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Lu Zizheng planned to find something else to test the sword's edge, but upon seeing Wang Jian holding a long box with both hands, he immediately understood what was going on. Although this seeker did not explicitly state what was inside, just by holding the long sword in his hand, he could make a rough estimate.
The long sword he held in his hand had no other owner; it was clear that it was a gift from someone. Nodding to himself, realizing it was indeed a present from his senior brother, he naturally hesitated to go looking for something to slash at. It wouldn’t do to let it rust; he would have to wipe it clean before he could sleep soundly. With that thought, he sheathed the sword and hung it at his waist, then opened the box and carefully took out the extraordinary creation inside.
This was an exquisitely designed long sword, and one could estimate its value without even looking inside. Based on the length of the scabbard, he could already tell that it exceeded expectations. If the blade were proportional to the scabbard, this sword presented to King Qin would be at least between eighty-two and eighty-five centimeters long. In other words, this weapon that would accompany the king in battle was the longest Bronze Sword in the world today!
The so-called ornate appearance was no exaggeration; the craftsmanship of the scabbard was meticulous and covered in patterns, seemingly made from some unknown beast's hide. Coupled with the nine round jade stones embedded on its surface, it was clear that just the scabbard alone could buy a substantial piece of land. Its crystal-clear sheen sparkled vividly in the flickering campfire light, highlighting nine soft-colored glimmers. Even someone unfamiliar with such treasures would know that any one of those stones was worth a fortune.
Over the years, Lu Zizheng had traveled through various countries and had seen many precious jewels. Compared to what he saw now, those previous gems seemed like mere stones! It appeared that Wang Jian had put considerable thought into this matter; after all, this was his homecoming gift after more than a decade. This was a matter of attitude; one could not afford to be careless. If one thought anything would suffice or felt proud about reclaiming this legendary family heritage, then they could only blame themselves for living a life of obscurity.
Lu Zizheng did not pull out the sword for personal admiration because there was no need for that. He chuckled inwardly at how thoughtful Wang Jian remained even after leaving the capital for the Wilderness; after years of hardship and neglect, he had still grasped so much of life's frustrations.
But! This is my Great Qin!
Lu Zizheng looked up at his senior brother who was waiting for praise and asked, “Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?”
In these times, good words might sound harsh but could be beneficial for life; lies might sound pleasant but could lead one to ruin. Wang Jian had taken out the gift box early for Lu Zizheng to see because he wanted to hear the truth. After all these years of traveling alone and nearly becoming a wandering ghost several times, he understood well that such hardships were meant to be borne alone; they couldn’t be explained in just a few sentences! If he still couldn’t discern between truth and lies after all these experiences, then all those years would have been wasted!
He knew that fulfilling this Imperial Command mission without fail was precisely when he needed to remain low-key. If he became complacent and forgot who he was because of this success, it would surely lead to disaster! It was precisely because he wanted to hear the truth that he did not rush back to Qin State with his subordinates but instead sought out Lu Zizheng’s whereabouts. Upon learning that Lu Zizheng had gone on official business to Chu State, he immediately took a detour to meet up with him for this very purpose.
"Please, my lord, grant me your guidance! I wish to hear the truth!"
Luzi nodded and did not put the ornate Sword away. Observing Wang Jian's expression, he smiled slightly. Then he removed the long sword hanging at his waist and carefully placed it in the box, closing the lid. Seeing Wang Jian's astonishment, he couldn't help but laugh:
"This is what I wanted to tell you! As for whether it's a trap or not, that's up to you to decide." After saying this, he placed the original owner's items back on top of the box. "I have been traveling through various countries, and carrying a long sword with me is quite inconvenient. How about this? When mass production begins, you can choose one and send it to me."
Until Luzi returned to the Main Tent, Wang Jian remained standing in place, not leaving. What he didn't know was that Luzi truly had no intention of deceiving anyone. This was because at that moment, the entire Qin State was strictly adhering to the Royal Decree to promote frugality, even reducing rations in the Qin Palace's Mess Hall repeatedly.
Although it hadn't yet reached the level of plain tea and simple meals, the previous elaborate dishes had already been replaced with three dishes and a soup. In such an environment, who would dare to indulge in extravagance? What merit do you have!? Engaging in such behavior would be akin to pulling on a tiger's whiskers! If rewards were given only to send you off to an inconsequential department, your life would be completely ruined.
Still hoping to become a general in the future!? Those blacklisted could only dream! But how could one express such thoughts!? One could only come to understand it themselves!
To be honest, Wang Jian initially did suspect Luzi's motives were not pure. With all countries indulging in extravagance, was there any serious business left? He remembered that before leaving Qin State, it was still like this; after so many years away, had the winds changed?
Although everyone knew that continuing down this path was not a good thing, how could such a societal trend be changed by just one or two people speaking out? It required reform from top to bottom rather than bottom to top. As the saying goes, if the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked; this elite leadership team can indeed directly influence the direction of societal trends.
All that these vested interests possess has been granted to them by this nation. If these people do not love their country, how can ordinary citizens bear it? But these are impractical grand principles; what truly matters is still in the hands of those individuals. If one does not understand Expedient ways and go with the flow, who would recognize who you are!?
A gust of mountain wind swept through, causing Wang Jian, who was lost in thought, to suddenly grasp an important truth. Right is always right; no matter how it is written stroke by stroke, it remains correct. Over these years in the Wilderness, he had heard many legends about Qin State; despite its remote location, its national strength had been steadily growing.
If there were no enlightenment from a head of state within this realm, national strength would clearly be impossible to achieve!
It seems that not rushing back home but instead seeking out Luzi was indeed the right decision; through Luzi's performance at the inn, it was evident that the social atmosphere within Qin State had qualitatively changed. A person facing overwhelming odds without fear and speaking with the powerful Chunshen Jun without deference or arrogance—if this doesn't illustrate current issues, then what else could?
At this moment, Luzi paid no attention to what anyone outside was thinking; after all, that was human nature. He was even unaware that his senior brother had already accepted this younger disciple from the bottom of his heart, as this bond was thicker than blood. In truth, it wasn't entirely his fault for not being able to express it clearly; his understanding of this senior brother was limited to what he had learned from documents.
Past excellence does not guarantee that a person remains excellent now, because people can change. It is not just the trials and tribulations over the years that can alter someone; even a few days can change a person's beliefs that they once thought would never be shaken. Especially in this era of material desires, many have long forgotten what faith truly is.
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