Chapter 684: Chu Liangliang, Wei Yuanyuan, and Ruiji [Two-in-One]

The official had been with Wei Shou for several years and could be considered one of his older and more trusted confidants, but he was completely unfamiliar with the name [Chu Liangliang]. Watching Wei Shou's furrowed brows and relaxed expressions, the official's curiosity was piqued.

Finally, unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, "General, if I may be so bold as to ask, who is this Chu Liangliang?"

Wei Shou slammed the letter on the table in disgust.

"Him? Hmph, he's no good."

The official waited for further instructions, but nothing came of it.

He had to ask again: "Is this man an enemy of the general?"

Wei Shou thought about it carefully for a moment and said, "It's not quite right to say that Chu Liangliang is my enemy... but what good can this treacherous villain do now that he's come to my door? Humph, if he has the guts to come here, I'll definitely kick him out!"

An official complained, "Why wasn't it fired?"

Wei Shou said, "If we can just push it out, why would we need to sweep it up?"

Upon hearing this, the subordinate guessed that this [Chu Liangliang] was a playful person like his general, or perhaps a highly skilled and courageous martial artist. Just as he was imagining this, Wei Shou waved his hand dismissively: "Go, go, go! Bring me my treasured wine!"

The subordinate official remained silent upon hearing this.

I never imagined that even my own general could be hypocritical.

"Wait, he can't drink much, never mind."

Subordinate: "..."

Unable to indulge in wine, Wei Shou turned to food instead.

Subordinate officials were ordered around everywhere.

Before nightfall, a table of delicacies was set out in the pavilion. Having completed his mission, Wei Shou no longer needed his protection and sent him away.

The official kept turning back to look at Chu Liangliang, eager to see what he looked like, his curiosity simmering. He noticed an old servant with only one leg sweeping the courtyard and hatched a plan. This old servant had once been a personal guard of Wei Shou, but lost his leg in a battle to break through enemy lines. Orphaned and childless, he had been taken in by Wei Shou, who had given him the job of serving him.

This is the oldest known senior citizen.

"Old soldier, I have a question for you."

The official beckoned to the one-legged old servant, signaling him to take a rest.

The old servant used a broom as a cane and limped over.

"What can I do for you, sir?"

"You've followed the general for so many years, have you ever seen anyone by his side named [Chu Liangliang]?" The subordinate was curious, but the timing of [Chu Liangliang]'s appearance was also sensitive. This man was a member of the Dragon Slaying Bureau's allied forces, and his appearance now certainly wasn't for reminiscing; perhaps he also intended to recruit him. The subordinate believed that knowing oneself and one's enemy was the key to victory.

The old servant's expression turned strange for a moment upon hearing this address.

"Is the Chu Liangliang you're talking about surnamed Chu and given name Yao?"

The subordinate said, "I don't know, but the general seemed to be in a very good mood after receiving that letter from [Chu Liangliang]."

The old servant nodded: "That's probably it."

Subordinate: "Could you tell me more about this person?"

The old servant put the broom aside, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky, his thoughts drifting back to more than twenty years ago: "Him? A rather remarkable scholar. But not as good as our general. The general's wife was snatched from him!"

The official who was "eating melon seeds" thought: "..."

The start of this gossip startled him so much that he dropped the melon he was holding.

"The hatred of having one's wife taken away? Does the general even have a taste for that?"

The old servant said, "The food always tastes better at other people's houses."

Subordinate: "..."

He couldn't refute that statement.

The subordinate hurriedly asked, "And then what?"

The old servant said, "After that... news of his death came one year, and the general apparently had a big argument with his wife because she wanted to pay respects to him. Men, they're all petty about these things. What man wants his wife to mourn for another man?"

The subordinate nodded in agreement: "Exactly, we can't tolerate this!"

The old servant then dropped another bombshell: "Our general's father was murdered by this [Chu Liangliang]!"

The subordinate official exclaimed in surprise, "There's also a blood feud involving the murder of one's father?"

The old servant nodded firmly: "Yes!"

The subordinate jumped up, hurriedly saying, "The two have a deep-seated grudge. How can you, General, meet with him in private? What if he harbors intentions to harm you? No, no..."

Chu Yao dressed up specially for the banquet today.

Shen Tang escorted him to the vicinity of Chaoli Pass, saying worriedly, "Wu Hui, I'm still a little worried. How about I disguise myself as your attendant and go with you? If things really come to a head, I can bring you out... Just because you two were on good terms before doesn't mean you're on good terms now, especially since your positions are different. Wei Shou is fighting for Zheng Qiao; what if he tricks you and leaves you behind..."

Chu Yao smiled calmly, reassuring his lord.

"No, Yo's heart is with Goro."

Shen Tang: "..."

She was powerless against Chu Yao's "Fifth Brother" and Qi Shan's "Shen Youli," and in the end, she could only choose to back down.

She said, "Then I'll wait for you here."

"It's freezing cold, Goro, please keep warm."

After speaking, Chu Yao kicked the horse's belly, controlling the reins to spur his warhorse towards Chaoli Pass. A gust of wind swept across his face, his robes fluttering, quickly turning into a blur under Shen Tang's gaze.

The guards at Chaoli Pass had received advance warning and, seeing a scholar approaching on horseback below the city, loudly asked, "Who goes there?"

Chu Yao said, "Chu Yao, Chu Wuhui!"

Immediately following, the towering gate creaked heavily, revealing only a crack wide enough for one person to pass through. Chu Yao clasped his hands in thanks.

Once he entered Chaoli Pass, someone was waiting to greet him.

Chu Yao smiled and said, "Please lead the way, soldier."

He sat on horseback, his gaze fixed straight ahead. As the scenery around him receded, his thoughts seemed to drift back to his spirited youth. Chu Yao knew he would eventually run into old acquaintances, but he never expected the first to be Wei Shou.

Feeling moved, I played a tune on my flute.

The clear sound of the flute pierced through the clouds and mist.

Like a restless finger gently plucking at the heartstrings.

The soldier holding the reins stopped.

He said, "Sir, my general is just ahead."

Chu Yao jumped off his horse and walked towards the pavilion.

Before he even entered the pavilion, he saw a burly, imposing figure rushing towards him, saying, "You, Chu Wuhui, truly a scourge that lives on for a thousand years, you're still alive!"

He wanted to open his arms and hug Chu Yao, but Chu Yao anticipated this and ducked to the side to avoid the hug.

Wei Shou, finding nothing, angrily exclaimed, "Chu Wuhui!"

Chu Yao saw Wei Shou's current appearance clearly.

The northern desert boy who was half a head taller than him back then, with slightly round cheeks and resembling a wolf cub, has now become a burly middle-aged man with a full beard. In the words of his lord, it is as if the knife of time has been cutting into Wei Shou's face time and time again.

Chu Yao stared at his face, barely recognizing the traces from back then.

Wei Shou was from the Northern Desert, a region with many ethnic groups, and he belonged to a rather unique branch. They were born with fair skin, and their hair ranged in color from brown to gold; some even had unusually bright blue or green eyes. Many of Wei Shou's descendants were handsome in their youth, but as they aged or became unkempt, they looked much older than their actual age—in short, they became unrecognizable!

"I almost didn't recognize him."

Wei Shou touched his face: "Has there been any change?"

He looked at his own face every day and didn't feel much change, but Chu Yao really hadn't changed much; his face was only more mature than when he was a teenager: "These past twenty or thirty years have all grown into your hair, and you scholars are still bullying people like this..."

“However, my hair is all black, which is better than yours.” Wei Shou finally found a way to beat Chu Yao, and was in a great mood. He put his arm around Chu Yao’s shoulder and walked towards the pavilion. “Come, come, Liangliang, I’ve prepared a table full of good food.”

Chu Yao: "Can you please stop calling me 'old man' like that?"

A man in his late thirties, almost forty, was called by this name...

Wei Shou could shout it out, but he didn't want to hear it.

"Hehe, don't you also call this old man Yuanyuan..."

Chu Yao said matter-of-factly, "This is your handwriting."

"My name is Yuan Yuan, the Yuan of longevity..."

Wei Shou's name is a typical example of how a lack of education can be detrimental.

When his biological father was alive, he greatly admired the culture of the Guannei region and begged a merchant there to name him Wei Shou. However, his father died young without leaving him a courtesy name, so he had to choose one himself. Lacking much education at the time, he only knew that two characters were considered impressive, so based on the meaning of "longevity," he named himself Yuan Yuan. He originally just wanted to say it for fun, but little did he know it would become a part of his martial arts prowess!

What a perfectly normal grown man...

What's with the name Yuan Yuan? Where's the prestige in that?

Chu Yao said, "Aren't they all the same?"

Wei Shou snorted: "What's wrong with me calling you Liangliang? That 'word of power' is right, you're just saying 'only the magistrate is allowed to set fires'!"

It's both "Yao" and "Wu Hui," so isn't it just "Bright Bright"?

They walked into the pavilion and sat down.

Sure enough, there were steaming dishes on the table.

Wei Shou said, "I know you have a delicate stomach, so I used martial arts to warm these, and they're just right for you to eat now."

He still remembered how Chu Yao had eaten a half-cooked lamb leg he'd roasted years ago, and ended up with a stomachache that lasted half the night—a lesson that had broadened his horizons. These Wenxin scholars were spoiled and pampered; they were all treated like royalty!

Chu Yao paused in his hand as he picked up his chopsticks.

Wei Shou thought he was about to explain his purpose, which dampened his spirits.

Before he could speak, she said, "Eat first, then we can talk business. Don't you always talk about the rule of 'not talking while eating'?"

Chu Yao picked up a piece of food and said, "It's been a long time since I've talked about this."

"Oh ho, which beauty changed your habit?"

Chu Yao: "..."

You need to concentrate when you're cooking.

Chu Yao hadn't eaten before he arrived, and now he was really hungry.

After finishing the meal, Wei Shou tore off a fragrant roasted lamb leg with his bare hands, took a big bite, and chewed as he said, "Chu Wuhui, tell me, what brings you to my Three Treasures Hall?"

There were slices of meat laid out in front of Chu Yao.

Wei Shou leaned closer and asked him, "Do you perhaps wish to recruit me?"

Chu Yao raised his eyes and gave him a look: "No."

Wei Shou suddenly flew into a rage and his expression changed: "No? Then what are you doing here? Chu Wuhui, do you still look down on me?"

Chu Yao was not surprised by Wei Shou's unpredictable mood swings.

The latter was much more impatient in his youth than he is now.

Chu Yao calmly put down the mouthwash: "I know your temper, so there's no need to waste my breath."

Wei Shou's expression improved slightly.

"Oh, if you're just here to catch up, then you're welcome."

Chu Yao smiled and said, "Let's take a look at Rui Ji next."

Wei Shou pointed outside the pavilion and said, "Then get out!"

Who is Ruiji?

Wei Shou's wife.

She was once an extraordinary woman.

Her maiden name was Jin Rui. She was once a courtesan kept at great expense by a high-ranking official. Even before she reached adulthood, she had blossomed into a woman of unparalleled beauty. But her appearance was merely superficial; her talent far surpassed her physical beauty. She was skilled in playing the zither, chess, and calligraphy, and her painting was exquisite. Her singing, dancing, and musical performances were all remarkable. Although she was a woman who could not cultivate immortality, she possessed the ability to remember everything she saw.

It is said that her knowledge is no less than that of many scholars.

At that time, the northern deserts were restless and the interior was in chaos. The high-ranking official sent Jin Rui away to use her influence to buy time.

Within two years, the pro-peace nobles were purged, and Jin Rui, having lost her support, was used to reward meritorious generals. This general was none other than Wei Shou's adoptive father. Years ago, Chu Yao had used Jin Rui to capture and kill Wei Shou's adoptive father, and Wei Shou bluntly stated that he would surrender, but he wanted a woman. To gain Wei Shou's help, the commander agreed, only to discover that Wei Shou wanted Jin Rui.

Upon hearing that it was Jin Rui, the head coach immediately felt some regret.

Because Chu Yao had already taken the person away, under the pretense of being an old friend... Of course, no one present believed Chu Yao's words.

But in the end, Jinrui still followed Wei Shou.

According to Jin Rui, it was voluntary on her part.

Wei Shou was jealous about this for almost thirty years.

Jin Rui is very refined. If she really wanted to choose a man, she would know without a doubt that she should choose Chu Yao instead of Wei Shou.

Chu Yao chuckled at his reaction.

He asked, "Are you worried that I'll snatch someone from you?"

"Bullshit! Who's afraid! Can you even break through Chaoli Pass?"

Wei Shou's words were resounding and powerful.

Chu Yao said, "I can break it!"

Wei Shou's face turned ashen, like the bottom of a pot.

Although he only spent six months with Chu Yao during their youth, he knew that the other never did anything without certainty or spoke without preparation. Once he spoke, he would definitely do it. It's just that until the day the mystery is revealed, no one knows what he will do.

"Bring it on! I'm not afraid of you!"

Wei Shou tore off a piece of lamb leg meat and chewed it vigorously, as if he were gnawing on Chu Wuhui's leg instead of a lamb's leg.

Chu Yao smiled and said, "It's a deal."

Not long after, an old woman came to the pavilion.

Wei Shou's face turned even uglier upon seeing this.

The reason was simple: the old woman was serving his wife.

Chu Yao could still vaguely see the traces of the past on the old woman's aged face. He raised his hand in a bow, and the old woman looked at him excitedly, her voice hoarse and slightly trembling: "It really is Lord Chu... Your demeanor is as charming as ever, without the slightest loss... The Queen just said that she heard familiar music and said that it was you who came, but the old woman did not believe it... It is truly a blessing from heaven!"

Wei Shou's face turned completely black with a multicolored pattern.

The old woman asked Chu Yao cautiously.

"Does Lord Chu have time to meet my lady?"

Chu Yao said, "I've come today to see an old friend."

The old woman didn't invite Wei Shou, but he insisted on following along with a long face, his guarding posture reminding Chu Yao of those days.

only--

I really have to apologize to Wei Shou this time.

Jin Rui was seven years older than Chu Yao, but in her forties, she still retained her charm. Time had been kind to her; apart from faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, there were no other marks, and even her eyes were as bright as a young man's. Upon seeing Chu Yao, tears instantly filled her eyes.

Chu Yao bowed to her.

Ruiji said, "She's still alive. It's good that she's still alive."

She raised her hand to touch Chu Yao's cheek but didn't dare.

I was afraid my fingers would miss.

Wei Shou, who was behind him, coughed heavily.

He was gesturing to the two of them, implying that he, a living man, was still alive and well, not yet buried!

Ruiji then noticed him.

Pointing to the door, she said, "Yuanyuan, go outside and don't eavesdrop!"

Wei Shou: "..."

_(:з」∠)_

Should we gamble on Jinrui's relationship with Old Master Chu?

(End of this chapter)