Chapter 108: My Heart Is Clear

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...The Pavilion Master went alone to assassinate Dong Zhuo. With but a single man and a single sword, he defeated Zhang Xiu and Hu Che'er in succession amid a hundred men, only to be stopped by Lü Bu before drifting away.

When Zhuo heard of it, he flew into a rage and wanted to send men to arrest him. The Emperor refused in no uncertain terms, and the matter was ultimately dropped.

Though he had failed to eliminate the traitor, the Pavilion Master's loyal and courageous deed, as well as his peerless swordsmanship, was still worthy of praise. At the time, the people of Chang'an all called him the “Jade Sword Immortal”...

—The Annals of Zhang Yu, from the Certain Book

Just as Zhang Yu's fame was spreading far and wide,

Lü Bu arrived.

He had neither the Red Hare nor his Heaven-Fang Halberd, nor was he accompanied by any attendants.

He carried only a sword, just as Zhang Yu did, and pushed open the gates of Wang Yue's residence.

The young man in blue that day was Shi A, one of Wang Yue's disciples. He was the first to notice the uninvited guest and rushed forward with his sword. Before three exchanges had passed, his long sword was sent flying into the air.

Zhang Wuji, Zhang Junbao, Han Meng, Han Long, Cao Xing, and Xiahou Lan—six men in all—joined the fray, yet they still could not gain the slightest advantage.

The most critical point was that Lü Bu did not appear to be exerting himself at all.

“Enough!” Wang Yue emerged from the courtyard.

“Master Wang, he—”

“General Lü's martial skill reaches the realm of the divine. You are no match for him.”

Wang Yue waved the men back.

“May I ask why General Lü has come to this old man's humble residence today?”

“I am looking for Zhang Yu.”

“Zhang Yu? Zhang Yu—”

“I know he is here.”

After a brief hesitation, Wang Yue said, “I know the general means no harm, but my young master has not yet recovered from his serious injuries and is still resting. I fear he cannot receive guests.”

“I am not a guest. I must see him.”

Lü Bu walked straight toward the rear courtyard.

“In that case, I am afraid I cannot simply allow you to enter.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Yue's vigorous hand closed around the hilt of his old sword.

The instant his fingers tightened, the white-haired old man seemed to radiate a sword intent that soared into the heavens. His entire being transformed into an unparalleled divine blade.

Lü Bu might be unrivaled in mounted combat, but when it came to the sword, Wang Yue was confident that he was inferior to no one!

“Gentlemen.” Someone suddenly emerged from the rear courtyard. “The young master says General Lü may enter.”

Jing Shu glanced at Wang Yue, then turned her limpid, lovely eyes toward Lü Bu. Lü Bu, however, did not so much as look aside. He walked straight into the courtyard.

“Hello.”

Watching Lü Bu push open the door and approach him, Zhang Yu inexplicably blurted out those words.

So this was the greatest warrior of the Three Kingdoms.

“You have become a cripple.”

“What?”

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“You can never practice martial arts again.”

“Bah! Who says someone unable to practice martial arts is a cripple? By your logic, you might as well become emperor. After all, no one can defeat you.”

For some reason, Zhang Yu simply felt that Lü Bu harbored no ill will toward him. He let down his guard at once and adopted the manner of an old acquaintance.

“Have you never heard of the Conqueror? Even he knew that he had to become a warrior capable of defeating ten thousand men, and that he had to study military strategy. Mere brute courage does not make a man formidable.”

“You make a fair point. But who is your sister?”

What? Your logic is very interesting.

“My sister's name is Diao Xiuer—”

The instant Lü Bu heard that name, his entire body seemed to enter a state of alert. The force of his presence was so overwhelming that Zhang Yu even found it difficult to breathe.

“She is at the Minister's residence, and you told me to save her as well. What exactly do you know?”

Zhang Yu did not answer. He had only just sent Han Long back to the Minister's residence, and Diao Xiuer was still there. That meant Dong Zhuo had not taken her away that day.

“Speak.” Lü Bu's tone was flat, yet murderous intent lurked within it.

“Go ask Wang Yun and you will know.”

“Tell me!” Lü Bu shouted.

Crash!

Wang Yue, Han Long, Xiahou Lan, and the others burst through the door.

“What are you making such a racket for? It was Dong Zhuo who wanted to seize my sister Xiuer. If you have the courage, go find him! What are you strutting around in front of a cripple like me for?”

The instant Zhang Yu finished speaking, Lü Bu turned and left. The people gathered at the doorway instinctively stepped aside, opening a path for him.

When he reached the door, he turned back.

“Thank you.”

...

Sunlight shone upon the Incense Burner, raising violet smoke.

But there was no waterfall here, nor was this Mount Lu. The scene was unfolding in the main hall of the Minister's residence.

Wang Yun sat upon the couch at the front of the hall with his eyes closed, resting his mind. Beside him, a maid gently and steadily presented the tea she had just brewed to perfection.

“You may withdraw.”

“Yes, my lord.”

After some time, the incense from the burner filled the room with a haze, making it seem like an immortal realm.

“Wang Feng.”

“My lord, Wang Feng is here.”

“Have all the arrangements been made?”

“Reporting to you, my lord, Li Su is nearly ready.”

“No. Nearly is not enough. Continue.”

“Yes! And what of Li Ru?”

“In Chang'an, only he and Jia Xu are capable of thwarting my plans. Have assassins disguise themselves as retainers of the Yuan clan and wait for an opportunity to act. What of Zhang Yu?”

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“We do not know who rescued him. His whereabouts remain unknown.”

“There are few people in all the world capable of rescuing someone from Lü Bu's hands. Yet within Chang'an, there truly are one or two.”

“Who?”

“My kinsman, the Imperial Tutor Wang Yue.

“During the reign of Emperor Huan, he had already made a name for himself through his swordsmanship. Though Lü Bu is invincible in mounted combat, he might not defeat Wang Yue in a contest of swords on foot.”

Wang Yun thought for a moment, then continued, “Besides, he resembles me in one respect: he is utterly loyal to the Han dynasty.”

“If that is so, why does the Minister not buy him off with a great reward and have such an expert assassinate Dong Zhuo?”

“There will be only one opportunity to assassinate him. If it fails, the consequences will be endless. Therefore, I must choose the safest method.

“If Lü Bu assassinates Dong Zhuo, he will face only Dong Zhuo. But if I buy Wang Yue's allegiance, he will have to face Lü Bu, the Western Liang Army, and Dong Zhuo. Success would be nearly impossible.”

“Your Excellency is farsighted and wise. I admire you deeply. There is one more matter... Although Zhang Yu's hiding place is unknown, his attempt to assassinate Dong Zhuo is being praised throughout the city.”

“Heh.” Wang Yun shook his head with a smile. “That boy is exceptionally lucky. Others may not know it, but I do. His attempt to assassinate Dong Zhuo was merely a pretext. What he truly wanted was to take Xiuer away.

“Compared with assassinating Dong Zhuo, what he really wanted to stab was me—the man who had kept him in the dark.”

Wang Feng did not know how to respond and fell silent.

After a long while, when Wang Yun still said nothing, Wang Feng ventured, “My lord, is there anything else you wish me to attend to? I shall see to it at once.”

“Ah!” Wang Yun let out a long sigh.

“Tell me—have I done wrong?”

“Minister, you have exhausted yourself in the cause of restoring the glory of the Great Han. How could you have done wrong?”

“Indeed. My heart contains nothing but this Great Han.”

Wang Yun took a sip of tea, then frowned. The tea prepared by his concubine today had a slightly bitter aftertaste.

“But the Great Han is too vast.

“So vast that once I had taken it into my heart, there was no room left for anything else. For its sake, what does it matter how much more must be sacrificed?

“I only hope that I may live to see the day when the Great Han rises again in glory.”

“With Your Excellency guarding the Emperor above and worrying for the common people below, the Great Han will surely be restored with a loyal minister such as you.”

“Xiuer... Is she well?”

“Miss Xiuer is as usual.”

“As usual? My daughter truly is like her old father.”

As Wang Yun spoke, he rose and prepared to leave the hall. Just then, a servant hurried over to report:

“My lord, General Lü Bu is waiting outside the residence and requests an audience.”