Three Kingdoms Lords: Starting by walking into the mouth of a giant python

Chapter 102 The Wandering Sheep and the Boundless Grass

Chicheng is less a city and more a majestic pass.

Nestled between two small hills, it stands majestically and perilously, comparable to Yanmen Pass, the foremost of the "Nine Passes Under Heaven".

Zhang the butcher heard from others that these two small peaks were located next to Jingge Mountain, 300 li away, just ten days ago.

Because the Xianbei people invaded from the south and Chicheng was isolated and helpless, Chu Tiankuo, the leader of the [Kyoto Alliance], used his great magic to move two mountain peaks to protect Chicheng.

Such divine actions and supreme power must be the "noble person" that Minister Lu mentioned.

The arm that the young boy lost to the snake woman may be healed.

As Zhang the butcher was thinking this, he heard his young son calling out. He replied, "We're here, we're here," and set off for the south gate of Chicheng with his oxcart.

As you get closer, you can see that the city gate is built of huge bricks, rising from the ground and reaching into the clouds. The plaque above the gate, inscribed with the words "Chicheng", is made of stone and painted red, and is particularly eye-catching.

A long line of people stretched out outside the door, and Butcher Zhang drove his cart to the end of the line.

boom!

A muffled thud came from afar at the city gate. Zhang the butcher peered out and saw a man being knocked away by a sheep.

The man coughed up blood, fell to the ground, and quickly got up, seemingly trying to escape. Several gatekeepers surrounded him, bound his hands, and escorted him into the city.

Zhang the butcher was taken aback, but he saw that although there were many people in the "long line," they seemed to be oblivious to the scene before them and paid little attention to it.

He couldn't help but ask the person in front of him.

The man in front was leading a donkey or mule, its back fully loaded with goods; he appeared to be a traveling merchant. He glanced at the Zhang father and son and asked, "You're not merchants?"

Butcher Zhang shook his head. The man asked curiously, "Chicheng is now a place of chaotic warfare. If you're not here to trade, why are you here?"

Butcher Zhang didn't hide anything and told him about seeking medical treatment.

The man suddenly realized and offered an explanation.

Only then did Butcher Zhang realize that the bustling traffic before him consisted almost entirely of merchants.

Chicheng was indeed a land in turmoil, but the [Kyoto Alliance] bought up grain, cloth, oil, salt and other goods at high prices, so all kinds of goods arrived and merchants gathered.

The sheep at the city gate is a divine creature, capable of discerning good from evil. It gores at lawless individuals with its horns.

Aside from this divine sheep, there is still a [spiritual herb] in the city that can identify those who are unruly and wicked.

The Kyoto Alliance used this opportunity to expose many treacherous Xianbei and other ethnic groups.

Upon hearing this, the chubby boy on the oxcart became very curious about the sheep and grass. So he lifted his arm, stepped onto the shaft, and tried to climb onto the ox's back to get a better look, but Zhang the butcher had to coax him down with great persuasion.

The "long dragon" moved at a fast pace, and in less than an hour, it was the Zhang family father and son's turn.

The divine sheep is five feet tall and has only one horn.

Its horn was seven feet long and as sharp as a spear. It touched the shoulders of the father and son lightly and then moved away.

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'Guiyang'

[Rank] Yellow.

[Attribute] Descendant of the horned tiger, it fights with its horn against those who have committed crimes.

[Description] The *ji* (角虎) is a one-horned sheep, which is by nature aware of its own guilt. When Gao Yao was presiding over trials, if a case was doubtful, he would have the sheep butt it. —Wang Chong, "Shi Ying"

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The chubby boy reached out, trying to touch the huge ram's horn. Butcher Zhang was startled and quickly pulled him back.

The father and son continued on their way and entered the barbican.

On the city gate tower, a forest of crossbows stood. A dozen or so heavily armed men protected a pot of green grass in the center.

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Qu Yicao

[Rank] Yellow.

[Attribute] When an enemy enters the territory, the grass points to it.

[Description] During the time of the Yellow Emperor, a grass grew on the courtyard steps. When a sycophant entered the court, the grass would point at him and name him Qu Yi. Therefore, the sycophant dared not approach. — *Tian Qiu Zi*

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[Qu Yicao] made no move, and the Zhang family father and son safely passed through the [barbican] and arrived at the registration office.

Name, place of origin.

"Zhang Zhong of Zhuo County, this is my son Zhang Fei."

"Zhang...Zhang Fei? Zhang Fei of Zhuo County?"

In an instant, all the strange people and natives working at the [registration office] looked over.

"Are you Zhang Fei, the same Zhang Yide?"

Someone looked at the fair-skinned, chubby boy with his arms outstretched and asked hesitantly.

The chubby boy scratched his head: "I haven't chosen a courtesy name yet."

Just as the staff at the [registration office] were about to ask further questions, a commotion arose from the outer gate and the barbican.

"Guan Yu!"

"Lord Guan is here!"

Amidst the rising and falling shouts, a nine-foot-tall man rode in on an ox.

Red face with a long beard, phoenix eyes, and silkworm eyebrows.

Lord Guan!

The guards outside the city, the crossbowmen on the barbican, and everyone inside the registration office were all excited and immediately surrounded them.

The entire south gate was in complete chaos.

Guan Yu bowed respectfully atop the ox, saying, "I heard that the Xianbei people have invaded the border, so I have come to lend a helping hand."

"Lord Guan is a man of noble character!"

"Lord Guan Yu was a man of unparalleled righteousness!"

The crowd cheered and praised, making the chubby boy extremely envious.

The commotion at the South Gate alarmed the inner city, and soon all the high-ranking members of the [Kyoto Alliance] came out to welcome Guan Yu.

A large group of people arrived in a grand procession, escorting the [Bamboo Rib Beef] as they walked away.

The Zhang family father and son followed closely behind.

The discussion at the city gate continued unabated. News of Guan Yu's arrival at Chicheng spread rapidly.

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The Kyoto Alliance was upgraded to a town just the day before yesterday, and the Alliance Leader's Mansion was also recently expanded.

Chu Tiankuo led Guan Yu into the newly cleaned reception room and invited him to sit in the main seat, but Guan Yu firmly declined.

Xia Yu, Gongsun Zan, Liu Bei, and others who were inspecting the northern city rushed over, and there was another long exchange of pleasantries.

After about half an hour, everyone finally took their seats.

The chubby boy Zhang Fei had lost his initial excitement; instead, the earlier crowding had left his stone arm aching and uncomfortable.

Seeing this, Butcher Zhang asked Chu Tiankuo for medical help.

Chu Tiankuo asked what kind of injury it was, and the fat boy said that when he was an examiner for the [75 Bottleneck Exam], a snake woman injured his arm.

Upon hearing that he possessed the strength of a high-level [Mysterious Rank] at such a young age, everyone believed his identity as "Zhang Fei" to be about 80-90%.

Guan Yu was taken aback.

Snake girl?

Petrochemical?

What a coincidence?

Chu Tiankuo stepped forward to examine Zhang Fei's right hand, and the more he looked, the more he frowned. He said, "Yide was injured by magic, and ordinary medical skills probably won't be of much use."

Butcher Zhang was greatly disappointed.

Chu Tiankuo summoned a player.

Cui Jiuzhao, having gone through several "Moonlight Scrolls" such as "Tiger Striped Apricot Grove" and "Hyperplasia Medical Path", possesses the "Title of Eternal Fortune" and has extremely exquisite medical skills.

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The Law of Eternal Fortune

[Rank] Mysterious.

[Attributes] Healing and saving lives, Medicine +50, Gynecology +30, Childbirth +20.

[Description] Ma Yongzuo, a native of Dongguang, Hebei Province, during the Qing Dynasty, was also known as Jianhou and Zengsheng. He was skilled in medicine and treated illnesses unconventionally, often producing unexpected results. One man, with whom he had a grudge, contracted abdominal parasites. Though critically ill, he dared not seek treatment. Yongzuo said, "If you wish to recover, you must ingest arsenic." The patient, fearful and hesitant, refused. On the verge of death, the patient reluctantly followed his advice, and after ingesting a large amount of arsenic, he recovered.

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Cui Jiuzhao is the chief physician of the [Kyoto Alliance], and has saved countless lives since his transmigration. However, after a thorough examination of Zhang Fei's right arm using the four diagnostic methods of traditional Chinese medicine, he shook his head helplessly: "This is a case of magical techniques that cannot be cured by ordinary medicine."

The chubby boy was utterly dejected. Butcher Zhang, undeterred, asked, "Alliance Leader Chu possesses the power to move mountains, yet he can't cure this magic?"

Chu Tiankuo shook his head.

With his last remaining hope, Butcher Zhang looked around at everyone in the reception room, hoping that among them would be the "noble person" that Minister Lu had mentioned.

Liu Bei, Xia Yu, Gongsun Zan...

Everyone was shaking their heads, but Guan Yu frowned and remained silent.

Zhang the butcher was overjoyed and stepped forward to pay his respects, but Guan Yu stopped him by raising his hand.

Guan Yu said, "You can stay in Chicheng for a few more days; perhaps you will have the opportunity to receive treatment."

Zhang the butcher didn't understand what he meant, and Guan Yu didn't explain either.

A moment of silence fell over the reception room. Suddenly, the veteran Xia Yu smiled and said, "I enjoy reading 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' and I admire the brotherhood of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei the most. I never expected to see the three of you gathered together today."

As Xia Yu spoke, Liu Bei couldn't help but look at his "second brother" and "third brother." The chubby boy also looked at his "eldest brother" and "second brother."

Guan Yu kept his eyes on his nose and his nose focused on his heart, ignoring everyone else.

Gongsun Zan, being carefree, didn't notice Guan Yu's expression. He laughed and said, "There's no Peach Garden here. If you two become sworn brothers, it can only be called 'The Three Sworn Brothers of Longcheng'."

"It doesn't sound good," Zhang Fei muttered. "The Oath of the Peach Garden is much better."

Ever since the novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* became popular, the chubby boy, with his youthful spirit, often fantasized about the scene of the "three brothers" burning incense and swearing brotherhood in their own peach garden—

Black oxen and white horses, peach blossoms in full bloom, raising a cup to swear brotherhood, making an oath to heaven.

So beautiful!

"Second Brother, what do you think?" Zhang Fei asked subconsciously.

But Guan Yu said slowly, "I already have an elder brother, so there's no need to bring up the matter of sworn brotherhood again."

Everyone was stunned.

(End of this chapter)