Don't Buy Fame Like the Hegemon King

The side courtyard had only a dozen or so guards. Before long, only five or six remained, retreating inside covered in blood.

"Master Ziyu, take the two madams and leave through the back door! These are all Sun Huang's household slaves," one of the guards said.

Sun Huang? Lan Tian knew that name well. He was the colleague who sat across from him at the Household Bureau. His family had a few meager fields near Xiapi, and rumor had it he'd landed his post through the Chen Family's connections.

At the office, that fellow had always been all smiles toward Lan Tian. Who could have guessed he had such an ugly face beneath it?

As they spoke, Sun Huang led more than a dozen burly men charging inside.

"Lan Ziyu, look at you now!" Sun Huang said, his heavyset frame wrapped in fat and his face dark with malice.

"Sun Baihe, what do you mean by this?" Lan Tian held his sword across his chest, his face full of anger.

Sun Huang sneered. "Well, well, you know how to wield a sword? Since Chancellor Cao has returned to Xiapi, I naturally have to prepare a welcome gift. Those two madams behind you are quite something."

"Shameless!" Gan Qian and Mi Zhen were so frightened that they ducked into a small room beside the courtyard, though they still peered out to watch what was happening.

"Sun Huang, you despicable wretch!" Lan Tian shouted furiously.

Sun Huang threw back his head and laughed. "A wretch? Staying alive is what matters. I've had enough of bowing and scraping to you all these years. Niu Er, Zhu San, cut him down!"

The few guards in the courtyard had been about to come to Lan Tian's aid, but more than ten burly men rushed at them. They became locked in a brawl, with no strength to spare to protect Lan Tian.

Niu Er wielded a wooden club, while Zhu San carried a short blade. It seemed Sun Huang's household hadn't had enough weapons to go around.

A fighting spirit flared in Lan Tian's heart. Though Lu Lingqi and Gao Shun had taught him martial arts, the man had never once tested them in a real fight.

Would he survive in this world, or would this journey through time end here? The answer would be revealed today.

Niu Er and Zhu San were both hooligans in Sun Huang's employ. They'd only come along today to make up the numbers, but now their master had inexplicably ordered them into the fight. They were used to bullying ordinary folk in the city, but had little experience with bloodshed and brawling.

Lan Tian was now a grown man. He wasn't as tall and imposing as Guan Yu or Zhang Fei, but he'd trained in martial arts consistently, and his muscles were taut and strong. To an onlooker, he looked like a scholar.

Niu Er planted his feet and swung his club forward with all his strength.

Lan Tian's pupils contracted. He darted aside, raised his sword, and swung it hard. In an instant, a three-inch-deep gash had been carved into Niu Er's chest.

Steady, precise, ruthless—Lan Tian had judged it perfectly.

Blood sprayed across Lan Tian's face. Its coppery stench made him seem like a different person.

So this was what it felt like to swing a sword?

So this was what it felt like to kill?

When a common man flies into a rage, blood sprays ten paces.

On the road, Sun Huang had told Niu Er that Lan Tian was nothing but a useless farmer's son, and that killing him would be as easy as slaughtering a chicken.

He'd never imagined that at their very first clash, the farmer's son would gut him. Niu Er clutched his wound in agony, but the gash left by the sharp sword was so long that both his hands couldn't cover it completely.

Sun Huang froze in terror at the sight. This useless fool could actually kill someone? Could farmers really be this strong?

"Zhu San, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and help!" Sun Huang urged.

"Oh!" Zhu San frantically brandished his short blade and rushed into the fight.

The shock of the blood had already begun to settle Lan Tian's nerves. He lifted his sword and met Zhu San's short blade.

As the saying went, an inch longer meant an inch stronger.

Lan Tian sent his sword flashing forward, but Zhu San didn't dare meet it head-on.

As Zhu San dodged, he suddenly noticed the anger on Sun Huang's face. With no choice, he gritted his teeth and hacked at Lan Tian like a madman.

Lan Tian raised his sword to block, then reversed his grip and swept it diagonally upward. The blade flashed, severing Zhu San's arm.

The instant Zhu San cried out in pain, the sword plunged straight through his chest.

On the ground, the gravely wounded Niu Er saw his companion slain and trembled all over with fear. Blood gushed from his wound until he let out a shout and collapsed.

"Well done, sir!" one of the guards cried out in delight.

They were fighting for their lives against Sun Huang's household slaves. Lan Tian had cut down two men and come to their aid, giving the guards a huge boost in morale. Sun Huang was so terrified that he nearly shat himself as he bolted for the gate.

Seeing their master flee, Sun Huang's household slaves retreated from the courtyard as they fought.

"Your younger brother is so brave? Why didn't he join General Guan's army?" Mi Zhen asked, watching in stunned disbelief from inside the room.

"This is the first time I've seen him like this, too. My younger brother wouldn't even dare kill a chicken at home." Gan Qian shook her head. She truly had no idea where Lan Tian had found the courage. Perhaps their father's words from back then had influenced him?

Lan Tian had been nervous at the thought of killing someone for the first time. But with people he had to protect, he knew he had to overcome it.

After driving Sun Huang and the others away, a surge of pride rose in Lan Tian's chest. He returned to the courtyard and said, "You've all had a fright. As long as I'm here, I'll keep you safe."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the few guards retreated into the courtyard again. In a panic, they said, "Sun Huang and the others are back!"

Sun Huang had come back? Was that fat pig not afraid to die?

Lan Tian had barely turned around when more than a dozen armored soldiers rushed into the courtyard. Their uniforms were unmistakably those of Cao Cao's regular forces.

He might have been able to fight two hooligans, but going toe-to-toe with the regular army would be trouble.

"General, this... this is the place. Liu Bei's wives are hiding in the courtyard. That's Liu Bei's brother-in-law. He's especially fierce!" Sun Huang said obsequiously, leading an officer into the side courtyard. He was still wary of Lan Tian.

Lan Tian took a closer look and recognized the newcomer as an old acquaintance: Xu Shuang, a deputy general in Gao Shun's Xianzhen Battalion.

Xu Shuang had clearly recognized Lan Tian, too. The only difference was that they now found themselves on opposing sides.

"Master, it's been a while," Xu Shuang said, cupping his fist. He showed no sign of wanting to make an enemy of him.

"General Xu, it has been a long time," Lan Tian replied, cupping his fist in greeting.

Sun Huang realized at once that things had gone wrong. This general in Cao Cao's army actually knew Lan Tian. He turned to run, but Xu Shuang's sword swept through him, cutting him in two.

Sun Huang's household slaves guarding the gate were also swiftly cut down by Xu Shuang's men.

"This man was a fawning toady. He meant to offer the two madams to the Chancellor. I can keep you safe for now, but in the end, the Chancellor must decide what to do," Xu Shuang said with a smile as he sheathed his sword.

Lan Tian clasped his hands in thanks. As they talked, Gao Shun came up. Lan Tian pretended not to know where he was. Even his colleague Sun Huang had harbored wicked intentions, and Xu Shuang had already surrendered to Cao Cao. How could Lan Tian dare tell him the truth?

Guan Yu and Xu Huang were locked in a fierce battle outside the city. As Cao Cao continued to send in reinforcements, Guan Yu's forces dwindled with every clash.

Cao Cao's army kept surging toward them from all directions like a rising tide. Seeing that all was lost, Guan Yu resolved to die for his cause. Just then, he remembered Lan Tian's brocade pouch.

He opened it and found only a few words inside: If the general's army is defeated, do not pursue an empty name like the Hegemon King. The lord still lives. You may follow Goujian's example.

Guan Yu stared at the message in surprise. Did this Lan Ziyu possess the powers of gods and ghosts? He even understood my thoughts so well. If I see big brother again one day, I must strongly recommend him.

Lord Guan had read the Spring and Autumn Annals extensively and knew the story of Goujian enduring hardship and biding his time by heart, so he immediately understood Lan Tian's intention.

Just then, Zhang Liao came to urge him to surrender. Guan Yu took the opportunity to set three conditions, promising to serve the Han, not Cao, and to temporarily place himself under Cao Cao.

Cao Cao was overjoyed to have Guan Yu. He sent Xiahou Yuan to Donghai to continue putting down the rebellion, while the rest immediately set out for Xudu to prevent Yuan Shao from seizing the opportunity to launch a surprise attack.

"Little brother, will we come back?" Gan Qian asked, lifting the carriage curtain.

"Probably not for a while," Lan Tian replied.

Gan Qian felt a pang of sorrow. Lan Tian was almost never wrong in what he said. Now that they were leaving their home behind, how could she not feel heartbroken?

Cao Cao was riding alongside Guan Yu. By chance, he caught a fleeting glimpse of the woman in the carriage and couldn't help thinking, What a beauty.