Volume Two, The Catalogue of Arms Chapter 101: The Dawn of a New Dynasty

“Boss! The carriage is hitched! When do we set off?” Cai Wu pulled the reins, stopping a spacious carriage just outside the city walls. The weather was cool just past noon, and with November upon them, it was already common to see pedestrians in padded coats during the nights in Central Plains.

Liu Xiaoyi, with deep dark circles under her eyes, slowly emerged from the city gate carrying a bundle. She had barely slept the night before—an uninvited guest had taken to the bed, drunkenly muttering in sleep; the room was small, making rest impossible.

Before dawn, she had attended the enthronement ceremony, a grand spectacle that truly opened the eyes of this rustic Liu. The exertion had drained much of her energy.

The Qin King had ascended the throne, transforming into the Qin Emperor and changing the nation's name to Qin. The Iron Dynasty was no more, replaced by a new Qin Dynasty. Though the Liao family still held real power, after the Crown Prince was severely injured and paralyzed, Empress Xiao chose to retreat with him into the mountains, never to reappear.

Starting today, the people were exempt from taxes for a year, a general amnesty declared, and three days of national celebration followed. Laws were rewritten and proclaimed to the world, and the Qin Emperor’s governance philosophy, once implemented only in his fiefdom, now extended across all Nine Provinces.

Rebellious officials were dealt with decisively. The civil official faction led by Xue Pan suffered a heavy blow; the entire Xue family was uprooted by secret forces. Before Xue Pan’s carriage returned home, it was ambushed midway, with all three hundred inside perishing without exception.

Disciples of the Xun family appeared in various official posts, serving as the Emperor’s aides to stabilize the still tense situation.

Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince Liao Shu was made Crown Prince. The Qin Emperor never sought to monopolize power; for him, the people came first, and the Fourth Prince was always his preferred choice.

The enthronement ceremony lasted four full hours, exhausting everyone involved, including the Emperor himself. While eager to conclude, tradition left little room for change, and scholars from near and far watched intently.

The Emperor was experienced in warfare but unfamiliar with such formalities, feeling dizzy from the ritualistic chants. After descending from the altar, he returned to the palace to rest and declared a three-day holiday for officials to recuperate.

“Are we leaving now? Do we have everything?” Liu Xiaoyi swung herself onto her horse, steadying her nerves, when she suddenly felt a weight behind her—a companion mounting her horse.

Turning her head, she saw a chubby-faced young woman in a brand-new long skirt with a short jacket, looking youthful and adorable but pouting in displeasure.

“Get down! You ride in the carriage!” Liu Xiaoyi commanded.

“No! I’m not used to carriages; they hurt my back!” The girl, having grown up traveling far and wide with the Spirit Conjurer of the Soldier’s Tomb, was accustomed to wearing tight night clothes and riding horses. This girlish behavior was unusual for her.

Her movements were constrained by the long skirt and jacket, unable to move freely, so she clung tightly to Liu Xiaoyi, refusing to let go.

Ma Shan tossed the heavy luggage onto the carriage’s rear platform and waved to Cai Wu. “Brother, everyone’s here. Let’s go.”

Meng Qiaoqiao hadn’t left with her master; this time her master disappeared overnight for unknown reasons and didn’t take her along. Li Jue carried minimal luggage and followed; unburdened, he was content to wander the martial world alone.

The carriage was cramped. Cai Wu urged the horses forward. Inside sat Shangguan Baozi, who had been kicked off the horse by Liu Xiaoyi, now keeping company with Meng Qiaoqiao so the two girls wouldn’t be lonely.

“Liu, are you really trusting that Soldier’s Tomb assassin to come along? Even the Qin Emperor isn’t sure of her background; this could cause serious trouble,” Li Jue said cautiously. Since his close friend’s death, he had become paranoid, always on edge, unsure of what he was guarding against.

From last night’s muttering, Liu Xiaoyi had learned much about the girl—an orphan raised by the Soldier’s Tomb to become a ghost fox scout. But not born there, she had endured endless scorn and ridicule, nearly breaking her young spirit over the years.

This was her first mission, wanting to prove she was as capable as the others. She had tracked all the way to Baiyu Capital, only to be outmatched by the then Qin King and sealed by Mount Zhenyuan.

Fueled by wine, she had cried bitterly, and Liu Xiaoyi, moved, found no rest. “She explained everything last night, she’s safe. Look how skinny she is—she almost choked on her food last night.”

Though Li Jue trusted Liu Xiaoyi, he remained wary of the woman who had attacked the Qin King, keeping a watchful eye on the carriage’s interior. Meng Qiaoqiao quickly befriended the girl.

“Is the Soldier’s Tomb really as exciting as you say? I think the Southern Wilderness is already desolate enough. How much farther south do we have to go?”

“Last time I rode here on horseback, it took six months. Our carriage is slow; maybe by next summer we’ll arrive. Towns near the Soldier’s Tomb love roasted meat—I’ll treat you when we get there!”

“No need. With our wealthy patron, we don’t need to spend a penny. You must work hard to make money at the Soldier’s Tomb, right?”

“They only provide food, no pay—they say I’m too young and can’t be trusted with money. The mission rewards always get taken by my senior brothers and sisters.” Shangguan Baozi’s face showed grievance. She knew her seniors took advantage of her but realized that without this, the Soldier’s Tomb family would cease to exist.

Meng Qiaoqiao, ever restless, couldn’t bear such complaints and poked her head out the window, shouting, “Liu, you have to protect Baozi from now on. When we meet the Soldier’s Tomb people, give them a good beating—they’re too much!”

“Mind your own business! Just don’t cause trouble!” Liu Xiaoyi chuckled dryly. Before departure, an old eunuch had sent several boxes of gold and silver jewelry and even more silver notes, supposedly as travel subsidies from the Qin Emperor but actually seized from the families of former high-ranking officials. Valuable items were handed over to Liu Xiaoyi.

What was on the carriage was only the tip of the iceberg; most valuables were stored in Liu Xiaoyi’s portable space pouch, with some kept at Mount Zhenyuan.

Never having seen such wealth, Liu Xiaoyi felt the horse seemed to slow as if carrying the burden of money itself, her whole body alert at the thought.

In high spirits, the group dashed southward along Central Plains’ official road toward the Southern Wilderness. After over ten days exposed to the elements, Meng Qiaoqiao finally demanded a rest stop in a town.

“I can’t take it anymore! I want food, new clothes, and a bath!” She pouted, refusing to continue sleeping in the carriage. “Look, there’s a town ahead—that’s the one!”

Having grown accustomed to outdoor life, Liu Xiaoyi suddenly recalled the two girls in their group and quickly grasped the situation. Cai Wu steered the carriage toward the town.

Such small settlements dotted the roads between cities, originally places where traveling merchants stopped overnight, gradually growing into towns.

The walls, made of stone and wood, were much lower than those of Baiyu Capital, with no signboards. Its name was unknown.

Ma Shan ran ahead and asked a guard, “Excuse me, whose territory is this?”

The guard, seeing their simple attire, assumed they were mere laborers and paid little attention. Luckily, Liu Xiaoyi rode up, prompting the guard to smile and reply, “This is Huangfeng Fort, the last town before the Southern Wilderness. Welcome, gentlemen!”

With a greedy look in his eyes, Ma Shan snorted and strode inside, leaving the carriage to follow slowly. The guards, busy flattering, forgot to collect the toll.

The small town was modest, with one main street running north to south. Shops on either side were simple and shabby, far from the bustling scene imagined—almost forlorn.

But the two girls thought otherwise. They slipped from the carriage at once, quickly finding the most luxurious inn and renting all the best rooms.

“This place looks like a black market scam. Are we sure it’s safe to stay here?” Liu Xiaoyi scanned the surroundings. Both the innkeeper and waiters were rough men, grinning with fierce, unwelcoming expressions.

“Guests, will you be eating here or lodging overnight?”

“No, just noodles!”

After moving their luggage inside, Liu Xiaoyi chose not to take a separate room but reserved the top-floor suite. The two girls stayed in the innermost room, while the others stayed outside.

For safety, the girls were restricted from ordering much food—just a simple bowl of noodles with a few side dishes.

Staying in such a place meant a near-certain chance of being robbed. Liu Xiaoyi was confident about this group’s appearance and attire, so out of place here, and with heavy chests carried from the carriage, no one would believe they lacked wealth.

“After dinner, I’ll take you to buy some essentials. The others should rest here for now.”

Without looking up, Liu Xiaoyi swiftly finished the wide noodles and immediately went upstairs to survey the surroundings, checking for traps in the inn.

“Boss! Where are we going to explore?” Shangguan Baozi followed like a little tail, watching Liu Xiaoyi block all the traps with wooden blocks, admiring her, “You’re so sneaky! How will they get in now?”

Cai Wu and Ma Shan inspected the carriage and horses in the rear stable. The long journey risked jolts and damage; the luggage was heavy, and a breakdown halfway would be disastrous.

“Old Ma, do you think heading this way will be more fun than the capital? I never got to see Tianming Palace; they finished so fast.”

“Times are tough, as you see. That innkeeper’s fierce aura can’t be hidden!” Ma Shan, older and more experienced in the martial world, immediately sensed the innkeeper was no good.