and Zhao Gao under the pretense of an imperial edict, resulting in a tragic end.
But now...
He has come into this world, and Fusu's fate will surely be rewritten.
Ying Xuan noticed.
Fusu's cultivation has reached the peak of the Innate Realm!
"Ninth Brother, has Father... emerged from seclusion?"
Fusu looked at Yingxuan, his tone filled with anticipation.
If the Qin Emperor were to leave the pass, he would be entering the realm of terrestrial immortals, which would be a cause for celebration for the entire nation.
"I haven't left the pass yet, and I haven't seen my father for several years."
Ying Xuan answered calmly.
"Your father has not yet left the pass, yet he has sent you to the frontier."
Fusu gazed into the distance, lost in thought, and then said, "It's good that you've come. At least we brothers can spend more time together now."
Ying Xuan responded.
He already had a plan in mind: he would leave in a few days and embark on a journey through the martial world, starting his daily check-in in important cities of the Nine Provinces, the Seven Kingdoms, and many smaller countries.
Now that I possess the "Emperor's Sign-in Enhancement System," I naturally need to make good use of it.
Night was falling.
On the city tower of Suizhou.
Fusu, dressed in a blue robe, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant grassland.
"Young Master, His Majesty has not yet emerged from the pass, yet the Ninth Prince has been dispatched to the frontier to assist you in constructing the Great Wall. This matter..."
Meng Tian bowed and asked.
"I understand. This is because the second and third brothers joined forces to ostracize him. Next, it will probably be the eighteenth brother's turn."
Fusu's tone was calm, yet it revealed a hint of helplessness.
"Surprisingly, Ninth Brother, who has always been considered to have no talent in martial arts, was also targeted by them."
He sighed softly.
"According to the guards who came with the Ninth Prince, he once used his sword energy to kill the accompanying eunuch Li Lianchang. His martial arts cultivation has probably reached the Innate Realm."
Meng Tian's eyes narrowed, and he said in a low voice.
"What?"
Fusu looked up in shock.
"Ninth Brother can unleash sword energy?"
His face was filled with disbelief.
It should be noted that when sword energy leaves the body, it signifies entering the innate realm.
In everyone's eyes, the Ninth Brother's performance in the Qin Dynasty had always been without any foundation, and he had almost been excluded from the list of heirs. Unexpectedly, he was actually quite capable.
Fifty li outside the city.
On a plain behind a hill.
"Your subordinate, Du Yunfei, leads 100,000 Great Snow Dragon Riders to respectfully welcome Master!"
A general dressed in silver armor, holding a silver spear, and exuding a fierce aura knelt on one knee and respectfully bowed his head before Ying Xuan.
Behind him stretched an endless array of cavalry, silent and waiting for orders.
Before them stretched an endless army of silver-armored soldiers, 100,000 men arrayed in perfect formation, their imposing presence reaching the heavens—these were the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry!
"Alright, get up, all of you!"
Ying Xuan spoke to Du Yunfei in a calm tone.
"Yes, Master."
Du Yunfei responded in a low voice.
"Now that I have summoned you, I will tell you the truth: I currently have no food supplies."
"This is beyond the pass, the land of the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu have repeatedly invaded our borders, committing numerous crimes, and must be punished! I order you to set out immediately, attack the Xiongnu, and seize enough provisions for half a month. After half a month, await my orders!"
Looking at the 100,000-strong iron-blooded cavalry before him, Ying Xuan already had a plan in mind.
Snow Dragon Rider.
As long as the Emperor doesn't know that he summoned it, he can receive a power boost every two weeks.
If Du Yunfei can lead these 100,000 people to hold out for half a month, they will be able to achieve a significant increase in strength!
This sign-in reward mechanism is enhanced every half month, and as time goes by, this force grows bigger and bigger like a snowball!
If the military strength is strong enough, not only can we defeat the Xiongnu, but it is also not impossible to bring them under our control and become the ruler of the Xiongnu!
At that time...
Winning the battle, winning the mystery, ah...
"Master, we, the Great Snow Dragon Riders, are born to fight!"
"I will certainly live up to your expectations!"
Du Yunfei's eyes were piercing, and his voice was firm and powerful.
An incomparably sharp aura burst forth from his body!
"Rest assured, Master, we will surely defeat the Xiongnu and return in triumph!"
"Destroy the Xiongnu!"
"..."
One hundred thousand dragon riders roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and earth, revealing their full might!
"Good! I'll be waiting for your victorious return!"
Ying Xuan looked at Du Yunfei and this army of silver-armored soldiers with anticipation in his heart.
The Great Snow Dragon Riders are hailed as the strongest iron cavalry in the world!
He also wanted to see for himself just how strong this legendary cavalry force really was!
"Your subordinate will depart immediately!"
Du Yunfei clasped his hands in a salute to Ying Xuan.
One hundred thousand dragon riders, their iron hooves rolling like a sharp spear, charged straight into the depths of the grassland.
...
Suizhou City.
On the main city tower.
The eldest son, Fusu, and the general, Meng Tian, stood on a high place, gazing into the distance.
"Report!"
A scout rode up at full speed and reported with his hands clasped: "Young Master, General Meng, a mysterious cavalry force of no less than 100,000 men has suddenly appeared behind the hills fifty miles from Suizhou and is heading straight for the heart of the grasslands!"
"What? Mysterious cavalry? Heading straight for the heart of the grasslands?"
"Could they be newly trained elite troops of the Xiongnu?"
Upon hearing this, Fusu frowned.
The Xiongnu had always been a major threat to the Qin Dynasty, repeatedly invading the borders and plundering the people.
The Qin Dynasty built the Great Wall precisely to prevent its invasion.
The Great Wall is still under construction.
If the Xiongnu have indeed trained a new elite cavalry, it is definitely not good news for the Qin Dynasty!
"Keep gathering information!"
Meng Tian gazed into the distance, his expression solemn.
The next morning.
Suizhou City.
In the main hall of the city government.
"What did you say? Ninth Brother, you want to travel the Nine Provinces?"
Fusu looked at Ying Xuan with a face full of doubt.
Meng Tian, standing to the side, also looked puzzled.
"Yes, with you here, we can build the Great Wall. As for defending against the Xiongnu, General Meng will take care of it. As for me, I only wish to travel all over the Nine Provinces in my lifetime and appreciate their magnificent landscapes!"
Ying Xuan said calmly.
His plan was to use the system to check in at cities throughout the Nine Provinces and earn rewards.
Gradually build up strength.
When we are fully grown, not only will the throne of Qin be within our grasp, but the entire Nine Provinces will also be ours!
"this..."
Upon hearing this, Fusu's expression became complicated.
The ninth brother is resolute, but his interests differ from others, and it is difficult to force him to change his mind.
Moreover...
This move may be the best strategy for Ninth Brother to protect himself.
"Brother, the return date is unknown, but I hope we brothers will meet again someday!"
Ying Xuan cupped his hands and bowed to Fusu and Meng Tian.
"Since Ninth Brother has made up his mind, I will not try to stop you any longer. May you have a safe journey!"
Fusu nodded in return.
"Take care of yourself!"
Ying Xuan nodded slightly, then turned and left.
"General Meng, your martial arts skills are superior to mine. Have you been able to discern the depth of Ninth Brother's cultivation?"
Fusu looked at Meng Tian and asked a question.
"Young Master!"
"I hadn't noticed before, but upon closer inspection, I discovered that the Ninth Young Master seems to have never practiced martial arts, which is quite strange."
Meng Tian stared in the direction Ying Xuan had left, his eyes filled with confusion.
He examined him carefully but could not detect any martial arts aura in Ying Xuan!
"Such a thing?!"
Fusu frowned.
Even General Meng couldn't tell that his ninth brother was either far superior to him or truly had no cultivation at all!
As everyone knows, Ninth Brother has no talent for martial arts.
The guard mentioned that he had killed a eunuch with his sword energy.
Could it be...
Was it a misreading by the guards?
The following afternoon.
Suizhou City.
On the boundless grassland.
Sixty miles away.
"Young master, where shall we go next?"
Huang Rong followed closely behind Ying Xuan, who was dressed in white, her brows furrowed slightly.
at this time.
She has changed back into her daughter's clothes.
The one-year agreement would be exposed sooner or later, so she simply showed it to the public.
"To travel across the nine continents, if one cannot explore all the wonders of the world in this lifetime, wouldn't it be a wasted life?"
Ying Xuan gazed into the distance, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Travel the Nine Provinces? That's wonderful! I've always wanted to travel the world!"
A look of joy flashed in Huang Rong's eyes, followed by a hint of suspicion. "Are you really willing to give up your princely position and wander the martial world?"
You need to know.
This is exactly what she has been dreaming of!
"Heh, the position of prince is nothing special!"
Ying Xuan chuckled softly, his gaze distant, and he thought to himself, "I wonder if Du Yunfei has already seized the Xiongnu's supplies?"
now.
He doesn't want to be a member of the royal family.
He is the ruler of the Nine Provinces!
Right now.
The sound of horses' hooves thundered.