The sun had already risen.
Before a mountain stronghold nestled amidst the peaks of Mount Tai.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
A series of resounding noises suddenly erupted, as a group of guards at the stronghold's gate were sent sprawling to the ground by a burly man on a crimson steed.
This man wielded a Fang Tian Hua Ji, but when he struck, he did not swing his weapon. With his bare hands alone, he had felled over ten armored soldiers of the Mount Tai army.
Lu Bu… that man had returned!
"Nee-haw, nee-haw..."
With a long whinny from Red Hare, more and more Mount Tai soldiers converged, drawing their weapons and preparing for battle. Yet… none dared to advance.
The aura of this man was too powerful, so suffocatingly strong!
"Summon Nu Kou to see me!"
A deafening roar emanated from the man's mouth…
The armored soldiers of Mount Tai instinctively took a step back, as if intimidated by Lu Bu's voice.
As for Nu Kou, the name he mentioned, it was an alias for Zang Ba, known to very few outside the Mount Tai army…
"Tramp, tramp, tramp..."
Several minor leaders of the Mount Tai army rushed over.
The guards at the gate staggered to their feet and quickly reported, "This person knows General Zang's alias..."
The minor leaders' eyes narrowed, and they immediately clasped their hands in greeting, "May I ask for the hero's esteemed name, and what is your relationship with our general?"
As these words were spoken…
Lu Bu's eyes also narrowed. He recognized this minor leader of the Mount Tai army; his name was Sun Guan, and he was once a subordinate general under him.
Heh…
With a faint smile, Lu Bu did not answer. Instead, he directly removed his mask.
In a dire situation, time was of the essence…
Under the premise of "Yu is in trouble," Lu Bu dared not delay for a moment.
"Clatter..."
The silver-white mask fell. As Lu Bu's true face was revealed, Sun Guan's eyes widened, and then widened further… He looked at Lu Bu with disbelief, his legs staggering involuntarily. Had it not been for the accompanying soldiers supporting him, he would have surely fallen to the ground!
His expression, his gaze, was as if he had seen a ghost!
A ghost? Was it a ghost?
The soul of the peerless God of War?
Ten breaths, twenty breaths, thirty breaths!
After a full thirty breaths, his composure finally settled. A bold guess arose in his heart: Lu Bu… General Lu was not dead! General Lu… General Lu had returned!
"Lu… General Lu…"
He whispered, and then Sun Guan "clattered" to his knees, "Your subordinate… your subordinate pays his respects to General Lu!"
Uh…
As he knelt, many veteran soldiers of the Mount Tai army also recognized Lu Bu and knelt one after another.
"General Lu…"
"General Lu? You… you're not dead?"
"General Lu? You… you've returned?"
A string of questions came pouring out…
But Lu Bu had no time to explain.
"Where is Yang Xiu? Is he being held prisoner here by you all! Where is Nu Kou? Hurry and call him out!"
His voice remained unquestionable.
"Reporting to General Lu…" Sun Guan's voice trembled slightly. Even though he realized that the person before him was indeed Lu Bu, he still felt a sense of disbelief, utterly astonished!
"General Zang has gone to Xu Province, to Xiapi City, with the young lady. It seems… it seems he is going to avenge General Lu!"
Sun Guan continued, "As for that Yang… Yang Xiu? The young lady ordered him imprisoned! No one is allowed to visit him!"
Huo…
As Sun Guan spoke, Lu Bu's eyes suddenly narrowed. He let out a cold hum in his heart.
—Avenge! This impudent girl is going to cause great trouble!
With this thought, Lu Bu immediately waved his hand.
"Lead the way! Take me to see Yang Xiu!"
"Yes… yes…"
Even though they hadn't seen him for years, this demeanor, this tone… was just like the peerless God of War who had once shaken the world.
That man, he had returned!
The backbone of their Mount Tai army had returned!
…
…
It was already dark, but on the official road connecting Yang Province's Mount Tai Commandery to Xiapi City in Xu Province, the sound of horses' hooves still echoed.
On the horses were Lu Bu, Yang Xiu, and Sun Guan. They did not dare to stop for a moment, galloping towards Xiapi City, towards the direction of Wan Hua Pavilion!
Sun Guan suggested that the renowned Wan Hua Pavilion in Xiapi City was an important intelligence gathering location for the Mount Tai army.
If General Zang and the young lady were to take action, they would surely be operating from within.
As for the specifics of how they would operate, Lu Bu did not know, nor did he wish to know. All he could think about was preventing it from happening!
Lu Lingqi, you little girl, if you dare to plot against your own husband, I, Lu Bu… will just… will just…
"Dada da..."
Three fast horses passed by a post station.
Tonight, Xiahou Yuan was also staying at this post station. While the Jue Ying horse ran fast, its endurance could not compare to a prized Arabian horse, so… they had to rest for the night.
Besides, even if the horses could endure it, Xiahou Yuan himself, after traveling continuously, was also feeling the strain. He couldn't possibly appear listless when meeting his son-in-law, could he? Where would his dignity be?
Just then.
Xiahou Yuan saw the red robe, the red horse… and two excellent black-maned horses. Immediately… his eyes narrowed.
Those two black-maned horses were not particularly noteworthy… but this red horse left a profound impression on him.
In terms of speed, it was no less than Jue Ying, but in terms of endurance… three Jue Yings bound together could not match it!
Hoo…
With a soft sigh, Xiahou Yuan mused, "People say that among horses, there is Red Hare, and among men, there is Lu Bu. I never thought I would encounter a horse on this official road that is no less than Red Hare!"
For a fleeting moment, Xiahou Yuan felt that the Jue Ying horse his elder brother had lent him was no longer so appealing!
"Dada da!"
The sound of hooves suddenly rang out, then abruptly stopped…
The three fast horses, like a whirlwind, had vanished before Xiahou Yuan's eyes!
"Good horse, good horsemanship!"
Xiahou Yuan watched the rider in the red robe on the red horse and sighed repeatedly!
…
…
Dusk was approaching, and night had already quietly descended.
In Xu Province, Xiapi City, within the study of the yamen.
Outside the study, Dian Wei and Cao Zhi had long been standing guard… Today, Lu Yu had given instructions to go and challenge the three trials set by the courtesan at Wan Hua Pavilion.
However, Lu Yu seemed to have given some instructions to "Zhuge Liang," as the two of them were discussing something in the study.
"Kong Ming, is the item ready?"
Lu Yu asked first.
"It is ready." Zhuge Jun nodded. After scanning his surroundings to ensure no one was present, he took a very small black case from his sleeve and handed it to Lu Yu. "This is the other hidden weapon crafted according to Young Master Lu's instructions, after the 'Zhuge Divine Crossbow' was made."
Lu Yu took the black case. This was the "Stormy Pear Blossom Needle," and the skill required to craft it far surpassed that of the "Zhuge Divine Crossbow" tenfold.
However…
He had given the general blueprints to Zhuge Liang, and the rest would depend on whether this "extremely capable" and "completely gone astray" Zhuge Kong Ming could complete it.
Of course, "Kong Ming" had never disappointed when it came to "Craftsmanship and Artisanship."
Lu Yu carefully examined the "Stormy Pear Blossom Needle."
It was very small, a flat case that could be easily concealed in a sleeve. Seven inches long, three inches thick, with small seal script carved on it – "What is drawn must draw blood, returning empty portends misfortune; Urgent of the urgent, the king of hidden weapons."
It was important to note that the title "king of hidden weapons" was not fabricated. This small "Stormy Pear Blossom Needle" contained twenty-seven silver needles. Once activated, they would instantly shoot out at full speed, earning it the moniker "what is drawn must draw blood."
Recently, Xu Province had been turbulent!
The four prefects, Hou Cheng, Wei Xu, Cheng Lian, and Song Xian, had all perished in Donghai Commandery!
Chen Deng had personally rushed to investigate…
Of course…
Lu Yu subconsciously felt that it was "Tong Yuan's" doing, but he also felt it was not right. Based on the letters from Bing Province and what he learned from Zhao Yun…
Although Tong Yuan was eccentric, he was not the type to use despicable methods like "poisoning." In short, one could never be too careful.
This "Stormy Pear Blossom Needle" was a precaution!
Just as Lu Yu finished thinking this.
Zhuge Jun reminded him at the opportune moment.
"Young Master Lu, this 'Stormy Pear Blossom Needle' has been tested many times. Its power is immense. Within a step, it is almost impossible to dodge. Moreover, once used, the enemy in front will inevitably be pierced by twenty-seven needles! However, the drawback is also obvious; it can only be used once."
Zhuge Jun did not speak too plainly, but his meaning was crystal clear.
He was advising Lu Yu to use it sparingly!
After all, it was a one-time use item. Once used, it was gone, and so was the person in front of him!
"I know!"
Lu Yu replied, then concealed the case in his sleeve and patted Zhuge Jun on the shoulder with a smile. "Kong Ming, you've done well!"
Speaking of which, Lu Yu changed the subject. "Are you really not going to Wan Hua Tower today?"
"Cough…" Zhuge Jun coughed lightly and shook his head, his tone somewhat hesitant, as if he had thought of something. "There are still some matters with the Jiangbei Alliance. I'd better not go."
Heh…
Lu Yu smiled slightly, seeming to see something from his expression.
"Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of this courtesan's charm, yet you, with your pure heart… could it be you've taken a liking to some girl?"
He asked casually, as if joking…
Unexpectedly, Zhuge Jun's expression changed dramatically, his face flushing red!
This made Lu Yu even more suspicious.
However, seeing it but not pointing it out, Lu Yu patted his shoulder again. "Kong Ming, tell your master which girl you fancy, and your master will go and propose for you! Don't be timid. Even if she's a princess, so what? Do they dare not give your master face?"
Speaking of which…
Although "Zhuge Liang" had gone astray, Lu Yu quite liked this version of "Kong Ming," naive and honest.
Sometimes, Lu Yu wondered if the historical Zhuge Liang's personality transformation was due to his apprenticeship at Shui Jing's place.
Or perhaps it was marrying an ugly woman!
Yes… that was highly probable!
Of course, with the current merits "Zhuge Liang" had established, seeking a beautiful wife for him seemed not to be a problem.
A man in his youth, who wouldn't have desires?
"Let's go!"
Seeing "Zhuge Liang's" blushing face, Lu Yu stopped teasing him and strode out of the study.
Tonight, he had to catch a glimpse of that courtesan's charm!
Of course…
Why did he think of this, and feel a certain stirring in a particular part of his body?
Men…
This is what men were like!
It had been almost a year since he left home. Any man would feel a stir, wouldn't he?
…
…
Xu Province truly lived up to its reputation as the granary of the Central Plains, and Xiapi City was the granary of Xu Province. The streets here were extremely prosperous!
There were countless pavilions, towers, and magnificent buildings!
Passing through this bustling Xiapi City, Lu Yu opened his mouth and asked Cao Zhi, who was leading the way.
"It's just ahead." Cao Zhi pointed to a pavilion that was built almost halfway into the air over a canal, and reminded him, "That is Wan Hua Pavilion!"
Looking up…
Lu Yu felt a refreshing wave wash over him.
This Wan Hua Pavilion was situated by the river. With the gentle breeze from the canal, a faint fragrance wafted, making one feel exceptionally good.
"It smells so good!"
Lu Yu sighed in admiration…
But upon careful sniffing, he realized it wasn't the scent of flowers, but… the fragrance of rouge!
It was elegant, serene, yet it stirred the heartstrings.
Lu Yu had only experienced this feeling once before in his previous life when he went on a business trip to Dongguan. It was even more exaggerated there; not only was the scent fragrant, but with the lighting, the entire atmosphere was very ambiguous and hazy.
These… were the things men yearned for!
Lu Yu mused in his heart…
In his previous life, many protagonists in novels who transmigrated to ancient times were invincible, practically able to conquer heaven and earth, and spent their days longing to live in a battlefield, their minds as if belonging to someone else, not cherishing them at all.
Regarding this…
Lu Yu scoffed!
His motto for transmigration was: Cherish life, avoid battlefields!
Since he had transmigrated, why work so hard? The battlefield… such a dangerous place should be left to his subordinates. Shouldn't he enjoy life to the fullest?
Of course, this enjoyment could be at home, or it could be outside. As everyone knows, is the home flower not as fragrant as the wild flower?
It's just that… the happiness of Dongguan was gone forever before he transmigrated, but coming here… this Wan Hua Pavilion here had a bit of that familiar scent!
"Commander Dian, Zi Jian, let's go… we're going in!"
With a command from Lu Yu, the three of them stepped into Wan Hua Pavilion.
—Wan Hua Pavilion · Water Pavilion!
At the entrance, a golden plaque was clearly displayed, with a line of smaller characters below: Amidst a sea of flowers, a water pavilion. It had a certain charm; the name was very elegant.
Lu Yu smiled and stepped inside.
Of course, he knew… ancient brothels were not as corrupt as people subconsciously imagined. True corruption was found in brothels where people were sold!
This Wan Hua Pavilion was less a place of pleasure and more like a high-end club, a place where tycoons spent lavishly, akin to "those grand feasts," "those earthly paradises"!
Among these, the so-called prostitutes, and the courtesans, were different. Prostitutes were women in the broad sense that readers understood. But courtesans… in a broad sense, were women with skills!
Of course, these skills were not those of the bedchamber, but rather music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Uh, don't misinterpret, here "music" referred to zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting!
It was also because of this that women in brothels were generally called "Misses." In ancient times, "Miss" was exclusive to the daughters of wealthy families!
…
Wan Hua Pavilion, third floor, in a quiet boudoir.
"Miss, they've arrived…"
A crisp female voice entered from outside the beaded curtain.
Inside the beaded curtain was a woman with half her face covered. Her figure was graceful, and her build was exceptionally beautiful…
Upon hearing the voice, her hands, which had been restless, suddenly clenched!
Who else could this woman be but Lu Lingqi!
Silence. The room fell into a long silence…
Ten breaths, twenty breaths…
Finally, Lu Lingqi suppressed the turmoil in her heart and merely uttered a soft sound.
"Tell General Zang, proceed with the plan!"
As these words escaped, Lu Lingqi bit her red lips, her eyes gazing at her sleeve. There were originally seven names there, and now, after crossing out four, only the last three remained.
—Lu Yu, Cao Cao, Liu Bei!
He's here…
Lu Yu, this man who could always see through people's hearts, this most troublesome man, he's here. He's taken the bait!
"Miss…" the maidservant added, not entirely at ease. "Will he… be able to pass the three trials set by Miss?"
Pfft…
Lu Lingqi smiled. She curved her eyes, her eyebrows raised.
—"If he can't even pass these three trials, then… is he still that astute and cunning Lu Yu?"
—"He will definitely pass!"
Lu Lingqi's teeth tightened even more, causing her lips to feel a slight pain…
This was a joyous pain!
Of course… tonight, someone was bound to experience much more "heart-wrenching pain"!
…
…
At this moment.
Inside Wan Hua Pavilion, a pimp saw Lu Yu and, with a face full of smiles, greeted them, ushering the three of them in.
Cao Zhi, familiar with the place, directly headed to a quiet private room on the second floor. Since the three of them were traveling in plain clothes, they did not attract much attention!
However, the eyesight of pimps was extremely sharp!
Despite Lu Yu's plain attire, the aura of a person in a position of authority was evident. Looking at the two people beside him, their eyes were bright, especially Dian Wei, with his broad back and bulging waist, as if his face were emblazoned with the words—I want to fight ten men!
Such escorts indicated that the young gentleman leading them must be a wealthy merchant, or perhaps the son of a powerful official…
"Please, please, sirs, please come in!"
The pimp, with a fawning smile, led Lu Yu and the other two into the "Peony Pavilion" on the second floor!
Lu Yu noticed a couplet outside the door.
—Talk of romance, not of state affairs; love the country, but even more, love beauty!
It had a bit of charm!
Lu Yu curiously looked around. He noticed that the door of the adjacent private room also had a couplet: Unfailingly talented youths are not without romance; throughout history, valiant women emerge from the dust!
Heh heh…
Lu Yu smiled faintly. He didn't expect that this small Wan Hua Pavilion would exude such literary charm everywhere, no wonder scholars like Cao Zhi enjoyed coming here… a winding path leading to a secluded spot!
Of course, this was not important.
Based on Lu Yu's understanding of brothels and pleasure houses, no matter how flashy they were on the surface, in reality, they all followed a similar process:
One, First meeting; Two, A small toast; Three, Bathing; Four, Cooling off;
Five, By the bedside; Six, Sharing a pillow; Seven, Intimacy; Eight, Pledging vows; Nine, Waking up; Ten, Farewell.
Even the 688 or 988 yuan packages of later generations… followed this same process, unchanging throughout the ages!
It proved that this entire process was enough to drain any amount of money!
Lu Yu immediately gave Cao Zhi a look. Cao Zhi, understanding his intent, directly tossed a small bag of Wuzhu coins to the pimp.
The pimp's eyes lit up, and he became even more convinced that the young gentleman before him came from a noble family.
"May I know about our Wan Hua Pavilion's courtesan? When will today's trial questions be delivered?"
Cao Zhi immediately asked…
As he spoke, he looked around the main hall on the first floor, seeing many people had arrived… this courtesan was a huge draw, attracting a constant stream of guests every day, not only from Xiapi City but also from other cities and commanderies, with many high-ranking officials and influential figures. Lu Yu also saw many familiar faces introduced by Chen Deng…
Everyone seemed to be in high spirits!
"Please, sirs, do not be impatient…" the pimp said with a smile. "It's not time yet. Our courtesan will send the maids serving her to deliver the questions. If gentlemen can pass the test, then naturally you will be invited upstairs."
"Of course, if gentlemen do not pass, we have plenty of other ladies in Wan Hua Pavilion, don't we? Heh heh…"
Hearing this.
"Alright, this young master understands."
Lu Yu turned his gaze back to Cao Zhi.
Cao Zhi understood and tossed another pouch of Wuzhu coins into the pimp's hand.
The money was cold, but as it was put into his embrace, his heart grew warm. Immediately… the pimp began to recount some unknown aspects of Wan Hua Pavilion and its courtesan.
"Sirs, actually… even I have never seen the true face of our courtesan."
"However, I heard that she was brought here by a burly man."
"Many have seen her figure; there are only two words for it – 'soul-stirring'…"
"As for the trials, based on past experience… it's simply…"
…
…