Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Backstabbing Lord-Vassal Relationship
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"How about dealing directly with me, instead of going through that old fox Ding Yuan?"
Zhang Yang's sweet proposal lingered in his ears.
A suffocating silence filled the room. Behind his leisurely smile, Zhang Yang hid his greedy gaze as he watched for a reaction.
'This eunuch is testing me.'
If he bit at the offer here, he'd become an oath-breaking bastard betraying Ding Yuan. If he refused, he'd make an enemy of this man.
Either way, it was a path to ruin. But there was a way to turn this situation to his advantage.
He lowered his posture and opened his mouth politely yet confidently.
"Milord."
Zhang Yang's eyebrows twitched faintly.
"It seems Your Excellency wishes to purchase this blade I call myself. You've just seen how sharp it is, but you haven't yet witnessed how well it cuts."
For the first time, a spark of genuine interest flickered in Zhang Yang's eyes.
"A blade's true value lies not just in its edge, but in how effectively it cleaves. How can you set a price on a sword untested in battle? First, grant me the mission to subdue the bandits. Allow me to prove my worth with my own hands, and then we can discuss terms. It won't be too late."
"...Hmm."
Zhang Yang stared at the bold response for a moment before bursting into loud laughter, as if thoroughly amused.
"Ah, haha! Indeed! I thought you were just some empty-headed frontier warrior, but you know how to haggle quite well. So you can think after all."
Once his laughter subsided, he sized Lu Bu up once more. This time, it wasn't mere curiosity. His eyes gleamed with the intent to see just how much merit he could claim on the battlefield.
"Very well. I like your guts. I'll give you the chance to prove your worth. Withdraw for now. You'll hear from me soon."
"I shall obey."
As he performed the proper salute and turned to leave the chamber, Zhang Yang's voice called from behind.
"Hold on."
He halted and turned back. Zhang Yang's expression now held a hint of curiosity unlike before.
"From your words and actions, it's hard to see you as a mere brute. Who was it that taught you?"
"......"
At the question, his master's face came to mind.
"Master Bai Gai is my teacher."
He gave the short reply and, with no further business, turned away without hesitation.
Though he had left Zhang Yang's chambers, the gaze of the old eunuch seemed to linger on his back for a long while.
His mind was a whirlwind all the way back to the official residence.
'I wonder what effect mentioning my master's name will have on that eunuch.'
But it would undoubtedly create a variable. It was like gaining a new card to play, different from dealing with Ding Yuan.
Upon arriving at the residence, everyone—including Zhang Liao and Wei Sok—rushed out with worried faces.
"Attendant! Are you alright?"
"Brother! What did those castrated bastards do to you...!"
"Don't make a fuss."
He silenced Wei Sok's chatter and called Zhang Liao aside.
He needed to brief Zhang Liao on the rough situation: the conversation with Zhang Yang, the test to prove his 'worth,' and finally revealing his master's name.
Zhang Liao's face grew grave as he heard it all.
"Chief Attendant Zhang Yang... and Master Bai Gai... Attendant, this is no small matter. The Ten Attendants and the court's Clear Stream scholars are mortal enemies. You're walking a tightrope between the Turbid Stream faction and the Clear Stream faction."
"I know."
"This is a double-edged sword. The Chief Attendant might grow more wary of you, or he might value you higher as a blade to check the Clear Stream faction."
"Either way, it doesn't hurt me, does it?"
"That's true, but..."
He smirked at Zhang Liao's concern.
This Luoyang was a den of foxes anyway. Since he was here, he might as well grab everything he could.
After the talk with Zhang Liao, the aimless wait resumed.
"Agh... Brother, why does that old bastard always make us wait like this!"
Wei Sok began fidgeting restlessly again, but Lu Bu quietly bided his time. Zhang Yang would move. If only to test his 'worth.'
Three days later, an eunuch sent by Zhang Yang returned to the residence—this time bearing a letter containing his orders.
"Ahem. Military Affairs Attendant Lu Bu of Bing Province, heed this. These are the words of His Excellency the Chief Attendant."
The eunuch read the letter in a clear voice.
"Lately, bandits wearing black turbans known as the Black Mountain Bandits have appeared in the Hedong region, giving the Hedong Commandery Administrator a severe headache. Their leader is a man named Sa Li."
'Black Mountain Bandits?'
The moment he heard the name, he recalled the black-turbaned thieves he'd encountered on the way to the capital.
'Ha, those guys were the Black Mountain Bandits?'
As he thought that, he didn't miss how Cheng Lian and Wei Yue's shoulders trembled at the name.
The faces of the former bandits had gone deathly pale.
'What did those guys eat wrong? Why are they so pale?'
Even amid his trivial thoughts, the eunuch continued.
"The court has finally decided to dispatch a subjugation army. The Henan Inspector will lead the troops personally to support the Hedong Commandery Administrator. His Excellency the Chief Attendant grants you the opportunity to join that army and prove the 'worth' you spoke of. What say you?"
"......."
The chance had come. A chance to make his name in the capital—
"Please inform His Excellency the Chief Attendant that I shall obey his command."
"Ahem. His Excellency's expectations are high, so fulfill them properly. Understood?"
"Yes."
After the eunuch left, he looked around at everyone present.
"You all heard that. Get ready thoroughly. If anyone lags behind, I won't save you even if you die."
"Haha! Brother always says that, but you rush in to save anyone who's about to die!"
"Shut up, you punk!"
Yellow Turbans, Black Mountain Bandits, Clear Stream, Turbid Stream—there was no end to the things demanding his attention.
That night, when everyone was asleep.
In the most secluded corner of the official residence, two shadows met in secret.
Cheng Lian and Wei Yue.
Their faces were bloodless, etched with extreme anguish. Cheng Lian spoke first, his voice trembling with fear.
"Fuck... what the hell do we do? Attacking Sa Li's band in Hedong means killing the Great Chieftain's men with our own hands."
"The Great Chieftain's orders are absolute. But..."
But—
The words that followed wouldn't come out.
Before Wei Yue's eyes lingered the image of Lu Bu massacring the roadside bandits like toys.
Overwhelming power and beast-like killing intent.
It was a monster beyond human bounds. The thought of antagonizing Lu Bu was unimaginable.
"—But that monster, Lu Bu..."
Wei Yue's voice grew quieter.
"The Great Chieftain discarded us as disposable pawns, saying the time wasn't right. But serving under this guy... wouldn't it be better to stick with the monster instead?"
"Are you insane?! Don't you know betrayal means death?!"
Cheng Lian cried out in shock. But Wei Yue glared back with bloodshot eyes.
"Hey, do you have a brain? If we don't betray, we'll die by that monster's hand! You saw it too. Between the monster and the Great Chieftain, who gives us better odds of survival?"
"......."
Cheng Lian had no reply.
Wei Yue pounded his chest in frustration at the hesitant Cheng Lian.
"Come on! Why overthink it? Die now? Or die later? That's all you need to think about."
"You're right, but... fuck, I don't know. I just don't know."
The two groaned for a while before turning their eyes toward the residence.
Deep into the night, the residence's lodging was deathly still. The others were all asleep, but Lu Bu sat alone under the candlelight, reading a book.
Then the door opened silently, and two shadows entered. Cheng Lian and Wei Yue, swords at their waists.
He pretended to read, but every sense in his body focused on them.
'These bastards?'
Were they daring to come for his head?
He considered lunging out first and snapping their necks. But they did something unexpected.
Cheng Lian and Wei Yue suddenly unbelted their swords and set them on the floor.
—Clang.
The metallic sound echoed loudly in the quiet room. Then the two knelt right there and kowtowed.
"Attendant."
Cheng Lian's voice trembled severely.
"Please take our heads. We... have committed a capital crime."
"Cheng Lian is right. In truth, we surrendered falsely under orders from Black Mountain's Great Chieftain Zhang Yan."
Wei Yue confessed everything.
"Zhang Yan ordered us to find an opening to take your head or incite a revolt in Bing Province. Please... strike off our heads!"
"...."
Ha, fuck.
He'd thought their surrender was too perfectly timed. But he hadn't expected them to be plotting a backstab like this.
"Then why confess to me now? As that Zhang Yan said, you could've waited for an opening to cut my throat or stir up trouble and escape."
At those words, Wei Yue raised his head. Terror and awe mingled on his face.
"We've only followed you for a short time, but we've seen it clearly. Your martial prowess... Zhang Yan only used us as tools, but you took us in. How could we dare strike you from behind!"
"Just as Wei Yue says! W-We only kept silent out of fear..."
The two slammed their heads to the floor again. He watched them quietly before silently closing the book he'd been reading.