On Cao Cao's side, after capturing Lujiang County, he remained inactive and had no further plans.

"My lord, there are three people outside requesting an audience. They say they've come to help you suppress the Yellow Turban rebels!"

Cao Cao's guards came to report.

Cao Cao was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and asked, "Oh? Who is it?"

"I don't know, but there was a red-faced man among them who claimed to be Mr. Lu's apprentice..."

After saying that, the guard looked at Lu Li.

Upon hearing this, Lu Li immediately frowned and quickly walked outside.

In no time, Lu Li arrived at the gate and saw a familiar figure.

"Yun Chang? It really is you!" Lu Li exclaimed in surprise.

This visitor is none other than Lu Li's disciple, Guan Yu, Guan Yunchang!

"Master! Your disciple greets you, Master!"

After saying this, Guan Yu immediately knelt on one knee and performed a grand salute.

Get up!

Lu Li quickly helped Guan Yu up and asked, "Why are you here? Where's Laifu? Why wasn't he with you?"

Mentioning Leifu, Guan Yu seemed somewhat uneasy, and lowered his head to answer, "Reporting to Master, Senior Brother... he's dead!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Li gasped, his expression instantly changing.

"What did you say? Leif is dead? How is that possible? What exactly happened?" Lu Li pressed.

"Master, this is what happened. Half a year ago, we went to Yizhou..."

Guan Yu quickly recounted the events: after they went down the mountain, they visited many places, but half a year ago, they encountered a Taoist priest in Yizhou who called himself the Immortal Zuo Ci.

This man spread rumors and misled the people in Yizhou. When Lai Fu and Guan Yu saw this injustice, they clashed with Zuo Ci.

But to everyone's surprise, Zuo Ci was truly formidable; even Guan Yu was no match for him. In order to allow Guan Yu to escape, Lai Fu held off Zuo Ci himself.

Upon hearing this, Lu Li felt a tightness in his chest, his vision went black, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

"Master!" Guan Yu was startled when he saw this and hurriedly stepped forward to support Lu Li.

"Your disciple is guilty. I have never dared to return to see you, Master. I have been wandering around Zhuojun, where I met my elder brother Liu Bei and my third brother Zhang Fei!" Guan Yu said with remorse.

Lu Li took a deep breath, waved his hand, and said, "Yun Chang, this isn't your fault. The fact that you're still alive is already a blessing!"

He only took on three apprentices in total: Lai Fu, Dian Wei, and Guan Yu.

Laifu is Lu Li's first true disciple from the Warring States period to the present, and the relationship between the two is extraordinary.

"What about Zuo Ci?" Lu Li asked.

Zuo Ci, one of the three immortals of the late Han Dynasty!

Although he was called an immortal, Lu Li guessed that this guy was only at the level of a minor grandmaster, and could not possibly have reached the level of an immortal.

"Master, Zhang Jiao, the Heavenly General of the Yellow Turban Army, is Zuo Ci's disciple!" Guan Yu said.

"So it was him!" Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Lu Li's eyes.

From the beginning, Lu Li had suspected that the Yellow Turban Rebellion was being controlled by someone behind the scenes.

He had suspected which of the Hundred Schools it was, but he never expected it to be Zuo Ci!

Zuo Ci, who styled himself Master Wujiao, was a famous alchemist in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He lived in Tianzhu Mountain in his youth and studied the art of alchemy.

He was well-versed in the Five Classics, as well as astronomy and divination, and was also familiar with the Six Jia (a system of divination). Legend has it that he could command ghosts and spirits and summon food at will.

According to records, he was blind in one eye and claimed to be several hundred years old.

If what is recorded is true, then Zuo Ci is indeed several hundred years old, and he should also be at the Martial Venerable realm!

But if it were a Martial Venerable, Guan Yu wouldn't be able to escape at all! After all, he had personally experienced the power of a Martial Venerable.

Although Lu Li was confident, he never underestimated his opponent.

Because Zuo Ci was so mysterious, no one knew just how powerful he was.

Lu Li took a deep breath, trying to keep himself calm.

He then looked at Liu Bei and Zhang Fei behind Guan Yu.

Liu Bei immediately cupped his hands and said, "My surname is Liu, my given name is Bei, and I am a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan! I greet you, Mr. Lu!"

Zhang Fei also said in a rough and boisterous manner, "I am Zhang Fei, Zhang Yide! Greetings, sir!"

Lu Li was Guan Yu's master, so Zhang Fei didn't dare to act rashly. After all, Zhang Fei knew his second brother Guan Yu's strength very well.

Lu Li never expected that Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei would still come together. Could this be the legendary bond?

"I apologize for my rudeness. Please come in." Lu Li welcomed the three into the mansion.

Upon seeing this, Liu Bei quickly said, "Mr. Lu, there's no need for such politeness!"

After Lu Li introduced Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, and Guan Yu to Cao Cao, Cao Cao immediately stood up, bowed to Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, and said, "Cao Mengde, thank you for your help, three heroes!"

Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, and Guan Yu hurriedly returned the greeting.

They had already heard the news of Cao Cao's great victory over the Yellow Turban rebels. When Guan Yu learned that his master Lu Li was helping Cao Cao, he immediately brought Liu Bei and Zhang Fei to Lujiang.

"As a citizen of the Han Dynasty, it is only natural that I should do my part!" Liu Bei said humbly.

"Lord Cao, we hope to join your army and fight against the Yellow Turban rebels together!" Guan Yu said.

"Very well, as long as the three of you are willing, I, Cao Cao, will naturally welcome you!" Cao Cao nodded happily and said.

"Thank you very much, Lord Cao!"

The three of them said in unison.

Cao Cao was naturally pleased to see this happen. He had previously heard Dian Wei say that his third junior brother was brave enough to fight ten thousand men and was invincible among his peers with a long sword in hand!

There's certainly an exaggeration involved in Dian Wei's story, but Cao Cao wasn't stupid either. Anyone who could fight Dian Wei to a standstill must have had exceptional skills.

"Alright, Yun Chang, please arrange accommodations for the two of you first, then come find me," Lu Li instructed.

"Yes, Master!"

Guan Yu bowed respectfully, then left with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei.

After the three had walked away, Lu Li sighed and said, "Mengde, I have a request."

"Mr. Lu, please speak freely. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse," Cao Cao said.

Lu Li remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"The plans have changed. I need to go to Yizhou!" Lu Li said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing Lu Li's words, Cao Cao's expression immediately changed.

He then said, "Mr. Lu, to be honest, if you leave, it will be very difficult for our troops alone to resist the Yellow Turban Army, after all, the number of these Yellow Turban rebels is simply too large!"

Lu Li naturally knew this, which is why he helped Cao Cao gain Emperor Ling's trust and become the commander-in-chief in the campaign against the Yellow Turban rebels!

The Yellow Turban Rebellion has now broken out in various states and is expanding rapidly. If this continues, half of the country may fall!

But now that Laifu has died at Zuo Ci's hands, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion was actually orchestrated by Zuo Ci, Lu Li is naturally furious!

To avenge Laifu, he had to personally go to Yizhou and kill Zuo Ci.

"Mengde, do not worry. I will recommend someone to you. This person is unparalleled in wisdom and strategy, and can be called a genius!"

"With him here, you will surely be able to defeat the Yellow Turban rebels!" Lu Li said.

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao was overjoyed and excitedly asked, "May I ask who Mr. Lu has recommended?"

"Guo Jia, Guo Fengxiao!"