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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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“It’s truly an honor to meet you like this, Brother Yuanzhi. Shall we go somewhere and have a drink?”
“Suddenly?”
I was on my way to Langya, but encountering Xu Shu here was an opportunity I couldn’t ignore.
“I’ve heard of your chivalry all the way back in my hometown of Wu Commandery. I’d be honored to treat you, so please join me.”
“I’ve met all sorts of strange people. But I won’t refuse a drink.”
I led Xu Shu towards the bustling streets of Guangling. We found an inn and went inside.
“Welcome… Huh?!”
“B, blood!”
It appeared to be a small inn run by a couple, with no other customers, perfect.
Xu Shu entered first and sat down quietly. I sat down as well, about to order, when I noticed the innkeepers’ horrified expressions.
Ah, right. We were covered in blood.
“Aren’t you taking orders?”
“Well, you see…”
I gestured to my bloodstained clothes.
“Is it because of this? We were traveling from the south by boat and ran into a band of pirates on the Yangtze. We barely escaped with our lives.”
“What?”
“The Yangtze River pirates are terrifying. This warrior here managed to fend them off.”
“Is, is that so?”
I took out some wushu coins from my pocket and placed them on the table.
“We nearly died to pirates, so of course, we need a drink. Bring us some drinks and food, quickly.”
“Right away! We’ll bring out your order immediately.”
It was understandable that they were frightened by two men covered in blood and carrying swords in broad daylight. After my brief explanation, they murmured amongst themselves but went to the kitchen to prepare the food.
“I should get some new clothes to avoid any further misunderstandings.”
“Hmm…”
I tried to lighten the mood with small talk, but Xu Shu remained silent. Only when the drinks and food arrived did he finally pour himself a drink and gulp it down.
“I don’t know how you know my name, but let’s end our acquaintance here.”
“No, I truly wish to travel with you, Brother Yuanzhi.”
Xu Shu’s eyes narrowed.
“Having met you, Xu Yuanzhi, a warrior of the realm, I wish to travel with you and learn from your wisdom.”
Xu Shu’s eyes narrowed.
“Are you mocking me?”
“What?”
“You’ve been calling me a warrior since we first met on the boat, but I left my hometown because I want to abandon my reputation as a swordsman.”
“Ah…”
“But you keep calling me a warrior, so I asked if you’re mocking me.”
I considered his words. I remembered reading that Xu Shu had been a wandering warrior in his younger days, attracting a large following.
To put it nicely, he was a wandering warrior, but to put it bluntly, he was a swordsman leading a gang in chaotic times… a gangster.
So I decided to change my approach.
“Then, having abandoned the path of the sword, where are you headed?”
“I’ve been wandering, wanting to learn about the world. I’m looking for a great teacher.”
“A teacher?”
“There was a renowned scholar named Master Shui Jing in my hometown of Yingchuan. I intended to abandon my life of recklessness and pursue scholarship under him.”
Ah, Master Shui Jing. He was talking about Sima Hui. Sima Hui was a famous scholar of this era, and many talented individuals studied under him. Xu Shu was historically one of them. But the timing was strangely off; Xu Shu hadn’t met his teacher yet.
“However, he left Yingchuan, and I don’t know where he went. So, I’m wandering in search of another teacher.”
Now the pieces fit. As far as I knew, Sima Hui would go down to Jing Province and cultivate the talents of many aspiring military leaders. Xu Shu would eventually arrive in Jing Province and begin his studies there.
Having done the calculations, I made Xu Shu an offer.
“If you’ve abandoned the sword and seek scholarship, I can help you.”
“What?”
“I am Cao Xiu, of the Cao clan of Qiao County, Pei Commandery. I’m on my way to visit the former Grand Commandant Cao Song in Langya.”
“And?”
“Travel with me, and I will introduce you to the former Grand Commandant. He knows many renowned scholars, and since he’s on his way to Yan Province, how about pursuing scholarship there?”
“Hmm…”
Perhaps not in the future, but the Xu Shu of this time, while sharp as a blade, was also open to discussion. He had clearly abandoned the path of the sword and sought scholarship. It was natural he would be swayed by my mention of my family and the name of the former Grand Commandant, Cao Song.
“Would you like another drink?”
When I offered my empty cup, Xu Shu silently poured me more wine.
“So where is this former Grand Commandant now?”
Success!
“He’s in Langya, Xu Province.”
“That’s a five-day journey from here.”
“Will you come with me?”
Xu Shu gulped down his drink and replied,
“We should get some new clothes and leave tomorrow.”
“Excellent!”
I had gained an incredible companion in Xu Shu. This increased the chances of protecting Cao Song’s family in Langya.
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The next day,
Dressed in fresh robes, we set off from Guangling to Langya on horseback. Having gained such an exceptional individual as Xu Shu, he would be a great asset when escorting Cao Song and meeting Cao Cao.
However, I still had many anxieties. Hundreds of bandits were targeting Cao Song’s family, and there was no way the two of us could fend them off alone.
The night before reaching Langya, I shared my concerns with Xu Shu.
“So, Wenlie, you’re saying you brought me along because you need my help escorting your wealthy relative?”
“That’s part of it, but I’m also sincere about helping you pursue scholarship in Yan Province, Brother Yuanzhi.”
“Hmm, but everything hinges on the former Grand Commandant, Cao Song, safely reaching Yan Province, doesn’t it?”
“Precisely.”
Xu Shu poked at the fire with a stick, then spoke as if something had occurred to him.
“Before reaching Langya, there’s a town called Dongcheng County. There’s a prominent local magnate there, a friend of mine.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“He doesn’t follow the Governor of Xu Province and commands many renowned warriors in his hometown. Would you like to meet him?”
“Of course. I would love to meet such a hero.”
Xu Province, before ‘Cao Cao’s incident,’ was a prosperous land with many prominent figures. Xu Shu mentioned knowing someone here, and that made me even more hopeful.
If Xu Shu spoke so highly of him, he must be someone truly remarkable.
After camping for the night, we rode to Dongcheng County in Xu Province the next day, and I was once again astonished.
In this small county, there was an incredibly wealthy man who owned a mansion larger than the government office. And his name was Lu Su, courtesy name Zijing. The famous wealthy man of the Three Kingdoms era, and the future Grand Governor of Wu, Lu Su.
“Yuanzhi, I thought you had embarked on a long journey, but I never expected to see you again so soon.”
Lu Su welcomed Xu Shu and me into his home without hesitation and even offered us tea.
My first impression of Lu Su was that he was a strikingly handsome man with strong features. However, he was younger than Xu Shu, in his early twenties, but perhaps to appear more authoritative, he had grown a long beard, unlike Xu Shu and me.
Xu Shu and Lu Su… Even if I just brought these two to Cao Cao, it would be incredible.
I was about to explain the situation to them.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Cao Xiu, courtesy name Wenlie. Due to certain circumstances, I am in urgent need of loyal and skilled soldiers.”
“I do command some renowned warriors in the village, but I don’t keep them for war… hmm.”
Lu Su said this, but after taking a sip of tea, he quietly asked,
“Without asking any questions, I can lend someone up to ten of my men.”
“What?”
He offered to lend ten soldiers. Xu Shu quietly raised his teacup and looked at Lu Su. Lu Su chuckled and held up his fingers.
“But for Yuanzhi’s sake, I’ll add ten more. And they’ll all be skilled horsemen.”
“Oh, really?”
“There are all sorts of people. Those seeking revenge, those burning with a sense of justice to hunt down bandits, those gathering strength to make a name for themselves… All sorts of people have come to me for help, but I don’t ask their reasons. And I don’t particularly want to know why you’re here asking to borrow soldiers, not money or food.”
Lu Su was a truly magnanimous person.
Without asking any questions, he readily offered to lend twenty skilled cavalrymen, proficient in both swordsmanship and spear techniques.
“You said your name was Cao Wenlie? You seem to have hit it off with Yuanzhi. Rest well here, take my men, finish your task, and then send them back here.”
“You have my thanks, Lord Zijing!”
At first, I had planned to go alone and rescue Cao Song first, but then I met Xu Shu, the wandering warrior with the prowess to single-handedly defeat pirates on the Yangtze River.
And through Xu Shu, I met Lu Su and was able to borrow twenty of his cavalrymen.
With this, I could definitely save Cao Song’s family.
“I am grateful for your generosity, and there is something I wish to tell you. I am originally from the Cao clan of Qiao County, Pei Commandery, and I am on my way to Yan Province. The governor there, Lord Cao, is seeking talented individuals.”
Lu Su smiled and held up his hand.
“Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Lord Zijing, he will become a hero of the realm in the future, and if you meet him personally…”
“Let’s stop there. If you displease me, those twenty men will be off the table.”
Xu Shu nudged my side with his scabbard.
“I won’t leave this place for the sake of a friend. I already have a future promised to me and am waiting for the right time.”
That friend must be Zhou Yu.
If I had more time, I would have stayed here, persuaded Lu Su, and brought him along as well.
However, time was of the essence. In the end, I chose to rescue Cao Song’s family and gain Cao Cao’s trust instead.
With the help of Xu Shu and Lu Su, I set off for Langya with twenty men.
And with impeccable timing, we caught up with Cao Song’s family after traveling for half a day, not long after they had left Langya.
Everyone was safe, and the carts containing over one hundred units of gold, silver, and treasures were also intact.
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Bloody bromance, free booze, and a rich guy handing out warriors like snacks—let’s goowww! 🍷⚔️🔥
