Storm Clouds Gather Over Xiapi

After finishing the story of Legend of the Condor Heroes, Lu Lingqi did not pester him for another tale. She was still deeply immersed in the role of Huang Rong, while Gao Shun usually supervised Lan Tian's martial arts practice.

As autumn passed and winter arrived, Gan Family Village welcomed another bountiful harvest.

Besides the share turned in by the farmers of the village itself, many tenant farmers from nearby also brought grain and vegetables. Families with especially good harvests even sent pork and mutton.

Lan Tian cut the mutton into small pieces, rubbed them with salt, and roasted them over the fire. Though the seasoning was simple, the skewers left both of them with mouths full of grease.

After several months of hard practice, Lan Tian's body gradually improved, and he found himself growing more energetic as well.

During this time, Lan Tian no longer told long stories. Instead, he occasionally explained the Zuo Zhuan and the Weiliaozi that Lu Lingqi had sent over to the two of them.

Lu Lingqi suddenly realized that it was not stories she enjoyed hearing from him. What she truly liked was hearing him speak. Even the simplest word sounded different when it came from Lan Tian's mouth.

Winter was cold, and Lu Lingqi and Gao Shun visited Gan Family Village less often. Even so, they still reminded him to wear more clothes and practice martial arts diligently.

When spring arrived the following year, the farms outside Xiaopei once again threw themselves into the bustling work of spring plowing. Lan Tian also needed to take advantage of the season to cultivate and improve crop varieties.

After the weather warmed and flowers bloomed, Lu Lingqi began visiting Gan Family Village more frequently again, though Gao Shun often did not accompany her.

With no third wheel around, the atmosphere between the young man and woman became increasingly tender and intimate. Yet because of the vast difference in their statuses, they ultimately remained at the stage of merely having feelings for one another.

Lu Lingqi taught Lan Tian martial arts, while Lan Tian taught Lu Lingqi how to cook. Their sweet days passed quickly, and before they knew it, early summer had arrived.

Over the past year, Lu Bu had recuperated in Xiaopei while recruiting and training troops. But as his strength gradually recovered, Xiaopei's grain stores began to run short. He even had Gao Shun borrow three hundred shi of millet from Lan Tian's Gan Family Village, thinking that since his daughter had taught the boy martial arts for so long, they ought to collect some tuition fees.

Because of Lu Lingqi, Lan Tian had never intended to demand the millet back from Lu Bu. Although Xiaopei was now Liu Bei's territory, local officials were no match for those who held real power. Lu Bu was stationed here with more than ten thousand troops under his command; like Cao the Rebel, he could easily find an excuse to kill people and seize grain.

One night in the sixth month of the first year of Jian'an, Yuan Shu of Huainan sent someone to Xiaopei to seek an audience with Lu Bu. He promised two hundred thousand hu of military grain along with other supplies, inviting Lu Bu to send troops and join him in attacking Liu Bei from both sides.

At the time, Yuan Shu had sent troops to invade Xu Province, so Liu Bei personally led his army alongside Guan Yu to fight Yuan Shu along the Xuyi and Huaiyin front. He left Military Sima Zhang Fei behind to guard Xiapi.

Lu Bu was deeply tempted upon hearing this, and he and Chen Gong plotted to seize Xiapi.

Several days later, Cao Bao, the former commander of Tao Qian's Danyang Soldiers, came into conflict with Xiapi's defending general Zhang Fei. In a rage, Zhang Fei killed him, causing a great disaster. With the people of Xiapi now in a state of panic, General of the Household Xu Dan sent Sima Zhang to Xiaopei to request an audience with Lu Bu.

Because there had been too much rain over the past half year, the village's crops had suffered reduced yields. Lan Tian had to regularly visit the fields to offer guidance and find ways to help the villagers recover their losses.

Gan Family Village was preparing for the summer harvest, and Lan Tian had finally managed to get some free time when Lu Lingqi and Gao Shun arrived at his home together again. It looked as though they had come once more to urge him to practice martial arts.

Although Lan Tian still could not spar with Lu Lingqi and Gao Shun, after more than half a year of grueling training, he could already defeat a farmer in his prime.

"General Gao, it has been a long time," Lan Tian said, clasping his hands in greeting when he saw Gao Shun dressed in full armor.

"I heard from Young Lady that you have been busy recently as well. It seems you are somewhat freer now?" Gao Shun said.

"I am merely stealing a little leisure amid my work. General Gao has not visited in quite some time. Have there been new recruits in the camp?" Lan Tian asked.

"Not at all. My father has been moving troops around lately. He may be preparing for war."

"Young Lady, Master Ziyu has finally gotten some free time. We should not let him waste such a fine opportunity. Why not accompany him in some martial arts practice?" Before Lu Lingqi could finish, Gao Shun cut in to interrupt her. Even someone as familiar as Lan Tian could not be casually told such military secrets.

"Yes, yes. Do not make excuses to be lazy today," Lu Lingqi muttered.

Though Gao Shun had successfully changed the subject, who was Lan Tian? He immediately realized that Lu Bu was about to make a major move. Peaceful days did not last long in this era of the Three Kingdoms, and great events would probably occur every year. After calming down and considering it carefully, he deduced that Lu Bu was likely planning to steal Liu Bei's home.

Poor Liu Big Ears. How long had he even had to develop?

Lan Tian immediately grew worried when he thought of Gan Qian and Gan Ji. Though the historical records said Lu Bu would later return Liu Bei's family, who could guarantee something they had not personally experienced?

"Do you know why I am the village master, yet this place is called Gan Family Village?" Lan Tian deliberately asked during a break.

Gao Shun was usually occupied with military affairs, while Lu Lingqi had never paid attention to such matters. Neither had ever considered Lan Tian's question, so both shook their heads after hearing it.

"That is because the previous village master was my adoptive father," Lan Tian said.

Adoptive father? That was not an auspicious term in Lu Bu's army.

"Did your adoptive father die too?" Lu Lingqi blurted out, though she did not know why she had said "too."

Lan Tian shook his head. "In the fourth year of Chuping, Cao the Rebel massacred Xu Province. My parents both died then. If my adoptive father Gan Ji had not taken me in, I would probably be a pile of bones in the mass grave outside the village."

"Your adoptive father truly is a wonderful man. Where is he now? Does he live in the village too?" Lu Lingqi asked.

"My adoptive elder sister previously married General Liu as a concubine, and my adoptive father went with her to live in Xiapi," Lan Tian explained.

"General Liu? Liu Xuande?" Lu Lingqi pressed.

"Mm."

Their conversation stirred waves in Gao Shun's heart. His lord Lu Bu had been plotting to attack Xiapi these past few days, yet unexpectedly, Lan Ziyu had this connection to Liu Bei.

"Does General Liu look down on you, Master? Otherwise, why did he not take you with him to Xiapi?" Gao Shun asked.

"Not at all. I simply enjoy farming, so I did not go with them," Lan Tian said.

Lu Lingqi smiled happily. "You really are stubborn. But if you had truly gone to Xiapi, we might never have met."

"You are mistaken, Young Lady. As the saying goes, those fated to meet will find each other even a thousand miles apart; those without fate cannot join hands even face-to-face." Lan Tian regretted it the moment he finished speaking. Damn it, that sounded a little too suggestive, especially with Gao Shun right here.

Even the usually forthright Lu Lingqi had her ears turn red at those words, while Gao Shun acted as though he had heard nothing, his expression perfectly natural.

Old Gao, you are a true master of emotional control. Steady as ever.

Lu Lingqi and Gao Shun remained at Gan Family Village until after dinner before returning. When they reached Xiaopei, they discovered that all the generals had gathered at the government office.

"Father, what is going on?" Lu Lingqi asked in confusion.

Lu Bu looked around and said, "Boping, you have returned at just the right time. That bastard Zhang Fei has committed evil deeds in Xiapi. Xu Dan and the generals of Xu Province have asked me to go to Xiapi and take charge of the situation. Lead your troops as the vanguard and depart at once. We will travel through the night for Xiapi."

"Yes." After responding, Gao Shun immediately went to assemble his troops.

"Father? Are we going to attack Liu Bei's Xu Province?" Lu Lingqi asked in shock.

"Mm. Put on your armor as well. Protect your mother and follow with the rear column," Lu Bu ordered.

"Oh."

At that moment, both Lu Lingqi and Gao Shun felt uneasy. They had only discussed Liu Bei with Lan Tian that afternoon, yet now they were immediately going to attack Xiapi. Was that not a little too much of a coincidence?