frightfiction Chapter 359 The King of Qin Understands the Whole Story (Part 4)
Chapter 359 The King of Qin Understands the Whole Story (Part 4)
Chapter 359 The King of Qin Understands the Whole Story (4)
And so, for a period of time afterward, Wei Ji spent his days wandering the streets and alleys of Pei County. His footprints covered not only various taverns, but even the beggar's dens, which were considered by many to be dens of iniquity, became important places for him to investigate the truth. It should be noted that although these people were of lowly status and made a living by begging, they possessed an unexpectedly vast intelligence network.
Among these beggars was a man named Wang Erlaizi, who was also the leader of this area. In order to extract crucial information from him, Wei Ji brought Wang Erlaizi food and wine for several days in a row. Finally, Wang Erlaizi relented and revealed, "As far as I know, there's no one named Liu Bang in Pei County. However, after carefully considering the clues you gave me, the only one that matches is probably Liu Ji!"
Upon receiving this news, Wei Ji dared not delay and immediately relayed all his findings from his investigations over the past few days, along with his various deductions, to Meng Yi. As fate would have it, Meng Yi, after inquiring with several other people, also confirmed that there was indeed no one named Liu Bang in Pei County. This led everyone to suspect—could it be that, as they suspected, this person had changed his identity and was now using a new name to travel the world?
Or was the name given by the King simply wrong? After careful consideration, Meng Yi made a decisive decision, instructing everyone to concentrate their efforts on tracking and closely observing this Liu Ji.
Wei Ji effortlessly focused his gaze back on the familiar tavern. And in this seemingly ordinary scene, an unexpected yet seemingly destined figure—Zhang Mazi—once again appeared in Wei Ji's field of vision.
Wei Ji strolled towards Zhang Mazi's location, and the two chatted casually like old friends reunited. However, during this seemingly ordinary conversation, Wei Ji suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of his eye. This fleeting glance alone stirred a wave of emotion within Wei Ji. For almost instantly, he concluded that this person was Liu Ji, the one who had always intrigued him.
What exactly enabled Wei Ji to confirm the other party's identity so quickly and confidently? The first thing that caught his eye was naturally the two burly, imposing men standing beside Liu Ji. They stood there like two iron towers, their imposing presence too striking to ignore. However, beyond the visual impact of these two men, what truly struck Wei Ji as different was the unique aura emanating from Liu Ji himself.
Despite the imposing stature and menacing aura of the two men beside him, the moment Wei Ji's gaze fell upon Liu Ji, all attention was instantly drawn to the latter. Liu Ji was already middle-aged, and the years had etched their marks on his face. He wore a coarse linen garment, worn and patched with numerous large and small patches, clearly indicating his family's poverty. Yet, even in such circumstances, Liu Ji exuded a unique and indescribable aura.
This quality isn't flamboyant or domineering, but rather flows quietly like a gentle stream. It doesn't deliberately seek attention, yet it possesses a powerful infectiousness. So much so that anyone who makes eye contact with it involuntarily feels an urge to get closer and understand it better.
It was as if, amidst a bustling crowd, everyone was dressed simply, yet Wei Ji felt he could spot Liu Ji in the vast sea of people at a glance. This strange feeling was as if Liu Ji emanated an invisible light, a light that, though not physically present, seemed to appear and disappear intermittently.
Moreover, Wei Ji had only vaguely sensed this unique aura from the aloof King of Qin in the past, from a great distance. To be able to feel it again here truly astonished Wei Ji, and his curiosity about Liu Ji intensified.
Liu Ji, with his keen insight, quickly caught Wei Ji's gaze. Without the slightest awkwardness, he strode confidently towards Wei Ji. Upon reaching him, he unceremoniously plopped down opposite Wei Ji, then casually picked up the wine glass on Wei Ji's table and downed a large gulp of strong liquor. Then, with a smile playing on his lips and his eyes fixed on Wei Ji, he said, "Brother, you seem like a kind person. Do we know each other?"
Faced with Liu Ji's sudden action and words, Wei Ji was slightly taken aback at first, but quickly regained his composure. He smiled and shook his head gently, replying, "We have never met before. I just noticed your extraordinary bearing and unique temperament, so I took a few extra glances. If I have offended you in any way, I hope you will forgive me!"
As he spoke, Wei Ji called out loudly to the waiter again, "Waiter, quickly bring two more jugs of fine wine!" When the waiter arrived, Wei Ji deftly took the jugs and personally filled the cups for Liu Ji and the others. Then, he steadily raised his own cup, a sincere smile on his face, and said loudly, "Gentlemen, I apologize for my earlier rudeness. This cup is my apology." With that, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, displaying his hearty and generous nature.
However, at this moment, Fan Kuai let out a cold snort from his nose with a disdainful expression, clearly not liking Wei Ji. Lu Wan, standing to the side, remained silent and did not give Wei Ji any response.
Liu Ji gazed at Wei Ji before him, noting his dignified appearance, well-defined features, and an innate air of steely resolve. Moreover, Wei Ji's demeanor was poised and elegant, and his style of conduct deeply impressed Liu Ji, earning his secret admiration. Thus, Liu Ji smiled and calmly raised his wine cup in response, "Haha, young brother, no need for formalities. I am Liu Ji, a pleasure to meet you! Over here, this is my good brother Fan Kuai; and that is my sworn brother Lu Wan. May I ask your name, my worthy brother?"
Wei Ji smiled and replied in a friendly tone, "My name is Wei Ji. I have come to Pei County to search for my long-lost relatives. I am new to Pei County and unfamiliar with the place, so I hope you will take good care of me." After saying this, he cupped his hands in a gesture of humility.
Upon hearing this, Liu Ji became interested and began to chat with Wei Ji. The two hit it off immediately, discussing everything from the local customs and traditions of Pei County to the state of the world and their own interesting experiences. Before they knew it, time had slipped away, until a dim twilight began to appear on the horizon.
Seeing that it was getting late, Wei Ji rose and bid farewell to Liu Ji and the others, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect. Before leaving, he made a point of settling the bill for their drinks, demonstrating his generosity. Liu Ji and the others were naturally very grateful for Wei Ji's generosity and thanked him repeatedly.