Chapter 132: Stars and Dust

Lunu, in prison.

The place was gloomy, dark, damp, and cold, matching perfectly with Zhang Yu’s every preconception of an ancient dungeon. Even though it was a bright and sunny day outside the prison gates, light here had to be provided by dim oil lamps.

Public order in Lunu City was relatively good, so the prison did not feel crowded. The four of them were escorted inside and locked in the same cell.

The bars of the prison were made entirely of wood, marked with claw scratches, bloodstains, and other indefinable remnants. The floor was covered with a thin layer of straw, and a crude bucket was tucked into a corner, filling the air with a nauseating stench.

At first, Zhang Yu looked around with curiosity, but eventually, he could only cover his nose and mouth, comforting himself: "Without the biting cold of winter, how could the plum blossoms smell so fragrant? A life without having been imprisoned is incomplete..."

The middle-aged man surnamed Qin woke up, only to fall back into a dazed sleep, clearly having suffered some trauma.

The young boy knelt beside him to look after him for a long while before standing up. He bowed to Zhang Yu and the young warrior Li Cunxiao, saying, "Today’s events were entirely due to my fault, causing both elder brothers to suffer this calamity with me. If we can ever see the light of day again, I, Fu, am willing to serve you both as a beast of burden, to repay your kindness even if it means picking grass and carrying rings."

"Enough, we are all men. When we encounter injustice in the world, we ought to draw our swords to help. There is no need to say more. Besides, I truly do not believe these curs dare to do anything to us."

"Great kindness needs no thanks; I, Qin Fu, will never forget Brother Cunxiao’s words!" Qin Fu was deeply moved. He then turned to the masked Zhang Yu and asked, "I do not know how to address this brother?"

"Me? My name is Zhang Sifan."

"Brother Sifan, for your great kindness and virtue, Qin Fu is eternally grateful."

"Hey, please, get up quickly." Zhang Yu hurriedly reached out to help the kneeling Qin Fu, thinking to himself that this little fellow was quite polite and had decent martial arts skills.

He pulled up the system to check: eleven years old, 74 in martial prowess, 43 in intelligence. Although he could not compare to Li Cunxiao’s monstrous talent for martial arts, he could be called a piece of unpolished jade.

With this thought, Zhang Yu silently asked the system:

"Director, where were we?"

"I don't know."

"...Right, we were talking about why such a powerful 'Li Cunxiao' is completely unknown in this chaotic era, and you mentioned... Zhou Buyi! Zhou Buyi, the name sounds so familiar."

"Stupid. I don't know how you usually read books; you don't even know Zhou Buyi?"

"Does he... have any relation to Zhou Yu?" Zhang Yu pondered for a long time.

"None whatsoever."

"Then is he a descendant of the Duke of Zhou?"

"Just because someone is surnamed Zhou, they are a descendant of the Duke of Zhou? Then are you a descendant of Zhang Liang?"

"Er... that could be!"

"Bah—he had no special background; he was just a childhood friend of Cao Chong."

"Ah, so that’s it!" Zhang Yu slapped his thigh in realization, only to sigh immediately after: "But I’m not familiar with Cao Chong either... Aside from weighing the elephant, he didn't really have any historical achievements, did he?"

"In short, these two were best friends, and both were prodigious talents. After Cao Chong died, Cao Cao ordered Zhou Buyi to be killed. Cao Pi tried to dissuade him, but Cao Cao scolded him and left behind one sentence."

"What sentence?"

"'This person is not someone you can control.' Then he killed Zhou Buyi."

After hearing the system’s words, Zhang Yu swallowed hard.

This was Cao Pi, the magnificent Emperor Wen of Wei! Even Sima Yi dared not act recklessly while Cao Pi was alive, yet Cao Cao said he couldn't control a mere boy like Zhou Buyi. How terrifying must that person have been?

As he was in shock, the Director continued: "That is only one. There is another I might as well mention: Xiahou Rong, the son of Xiahou Yuan. In his previous life, when Xiahou Yuan died in battle at Mount Dingjun, he refused to flee and fought to the death, eventually perishing in the chaos."

"And... what was so extraordinary about him?"

"He had a truly photographic memory."

"That was the skill I most desired before my college entrance exams."

"I have deep doubts about whether you ever attended university."

Zhang Yu rolled his eyes silently, not caring if the Director could see. "Are you trying to tell me that Li Cunxiao and Qin Fu don't have many years to live?"

"It is a stroke of luck for your IQ that you weren't reincarnated as a pig."

"Hey, hey, hey! I will not accept personal insults!"

"War is cruel, and chaotic times are heartless. History is the strictest of selectors, tracing back through time and filtering out countless stars. It was so for Zhou Buyi, and it is so for Xiahou Rong. No one knows whether, with their talent, they might have become the next Guo Jia or the next Zhuge Liang had they grown up. Yet, their lives, which should have been brilliant, were cut short early on. Everything is buried in the dust of heaven and earth, left for future generations to speculate upon."

"So," Zhang Yu continued, "to leave a mark in history, both strength and luck are indispensable. At the very least, one must survive. Zhou Buyi and Xiahou Rong were lucky enough to leave a few words in the history books, allowing later generations to speculate and even amplify their brilliance. As for Qin Fu, or even the current Li Cunxiao—there could be one or many Lu Bus or Zhuge Liangs—they all had infinite possibilities, but lacked the matching luck, exiting the stage before they even appeared."

"A rotten piece of wood can be carved."

"You can get lost now."

...

"Brother Sifan."

"Brother Sifan?"

"...Ah?"

Zhang Yu finally came to his senses, only to see both Qin Fu and Li Cunxiao staring at him.

"Pardon my impudence, but may I ask why you insist on wearing that mask?"

"Because... your brother here is playing the pig."

"Playing the pig?" Li Cunxiao did not understand.

"What does playing the pig achieve?" Qin Fu seemed to have some inkling.

"To eat the tiger."

"Hmph, pretentious." Li Cunxiao crossed his arms, leaned against the window, and turned his head away.

Zhang Yu smiled, not taking it to heart. "When I take off this mask, you'll be so scared you'll fall to your knees in worship."

"Brother Sifan, please don't mind him. Brother Cunxiao has a straightforward nature..."

"It's fine, I know. Being straightforward is a good thing. It's thanks to you that you've been playing the peacemaker; you have a good heart."

"Brother Sifan, don't say that. Both of you are in this prison because of me; what little I've done is nothing."

"By the way, any interest in changing your name?"

"Changing my name?" Qin Fu was confused, not knowing why this strange brother would come up with such an idea.

"A cheap name is easier to raise. Your name is too wealthy and flashy; it’s not conducive to your future development." Zhang Yu pulled out his feather fan and spouted nonsense.

"This name was given by my father; I dare not make such a decision on my own." Qin Fu politely declined, but couldn't help asking, "If I were to change it, do you have any suggestions?"

"Since you can't be 'Fu' (Wealthy), you could be 'Qiong' (Poor)."

"Qin... Qiong?"

"Yes, Qin Qiong."

I have already thought of your courtesy name: Shubao. I have also thought of your weapons and steed: a pair of golden maces and the Thunder-Calling Leopard! You bastard system, if you won't let me summon generals or bestow divine weapons upon me, I will do it myself and provide for my own needs.

...

"Snap!"

A cup fell to the ground.

"Good. Very good."

Zhang Shuo bowed low in the hall, his whole body trembling.

"Go. Follow the old rules; make all the arrangements. Lunu may belong to the Yuan family, but Gaoping... oh, Gaoping, do not force my hand."

Turning to leave, Zhang Shuo’s clothes were soaked in sweat. He had not seen his master like this in five or six years. In this world, no one understood Zhang Shiping’s secrets better than he did. He... he really could do what he said.