Chapter 34: Arrival in the Qin Dynasty

On the ever-flowing expressway, a mustard-yellow Coaster business van smoothly entered the White Charcoal Cove Tunnel. The dim yellow lights cast shifting shadows across the windows.

Suddenly, Jiang Ye rose to his feet, his voice steady and commanding: “Everyone, please sit tight and hold on. The crossing is about to begin.”

No sooner had he spoken than the ordinary concrete walls outside the window began to warp and twist, flowing like molten glass under intense heat.

A blinding white light burst forth from the tunnel’s end, instantly engulfing the entire bus.

Inside, everyone was struck blind by the brilliance, instinctively raising their hands to shield their eyes.

The white radiance intensified until it completely enveloped the cabin. The bus seemed to be violently pulled into a vortex of time and space by an invisible hand.

When the dazzling light finally faded, the view outside the window had transformed utterly.

On either side of a compacted earthen official road stretched rolling wheat fields, with low thatched cottages faintly visible in the distance.

Jiang Ye’s voice echoed softly in the hushed bus interior, a smile playing on his lips as he said, “Welcome, everyone, to the Qin Dynasty in 218 BC.”

The wealthy elites and second-generation heirs aboard sat frozen in disbelief.

Zhou Xingfu excitedly pressed his hand against the window, inhaling deeply a fragrant blend of earth and grass, so different from the modern city air.

In the distance, a squad of armored Qin soldiers rode forward on horseback, their hooves kicking up dust that shimmered clearly in the sunlight.

“I—we really traveled through time,” Li Qing stammered, staring out at the refreshed scene, unable to regain his composure.

Zhao Hong gazed at the azure sky, spotless and free of industrial pollution or the contrails of modern aircraft.

He murmured softly, “This is truly incredible.”

Though they had believed time travel possible, experiencing it firsthand felt utterly different.

The four young men were utterly stunned.

Geng Cang shakily took out his phone, only to find the signal bar showing “No Service,” unable even to make an emergency call.

Feng Yiming’s voice trembled: “We really… traveled through time?!”

Jiang Ye calmly stood again, a mysterious smile on his lips. “Everyone, stay close to me from now on. This place is not like the modern world; any reckless words or actions could bring fatal consequences.”

His caution was mainly directed at the four unruly heirs.

Outside the bus, the Qin soldiers drew ever closer, their bronze weapons gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

The air inside the bus seemed to freeze. Everyone held their breath, acutely aware for the first time that they had truly arrived over two thousand years in the past.

Zhang Huaiming leaned out the window, watching the advancing Qin troops. “Xiao Ye, those soldiers look fierce. Shouldn’t we drive away quickly?”

Jiang Ye shook his head calmly. “No need to worry.”

In a flash, the armored Qin soldiers had surrounded the bus completely.

The commanding officer stood eight feet tall, sharp eyes gleaming beneath his bronze helmet, his long halberd flashing with deadly light.

No one dared to breathe inside the bus. Wu Jie and the others shrank into their seats, frozen with fear.

“Everyone, grab your luggage and get off the bus,” Jiang Ye instructed calmly.

“Get off?!” Feng Yiming’s voice cracked. “They’ll kill us!”

Jiang Ye was already standing. “Trust me. Nothing will happen.”

With hearts pounding, they dragged their bags down the steps.

The early summer sun beat down fiercely on their faces, the air thick with the scent of earth and horses.

A dozen or so Qin soldiers, weapons in hand, surrounded them. The sharp points of their spears glinted coldly in the sunlight.

Jiang Ye approached the commander without haste, drawing from his chest a dark token.

The token was pitch black, inscribed with the character “Xuan” in seal script, shining with an eerie luster in the sun.

The commander’s pupils suddenly contracted on seeing the token.

He dropped to one knee, clasping his fists in salute. “Greetings, sir!”

All the Qin soldiers behind him knelt in unison, the clatter of their weapons ringing clear and harmonious.

The scene left the ten modern visitors dumbfounded.

Zhang Huaiming and the others were deeply curious—where had Jiang Ye obtained such a token that commanded such reverence from a Qin officer?

Jiang Ye pocketed the token and asked the kneeling commander, “Where are we exactly?”

“Sir, this is Taochili,” came the reply.

Taochili? Jiang Ye had never heard of the place, but he knew that Qin villages were often named with the suffix “li” for neighborhood or village.

This was likely the name of a village in the Qin Dynasty.

“Are there any cities nearby?”

Though suspicious of Jiang Ye’s ignorance, the commander answered honestly, “This place is only thirty li from Xianyang.”

They were near Xianyang, the ancient capital.

“Has His Majesty returned to Xianyang?”

The commander nodded. “He returned just yesterday.”

Jiang Ye nodded. “My friends wish to pay tribute to His Majesty. General, please lead the way.”

“Right away,” the commander responded respectfully.

Only then did the group begin to relax slightly.

At that moment, a voice echoed in Jiang Ye’s mind from the system.

【Ding! Travel task issued: Host, please lead the tourists to explore Xianyang, learn about local customs and traditions, attend a royal night banquet, and watch Qin Dynasty cultural performances.】

【Task reward: Mastery of various firearms】

O(╯□╰)O

The system’s antics grew more absurd by the minute.

While Jiang Ye silently cursed, Zhou Xingfu whispered to Zhang Huaiming, “Old Zhang, Xiao Ye seems to be doing quite well in the Qin Dynasty.”

Suddenly, the mustard-yellow Coaster emitted a humming sound, its body beginning to turn transparent, like a pencil sketch being erased bit by bit.

“The bus—it’s disappearing!” Feng Yiming shouted in terror, pointing at the vehicle.

Everyone whipped around to see the bus’s outline fading gradually into thin air.

The Qin soldiers gasped in unison; some instinctively took a few steps back.

The commander’s eyes widened, lips trembling as he muttered, “Truly as our comrade said—such marvels.”

Though he had not accompanied His Majesty on the eastern tour, the returning entourage had been endlessly speaking of the “immortal’s” miracles.

Meng Shangqing had even warned the generals that anyone wielding a “Xuan Iron Token” must be treated with utmost reverence and caution.

The Xuan Iron Token symbolized the emperor’s presence itself—no further reminder should have been necessary.

At this moment, he finally understood why the minister had emphasized such caution.

Within seconds, the eighteen-seat Coaster vanished completely, like sand scattered by the wind, leaving no trace behind.

Only a patch of trampled grass remained where it had once stood, proof that a vehicle had indeed been parked there.

Qiao Wenbai’s voice tightened, “Our bus…”

Jiang Ye gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. It will return once our journey ends.”

He spoke as casually as if making a two-ton vehicle disappear into thin air was nothing out of the ordinary.

His calm steadied the entire group.

The Qin soldiers now looked at Jiang Ye with almost reverent awe.

The commander’s shock deepened, his tone more respectful than before: “Sir, please allow me to escort you into the city.”