Gao Shun Acknowledges His Master

Lan Tian was a very strong person; this was the first time he had ever wept with such sorrow.

Crying could be a good way to vent emotions, but it was also laced with unwillingness and helplessness.

Seeing Lan Tian crying so genuinely, Gan Ji reached out from under the quilt and stroked Lan Tian's forehead, saying, "This foster father has no great ability, so I can only entrust Qian'er to you. Although you two are not siblings by blood, you are closer than if you were. Qian'er..."

"Father." Gan Qian had long been weeping, her face a mess of tears, and hearing Gan Ji's call, she knelt down as well.

"Qian'er, you must listen to Tian'er from now on. I am at ease knowing he will protect you," Gan Ji said to his daughter.

Gan Qian wiped away her tears. "Father, don't have such thoughts. Once you take the physician's medicine, you will get better soon. Your daughter has yet to fulfill her filial duties to you."

Gan Ji smiled bitterly. "It is only by Heaven's mercy that we survived these past few years. It was Tian'er who allowed me to live the happiest years of my life; it was worth it."

"Foster father, please, say no more," Lan Tian sobbed.

"Tian'er, Xuande was right. Your Sanctuary cannot block every blade and sword. If you do not want to be bitten by dogs, you must hold a stick in your hand," Gan Ji sighed.

Lan Tian nodded in agreement. "I have already decided to join my brother-in-law's camp to protect Sister with all my might, so she will no longer suffer the misery of displacement."

Only upon hearing this promise did Gan Ji nod with satisfaction.

Inside the room, the siblings wept incessantly, while the physician in the courtyard shook his head repeatedly. Birth, aging, sickness, and death were the laws of nature; in these chaotic times, to have a handful of earth to rest in after death and children to weep for one's passing was a life not lived in vain.

After Cao Cao returned his army to Xudu, the census in Xiapi had concluded. To prevent remnants of Lu Bu's forces from causing trouble, the garrison commanders kept the four gates of Xiapi under strict guard.

A man with a hurried expression arrived at the backyard of an inconspicuous civilian house in the north of the city.

He paced near a jujube tree, then suddenly stomped hard on the ground covered in withered leaves. The leaves slid aside, revealing a square-shaped lid that pushed upward.

The man said to the person beneath the lid, "General, the census is finished. It is now safe to bring the Young Lady up."

The speaker was none other than Gao Yuan of the Xianzhen Battalion. While clearing the standing water in the north of the city earlier, he had specifically dug several Sanctuaries in the vicinity.

When Hou Cheng and the others surrendered, Gao Shun had taken advantage of the chaos to bring Lu Lingqi into a Sanctuary to hide. Five full days had now passed.

Gao Yuan brought Gao Shun and Lu Lingqi into the dilapidated, ownerless house in front, then sent for some hot food.

Gao Shun and Lu Lingqi had learned two days prior that Lu Bu and Chen Gong had been defeated and killed, and that their troops had all surrendered to Cao Cao. Gao Shun now had no choice but to follow his final orders to protect Lu Lingqi.

"What is the situation outside? How many men do you have left?" Gao Shun asked.

"During the two days after Xiapi fell, the Cao soldiers looted the city, causing some chaos. It has now begun to settle, and the census was completed yesterday. We built too few Sanctuaries back then; currently, only a dozen men of the Xianzhen Battalion remain. My deputy, Xu Shuang, heard that the General had 'gone missing' and led the others to surrender to Cao the Rebel," Gao Yuan replied.

Gao Shun shook his head. "The matter of the Sanctuaries should not be publicized. It was only because I had to follow the Lord's orders that I failed them. Go and summon the brothers of the Xianzhen Battalion."

"Understood."

After Gao Yuan left, Gao Shun saw Lu Lingqi's blank expression and comforted her, "Young Lady, the Lord died a heroic death, as a true man should. You must live on with strength. Whether you seek revenge against Cao the Rebel or hide in the countryside, I, Gao Shun, will follow you through life and death."

"What ability do I have to seek revenge against Cao the Rebel?" Lu Lingqi shook her head with a bitter smile.

"Why not seek counsel from Master Ziyu? If not for the Master's warning, I fear I would have already followed the Lord to the grave," Gao Shun reminded her.

"Lan Ziyu? Of course I will go find him. This wretch knew of my father's peril yet refused to use his schemes to save him. My deep affection for him was all in vain," Lu Lingqi said coldly.

Gao Shun did not speak. In his view, Lan Tian had his own difficulties; if he had compromised Liu Bei's honor for the sake of the Young Lady, he would truly be a villain. That he chose to help neither side was already quite commendable.

After a while, Gao Yuan and seventeen subordinates entered. Every one of them was sturdy and imposing—all hand-picked, loyal confidants.

"General," they all said.

Gao Shun raised a hand to stop them. "There are many patrols in the city; do not speak loudly. Though the Lord is dead, he left behind an orphan. I am willing to honor his final wish and serve the Young Lady as my master. From this day forward, through mountains of blades and seas of fire, I will have no regrets even in death. If any of you have other intentions, you may leave now."

Seeing this, Gao Yuan immediately led the others to kneel and shout, "We swear to serve the Young Lady to the death, with no regrets!"

These men were Gao Yuan's hand-picked confidants; it was impossible for them to abandon their old master for the sake of wealth and glory.

After the soldiers took their oath, Gao Shun turned and knelt on one knee before Lu Lingqi, cupping his hands as he called out, "My Lord."

The fervent cry made the blood boil. Even a woman like Lu Lingqi felt the surge of heroism at that moment. She finally understood why men were so obsessed with power; such power was truly irresistible.

"General Gao, please rise. Everyone, please rise." Lu Lingqi reached out to help Gao Shun up.

After everyone stood, Gao Yuan advised, "Xiapi is no place to stay for long. We must find somewhere else to settle as soon as possible, but the city gates are heavily guarded, and we cannot leave in the short term."

"What is to be done? I still wish to go to Xiaopei," Lu Lingqi asked Gao Shun.

Gao Shun stroked his beard in thought. "Although the Cao army has retreated, Xiapi is currently without a master and remains under martial law. Once Cao the Rebel returns to Xudu, he will surely appoint a confidant as the governor of Xu Province. That will be the time for us to leave the city."

"How long do you think that will take?" Lu Lingqi pressed.

"I am not as divinely calculating as Master Ziyu, but there should be news within a month," Gao Shun said.

The mention of Lan Tian sent ripples through Lu Lingqi's heart. She did not know how she would react when she finally saw him.

Seeing Lu Lingqi's dejected expression, Gao Shun realized he had spoken out of turn and quickly instructed Gao Yuan, "You must break into small groups. Do not appear together, or it will arouse suspicion."

"Understood. Over the past two days, the Household Bureau sent clerks to conduct the census. Those of us who came out first lied and claimed to be refugees from another commandery, then registered under false names," Gao Yuan reported truthfully.

"That is excellent. My Lord, let us wait a little longer," Gao Shun said.

"Very well, I shall follow your lead, General." Lu Lingqi nodded.

Gao Shun and his men remained in hiding for over ten days until Cao Cao appointed the General Who Displays Martial Might, Che Zhou, as the Inspector of Xu Province.

It was the time of the Spring Festival, and Xiapi looked quite desolate after the war. To restore vitality to the region, Che Zhou withdrew the dense patrols from the streets, ordered the gate guards to relax their inspections, and allowed the people to enjoy a peaceful festival.

With the military control lifted, the residents of Xiapi slowly began to visit friends, and farmers from the surrounding ten miles frequently entered and exited the gates. Lu Lingqi and her group took the opportunity to slip out of Xiapi in small batches.

Lacking horses for transport, they could only disguise themselves as refugees and slowly make their way toward Xiaopei in the northwest.