In Bing Prefecture, outside Yanmen Pass, in a desolate village at the foot of Niutou Mountain.
Due to the continuous border incursions by the Xianbei barbarians, these villages had long been looted. In some rooms, dried skeletal remains could still be seen. Crows cawed incessantly from the eaves, making the entire village appear exceptionally desolate and bleak.
And within one of the pitch-dark dwellings, black smoke curled upwards.
It seemed as if something was being cooked here.
The presence of human activity here was starkly out of place amidst the desolate village.
"Mmm... mmm..."
Muffled sounds could be heard constantly. A young master, bound to a pillar, struggled incessantly. His features were refined, but at this moment... his entire face was covered in ash!
Could it be anyone other than the noble scion of the Hongnong Yang clan, Yang Xiu, Yang Dezou?
"Screech!"
Suddenly, the rough cloth in Yang Xiu's mouth was removed, and the ropes binding his hands were also severed. A cold flatbread was placed before his eyes.
"Eat it!" a chilling voice followed immediately.
Who else could appear before Yang Xiu other than the Spear God Tong Yuan?
"Huff... huff..."
Yang Xiu gasped for breath. He was very hungry, but facing the cold flatbread, he had no appetite to take a bite. With a "smack," he threw it onto the ground. He intended to run... but as he took a step, his legs felt a sudden numbness.
Having been seated for too long... his legs felt as if they had lost all strength, unable to move.
He looked back at Tong Yuan, seeing that his eyes remained as cold as ice.
Tong Yuan seemed unfazed by Yang Xiu's attempt to flee. He simply picked up the flatbread from the ground and offered it to him again.
"Eat it."
Still expressionless... his tone was like a command.
"You..."
Yang Xiu uttered a sound. Under Tong Yuan's stern gaze, he couldn't help but tremble.
Recalling the events of the day, he had first been abducted. Then... over twenty people had met him outside Yanmen Pass. Yang Xiu had some impression of them; they were soldiers from Yanmen.
Yet, he never imagined these soldiers would betray him, nor that they would be connected to Tong Yuan.
For this, Yang Xiu had cursed Lu Bu ten thousand times in his heart. Damn him... If he hadn't been so indiscriminate about background and origins, accepting any soldier... how could this have happened today!
To outsiders...
Tong Yuan appeared like an immortal, scaling walls and leaping down. But only Yang Xiu, who was being carried, could see clearly. He had merely used some tools to descend the city wall, and... his escape route. This was clearly premeditated.
The entire abduction process was a scheme... Yang Xiu had been manipulated!
Immortal, immortal, my ass!
But now... none of that mattered.
What mattered was that Yang Xiu wanted to escape, but could not!
"Eat it!"
Tong Yuan spoke for the third time, the same words, the same tone, the same cold flatbread, sending a chill down one's spine from hearing and seeing it!
Yang Xiu frowned...
This fellow was forcing him to eat, which meant he wanted him to stay alive...
Then his purpose... his purpose must be...
Yang Xiu, being exceptionally intelligent, immediately understood. This fellow must be trying to trade something with Director Lu through him, Yang Xiu. But what specifically? What?
Yang Xiu couldn't figure this out.
However...
Yang Xiu's brow furrowed suddenly. He subconsciously shook his head, muttering to himself that Tong Yuan's plan would likely fall through!
Seeing Yang Xiu's expression.
Tong Yuan showed a hint of displeasure, his cold voice ringing out again. "I advise you not to think of escaping. Your speed of escape cannot match the speed of my spear! Also, eat it and stay alive obediently for me!"
Logically, after such words, Yang Xiu should have become more compliant.
Who would have thought...
"Foolish, foolish!" Yang Xiu roared loudly.
The moment these words left his mouth, Tong Yuan's face turned ashen.
"Who are you calling foolish?"
Five words, spoken deliberately, one by one... Tong Yuan was truly enraged!
"Only you and I are here. Other than you being foolish, who else could it be?" Yang Xiu declared fearlessly.
Having followed Director Lu for a long time and experienced too many storms, what was there to be afraid of?
Besides, being around Lu Bu every day... if his courage had shrunk even a tiny bit, he would have been reduced to bones long ago!
Yang Xiu's courage had truly been forged through experience.
"Seeking death!"
A blade shard appeared in Tong Yuan's hand. He didn't intend to kill Yang Xiu, but... to make a few shallow cuts on his face with this paper-thin blade? Tong Yuan would be delighted to witness it.
Who would have thought...
Yang Xiu's voice continued, showing no fear, and growing louder with each word.
"Tong Yuan! Let me tell you, your plan is flawed... You abducted me to exchange something with my mentor, right? Hmph... you are too naive. My mentor is a man of great ambition. His focus is on the grand cause, on unification, on alleviating the suffering of the common people, on saving them from dire straits, on being irreconcilable with the barbarians! Hmph... How could he... how could he submit to you for the sake of just me, Yang Xiu? You are too naive!"
Hey...
Yang Xiu's words, it must be said, stirred Tong Yuan's heart slightly. What he said was not unreasonable!
However, his tone!
He deserved a beating!
The blade shard was now held between Tong Yuan's index and middle fingers. If it were to strike, Yang Xiu's delicate face would be ruined!
Just then...
As Tong Yuan raised his arm, Yang Xiu caught sight of a large character "颜" (Yan) embroidered beneath his sleeve!
It was a pink seal script character, appearing particularly unusual and warm, clearly embroidered by a woman.
Yan... Yan...
Yang Xiu's reaction speed was extremely fast. He mentally reviewed everyone with the surname Yan, or whose name contained "Yan," regardless of gender!
After all, the Yan family was a prominent northern clan... with limited contact with the Hongnong Yang clan.
Only a handful of individuals came to mind for Yang Xiu.
And the most plausible one... was a name from a battle report – Yan Liang!
Yan Liang, the one who defeated Yan Liang!
That's right, Yan Liang, the patriarch of the Yan clan, a prominent family in Hebei!
He was also the only person with any connection to Director Lu.
It was him...
So Tong Yuan wanted to exchange for him?
Yang Xiu seemed to have figured it out!
Heh... If it were him, then Tong Yuan wouldn't be foolish, but rather his brain would have been kicked by a donkey, making him utterly stupid!
With this thought, Yang Xiu opened his throat and roared.
"Tong Yuan, oh Tong Yuan, you have made a total of four most foolish mistakes, mistakes of ultimate stupidity!"
"... Firstly, you naively value me, Yang Xiu, too highly. To tell you the truth, I, Yang Xiu, am nothing in my mentor's eyes! Secondly, the person you want to exchange for me, isn't it Yan Liang?"
At this point, Yang Xiu deliberately paused. He looked up to observe Tong Yuan's expression.
Tong Yuan's eyes narrowed instantly. He didn't ask, "How do you know?" or "Is he alive or dead?" Instead, Tong Yuan raised his Flying Dragon Spear with one hand.
"If he dies, you will die too, and many others will die!"
Facing Tong Yuan's words, Yang Xiu laughed, a particularly hearty laugh. "Hahaha... Hahaha... That's why I say you're foolish. Which urgent report mentioned 'Yan Liang' being killed? All battle reports only mention 'defeated Yan Liang, slew Wen Chou.' 'Defeated,' do you understand? What does 'defeated' mean! 'Defeated' does not equal 'killed'!"
Yang Xiu suddenly seemed to have gained much confidence.
His words also turned sharp. "How intelligent is my mentor? Would he not know the influence of the Yan family in Hebei? In Jizhou? If it weren't for the aristocratic forces behind Yan Liang, how could the battle reports and rumors only mention 'defeating' Yan Liang? Hmph... even ten Yan Liangs wouldn't be enough for my mentor to slaughter!"
This...
Tong Yuan paused slightly. He lived in seclusion, possessed extraordinary martial arts, but... when it came to intellect, he was completely devoid of the word "intelligent." And even lower than his intelligence was his emotional quotient.
—Tong Yuan's spear always drew blood... extremely ferocious! He was bound to suffer greatly because of this, and even incur trouble he shouldn't have!
This was the evaluation his master, Yu Zhenzi, had of him, and also the manifestation of Tong Yuan's low emotional quotient.
He lacked adaptability, stubbornly adhering to his own logic!
This was Tong Yuan's character...
And also the reason why he lived in seclusion!
According to his nature, he prided himself on not being a pawn for others. But if others wanted him to be a pawn, it was too easy... too effortless!
As long as Tong Yuan made a move... there would inevitably be bloodshed and chaos, and Tong Yuan himself might not meet a good end!
Precisely for this reason.
Upon hearing that Yan Liang was still alive, Tong Yuan's stern eyes softened considerably.
He realized that he had been too extreme and that perhaps... a gentler approach could resolve the matter.
Who would have thought...
Just as Tong Yuan's emotions were in flux, Yang Xiu's next words plunged his mood back into the abyss!
"Your third point is your greatest foolishness..." Yang Xiu declared loudly. "You actually slaughtered more than ten of my Yanmen warriors without a word. By doing so... whether it's Young Master Lu or General Lu Ying, they will surely be in a life-and-death struggle with you. You have yourself cut off all room for maneuver! Foolishness, this is your most foolish act, Tong Yuan!"
"And the fourth point..." Yang Xiu's words continued like a barrage, each one more venomous than the last. "Do you know what Yanmen is? What Yanmen Pass is? What is the commander of Yanmen Pass!"
"It is where the border of Great Han is defended, preventing the barbarians from raiding south. My mentor has never cared more about anything than eradicating the barbarians and bringing peace to the frontier! And every frontier soldier is a hero in my mentor's heart! My mentor is irreconcilable with the barbarians, yet you openly killed these 'heroes' who fought the barbarians... Let alone my mentor, you are an enemy of all the border citizens of Great Han. The entire Great Han frontier cannot tolerate you!"
"Hmph..." With that, Yang Xiu let out a cold snort. "You want to trade my life for Yan Liang's life. This path... you have personally blocked it! Heh, heh, laughable, laughable... Skilled in martial arts, but completely ignorant of the ways of the world. No wonder Han Fei said in 'Five Vermin' that knights-errant violate prohibitions with their martial prowess! This kind of chivalrous path, foolish! Simply foolish!"
Yang Xiu had vented his frustrations.
Knowing Tong Yuan's objective, he had already prepared for certain death.
Because of the deaths of those Yanmen warriors, Tong Yuan and his mentor had an irreconcilable enmity. It was impossible to turn things around for the sake of "Yan Liang"!
Precisely for this reason...
Yang Xiu knew he was bound to die! His mentor would not trade Yan Liang for him?
As such, Yang Xiu became reckless, speaking whatever came to his mind, fearing nothing!
Hoo...
Yet, Yang Xiu's words caused Tong Yuan's heart to flutter repeatedly.
Saying it like that, it seemed... he had indeed been rash.
Tong Yuan lowered his head slightly...
Wait...
In an instant, Tong Yuan thought of something else, and his previously fluttering heart became firm once more.
"Nonsense, silver-tongued!"
"If your mentor is truly as you say, one who protects the borders and cares for the frontier people, and is irreconcilable with the barbarians, then... why would he be making deals with the Southern Xiongnu? Who is the mastermind behind the Zhen family of Zhongshan Wuji? Everyone in the borderlands knows this. How can you possibly quibble!"
Tong Yuan said coldly.
In fact, he had done some research before coming to Yanmen.
And what solidified Tong Yuan's belief that Lu Yu was not a good person, and that the Long Xiao Battalion was not a good group, was the business conducted by the Zhen family of Zhongshan Wuji with the Southern Xiongnu!
In his opinion, doing business with barbarians, no matter who it was, was not related to being 'good'!
It was precisely for this reason that he regarded Lu Yu as 'hypocritical' and the soldiers of the Long Xiao Battalion on the Yanmen frontier as those who sought fame by deception.
This was also the reason why Tong Yuan... slaughtered the Yanmen soldiers without asking for any explanation.
However...
The story behind this was long and complex.
"Alas..." Yang Xiu sighed deeply. "You are truly foolish. How could you know what my mentor sold to the barbarians, and what the barbarians exchanged with my mentor?"
Yang Xiu did not reveal the Five-Stone Powder.
This was a secret, and also a grand strategy of his mentor, Lu Yu, to annihilate the barbarians. Even if he died... Yang Xiu would not, could not, say it.
But... if he didn't say it, this misunderstanding might never be resolved.
Thinking of this, Yang Xiu shook his head.
What the hell can be resolved?
No matter how much he tried to resolve it, the enmity between Tong Yuan and his mentor had already been formed, and this was fundamentally irreversible!
"Silver-tongued, in my opinion, your so-called master is nothing more than someone who seeks fame by deception."
Tong Yuan added, his eyes suddenly turning cold. "Irreconcilable, you say? Then let it be irreconcilable! If one Yang Xiu cannot exchange for Yan Liang, then I don't mind abducting a few more people!"
With this thought, Tong Yuan's gaze narrowed, like sharp scimitars, and his eyes were fixed precisely on Niutou Mountain to the southeast!
Two days later... there!
Heh, heh!
"If he dares to kill Yan Liang, I will kill ten, a hundred people from Yanmen!"
With a "dong," the hilt of the Flying Dragon Spear sank into the ground. The immense force of this impact sounded... like thunder!
It seemed...
This also signaled the imminent start of a great battle.
...
...
The bright moon hung high in the sky, and stars twinkled.
The darkness above Xudu City gradually spread, and countless stars broke through, peeking out, as if heralding the arrival of such a night. The air was accompanied by a hint of melancholy, slowly spreading into the hearts of some.
"Is Sister-in-law going to the medical office today? Is she alright..."
Outside the door of a pavilion, Guan Yu paid his respects to his two sisters-in-law.
Lady Gan and Lady Mi were both within this pavilion.
This was Lady Gan's boudoir. After returning from the medical office, Lady Gan was recuperating here.
Lady Mi, not feeling at ease, came to take care of her.
Coincidentally, Guan Yu had returned from Guandu. After paying his respects to Cao Cao, he hurried here.
"Don't worry, Uncle. It's just a common cold. The weather has been fluctuating recently, making it easy to fall ill. The divine physician Zhongjing has already prescribed the medicine. Follow the prescription to recuperate."
Through the door, Lady Gan's voice reached him.
Guan Yu had always valued brotherhood and dared not overstep the boundary with his two sisters-in-law. Every time he paid his respects, he always did so outside the door.
"It's good that Sister-in-law is alright." Guan Yu stroked his beard, seemingly relieved.
"Uncle..." This time, it was Lady Mi who spoke. "What are your plans next, Uncle?"
"My two sisters-in-law, I have ascertained that my elder brother is in Jizhou, Hebei. I am returning today to bid farewell to Prime Minister Cao..." Guan Yu replied truthfully. "Prime Minister Cao saw me, but remained non-committal. It seems he is still hesitant. However... my mind is made up. Regardless of whether Prime Minister Cao agrees, we will set off the day after tomorrow to find my elder brother!"
"That would be for the best..."
"Ah..."
Upon hearing Guan Yu's intention to seek "Liu Bei," Lady Mi and Lady Gan both exclaimed almost simultaneously. But... strangely, Lady Mi seemed very happy, while Lady Gan appeared somewhat surprised.
"Sister-in-law?" Guan Yu asked.
"Oh, nothing," Lady Gan quickly corrected herself.
She felt it was... too fast?
In fact, when Zhang Zhongjing examined her pulse today, she was confused at the time. But after returning home and thinking about it... she immediately felt something was amiss. She then checked the prescription again, and every item was related to "prenatal care."
Thus... Lady Gan had already guessed some things in her heart.
However...
Before she could even discuss it with Prime Minister Cao... Guan Yu had... had proposed to depart in three days to find Liu Bei. This... this...
With a "gulp," Lady Gan swallowed. Her entire face turned even paler than paper.
"Sister Gan? Are you alright?" Lady Mi asked with concern.
Lady Gan deliberately extended her delicate hand to her forehead. "I'm fine. It's just... it's just that I feel it's a bit too rushed."
"Oh..." Guan Yu understood. "It was my oversight. Sister-in-law is still recuperating. Leaving Xudu... it should be after Sister-in-law has recovered. Please don't blame me, Sister-in-law. The date can be postponed slightly."
"Everything will be as Uncle decides!" Lady Gan replied.
As soon as her words fell...
Guan Yu clasped his hands. "Then, Guan leaves. Both sisters-in-law should sleep early!"
Saying this, Guan Yu walked towards the study. Every night, Guan Yu had to read the "Spring and Autumn Annals." If he didn't read it for a day... he, Guan Yu, would feel restless.
"Sister Gan, sleep early. Sister will also take her leave now." Seeing that Lady Gan's complexion was clearly not good, Lady Mi did not linger.
She slowly withdrew, allowing Lady Gan to rest early.
Moments later, this pavilion courtyard returned to absolute silence.
Only the chirping of insects and the calls of birds could be heard.
However...
Lady Gan stood by the window, gazing blankly at the sky. This "child" had truly come at the wrong time. What should she do at this juncture?
If it were exposed, then... then she would undoubtedly be scorned by the world as a slut! But... Prime Minister Cao would certainly... certainly also be ruined! This matter was too significant!
Yet...
Yet, after Uncle Guan Yu returned, it became so difficult for her... difficult to even get a glimpse of Prime Minister Cao to discuss matters.
Helplessness, confusion, sorrow...
All sorts of emotions flashed through her heart. The crucial point was that there was no one to confide in!
Drip... drip-drop! Faintly, Lady Gan's tears welled up.
Who would have thought...
At this very moment.
"Crack crack..."
Several crisp sounds. Lady Gan felt... it seemed the sound was coming from her boudoir.
"Crack crack..."
The sound was continuous and increasingly loud and urgent.
This...
Lady Gan looked towards the source of the sound. Not looking was fine, but upon looking, she discovered that a section of the floor in her boudoir was moving, trembling.
It was continuously bulging upwards, as if something was emerging from the ground.
"Ah..."
She instinctively covered her mouth, letting out a sound. However... Lady Gan was too tired, so the sound was not loud.
But the ground was still moving, and moving more frequently, bulging even larger and more majestically.
Just as Lady Gan was about to call for someone...
With a "snap," the entire floor, from bulging, turned into a depression. Immediately after, it was as if it had been instantly chiseled through.
Followed closely by a gentle voice.
—"Mei'er, don't be afraid, it's me..."
A demonic tone, demonic words.
When Lady Gan clearly saw the person who had arrived, her eyes were about to well up with tears. Wasn't this the person she had been longing for?
...
...