Chapter 005: Die First

Throughout the journey, the steward did not dare to delay even for a moment; aside from sleeping, relieving oneself, and changing horses at the relay stations, all the time was spent on horseback. After a long and dusty journey, we finally arrived at Sand Dune City on the evening of the tenth day

Before this person could finish speaking, the expression on the chief steward's face had already changed. He stared at the newcomer and said, "How many days have you been out? Where should the ceremonial retinue be at this time?"

The remaining subordinates of the Grand Steward were left in place, at a loss. Although these individuals were all practitioners of the Way, the current Shacheng City resembled a royal palace, and without the guidance of the inner palace attendants, no one dared to enter the inner city on their own. Due to the severity of the Qin laws, they also did not dare to privately inquire with the Imperial Guard about what had happened, and could only circle around the city gate. Among these individuals, only Wu Mian had a rough idea: could it be that the First Emperor had indeed undergone some change and was not long for this world?

Not long after, the chief sorcerer reappeared in the inner palace, but his face was pale, and his body trembled slightly. Several court sorcerers hurriedly gathered around him, and after whispering a few words together, the faces of those court sorcerers also turned pale.

About an hour later, a eunuch finally emerged from the city of Shacheng. The onlookers paid no attention to anyone else, only inquiring by name about Wu Mian, and then took him into the city. Along the way, no matter how Wu Mian tried to subtly ask questions, the eunuch remained silent. Finally, when pressed for an answer, he said: "A great thing, a tremendous good fortune. Your chief steward has chosen you to serve His Majesty, not everyone has such a blessing."

The steward personally held a tray containing six small porcelain vials. After glancing at Wu Mian, the steward turned to look at the five terrified villagers and said: "Each of you may choose one vial; inside is an elixir of immortality. After consuming it, you will attain eternal life, living as long as the heavens. Such a tremendous fortune is being offered to you, so why not come and take it?"

After the steward finished speaking, no one came to collect the medicine. The steward raised an eyebrow, just as he was about to lose his temper, Wu Mian coldly said: "Steward, I am also a practitioner. Is it not against the rules to let me test the medicine?" Wu Mian had the elixir given by Xu Fu under his tongue, making his speech somewhat unclear. Fortunately, the steward of the practitioners thought that Wu Mian had lost his voice due to shock, and thus did not pay much attention to it.

At this moment, the inner court was bustling with activity, with people constantly coming and going. Apart from the chief minister of the Taoist priests, Wu Mian recognized only a few court Taoist priests and the medical officials from the Xianyang Palace. At that moment, Li Si, whom he had seen not long ago in the preaching hall, also appeared in the inner court. He was now covered in dust and grime, showing no trace of the Prime Minister of the Qin Empire. After entering the inner court, he paid no attention to anyone and was immediately taken into the inner chamber by a eunuch.

Upon arriving at the sand dune, everyone realized that a significant event had occurred. The city of the sand dune was surrounded both inside and out by the Emperor's Imperial Guard. Fortunately, a eunuch had been waiting at the city gate. Upon seeing the arrival of the chief alchemist and his entourage, without a word, he pulled the chief alchemist to change horses and then galloped towards the city.

The Imperial Guard behind the chief steward charged forward, launching a flurry of punches and kicks at Wu Mian. In the midst of the chaos, Wu Mian poured the elixir from the porcelain bottle into his mouth, crushing it together with the pill he had pressed under his tongue. He swallowed it along with the blood in his mouth.

Seeing that Wu Mian did not take the medicine from above, the chief steward let out a sinister laugh and said, "Do you want a few military officers to personally feed you?" As he spoke, several Imperial Guards standing behind took a step forward. Judging by their stance, if Wu Mian resisted, these Imperial Guards would come over to pry open his mouth and force the elixir down his throat

From the meaning of this person's words, he should be the station manager in charge of the carrier pigeons at the post station. However, it is unclear what has happened, as the chief steward's expression has turned quite grim. He no longer pays attention to Wu Mian, inquiring about the location of the station manager Sha Qiu, and sends his subordinates to borrow a few swift horses from the nearby government office, using his official seal as a guarantee. Accompanied by his subordinates and Wu Mian, he rushes towards the direction of the sand dune indicated by the station manager.

A person rushed to the side of the chief of the sorcerers, glanced at Wu Mian still lying on the ground along with the surrounding crowd. After hesitating for a moment, he leaned close to the chief's ear and whispered a few words.

Upon hearing these words, Wu Mian was greatly alarmed. Seizing the opportunity while the eunuch was not paying attention, he took out the elixir of immortality hidden in his sleeve and quietly placed it in his mouth, pressing it with his tongue. Fortunately, the quality of the elixir was solid, preventing it from melting in his mouth, and from the outside, it was not apparent that Wu Mian had a foreign object concealed in his mouth. After turning a corner, he found himself in front of the official residence in Shadune City. At this moment, the official residence was already surrounded by the Imperial Guard. After the eunuch displayed his waist token, he led Wu Mian into the inner court.

A burning sensation spread down the esophagus, radiating outward. Moments later, the punches and kicks from the Imperial Guard had lost their effect on Wu Mian, and a wave of weakness washed over him. He lay motionless on the ground, blood flowing continuously from his seven orifices. In an instant, his breathing ceased. At the very moment Wu Mian stopped breathing, a voice with a hoarse tone shouted loudly from the inner chamber: "Your Majesty has..." This sentence was abruptly cut off. A wave of bloody air spread from the inner chamber. Then, another voice emerged: "Your Majesty's health has recovered. By order of His Majesty the First Emperor, we shall set out tomorrow, and the route for the inspection remains unchanged..." In an instant, his breathing ceased. At the very moment Wu Mian stopped breathing, a voice with a hoarse tone shouted loudly from the inner chamber: "Your Majesty has..." This sentence was abruptly cut off. A wave of bloody air spread from the inner chamber. Then, another voice emerged: "Your Majesty's health has recovered. By order of His Majesty the First Emperor, we shall set out tomorrow, and the route for the inspection remains unchanged..."

The messenger approached the Chief Steward respectfully and said: "This humble servant received a message via carrier pigeon this morning. The coded message indicated that the ceremonial procession has already departed from Pingjin. Based on the date and distance, if the Chief Steward rides swiftly to Shaqiu, as long as the horse is fast, Your Excellency will meet the procession in Shaqiu City on the tenth day."

In the side hall, the steward let out a sigh of relief after hearing the news. After wiping away the blood from his nose, he examined Wu Mian's corpse and confirmed that Wu Mian was dead. He then said to the Imperial Guard standing nearby: "Bury him at a distance..."

The steward glanced at Wu Mian, let out a cold laugh, and picked up a porcelain bottle from the tray, saying: "I will tell you plainly, His Majesty the First Emperor is now in a state of exhaustion, and the methods of medicine and stone are powerless to save him. We cannot wait for that old man Xu to return from the immortal island; the only hope now lies in taking the elixirs refined by me and the other great alchemists, which offer a slim chance of survival. Perhaps, in turning peril into safety, His Majesty might also gain the miraculous effect of immortality. This bottle of longevity elixir is something I personally refined based on ancient immortal formulas, and now it is being offered to you at a bargain."

After a few individuals finished their discussion, the chief alchemist led several court alchemists to leave the inner court. Wu Mian observed coldly, already feeling that something was amiss. After a moment, the eunuch who had brought Wu Mian in earlier returned to the inner court and took Wu Mian to a side hall.

Upon seeing Wu Mian's arrival, the chief steward initially paid him no mind and continued to engage in gestures with several court sorcerers. However, it wasn't long before a eunuch rushed out from the inner chamber in a flurry. He quickly approached the chief sorcerer, whispered something in his ear, and then pulled the chief steward towards the inner chamber.

"No need, I will do it myself," Wu Mian said as he reached out with his left hand to take the porcelain bottle containing the elixir. Taking advantage of the steward's attention being focused on the bottle, he swung his right hand and slapped the steward across the face. With a crisp sound of "smack!", the steward fell to his knees, blood gushing from his nose. Wu Mian snatched the tray from the steward's hand and smashed it to the ground. Several porcelain bottles shattered, and the elixirs spilled all over the floor. Wu Mian mixed them with his foot, making it impossible to distinguish which elixir came from which bottle.

When Wu Mian entered, there were already about ten people inside. In addition to the chief sorcerer, the court sorcerers, and the Imperial Guard, there were five ragged village men. Judging by their accents, they should be commoners captured from the nearby area.

Wu Mian coldly stared at the steward, recognizing the porcelain vial that contained the elixir. It was he who had served as a laborer during its initial refinement. The steward had obtained the formula from an unknown source, claiming that it was necessary to use potent toxins to cleanse the internal organs and meridians, achieving immunity to all poisons and preventing the body from aging. The elixir was concocted with mercury as the principal ingredient, accompanied by twelve types of venomous insects and poisonous plants, with arsenic as the guiding agent, resulting in this highly toxic elixir. After the elixir was produced, several slaves were summoned to test it, and none survived the immediate effects of the poison. It is said that this elixir was destroyed by the steward, yet it is surprising that he has managed to keep it until now