"Shoot the arrows!" At that moment, the arrows poured down like a swarm of locusts, delivering an attack so powerful and awe-inspiring that it sent chills down every spine. It was no wonder the armies of the six states fled before the Qin forces, nor that the Goryeo troops surrendered instantly upon witnessing the Qin army's relentless assault. The two female protagonists were deeply impressed by the men standing firm under such peril—calm and unshaken, as if rooted to the ground—yet their hearts ached with concern. Gao Liang's energy shield was exceptionally strong, especially his "Jin Zhong Zao" technique, where the five elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—flourished with remarkable mastery under his command. Metal, symbolizing strength and solidity, absorbed the barrage of arrows with a steady clatter; each arrow struck the solid "Jin Zhong" and fell to the ground, landing neatly at Gao Liang's, Zhang Yuping's, and the Imperial Consort's feet. "Shoot! Shoot quickly! Keep shooting! Kill him!" roared a general from the Qin ranks. Immediately, a fresh wave of arrows surged forward, yet no matter how hard they were The two female protagonists were safely positioned. Arrows poured down from the sky, coming from all directions, landing abundantly around Gao Liang, Zhang Yuping, and Li Fei, piling up swiftly to form a series of towering walls—what the soldiers called "arrow walls," continuously rising higher and higher. At this moment, Qin Shi Huang's face darkened with fierce determination, and he issued the order to attack. Immediately, many soldiers launched flaming arrows toward the inner side of the arrow wall, hoping to burn High Bright to death. "Ah! My goodness! Oh!" came a series of desperate cries from within the arrow wall. Listening to the sounds, Qin Shi Huang smiled with satisfaction. Hmph! You wish to wager the empire and its beauty against me—how utterly overconfident! As the Emperor of the First Dynasty, I have ruled supreme over the world. How could I be defeated by a mere commoner, someone of little renown? Even if you possess extraordinary abilities, I, the mighty Qin state, with my vast army and countless talented generals, cannot believe that even if you are a true deity, you could possibly escape the swift and relentless assault of my ten thousand elite iron-clad troops. Indeed, after a barrage of flaming arrows, the arrow wall collapsed, engulfed in unrelenting flames, and even at a distance of 100 meters beyond it, the heat remained intense. "Reporting to the Emperor! High Bright has perished! He is dead!" one Qin general announced. "Hah! Hah! Hah "I can conquer the land! I can defeat heaven and earth!" Qin Shi Huang laughed proudly. "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" Many ministers fell to their knees, bowing and chanting in admiration. The wise Chancellor Li Si, however, shook his head quietly—his master was too arrogant and self-assured. Li Si feared that Qin Shi Huang's rigid determination and obstinacy would ultimately undermine his own career. "My vast realm! My most beautiful ladies, all at my side!" Qin Shi Huang walked toward the Nine Tripods, upon which the Seal of the Realm was displayed—the supreme symbol of unification. Whoever held the Seal of the Realm held the entire empire. Turning to the two noble ladies, who were sadly weeping beside him, he said with pride, "Highly capable Liang will give you everything! I will even double the gifts to you! As long as you follow me, I will ensure you enjoy the greatest splendor and prosperity. How do you find that?" Zhang Yuping only thought of Liang, and shook her head in the rhythm of a windmill. No man could expect to stand out in her heart. As for Lady Li? Though her feelings may not compare to those between Zhang Yuping and Gao Liang, she knew that her fate—her father's safe return to Gao Li—had all been made possible by Gao Liang, who was truly a benefactor. Yet, there was an indescribable sense of connection, as if something deeper than mere gratitude bound them. The days spent with Gao Liang brought the sunlight brighter and the flowers in nature more vibrant. Without Gao Liang, the world would grow dark and she would lose her way. Indeed! For our freedom, Gao Liang said. "No! You've misunderstood!" Lady Li and Zhang Yuping said together to Qin Shi Huang. "Some things, once lost, can never be regained!" "Hah! The bet just now! I've won!" Qin Shi Huang laughed heartily. "Li Si!" "Present!" Li Si bowed promptly and took his place. "Go and announce this to the entire realm!" The bet just made was to be witnessed by all under heaven—these two beauties were to be received into the Xianyang Palace and become the empresses of the sovereign! Qin Shi Huang, gazing at the two exquisite women, their faces glistening with tears, issued the command with uncontainable joy. As Li Si was about to announce it to the world, a beggar, dusty and clad in tattered garments, limping in with a weary gait, approached. "Send him away! Send him away!" Some Qin soldiers pushed the beggar like ducks, driving him out. Yet, no matter how hard they pushed, they could not move him. Strange indeed—his feet seemed firmly rooted to the floor, and though four soldiers labored heavily, panting with exertion, they could not budge him. Qin Shi Huang, full of confidence and delight, saw the beggar from afar and intended to play a joke on him, so he ordered the four soldiers to release him. Instantly, the beggar reached the emperor's presence. There, the emperor and the beggar appeared together—such a striking contrast! The emperor sat beneath the grand canopy, radiating dignity and authority, while the beggar stood before him, Then, holding a walking stick, with wild hair and tattered clothes, even more striking was that the beggar was chewing on a high-end cigar and dragging a slippers. Cigars and slippers were things entirely absent in the Qin Dynasty. When Qin Shi Huang saw the beggar drawing on the cigar with a contented, puffing, misty demeanor, he was genuinely surprised—how could a disheveled beggar be enjoying himself so much in front of him? Qin Shi Huang found himself quietly drooling. Zhang Yuping was delighted upon seeing the beggar's posture, especially the way he was wearing slippers. Though somewhat distant, she couldn't make out the beggar's face clearly, but from his stance, she could tell he resembled someone—someone very much like Gao Liang. Was it Gao Liang? Zhang Yuping asked herself. Yet, upon noticing the beggar's full beard and his grayed, weathered appearance, she immediately dismissed the thought. Li Fei stood beside Zhang Yuping, pulling at Zhang Yuping's sleeve and asking the stranger beggar, "Wow! What is that man smoking? It looks so cool! So stylish!" "Those are cigars!" Zhang Yuping smiled naturally. Cigars, after all, were an invention of the Qin Dynasty and later—brought back by Columbus when he discovered the New World—and eventually spread worldwide. Qin Shi Huang was furious. Having himself and Li Si adopted legalist reforms to govern the state, imposing heavy taxes and severe punishments on the common people, how could he now care about the well-being of the people at large—while this beggar, in contrast, regarded the people as paramount and completely disregarded his own status? He immediately shouted, "Bring him out! Execute him on the spot!" At the crucial moment, the beggar said, "Wait a moment," and only after finishing his words did he agree to be beheaded. With so many witnesses present, Qin Shi Huang could not afford to lose face; thus, he hastened to allow the beggar to speak his full thoughts before swiftly arranging for his execution. The beggar continued: "The true strategy for governing a state lies not in laws and punishments, but in practicing benevolent governance. Only when the common people live in peace and prosperity can genuine, enduring stability be achieved—only then can the Qin dynasty thrive for generations!" Yet Qin Shi Huang would not listen to a single word of the beggar. He roared, "Bring him out! Execute him at the Gate of the Midday Hall!"