Chapter 22

"Found the county lady! Found the county lady!" came the jubilant calls of the soldiers from a distance.

More clamorous voices soon followed, and everyone's face was beaming with joy.

This is a great achievement! A great achievement! In the perilous situation surrounded by wolves, we overcame numerous difficulties to protect the county lady! We protected the legitimate daughter of the King of Donghai! We also protected the dignity of the court!

Such a feat, the Duke of Dongyin would surely be overjoyed, right? The King of Donghai would certainly bestow rewards, right? Even the county lady herself, would she remember us? Would she take care of us?

Lu Yao looked at these people with a dazed expression, suddenly feeling a splitting headache.

Look at those people, those fawning expressions are so familiar.

Before Lu Yao crossed over, he had seen such faces countless times. That is the smile of a junior employee flattering a superior; that is the reverence a civil servant shows to a leader; that is the uncontrollable sycophantic expression of all those who live off their fathers!

How well I know these expressions! How skilled I am at these expressions! And how much I detest these expressions!

In this era of urgent military dispatches and impending peril, it turns out there are still so many people like this. Lu Yao frowned, do I have to live such a life even after crossing over, navigating through this nauseating atmosphere?

Lu Yao let out a silent sneer.

Every child probably once fantasized about being a destined hero, someone who can change everything around them, someone who can become a savior of the world. But as time passes, the harsh realities of life make the child realize that they are just one of billions of primates on Earth, and "ordinary" is the most prominent label.

And crossing over seems to be the best way to fulfill the hero fantasy.

But can crossing over really make someone a hero?

Just like the scene before him, what a great opportunity, to henceforth mingle with the powerful, to move among the high-born, perhaps to recite a few Tang poems and Song lyrics, to echo the decayed nobles in their praise of the wind and the moon.

As a crosser, just by relying on a few pages of the "Book of Jin" and the "Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government," one can have the greatest golden finger. The corrupt Western Jin dynasty will inevitably collapse, and no force can stop it. I can go south, to the roots of the Lu family in Jiangdong, first use the clan's power to protect the countryside, then build high walls and stockpile grain, gradually planning to establish a foothold in the court. Whether it's personal glory and wealth or world domination, it can all be planned step by step.

This is truly a great opportunity. Lu Yao was very clear that this is the safest, most stable, and most likely to succeed route after crossing over to this time.

But what is the meaning of such a path? I have already grown tired of such things in my previous life.

The road is hard, the road is hard! Many paths, where are they now?

Lu Yao sneered. Just now, underwater, didn't I already think it through? Since I am on this battlefield of slaughter, I should bravely draw my sword and fight.

He clung to a slightly higher reef, slowly stood up, and turned to Wang De, saying, "Since the county lady is unharmed, I am relieved. In my humble opinion, with Captain Li accompanying and protecting, the journey should be safe. You might as well make rafts from wood and continue downstream, which would be the most efficient. Brother Wang, let us part ways here."

Wang De's face was full of astonishment, "Why does Lord Lu say such things? What do you mean by parting ways?"

Lu Yao made a bow, "Lu's strength is exhausted, and I cannot endure the journey. I plan to stay and rest for a few days."

"Lord Lu, you are young and capable, and you have done a great service by rescuing the county lady. Your future is bound to be bright. Why would you stay in the dangerous lands of Bingzhou?" Wang De waved his hand, pointing around, "All around are the barbarians rampaging. What are you staying here for?"

"I have no other intentions, but after the intense battles, my body and mind are exhausted, and I need rest."

"Why make such excuses?" Wang De frowned. He hurried forward, grabbing Lu Yao's arm, "Just now, it was all thanks to Lord Lu's quick thinking that the county lady was saved. Unfortunately, I was slow-witted and truly thought you had ulterior motives, so I offended you... Does Lord Lu bear a grudge against me?"

Lu Yao waved his hands, saying repeatedly, "I have no grudge against Brother Wang."

Wang De whispered, "Lord Lu, you have done a great service, and the county lady must be very pleased. Once in Luoyang, with the county lady's favor, you will surely have a bright future, becoming a marquis or a general... Why would you give up such easily attainable glory now?"

These words were already extremely heartfelt, but no matter how much Wang De tried to persuade, Lu Yao was determined to part ways with the county lady at this moment.

Wang De was not skilled in speech and could not argue further. In the end, he could only stare at Lu Yao in disbelief, unable to understand why someone would be so unwise. After a moment, he hurriedly went to find the county lady.

Perhaps Wang De wanted the county lady to speak and persuade him to stay? Lu Yao let out a silent sneer. He knew very well that someone like the county lady of Jingling would never speak.

The nobles of this era were born into wealth and looked down on everyone. The only ones they would treat as equals were those of similar noble birth. Others could only be used as henchmen or pawns, but would never receive their sincere treatment. The county lady of Jingling was the same; how could she speak to retain a rough soldier? That would greatly tarnish the dignity of the Sima royal family.

Sure enough, a moment later, Wang De hurried back.

He sighed, "Brother Lu, the county lady actually values you very much..."

Lu Yao smiled and shook his head, "Brother Wang, I remember your kindness."

He stretched his arms and legs, surprised to find that this body had an astonishing recovery ability. Just a while ago, he had been injured by arrows in his shoulder and calf, but now the wounds had already clotted and closed. Apart from the pain, his physical functions seemed unimpaired.

"The county lady said that since Lord Lu has made a decision, she will not interfere. Unfortunately, she is in a sorry state and cannot meet you, hoping that you will not hold it against her," Wang De said resentfully, then took out an object and placed it in Lu Yao's hand, "This is what the county lady just bestowed upon you. She also said that if Lord Lu ever goes to Luoyang, you can use this as proof, and she will certainly help you with any request."

Lu Yao felt the warmth in his hand, took a look, and saw that it was a jade huang. The jade huang was intricately carved with a pattern of two dragons circling clouds, and the jade was as smooth as congealed fat, a rare treasure.

Lu Yao steadied himself, held the jade huang with both hands, and bowed to Wang De, "Please convey my thanks to the county lady on my behalf."

Wang De looked at Lu Yao, not knowing what to say. After a moment, he turned and left.

Lu Yao found a rather sharp ring-pommeled saber among the messy bodies on the riverbank, gathered some dry rations and clothes, and packed them into a bundle on his shoulder.

"Old Xue!" he called out, "I'm leaving. Are you coming with me, or staying with the county lady?"

"Coming with you? Staying with the county lady?" Xue Tong grumbled.

Lu Yao smiled, "Staying with the county lady means glory and wealth. Coming with me means fighting the barbarians to the death."

Xue Tong sat on a large rock, legs spread wide, staring at Lu Yao. His thick beard covered most of his face, making it hard to see his expression. Lu Yao faced Xue Tong calmly, his expression very relaxed, as if he had just said something as ordinary as eating or sleeping.

After a while, Xue Tong rose resolutely, "I'll go with you!"

He Yun leaned against the boat, thumping the side of it. He tried to raise his voice, but it still sounded weak, "Lord, please take me with you!"

He Yun did not have Lu Yao's superhuman recovery ability, and his physique was far inferior to Xue Tong's. After being stabbed by Xiang Fei, he was truly unable to move.

Lu Yao threw the bundle to Xue Tong, squatted down next to He Yun, and said, "Lift your arms! I'll carry you."