9 Chapter 9: Dissimulation is an Art

[Glory City]

[Northern Martial Field]

Ying Zheng continued to walk in the corridors. He already knew where to stay.

Then he noticed a girl coming toward him. She was Xiao Ning'er.

She looked worried and said, "You found someone to fight for you?... The Sacred Family sent three of the strongest in the family."

"This is my fight. I don't need anyone else," said Ying Zheng with a smile. His confidence seems at the top.

"But..." she tries to continue, but he interrupts her.

"You don't need to worry, Young Lady Xiao, I'm strong, and you already paid for my help, remember?" she is a good girl, but a twelve years old kid is yet a kid.

"You're a cute kid."

"Cute..." And she blushed, and after, "What?... Kid?"

'Aren't we both the same age?' She thought.

When she looked over, Qin Shi Huang was already walking to the areas reserved for families. Strangely enough, it was the Sacred Family area.

Arriving at the Sacred Family area, Ying Zheng saw the central chair, walked over to it, and sat down.

The people around couldn't process what was happening. Why was this person in your patriarch's chair?

That is a disrespect of the highest degree, possibly. Doesn't the person know that this is the Sacred Family area?

Body slightly exposed, blindfold in his eyes, black hair, Dragon nails in his hands, and a golden dress worthy of the god of extravagance.

He was the Young Patriarch of the Ying Family.

And the enemy of the Sacred Family in this fight.

Then they heard him say.

"Haò... Hey you, give me a drink," said Ying Zheng while looking at a person.

Strangely enough, the person compiled.

However, someone finally seemed to come out of his stupor and walked up to him. He was Shen Ming, Main Affairs Elder of the Sacred Family.

"Little Patriarch Ying, this is not your area as you may have already realized," said Shen Ming.

'A little kid that doesn't know his place.' He thought.

Ignoring him, Ying Zheng continues to drink a cup of wine.

"Are you ignoring me?" asks Shen Ming. His face was red with rage.

"Oh, the Sacred Family has talents. Your observational skills are Incredibles." Said Ying Zheng with a tone of mockery.

However, before Shen Ming could answer, someone said, "Shen Ming, are you treating our guest well?"

The voice was of the Sacred Family patriarch, Shen Hong.

While he seemed to wonder if Shen Ming treated Ying Zheng well. In reality, he wanted to say, 'What the fuck is going on here?'

Shen Ming knew this. He knows his patriarch.

However, Ying Zheng answered before he did, "Yes, they gave me the best place to sit, plus some drinks."

"Did junior happen to come looking for something?" Shen Hong asks. He doesn't understand the situation right now and needs answers.

"Nah, it's just that the view from here is better," said Ying Zheng quietly.

He realized that the members of the Sacred Family were angry with Ying Zheng.

The kid didn't appear someone normal.

Ying Zheng did all this on purpose.

The basic in any battle is control.

He only makes them angry to see their reactions. If he knows the mind of the enemies, the victory is already a step ahead.

In the past was something he learned. He was only 13 years old, but he already had to fight against people stronger. And more experienced than him.

[Flashback - Ying Zheng Past]

"King Zheng, dissimulation is an art. But is not any art, is the Art of War," said a scholar like a mid-aged man with a long beard.

"If a leader is capable, he should seem incapable. If he is ready, he should seem unprepared."

"Because that is with the weakness that appears the opportunities."

"Remember, a good leader offers a lure to fascinate the enemy who seeks some advantage and to capture the enemy when he is in disorder."

"You need to control the enemy in all battles. Be it strength or mind. If your enemy is proud, provoke him; Is he's humble, then encourages his arrogance; If he's rested, wear him down."

"You need to make him think that all your actions are predictable while predicting his actions."

"Until the point that by the time he realizes his situation... he can no longer change it. Remember this, King Zheng."

"I'll remember, teacher Wu," said a teenager. He is just 13 years old but has to fight against various enemies. He is The King of Qin, Ying Zheng.

"If he is not a powerful enemy?" King Zheng asked.

"Is he not strong or pretending not to be strong?" The scholar Wu returns the question while stroking his beard with a sage-like aura.

"If he indeed is not a powerful enemy... The answer is simple. You need to make sure that he never will be."

"If he has money... cut off the source; If he has a reputation... make it dirty."

"But remember... when someone has nothing left to lose... he is the most dangerous."

"Do you know why?" asks Scholar Wu to King Zheng.

"Because he has nothing left to lose, he will become unpredictable," answers the teenager.

"That's right, so you end up with him. Or leave a path for him to follow. That way, he'll still be in your hands."

[Flashback end]

That's right, Ying Zheng has been controlling Shen Hong since the beginning through dissimulation.

Indeed, he was not afraid, but to say that he did not think about the decisions is far from the truth.

Ying Zheng, at 13 years old, becomes the King of Qin.

The scholars and ministers tried to make him a puppet.

He doesn't have force. Only with intelligence can he outsmart them. He was blind; he was weak, and he was dumb.

Ying Zheng did what was necessary to keep his promise.

But in the final, they received the judgment. From earth, they came, and to it, they return.

However, when he has reached the peak of his strength. This kind of thing is no longer necessary. After all, as an emperor, showing your strength is essential.

Looking at Shen Hong, Ying Zheng was emotionless.

Shen Hong wants power without considering the responsibilities that come with it.

Shen Hong was the same type of leader theses in his past. They bowed to ChiYou, and Shen Hong to the Dark Guild Master.

He can sell the life of all the population if he can control the power.

Ying Zheng despises him.

However, this is not the first and possibly not the last time that Ying Zheng met someone like this.

Looking at Shen Hong, Ying Zheng, with his traditional smile, asked," So, are your fighters ready?"

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1* The conversation between Ying Zheng and the Teacher/Scholar Wu is basically a part of "The Art of War (Sun Tzu)" with some original ideas.

2* Ying Zheng despises Shen Hong but is not simple. He doesn't have hate or something that makes him want to fight with him until death. More like Qin Shi Huang doesn't have minimal respect for him. Compare Shen Hong with Hades and you will understand.