"Junfang, on this upcoming voyage to the overseas fairy islands, you must find the Elixir of Immortality for Us. We do not wish to turn into a patch of dust after a hundred years; We do not wish to hand over this empire to others; We do not wish for the common people of this realm to experience the scourge of war once more. Do you understand Our heart?" The Qin Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky, his voice low and resolute.
Xu Fu knelt respectfully behind the Qin Emperor. He raised his gaze slightly, looking past the emperor's broad shoulders to rest upon his profile. The glow of the setting sun fell upon him, outlining a silhouette that appeared somewhat weary yet still majestic.
Xu Fu knew all too well the desires and worries hidden within the Qin Emperor's heart. This great monarch had spent his entire life pursuing immortal achievements and eternal rule, unwilling to see the empire he had built with such painstaking effort fall into the hands of later generations. He hoped to prolong his reign through immortality, ensuring the stability and prosperity of the state. At the same time, he did not wish for the people to suffer the ravages of war once again, nor did he wish to see them displaced from their homes or torn apart from their families.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Fu solemnly replied, "Your Majesty, your subject understands. This time upon the seas, I shall spare no effort to seek the Elixir of Immortality and not fail Your Majesty's trust!"
The Qin Emperor turned around, fixing his piercing gaze on Xu Fu, and slowly nodded in approval. Then, he waved his hand to signal Xu Fu to withdraw.
Xu Fu slowly stood up, bowed respectfully to the Qin Emperor with a deep salute, and turned to leave. But suddenly, he heard the Qin Emperor's voice again: "Junfang, on this eastward journey, take your eldest son with you. The rest of your children may come to the palace to study and keep company with My own children, which will also bring them closer together."
Hearing these words, Xu Fu froze completely, his body standing stiffly in place. A pang of pain pierced his heart, and he felt a quiet sorrow as he thought to himself: *Your Majesty, your subject has never harbored any disloyal intentions; how could you stoop to this?*
Yet he dared not voice these thoughts. He could only bow and reply, "As Your Majesty commands. On the day of my departure, I shall send my remaining children into the palace."
He bowed deeply to the Qin Emperor once more, then silently retreated from the palace.
After leaving the imperial palace, Xu Fu felt an extraordinary heaviness in his heart. He knew that this mission to sail in search of the Elixir of Immortality concerned not only his own fate, but also the safety of his family. He could not help but recall the past moments shared with the First Emperor; he had followed the Qin Emperor across the land to conquer the world and had witnessed with his own eyes how the Qin Emperor established this great empire. Now, a rift had formed between them solely because of the Elixir of Immortality.
The Qin Emperor was a figure of profound character, combining both decisive resolve and deep suspicion. His resolve was evident in his methods of state governance and external military campaigns. With unyielding determination and decisive action, he had promoted a series of vital policies—such as the standardization of weights, measures, and writing—that strengthened centralized power. At the same time, he actively waged foreign wars to expand the territory of the Qin State, displaying formidable military command and ruling capability.
However, the Qin Emperor's suspicion was particularly severe, especially regarding matters concerning himself and his attitude toward his ministers. His grip on power was tyrannical, and he maintained a high level of vigilance against anyone who might threaten his position, often having them executed outright. This suspicion made him appear cold and ruthless in political affairs, willing even to employ extreme measures to protect his authority. Together, these two traits forged his unique leadership style.
Lost in these memories, Xu Fu returned home. Once inside, he had his children summoned to the main hall. Looking at the children standing side by side before him, his heart filled with guilt. With a bitter expression, he spoke to them: "Today, I was summoned into the palace by the Qin Emperor, and He has given your father a task. Therefore, I must leave for a time. At the shortest, a year; at the longest, three years, and your father will surely return. During the time I am away, you all must enter the palace to study as companions."
Xu Fu looked at his children, especially his youngest son, who had just turned five and stood there with a charming, naive innocence. He could not help but offer a gentle, affectionate smile. He gave his sons many instructions regarding things they must heed, and finally said with a solemn expression, "Children, you must remember: although our family holds some status, it is only because your father possesses certain skills in alchemy that the Qin Emperor currently requires. If one day the Emperor no longer needs my alchemical abilities, our Xu Clan will become the target of various factions seeking to suppress us and carve up the rewards previously bestowed upon us. Remember this: once you enter the palace, you must be extremely cautious. Do not anger those within the palace walls, and do not bring disaster upon the clan."
Then, his gaze shifted slowly to the eldest youth standing at the head, his voice low and tender: "Liner, this time you will accompany me across the distant seas. This is the Emperor's will as well; your father cannot disobey the imperial decree. I can only hardship you."
With that, he gently patted his eldest son's shoulder, his eyes flashing with resilience and anticipation.
Xu Xiaolin sat quietly like a statue, listening to his father's words with intense focus. When he heard that he was to set out to sea alongside his father, he showed not a shred of cowardice. Instead, his face was filled with solemnity, underscored by a faint trace of excitement. He understood the profound importance of this voyage: the future of the clan now rested upon his and his father's shoulders. Succeed, and they might stand below one person and above ten thousand; fail, and it could bring disaster upon their family, resulting in the ransacking of their home and the extermination of their lineage.
Yet, facing unknown difficulties and dangers, Xu Xiaolin felt no desire to shrink back. On the contrary, his eyes shone with a resolute light, brimming with courage and determination.
Xu Fu's eldest son, Xu Xiaolin, had just turned eighteen. He was the most talented among all of Xu Fu's children—clever and quick-witted from a young age, capable of reciting numerous poems while still a child. Beyond that, he displayed an extraordinarily high talent for martial arts. Though young, he could already cross blows with generals from the army without falling behind. His combat prowess had even reached the level of the foremost warrior in the military. Such talent and strength were astonishing, inspiring high hopes in Xu Fu for this son.
Hearing his father's words, Xu Xiaolin immediately straightened his posture, gazing at Xu Fu with an unwavering look, and said solemnly, "Father, rest assured. On this voyage across the eastern oceans, your son will certainly resolve your worries!"
His voice was filled with determination and confidence, as if he could already see the moment of his success.
Seeing his son's resolute expression, Xu Fu felt deeply gratified. He knew this mission was vital to their family; if completed smoothly, it would bring them immense honor and wealth. As the eldest son of the household, Xu Xiaolin naturally shouldered an even greater responsibility.
Xu Fu patted Xu Xiaolin's shoulder and said earnestly, "Liner, the journey this time is long and fraught with peril. You must protect yourself well. I believe that with your martial arts, you can overcome difficulties and complete the mission alongside me. Remember, no matter what situation you encounter, remain calm and do not act rashly."
Xu Xiaolin nodded, indicating he understood his father's teachings. He knew the critical importance of the mission and that there was no room for carelessness. While he had confidence in himself, he was not arrogant enough to think himself invincible under heaven. Although he had undergone rigorous training from a young age and possessed exceptional martial arts and intelligence, maintaining a sense of awe was essential. Yet, deep in his heart, there remained a secret and a trace of unease: the young woman named Yurou, with whom he had secretly pledged his heart for life. He did not know how she would feel when he told her this news, especially since this journey offered no knowing when he would return.
The next day, Xu Xiaolin arrived at their agreed-upon meeting place, waiting anxiously for Yurou's arrival. After a short wait, Yurou hurried over, out of breath. From afar, she called out, "Brother Lin!" and ran to his side with a bright smile.
After exchanging pleasantries for a moment, Yurou noticed Xu Xiaolin's unusual demeanor. His hesitant, unvoiced words aroused her curiosity, and she asked, "Brother Lin, what is the matter?"
Looking at the youthful, vibrant, and lovely Yurou, Xu Xiaolin said with difficulty, "Your'er, yesterday my father entered the palace. The Qin Emperor wants him to go overseas to seek the Elixir of Immortality and has specifically named me to accompany him. My father dared not disobey the decree, and neither can I."
Hearing this, Yurou first froze in shock, then asked, "Why must you go?"
Xu Xiaolin wore an equally baffled expression as he replied, "The Qin Emperor did not explicitly state his reasons, and we cannot guess the Emperor's intent. Since the Emperor has already issued the decree, we have no choice but to obey."
Yurou's expression slowly turned sorrowful as tears welled up in her eyes. She said to Xu Xiaolin, "Brother Lin, can you not go?" Her voice carried a trace of a tremble.
Xu Xiaolin sighed softly, "Yurou, I do not wish to leave you either, but I must go. This is my duty. Furthermore, the Qin Emperor has already given his verbal edict; I have to obey."
Yurou bit her lip. "I know, I understand, but... I still cannot bear to part with you."
Xu Xiaolin pulled Yurou tightly into his embrace. "Don't worry, I will definitely return. When I come back, we will be married."
Yurou raised her head, looked into Xu Xiaolin's eyes, and said with a solemn expression, "You must return safely. I will wait for you always."
Xu Xiaolin nodded. "I promise you."
They held each other in an embrace for a long time before finally having to part. Yurou silently watched his retreating figure until he vanished from sight.
In the days that followed, Xu Fu poured himself entirely into the preparations for the voyage. He personally selected the finest crewmen and sailors, all of whom were experienced navigators. Some of these men had crossed raging waves, others had fought fierce pirates, and still others possessed exceptional navigational skills.
Xu Fu knew well that this long voyage was fraught with the unknown and the perilous; only the best could handle every challenge. When selecting the crew, he was exceedingly strict, demanding not only stellar sailing skills but also indomitable willpower and team spirit. He believed that only such a team could survive upon the sea and accomplish the mission.
After a round of screening, a fleet of 3,000 people was finally formed, comprising crew members, boys and maidens, soldiers and generals, and logistics personnel. Xu Fu placed high hopes on them, wishing they would help him fulfill this mission.
Xu Fu also equipped the fleet with the latest navigational instruments and weapons. At the same time, he stocked vast quantities of food, water, and medicine to ensure the living needs of the fleet were met while at sea. In addition, Xu Fu gathered immense amounts of gold, jade, jewels, and other valuables for emergencies, hoping to find the Elixir of Immortality in distant lands.
Finally, on a bright and sunny morning, Xu Fu set sail with his fleet. Standing at the bow of the ship, he looked out at the distant ocean, silently praying for a smooth voyage.
As the fleet slowly sailed out of the harbor, Xu Fu's heart grew increasingly anxious. This was an unprecedented adventure and his final chance to find the Elixir of Immortality. He believed that deep within this vast expanse of ocean lay countless secrets and treasures, among which might well be hidden the Elixir of Immortality of his dreams.
Xu Xiaolin stood behind Xu Fu, his body trembling slightly as if struggling to restrain something. He looked back toward the harbor, his gaze piercing through the crowd to fall upon a snow-white figure. She stood there quietly, her beautiful countenance like a blooming flower, drawing every eye.
Xu Xiaolin's gaze grew tender and affectionate, filled with reluctance and lingering attachment. He waved his hand gently, as if wishing to grasp that fleeting moment of beauty, yet fearing he might disturb her tranquility. His lips moved slightly, uttering words so soft only he could hear: "I will definitely return to marry you."
With that, he took a deep breath, resolutely turned around, and faced the rising sun as he sailed deep into the ocean.