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Bronze Armor
墨書 Inktalez
On a night of pouring rain, thunder rumbled throughout the area. The intense flashes of lightning occasionally illuminated the room, which was as bright as day, making the existing frustration in their hearts feel even heavier. The two people sitting on the floor completely ignored the delicious food on the table, staring at each other without blinking, and not one of them attempted to break the silence.
Even with the eaves providing some shelter, large raindrops occasionally splattered through the window. A cool breeze swept in, causing the beads of sweat on their foreheads to vanish instantly. Just as they were about to enjoy the refreshing air, an embarrassing rumble from someone's stomach broke the tension.
If it weren't for the thunder outside and the sound of rain hitting the leaves, one could hear a pin drop in the quiet room. Luzi stifled a laugh, trying to hold it in, his face turning red before he finally burst into laughter.
"You lost!" Zichu remained expressionless despite his hunger, as if this moment of victory had nothing to do with him.
Luzi tried to suppress his laughter and raised his hand to concede. Then he grabbed a cup from the table and used his sleeve to shield it as he took a drink. Before he could set down the cup, Zichu pointed at him boldly.
"I say, Luzi! Since we are brothers, let's just drink without all these mundane formalities!"
Luzi nodded and clasped his hands under his chin, carefully studying the person across from him. Ever since he received King Zhao's orders to come from Wei State to gather information about Zichu, who was being held as a hostage in Zhao Country, their meetings had mostly been private. After all, Zichu's identity as a Proton was still quite sensitive at this time; avoiding unnecessary trouble was only logical.
Zhao Xiang Wang was getting old, over seventy years of age and already part of the longevity crowd. With Prince An Guo about to ascend to the throne, Zichu seemed completely unaware of this fact. There has always been only one throne throughout history; this was an undeniable truth. If he did not plan early and let others take advantage of it, he would only end up dying in a foreign land.
Feeling uneasy under Luzi's gaze, Zichu lowered his head and took a drink to cover up his discomfort before asking, "Brother, why are you so concerned about me? Are you planning to sell me off?"
Luzi rubbed his forehead and looked into Zichu's eyes. "Your Highness! Have you ever considered the throne?"
Is it really appropriate to bring up such a sorrowful topic during a meal? Zichu grumbled internally but did not voice his thoughts. Instead, he picked up his chopsticks and began eating heartily. At this moment, not only was returning to inherit the throne out of reach; even leaving Zhao Country seemed like a distant dream. He remembered how he had been mocked when he first arrived as a Proton. The promised living supplies seemed to have been cut off by someone; even having three meals a day became a problem. Had those back home forgotten that there was still a Royal Family here or were they simply planning to abandon him altogether?
It wasn't entirely unreasonable for Zichu to feel despair about his current situation; there is no greater sorrow than feeling abandoned. From having no worries in childhood to now struggling for basic necessities constantly reminded him that he had been forsaken. Surviving until now was already fortunate; if one day war broke out between the two countries, being a Proton would merely make him a pawn for sacrifice!
“Luzi is joking about the little brother again!” Zichu finished eating and, feeling satisfied, put down his chopsticks, wiped his hands, and asked, “Is the bet we made still valid?”
“Of course!” Luzi clapped his hands and called in the craftsman who had been waiting outside for a long time. He stood up and handed a longsword to Zichu. Waving his hand to signal his subordinates to leave, he said, “This is the treasured sword newly forged by the craftsman at my command. Please take a look, Your Highness.”
At this moment, Zichu was like a fallen noble without a home. If it weren't for Luzi's support, he would probably be begging on the streets now. As the saying goes, one cannot bite the hand that feeds them; since they met, he had always referred to himself as the little brother. Besides, even if he were of royal blood, what could it matter? A phoenix in distress is no better than a chicken! This was the first time he heard this self-proclaimed minister speak with such pride.
The identity of the Royal Family inherently made one feel superior. Regardless of whether he wore clothes worth only a couple of silver coins or adorned himself in gold and silver, that innate sense of superiority would inevitably show itself even when suppressed. This is what is known as temperament; a person’s worth is enhanced by their attire just as a horse is complemented by its saddle.
As Zichu drew half of the sword from its sheath, it gleamed with a chilling light, causing him to shiver involuntarily. The fire that had long been extinguished within him suddenly flared up as he exclaimed, “Indeed, it is a treasure! If I, Great Qin Soldier, could possess this item, wouldn’t conquering the world be effortless?” Just as he spoke, he suddenly realized that the surrounding atmosphere was inappropriate and quickly fell silent. He hadn’t enjoyed such luxury yet; speaking carelessly could lead to serious trouble. Clearing his throat, he changed his words:
“I am afraid I have had too much to drink today; what I just said was merely drunken talk.”
Luzi nodded with a smile, secretly sighing to himself that he truly was of Royal Family lineage! Always talking about conquering the world; it seemed all your dreams were placed upon him! Seeing Zichu’s face show signs of fear, he assured him that this place was absolutely safe. “No worries! If you have such intentions, I shall certainly do my utmost!”
This statement carried deeper meaning and was straightforward; if one continued to feign ignorance, it would lose its significance. Opportunities are fleeting; if one cannot seize them at critical moments, they have no right to blame their misfortune. Zichu sheathed the sword and squinted at Luzi, who appeared confident. He tentatively asked, “Luzi, do you have any brilliant plans?”
As someone with a secret mission, Luzi could not provide Zichu, who still held the identity of Proton, with any real information about his responsibilities. It wasn’t that he couldn’t speak; rather, he simply didn’t want to at this moment. He had many thoughts in mind, including plans for the future. As long as the plan was flawless, it would only be a matter of time before success came. But now was not the time to reveal anything; what he needed most was time.
Seeing that his companion did not respond, Zichu’s recently ignited ambition instantly faded into nothingness. Despite being a Proton, he still had some understanding of martial arts as part of his family’s legacy. Even though he hadn’t explored this topic in years, some knowledge remained ingrained in him. Only martial artists could bring peace to the world; moreover, this was an era where many heroes vied for power. Having another such divine weapon would be akin to adding wings to a tiger.
Looking down at the sword in his hand, he couldn’t help but let out a long sigh. He coughed twice to shake off earlier thoughts and changed the subject: “Since it was Luzi who lost earlier, does that mean this is the treasure mentioned by my elder brother?” Seeing Luzi nodding in agreement made him smile and say, “I am but a tiger in a cage; what use is there for me?”
Luzi did not intend to reveal everything but instead asked, “What if it could be mass-produced?”
Hearing this, Zichu couldn't help but be greatly shocked. It was indeed as Luzi said; the future would be limitless. "What do you mean?"
Luzi quietly waited for a rumble of thunder in the sky to fade away, then suddenly revealed a mysterious expression and smiled, "Brave Old Qin, let us face the national crisis together! Your Highness! I have come this time to bring you back to the country to ascend the throne!"
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