Chapter 051: Xiahou Lan (1/2)

Daybreak had come!

Sunlight bathed the earth, adding a deeper, richer feeling of spring to the world.

Cao Peng rubbed his eyes, yawned, and then climbed out of bed, stretching his body in a languid arch. The movement loosened his joints, instantly making him feel more alert. He glanced around the room—Dian Wei was still unconscious, but judging by his steady, deep breathing, he was in much better condition than the day before.

Wei Yan was nowhere to be seen.

Even the Dragon Sparrow, his weapon that never left his side, was absent.

Still, Cao Peng was certain that Wei Yan could not have left alone. His sponsor was still here; where could he possibly go now? Peering through the half-open window, Cao Peng saw two Xiliang horses tethered in the camp, which further confirmed that Wei Yan had not left.

Stepping out of the room, he washed up quickly and felt fully awake.

He walked over to Dian Wei and checked the salve on his wounds. The black ointment had turned grayish after the night. Cao Peng tapped it lightly, and the crusted medicine cracked and fell away on its own, revealing the wound beneath. The bleeding had stopped, but the wound was still quite alarming. Cao Peng frowned, took out a pellet of healing medicine, chewed it to a pulp, and applied it to Dian Wei’s injury. The effect was remarkable; at least, from the current state, Dian Wei was recovering rapidly.

Just as Cao Peng was about to get up and rinse his mouth, Dian Wei suddenly stirred and opened his eyes.

Catching movement out of the corner of his eye, Dian Wei wasted no time—he sat up with a jolt and seized Cao Peng’s throat in a powerful grip.

Caught completely off guard, Cao Peng nearly lost consciousness as Dian Wei’s hand clamped down. The strength was terrifying, like being caught in an iron vice. Cao Peng could easily imagine that with the slightest increase in pressure, Dian Wei could snap his neck like a twig. His face flushed red; he could only struggle helplessly.

Fortunately, Dian Wei soon realized whom he was holding.

“Who are you?” he demanded.

Cao Peng beat at Dian Wei’s arm with all his might, but it was like a dragonfly shaking a pillar.

Dian Wei paused, then released him, though he did not let down his guard. His fierce eyes fixed on Cao Peng, cold and yellow, carrying a deadly threat. Should Cao Peng so much as twitch, Dian Wei would not hesitate to take his life.

Cao Peng doubled over, coughing violently as he gasped for air.

“Is this how you thank your benefactor?” Cao Peng managed to say hoarsely.

“Benefactor?” Dian Wei’s eyes flashed with confusion, then the events of the previous day returned to him. “You… saved me? No, the one who saved me was someone I recognized, not a boy like you.”

By now, Cao Peng had recovered enough to glare at Dian Wei’s puzzled, dark face. “The big guy who fought alongside you is my friend. It was I who killed the Xiliang commander in the end. Have you forgotten even that? If I hadn’t slain their chief, you’d all be dead by now. I even dressed your wounds, and you nearly killed me just now—do you have any idea?”

Dian Wei shook his head, memories stirring faintly. It was true that Zhang Xin had been killed, but by then Dian Wei was exhausted and dizzy—he hadn’t seen clearly who struck the final blow.

Could it really have been this boy before him?

“You? Capable of killing a man?”

No wonder Dian Wei doubted him; Cao Peng’s physique was undeniably frail. Even though he’d practiced Taiji for a while and become much healthier, compared to the past, in Dian Wei’s eyes, he was still just a child.

Cao Peng snorted and ignored Dian Wei.

Finding it pointless to argue, Dian Wei tried to rise.

“If you want to bleed to death, keep at it,” Cao Peng warned. “Let me make this clear: there’s not much hemostatic powder and healing salve left—enough for two more uses, at best. Your wound has only just started to close; if you split it open again, I won’t help you redress it. And by the way, what’s in this medicine? Why is it so bitter? Lie down and stop making me worry about you!”

The medicine was indeed astringent; Cao Peng’s mouth was numb.

With that, he strode out without a backward glance, leaving Dian Wei alone in the room. Sitting on the ground, Dian Wei looked down at his wound, memories of the previous day flooding back. How was his lord now? Had he escaped danger?

“Boy! Boy!” Dian Wei called loudly.

After a while, Cao Peng returned, annoyance on his face. “Big guy, what now?”

“Where is this place? Do you know what happened to my lord?”

“Your lord will be fine,” Cao Peng interrupted, wiping his face. “Lord Cao has countless warriors under his command, not just you. With so many around him, he’ll be safe. This is King’s Ridge, a fair distance from Wan City. If you want to return and protect Lord Cao, you’d better heal up first.”

A cold glint flashed in Dian Wei’s eyes.

“Boy, who are you? How do you know who my lord is?”

“Isn’t it obvious? In the battle at Wan City, one side was General Zhang, the other Lord Cao. Since the Xiliang army was pursuing you, you must be one of Lord Cao’s men. Next time, ask a better question, will you? My name is Cao Peng, and the man who fought beside you yesterday is Wei Yan. By the way, Brother Wei intends to join Lord Cao. Could you introduce him?”

Cao Peng’s words were laced with sarcasm, but Dian Wei didn’t take offense.

He stared at Cao Peng’s bloodstained leather armor, then suddenly asked, “Young benefactor, are you…?”

“I’m from Jiyang, pressed into service by Liu Biao. Brother Wei is from Yiyang, formerly a captain among the Yiyang militia. He offended a superior and was framed while transporting provisions to Wan City. He can’t go home now, so he wishes to join Lord Cao and make a name for himself. Can you recommend him?”

“You know my name?”

Cao Peng sighed and shook his head. “I just told you to ask more intelligent questions, but here you go again… With the soldiers shouting your name during the battle—‘Stop, Dian Wei!’—how could I not know who you are? Now, will you answer my question?”

Even Dian Wei realized his own question was foolish.

This sharp-tongued boy was impossible to be angry with, though Dian Wei didn’t know why. He couldn’t help but laugh. “Your Brother Wei is a fine warrior—perhaps not my equal, but a skilled hand nonetheless. If he wants to serve Lord Cao, I can introduce him. If he’s willing, I’ll have him serve as my personal guard, which will give him more chances to get close to Lord Cao. Whether he wins Lord Cao’s favor will depend on his abilities; all I can do is recommend him.”

Cao Peng had little knowledge of Cao Cao’s ways of employing men.

But to serve as Cao Cao’s bodyguard would surely mean more opportunities. Cao Peng believed that Wei Yan was truly capable. If given the chance, he might catch Cao Cao’s eye and even be greatly valued.

“Then I must thank you,” Cao Peng said, picking up Dian Wei’s tiger-hide pouch and slinging it over his shoulder.

“Boy, isn’t that mine?”

“Can’t I borrow it for a bit?” Cao Peng grinned at him. “I saved your life, dressed your wounds—taking a little something in return is only fair. When Zilu did good deeds, he refused payment, but Zigong did good and accepted reward. Confucius did not blame Zigong; in fact, he praised him. When Zilu asked why, Confucius said: ‘If everyone did as you did, doing good without gain, who would keep doing good? Zigong’s way encourages more people to do good.’ You see, since Confucius himself said so, I’m just following the sages’ teachings. Taking your pouch is only natural.”

Dian Wei stared at Cao Peng in amazement; his smile seemed especially bright.

“Boy, have you read the books?”

“I have.”

Cao Peng crouched down, tucked his short sword at his waist, then tore off a piece of cloth to wrap his beheading blade, securing it before setting it aside.

“You don’t need the hemostatic powder for now, so I’ll take it. Keep the healing salve—change it about every six hours. With your strength, your wound will heal quickly. In another two treatments, it should scab over. So long as you don’t overexert yourself, you should recover soon. As for Brother Wei, I trust you’ll look after him.”

“Boy, what are you…”

Seeing Cao Peng preparing to leave, Dian Wei couldn’t help but ask.

“I must go. I should’ve left yesterday, but your situation delayed me a whole day.”

“Won’t you come with me? Where are you going?”

“Home,” Cao Peng replied, slinging the blade over his back. “My parents are still in Jiyang. After such chaos, I must go check on them. Now that you’re awake, I can leave with an easy mind. Brother Wei will be back soon; take care.”

For some reason, Dian Wei suddenly felt a pang of reluctance.

This sharp-tongued boy, who had mocked him so mercilessly, felt strangely dear. Dian Wei himself had a son, not much younger than Cao Peng, but his life as a warrior had kept them apart. Looking at Cao Peng, Dian Wei couldn’t help but think of his own child. And the boy’s wish to return to his parents touched him even more deeply.

In ancient times, a man’s worth was measured by virtue.

And of all virtues, filial piety stood first.

A filial son, no matter how flawed, would have limits.

An unfilial one, no matter how talented, would be despised.

“Won’t you wait for your Brother Wei to return?” Dian Wei asked.

“What for? If I wait, it’ll just make parting harder. A real man leaves when he must—why linger?”

With that, Cao Peng strode away.

Dian Wei opened his mouth, but couldn’t find the words to make him stay.

What a free-spirited boy!

Dian Wei thought to himself: This boy is no ordinary child! If I see my lord again, I must recommend him.

Cao Peng, for his part, felt no regret at all.

He had always admired Dian Wei, one of the mightiest warriors of the Three Kingdoms, but it was the admiration of a modern man for a hero of the past. Now, he had met him and even saved his life; he had no more regrets. Wei Yan’s fate had changed, and so had Dian Wei’s. All Cao Peng wanted now was to return home, fetch his parents and sister, and escape Huang She’s intrigues.

Rubbing his nose, Cao Peng strode into the center of the camp.

He untethered a horse and mounted.

Looking back, he waved at Dian Wei, who stood in the doorway watching, then spurred the Xiliang horse with a shout.

With a long, piercing neigh, the horse shot out of the decrepit mountain camp.

Dian Wei muttered to himself, “What an interesting boy…”

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Riding swiftly along the mountain path, Cao Peng soon saw the main road.

He reined in his horse, glanced around to get his bearings, and prepared to set off. Just then, a shout came from behind: “Stop, Xiliang bandit! Prepare to die!”

From behind a nearby tree, a white horse galloped out. Its rider, a young officer in white armor with a long silver spear, charged at Cao Peng without hesitation.

Cao Peng had no time to react—the young officer’s speed was astonishing. Before he could think, the white-clad youth was upon him, spear spinning in a deadly arc.

The wind of the spear was fierce, carrying a hidden threat. Cao Peng tried to call out, but his opponent gave him no chance—he attacked without a word.

“You—”

Cao Peng barely got the word out before the spear was at his throat.

His beheading blade was slung over his back, leaving his hands empty. Instinctively, he ducked low; the spear whooshed over his head, unraveling his hair in the process. His locks tumbled free as he and the officer sped past each other.

Cao Peng reached for his sword, but the young officer suddenly reversed his grip, swinging the spear in a wide arc.

With a clang, the shaft crashed against the blade on Cao Peng’s back, splitting the coarse cloth that wrapped it.

A jolt like lightning shot through Cao Peng’s body; blood rushed to his lips and sprayed from his mouth.

Damn, who is this fellow now?

Dazed, Cao Peng toppled from his horse and hit the ground hard. In the distance, he could faintly hear Wei Yan’s furious shout: “Villain, do not harm my brother—I, Wei Yan of Yiyang, am here!”

Why couldn’t you have shown up sooner?

Cao Peng cursed inwardly as darkness closed over his vision and he lost consciousness.