Chapter 107: The Jade Sword Immortal

"I feel as if I see a parade of fellow patients—Jia Yi, Huo Qubing, Zhou Yu, Li He, Nalan Rongruo—patting the head of my hospital bed and beckoning to me...

I feel as if I hear the Grand Historian, Gao Lishi, Tong Guan, Zheng He, and Wei Zhongxian resting their hands on my shoulders, telling me to be strong...

What the hell!"

...

The entire city of Chang'an was shaken at this very moment by a single event.

Furthermore, this event would soon spread throughout the world, stirring up a tempest amidst the chaos of these troubled times.

That event was—Zhang Yu’s assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo.

Who is Zhang Yu? By now, there is likely no one who does not know.

The Emperor's brother, a kinsman of the Han Dynasty, possessing a noble status.

He is exceptionally skilled at brewing wine; the three renowned vintages he created—"Immortal’s Nectar," "Gods and Buddhas Fall," and "Jade Emperor’s Drunkenness"—have driven every wine lover in the land into a frenzy.

Moreover, his literary talent is unparalleled. The seven-character poems he composed are without precedent, overshadowing the entire age. He even created a new literary style, "New Ci," which the great scholar Cai Yong praised as being "as talented as eight pecks of grain."

However, the world now realizes that all these dazzling achievements were merely his glittering ornaments.

Though they appeared bright enough, they did not represent the entirety of his radiance.

For, he is also a swordsman.

A peerless swordsman.

Who is Dong Zhuo? The Grand Preceptor of the current dynasty, a man whose crimes are so monstrous they defy description. The common people wish they could eat his flesh, drink his blood, and gnaw his bones! Whoever eliminates him would be a god-like hero, a savior to ten thousand families.

Yet, who dared to step forward? The halls were filled with princes and ministers, from the Emperor down to the wandering knights; none dared to defy his tyrannical might.

Only Young Master Yu!

Given his status and position, he could have safely remained a refined scholar, living a carefree and elegant life. But he chose to stand up.

Alone, with a single sword, he struck during a moonlit banquet at the Minister of Works’ residence!

What is the Flying Bear Army? The fiercest and most elite unit under Dong Zhuo’s command. His personal guards, in particular, were Xiliang warriors, every one of them capable of taking on ten.

Who is Hu Che'er? The strongest warrior among Dong Zhuo’s personal guards, rumored to be able to carry five hundred pounds and travel eight hundred miles in a single day.

Who is Zhang Xiu? A great general under Dong Zhuo. His long spear dances with supernatural skill, and he has rarely met an equal across the northern lands. His prowess exceeds even that of Hu Che'er, earning him the title "Spear King of the North."

Yet, such a lineup was thoroughly defeated by the sword of Young Master Yu! Had the world's greatest warrior, Lu Bu, not appeared at the very end, the tyrant Dong would surely have lost his head!

According to eyewitnesses of the assassination attempt, Young Master Yu arrived on the cold night, stepping upon the moonlight like an immortal descending from the celestial palace. He drifted through the air before touching down, ethereal and transcendent.

The leader of the Flying Bear guards, a man of bulging muscles, charged forward to draw his blade, but with a mere wave of the Young Master’s long sleeve, his head fell to the ground.

...

In the midst of a hundred men hacking at him, the Young Master moved as if he were strolling through a leisurely garden. Those dense, vicious blades could not even come near him, and with every casual strike of his sword, three or four soldiers would fall.

Alas, the Young Master was born with a frail constitution; after cutting down a hundred men, he grew somewhat weary. At this moment, the long-waiting warrior Hu Che'er stepped forward. It is said this man possesses innate divine strength, capable of shattering stone slabs with a palm and snapping steel swords with two fingers.

Yet, the Young Master showed no fear. His long sword hummed like a dragon's roar. With a body like jade and robes fluttering in the wind, he engaged Hu Che'er for eighty rounds, finally breaking through his defenses and nearly killing him outright.

Just as the Young Master prepared to leap into the residence to assassinate the tyrant, the Spear King of the North appeared.

A long spear struck out at the Young Master like an evil black dragon. Though the Young Master’s martial arts were far superior to Zhang Xiu’s, he was exhausted from the relentless fighting, and his frail body could not withstand such intensity. Suddenly, he spat out several mouthfuls of blood!

But how could a fierce tiger be bullied by a dog? Even so, the Young Master kept Zhang Xiu firmly suppressed, and after a hundred rounds, he was on the verge of decapitating him with a single stroke!

However, this was, after all, Dong Zhuo’s territory.

The Flying General, Lu Bu, arrived atop his Red Hare horse, leading a thousand Xiliang cavalrymen. He led the charge, his halberd striking at the Young Master. In a flash of lightning, the Young Master had no choice but to abandon Zhang Xiu to face Lu Bu.

Sword against halberd, foot against horse—the Young Master was at a disadvantage in both. After thirty rounds of grueling combat, his strength finally failed him, and he suffered heavy injuries.

Seeing that the chance for assassination had passed, the Young Master parried the halberd, leaped into the air, and soared over the heads of a thousand riders, drifting off into the night sky. Even Lu Bu, riding the divine Red Hare, could not catch him!

What profound righteousness, what extraordinary martial skill!

Overnight, the name "Jade Sword Immortal" spread throughout Chang'an.

Inside a tavern in the city alleys:

"Brother Chang, have you heard..."

"Of course... the Jade Sword Immortal, he..."

"Slap!" A man in green robes couldn't help but slam his hand on the table in admiration, only to be quickly held down by his friends.

"Do you really think you're a sword immortal? To escape unscathed from those tigers and wolves?"

"Cough, cough, forgive me, I was just too excited."

"But... it is only fitting. When I think of the Young Master’s immortal grace, my heart is filled with longing!"

This tavern was in a remote location, a favorite haunt for young scholars, as fewer people meant fewer prying eyes, allowing them to speak without reservation.

"Speaking of which, have you heard about yesterday morning’s court session?"

"Yesterday’s court session?"

"We truly do not know. Brother Wang, you are always well-informed. What happened?"

"The... tyrant Dong, he petitioned the Emperor to capture the Jade Sword Immortal!"

"Ah?!"

"This—what can be done?"

...

The group’s faces turned pale with alarm.

"I heard the Young Master was severely wounded after his battle with Lu... If they send troops to hunt him now, I fear he will have nowhere to hide."

"And those Xiliang dogs! Who knows what heaven-defying atrocities they will commit under the guise of searching for him!"

"This is outrageous! The Jade Sword Immortal is so righteous, is there no one willing to lend a hand? Surely the great families could hide a man easily enough."

The panic gradually turned into indignation.

"Hey, don't say that. The tyrant’s request... was rejected by the Emperor!"

"What!?"

"The Emperor... stopped the tyrant?"

For a long time, the image of Dong Zhuo as a cruel and absolute dictator had been deeply ingrained in their hearts. They could not imagine how a young emperor, barely past the age of ten, could have stopped him.

After all, everyone knew how little authority the current Emperor held.

"And more importantly, the tyrant actually yielded."

"It seems the Emperor was truly furious. Well, the Jade Sword Immortal is unparalleled in both literature and martial arts, and he is the Emperor’s own brother. The Emperor would never let Dong Zhuo harm him."

"Our Han Dynasty finally has an enlightened ruler again!"

"Long live our Emperor, long live our Sword Immortal!"

...

"Huh, why is it flashing again?"

Zhang Yu muttered to himself, looking at the [Man of Benevolence and Righteousness] badge.

Unlike the blood-red glow when his [Chronic Illness] trait fluctuated, this light was golden.

Once, twice, three times.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host. Your solo assassination attempt has been mythologized by others and has spread throughout Chang'an, continuing to propagate. You have gained 3,000 Reputation points and 1,000 Experience points. Current Reputation: 5,200 (25,600); Current Experience: 5,200."

"Ding! Congratulations, Host. Your righteous act and its subsequent influence have successfully upgraded your badge from [Man of Benevolence and Righteousness] to [Unrivaled Benevolence and Righteousness]."

"[Unrivaled Benevolence and Righteousness] (Your name for benevolence and righteousness is known to all; wherever you are, you command great popular support. The initial affinity with generals of the same temperament (Benevolence and Righteousness) is increased to 50 points)."

"Uh, actually, I just wanted to save someone...

Truly, good deeds are rewarded!"