Chapter 22

As the horse galloped, Huang Zhong and his companions vigilantly surveyed the surroundings. Although they had managed to escape from Luoyang using a stratagem, they were unsure if those with ill intentions had set up any traps outside the city, so they remained cautious.

They deliberately avoided the main roads and chose smaller paths. It was more difficult to travel this way, but it was much safer.

Zhang Hao sat upright on his horse, feeling a bit regretful. This departure had been too hasty. Previously, Xi Zhicai had intended to introduce Zhang Hao to Xun Yu, a renowned scholar with extraordinary abilities who was also serving in Luoyang. Xi Zhicai and Xun Yu were from the same hometown and had some connections.

Tian Feng also had friends in Luoyang, but unfortunately, there was no time to meet them. Otherwise, he would have tried to persuade a few of them to join.

Well, it's done. Zhang Hao stopped thinking about it and began to consider the next steps.

Suddenly, Huang Zhong let out a surprised exclamation, and Zhang Hao immediately became alert. Huang Zhong pointed ahead and said, "There's a skilled warrior up ahead. Goodness, he looks to be only in his twenties, but his aura is already very strong. From his attire, he seems to be a minor official, not a villain."

Zhang Hao relaxed a bit, feeling curious. Since learning the guiding technique, Zhang Hao had never stopped practicing and had gained a good understanding of the world's power system through Huang Zhong.

If the boundary between ordinary people and skilled warriors is the presence of Gang Qi (a form of internal energy), then the boundary between ordinary skilled warriors and top-tier warriors is the manifestation of a strong aura.

After generating Gang Qi in the body, it becomes increasingly concentrated with practice, significantly enhancing physical attributes.

Later, the Gang Qi can be released externally, adhering to weapons to make them extremely sharp.

Going further, the entire body can be enveloped in Gang Qi, like a protective armor. This is the manifestation of a strong aura.

Zhang Hao had seen this state once when he first met Huang Zhong. It seemed like an invincible human machine, almost impervious to weapons.

There were very few warriors in the entire Han dynasty who could reach this level, and he didn't expect to encounter one now.

Moreover, the man's attire suggested he might be a minor official. Could he be a hidden talent?

Zhang Hao's collector's instinct kicked in, and he became less cautious. If this person was sent by the Yuans or those with ill intentions, they probably wouldn't dress like this, right? Well, probably.

Zhang Hao looked ahead, but due to the distance, he could only vaguely see a figure. His vision and other physical attributes couldn't compare to Huang Zhong's.

Fortunately, the horse's speed was not slow, and after a while, Zhang Hao could clearly see the man. He was alone, resting by the roadside, looking somewhat tired. He was in his twenties, over six feet tall, with a beard, and very handsome.

When he saw Zhang Hao and his companions, he glanced at them once and then paid no more attention. It seemed his Gang Qi and perception were not as refined as Huang Zhong's. Huang Zhong had noticed his exceptional qualities early on, but he hadn't sensed Huang Zhong. This might be related to experience.

Zhang Hao wondered if Huang Zhong's perception was particularly sharp. He would have to ask Huang Zhong about this later, as it would be very useful for identifying skilled warriors.

Not far away, a thin horse was tied to a tree, with a long spear and a bow on its back. Seeing this, Zhang Hao's caution decreased further.

Huang Zhong knew Zhang Hao's thoughts, so he slowed down as they approached. The man immediately looked up, his gaze sharp.

Zhang Hao dismounted and bowed, "Greetings, brave warrior. I am Zhang Hao, styled Zigao. Your appearance is remarkable, and I dare to engage in conversation."

Huang Zhong and the guards stood to one side, ready to act if anything unexpected happened.

Although the man seemed to have some concerns, he was polite, perhaps sensing that Zhang Hao and Huang Zhong were not ordinary people. He stood up and said, "I am Taishi Ci, styled Ziyi. Sir, you are too kind."

Taishi Ci? Zhang Hao raised an eyebrow. This was a famous name, but why was Taishi Ci here? Recalling the information he had gathered, Zhang Hao suddenly understood. His heart stirred, and he said, "Are you the Taishi Ziyi who destroyed the official seal?"

Taishi Ci's expression became serious, and he showed a hint of caution.

"Ziyi, there's no need to be so formal. I have no ill intentions. I heard about your clever and loyal actions from a minor official I met by chance. I am deeply impressed by your wisdom and loyalty," Zhang Hao said with a smile.

Facing this future chief general of Eastern Wu, Zhang Hao's caution completely disappeared. Such a person would never engage in petty schemes.

Taishi Ci's expression relaxed. Huang Zhong, however, looked at Zhang Hao with a hint of curiosity. They had been together for a while, and they didn't know when Zhang Hao had met any minor officials. But Zhang Hao had many mysterious qualities, so Huang Zhong didn't show any surprise.

Zhang Hao had just read this story.

There was a disagreement between the officials of Qingzhou and Donglai. Whichever side's petition reached the Luoyang authorities first would be accepted by the court. Taishi Ci used a small trick to deceive the Qingzhou official who was delivering the petition, destroying the document. The official was even tricked into fleeing.

Knowing who this person was and guessing his situation, Zhang Hao felt hopeful and sat down, asking without any formality, "Ziyi, your actions have certainly benefited the county, but the governor will inevitably find out. How will you deal with the situation?"

Perhaps because Zhang Hao had hit on his concerns, Taishi Ci frowned and said without hiding anything, "I am troubled by this matter. To avoid disaster and prevent the county from being implicated, I plan to go into hiding far away."

In the Han dynasty, the governor was a high-ranking official, while the provincial inspector only had the power of supervision. Their salaries were vastly different.

The governor was a 2,000-dan official, while the provincial inspector was only a 600-dan official.

However, the power of supervision had many nuances and represented the court, so the provincial inspector held a significant position, even above the governor.

It was inevitable for Taishi Ci to have such thoughts. He was wise enough to know the consequences before acting, but he did not avoid them due to his loyalty.

Such a loyal and brave general, Zhang Hao naturally did not want to miss.

"Ziyi, how about I help you find a way out?" Zhang Hao smiled, seeing Taishi Ci's puzzled look. He continued, "You are both loyal and brave, a rare talent. A person like you will surely achieve greatness in the future. I sincerely want to form a bond with you during your low point. Don't think I have any vulgar intentions."

"I am a merchant returning from overseas, now planning to establish myself in Wujun. How about you join me in Wujun? Although it is in the south, the environment is good, and it is a peaceful place. You can bring your family there, so you won't have to worry about being alone."

"This setback is only temporary. You will rise again. Use this opportunity to gain more knowledge. My family has a complete collection of military books and various classics, which I can provide for your use. Also, you can see that Huang Zhong is a top-tier warrior. You can practice together, and both of you will improve."

Zhang Hao's long speech left Taishi Ci somewhat stunned. After all, they had just met, and Zhang Hao was already discussing these matters, which seemed a bit too deep for a shallow acquaintance. However, Zhang Hao's words were sincere, and the offer of military books and classics was very tempting, making Taishi Ci hesitate.

Knowledge was monopolized in this era, and military books were passed down only within the families of generals, making them difficult for ordinary people to learn.

"Ziyi, you can come to my place first and see if it suits you. If it doesn't, you can leave at any time," Zhang Hao said again.

"Ziyi, you don't need to worry about other things. Even if you don't come with me, I will send you some military books as long as you tell me where you are staying."

Clearly, such a decision couldn't be made quickly, and Zhang Hao didn't force it.

Moreover, Zhang Hao was also heading to Donglai, and Taishi Ci had agreed to travel with him. The long journey provided many opportunities.

On the way, Zhang Hao couldn't help but show off his advanced knowledge, which made Taishi Ci look at him with interest. They discussed various topics, deepening their understanding of each other. Taishi Ci also had the chance to spar with Huang Zhong, as top-tier warriors were hard to find.

The battle between them was extraordinary, almost like a special effects movie, which Zhang Hao found very exciting.

At this time, Taishi Ci was not yet a match for Huang Zhong, but he learned a lot from Huang Zhong. Through these interactions, they grew closer.

When Zhang Hao mentioned he was going to visit a skilled warrior, Taishi Ci hesitated for a moment but decided to go with Zhang Hao and his companions. Although he was concerned about his family, Zhang Hao said they would take a boat on the river after visiting the warrior, which would be faster than traveling by land.

This way, nothing would be delayed.

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End of the chapter.