Ye Zhangzhu let out a long sigh, as though he wanted to speak but thought better of it. Luo Jing saw his hesitation and grew even more displeased.

“Master Ye, though we haven’t met all that many times, Commissioner Zeng and I are friends across the generation gap, and since you’re Commissioner Zeng’s trusted aide, that makes us close too. All this hedging and hemming — it’s far too distant between us!”

Luo Jing gave a deliberate cold snort and flashed Ye Zhangzhu a dismissive look.

Ye Zhangzhu sighed. “It’s not that I’m unwilling to speak — it’s that I cannot say it plainly. But Luo General is right, this evasiveness of mine truly is too distant. The Commissioner has said more than once that though Luo General is young, you and the Commissioner are kindred spirits, and that the Commissioner holds your character in the deepest admiration. I, too, admire the General’s character just the same.”

He drew a steadying breath and continued: “In truth, there was something I should have said directly to Luo General just now. Looking at things now — the Prince’s intent to kill Commissioner Zeng is an iron certainty.”

Luo Jing’s expression shifted sharply at those words.

“On what grounds?”

He demanded, anger rising: “He’s in Jizhou, surviving entirely because Commissioner Zeng has been holding everything together. Now that the army is defeated, he wants to kick away the bridge he crossed on? Does he think that just because he’s a prince, he can do whatever he pleases?”

“Commissioner Zeng can barely protect himself at this point,” said Ye Zhangzhu. “The Commissioner says that given the Prince’s exalted station, he has no power to resist. So he arranged this drinking invitation for Luo General — it was really Commissioner Zeng’s way of warning you: if you can leave, then leave.”

Luo Jing’s eyes went wide.

“What are you saying? Leave now?!”

“Yes.”

“The Commissioner’s intention,” said Ye Zhangzhu, “was to personally persuade Luo General today — to urge you to return to Youzhou as soon as possible. No matter how domineering and ruthless Prince Yu may be, he wouldn’t dare reach his hand into Youzhou. With Old General Luo’s protection, you would be safe.”

He sighed and went on: “Commissioner Zeng no longer has the strength to shield others. He is already finding ways to disperse his trusted subordinates, to send everyone away — it would ease his heart somewhat. He doesn’t want to drag his people down with him.”

“Even you are leaving?!” Luo Jing demanded.

“I am not leaving,” said Ye Zhangzhu. “I will remain at Commissioner Zeng’s side. Through storm and gale, through blades and fire — I have no fear.”

“So Master Ye is mocking me?” Luo Jing said. “Commissioner Zeng treated me as a kindred spirit, befriended me across the generation gap. You are the Commissioner’s man — you refuse to leave, you would share life and death with him. Can I, his kindred friend, simply walk away with a clear conscience?”

“That won’t do,” said Ye Zhangzhu. “It’s far too dangerous for Luo General to stay. The Commissioner has said that Prince Yu’s heir Yang Zhuo is already acting on his father’s orders, plotting to eliminate Commissioner Zeng — and if Luo General remains, Young Lord Yang Zhuo fears your valor and would come for you first.”

Luo Jing laughed with proud disdain. “Do you think some random nobody is capable of touching me? I know full well that Yang Zhuo is nothing but a wine-sack and a rice-bag. I, Luo Jing, may not be invincible under heaven, but not just anyone is worthy of being my opponent.”

“Young Lord Yang Zhuo may indeed have no real ability — he’s nothing but a bully who trades on his father’s power,” Ye Zhangzhu continued. “But he has recruited quite a number of jianghu people, all manner of types each with their own skills. If they moved against Luo General, it would be difficult to guard against every angle.”

Luo Jing laughed. “I could walk right up to the gates of Prince Yu’s mansion, shout three times that Yang Zhuo is a pig, and what could he do? Never mind a few jianghu wanderers — three thousand armored soldiers before me would be nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs.”

“I know the General is formidable,” said Ye Zhangzhu. “But I still urge the General to reconsider. Old General Luo has only you as his sole heir and successor. Even if the General himself has no fear, you ought to think of him.”

“I’ll write a letter home right now,” said Luo Jing.

He smiled and looked at Ye Zhangzhu. “Let’s see whether Prince Yu wants to look outside Jizhou City and find yet another Youzhou army has arrived.”

Ye Zhangzhu exhaled in relief. In his heart he thought: Li Chi, Li Chi — I’ve managed to pull this off for you.

Xiahou Zuo was his closest friend and sworn brother through life and death. Li Chi wanted Yang Zhuo eliminated, and in truth Ye Zhangzhu had long harbored the same thought — only his rank and position hadn’t allowed him to act freely on his own wishes.

So when Li Chi had sought him out that afternoon and raised the matter, Ye Zhangzhu had agreed with a nod. He knew Prince Yu and Yang Zhuo’s natures all too well — especially Yang Zhuo, who had always wanted to be rid of Xiahou and his mother.

Now that Xiahou’s younger sister had returned, if Yang Zhuo were to move, he would certainly not spare Xiahou Yili either.

As for Luo Jing at this very moment — he had been worked into an almost explosive fury by Ye Zhangzhu’s words. Another few nudges and he might well go back, grab his long lance, and charge straight into Prince Yu’s mansion.

“At this moment, Luo General still ought to think thrice before acting.”

Ye Zhangzhu steadied his breath and kept urging. “If Luo General is willing to work in concert with the Commissioner, you must also protect yourself well. Only if everyone stays alive can we plan a way out, a path forward.”

“Go back and tell Commissioner Zeng this,” said Luo Jing. “I, Luo Jing, will not leave Jizhou City. If that bastard Yang Zhuo dares lay a hand on me, I will make his blood splash three feet.”

“General must not be impulsive. We must endure for now,” said Ye Zhangzhu. “As things stand, Commissioner Zeng doesn’t dare leave his own compound easily — outside the gates, a number of Young Lord Yang Zhuo’s jianghu operatives are lurking in hiding, ready to strike at any moment.”

Luo Jing snorted, drained his cup in one swallow, and stood. “Then let me go deal with them right now.”

Ye Zhangzhu hurried to dissuade him. “General, please, you absolutely must not do this. Even if we intend to counter Prince Yu, it must be planned carefully. I’ll go back and consult with Commissioner Zeng — if the Commissioner has any arrangements, I’ll inform you immediately.”

Luo Jing thought it over and nodded. “Very well. When you have news, come tell me at once. With one long lance in my hand, what’s so difficult about cleaving through this Jizhou City? Tell Commissioner Zeng not to worry — while Luo Jing stands, he stands.”

The two talked a while longer, with Luo Jing cursing Prince Yu and his son roundly, wishing nothing more than to kill them without delay.

About half a quarter-hour later, the two emerged from the private room at the Yannian Tavern. Luo Jing had drunk himself well and truly drunk, walking a little unsteadily, yet his words were more arrogant than ever.

As they came downstairs, a young man was heading up with his head bowed. Ye Zhangzhu stepped aside to make room, but the man seemed not to see him and walked straight into Ye Zhangzhu.

The young man looked up, rolled his eyes, and said to Ye Zhangzhu: “Where did you come from, you worthless mutt? Can’t you watch where you’re walking?”

Ye Zhangzhu flared with anger. “How dare you speak like that!”

The young man gave a cold snort. “As the saying goes, a good dog doesn’t block the road. Step aside and you’ll be a good dog. Now move.”

“Insolent wretch!”

“Where did this piece of garbage come from?” Luo Jing raged from a higher step. “Are you looking to die?!”

The young man tilted his head back to look up at Luo Jing and said: “And where did this wild dog come from, barking away up there? Want to bet I’ll have you crawling around looking for your own teeth?”

Luo Jing was so furious he broke into a laugh of pure rage. “Do you know who I am?”

“Do you know who I am?” the young man shot back.

Ye Zhangzhu said: “I don’t care who you are. Such insolence requires a lesson today, or you’ll grow even more ignorant of how high heaven stands.”

The young man let out a cold, contemptuous scoff: “I am a regular guest at the Prince Yu heir’s household. Do you dare touch me? Look at what you’re worth first. Believe me when I say one word from me and the Young Lord will order your entire clan wiped out.”

“Even a guest of the Young Lord’s has no right to be so presumptuous,” Ye Zhangzhu retorted.

“You’re saying the Young Lord is presumptuous?” The young man burst into loud laughter. “You insult me, you insult the Young Lord.”

“I am an official of the Commissioner’s office,” Ye Zhangzhu said. “Do you know what becomes of those who insult officials?”

“Pfft!”

“So what if you’re some petty official under the Commissioner?” the young man sneered. “Even Commissioner Zeng is one of my Young Lord’s dogs — you’re a dog under a dog. You dare act up in front of me?”

“Arrogant wretch!”

Luo Jing could no longer contain himself. He came down the stairs and reached out to grab the young man by the collar, intending to throw him to his death.

But to his surprise, the moment the young man saw Luo Jing move, he instantly tucked and flipped himself off the staircase — extraordinarily fast.

He landed on the ground floor and pointed up at Ye Zhangzhu and Luo Jing. “You two wait right there! I’m going straight back to tell the Young Lord. Do you dare tell me who you are?!”

“I am Luo Jing of Youzhou,” Luo Jing said. “What are you going to do about it?”

“So it’s you,” the young man said. “No wonder you’re so arrogant. The Young Lord has said you’re just another one of his dogs — toss you a bone and you come trotting all the way from Youzhou, tongue wagging. The Young Lord also said a brute like you is only fit to carry his shoes.”

Luo Jing was so furious he too leapt off the stairs — but the young man was already bolting away, and by the time Luo Jing landed, the man had already run clear to the front entrance of the Yannian Tavern.

The young man looked back and shouted: “Just you wait! Luo Jing of Youzhou, is it? I’ll make you regret this!”

And then he was gone like a puff of smoke.

Ye Zhangzhu hurried over and held back Luo Jing, who was about to give chase, lowering his voice urgently: “Let’s leave quickly. If the Young Lord sends someone to inquire, just deny it — as long as we don’t admit to it, what can he do?”

“What did you just say?!”

Luo Jing stared at Ye Zhangzhu in disbelief. “You want me to be a turtle pulling in its head? You want me to play the fool and save my neck in front of some Yang Zhuo?!”

“We must plan carefully, we really must plan carefully.”

Luo Jing shook off Ye Zhangzhu’s hand and pushed him aside.

“You go plan carefully all by yourself. I want to see exactly what this Young Lord Yang Zhuo can do to me!”

He strode out in wide steps. Having drunk heavily, he swayed as he walked, cursing nonstop under his breath as he went.

The young man who had insulted him had bolted out the door and was gone in a streak — moving at a speed that was difficult to follow with the eye.

After rounding the first street corner, he turned into another lane. Not far ahead, a carriage was waiting. He leapt aboard without hesitation and slammed the door shut.

“Damn, nearly scared me to death!”

He let out a long breath, still visibly shaken.

“That was Luo Jing — if I’d been any slower and he’d caught me, he would have thrown me to my death. I need to go apologize properly to Master Ye afterward. I went way too far with the cursing. I’m worried Master Ye might also want to throw me to my death.”

Inside the carriage, Li Chi and Tang Pidi exchanged a glance and both smiled.

“We had our people inside the Yannian Tavern. Never mind that we knew Luo Jing was drunk and couldn’t catch you — even if he’d actually gotten his hands on you, we had a number of crossbows trained on him.”

Tang Pidi grinned. “Besides, you know your own abilities well enough, don’t you?”

Yu Jiuling sighed. “I know them, sure — knowing doesn’t mean I’m not scared of dying. Someone like Luo Jing going berserk — never mind people, I’d wager he’d dare tear into a tiger bare-handed.”

Li Chi laughed. “Let’s go. Head back and we’ll get you a drink to calm your nerves.”

Yu Jiuling appeared to let his eyes wander for a moment, then flopped forward and draped himself across Li Chi’s lap. “Right now I’ve got… I’ve got a pain in my chest. All that running made my legs ache too. My whole body feels terrible at the moment. Absolutely no way I can drink — I’m afraid this fright I’ve had, one sip of wine and I’ll be done for.”

“Then what do you suggest?” Li Chi asked.

Yu Jiuling extended his hand. “Medical expenses. Let me go to Twin Stars Tower and find a doctor to give me a proper examination. This illness came on so suddenly — if you’re too slow, I’m afraid I won’t last long enough to see the doctor.”

Tang Pidi laughed. “That fast?”

Li Chi said, “If it’s that fast… why waste the money…”

Yu Jiuling: “When you’re sick you need a doctor — mind your own business how fast it comes…”

Li Chi pulled out his coin pouch and placed it in Yu Jiuling’s hand. Yu Jiuling immediately sat bolt upright and said: “Go, go, move this carriage faster!”

—