The Company

Chapter 26: Heirloom Seal of the Realm

"Bi Zhi... Bi Zhi?"

A gentle voice drew nearer, revealing a face both familiar and strange to him, etched with concern. "Bi Zhi, why have you fallen asleep here? It's too cold—perhaps you should return and rest."

He looked down at the wide-sleeved green long robe he wore, feeling an overwhelming sense of nostalgia.

Throughout his long life, his clothing had always been black, never changing.

And now, standing before him was this gentle-faced youth dressed in black robes. Though he wore only a single jade ornament at his waist, making him appear exceedingly plain, he knew this was the most prestigious attire in the Qin Empire, second only to the emperor's.

The Qin dynasty revered black, permitting only the imperial family to wear black garments. The emperor wore the black upper garment and crimson lower garment, while the crown prince before him hadn't yet earned the privilege to adorn his black robes with crimson cloud patterns.

He also knew this crown prince would remain crown prince his entire life, never qualifying to wear the most honorable black upper garment and crimson lower garment while alive.

"Bi Zhi, has the cold frozen your senses? This year's winter has indeed arrived rather early." The handsome youth spoke with concern, slowly bending down.

He watched as this crown prince—supreme under one, above ten thousand—produced a spiral-patterned bronze hand warmer from his robes and pressed it into his frozen hands. Warmth spread from his chilled palms straight to his heart.

He lowered his head, realizing he was dreaming again. For over two thousand years, these dreams of the past had recurrently occupied his mind. He could even recite Fusu's next words and the ones after, recognizing from the bamboo slips on the desk that these were approvals for various matters concerning the Great Wall's construction. This must be the thirty-fifth year of Qin Shi Huang's reign, when their First Emperor had once again embarked on an eastern tour, leaving Crown Prince Fusu to oversee the state.

This was the warm chamber of Xianyang Palace, where Qin Shi Huang normally handled state affairs. Fusu had been studying statecraft at his side for seven years now, and he, as the study companion, had naturally followed throughout. Whenever the empire's ruler temporarily departed, he would delegate nearly all authority to his most proud crown prince, allowing him to experience the wonder of possessing the nation.

Though being emperor was desirable, serving as acting emperor wasn't bad either—except for facing responsibilities piled high like mountains. Just look: the entire warm chamber was filled with various bamboo documents, truly mountainous in scale.

He couldn't help glancing around. Even knowing this was a dream, he found the scene unbearably oppressive. He kept feeling these bamboo slips might collapse at any moment, crushing him to death beneath them.

"Your complexion looks poor—is it because of that medicine you took yesterday?" A pair of warm hands reached toward him, pale fingertips pressing against his forehead. The burning sensation made him pause, unable to react immediately.

When did this happen? Why had he never dreamed this scene before?

Ah, that medicine—the elixir of immortality that changed his entire life. Could this be from that time?

"His Majesty recently... everyone must obey that decree. Bi Zhi, please don't take offense." The youth withdrew his hand, his refined face bearing a hint of apology.He froze for a moment, as this particular memory hadn't appeared in his dreams for a long time, leaving him unsure of what to say. He carefully recalled the winter of the thirty-fourth year of Qin Shi Huang's reign—the empire's situation had indeed grown tense. Under the emperor's furious decree, over four hundred alchemists were executed. Though the purge hadn't spread throughout the court, fear now gripped everyone, each dreading they might be the next to face the emperor's wrath. The wrath of the Son of Heaven could leave millions dead and rivers flowing with blood. Clutching the warm hand warmer, he smiled with genuine sincerity and said, "The medicine left by Master might truly grant immortality." He spoke the truth, though such words were rarely believed.

"Then stay and continue to assist me." The young man's smile deepened, naturally assuming this was a jest. The crown prince of the Great Qin Empire rose again, returning to the low table at the center of the warm pavilion where he sat back down, picking up the Heirloom Seal of the Realm to examine it closely. His handsome features appeared even more profound under the warm, gentle glow of the Night-Shining Pearl. For an instant, it seemed as though time stood still.

He narrowed his eyes, gazing nostalgically at this cherished scene before him. He was intimately familiar with this warm pavilion, having spent nearly a decade here—he knew every blue brick, which corner had its gold leaf worn away by bamboo scrolls, which inconspicuous jade piece had been secretly chipped away by dishonest attendants, and which Night-Shining Pearl bore cracks from being deliberately knocked over by that spoiled young prince. Over the long years, he could retrieve each blue brick, redeem every Night-Shining Pearl, replicate all the bamboo scrolls, and even reclaim the Heirloom Seal of the Realm that held sway over the empire, striving to restore the pavilion's authenticity. Yet, he could never witness this scene again in reality.

A wave of weariness washed over him.

After two thousand years of solitude, what was he still clinging to?

"Bi Zhi, do you think I can possess this Imperial Jade Seal?" After an unknown length of time, a voice shattered the deathly silence, the youthful tone tinged with an indescribable unease.

He paused slightly, remembering how the crown prince of that time indeed harbored an unconcealable sense of inferiority in private. After all, his father was a truly great emperor, with a legendary life that no one could surpass.

How had he responded back then? Ah, yes—he had often answered this question. Collecting himself, he slowly replied, "Your Highness will become an excellent emperor. Though you may not achieve the greatness of the First Emperor, you will undoubtedly be a remarkable Qin Er Shi. After you, there will be a third, a fourth, even ten thousand generations..."

Indeed, at that time, everyone believed this. Even Qin Shi Huang, who was convinced of his own immortality, was quite satisfied with Fusu. The only flaw was that Fusu's character was seen as somewhat indecisive.He knew that Fusu was not indecisive, but rather held political ideals irreconcilably at odds with Qin Shi Huang. The First Emperor adhered to Legalism, while Fusu did not agree with such autocratic governance principles, preferring Confucian thought—all stemming from the teachings of the Grand Tutor Chunyu Yue. In truth, this ideology was well-suited for restoring order after great chaos. Had Fusu ascended the throne smoothly, the Great Qin Empire would surely have endured for millennia.

Yet he knew that, this winter, after the First Emperor returned to Xianyang Palace, during a banquet, Chunyu Yue expressed disapproval of the commandery-county system implemented by the Emperor, suggesting instead to follow the Zhou rites and adopt the feudal system. This proposal was refuted by Li Si and displeased the First Emperor, directly leading to Chunyu Yue's dismissal. Fusu, who strongly opposed this matter, submitted a memorial and was consequently sent by the Emperor to Shangjun to oversee the military affairs of General Meng Tian's army.

He later believed this to be the turning point in Fusu's life. Had Fusu not left the political center prematurely, Huhai would not have been able to ascend the throne solely with the support of Li Si and Zhao Gao.

"Bi Zhi... sometimes, I truly envy Hai'er." The handsome young man toyed with the Heirloom Seal of the Realm in his hand, his thoughts already wandering thousands of miles away.

Holding a warm heater, Bi Zhi curled his lips slightly and smiled faintly. "His Majesty took him on the tour because he feared he would cause trouble for you, Your Highness." Do not think the First Emperor purely doted on his younger son; someone as restless as Huhai, if left in Xianyang, would surely turn the city upside down.

The young man did not speak, only a bitter smile escaping his lips as his gaze remained fixed on the Heirloom Seal in his hand.

Bi Zhi ceased his persuasion, for in truth, everyone understood these matters. The attitude toward an empire's heir and a pampered younger son would naturally differ. Thinking of the First Emperor seated on the Dragon Throne, he could not help but sigh after a long while. "The Emperor stands at the pinnacle above all; no one can accompany him, which is why he is the solitary one..."

The young man trembled at these words, his expression turning pained, then he changed the subject. "Bi Zhi, do you know the origin of this Imperial Jade Seal?"

Collecting his emotions, even though he knew these were events that had occurred over two thousand years ago, Bi Zhi treasured the moment deeply, not daring to treat it with any carelessness. Yes, this was how he should have answered back then. "As recorded in 'Han Feizi: The Story of He Shi,' Bian He obtained the jade at Mount Jing and presented it to King Li. Mistaken for a fraud, he had his left foot amputated. Later, he presented it to King Wu, and his right foot was amputated. When King Wen of Chu ascended the throne, Bian He wept in the market holding the jade, his tears turning to blood. When asked why, he replied, 'It is not for my mutilation, but for the jade's shame.' King Wen heard of this and had the jade cut open, revealing a beautiful, luminous jade. Thus, it was named the Heirloom Seal of the Realm. King Wen enfeoffed Bian He as the Marquis of Lingyang, but Bian He declined the title."

Reciting this long passage of classical text effortlessly, Bi Zhi felt a moment of surprise before sinking into melancholy. This was indeed his dream of memories—events that had already transpired over two thousand years ago.

Unchangeable and beyond his power to alter.

A contemplative expression appeared on the handsome young man's face, and after a long pause, he said, "Bi Zhi, why was Bian He so stubborn? Willing to lose both legs, yet insisting on presenting this jade to the King of Chu?"He could no longer recall exactly how he had answered back then, but he heard his own voice speak without hesitation: "By using the story of Bian He presenting the jade, Master Han metaphorically expressed how his political views were rejected by the ruler and how he suffered exclusion. Of course, the deeper meaning is that a jade craftsman should recognize and discern jade, just as a ruler should know how to employ talent wisely. Those who present new doctrines must be prepared to sacrifice for them. Back then, this story played a significant role in earning Master Han the emperor's special regard."

The handsome young man turned his head and smiled faintly at him. "Bi Zhi, you don’t seem to like this Heirloom Seal of the Realm very much. I’ve never seen you touch it even once. I remember one time I asked you to hand it to me, and you seemed reluctant. Huhai, on the other hand, can’t bear to part with it!"

A mocking curve lifted the corner of his lips as he chuckled lightly. "Implementing benevolent governance is the foundation of a nation; winning the people’s hearts is the way to secure the state. Can one become emperor just by obtaining a piece of jade? This Heirloom Seal of the Realm originally belonged to the State of Chu, later made its way to Zhao, yet it ultimately ended up here." In his view, the exquisitely beautiful jade was nothing more than an embellishment to grand ambitions. As he finished speaking and looked up, he suddenly caught a strange flicker in the young man’s eyes, which left him slightly stunned.

Had he noticed that fleeting peculiarity back then?

"Bi Zhi speaks wisely." The handsome young man resumed his gentle expression, pressed the Heirloom Seal of the Realm into the inkpad, and reverently stamped its seal onto the soon-to-be-issued decree. With a satisfied smile, he said, "Bi Zhi, in fact, there is another lesson in Master Han’s story."

"Oh?" Though his tone was questioning, he had already recalled what Fusu would say next. These were words that had haunted him for over two thousand years.

"That is, for the sake of one’s steadfast beliefs, no matter the cost, one must never retreat a single step." The young man lifted his head, his handsome face illuminated by the faint blue glow of the Night-Shining Pearl, and gazed at him with resolute eyes. "Bi Zhi, you will always stand behind me, won’t you?"

"Yes, I will always be here."

Two

"Bi Zhi...?"

A voice, similar yet not entirely the same, seemed to pierce through layers of mist, finally lingering by his ear.

The Boss trembled slightly, realizing he was still in the familiar warmth of the Xianyang Palace chamber. Only now, there were no piles of bamboo scrolls, no handsome young man by his side—just an empty room and a few guests who shouldn’t be there.

"Bi Zhi, you don’t seem very pleased to see me."

Within the Doctor’s body, it was Fusu’s soul that had awakened. Though the Boss had imagined reuniting with Fusu countless times, he had never envisioned facing such a scene.

The Boss gripped the glasses in his hand tightly, offering a faint, bitter smile. "Your Highness, it has been a long time."

Fusu blinked, only then noticing there was no bloodied wound from a guard’s spear on his chest. Instead, he was clad in strange attire. He sat up, glanced around, and realized he was in the familiar warmth of the Xianyang Palace chamber. Finally, his gaze settled on Huhai, who stood frozen nearby.Ever since Huhai heard the word "Bi Zhi," he had stood frozen as if struck by an acupoint strike. It wasn't until he met the unmistakably complex gaze in those eyes that he trembled and rasped out two words with great difficulty: "Imperial Brother..." Only upon speaking did Huhai realize how terribly hoarse his voice had become.

Fusu paid him no mind. Though curious about why Huhai's hair and eye color had changed, he didn't consider the other a suitable person to question. Shifting his gaze back to the kneeling Bi Zhi beside him, he asked quietly, "Bi Zhi, what is happening?" He could naturally tell that despite the meticulous imitation of Xianyang Palace's warm chamber, this wasn't it. Not to mention the slender callus on his right index finger—as if formed by years of holding some tool.

This was fundamentally not his body.

The Boss steadied himself but didn't know how to respond immediately, unconsciously releasing the Book of the Dead from his other hand. Meanwhile, the Pharaoh nearby unceremoniously rattled off a stream of words.

Since the Doctor still wore the other gilded earring, Fusu understood the Pharaoh's ancient Egyptian without any barrier. Touching his short hair, Fusu remained somewhat incredulous. Had he died? Then come back to life? And now over two thousand years had passed?

Setting aside whether this bizarrely dressed foreign man spoke truth, Fusu turned to Bi Zhi—who hadn't met his eyes since he awoke—instinctively sensing the other's resistance and inner struggle.

What was going on? If all this were true, why would Bi Zhi wear such an expression upon seeing him awaken? Every brick and tile here replicated Xianyang Palace's warm chamber. Even with a brief glance, one could feel the sentiment behind its reconstruction.

Fusu narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

"Imperial Brother..." Huhai attempted two steps forward but inexplicably halted. Now that his imperial brother had awakened as he wished, what could he say? The Qin Empire had been utterly ruined by his own hands. His imperial brother remained unaware of that history—if he knew, he'd surely despise him even more.

Moreover, though Zhao Gao had overstepped to issue the execution order back then, the world believed it was Huhai's doing. Even at the moment his imperial brother closed his eyes, the resentment had been directed at him.

At least he's awake now, Huhai thought. All he owed his imperial brother was a life—the Qin Empire's throne had been won through his own capability. Now they were even.

Refusing to acknowledge his speechlessness, Young Master Huhai stiffened his expression and offered no explanation, striding directly past the seated Fusu toward the door. Lu Zigang, who had been staring dazedly at the Longevity Lock in his hands since waking, instinctively followed him.

Suddenly, the vast room contained only the ethereal young Pharaoh floating in the air, leaving just the Boss and the Doctor—or rather, Bi Zhi and Fusu.

The Boss kept his head lowered, staring at the blue-brick patterns on the floor like a puppet stripped of its soul, uncertain how to respond.He knew Fusu was speaking with the Pharaoh, but he couldn't spare the attention to listen. His heart felt torn in two—one half rejoicing at their reunion after more than two thousand years, while the other half wrestled with moral condemnation.

Why had he hesitated when holding the Book of the Dead? Why did he hesitate? Why should he hesitate?

Then, what did he believe to be the right choice? Shatter the Book of the Dead and let Fusu's soul vanish forever? Or hope for Fusu to take over the Doctor's body?

Why couldn't there be a compromise? Why did he have to face such a difficult decision?

It was either one's life or the other's demise...

"Bi Zhi, is the owner of this body someone very important to you?" A gentle voice sounded by his ear. The Boss looked up dazedly, gazing at the familiar yet unfamiliar face now adorned with gentle eyes.

Someone important? The Boss pondered seriously and found he couldn't deny it. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded gravely. He remained silent because the soul residing in this body before him was also someone profoundly important to him.

Pale, slender fingers pressed against his forehead, intimate as in that previous dream, though this time the fingertips carried a slight chill.

"Bi Zhi, you're still the same as before. When trapped in dilemmas, you've always struggled to choose." Fusu carefully wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, a tolerant smile gracing his lips.

"It's alright. As always, I'll make the choice for you."

"I just asked the Pharaoh—that person's soul should be resting in the aquamarine jade at my neck, temporarily unharmed. On the night of the full moon three days from now, when spiritual energy peaks, I'll return this body to him."

The Boss stared at him blankly, slowly releasing his tight grip on the glasses, unsure how to respond.

Even after more than two thousand years, he remained the same—still fond of making decisions for others, still allowing no questioning.

"So now, with three days remaining, won't you introduce me to this place?"

Heirloom Seal of the Realm

Three

The Boss carried tea utensils as he pushed open the door. The Dumb Shop had a basement where he usually lived, containing only a bedroom and a separate bathroom. His room was simple: aside from an antique Ming dynasty nanmu canopy bed, there was only a bookshelf filled with volumes. Many were ancient texts, though not deliberately collected—just books he casually read in daily life.

Naturally, they included various historical records.

He knew Fusu's decision: if the body was returned to the Doctor in three days, Fusu's soul absolutely couldn't withstand another possession. There was no need to prepare a spare body; the Boss planned to have Fusu's soul inhabit either the Heirloom Seal of the Realm or the aquamarine jade. Fine jade not only nourishes the human body but is also ideal for soul recuperation.

This time, what did it matter if he accompanied him for another few thousand years?As soon as the Boss pushed the door open, he saw Fusu awkwardly flipping through the book in his hands. During the Qin Dynasty, paper had not yet been invented, and early ancient texts followed the tradition of bamboo slips—printed vertically from right to left and top to bottom. But what Fusu held was a recently published Twenty-Four Histories. He had never seen simplified Chinese characters, let alone grown accustomed to the horizontal left-to-right layout.

The Boss wasn’t surprised. Just by glancing at the worn copies of Records of the Grand Historian showing signs of having been read, he could tell Fusu had already grasped the general outline in a short time. History, in the end, wasn’t all that long—it could be summed up in a single phrase.

"The empire, long divided, must unite; long united, must divide."

The Crown Prince of the Great Qin, renowned for his extraordinary wisdom, naturally wouldn’t dwell on trivial or intricate details.

Moreover, how much of the historical facts recorded there were true and how much false remained unknowable.

The Boss’s gaze shifted to the glasses on the rosewood desk. It was certain Fusu wasn’t used to wearing them, since the Doctor’s eyes weren’t actually nearsighted. According to the Doctor himself, after undergoing laser eye surgery, he felt uncomfortable with nothing on the bridge of his nose, so he wore a pair of non-prescription glasses.

"Bi Zhi, is everything written in this book true?" Fusu brushed his overly long bangs that were blocking his vision back from his forehead, revealing his smooth brow. His mood was rather poor. Having scoured all historical records about the Qin dynasty in the room, he couldn't believe that merely four years after his death, the great Qin Empire his father had built collapsed so completely. Just four years! Even the usually composed Fusu couldn't help feeling irritated, somewhat understanding why Huhai had looked so apprehensive when he saw him earlier.

What a prodigal son unmatched in history!

The Boss knew Fusu would find this hard to believe - even he, having witnessed everything firsthand, found it incredible. But such were the laws of history - destroying an empire was always far easier than building one.

"Have some tea first." The Boss avoided answering directly, handing over the blue and white porcelain lidded bowl. Fusu, who had never seen such exquisitely delicate porcelain, was indeed distracted.

Several sharp bird cries came from above. Fusu's hands holding the tea bowl paused mid-air. Smelling the tea fragrance, he looked questioningly at the Boss.

The Boss smiled calmly. "Just caught a feathered beast that strayed in by mistake." The room was practically covered in bird feathers - San Qing and Ming Hong must have been fighting somewhere. While brewing tea earlier, the Boss had seen both birds collapsed on the floor. Naturally, he wouldn't let Ming Hong leave easily, having already confined it to a birdcage. San Qing received preferential treatment, though the creature was mourning its lost plumage. Judging by the noise above, it was probably waiting outside the cage seeking revenge.

Fusu didn't press further. After a few sips of the fragrant tea, he stopped questioning the historical records. Instead, he tugged at his tie and suit, smiling as he asked, "Bi Zhi, do you have other clothes? I truly cannot get used to wearing these."

Heirloom Seal of the Realm

The heavy ceremonial robes weren't suitable for daily activities. After a long silence, Fusu bent down and helped the still prostrate Boss to his feet. After removing all cumbersome ornaments and headwear, Fusu wore only the black upper garment and crimson lower garment, making him appear exceptionally handsome and dignified.

As they sat drinking tea, the Boss knew Fusu wanted to understand what had happened. But he couldn't possibly recount all his experiences over two thousand years in detail, nor would the other be interested. So he simply explained why he could live forever, and how he had followed Fusu through each reincarnation after discovering his early deaths every lifetime.

Fusu listened quietly, his slender fingers tracing the rim of the blue and white porcelain lidded bowl as if captivated by the smooth, translucent ceramic. Only when the Boss mentioned something specific did he suddenly ask, "According to you, this body I currently inhabit is actually my reincarnation?"

The Boss froze at this, feeling inexplicably flustered. "Yes," he could only force these two words through his lips, unable to utter anything more. What could he say? If he explained that although the Doctor was Fusu's reincarnation, they were different souls - wouldn't such words sound like he suspected Fusu wouldn't return the body?Fusu said nothing, merely covering his mouth elegantly as he yawned, appearing somewhat weary as he remarked, "The night is deep. I wish to rest."

It was only then that the Boss realized how late it had grown. Since he rarely needed sleep, the canopy bed in his bedroom was largely decorative. After changing the bedding, the Boss left the bedroom for Fusu and returned to the Dumb Shop upstairs. Following Huhai's visit, the place was in disarray; aside from needing to apply medicine to San Qing, many disturbed antiquities required reorganizing.

The night passed without incident. When the Boss finished cleaning the courtyard, he noticed dawn had broken. Recalling everything that happened yesterday, he felt an unreal sensation. Standing dazedly in the cold wind for a long while, he suddenly remembered that Fusu—unlike himself—was now inhabiting the Doctor's body and would need breakfast. He hastily set down his broom, intending to go buy morning meal. But upon turning around, he saw the Doctor in casual clothes, smiling as he gestured with a breakfast box.

The Boss was stunned, half-believing everything from yesterday had been a dream—that the Doctor was still the Doctor, nothing had changed, and he was, as usual, dragging him to eat against his will.

"Here, xiaolongbao from the corner shop, freshly steamed."

Pulled into the warm room and handed his usual ivory chopsticks, the Boss looked up and encountered the other's unbespectacled face, shuddering involuntarily. That gentle smile could never belong to the Doctor.

"Surprised?" Fusu's smile deepened at the corners of his lips, clearly pleased by the shock on the Boss's face. He pointed to his own head and chuckled, "Last night, I witnessed his entire life. Perhaps it's because I'm currently using his body. But he once saw my life too—quite fair."

The Boss then understood: Fusu's final comment referred to last year when the Doctor's Longevity Lock broke, causing his incomplete soul to return and glimpse Fusu's life path. Now that Fusu had seen the Doctor's memories, he naturally knew how to wear modern clothes and that the corner xiaolongbao were delicious.

The Boss ate without tasting the food, listening as Fusu adeptly used a phone to call the hospital and request leave. A strong sense of dissonance washed over him. Though he knew Fusu's actions were logical, the Doctor—after seeing Fusu's memories—had never displayed any words or mannerisms related to Fusu in front of him. Now, everything Fusu did gave the Boss a feeling that the Doctor might be completely replaced.

The Boss recalled once discussing the incident with the Doctor, asking how he felt after witnessing Fusu's life. The Doctor had candidly replied he felt nothing—the series of scenes was like watching a legendary holographic movie. Who could possibly believe they were a character from a film? Even if one admired Jia Baoyu's life, they wouldn't think they were Jia Baoyu, right? Was he Fusu's reincarnation? That's entirely different! It's like having multiple aliases in a game—what happens to one alias has no connection to another.It was precisely because of that conversation that the Boss completely distinguished between the Doctor and Fusu as two entirely different souls, fundamentally unrelated in essence.

Yet now, right before his eyes, a scene he had never imagined was unfolding.

"What's on your mind?" Fusu closed his phone and raised an eyebrow as he glanced over. He was an exceptionally perceptive individual, grasping the crux of the matter with just one look. He then smiled warmly and said, "Don't worry, it's just a necessary measure. If I didn't take leave, when this person returns to his own body, he'd find his job gone. Fortunately, he hasn't used his annual leave this year."

The Boss felt he had overthought things and smiled sheepishly.

"You should keep this. I feel quite pressured carrying around this naked man with me," Fusu sighed, unfastening the Aquamarine jade pendant from his neck and handing it over.

The Boss took the aqua-blue Jesus Christ pendant, knowing full well it was merely Fusu's excuse. If Fusu had no intention of returning the Doctor's body, he could simply destroy the pendant, and with no vessel to anchor his soul, the Doctor's spirit would naturally dissipate.

Lowering his head, the Boss felt a pang of guilt for having doubted Fusu. After a long silence, he finally fastened the still-warm pendant around his own neck.

Across from him, Fusu, who had been smiling faintly all along, saw this and a sharp glint flashed in his profound eyes.

Heirloom Seal of the Realm

Both lost in their own thoughts, they finished breakfast. As usual, the Boss brought out the finest Longquan celadon to brew a pot of Biluochun tea to aid digestion. Gazing at the familiar face across the steaming mist, he felt an inexplicable awkwardness.

He tried to make conversation, but with a two-thousand-year gap between him and Fusu, their past interactions had always revolved around endless discussions of politics and strategies. Now that the Qin Empire had become history, such topics were clearly outdated. Moreover, Fusu now possessed the Doctor's memories, making any explanation of the changes over the past two millennia seem redundant. For a moment, the Boss could only sit there blankly, inhaling the tea's aroma, at a loss for words.

Fortunately, after the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Fusu expressed a desire to stroll around the Dumb Shop. Relieved, the Boss gladly led him toward the inner rooms.

The Dumb Shop housed numerous antiquities. The Boss knew that even with the Doctor's memories, Fusu would struggle to make sense of these artifacts given the Doctor's meager knowledge of history. So, he paid close attention to Fusu's gaze, providing detailed explanations whenever Fusu showed curiosity about an antique. The day passed quickly, and the Boss took Fusu to the Sichuan restaurant he and the Doctor often frequented for dinner. Reflecting on the day, he realized he had likely spoken more that day than in all the years before.

Throughout the day, the Aquamarine jade pendant around the Boss's neck remained silent. He recalled how the soul of the mystery novelist, once sealed in this pendant, had awakened the very next day. He worried that something might be wrong with the Doctor's soul, but then remembered that the Doctor had been fated to die last year, his soul inherently weaker than most. It wasn't entirely surprising that he hadn't awakened yet.That night, the Boss sorted through items in the Dumb Shop, preparing antiques for Fusu's appraisal the next day, working until dawn. He stepped out early to buy breakfast, but upon returning and searching the entire shop, he ultimately found Fusu in the room where the little crimson bird was kept.

The little crimson bird, starved for a day and two nights, lay half-dead in its cage. Though its wounds had healed, its plumage was patchy with bald spots, and its crimson feathers were still stained with dried blood—a truly pitiful sight.

Fusu took the breakfast offered by the Boss but didn't eat it himself. Instead, he broke off pieces of the steamed roll and used chopsticks to feed them into the cage. "Ming Hong, come, have something to eat."

The Boss didn't interfere. He wasn't one to vent his anger at Huhai on a small bird; he hadn't fed it simply because San Qing was still upset. Besides, this little bird, capable of transforming into a divine blade, was unlikely to perish from just two days of starvation. Moreover, he doubted the proud creature would eat even if he tried to feed it.

Sure enough, the chopsticks Fusu extended held no appeal. The little crimson bird merely glanced at them before stubbornly turning its head away.

The Boss fell silent for a moment, then handed the beef jerky he was holding to Fusu. Based on experience, this fellow probably ate meat.

The beef jerky immediately captured the little crimson bird's attention. It practically pounced on the treat without any hesitation. Fusu, in good spirits, watched as the bird perched by the cage edge nibbling on the jerky and reached his fingers inside to gently groom its sorry-looking plumage.

"Bi Zhi, let it go later," Fusu said softly.

The Boss was taken aback. He hadn't intended to harm the bird, but he'd hoped Huhai would come personally for it, giving them a chance to meet and talk. After all, this incident had been caused by Huhai, who owed them an explanation.

"The ancient lands of Qin resemble the shape of a bird. There's an old saying: 'Qin is like a great bird, bearing the world within its grasp, standing facing east, its left wing covering Zhao's southwest, its right wing touching Chu's Yan and Ying, its breast striking Han and Wei, its head bowed toward the Central Plains. Its position is strategically advantageous, its terrain naturally fortified, beating its wings and soaring across three thousand li.'" Fusu's voice, as always, was unhurried and pleasant to the ear.

The Boss was surprised, unsure why Fusu was suddenly telling him this.

"Bi Zhi, do you know the origins of my Ying clan?" Fusu withdrew his hand, using a silk handkerchief to wipe the bloodstains he'd gotten from Ming Hong, then picked up another piece of beef jerky, meticulously shredding it before feeding it to the little crimson bird.

The Boss nodded, found a chair in the room, and sat down, replying calmly, "According to the 'Annals of Qin,' the progenitor of the Ying clan was Da Fei, who assisted Yu the Great in taming the floods. Emperor Shun bestowed upon him a 'Black Banner'—a flag adorned with black streamers. That great banner, in fact..." The Boss paused briefly, steadying himself before continuing, "...is the very fabric of this Red Dragon Robe I wear."

"Indeed. It's said that two sets of clothing were made from that Black Banner, and they actually have the effect of preserving the body from decay—truly marvelous." Fusu smiled faintly. "But leaving that aside, after taming the floods, Ancestor Da Fei assisted Emperor Shun in domesticating birds and beasts and was granted the surname 'Ying.' And Ming Hong is the guardian divine bird of the Ying clan."The Boss's gaze fell upon the little crimson bird in the cage, which was eating as if there were no tomorrow, completely failing to sense any guardian deity-like ability in this creature. "But why have I never seen it before?"

"During the Shang and Tang dynasties, the Ying family was a prominent noble clan, unparalleled in wealth and status. Yet, in the Zhou dynasty, they were driven westward for three hundred years, enduring hardship in impoverished lands. The Ying family's treasure from the Shang-Tang era was hidden in a single location, guarded by Ming Hong, and only the clan leader knew its exact whereabouts." Fusu brushed the crumbs from his hands and narrowed his eyes. "It seems Huhai has obtained that treasure."

The Boss had noticed that Fusu no longer referred to Huhai by a nickname but by his full name.

"You blame him." The Boss's words were not a question but a statement.

Fusu lowered his head and chuckled softly. "What use is blaming him? People cannot change the past."

The Boss fell silent, offering no further consolation, and instead stood up to open the cage door. He then walked over and opened the window.

A cold gust of wind rushed into the warm room, causing the little crimson bird, which had been engrossed in eating, to shiver. It looked up in confusion at the open cage and window, then excitedly spread its wings and flew away—though not before snatching the packet of beef jerky by the cage. The fastidious Boss, unable to tolerate the mess of crumbs scattered everywhere, went out to fetch a broom and sweep them up.

"Bi Zhi, though people cannot change the past, they may yet change the future." Fusu's murmuring voice reached him just as he was about to leave.

The Boss paused only briefly before resuming his steps and walking away.

When he returned to the room, it was empty, save for the loosely shut cage door swaying back and forth in the cold wind blowing through the window, creaking with a "squeak-squeak" sound...

Four

The Boss sat alone in the courtyard, maintaining the same posture in the chilly night breeze for who knows how long.

On the stone table before him lay an empty box—the one that should have contained the world's most precious treasure, the Heirloom Seal of the Realm. But this Imperial Jade Seal had vanished yesterday, along with Fusu.

By now, even if the Boss wanted to hope for the best, he could not come up with a satisfactory explanation.

The full moon hung in the sky like a jade plate. Tonight was supposed to be the evening Fusu returned the Doctor's body, but the Boss had to prepare for the worst. So, when he saw a familiar figure appear in the courtyard, he glanced over indifferently and said wearily, "Your Highness, you haven't come tonight to keep your promise, have you?"

Fusu stood tall and elegant in a black trench coat. His straight nose bore no glasses, and his overly long bangs were swept back, revealing a smooth forehead that accentuated his noble, striking features. He stopped at the courtyard's entrance, hands tucked into his coat pockets, and smiled gently as always. "I really shouldn't have come, but I was afraid if I didn't show up, you would sit here all night."

The Boss pressed a hand to his forehead, chilled by the night wind, and replied with a faint, self-mocking tone. "What does it matter if I sit all night? My body won't catch a cold."The two of them fell into an awkward silence because of his words. The Boss's gaze fell upon the now-empty jade box, and he asked woodenly, "When did Your Highness decide not to follow the agreement? Bi Zhi could tell that when Your Highness agreed, you were sincere."

Fusu let out a sigh, his breath of helplessness turning into a puff of white mist in the cold air, only to be swept away by the chilly wind in an instant. "I am already dead, so I cannot harm another innocent person for no reason. But you told me that this body was originally my reincarnation."

"Even so, he is not your possession." The Boss instinctively reached for the aquamarine jade pendant hanging around his neck. It was already the third night, and the Doctor's soul still showed no signs of awakening.

Hearing this, Fusu stepped forward until he stood before the Boss, looking down at him seated on the stone bench. Slowly, he said word by word, "But he is important to you precisely because he is my reincarnation, isn't he?"

The Boss felt as if struck by lightning, his entire body stiffening, as though even his blood had frozen.

Was that true? Had he treated the Doctor differently only because he was Fusu's reincarnation?

No, absolutely not. He had pursued Fusu's reincarnations through lifetime after lifetime not because he wanted anything from them, but because he wished to help Fusu's reincarnations escape the curse of early death. From his initial close protection to later indifference, his mindset had changed over time. But the Doctor was different.

The Boss recalled how, at this time last year, the Doctor had been willing to face life and death with him in the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace. Throughout these long years, the Doctor was one of the few who had unhesitatingly stepped in front of him to shield him. All the others who had done so before were now dead, and he did not want to lose this last one.

Releasing his grip on the aquamarine jade pendant, the Boss looked up directly at Fusu, who wore the Doctor's face, and said solemnly, "He and you are not the same person."

Fusu's eyes deepened for a moment, but he said nothing in response. Instead, he changed the subject: "Bi Zhi, do you remember why the Emperor frequently toured the eastern regions back then?"

The Boss did not understand why he had suddenly brought this up, but the tone of the inquiry quickly reminded him of their past discussions on policy. After a brief moment of distraction, he replied, "At that time, a sorcerer advised, saying, 'There is an imperial aura in the southeast.' The First Emperor then personally traveled to the commanderies and counties to demonstrate his strength, awe the four seas, and suppress it."

Fusu smiled nostalgically. "Bi Zhi, what do you think of the Emperor's actions?"

The Boss did not answer. This memory slowly surfaced from the depths of his heart. Back then, the two of them had discussed this matter several times. While they believed the First Emperor's actions could display his authority and intimidate various forces, a nobleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall. The Emperor's frequent travels provided ample opportunities for assassins and made it difficult to maintain control over the central government. In the end, that was exactly what happened—the First Emperor died during his eastern tour. If not for this, Zhao Gao and Li Si would not have so easily installed Huhai on the throne.

"To suppress means to crush and control," Fusu said with a slight smile. "Bi Zhi, guess what the Emperor used back then to suppress the imperial aura in the southeast?"The Boss was taken aback for a moment, then blurted out, "Jieshi!"

"Exactly. The emperor made multiple eastern tours and erected a total of seven Jieshi stones. Unfortunately, the entire Cosmos formation requires twelve Jieshi stones to be completed, and the emperor did not persist until the end. Had the entire Formation been perfected, the Central Plains would have been under the emperor's control, and the Qin Empire would have stood firm for ten thousand generations without falling." Fusu's voice remained calm and unhurried, yet the arrogance it carried was intense enough to heat the air around him.

The Boss fell silent. Though the matter sounded like a fantasy, when combined with the various peculiarities he had noticed over the years, it suddenly made sense. After a moment of contemplation, he abruptly asked, "Jieshi stones alone cannot suppress the Emperor's Aura. Buried beneath those stones must be the Twelve Bronze Men, right?"

This time, it was Fusu's turn to be taken aback. He then chuckled softly and said, "As expected of Bi Zhi, you guessed it right with one try."

The Boss showed no expression of joy at having guessed correctly. Throughout these two thousand years, his primary occupation had been collecting antiques. Yet he had never discovered the whereabouts of Qin Shi Huang's Twelve Bronze Men. According to "Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Qin Shi Huang," the emperor collected all weapons across the land and gathered them in Xianyang to prevent unrest in the empire. After melting them down, he cast twelve massive bronze figures, each weighing a thousand dan, and placed them in the palace courtyard. These were the surface-level Twelve Bronze Men. However, the Boss knew that these enormous bronze figures were merely hollow statues created to intimidate the realm, later melted down by Dong Zhuo in the late Eastern Han Dynasty to mint coins. The true Twelve Bronze Men, crafted from rare and precious bronze essence and life-sized, were Qin Shi Huang's real treasures, and their whereabouts remained unknown to this day.

So, they were actually used to set up a Formation.

The more the Boss pondered, the more chilled he felt. What did Fusu mean by bringing this up now? Did he intend to complete the First Emperor's Formation? And how did he come to know all this? Could it be that yesterday, he followed the released Ming Hong bird to meet Huhai? How deep must one's scheming be to reconcile with someone who had once killed them?

As the Boss looked at Fusu's still calmly smiling face, he suddenly felt that after more than two thousand years, he no longer recognized the person before him.

"Bi Zhi, your thoughts are correct. I intend to complete the Cosmos Formation," Fusu said with his ever-gentle smile, yet his words carried an imposing force. "When the time comes, everyone within the Central Plains will acknowledge me as their master, and the glory of the Great Qin Empire will be restored."

The Boss did not think Fusu was boasting. Since it was a Formation that even Qin Shi Huang believed in and risked everything to complete, it must have its own profound uses. Moreover, if he remembered correctly, this Cosmos Formation should have been designed by his master. Considering he had lived this long due to the elixir of immortality left by his master, it was possible that the Cosmos Formation could truly control people's minds.

Having lived for so long, except for the time he interfered in the Chu-Han Contention under the alias Han Xin to seek revenge, the Boss had never felt entitled to consider himself superior or to change or participate in anything. The wheel of history never pauses for anyone's existence. Perhaps if Fusu had awakened a few hundred years earlier, he might have had a chance to contend, but now, he was merely chasing an unrealistic dream.

The Boss lowered his head and looked at the empty jade box. At that moment, scattered snowflakes began to drift down from the night sky. Snow in winter was rare in this city, and the Boss, who hadn't seen snow in a long time, was stunned for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "Then the Heirloom Seal of the Realm you took must be the key to activating the Formation.""Indeed, this Imperial Jade Seal is a divine artifact personally engraved by our father with the Kunwu Blade. 'He who holds the Imperial Jade Seal holds the empire'—this is known to every ruler throughout history, yet none have understood the true usage of the Heirloom Seal of the Realm." Fusu leaned over the stone table, hands braced against it, speaking earnestly to him: "Bi Zhi, you promised me you would always stand behind me. Does that promise still hold?"

The Boss did not answer directly, instead lowering his gaze to watch snowflakes drift down and melt one by one on the stone table, becoming dark droplets of moisture. "Return his body to him. I promise I will find you a suitable vessel in the future," the Boss finally said after a long silence. "He is merely an ordinary doctor. If Your Highness has grand ambitions, you ought to seek a more fitting identity."

Fusu slowly straightened up, the smile on his face gradually turning icy. "Bi Zhi, are you evading me? That foreign Pharaoh exists as a soul, does he not? Yet since the day he returned to rest in his scepter, he has never emerged again. Your promise to me—for how many years? Decades? Or centuries? Can you guarantee that our father's Formation will still be intact when I next awaken?"

The Boss remained silent, for he truly could not make such a guarantee.

Fusu's soul was different from Xiao Ji's situation back then—Xiao Ji had been newly deceased, while Fusu's soul had wandered for over two thousand years.

"So now you are helpless. Unless I willingly relinquish this body, that doctor cannot reclaim it." Fusu smiled with unshakable confidence. "Bi Zhi, these past days I have continuously tested you, waiting for you to change your mind, yet you have disappointed me time and again. Has the youth who promised to always stand behind me vanished forever?"

The Boss raised his head, meeting the gaze of this man standing proudly amid the swirling snow in the night sky.

Fusu had always spoken with measured calm, and this time was no different.

"Bi Zhi, you remain as you were before. When trapped in dilemmas, you have always struggled to choose."

"No matter. As in days of old, I shall make the choice for you."

"Bi Zhi, you will choose me, won't you? Just like before."

The man smiled as he spoke these words, exactly as he had over two millennia ago.

How desperately the Boss had once longed to see that smile again, yet now that he finally beheld it, his entire body turned cold.

"No, I will stop you." The Boss exhaled deeply. Snowflakes landed on his face, melting into droplets that slowly traced paths down his cheeks like glistening tears.

The Boss knew his friendship with Fusu had long been buried in the dust of history, eroded by time. The person standing before him was no longer the Fusu he had known.

Or perhaps, he had never truly known the real Fusu.

"Bi Zhi, in truth, I have not changed."

"What has changed... is you."

A complex sigh echoed through the night air. When the Boss regained his senses, the space before him stood empty, accompanied only by the endlessly falling snow and the vacant jade box on the table.

Indeed, for Fusu, it had been but the blink of an eye, yet he himself had lived through over two thousand solitary years—his spirit weathered beyond recognition. So in the end, was he the one who had changed?After sitting in a daze for an unknown length of time, a familiar voice suddenly rang out. "Ahem, Boss, could you explain what exactly is going on here?"

A smile finally appeared on Boss's lips—the first one in days.

"Eh? Boss, didn't you say Fusu was planning to overthrow the world? Why is he still working at the hospital?"

Standing in the hospital corridor, Boss watched from afar as Fusu and Chun Ge chatted and laughed together. If not for Fusu not wearing glasses, he might have mistaken him for the Doctor himself.

Even the Doctor shared this illusion, as he angrily exclaimed, "That bastard not only took over my body but also stole my job and friends! The Longines Saint-Imier mechanical watch on his wrist is the one I saved up for last year! I usually keep it stored away and hardly ever wear it!"

Was that last part the real issue? Boss had long grown accustomed to the Doctor's scatterbrained nature and replied calmly, "He needs your identity to carry out his plans quietly. With your memories, performing surgeries is no challenge for him. This works out—at least your job is secure."

"Hmm, true, having someone else do my work is pretty nice. I'm just worried this young master might drain my bank account..." The Doctor fretted. If Fusu had his memories, wouldn't he know the bank card password perfectly well?

Rubbing his slightly aching temples, Boss thought the Doctor was worrying about entirely the wrong things. If Fusu and Huhai were collaborating, would they even care about the petty change in the Doctor's bank account?

"By the way, Boss, have you figured out how to disrupt their plans?" Only then did the Doctor feel a sense of urgency. If he couldn't reclaim his body, everything else was meaningless!

"To get your body back, Fusu must willingly agree to exchange bodies." Boss paused. In truth, he could make Fusu's soul vanish and reclaim the Doctor's body that way, but he subconsciously avoided that method. "So, we just need to make Fusu realize that the Cosmos formation cannot operate."

"Oh? How do we interfere with them?" The Doctor felt as if he were in a shōnen manga, where the villainous boss had an evil plan, and a hero was needed to save the world!

"The Cosmos formation suppresses the aura of the Son of Heaven. To disrupt it, we need to select twelve ancient artifacts imbued with the aura of the Son of Heaven and break the malevolent energy of the twelve bronze statues." Boss explained calmly, though the task was easier said than done. The Dumb Shop housed countless artifacts once used by emperors, but selecting twelve top-tier ones was a difficult decision.

He took one last glance at Fusu at the other end of the corridor. Fusu happened to look up at that moment, a gentle smile gracing his handsome face before he turned and walked away without a hint of hesitation.

Boss stared blankly at his retreating figure. He had promised to always follow behind him. But this time, instead of following in his footsteps, he turned and left.

Over two thousand years ago, he had declared that for the sake of his convictions, he would never retreat, no matter the cost. Yet, after more than two millennia, he understood that even the firmest beliefs could one day crumble.This time, he went left, he went right—the two moved along a straight line, growing farther apart with each step.

The next time they meet, they will be enemies.

For the convictions they uphold have become entirely different...

(End of Chapter)