Chapter Ten: May You Be Well

Before Zhang Yu’s words had even faded, an elderly man with a long white beard stepped trembling to the front of the crowd, bowed deeply to Zhang Yu, and said, “Ahem... I am Ji Song of Julu. Greetings, young master. Forgive this old man’s boldness, but may I dare to address you as Jade Gentleman. We common folk have been driven from our homes by these troubled times, forced to wander and scatter for survival, and so have been branded as brigands and thieves. We had believed ourselves doomed, our lives worthless—death would have come as no surprise—yet by fortune we have encountered the great benefactor Zhang and yourself, such a figure as if descended from the immortals. Even if you, Jade Gentleman, had not spoken today, we already had it in mind amongst ourselves. We are not shameless people. As the saying goes, ‘A favor must not be sought thrice.’ Today is the third day we have received your kindness; our strength has returned, our bodies have recovered, and it is time to move on. No matter what happens, the benevolence of you and the Zhang family will never be forgotten. Wherever this frail body of mine may wander for the rest of my days, your good name, Jade Gentleman, shall be praised. For these three days of aid, I am eternally grateful, and on behalf of all here, I dare to bow in thanks for your great kindness!” As he spoke, the old man made to kneel.

“Sir!” Zhang Yu leaped down from the steps and caught the man’s withered arm, helping him up. “Please, rise at once—such a ceremony is too much... If you do this, you’ll shorten my life!”

But Zhang Yu could only support the old man alone.

“Thank you, Jade Gentleman, for your great kindness!” All present knelt in unison, the once unruly mass now bowing as one before Zhang Yu.

“Please... speak while standing!” Zhang Yu’s voice caught, and tears shimmered in his bright eyes.

Noble clans, lords, ministers, emperors! Open your eyes and see—see what good people your subjects are; do you truly deserve them?

Breathing deeply, Zhang Yu climbed back up the steps and continued, “What I said just now was no empty excuse! I have an uncle...”

At this, as tears still sparkled at his lashes, Zhang Yu could not help but smile. “His name is Liu Bei! He is a man of great integrity and kindness, loving the people as his own children, and is a kinsman of the Han imperial house. Earlier, he earned great merit fighting the Yellow Turbans, and now serves as Magistrate of Pingyuan County!”

He drew a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Ji Song. “Please, sir, take this—my letter to him. Keep it yourself, or if you wish, send someone ahead to deliver it to my uncle. Tonight, rest well after your meal of porridge. At dawn, you may set out; go from Zhongshan to Pingyuan. I am certain my uncle will arrange for your safety and shelter, and these days of hardship will soon be a thing of the past. If there are able-bodied men among you, my uncle has under his command two mighty brothers who once fought side by side at Hulao Pass against Lü Bu—heroes among men! This is your chance to serve in the army and earn renown. This is all I can do for you—”

My good uncle, let your nephew put your virtue to the test. If Cao Cao could absorb the Yellow Turban remnants and rise in power, surely you, the founding lord of Shu Han, can handle a group of refugees?

“Achoo!”

“Brother, are you unwell?”

“Do not worry, second brother. I am fine, but I have a feeling, as if something is about to happen…”

...

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight brushed the horizon, crowds of refugees began to gather in Zhongshan, making the city guards tense and wary.

Zhang Yu had also risen early—or rather, he had little choice. He was roused from sleep by the house steward’s urgent cries about an angry mob rushing toward their home. Opening his door, he saw Han Long already standing guard with a long staff, while Han Yan leaned sleepily beside her brother.

Dozens of household men had gathered in the courtyard, surrounding and protecting Zhang Shiping and Zhang Yu. Then Zhang Shuo opened the main gate—

“Heaven is harsh! It has cast us into exile.
Yet still I recall! Our Jade Gentleman.
Today we part! Your kindness unforgettable.
The road ahead is long! We wish only for your peace.”

Hundreds of refugees passed slowly before the Zhang residence, chanting these lines—likely composed on the spot—before heading toward the city gate.

Among them were the old, the young, men and women alike. Still refugees, as they had been days before, but the gloom and despair was gone from their faces, replaced by hope for the road ahead.

At that moment, the sun rose in the east! Its golden rays, laden with hope, shone on every face, blending Zhang Yu’s tears and smile into one.

The Lin family next door opened their gates, their patriarch looking out with curiosity and surprise; the Bai family to one side, the Liu family across the way...

Ying’er, Han Yan, and the other maids gazed at Zhang Yu with open, tearful admiration; Han Long, Zhang Shuo, Zhang Biao, and all the household servants watched with reverence and awe.

Zhang Shiping embraced Zhang Yu, caring not that his fine robe was now smeared with tears and snot—no one could understand his pride in that moment, save perhaps Lady Liu.

“Ding! Congratulations, host. As you have gained the affection of nearly all the city’s refugees, you receive 500 experience points and 300 reputation points. Current experience: 550. Current reputation: 650.”

“Ding! Congratulations, host. Due to the refugees’ gratitude and the spread of their poem in your honor, your reputation has greatly increased! You receive 500 reputation points. Current reputation: 1,150.”

“Ding! Congratulations, host. Your current reputation is 1,150. You have earned the title ‘Rising Fame’ (Your name has begun to spread throughout the land; success rate increased when meeting unfamiliar notables; more likely to attract the attention of strangers). To reach the next level, ‘Renowned Far and Wide,’ you need 850 more points.”

“Ding! Congratulations, host. You have successfully activated the badge: ‘Man of Benevolence and Righteousness’ (Affinity with like-minded generals increases more quickly)!”

...

Zhang Yu sat on his bed, absorbed in the display of his system interface.

Click.

Han Yan gently pushed open the door, then, with a gasp, pulled it shut again, and knocked softly, even more quietly than she had opened it.

“…Han Yan, can you please be a little more careful? If you come into the young master’s room, can’t you remember to knock first?” The abrupt noise had startled Zhang Yu.

“I’m sorry, young master, so sorry… It’s my fault, I’m too clumsy. I tried so hard to remember, but still forgot…” The girl pouted, her eyes reddening with tears.

“Why is it, since coming to this world, that everyone’s tear ducts—mine included—seem so sensitive? Could it be something I inherited from my mother’s side? After all, my uncle Liu Bei is famous for weeping at the drop of a hat… Very likely!”

A fleeting image of Liu Bei lamenting to his two brothers flashed through his mind; Zhang Yu quickly shook his head to banish the thought, then consoled Han Yan with a few gentle words before turning his attention back to the system.

After all, this was the only thing in this world that passed for modern technology.

The first auxiliary interface: character bonds.

The closest relationships, of course, were Zhang Shiping and Lady Liu; their intimacy levels could not even be measured numerically.

Next, surprisingly, was Han Long, whose affinity stood at an impressive 89, imbued with respect—a mix of the unexpected and the inevitable. But recalling the saying “a warrior dies for his confidant,” such a high value made sense.

After that came his two maids, Han Yan and Ying’er. Ying’er’s affinity was 86, Han Yan’s 82, both glowing with a halo of admiration.

“Tsk tsk, if not for my lack of martial prowess, I’d be a veritable Dragon-AoTian among handsome men,” Zhang Yu thought smugly.

He also noted Zhang Biao and Zhang Shuo, with scores of 74 and 71, and Zhen Yan with 60. As for the refugees and household servants, though their affinity might be higher, the distance in relationship, status, or ability meant they were simply rolled up into that golden number at the top left of his interface—Reputation: 1,150, with the title “Rising Fame.”