Chapter 19: A Distant Past (I)

On top of walls made of earth and wood stood a man. The wall was a construction that tried to protect the empire from possible enemies. Its wall in the future came to be known as "The Great Wall of China."

This man at the top of the walls wore noble attire, and his face was handsome enough to cause wars among the young ladies. Moreover, his body looked like a warrior's body, which was rare. Since noblemen usually did not fight, they became scholars.

This man was the current Qin emperor. He was born Ying Zheng, a prince from the Qin State. At the age of thirteen, he became Qin's Emperor, and in only 25 years, he had control over all the Warring States.

Qin Shi Huang's lips curve in a saddened smile.

He can see mountains and feel the people around him. He doesn't feel any pain at this moment, only calm.

He doesn't say it to the other people. But after his victory against the Demon God of War, Chi You, he feels his body is getting weaker each day.

Maybe poison... or a curse, he doesn't know. But he remembers Chi You said he is seeing him in one year.

He won't accept this.

He can't... He can't accept this...

It is not attachment to life that makes him want to live. It is a fact that he has not yet fulfilled his promise.

His sons don't seem to fit the position of Emperor. The people have started to have peace right now, and if he dies, he knows that it is possible for all the people that are afraid of him, came to try to rebel.

Looking to the beautiful horizon, Qin Shi Huang smiles and says, "The emperor's essence is to have the earth at his feet and the heavens at his back."

The people around him look to him, some with admiration and others with submission.

Prime Minister Li Si bowed his head and said with admiration, "The duty of an emperor is the greatest among men, Your Majesty."

Li Si supports Qin Shi Huang for twenty years. He has enormous respect and admiration for him. As someone that believes in meritocracy, he doesn't really like him in the past. But, at the time, he feels that don't exist person that deserves the throne more than Qin Shi Huang.

Qin Shi Huang smiles and says, "Li Si, I need your help. I'm going to travel around all the China... I want that you could control the state for this time and keep the others in check."

"But, Your Majesty... I don't deserv..."

However, Qui Shi Huang speaks before he could end, "If you don't believe in yourself, believe in my decision."

"So please, I don't know if I'm capable, but I will try to be worthy of the trust." Although he didn't understand the reason. He preferred to trust. His emperor was always like that. He would make decisions quickly and already determine what to do. Li Si just had to be good enough so that Qin Shi Huang would have one less worry. At least was what he believed.

The other officers and some of their children were standing around and trying to understand the situation. Which journey? Why now, after conquering all the Warring States? And why leave Li Si in power? Many questions, but nobody dared to ask.

At that moment, Qui Shi Huang had already made up his mind. He would continue to walk the emperor's path. He would do everything to maintain that peace, even if he had to live in a struggle.

Because of this, he decided. He needs to destroy the enemies of the empire, and the better strategy is to attract these enemies and make them reveal themselves.

In this way, Qin Shi Huang went to travel around China, seeing the roads and the rivers, the mountains, and the towns.

Meanwhile, rumors began to spread throughout China that the emperor was seeking the elixir of immortality. Other people began to infer that this search for the elixir of immortality was because the emperor was dying.

This gave an opening for those who were hiding to try to return to the power they once had. The Princes, ex-kings, and military representatives from the states of Han, Zhao, Yan, Wei, Chu, and Qi organized a meeting to try to come back to power.

At a table, sitting together these people that before were the most powerful in their countries. A young King from the Chu, in the past one of the biggest states, looked around and arrogantly started the meeting.

"I believe that all of us know the reason for this meeting, Qin's King is dying. As the major force, I believe that we should attack him quickly."

Ex-King from Wei looked serious and asked, "Are you sure about this?"

The majority have the same seriousness. However, some young lads looked arrogantly and confident.

The young King of Chu said, "Of course, I have spies in the cities, and all of them have said the body of King Zheng is weaker each day..."

Hearing Chu's words, the others nod. The rumors about the Emperor's health had indeed spread. However, the Emperor of Qin was never an ordinary person, maybe had already found the elixir of immortality, or maybe he is just hiding his power. The strategists don't know what to think.

The young king Chu seized the moment and continued, "I heard that he will be passing by Chu's borders in the next 9 months... I believe it would be interesting to attack him at this time."

At this moment, a burst of crazed laughter echoed thought of the room.

"ARE ALL OF YOU CRAZY?" Shouted the elder ex-king of Yan while looking around.

He continued, "Don't you know that he killed that? That was not something that mortals could be against, it was Demon... Just being near it made me feel like I could die at any moment..."

"And right now, are you saying that I need to fight against this man? The man that killed this Demon? Are you crazy?" His expression was in disbelief.

"THIS MAN IS A MONSTER... I don't know if he is a God or Demon, but he is not a normal human."

Apart from the surprise of many at the shouting, few really knew what he was talking about, and only he had actually seen Demon God of War, Chi You.

"I remember my father commenting on the God of War... but I don't believe that he is all that... Obvious, if he really existed." Said the young King of Chu.

"Are you serious?" Asks the ex-king of Yan in disbelief.

"Of course." Answer the young lad.

"Right, I don't gonna participate in this suicide... I still have my family to protect." He said while beginning to leave the room.

Some others followed him and nodded.

The young king the Chu waved his arm and ignored the situation, "Fools... Let's continue discussing."

Ex-king of Yan also ignored him and simply left.

"Right, if we attack, we will win... We have all the best armies, we have the best military strategies, and we have more territory knowledge than Qin. So why should we fear him? Seriously... do all of you really fear him that much?" Said the Chu arrogantly.

However, nobody answered. They didn't know what they were supposed to answer.

Even if all of them were together, they don't have any confidence to take on Qin Shi Huang at his peak.

They were not as crazy as the Chu.

From there, they planned to test Qin Shi Huang's strength, and the best way would be to send suicide assassins.

But life... is a little box of surprises.

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Sorry...

My initial plan was to publish chapters on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and maybe if I have some extra time, Saturday and Sunday.

But I have some opportunities for an Internship interview these days (Monday and Wed) and I need to do the priorities.

I write this novel, because I really like it, and is not a obligation. But I feel sorry because I promise a new chapter and I don't do it. Maybe you really hope for a new chapter and I don't publish, because of this, I'm really sorry.

I try to make a moment that he reviews his past, as a dream and is an opportunity to explain some things about the past from Qin Shi Huang, I believe that in the next chapter he is wake up, and the 'storyline' starts again.