Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

"We're finished!" Lü Buwei's heart sank into despair.

The three people inside the carriage stepped out.

A dozen sword-bearing guards formed a tight protective circle around them.

The fair-faced little boy was held tightly in his mother's arms, yet his eyes remained calm as still water.

Growing up in the State of Zhao, he had long been despised and hated by countless people, forcing him to mature far too early.

His mother held him close, whispering as she glanced around, "Zheng'er, remember these faces. If we escape back to Great Qin, you must kill these people—wipe out the entire State of Zhao!"

"Hahaha, you think you can destroy Zhao? I'll kill you right now!" sneered the leading general.

The two states had been bitter enemies for generations.

Especially after the Battle of Changping, where Bai Qi of Qin had buried alive four hundred thousand Zhao soldiers.

The entire city of Handan had wept in grief, their hatred for Qin reaching its peak.

And his father had been one of those buried Zhao soldiers.

"Kill them!"

The black-armored general barked the order viciously.

The cavalry hesitated for only a moment before obeying without hesitation.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

The sound of hooves thundered.

Dozens of cavalrymen charged forward wildly, their murderous intent overwhelming.

The battle erupted in an instant.

One by one, the guards fell, unable to withstand the elite warriors, slaughtered where they stood.

The stench of blood spread unchecked.

It made countless onlookers suddenly yearn for the divine light of the Harmony Beast.

"Ancient battles were so brutal!" Roya's face paled.

As a soft, adorable little girl, she had never even killed a chicken.

Witnessing such slaughter was truly unbearable.

The other two weren't much better, turning their heads away, unable to keep watching.

In the blink of an eye, the guards were butchered by the Zhao soldiers.

One soldier swung his sword at the mother and son!

At the most critical moment, a blade flashed in the nick of time, blocking the strike and cutting the soldier down!

Thud—

The rider toppled from his horse, his face still twisted with unwillingness.

The anxious and worried spectators instantly felt as if they had swallowed a calming pill, exhaling in relief.

The Heroic Spirit Nameless had arrived!

In the previous "Vow in the Snow," he had single-handedly fought through the Holy Grail War in one night, defeating even Angelica, who wielded Ea, by merging countless blades into one.

How could a mere group of soldiers stand against him?

Nameless shielded the mother and son, speaking softly, "Sorry, but this child is under my protection."

"Hah, a mere swordsman dares to stand in our way?"

The Zhao general's expression turned icy as he issued another command. "We outnumber him a hundred and fifty to one—the advantage is ours. Kill him!"

And then—

He saw the man's figure flicker, vanishing from sight.

Where had he gone?

When he reappeared, he was right in front of the general, his blade slicing across the man's throat!

"You—"

The black-armored general had never imagined his opponent would be this strong.

All his dreams of wealth and glory turned to dust as he collapsed, filled with regret.

It was a massacre!

The once-fierce soldiers crumbled before him, defeated in the blink of an eye.

The surviving cavalry fled in panic.

Nameless didn't bother chasing them. Instead, he turned to the little boy. "Do you desire power?"

"Then... can I become your disciple? What is your name?"

The young Qin Shi Huang gazed at him with shining eyes.

With such strength, he could protect those he cherished—do whatever he wished.

"Just a Nameless Heroic Spirit wandering through human history. I'm sorry, but I cannot be your teacher."

Nameless shook his head lightly, then smiled at the disappointed expression on the young boy's face. "But I can still teach you."

"Really?"

The youthful Qin Shi Huang's eyes sparkled with excitement.

The onlookers instantly flooded the screen with comments—

-[Here we go, the mighty Nameless is about to unleash his damn charm again!]

-[The King of Heroes silently approves!]

-[Oh no, it seems even His Majesty the First Emperor can't resist him!]

-[King Arthur and the Dark Saintess are also silently nodding along! Another all-night lecture session is about to begin!]

Under the watchful eyes of all the spectators, Nameless began.

"I possess three swords—the Sword of the Emperor, the Sword of the Lords, and the Sword of the Wanderer."

He explained the teachings he could offer:

"The Sword of the Emperor—its tip is Mount Tai of Qi, its blade the six warring states, its scabbard the world itself. With this sword, you shall bring peace to all under heaven!"

"The Sword of the Lords—its tip is the brave warriors, its blade the soldiers, its scabbard the kingdom. With this sword, you shall become a hegemon!"

"The Sword of the Wanderer—its tip is chivalry, its blade passion, its scabbard justice. With this sword, you shall roam the rivers and lakes!"

Though called three swords, they represented three entirely different paths.

One—to conquer the six states and unify the world, fraught with hardship.

One—to settle within one's borders and become a regional overlord.

And one—to become a legendary hero like him, praised by thousands.

Now, these three paths lay before the young Qin Shi Huang.

The child's gaze was unwavering as he looked up at Nameless with solemn determination. "Master, I choose the Sword of the Emperor!"

"This is a path of thorns. In the future, you will face endless suffering, even the scorn of countless people." Nameless reached out and gently patted the boy's head.

"Master, I understand. I yearn to grow stronger. I want to become a king who stands above all. I want to end these centuries of endless war!"

The young Ying Zheng met his gaze without flinching.

Having grown up in a foreign land as a hostage, the boy had already seen through much of the world's cruelty.

He clasped his hands in a disciple's salute. "Master, I wish to learn the Sword of the Emperor. Please teach me!"

Beside them, Lü Buwei watched the child with gleaming eyes, as if gazing upon a mountain of gold and silver.

A Rare Commodity!

Investing in extraordinary individuals back in the day had earned him immense profits.

After investing in the father, he moved on to the son, milking the Great Qin dynasty generation after generation—an absolute win with no losses.

This investment wave seems foolproof!

Nameless sighed softly, "Then, forge your own Sword of the Emperor. I shall become the sharpest blade in your hand!"

Some are born to be kings, while others are destined to be outlaws.

Now, the nine-year-old child emperor, Qin Shi Huang, resolutely embarked on a path fraught with hardships.

-[Truly worthy of Qin Shi Huang—such resolve at just nine years old!]

-[Sigh, when I was nine, I was still playing with mud. Comparing yourself to others is just depressing.]

-[Annihilating the six states, unifying the realm… It sounds thrilling, but in reality, it was brutal beyond measure.]

-[I feel like the records of burning books and burying scholars are just slander against Qin Shi Huang. Why hasn't this been corrected yet?]

...

Fuyuki Magecraft Academy, Administrative District.

Qin Shi Huang, strolled casually while listening to Zhuge Liang's briefing.

This trip to Fuyuki City was for a meeting with King Arthur of Britain.

After the Brexit referendum, Britain had plunged into economic turmoil.

Every industry was affected, and they urgently needed China's assistance.

"In other words, this time, we hold the advantage and can freely… ahem, engage in comprehensive, friendly cooperation," Zhuge Liang said, waving his feather fan with a pleased smile.

How could he not be happy?

A sucker had delivered themselves to his doorstep—it'd be a crime not to take advantage. They had to squeeze them dry!

"They're here searching for Nameless. Any leads?" Qin Shi Huang asked indifferently.

He had no interest in the so-called Alaya exposé videos.

As the ruler of two billion people in China, he had no need to concern himself with such trivialities. This was the absolute confidence befitting Qin Shi Huang.

[The supreme ruler who surpasses the Three Sovereigns and eclipses the Five Emperors. This is Qin Shi Huang—this is I!]

In contrast, King Arthur and the Emperor of France, despite their royal status, were fighting over a mere man.

Even the King of Heroes, whom he once considered an equal, had been captured by that man.

How laughable!

"No signs of exposure yet. Their progress remains unclear," Zhuge Liang replied.

After all, whether Nameless—also known as Emiya the Hero—even existed in this world was debatable.

That man wandered through human history and might not be present in this timeline.

"Set it aside for now."

Qin Shi Huang's cape billowed as he strode into the reception hall, surrounded by his entourage.

Inside the hall, the British delegation had been waiting for some time.

Qin Shi Huang regarded the King of Britain at their forefront with a faint smile. "Welcome to China. I was delayed by prior engagements and could not arrive sooner."

"Greetings, Qin Shi Huang. We appreciate your hospitality despite our sudden visit," King Arthur replied with equal grace.

The two monarchs, standing at the pinnacle of power, had now formally met.

Of course, their conversation would remain superficial—merely a ceremonial exchange.

The real negotiations had long been delegated to China's Prime Minister, Zhuge Liang, and Britain's Prime Minister, Mordred.

These two were the true driving forces behind the talks.

As they exchanged pleasantries, Zhuge Liang suddenly exclaimed, "Your Majesty, Alaya has released another video—this one involves you!"

"Oh? Then play it publicly."

Qin Shi Huang revealed a proud smile. "A mere Alaya who dares not show itself—let me see how you expose my past! What does this so-called 'Emiya the Great' have to do with me?"

***

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