A Wonderful Journey

"Since I am the descendant of the Overlord, I am also considered a descendant of the one who overthrew your dynasty. Why do you want me here?" Chu Lian had always been puzzled as to why this man would want her in this place. She thought that those who wanted to see him should be kneeling and showing their humility for him to choose to meet them.

"You see, aren't you influenced by history again, thinking that I am that kind of person? Winning the hearts of the people to win the world is not something only a wise king can understand. I am the one who ended centuries of war and achieved an unprecedented unification. How could I be so incompetent? Besides, I have decided to let go of this world, so what does it matter to me who the country belongs to?" He shook his head, a slight smile on his lips as he replied.

"I had you come here just to meet an old acquaintance. Everything else is just incidental," he said, swirling the wine in his cup and gazing into Chu Lian's eyes.

"Hmm? I won't believe that. Tell me, what do you want, or rather, what do you want me to do for you?" Chu Lian pouted, not swayed by his words, and seriously asked him.

"Haha, as expected, I can't hide it from you. But I don't want to hide it either. This matter, whether you do it or not, has no loss for me. However, if you do it, the benefits to you will be tremendous." Putting down the wine cup, Ying Zheng stood up and looked out the wooden window with his hands behind his back.

Hearing this, Chu Lian became a bit curious. No benefit to him, but many benefits to her—could this really be Qin Shi Huang? "Are you perhaps someone impersonating Ying Zheng? That man wouldn't be this easy to get along with, giving away benefits is truly strange."

Cough, cough. "I am Ying Zheng. I've said it before, you've always been measuring me against the Qin Shi Huang in history books, so of course, I seem different." This was the third time repeating this topic. Why was she so stupid, always looking at him through the lens of historical records?

"There must be a reason behind every rumor. If history is written this way, then there must be a basis for it," Chu Lian stretched lazily, replying casually. "I know you are not the same as your historical image, but I just don't believe it. Bite me if you can! Hmph."

Having been pulled into this place, teased for no reason, drank a cup of wine, and slept, the bad mood she had was all relieved with that hum.

"Hey, you little girl, do you know that these words can't be said casually?" She just said it out of tsundere nature, not expecting the man to take it seriously. In a flash, he was in front of her, lifted her chin with two fingers, and gazed into her face as he spoke, "If I were to really take you here, what would you do to me?"

"Me? I would treat you with all my heart and then look for an opportunity to kill you in the future." Chu Lian was not afraid of his gaze, her eyes calm and unwavering as she smiled gently.

"You appear gentle but are surprisingly fierce. As expected of a descendant of the Overlord, you have seven-tenths of your ancestor's style." He laughed and released his fingers, once again placing his hands behind his back. Looking at her face, still with a gentle smile, he sighed.

"I don't know if Xiang Yu is my ancestor, but I know I will never submit. No matter how he was, this is just my nature; not many like me, and many dislike me." She wasn't talking about this life but about her previous life. In this situation, her memory once again returned to her former self.

"Haha, regardless of others, I quite like your nature. If it weren't for the fate with your ancestor, I might truly have decided to keep you as my consort." Ying Zheng's gaze became strange, his tone changing as well.

Sensing the atmosphere was off, Chu Lian quickly changed the topic, "Didn't you say you wanted me to do something for you? Speak, what do you want me to do?" Her words were tough, but if she really were tainted, she would immediately go berserk. Regardless of whether she could win, she would act rather than endure to the end. Besides, she didn't like staying in this place; it was too stifling.

"Very well..." Ying Zheng turned away, no longer looking at her, and said, "Help me find the descendants of Liu Bang's family. Once you find them, just let me know. They possess something from your ancestor, left when she took her life at the Wu River. It is because of this item that you have had to conceal your identities. If you can retrieve it, you might be able to recreate the momentum of the Overlord and perhaps once again dominate the world."

"What use is that item to me? This is the age of technology, not an age of force. No matter how strong, one cannot conquer the world." Chu Lian pressed her lips, suppressing her excitement, casually dismissing the item.

"Haha, you understand your own matters, I needn't say more. If you wish to find them, know these three things." Ying Zheng laughed, unconcerned with Chu Lian's denial, and continued with how to find Liu's descendants.

"First, the Liu family, due to the chaos of the Three Kingdoms, chose to conceal their identity, blending into the common people. But because they possess the imperial treasure of the Han and your Xiang family's treasure, their development could not be halted. Perhaps by now, they are one of the most powerful hidden clans in the world."

"Second, they failed in the north back then, so if they were to conceal themselves, it would surely be in the south, especially in the Jiangnan region. To ensure their development, they would have compromised with the rulers of various dynasties, choosing a weighty responsibility that no one dares act recklessly against, yet beneficial for their growth. From this point, their greatest likelihood is to become, like me, the guardians of the otherworldly gates or rifts."

"Third, because they hold the Xiang family's treasure, they are mystically connected to you. When the descendants of these two families meet, the Liu descendants will certainly become your captives, an inevitable fate. So, if you encounter someone with an inexplicable obsession with you, pay attention to them."

Ying Zheng spoke one by one on how to find Liu's descendants, and Chu Lian silently memorized them. Gradually, a figure appeared in her mind, her eyes narrowed, and she whispered, "Is it you?"

"Oh, do you already have a certain candidate?" Ying Zheng's power was immense, and he heard her soft murmur clearly, asking with interest.

Shaking her head, Chu Lian didn't reveal the person. "I'm not sure about this person; perhaps there's someone more suitable who hasn't appeared, and I'm just overthinking it."

"I am not worried you won't find them. I am only concerned you might fall for them. Although you claim to like women, I am not convinced," Ying Zheng's voice pierced her heart like a sharp sword, driving her to fury.

"You like men, your whole family likes men, I only like women, women, women! Men are disgusting creatures that should stay far away. Touching me makes me sick. I would never choose a man, even if it meant death, absolutely not!" This near-roaring declaration stunned Ying Zheng, realizing he had inadvertently touched a nerve.

Ignoring Chu Lian's disrespectful words, he apologized, "I am truly sorry. I spoke without thinking, my mistake. I shall drink as punishment." Unsure of how to show sincerity, he found it strange that he had done things he never thought he would, only before this little girl.

Sitting back with a huff, Chu Lian watched him down cup after cup of wine, feeling her anger dissipate. She knew he didn't mean it. In her heart, she understood that the other "Chu Lian" was normal. Unlike her, who was once male and became female without shedding some initial traits.

Liking the opposite sex is a woman's natural state; any deviation like same-sex attraction is shaped by societal changes. Her burst of anger seemed irrational, without cause.

"Well, now that your anger is gone, my time here is nearly up. Return and remember what was said, and remember your origins." Ying Zheng put down his wine cup, gazed into her eyes for a moment, then waved his hand.

As his words ended, the space around Chu Lian turned a blazing white, and she disappeared into the light.

"Big sister, you're awake? It's almost six o'clock. We need to gather." As she opened her eyes, Chu Chu's voice reached her ears. She squinted to see the three girls beside her, their eyes all on her.

"Lian, let's go." Holding her right hand, Inori said.

"We can't be late again, Chu Lian, or the teacher will really want to have a chat with you," Li Xiuer's timid voice sounded before her.

Seeing this scene, Chu Lian felt a sense of surrealism, as if the hours spent with Qin Shi Huang were just a dream. Why did it feel so real?

In her ear, the man's voice echoed, clear as day, as if whispering next to her: "This is not a dream, not fake."

Fine, he had indeed been speaking just now; she had only been overthinking due to some literary flare.

Waving her hand at her ear to dispel the voice, she gave the girls a gentle smile, "Now that we've rested, let's head back. We have to catch a flight to Tai'an tonight. I'm so tired."

At her words, Inori smiled softly, taking her hand to lead the way, with Chu Chu and Li Xiuer tidying up before following behind.

Crossing out of the seemingly isolated space, their figures returned to people's view. Many were curious about their sudden appearance, yet they ignored everyone and gradually walked away.

Another unique journey, at least for Chu Lian, was quite intriguing.