Chapter 137: Lingering Ripples Subside with a Miraculous Turn of Events

"As a military general, leaving your post without authorization to come to this Lunu City, and acting so insolently toward a renowned scholar and a dignified Marquis of the County! Gao Lan, are you trying to ruin my reputation, Yuan Shao?"

"Your subordinate wouldn't dare! But Zhang Yu's family genuinely harbors suspicious elements, and can even summon strange soldiers to their aid. I beseech my lord to investigate!" Gao Lan knelt on one knee and said.

"You are permitted to use troops for bullying and oppression, yet Zhang Yu is not allowed to resist? Say no more, accompany me to Lunu, and I shall make my own judgment!"

"I..." Gao Lan wanted to say more, but seeing Yuan Shao's majestic gaze filled with anger, he had no choice but to reply, "Your subordinate obeys!"

*Showing special favor? It seems the intelligence was false!*

*Such a protective attitude is rarely seen even toward the eldest young master...*

The moment Gao Lan saw Yuan Shao, he knew he was doomed. Not only would this endeavor yield no reward for all his effort, but if he were to drag the eldest young master into this, it would simply be asking for trouble!

*Still, if I, a mere general, am accused of dereliction of duty for coming to Lunu, then you, my lord...*

Muttering inwardly, Gao Lan lowered his head and walked behind the group, while the cavalry he had brought scattered to clear the way for Yuan Shao's personal guards.

"If you don't let those cavalrymen help, you cannot defeat me," Han Long trotted up to the rear and said earnestly to Gao Lan.

"Shoo, shoo, shoo," Gao Lan waved his hand and said, "How can a military commander indulge in reckless, common valor?"

He knew this fellow's martial arts skills were truly formidable; if they fought on foot, he feared he might not be a match for him.

"Gao Lan! Are you implying that both of us are men of reckless valor?"

"No... not at all. The two generals possess peerless martial prowess and the demeanor of great commanders!"

Just kidding. Among all four transcendent generals currently under Yuan Shao's command, whether in terms of martial arts or the degree of Yuan Shao's trust, Gao Lan would only dare to match wits with Zhang Juyi. Running into these two, he truly had zero chance of winning.

"Since you called me a man of reckless valor, I must duel you," Han Long refused to let the matter drop.

"You...!"

Zhang Yu looked left and right. Han Long's martial power value was currently 89, while Gao Lan's was 88—roughly the equivalent of Gao Sheng on horseback and Han Ying on foot. Promptly, he intervened:

"Han Long, come back first. Don't frighten General Gao. We can discuss this properly once we get into the city!"

...

Lunu.

Outside the Zhang residence, blood flowed like rivers.

Among the casualties, the majority were still the blood of the defending garrison, densely packed, numbering at least a hundred.

Though a dozen of the Zhang family's "Iron-Clad Warriors" had also fallen, they had perished in a thoroughly mangled, flesh-and-bone state, making them difficult to distinguish amidst the pool of gore covering the ground.

The main gate was battered by violent shocks time and time again. The Eighteen Riders of Yanyun, alongside the Zhang household servants, as well as Shi A, Li Cunxiao, and Qin Fu, all awaited that deafening crash when the estate gates would finally collapse, ready to fight desperately to the death.

All the female dependents had retreated into the inner courtyard, save for Dong Bai, who stepped out holding a sword. Her face bore barely-contained excitement and yearning, as if unleashing her swordsmanship so uninhibitedly was her greatest dream.

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

The onlookers among the common folk of Lunu mostly dispersed. No matter how much anger and reluctance they held in their hearts, nothing was more important than their own lives.

Everyone knew the Zhang family was finished and could no longer hold out.

Yet inside the main hall of the estate, a delicate fragrance drifted through the air.

"Clearly there is endless immortal brew at home, yet Uncle still always loves to savor tea. How strange." Guo Jia took another sip of the medicinal wine brewed with the Jade Emperor's Drunk.

"Tea, though astringent, is fragrant. It clears the mind and sharpens the eyes, keeping one alert—qualities wine simply lacks."

"It seems to me Uncle is quite alert. Is it the guards of the horse pastures?" Guo Jia wore a playful smile. "I've heard the horse pastures outside Lunu City belonging to the Zhang and Su families have always been guarded by dedicated men to fend off bandits. Now in this time of crisis, shouldn't they be recalled?"

"Fengxiao is certainly well-informed."

"Yet how many guards could there be? It would be better to invite the Black Mountain Army to assist."

Guo Jia's expression remained calm as he continued to drink, but Zhang Shiping's expression changed instantly. "Fengxiao, being too clever is not a good thing."

"Being too clever may not be good, but being overly clever is even more troublesome." Standing up, Guo Jia walked toward the door. "Unless there is another turn of events, Uncle's move can truly be considered the worst of all inferior strategies."

Just as Guo Jia stepped outside, that clear, warm, and familiar voice sounded once again: "Father, aren't you afraid the Imperial Tutor might punch me back into becoming mentally disabled with another blow?"

...

Once Yuan Shao arrived, hostilities ceased instantly. Innumerable corpses were hauled away by approaching soldiers, and the streets were quickly washed clean.

The county magistrate's residence naturally became Yuan Shao's quarters, though upon seeing the head displayed before the hall, Yuan Shao's previous good mood vanished completely.

"Yulang, this," Yuan Shao pointed to the nearby "Gao Ping" and said, "do you have anything to say?"

Before Zhang Yu could even speak, Gao Lan dropped to his knees: "This subordinate begs my lord to issue an order to execute this scoundrel and avenge my younger brother!"

"Get up, I will naturally grant you justice."

"Reporting to Lord Benchu, this is undoubtedly someone's conspiracy and framed design to implicate me." The more urgent the situation, the calmer Zhang Yu could think.

"Scoundrel—"

"Gao Lan!"

With a single shout from Yuan Shao, Gao Lan was forced to sit back down indignantly. "Zhang Yu, continue. If you cannot satisfy me, your Zhang family must bear responsibility for this matter."

"May Lord Benchu examine the truth: at that time, everyone in my Zhang family was worrying over my safety, terrified of failing to withstand General Gao's siege and suffering the destruction of our household. Where would we find the energy to murder County Magistrate Gao?

Lord Benchu should be well aware of my character. Despite suffering the torment of imprisonment first and the enmity of pursuit later, I still held County Magistrate Gao and General Gao in high respect, wishing nothing more than to turn hostility into friendship. How could I possibly commit such a deed that outrages both gods and men?"

"Gao Lan, what is your view?"

"My lord, his life was on the line then; how could he harbor any respect? He must have seen no hope of survival and therefore resolved on a desperate, mutual destruction—"

"Reporting to my lord! A woman outside the hall requests an audience, claiming to be connected to the death of General Gao."

"Oh? Bring her in."

The woman trailed her long skirt, stepping with lotus steps as she gracefully walked to the front of the hall, bowing her head in salute to everyone seated.

In terms of both appearance and temperament, this woman caused even Zhang Yu to secretly curse her as a vixen in his heart. Glancing aside at Gao Lan and upward at Yuan Shao, he saw they both wore similarly captivated expressions.

"This humble woman, Lu Banruo, specially comes to plead guilty before Lord Yuan regarding the murder of Magistrate Lord."

"Hmm... Of what crime are you guilty?"

Lu Banruo turned her gaze toward Zhang Yu, smiled slightly, and when she looked back up inside the hall, her eyes were already brimming with tears. "Gao Ping was murdered by this humble woman."

"What?!" Yuan Shao and the other two cried out in unison.

"No, sister, let me in!" A man shouted directly outside the hall, and was promptly allowed in by Yuan Shao.

"This matter was solely executed by yours truly, it has nothing to do with my sister! That magistrate Gao Ping bullied men and tyrannized women in Lunu City, committing every conceivable evil. Had it not been for Yulang keeping him in check, who knows how Lunu would have been ravaged!"

Lu Biao spoke with such righteous sternness that even Zhang Yu, who had witnessed the true nature of this "Zhongshan Tiger," was left dumbfounded.

"My sister Banruo was also fancied by that scoundrel and forcibly seized into his estate! As a commoner with zero backing, I could only watch helplessly as my sister was abducted by the villain—"

"Brother, say no more..." Lu Banruo wept. "Though Banruo had no choice but to serve the villain with her body, being able to use this body to care for the common folk can also be considered Banruo's glory..."

The weak are more easily winning of sympathy; this is an eternal truth. Yuan Shao looked at Gao Lan. "Is this the beloved younger brother of our great General Gao?"

"My lord—" Gao Lan looked at Lu Banruo before him now, unable to utter a single word.

"Finally, I waited for the opportunity! The guards of the magistrate's residence were all dispatched to attack the Zhang family in their attempt to kill Yulang. Though Lu could not contribute strength for Yulang, I was willing to make this scoundrel pay the price!"

"Brother, I killed Gao Ping! Banruo is willing to die to atone for her crime!" Lu Banruo cried out in shock, swiftly snatching a short sword from the waist of a nearby guard and moving to slash it across her own delicate neck.

"Stop her!" Yuan Shao hastily stood up and said.

"No, it was I who killed him! How could you, with no martial arts skills, possibly kill him? I am the one who should atone!"

Lu Biao anxiously lunged to snatch the long sword from Lu Banruo's grasp, intending to use the momentum to commit suicide himself.

"You two, hold—"

Yuan Shao's words stopped abruptly.

For amidst the struggle between the siblings, the blade's edge happened to graze right across Lu Biao's throat.

Blood gushed like a fountain, and Lu Banruo wailed in uncontrollable grief.

As for Lu Biao's expression, it looked remarkably identical to that quiet head resting nearby.