Chapter Twenty-Four: The Arrival of the Official Seal

If it weren’t for Zhao Hong’s words, Xu Kang wouldn’t have realized he’d been busy all night. Perhaps it was the effect of the magical fresh water; he didn’t feel particularly tired. His urge to sleep was nothing more than habit. But now, sleep was clearly out of the question. Irritated, he smacked his lips, rolled out of bed, threw on his coat, and stepped out of the tent.

As he lifted the curtain and walked outside, he saw the sky was already tinged with pale dawn. Witnessing this, he couldn’t help but sigh once more, “Damn, time really does fly. Who’d have thought that I, of all people, who value health above all, would join the ranks of the night owls?”

The “night owls” Xu Kang referred to were simply those who stay up late, but Zhao Hong didn’t understand the term.

“Night owls?” Zhao Hong repeated, drawing in a sharp breath. Then, clasping his hands and bowing deeply, he addressed Xu Kang. “I never imagined you were a disciple of the Dao. No wonder, as you stepped out of your tent just now, I saw a cloud of white smoke envelop you. Its fragrance invigorated me—so it was immortal energy, a blessing from you! Thank you, sir!”

White smoke? Immortal energy? What nonsense was this?

Xu Kang was momentarily stunned before he realized what Zhao Hong was referring to. “He must mean the white smoke from burning the scraps of my magical water pouch!” Though not as potent as drinking magical fresh water directly, the smoke from burning the pouch did have a slight restorative effect—and its appearance was striking. No wonder Zhao Hong mistook it for immortal energy. Moreover, in a few more minutes, the smoke would disperse entirely; Zhao Hong’s timing could not have been better.

Amused, Xu Kang almost laughed, but managed to restrain himself, only smiling and nodding to Zhao Hong. “No need for thanks. It was your luck to encounter it. Now, come with me and let’s see what that eunuch outside the camp gate is up to!”

“Yes, sir!” Zhao Hong, thrilled by Xu Kang’s acknowledgment, quickly nodded and followed him outside the camp.

No sooner had they stepped out than a familiar face caught Xu Kang’s eye—the very same elderly eunuch he’d met at the Western Garden when purchasing his official title. Seeing him, Xu Kang immediately understood his purpose and greeted him warmly.

“So it’s you, honored eunuch from the Western Garden! You’ve come so early—must be exhausting. Haven’t had breakfast yet, I presume? Take this flatbread as my treat!”

With that, he pretended to reach into his chest but actually pulled a palm-sized gold coin from his spatial satchel, pressing it into the old eunuch’s hand.

At first, the eunuch intended to refuse the bread, but feeling the cool touch of the gold coin, he swallowed his rejection and smiled broadly, tucking it away before bowing to Xu Kang.

“Since it’s a reward from Lord Xu, I’d be remiss to refuse!”

He then beckoned to the young eunuch behind him. “Bring Lord Xu’s items!”

“Yes!” The young eunuch responded at once, stepping forward with a tray and presenting it to Xu Kang with reverence.

The tray was large, but held only three items—a black robe, a sheathed iron sword three feet in length, and a square official seal.

Looking at these three items, Xu Kang’s eyes grew wistful. “Damn, just these three things cost me three million coins—one million each! Liu Hong, that conniving merchant, really knows how to do business!”

Though he cursed the Emperor Ling of Han inwardly, he wore a mask of gratitude, bowing toward the imperial city.

“Today I am humbled by imperial grace. Someday, I shall sweep away the Yellow Turbans and restore clarity to the Han!”

With these words, he took the tray from the eunuch.

Seeing Xu Kang accept the items, the old eunuch exchanged a few polite words and then took his leave.

Once they’d gone, Zhao Hong, who had followed Xu Kang throughout, couldn’t help but ask, “Sir, with your status, why bother rewarding a eunuch?”

“Heh, you don’t understand.”

Seeing his confusion tinged with indignation, Xu Kang smiled and patiently explained.

“Zhao Hong, first you must understand—the Han dynasty is now plagued by the Ten Attendants. If we wish to serve the nation, we must take the indirect route.”

“The indirect route?” Zhao Hong repeated, baffled by the unfamiliar term. “What do you mean by the indirect route? Please enlighten me, sir!”

Xu Kang, in high spirits after receiving his official seal, explained further.

“Indirect means to bend. The eunuchs’ power is too great to confront directly; if we clash head-on, we’ll be destroyed without value. Death isn’t frightening, but dying pointlessly is. So we must avoid their blade, preserve ourselves, and wait for the right moment.”

“Oh, I see!” Zhao Hong nodded, enlightenment dawning on his face.

“So what you’re saying is, we pretend to join the eunuch faction now, and when the time comes, we turn against them. But wouldn’t that make us opportunists?”

Damn, you really do get it.

Though inwardly Xu Kang agreed, he couldn’t admit it openly—he aspired to become a renowned scholar, not an opportunist! The reputation of a turncoat was disgraceful.

So, before Zhao Hong could finish, Xu Kang lifted his hand and smacked Zhao Hong’s iron helmet, making his own hand sting and go numb. “Damn, that hurts!”

But this was a moment for posturing—he couldn’t let it slip. He quickly hid his trembling hand behind his back, pointed at Zhao Hong with the other, and scolded him.

“Fool! Those corrupt officials are the real opportunists. I am merely in the camp of the eunuchs, but my heart belongs to Han. This is what it means for a true man to yield and rise again. Do you hear me?”

“Uh... I hear you!” Zhao Hong, startled by Xu Kang’s temper, replied timidly.

To his surprise, his submission only drew another roar from Xu Kang.

“What? I can’t hear you—answer louder! Do you hear me?”

“I hear you!”

“Louder! Are you a dainty little maiden, or did I starve you yesterday? Answer again—do you hear me?”

“I! HEAR! YOU!”

This last reply was bellowed so loudly it made Xu Kang’s ears ring.

Surveying Zhao Hong, who now looked like a rooster ready to fight, Xu Kang nodded in satisfaction and shouted back.

“Zhao Hong, as your commander, I order you to ready the troops. Begin at dawn, end at mid-morning; break camp at the second quarter of mid-morning. Can you do it?”

“I can!”

“Louder—I can’t hear you, can you?”

“I CAN!!”