Chapter 25

As the man in white praised, the several black-clad, muscular men around him all showed signs of displeasure.

They had followed the man in white for many years and knew well that their master always prided himself on his talent and ability to accomplish anything, viewing all matters in the world as within his grasp. Moreover, he was aloof and haughty, never considering anyone as a peer. Often, those whom others deemed outstanding, he would look down upon. As for ordinary people, it was extremely rare for him to give a word of praise. Now, in the remote mountains of Bingzhou, a rash young man had emerged, actually earning respect from his men and receiving praise from their master?

The several men exchanged glances and immediately moved forward.

One of them kicked off the ground and rushed ahead. His posture was extremely strange, almost hugging the ground, and as he moved, grass and leaves flew. Lu Yao did not tangle with him; seeing his figure close to the ground, he pulled the reins to leap over on horseback. The man shouted, and two silver flashes appeared in his hands, slashing at the horse's legs.

Lu Yao pulled the reins with one hand, and the horse neighed, rising up on its hind legs, narrowly avoiding the two knives. When the horse's front hooves landed, Lu Yao was no longer on the horse. He used the momentum of the horse's leap to jump up, throwing the man with the twin knives far away and continuing to rush towards the man who had drawn his sword at He Yun.

The black-clad men, all elite warriors gathered over many years, would not allow him to break through so easily. However, as the others tried to intercept Lu Yao, a burly man on horseback charged in! It was Xue Tong, who had already rushed over from the side!

Xue Tong roared like thunder and charged forward with his saber. The several black-clad men were momentarily thrown into disarray and could not stop Lu Yao.

Lu Yao landed on the ground, his feet bursting with power, causing the soil to sink. He charged towards He Yun like a boulder launched from a catapult.

At this moment, no one could stop Lu Yao!

Except for the man in white.

Lu Yao's attack route passed right by the man in white. Just as he was about three zhang away from the man in white, he heard a light laugh. Without any visible movement, his sleeves fluttered slightly, and a long whip shot out from his sleeve like a dark cloud.

The long whip came at lightning speed, and Lu Yao couldn't even see its approach. He could only wildly swing his spear to try to block it. With all his might, a fierce wind stirred within a few zhang around him, and the air currents produced a sharp, strange sound. However, the man in white's skills far exceeded Lu Yao's imagination. The long whip, like a living creature, moved freely, breaking through the wall of spear shadows that Lu Yao had created. Before Lu Yao could react, the tip of the whip cracked beside his ear.

A sharp, cracking sound echoed in his ears, and Lu Yao immediately felt dizzy and his limbs unresponsive. He tried to pull himself together but swayed and finally fell with a loud thud. The several black-clad, muscular men immediately rushed forward, pinning him down firmly.

Although he was weak and on the ground, Lu Yao's mind was clear. He couldn't ignore his own safety and strained to look in the direction of He Yun. What he saw made him dumbfounded.

He saw the man with the crescent moon saber spinning, the blade cutting through the ropes, not to kill He Yun but to free him.

It was a misunderstanding; He Yun was fine. Lu Yao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Are... are you not Hu people?" As he said this, Lu Yao himself felt somewhat embarrassed.

One of the black-clad men roughly patted Lu Yao's cheek: "You foolish child. How could we be Hu people?" This man's hand was heavy, clearly out of revenge, and Lu Yao felt his teeth loosen.

Before he could answer, he heard Xue Tong shouting and the sound of punches and kicks from a distance. In a moment, there was a thud beside him, and Xue Tong, with a grimace, was also captured and pressed to the ground.

Lu Yao turned to look at the man in white. Their eyes met, and Lu Yao suddenly felt a sense of familiarity. A flash of inspiration came to him. Yes, it was him! He had been lingering in the Dan River area for a long time, all for this person. Ha, ha, what good luck, to meet him by chance.

"Sir... Sir, could you be... surnamed Liu?"

"Hmm?" The man in white glanced at Lu Yao, clearly confirming that Lu Yao's guess was correct.

"Indeed, are you Lord Yue Shi?" Lu Yao laughed bitterly: "Lord Yue Shi, I am not a villain and did not mean to offend your majesty. I am guilty, I am guilty!"

"Do you recognize me?" The man in white circled around Lu Yao, looking at him with interest. His voice was soft and pleasant, very charming, and carried the air of someone in a high position.

"I recognize you, I recognize you!" Lu Yao suddenly felt a bit nervous and hurriedly said: "When I was young, I visited Luoyang and met Lord Qing Sun and Lord Yue Shi! Lord Yue Shi's demeanor is heroic and surpasses all others. Therefore, I still remember it clearly."

This person, whom Lu Yao called "Lord Yue Shi," was none other than the famous minister of the current dynasty, Guangwu Marquis Liu Kun. "Lord Qing Sun" was Liu Kun's brother, an important strategist for the King of Donghai, Liu Yu.

Liu Kun, whose courtesy name was Yue Shi, was from Weichang, Zhongshan, a descendant of the Han dynasty's King Jing of Zhongshan, and of noble lineage. In his youth, he was known for his handsome appearance and heroic spirit, and was once among the "Twenty-Four Friends of Jin Valley" along with Lu Shiheng and Lu Shilong. Later, as the princes of the court fought for power, the world fell into chaos. Liu Kun abandoned his literary pursuits and joined the military, serving in various princes' camps, and eventually became a key minister and general under the King of Donghai, Sima Yue.

In the time period familiar to Lu Yao, Liu Kun was a rare national hero in the dark era at the end of the Western Jin dynasty and an outstanding patriotic poet. He defended the isolated city of Jinyang against the northern tribes, which outnumbered him by a hundred to one, for over a decade. During this time, he severed the connection between the Xiongnu and the mixed tribes in Hebei, exerting his influence over the regions of Bing, You, Yan, and Ji, and repeatedly defeated the tribes, earning a reputation that spread far and wide. Although his efforts to revive the Jin dynasty ultimately failed, his heroic and generous deeds were celebrated throughout history.

According to historical records, Liu Kun was appointed as the Governor of Bingzhou in the ninth month of the first year of Guangxi, leading a small force of over a thousand men to travel north to Bingzhou.

On the journey, he personally experienced the dangers of military travel and witnessed the tragic scenes of displaced people due to the war, which stirred his loyalty and indignation. This led to the creation of the famous poem "Fufeng Song." The verses of "Fufeng Song" are not refined, but they are a heartfelt outpouring, deeply moving and touching. This was one of the poems that Lu Yao loved most in his previous life, reciting it countless times, leaving a deep impression.

The opening lines of the poem, "In the morning, I set out from the Guangmo Gate; at night, I rest on the Dan River mountain," describe Liu Kun's route to Bingzhou: he departed from the Guangmo Gate in Luoyang, crossed the Yellow River at Mengjin, passed through Yewang, and crossed the Taihang Pass into Bingzhou, then followed the Dan River north, camping on the mountains along the Dan River at night.

The reason Lu Yao lingered in the Dan River area was precisely to meet this great hero. However, he never expected that when he actually met Liu Kun, it would be in such a wretched state.

After a brief calculation, Lu Yao deduced the entire sequence of events: it must have been that a small group of Hu people had raided Changping the day before, looting and massacring in the city, and He Yun and the villagers were unfortunately captured. Liu Kun happened to pass by at that moment. His subordinates, all elite warriors, easily wiped out the rebellious Hu people.

When Liu Kun's subordinates were about to cut the ropes binding the captives, Lu Yao suddenly rushed into the city, completely misunderstanding the situation.

Despite his rapid thoughts, Lu Yao did not delay in his response: "Lord Yue Shi is a pillar of our dynasty, with a reputation that extends far and wide. Even in the remote border regions, I have heard of your praises. Today, to see you, I realize that Lord Yue Shi's demeanor is as impressive as ever."

"Is that so? You have a heart for it." Liu Kun nodded slightly, stroking his black, glossy beard, and a prominent jade ring on his long fingers caught the eye: "Then who are you? And why did you attack my troops?"

"I am a remnant of the Bingzhou army, surnamed Lu, named Yao, with the courtesy name Dao Ming. I was defeated and wandered here. This is my colleague, Xue Tong." Lu Yao answered quickly and without hesitation: "The injured and bound man is my subordinate, He Yun. I mistakenly thought that the gentleman with the saber was going to harm him, and in a moment of panic, I offended Lord Yue Shi."

He did not intend to mention his origin from the Lu family of Jiangdong, nor did he plan to deliberately connect with Liu Kun through old acquaintances in Luoyang. Lu Shiheng had once served the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, who was a sworn enemy of the current ruling King of Donghai. Lu Yao himself was a lone survivor who had escaped the court's execution. If he revealed his identity rashly, it might cause trouble.

"Alright!" Liu Kun waved his hand, and the nearby guards immediately released Lu Yao and Xue Tong.

"You are skilled in martial arts, an officer of the Bingzhou army, and value camaraderie. Excellent!" He looked at Lu Yao, his proud eyes seemingly carrying a hint of appreciation: "The court has appointed me as the Governor of Bingzhou and the Protector of the Xiongnu. My current urgent task is to suppress the Xiongnu rebellion, which is the time for you to establish your achievements. Lu Yao, I allow you and Xue Tong to serve under me, and you will set out with me immediately!"

His words were casual but carried an authority that could not be refused, as if what he said was a given, and others could only submit without hesitation. In this brief exchange, Lu Yao had no time to hesitate.

Lu Yao did not dare to delay, immediately stood up, and respectfully bowed: "Yes!"

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