Chapter 33: The Magnificent Flying Vessel

For the princess Yushu of Tu'an, Wang Kun felt only desire, not affection. Besides, in the original storyline, she had already taken the elixir of immortality. Now, naturally, she was the only candidate for testing the medicine. Of course, Wang Kun could not conduct this openly. He planned to find an opportunity at night to personally give her a single pill. If, after a few days, nothing happened, it would prove that the elixir of immortality was indeed as in the original story, truly capable of granting everlasting life.

That night, after the young lady had fallen into an exhausted sleep, Wang Kun took out a pill and let her swallow it. Thus, Wang Kun settled in this secluded paradise, cut off from the world. Meanwhile, outside, because the First Emperor of Qin had not obtained the elixir of immortality, he died at Shacheng that very day. Then, Li Si, Zhao Gao, and others began plotting to install the Second Emperor of Qin.

The reason Wang Kun did not rush to gather troops and overthrow the dynasty after obtaining the elixir was mainly because he did not wish to be stained with excessive bloodshed. Since he had come to this world to alter the storyline, he was destined to walk the path of changing the dynasty. After all, whether as a modern man or one with the backing of a world as advanced as Devouring the Starry Sky, he was not someone who would bow in submission. Although the First Emperor was a ruler for the ages, Wang Kun could never bring himself to give him the elixir and call him emperor.

Yet, Wang Kun had a certain admiration for the First Emperor, so he found it hard to act against him directly. Thus, he decided to wait a while, letting the events unfold. He would let the Second Emperor, Li Si, Zhao Gao, and the rest do what must be done, commit the necessary killings. Then, when the time came, Wang Kun would simply act in the name of justice, eliminating the Second Emperor and his cohorts, thus accomplishing his goal.

As for Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, his two rivals, Wang Kun regarded them as insignificant. Not only had they yet to amass enough troops and power, even if they had hundreds of thousands under their command, it would not matter. Wang Kun could simply take their heads amidst the army, and the vast force would collapse without a fight.

Therefore, Wang Kun was in no hurry to change anything. Each day, he lived a blissful life with two beauties amidst verdant mountains and clear waters—a life like that of immortals. After seeing that Yushu, who had taken the elixir, not only remained unharmed but became even more radiant, Wang Kun understood that the elixir was unchanged by his intervention. That night, he quietly gave Yu Ji a pill as well.

A few days later, while playing in a mountain stream with his two beauties, Wang Kun discovered a small hot spring bubbling with steam amidst the boulders nearby. "A hot spring!" Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a natural spring. By now, it was September, late autumn. From then on, if they wanted to play in the water, it would have to be in the large bathtub inside the cave, heated with a great deal of firewood. But now, having found this hot spring, the matter was perfectly resolved.

The spring was only a few kilometers from his cave dwelling, and Wang Kun could easily travel between the two. Over the next day, he carved out a pool in the hollow using massive stones, then constructed a pavilion above it from stone and timber. He even made a wooden plaque, carving the name "Hot Spring Pavilion" in bold, flowing script. "Done. Now we can soak in the natural hot spring anytime."

For the next half year, Wang Kun enjoyed a life of leisure. Except for occasional trips to Xianyang to gather information, he spent his days roaming the mountains with his two beauties, playing to their hearts' content. When tired, they soaked in the hot spring; when hungry, they prepared local delicacies—a carefree life.

Meanwhile, in Xianyang and throughout the Qin empire, many events unfolded. First, the Second Emperor, assisted by Li Si and Zhao Gao, killed many of his brothers and rebellious ministers, just as in history. Major uprisings erupted in Chu and other regions.

One morning, after returning to Xianyang, Wang Kun felt the time was ripe. He sought out Zhao Kuang, who had already secretly pledged loyalty to him. Perhaps the overwhelming power Wang Kun had shown in the past compelled Zhao Kuang to obey Li Si publicly, but to serve Wang Kun in secret.

"Zhao Kuang greets the Immortal!"
"Zhao Kuang, prepare yourself. Tomorrow, lead your troops into Xianyang. I will assist you in seizing full control of the city. When I establish the new dynasty, you will be founding general."
"I obey the Immortal's command."

Zhao Kuang was visibly excited. Although Li Si and the Second Emperor now controlled Qin, Zhao Kuang's status had risen accordingly. But having witnessed Wang Kun's power firsthand, he knew that, no matter how many troops he commanded—even ten times as many—it would be useless against Wang Kun, who could wipe out a rain of arrows with a wave of his hand. If Wang Kun wished to kill him, he could do so in an instant. Thus, no matter how much power or how many troops he had, it meant nothing.

After a day of preparation, early the next morning, Zhao Kuang led his hundred thousand troops toward Xianyang.
In the imperial palace:
"Report! Prime Minister, Zhao Kuang has mobilized his army and is marching on Xianyang."
"Zhao Kuang? What is he up to? Is he rebelling?" Li Si was both shocked and furious. Recent uprisings had already left him, newly in control of Qin, overwhelmed. Now, Zhao Kuang, his trusted subordinate, had developed ambitions and was heading straight for the city—how could Li Si not be enraged?

Currently, though the emperor was the Second Emperor, real power lay with Li Si and Zhao Gao. The Second Emperor was, in truth, merely their puppet.

After a day's forced march, Zhao Kuang's army reached the outskirts of Xianyang. The city's garrison was also about a hundred thousand strong.

About an hour later, a rustic flying vessel slowly approached Zhao Kuang's army from afar. This flying vessel was crafted by Wang Kun over several days, using a single log with a diameter greater than five meters from the depths of the Qin Mountains. Though nearly ten meters long, its interior was hollow, and the dragon-engraved, phoenix-carved vessel weighed only a ton.

At this moment, aboard the vessel were Wang Kun, Yu Ji, Yushu, and their former maidservant. Wang Kun's open arrival was meant to shock the citizens and soldiers of Xianyang, to ensure that, when the city fell, he could seize it bloodlessly.

Truthfully, throughout the Qin empire, including those rebels of the six former states, all shared the blood of the Huaxia people—they were kin. Unless absolutely necessary, Wang Kun did not wish to cause excessive casualties in the Central Plains. If killing was required, it should be directed northward, against the Xiongnu and other nomads.

"Prime Minister, look—what is that?"
The generals beside Li Si quickly spotted the resplendent dragon-and-phoenix-carved flying vessel approaching the city gates. Those who already believed in the supernatural were utterly astounded.

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