Chapter 99

As the saying goes, the wheels of history: if the front wheel doesn't turn, the back wheel will. And so, in this world's history, Dong Zhuo and Dong Feifei established a short-lived Dong Wei dynasty, altering the course of history. The famous Three Brothers of the Peach Garden met their untimely end at the Zhang family meat shop in Zhuo County before they could become famous, and thus their names never spread far and wide.

Thus it came to be.

Nowadays, those who swear brotherhood no longer worship Guan Er, nor do they go through elaborate ceremonies with incense, kowtowing, and the Golden Orchid Oath. All that is needed is a blood oath. "Drink this bowl of wine, and we are brothers," is all it takes.

"Rumble...!"

Suddenly, thunder roared from the sky. It was near evening, and the originally pleasant weather quickly turned overcast, with a heavy rain about to fall.

Xiong Kuohai stretched his neck to look outside, muttering, "We just swore brotherhood, and now we've angered the Thunder God. This is not a good omen..."

"Shut your mouth!"

Dan Xiongxin's brows furrowed, and he sternly rebuked.

At the moment, beliefs in ghosts and gods were still prevalent, inspiring awe and reverence.

"Ha ha ha...!"

Wu Fan laughed, drawing the attention of the three men. "Brother, your words are clumsy! How can this be a bad omen? It's clearly a good omen! Have you not heard of 'dragons follow the clouds, tigers follow the wind'? We four have just sworn brotherhood, and now we have the clouds and wind accompanying us, and thunder to celebrate. Isn't this a good sign? Ha ha ha! Brothers of dragons and tigers! Brothers of dragons and tigers! This is right!"

Wu Fan's words were sweet, and in a few sentences, he had the three sworn brothers smiling broadly.

Dan Xiongxin began pouring wine, saying, "I forgot something. We need to establish a seniority order. Right?" He turned to Wu Fan and smiled, "No matter what, you're definitely the youngest. You're too young. If my poor child hadn't died young, he would probably be only a year or two younger than you... Spit! Spit! My mouth is too loose! Fourth Brother, think of a way to arrange our seniority!"

"Right after we became brothers, you start giving orders!" Wu Fan smiled as if complaining, "It's simple, by age! We can't just rank ourselves based on how powerful or famous we are in the world. We should go by age! The oldest is the eldest brother, the youngest is the youngest brother!"

Dan Xiongxin nodded, "Agreed! I'll go first. I'm thirty-two this year."

Xiong Kuohai patted his head, thinking, "I... I should be exactly thirty this year."

When it was Zhai Rang's turn, he smiled, "Then... I must be the eldest brother! I'm a few years older, thirty-five this year."

"Eldest Brother!"

Dan Xiongxin, Xiong Kuohai, and Wu Fan quickly bowed in respect.

Next, Xiong Kuohai and Wu Fan bowed to Dan Xiongxin.

Finally, Wu Fan bowed to Xiong Kuohai alone.

The rounds of addressing each other were quite cumbersome, but the four men were quite pleased.

The seniority was set.

Zhai Rang, being the oldest, was the eldest brother.

The second was Dan Xiongxin, who was originally the second son at home and was known as "Second Master Dan" or "Second Brother Dan" in the world, which was fitting.

The third was Xiong Kuohai.

Wu Fan, being the youngest, was the fourth.

Drinking wine, eating meat, and watching large sums of money being secretly transported away by boat, the four men felt incredibly elated.

Wu Fan leaned against the ship's railing and gave Dan Xiongxin a meaningful look.

Dan Xiongxin was taken aback, then shook his head.

Zhai Rang saw this and feigned anger, "What are you two doing? Making secret moves? You're not hiding anything, are you?"

Wu Fan smiled and sighed, "Nothing to hide. It's just... I've received news. A tough opponent is coming to the Xingyang area. He's looking for the missing Ji Province tax ships and will also be targeting you. I thought it would be best if Second Brother and I could persuade you to take the money and go to Jiangnan for a while, to convert the copper coins into gold and silver... We're not afraid of them, but there's no need to provoke a conflict."

Dan Xiongxin agreed, "Yes! Fourth Brother is thinking of us. I have good sources in the world of outlaws. A few days ago, I heard that troops from Xiliang and the four southern provinces are frequently being mobilized to gather in Xingyang. It seems the empire is preparing to wage war on Northern Yan! We may seem powerful in the world of outlaws, but in front of the empire, we are nothing but ants! Let's hide for a while, okay?"

Wu Fan spoke sincerely, and Dan Xiongxin spoke genuinely. Zhai Rang and Xiong Kuohai exchanged glances and nodded silently. Especially Xiong Kuohai, who had experienced the destruction of a stronghold, knew the might of the empire.

Turning around, Zhai Rang sighed, "But... if we go to Jiangnan, our boats won't be suitable!"

Wu Fan smiled and replied, "I've considered this. If Jiangnan isn't suitable, we can go to Qingzhou! To Second Brother's Erxian Manor!"

"Drip, drip, drip..."

Raindrops began to fall outside.

Wu Fan couldn't help but shiver, looking at the gloomy sky. He struggled to stand up and said, "The water ghosts have almost finished. There's no time to waste. Eldest Brothers, please set off as soon as possible! I am in the government, sigh! I truly envy your freedom and ease!"

Unconsciously, Wu Fan had become the one making decisions, a habit of Dan Xiongxin and the others.

Hearing Wu Fan's words, Dan Xiongxin stood up, bowed, and smiled, "What a pity! If it weren't for the urgency, today being the Mid-Autumn Festival, we would have drunk until we were drunk!"

Wu Fan smiled modestly, "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future! We are all men, so let's be straightforward and not act like women!"

Holding the hawk in his hand, Wu Fan placed it on Zhai Rang's shoulder and instructed, "Eldest Brother, you are more meticulous than Second and Third Brothers. Take this messenger hawk and remember to send me a message when you reach Erxian Manor!" He patted his head and said, "I also need Third Brother to accompany me for a while and take Tong Wei to train! To think, I, as an uncle, am so incapable that I can't even give my child the chance to bury his parents... sigh!"

A heavy sigh, a drizzle. For a moment, the four men on the pleasure boat were all filled with melancholy.

Despite their discomfort, they had to leave. The money obtained from the Ji Province tax ships needed to be transferred immediately...

An hour later.

The rain grew heavier, turning into a torrential downpour. The pleasure boat on the Grand Canal had long since disappeared, leaving only the canal water rippling under the heavy rain.

In the mist, under the cover of night and the heavy rain, about seventeen or eighteen large merchant ships sailed from upstream and quietly stopped at the Menting Bridge area.

"Plunk! Plunk!"

People jumped into the water.

Upon closer inspection, the sterns of the seventeen or eighteen large merchant ships were tied with thick ropes.

After a short while.

The people who had dived into the water climbed up the ships along the ropes.

Then, the seventeen or eighteen large merchant ships began to sail downstream... struggling as if pulling something.

"Rush, rush, rush..."

As the water level rose and the people on the merchant ships rowed hard, all the ropes tied to the sterns of the ships became taut. A massive object broke the surface of the water, emerged, and was slowly pulled away.

Under a large tree by the edge of the Grand Canal, Wu Fan, who had returned, put away his monocular in the fourteen-form saber case, his eyes filled with amusement. After a long while, he opened his umbrella and turned to leave.

In the rain, Wu Fan walked quickly.

"Lan Xin'er! Lan Xin'er! No matter how many schemes you devise, the ultimate beneficiary can only be me! Most of your things have already been taken by me! After all your efforts, you only get a little... Will you be angry? Ha ha ha... I really want to see your twisted face! Will it be beautiful?"

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