Chapter 3: I Die for the King of Yu

That night, Lu Wucheng spoke with the old man in a corner of the shed.

The old man was named Fan Dan, and he had once been a wealthy merchant in Qiyou.

When Qiyou was attacked and taken by Zhuan, he fled east to avoid the disaster, but upon hearing that Yu had been restored in the land of Guo, he returned.

He said that, as a subject living within the royal domain, he took pride in it and wished to remain as close to the King of Yu as possible.

However, the servants he had brought with him were not enthusiastic, and when Zhuan arrived, many fled, and before the recent flood, all but Jin had finally left.

“I see.

That is indeed unfortunate.”

Lu Wucheng spoke in a cold tone.

However, Fan Dan quietly shook his head.

“If what one seeks is not there, it is only natural for people to leave.

I bear no resentment toward those who departed.”

“A commendable mindset.

But what do you plan to do from here on?

With your residence in that state, you can hardly continue your business.”

“Even if that were not the case, there are no goods in the capital region now.

I intend to give up and head east.”

Lu Wucheng thought it was a wise decision.

Though the man had shown attachment to the King of Yu, he was not the type to lose sight of reality through blind devotion.

“But do you have travel funds?

I do not know where you mean by ‘east,’ but you cannot travel without money.”

At that, Fan Dan stood up.

He searched beneath the straw laid out at the edge of the shed and produced a small cloth bag.

Inside were many pieces of silver.

“This should be sufficient.

By the way, there is something I would like to request of you, Lu Wucheng.”

“What is it?”

“It is a dangerous era.

A journey with only an old man and a child is unreliable.

Would you accompany us as a guard?

Of course, I will reward you.”

It was only natural for Fan Dan to make such a request.

As he bowed his head, it was clear that rather than concern for himself, he was worried about Jin.

The reason Jin had not fled like the other servants was likely because, as a child, he did not fully understand the situation.

Even if he ran alone, he would have nowhere to go and no means to survive.

However, the fact that he had mustered the courage to enter a collapsing building that could have fallen at any moment was surely because he admired Fan Dan’s character.

Fan Dan, in turn, must have been grateful for that and wished to take responsibility for bringing him safely to a secure place.

Seeing all this, Lu Wucheng agreed without hesitation.

“As long as you provide meals along the journey, that will suffice.

If I may be greedy, I would like two horses… or at least one.

Do you think you can buy one with that money?”

“That is difficult to say.

In the capital region, aside from the army, I doubt there are any horses available.”

“I see.”

Lu Wucheng crossed his arms.

Fan Dan’s injuries were not severe, but due to his age and having been trapped under the pillar for so long, he was weakened.

He would not endure a journey on foot.

They would need a horse and carriage, but they did not have enough money for that.

—In that case, it cannot be helped.

I will carry him on my back.

Supplies are scarce around Mengshen due to the flood, but once we leave the capital region, we should be able to obtain at least a worn-out horse.

Having decided that on his own, he told Fan Dan.

“I cannot allow my benefactor to go that far.”

“Please do not concern yourself.

I am confident in my strength.”

Lu Wucheng said this without changing his expression, and Fan Dan’s face turned serious.

“Then leave me behind and take only Jin with you.

In the State of Fan to the east, within the territory of the Zhi clan, there is a city called Buyong where my son runs a shop.

If you show him this, he will understand.”

Saying so, Fan Dan handed him a wooden slip.

It bore Fan Dan’s name, a written note, and a seal in the shape of a bird he had never seen before.

“It was made to prove one’s relation to my family.

It also serves to identify one’s status when passing through checkpoints, so with this, you should be able to enter Buyong without issue.”

“I understand the situation.

However, what do you intend to do if you remain here?

It does not seem like you have any means to survive.”

“I have something in mind.

We can speak of it tomorrow.”

With that, Fan Dan urged him to rest.

Lu Wucheng, too, was undoubtedly tired, so he lay down on the straw and went to sleep.

The next morning, he was awakened by someone shaking his body.

Wondering what had happened, he opened his eyes to see Jin looking at him, sobbing uncontrollably.

—No way.

Lu Wucheng sprang to his feet and searched for Fan Dan.

He found him immediately.

Fan Dan had taken his own life at the entrance of the shed, his neck cut.

On the wall beside where he lay, written in blood—likely with a cut finger—were the words:

“I die for the King of Yu.”