He sat upon the sandy hill of Xianyang within the bounded field, gazing into the distance, chanting the ancient songs of Qin. It was as if he stood in the real Xianyang, overlooking the Qin plains, surveying the realm he had conquered.
There was no resentment, no sorrow—only a faint, serene smile and the lofty dignity of the Son of Heaven. He regarded the crumbling world as nothing, as though he were still protecting his subjects and the Human Order he envisioned.
Yet, protection is the prerogative of gods. When an emperor harbors such thoughts, he can no longer be called human, no longer has the right to walk alongside the Human Order.
The last sight Roy beheld was this: the land of Qin collapsing, desolate in the twilight, with only the figure of the Emperor gazing into the distance.
Where there's a will, there's a way. With boats burned and bridges broken, the hundred-twenty Qin passes ultimately fell to Chu; Heaven rewards the determined. After enduring hardships like tasting gall, three thousand Yue warriors could conquer Wu!
As if traversing time and space, when the bounded field shattered and Roy's feet touched solid ground again, he found himself back in the mausoleum complex of the First Emperor.
The illusory, mind-constructed world vanished. Returning to this tangible earth, Roy took a deep breath, savoring the unquestionable reality around him.
"From today onward, this land shall be nothing more than an ordinary tomb. Apart from housing the First Emperor's remains below, it holds no further special significance."
Roy felt the exhilaration of someone who'd just conquered a dungeon raid, obtained his most coveted gear, and returned victorious.
"Yu the Beauty, open your mouth!"
Roy suddenly commanded. Consort Yu instinctively obeyed, her body reacting to his order before conscious thought.
Almost immediately, she felt something being pushed into her mouth, eliciting muffled "mmph" sounds. The object dissolved instantly upon contact—the last remaining elixir in this world, refined by the First Emperor himself, capable of elevating mortals to immortality in one step, now sliding down Consort Yu's throat.
A warm current surged through her body, flowing toward every extremity. The bloodthirsty impulses she'd been suppressing with most of her strength weakened considerably. Though miraculous, the elixir couldn't instantly eradicate her vampiric urges—that would require gradual digestion before she could fully recover.
"My king..."
Consort Yu cooed softly, her eyes brimming with tender affection, her heart finally at ease.
Having lived millennia, she felt little excitement about obtaining an elixir to suppress her bloodlust. What truly delighted her was seeing Roy emerge unscathed from that bounded field. Her heart belonged entirely to him now; her own wellbeing mattered not.
"This was the First Emperor's gift for Yu the Beauty. How does it taste?"
Roy hooked Consort Yu's slender fingers, teasing with a grin.
After serious consideration, the beauty replied: "...Rather sweet."
"Oh? Sweeter than you, my beauty?"
With a playful tug, Roy pulled her close, encircling her waist. Amidst Consort Yu's soft gasp, he captured her lips.
Tamamo-no-Mae stood nearby, pouting as she watched the embracing couple. Ultimately, she wisely refrained from interrupting, moving aside to kick pebbles instead.
Only after a long while did Roy release Consort Yu. Flushed crimson with joy, she resembled a blooming poppy—radiant as celestial blossoms.
Surveying the mausoleum once more, Roy sighed: "...The First Emperor truly deserves his title as Ancestral Dragon. His legend proves no exaggeration!"
"Later, I'll dispatch troops to demolish the surface structures. Given this mausoleum's grandeur, future tomb raiders are inevitable. By destroying the outer layers, we'll ensure none can locate the true burial chambers."
This was the only tribute Roy could now offer the First Emperor—may he rest peacefully below, may this phoenix finally return to earth.
"Mmm."
Yu Meiren responded softly, leaning against Roy with her head resting on his shoulder. She had no worldly desires left, only the wish to stay by his side forever.
No one noticed that despite the laughter in Roy's voice, his expression was rather somber.
After the collapse of the bounded field in the Mausoleum of the First Emperor and the ascension of the First Emperor to the heavens, all the curses of human order had vanished. This world, which should have been pruned, returned to its normal trajectory. At the same time, Roy fully mastered the 'Human Order Correction Formula,' resolving his previous issues with insufficient magical energy.
This should have been a cause for celebration, but Roy couldn't feel any joy at all.
Because the 'Ark' was urging him to leave this world. It seemed that since Roy had fulfilled his own wish, he was no longer permitted to remain here. Unfortunately, the Moon World was far more complex than the Campione world, and Roy hadn't gained the privilege to take someone with him as he had when leaving the Campione world.
'I can't take Yu Ji with me. This world hasn't ended yet. One day, I must return here...'
'I can hold on a little longer, resisting the Ark's pull. No, I must hold on as long as possible, until the day I can no longer resist.'
The Ark's urging wasn't urgent, giving Roy ample time to tie up loose ends. But the Ark's power was too vast, beyond Roy's current control.
Lost in thought, he tightened his grip on Yu Meiren's hand beside him.
Her hand was no longer cold but faintly warm, as if Yu Meiren was pouring all her emotions into him.
"Let's go home," Roy said.
All he wanted now was to return to Pengcheng, to the small house where he and Yu Ji had lived for so long. He wanted to spend every remaining moment with her, not wasting a single second.
Yu Meiren seemed to sense something. She didn't speak, silently letting Roy lead her by the hand as they left the Mausoleum of the First Emperor and the land of Guanzhong behind.
...
In the Han army camp, Liu Ji wore a fiery red cloak to conceal her gradually swelling belly and slightly altered figure.
She watched with a bright smile as the chubby young man exited the tent in high spirits. Only after his figure disappeared did Liu Ji let her smile fade, her entire demeanor turning solemn.
Xiao He observed Liu Ji from the side. Seeing her now, radiating authority without anger, standing there like the protagonist on a stage, drawing all eyes—he couldn't help but marvel inwardly. The once-lazy Duke of Pei had finally matured into a true king.
"King of Han, Han Xin possesses the talent of a great general. By appointing him directly as Grand General and entrusting him with thirty thousand troops, he will surely be moved to tears of gratitude and pledge his life to your service," Xiao He said cautiously.
Lately, the King of Han's temperament had been unpredictable, prone to sudden outbursts—almost as if she were going through menopause. She had nearly missed the opportunity to recruit Han Xin. If Xiao He hadn't chased after him on horseback overnight, Han Xin might never have joined the Han army.
Of course, Xiao He didn't know that Liu Ji's mood swings were simply due to pregnancy.
"Indeed, Han Xin is a man of great talent. But he is also a double-edged sword. Wielded well, he can strike the enemy; wielded poorly, he will wound the wielder!"
Liu Ji first nodded, then shook his head.
"However, this king is confident in wielding this double-edged sword. Once its purpose is served, it will be sheathed. If it remains obedient, all the better. If it refuses to stay in its scabbard, then it must be melted down by a blacksmith. No matter how fine the sword, it is still just a sword—it must heed its master's command."
Liu Ji spoke with a calm demeanor, his tone sending shivers down Xiao He's spine, making him feel increasingly that Liu Ji was unfathomable, exuding the bearing of an emperor.
'Is this Han Xin also someone you've sent to me?'
Liu Ji thought to himself, his heart filled with complex yet sweet emotions.