“Lu Sizhong, arrive.”
A guard announced from outside the side chamber.
Ah…
The sisters’ conversation inside the west chamber immediately ceased, seemingly with a hint of shyness.
Lu Yu stepped inside.
He muttered to himself, finally… I’ll meet these two temptresses, let’s see what their game is.
“This humble maiden greets Sizhong Lu…”
The sisters spoke almost in unison.
Hoo…
Seeing the legendary Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, Lu Yu’s eyes lit up. The two sisters looked so alike.
They wore the same flowing immortal dresses, had the same raven-black, waterfall-like hair reaching three thousand strands, the same long hair cascading down to their waists, and the same countenance like flower fairies from the mountains.
Everywhere exuded an ethereal aura. The movement of their eyes gave Lu Yu the most direct impression of a lightness and beauty that permeated his very bones!
However…
The colors of the sisters’ skirts differed. It seemed Elder Sister Da Qiao’s was pink, while Younger Sister Xiao Qiao’s was pale green.
Apart from that.
Elder Sister’s wide-sleeved immortal dress swayed, cinching her graceful waist, fully displaying her proud figure.
The curves rose like mountains emerging from the earth, her slender waist like a small stream winding through the mountains…
Slender, beautiful, and indented with exquisite curves.
Wrapped in the fairy dress, her pert buttocks stood out. With flowing sashes, the long skirt was slit, making it incredibly alluring. But the most special part was the slender legs exposed beneath the skirt…
Long! Moist! Proportionate! Fair!
The overall feeling was one of lightness blended with allure, allure with charm, and charm with lightness, as if Da Qiao herself was a spring lake, profound and alluring!
It was as if she was constantly extending a tempting invitation to Lu Yu.
A formidable figure, a formidable beauty.
And in comparison…
Xiao Qiao was draped in an outer garment, making her figure impossible to discern immediately.
But… her two bright, ethereal eyes were particularly captivating, like constantly shifting drops of water, darting left and right, yet occasionally glancing towards Lu Yu with the corner of her eye.
This…
Standing before such sisters, Lu Yu’s heart held only one thought: Who could resist this?
Speaking of which, since his transmigration, Lu Yu had seen many women, each with her own beauty and characteristics. For instance, Sister Zhaoji, Cao Mu… and the countless concubines and maids.
But…
It seemed only these two sisters before him could be described with the word “stunning.”
Despite their delicate and ethereal looks, they inexplicably radiated an aura of “allure and stunning beauty.” This wasn’t the main point; the main point was how captivating this aura was!
“Ahem…”
With a light cough, Lu Yu tried to calm the pounding in his heart. He spoke.
“No need to bow, please sit.”
Lu Yu sat in the main seat, gesturing for the sisters to sit. But how could they dare to sit?
They needed a favor, and it was an urgent one, a desperate one…
At this moment, Xiao Qiao repeatedly blinked her eyes at Da Qiao, as if conveying words through their gaze.
But… Da Qiao paid it no mind and instead said, “Sister, why don’t you step out for a moment?”
Ah…
With these words, not only Da Qiao but Lu Yu himself was surprised.
He remembered what he had heard outside the door earlier?
It was a sentence, a sentence that made Lu Yu hesitate slightly.
“—Today is Sister’s monthly flow. If that’s the case, then… if Sizhong Lu comes later, Sister should leave. I alone am enough here. Sister can’t help anyway!”
Monthly flow?
Help?
Uh…
Realizing belatedly, he seemed to understand something.
Indeed, he was still too pure. That is, before his transmigration… he had never had a girlfriend, so he didn’t understand girls’ intentions at all.
One must know, in his past life…
Lu Yu was the type of guy who, when a girl said, “My stomach hurts,” would only reply, “Drink more hot water”!
He was also the type who, when a girl asked him to fix her computer at her house, would fix all the appliances in her house all night long, but never touch the girl herself.
He was simply… a pure little dragon!
But today, Lu Yu decided not to fix computers. First, he had to see what these two sisters intended.
“Siste…”
Just as Da Qiao was about to speak.
Lu Yu waved his hand and said, “Since Miss Xiao Qiao has said so, then… please, Miss Da Qiao, wait in the adjoining chamber for a moment. I shall have a detailed chat with Miss Xiao Qiao.”
In the deep night, one could watch the snow, gaze at the moon, talk about life, and discuss ideals!
One could also gain a deeper understanding of the saying – where the winding path leads, the Zen room is deep amidst the flowers.
Da Qiao glanced at Xiao Qiao again. Seeing her resolute expression, she knew that… once her stubborn sister made up her mind, even seven horses couldn’t pull her back.
Moreover, their mother’s illness could not be delayed.
And yet… Da Qiao herself was not cooperative today. Due to her physical condition, it was not suitable. She could only… only follow her sister’s wishes?
However…
All in all, Da Qiao had a good first impression of Lu Yu. He was polite and didn’t carry the airs of a high and mighty Da Sinong or a miraculous physician.
This… somewhat offered her a sliver of comfort.
“Then… this humble maiden shall take her leave now.” Da Qiao bowed gracefully again… not forgetting to cast a deep, lingering glance at Xiao Qiao, as if making final eye contact.
Finally, with a faint sigh, Da Qiao slowly exited the chamber. In her opinion, this was destined to be an extraordinary night.
And the moment Da Qiao exited.
“Click…”
A faint sound echoed in the west chamber.
Following the sound, it seemed something had fallen to the ground.
Lu Yu looked towards the sound and saw Xiao Qiao before him, having shed her thick cloak…
Shedding a cloak was nothing in itself, but… in Lu Yu’s eyes, it was as if she was revealing herself like a “budding flower”!
“Gulp!”
Lu Yu swallowed hard.
Beneath the cloak, Xiao Qiao’s attire was very peculiar, like the legendary “beggar’s outfit,” except that the exposed skin was particularly deliberate!
For example, her waist, which was as graceful as a water snake;
For example… her snow-white shoulders;
And then… “Gulp,” in short, Lu Yu felt he couldn’t describe the shock and beauty that Xiao Qiao brought!
All that remained was the sound of “gulp,” “gulp” as he swallowed his saliva repeatedly.
Heavens…
Three thousand strands of black silk cascaded softly over her fragrant shoulders, past her slender waist. Her eyebrows were like painted strokes, her skin like ice and snow…
On her slightly thin, pretty face, perfect contours were outlined.
She was walking step by step towards Lu Yu.
“Ahem…”
Can’t take it, truly can’t take it!
Lu Yu was swallowing his saliva frantically. Ultimately, he was paying the price for not having a girlfriend in his previous life!
“Is Young Master Lu thirsty? This humble maiden is particularly skilled at brewing tea… Young Master, why not try some tea!”
Xiao Qiao’s voice, like that of a lark, rang out again.
However…
Trying tea? Lu Yu pondered. His name sounded exactly like a “Tea Connoisseur Master”!
Black tea, green tea, tonight… what kind of tea would it be?
All in all…
Lu Yu understood clearly. This was no longer a case of “unusual occurrences are bound to have a demon,” these were nearly green and white snakes about to turn into demons.
Immediately, his doubts grew even stronger. What was Xiao Qiao’s objective?
He sat up properly, waiting to see what else Xiao Qiao could do!
Xiao Qiao slightly crouched down. The slit in her long skirt, along with the deliberately exposed snow-white skin, was constantly teasing Lu Yu’s every nerve. This was clearly an enticement to commit a crime.
“Has Young Master Lu been to Lujiang?”
Xiao Qiao proactively started the conversation…
“In our Lujiang, there is a special kind of boat called the Green Boat.”
“Green Boat?” Lu Yu repeated the phrase. Green Boat? Lu Yu found it quite novel, hearing it for the first time.
Xiao Qiao’s words continued. “This humble maiden heard from storytellers in the taverns. The so-called Green Boat, one boat for one woman, is like a brothel. Male guests could pay to board the boat and sail along the river!”
“However, some guests could sail for several hours, while others would retreat in less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea!”
This…
Lu Yu was stunned. Was this considered… blatant verbal provocation?
Just as he was about to speak.
“Ah…” Xiao Qiao seemed to have stumbled. The hand holding the tea cup trembled violently, and she, along with the tea, tumbled towards Lu Yu.
This… demeanor, was very “tea-like,” very “fresh tea”!
Lu Yu instinctively held her, his fingers brushing against Xiao Qiao’s water-snake-like waist!
And it seemed… the Xiao Qiao in his arms trembled violently.
Then, she deliberately put on a facade of being scared out of her wits.
“My apologies, Young Master…”
Just as Lu Yu was about to help her up, Xiao Qiao used her waist strength, dodged, and sat on Lu Yu’s lap. “Young Master Lu, the finest tea is placed right before you? Is Young Master not planning to enjoy it?”
This…
With a “gulp,” Lu Yu instinctively swallowed again.
The sight before him, her figure, her enticing words – any man would buckle under this!
For a moment…
Lu Yu truly wanted to transform into a beast and indulge his primal desires.
But…
He still suppressed the most primal fire in his heart with calmness.
Imagine? Would she docilely submit?
If it were the audience in front of the screen, late at night, a delicate beauty rated 9.5 suddenly appearing on your bed, constantly seducing you, and you don’t know her objective?
Tell me, would the audience dare to sleep?
Perhaps a steel knife was hanging over their heads!
Hoo…
Lu Yu exhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm down.
Immediately… with a flip, he pinned Xiao Qiao beneath him again.
At this moment, Xiao Qiao bit her lip tightly. It was evident that her cheeks were flushed red, and her eyes were hazy.
Yet, amidst this haze, there was anticipation, expectation, and a trace of imperceptible determination.
She was expecting Lu Yu to take further action.
As long as there was action, at the most critical, final moment, she would ask Lu Yu to save her mother. This was Xiao Qiao’s plan.
Unfortunately…
Lu Yu immediately picked up the long robe from the ground, covered her partially revealed figure, then stood up, hands behind his back.
“It’s cold, don’t catch a chill!”
“Xiao Qiao, go call your sister in!”
This…
Suddenly, Xiao Qiao’s face turned pale as paper.
For a moment, she even panicked, utterly flustered?
She… with her looks, her figure, and this well-thought-out plan, had still not made… not made Young Master Lu submit?
If Young Master Lu did not submit?
Then… how could he agree to go into danger to… to save her mother?
Xiao Qiao pursed her lips, her eyes blinking.
Is it? Am I not pretty enough? Or… or has Young Master Lu always had his eye on my sister?
While Xiao Qiao was still in a daze, Lu Yu added another sentence.
“Don’t just stand there, Xiao Qiao, go call your sister.”
Hoo…
With a soft sigh, Xiao Qiao hesitated for a moment. She bit her lip and said, “Young Master Lu… Sister’s words, she… she cannot today! She… she has her period? Does Young Master look down on Xiao Qiao?”
“No…”
Seeing the beautiful woman before him, so delicate and on the verge of tears, Lu Yu waved his hand directly.
“You misunderstand. Let’s discuss business first!”
“If it can bring you sisters to this point, you must have some request, right? I am a practical person. I don’t accept benefits before accomplishing a task for someone.”
Lu Yu was not wrong…
Before his transmigration, he hated those who, before even the preliminary steps of an affair were taken, would accept money first!
In the end… the matter wasn’t resolved, and the money wasn’t returned, leaving the petitioner in bitterness.
Even now, he could easily pluck Xiao Qiao, this ethereal little flower…
But… Lu Yu still couldn’t bring himself to become the kind of person he hated.
Plucking or not, it had to be after accomplishing the task for others!
Of course…
With these words, Xiao Qiao’s gaze towards Lu Yu changed.
She hadn’t expected that Young Master Lu was actually… such an upright person!
If before, Xiao Qiao’s feelings towards Lu Yu were merely on the level of saving her mother and a physical transaction.
Then now, she developed a strong curiosity towards Lu Yu, curious about Lu Yu as a person.
Unmoved by temptation? Does such a man truly exist in this world?
And often…
A woman’s admiration begins with curiosity about a man.
“Okay… I… I’ll go call Sister now.”
Xiao Qiao raised her head, gazed deeply at Lu Yu, and then slowly walked out.
She muttered to herself.
It seems… she and her sister had underestimated Young Master Lu. Young Master Lu was far nobler than they had imagined.
…
…
Yang Province, Lujiang Commandery. It had only been a little over an hour since the bloody slaughter.
The city walls of Wancheng were now adorned with “Cao” banners.
Inside the yamen, there was jubilation.
Liu Xun, Cheng Yu, Liu Ye, and Cao Xiu were toasting each other.
They occasionally reminisced about the battle that had just concluded.
The battle reports had been compiled: over twelve thousand enemy troops annihilated, over four thousand captured, and more than a hundred boats seized.
Even more gratifying was the battle report from Pengze, which had arrived simultaneously. Huang Zu, in his letter describing this ambushing battle, which felt like “opening the eyes of heaven,” used only four words throughout – Complete Victory, Annihilation!
In addition, Huang Zu expressed his willingness to form an alliance with Commander Cao to jointly curb the development of the Sun family in Jiangdong, a pact of eternal loyalty.
This was good news piling on good news…
It was also a reflection of Huang Zu’s fear of this legendary Dragon Soaring Camp commander, Lu Yu!
“Come, this cup is to Commander Cao, and also to Sizhong Lu!”
Liu Xun proposed…
“Good! Let’s drink!” Cao Xiu raised his wine cup, quite heartily…
One must know, he was the happiest today.
In the battle just concluded, he had defeated Sun Bofu, the so-called Little Hegemon of Jiangdong. This news would spread throughout Jiangnan and the Central Plains within a few days. By then… his name, Cao Xiu, would also echo throughout the Nine Provinces, just like… the predecessors of the Dragon Soaring Camp – Dian Wei, the ancient Fierce General!
—Huang Zhong, who could shoot a willow leaf at a hundred paces!
—Cao Xiu, the Overlord who tears with his bare hands!
Hahaha, today is a day worth celebrating.
Here, Liu Xun and Cao Xiu drained their cups. On the other side, Cheng Yu and Liu Ye also smiled and drank their bowls.
After three rounds of wine…
Cheng Yu felt a bit hazy. He stood up, needing to relieve himself…
Liu Ye seemed to have the same intention, so they went together.
“Drip, drip…”
Outside the outhouse, after the two had finished relieving themselves!
Because they had drunk quite a lot, Cheng Yu was truly a bit tipsy today.
As for Liu Ye, his eyes flickered. He had strictly controlled his alcohol intake and was not drunk at all.
However…
He harbored a question in his heart that he couldn’t ask when there were many people. He had to ask Cheng Yu, the Commander’s Aide, privately.
“Commander Cheng, there is something I have never understood and find it hard to suppress my curiosity!”
“Young Brother Ziyang, ask away without hesitation. This place beside the outhouse connects neither to heaven nor earth. It is only you and me…” Cheng Yu replied with a smile.
“This…”
Liu Ye’s eyes flickered, and he immediately asked:
“The battle report just returned, and I only learned of the ‘Pengze’ battlefield. After the Jiangdong army landed, Huang Zu’s forces preemptively burned their boats, cutting off their retreat. In this manner, they completely annihilated the enemy, even killing Sun Ben and Sun Fu, the Sun family’s sons, and did not let a single straggler escape! In contrast, our Lujiang battlefield…”
Liu Ye did not finish his sentence, but… even the tipsy Cheng Yu understood the implication.
Pengze, Lujiang…
In both battles, it was clearly due to Young Master Lu’s accurate foresight in anticipating the enemy’s invasion, setting up ambushes in advance, and engaging them when they were tired!
Clearly, Lujiang could have used the same method as “Pengze,” which was to burn the boats after Sun Ce’s army landed.
This way… wouldn’t it be like catching a turtle in a jar!
He, Sun Bofu, and these twenty thousand Jiangdong soldiers would have nowhere to escape.
But… why?
Did Commander Cheng not do this?
Huang Zu could think of burning their boats and cutting off their retreat. Liu Ye absolutely did not believe that Commander Cheng… or Young Master Lu, could not have thought of it.
This means…
Liu Ye was certain that Young Master Lu had instructed Cheng Yu not to pursue Sun Ce to the death.
With this thought, Liu Ye raised his eyes and looked at Cheng Yu with immense curiosity.
Don’t mention it…
With this question, Cheng Yu’s drunkenness immediately sobered him up.
This Liu Ye was good; he was sharp and intelligent, able to discern the subtlest deployments from the battlefield changes.
He was indeed someone Young Master Lu valued.
“Hahaha…”
Cheng Yu burst into laughter. He perked up and explained carefully.
“Young Brother Ziyang? You probably don’t know yet… This time, I was ordered by Young Master Lu to go south to Lujiang for three major matters!”
“As for Sun Ce, he was not among Young Master Lu’s three major matters!”
Huo…
Three major matters? More important than capturing or killing Sun Ce?
Liu Ye’s eyes narrowed.
Cheng Yu continued, “As for why the boats were not burned to cut off the Jiangdong soldiers’ retreat, thus letting Sun Ce escape, Young Master Lu specifically mentioned this!”
Thinking of this, Cheng Yu’s tone became serious.
“Ziyang, do you know what ‘too much is as bad as too little’? Do you know… why when attacking a city, one often ‘surrounds three sides and leaves one open’?”
“Haha, Young Master Lu is skilled at calculating human hearts. Not burning the boats was to give the Jiangdong soldiers hope of retreat. As long as there is hope, they are not desperate soldiers, nor will they fight with their backs against the wall, thus… they will not erupt with infinite energy!”
“The saying goes that desperate soldiers are bound to win. Moreover, the fighting strength of the Jiangdong soldiers far surpasses that of Liu Xun’s troops. Their commander is the Little Hegemon Sun Ce, who swept through Jiangdong and was undefeated in every battle. Burning the boats would be a gamble. Winning the gamble would be a Pyrrhic victory, and losing it might mean the entire favorable situation would be instantly ruined and reversed! It’s better… to let them go. And we gained over a hundred warships for free! Haha!”
Hoo…
Hearing this, Liu Ye let out a long sigh.
So that’s how it is…
He was about to express his admiration for Young Master Lu’s “knowledge of the situation from a thousand miles away, predicting every move without fail”!
Who would have thought that Cheng Yu’s next words would leave him utterly bewildered.
— “Ziyang, in your and my opinion, perhaps Sun Ce is a threat!”
— “But in Young Master Lu’s view, Sun Ce has never been a threat. In fact, this Little Hegemon is easier to deal with than anyone else, because even if he returns alive, he is not far from death!”
…
…