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

Chapter 80 Longji

The late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period were a time of brilliant minds.

It was first admired during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and its popularity continued to rise during the Tang and Song Dynasties. Furthermore, the novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was completed during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, which added to its brilliance and further boosted its popularity, ultimately making this period of history known to everyone, young and old.

With the integrity of Han officials and the spirit of Wei and Jin, countless heroes emerged in that era.

The enduring appeal of the Three Kingdoms period lies in the many heroes who emerged during that era.

Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, the Five Tiger Generals, the Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix, the Five Elite Generals, the Four Pillars of Hebei...

In later Daoist texts, as many as forty or fifty figures from the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period were deified. These included figures such as Cao Cao, the Grand Tutor of Fengdu Beiyin; Zhao Yun, the True Lord of the Southern Palace; Sun Ce, the Guest Friend of the Duke of Dongming; Xun Yu, the Guest Friend of the Duke of Beiming; and Yan Baihu, the Messenger of Misfortune…

However, when it comes to reputation, there is one who surpasses all others—

Loyal, righteous, divine, martial, spiritually powerful, benevolent, brave, majestic, protector of the nation and the people, sincere, pacifying, assisting, and proclaiming virtue, Guan Sheng Da Di, Heavenly Emperor of the Demon Subduing Hall, Great Emperor of the Three Realms Subduing Demons, Heavenly Venerable of Divine Might that Far Reaches, Guan Sheng Di Jun.

Guan Yu, also known as Guan Yunchang.

He assassinated Yan Liang, cut off the northern route, and flooded the seven armies, achieving remarkable military exploits. He was known as a "bear and tiger general," "an enemy of ten thousand men," and "awe-inspiring throughout China."

For many players, Guan Yu is more than just a military general.

Many indigenous people admire Guan Yu, who was known for his kindness to his soldiers and his unwavering loyalty. If they were to meet him, they would certainly want to befriend him.

Today, at the Huojia checkpoint, a man claimed to be "Guan Yu," immediately attracting everyone's attention.

However, after only a short while, most of them turned back.

A seven-and-a-half-foot-tall, pale-faced Guan Yu?

Are you perhaps Guan Yu of Hexi or Yun Chang of Liaodong?

The crowd left in disappointment.

Since the novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* became popular, countless "famous figures" have emerged in various states and counties, such as Liu Bei of Langya, Sun Ce of Jiuquan, Lü Bu of Xuantu, and Cao Cao of Jiaozhi...

It's very lively.

It is said that there were more than ten Zhang Feis in Zhuojun alone, including shoe sellers, butchers, blacksmiths, and people of all races, including black, white, and yellow...

The young man before us [Guan Yu] should belong to this category.

Guan Yu remained unfazed, seemingly accustomed to the reactions of the crowd. Seeing this, Li Yu smiled and said, "A good name."

Guan Yu remained silent.

Li Yu pointed west and asked him, "Brother Guan, are you also heading to that treasure-hunting place?"

Seeing that Li Yu did not dwell on the matter of names, Guan Yu's expression softened slightly, and he nodded in agreement.

"I'm also heading west, to travel with Brother Guan," Li Yu said with a smile. "Judging from Brother Guan's restrained divine light and long, deep aura, he must be exceptionally strong. I wonder if I might have the honor of traveling with Brother Guan and being able to offer him some assistance?"

Although this Guan Yu is not the same Guan Yu as before, judging from his demeanor and aura, his strength is definitely a notch above that of Pan An and Zuo Zizhangba, who are stuck in the Sky Academy.

It should be classified under the category of "Earthly Grades".

Guan Yu shook his head and refused: "You ride an ox, while I walk; it is inconvenient for me to accompany you."

Li Yu took out a piece of [divine clay] and threw it on the ground. Before Guan Yu could react, a chestnut horse raised its head and neighed, appearing by the roadside.

Li Yu lifted the reins and handed them over, saying, "Brother Guan, please."

Guan Yu thanked Li Yu for his kindness, but still refused, saying, "I cannot accept a reward without merit."

Li Yu said that the "pillar of light" might last for an unknown period of time, and if they relied solely on their footing, they might miss the treasure.

Moreover, this journey westward is fraught with obstacles and unforeseen complications are inevitable. At that time, we will need Guan Yu's protection.

Guan Yu pondered for a moment, then took out a [Moonlight Scroll] from his bosom and handed it to Li Yu before taking the reins and mounting his horse.

----------

"Moonlight Roller - Longji"

[Rank] Yellow.

[Attribute] The moon shines brightly at midnight, illuminating the earth. Holding this scroll at that time will open the gate to time and space.

[Description] I bestow upon you sweet rain to repay the kindness of your nurturing.

----------

How can Longji repay the kindness of being raised?

This plot doesn't exist in "Investiture of the Gods".

Just as Li Yu was about to leave, several players and indigenous people ran over and asked about the method of "throwing mud to summon horses" and whether there were any "treasures" left.

Li Yu reached into his pocket and pulled out two [God-Man Clay Blocks]. A player wanted to buy them, but Li Yu refused, saying he would only exchange them, not sell them.

After unsuccessful negotiations, the group left disappointed.

Li and Guan were traveling together when Li Yu asked Guan Yu where he got the scroll.

Guan Yu said that he obtained it by killing a man from the Kingdom of Dog Slave while climbing the Heavenly Ladder. Guan Yu could not use it, so he gave it to Li Yu in return for the gift of the horse.

Li Yu suddenly realized.

This Longji is not Princess Longji from the "Investiture of the Gods," but rather a male snake from Japan.

In a Japanese myth, an elderly couple received a snake named Ryukichi from the gods. Ryukichi grew into a large snake, too big for their house to contain. The couple then released it into the mountains. Later, a drought struck, and the couple prayed to the heavens for rain. The snake heard their prayers and sent rain.

Stories similar to this one, in which "a god appears in the form of a snake and brings rain to the people," are common in many parts of Japan.

After traveling half a mile, Guan Yu realized that he had not yet asked the name of the strange man who had given him the horse.

Li Yu gave his real name.

"Li Yu?" Guan Yu was taken aback. "Is that the top-ranked person on the three lists, Li Yu of [Immortal Abode]?"

Li Yu smiled and asked, "What do you think, Brother Guan?"

Guan Yu responded with a smile: "Whether it is or not is not important."

This is his honest opinion.

This Guan Yu was also from Jie County, Hedong Commandery. Two months ago, when he was carrying a pile of hunting spoils home, he suddenly noticed that the villagers were looking at him strangely.

In the following days, many people came to visit, asking a lot of strange and unusual questions—

"Why is your face pale?"

"Why aren't you wearing a green robe?"

"Is Changsheng better, or Yunchang?"

"Is your wife carrying a boy?"

"Have you chosen a name yet?"

"Is it peace, prosperity, or ruin?"

"Why don't you have an older brother?"

The questions kept coming at Guan Yu, making him want to punch someone.

Through his conversation with the visitor, he learned about the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and about a hero in the book who shared the same name as him.

"He was nine feet tall, with a two-foot-long beard, a face like a red date, lips like painted rouge, phoenix eyes, and silkworm eyebrows. He had a dignified and imposing appearance."

There are eight physical characteristics of Guan Yu in the book.

Although Guan Yu considered himself extraordinary, he only met the last four criteria. He was completely unaffected by the earlier ones: "nine feet tall," "long beard," "heavy jujubes," and "applied rouge."

Therefore, he is not [the person in the book].

Guan Yu understood this point, and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Many people left disappointed, but newcomers continued to flock to the area.

Guan Yu said that he was "four out of eight correct, not a character from the book," but the visitors did not agree.

Some say that in the entire Jie County, there are six townships and twenty-nine villages, five of which are named Guan, and there is only one person named Guan Yu.

If not him, then who?

Guan Yu was greatly troubled, and his parents and wife all advised him to go out and avoid the trouble for a while.

Guan Yu then left Jie County.

Being away from home is different from being in one's hometown. Guan Yu discovered that when he only gave his name and not his hometown, people paid little attention to him because of his appearance.

Guan Yu first went to Luoyang and saw the towering divine tree. Unfortunately, the [Heavenly Ladder Leaf] was too expensive, and Guan Yu only entered the [Heavenly Ladder] twice before running out of money and being unable to continue.

After leaving the capital, Luoyang, Guan Yu headed to Zhuo County in Zhuo Prefecture.

In Zhuoxian County, the flow of people was like a never-ending stream.

Many people went to the home of Lu Zhi, a retired scholar.

Guan Yu was among them when he saw Liu Bei, the "ruler of Shu Han" and "Emperor Zhaolie of Han," surrounded by strange people, as well as Gongsun Zan, the current magistrate of Zhuo County.

Liu Bei was described as "seven feet five inches tall, with ears that reached his shoulders, hands that reached his knees, a face like jade, and lips like painted rouge," while Gongsun Zan was described as "handsome and with a loud voice."

The two men's appearances were almost identical to those described in the book.

Guan Yu compared his own "eight out of four" and once again confirmed that he was not [Guan Yunchang].

Guan Yu turned to leave, but then heard Liu Bei and his group mention Zhang Fei. So he joined the chaotic crowd and hurried to a butcher's house in the county.

When they arrived at the butcher's house, the doors and windows were closed. They asked the neighbors and learned that the boy, Zhang Fei, had been mage-spelled and had lost an arm; they had sought out a sorcerer to undo the curse.

Guan Yu left Zhuojun, intending to return home. However, he saw a "pillar of light in the southwest" illuminate, and many people confidently declared that "a rare treasure has appeared." Intrigued, Guan Yu rushed over.

Since Li and Guan started traveling together, Li Yu paid for all the checkpoints and passages. He also arranged their meals in the morning and evening.

Guan Yu, unwilling to accept favors, repeatedly refused, but he couldn't resist Li Yu's fiery enthusiasm and benefited greatly from him. As a result, Guan Yu's goodwill towards Li Yu quickly increased.

By the time they reached Wangwu Mountain, they had already become like brothers, and were very close.

(End of this chapter)