Chapter Sixty: Acknowledging an Uncle

As the saying goes, “Life is like a play, and all relies on one's skill in acting.”

From a young hero who slew a Yellow Turban chieftain, to a disciple of the immortals endowed with extraordinary powers, and then to a pitiful student cast out by his own master—Xu Kang delivered a flawless performance, allowing Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song to witness firsthand the meaning behind “Men do not shed tears easily, only because their hearts have not yet been truly broken.”

When they saw him bow his head, shoulders trembling ever so slightly with silent sobs, both Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song fell into a heavy silence.

After a while, the two of them stepped forward, gently patting his shoulder and back, offering him quiet words of comfort.

“Ah, the ways of a master are inscrutable. Yide, you mustn’t grieve too much over it.”

“That’s right. This is fate; when fate is spent, no one can force it. Perhaps even Patriarch Bodhi has secrets he cannot share.”

Hearing their consolations, Xu Kang’s shoulders shook again. He bit his lip, as if struggling to keep from crying aloud, then forced a faint smile onto his face.

“Uncle Master, General Huangfu, I am a student of the Dao—I understand the fickleness of fate.”

With that, he gently wiped the corners of his eyes, letting out a long sigh.

“Alas, before my subordinates, I have always claimed the title of an immortal’s disciple, but in truth, I am nothing more than a castaway from the Dao, with my path to immortality severed. This is a shame I dare not speak of to outsiders. I beg you, Uncle Master and General Huangfu, keep this secret for me. My thanks.”

He rose to his feet, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply to Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song.

Witnessing this, Huangfu Song hurried over to help him up.

“What outcast of the Dao? Yide, you mustn’t say such things. If you ask me, your abilities surpass those pretentious frauds a thousandfold—nay, ten thousand! You are a true disciple of the immortals, am I right, Brother Zigang?”

Seeing that Huangfu Song was looking to him, Lu Zhi nodded in agreement. “Indeed, Yizhen is right. Yide truly has real talent. Even if the path to immortality is closed, in this mundane world, you are second to none!”

“Second to none? In my eyes, Yide’s mastery of the Dao is truly unrivaled!” Huangfu Song added with a hearty grin, throwing an arm around Xu Kang’s shoulders.

“Yide, you call Brother Zigang ‘Uncle Master,’ yet address me as General Huangfu. That’s much too formal. You’re about the same age as my son Jian Shou. If you don’t mind, why not call me Uncle Zhong?”

Uncle Zhong is a term for one’s father’s younger brother—Xu Kang understood this. Upon hearing Huangfu Song’s words, he shook his head, then bowed respectfully.

“My late father has passed for many years, but my mother still lives. Would it not be better if I called you Uncle Jiu?”

At first, seeing Xu Kang shake his head, Huangfu Song thought he was unwilling. But hearing his explanation, he burst out laughing.

“Ha! Yide, your heart is indeed as delicate as jade… Very well, I will gladly accept you as my nephew!”

Upon these words, Xu Kang immediately bowed to the ground. “Uncle Jiu, please accept your nephew’s respects!”

“Haha, no need for such courtesy, Yide. Rise, rise!”

“Thank you, Uncle Jiu!”

Xu Kang admired Huangfu Song’s character, and Huangfu Song felt a deep affinity for Xu Kang. In no time at all, the two became as close as true uncle and nephew.

In high spirits, Huangfu Song ordered two jars of wine to be brought and summoned another great general from the city, Zhu Jun, intending to introduce Xu Kang to him as his nephew.

Zhu Jun was the Right General of the Middle Army, while Huangfu Song was the Left General of the Middle Army. Both were among the four Generals of the Middle Army and had campaigned against the Yellow Turbans together. Naturally, he could not refuse such an introduction, so he came at once.

At first the gathering was filled with joy, but when Zhu Jun learned that Xu Kang had slain Peng Tuo and accepted the surrender of the Yellow Turbans under his command, his mood soured.

He bluntly declared Xu Kang’s actions were wrong, saying that such leniency would give the people the wrong idea: “If there is profit, become a bandit; if there isn’t, simply surrender.” He insisted that the surrendered Yellow Turbans be imprisoned, branded, and registered as slaves.

Clearly, although all three fought the Yellow Turbans, Zhu Jun’s approach to dealing with prisoners was entirely different from that of Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song.

Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song advocated destroying the resistors, accepting those who surrendered, and quelling the Yellow Turban Rebellion as swiftly as possible.

Zhu Jun, however, believed in not only destroying the rebels, but also severely punishing all followers of the Yellow Turbans to set an example to others.

Of course, Xu Kang could not agree to this—would that not make him a liar who breaks his promises?

After all, he had persuaded those Yellow Turbans to surrender by swearing upon his ancestors. If he were to go back on his word now, what reputation would he have left? Who would ever trust him again?

Without trustworthiness, how could he survive in the future?

This was a matter of principle—he could not, and would not, compromise. No matter who demanded it.

With that in mind, he set his face in steely resolve, met Zhu Jun’s gaze without flinching, and saluted him.

“General Zhu, the surrendered Yellow Turban soldiers under my command number more than sixty thousand. They are loyal citizens of the Han, forced into rebellion by circumstance, but now they have of their own accord turned back to the light. If you would treat them thus, are you not pushing good men into revolt, forcing the innocent to become bandits?”

“You—!” Zhu Jun sucked in a breath.

Xu Kang’s accusation was so heavy that not even Zhu Jun dared accept it. Yet though his temper was fierce, eloquence was not his strength. In the end, he could only huff in anger and storm off.

Seeing Xu Kang turn aside Zhu Jun with just a few sharp words, Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song were first taken aback, then burst into laughter together.

Huangfu Song, still laughing, clapped Xu Kang on the shoulder.

“Don’t be upset, Yide. Zhu Gongwei is a man devoted to the public good, but his nature is stubborn. Don’t let it trouble you.”

“Uncle, you worry too much!” Xu Kang laughed in reply. “I was only momentarily agitated. I have always respected General Zhu’s character—how could I take offense over this?”

“Ha ha ha, that’s good!” Huangfu Song let out another hearty laugh, throwing his arm around Xu Kang’s shoulders.

“I knew you weren’t the petty type. Well, let’s not dwell on such unpleasant matters. Earlier, you mentioned you’d mastered the art of transformation. Why not show your uncle a demonstration?”

His eyes sparkled with anticipation. Even Lu Zhi, who had been quietly drinking, set aside his cup, looking expectantly at Xu Kang.

Seeing their eagerness, Xu Kang could not refuse. He nodded.

“Very well. But I can only manage a few transformations, and only a handful are truly lifelike. Since Uncle is a mighty general, I shall transform into a fierce tiger for you—how about that?”

“A tiger? You can become a tiger?” Huangfu Song’s eyes grew even brighter. He immediately grabbed Xu Kang’s hand and hurried him out into the courtyard, urging him with excitement.

“Quick, quick! Yide, let your uncle witness such a marvel. I’ve never seen a live tiger before!”

Xu Kang could only sigh.