Chapter 31: Kidnapping—Can’t You Tell?

Chen Cong’s right arm suddenly surged with strength, swinging the Crouching Tiger Blade in a heavy arc that struck Red Hare square in the belly.

Bang!

With a muffled thud, Red Hare was sent flying three to five zhang, its magnificent body crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust and earth.

Lu Bu, atop the horse, fared no better. He tumbled headlong to the ground, mouthful of mud, while the Sky Halberd in his hand ended up hanging from Chen Cong’s shoulder.

“General!”

Lu Bu shoved aside the soldiers rushing to help him and hurried to Red Hare’s side. Only after lifting his beloved steed did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Yet Red Hare’s four legs trembled, blood foaming from its nose and mouth, utterly spent and unable to fight again.

“To still be able to stand after that—truly worthy of its name. What a sturdy beast,” Chen Cong muttered, gritting his teeth against the searing pain as he pulled the Sky Halberd free and drove it into the earth.

This was the first time he’d truly experienced pain that cut to the bone.

Thankfully, his body was strong. Had an ordinary man taken such a blow, half his body would have been sheared off.

While the wolf riders’ attention was fixed on Lu Bu, Chen Cong easily seized another warhorse.

Face off against Lu Bu in a death match?

Don’t be ridiculous.

To seek life in the jaws of death is courage; to actively seek death is madness.

“General, the enemy has escaped.”

Lu Bu gazed blankly at the pale light in the east. “Let them go, then.”

“Should we pursue?”

“Pursue... should we?” Lu Bu murmured.

The soldiers were a bit bewildered.

Zhang Liao retrieved the Sky Halberd and handed it back to Lu Bu.

“Let’s not, Red Hare is wounded and needs tending. Besides, didn’t the Grand Tutor order the army’s return? Lingering too long will only arouse suspicion.”

Lu Bu turned. “Wenyuan, tell me—given Chen Zining’s bravery, why does he not pledge himself to my foster father?”

“I do not know. Perhaps he feels the Grand Tutor is not a wise lord.”

“Cao Cao, a eunuch’s descendant. His rank no higher than Commandant of Cavalry, no noble title—does such a man truly deserve a hero’s loyalty and sacrifice?”

Zhang Liao was at a loss for words.

When they were chasing him for vengeance, he was a traitor and a wretch. Now, after a bout of fighting, he’s suddenly a hero?

Besides.

He’s the son-in-law. Isn’t it only right for a man to aid his father-in-law?

But thinking of all Lu Bu had done, Zhang Liao let it go...

“Fengxian’s words hold reason.”

...

What is it like to lose too much blood?

Dizziness? Blacking out? Or simply collapsing on the spot?

Chen Cong felt nothing in particular, except for the burning pain in his shoulder reminding him of how badly he was hurt—though by now, the bleeding had nearly stopped.

Mostly, he just felt tired...

Fleeing for his life, he didn’t notice it. But once he was sure Lu Bu wasn’t coming after him, the tension snapped, and exhaustion crashed over him like a tidal wave, one after another.

At last, Chen Cong slumped from his horse and toppled onto the ground.

“Am I going to die? Sleep and never wake again? Well, whatever. Let me sleep first.”

Half-conscious, half-dreaming.

The last thing Chen Cong heard was a soft rustling of footsteps—light, probably a woman’s?

“Could it be that I’m about to be saved by a beauty? The hero’s rescue by a fair maiden?”

With that thought, Chen Cong drifted into a sweet sleep.

When he opened his eyes again—

A leaky roof overhead, a pungent smell of medicine, and a scruffy old man with bird’s nest hair glaring down at him.

Startled by the ugly face so close, Chen Cong didn’t think—he simply swung a fist at the man’s eye socket.

“Ouch!”

The poor old fellow, nearly sixty, was sent flying three meters at least—this with Chen Cong injured and not using much strength.

Had it been at full force, the old man might have met his maker on the spot.

“You ungrateful wretch! I saved your life, and this is how you thank me?”

Huh?

Chen Cong looked at the old man hopping about—he seemed a lot sturdier than most decrepit elders.

“You’re a traveling physician?”

“That I am!”

“And the lady who saved me? Quickly, bring her out—I must thank her in person.”

“What lady? Are you delusional, boy?” The old man reached for his pulse, but Chen Cong pulled away.

He flexed his arm.

Say what you will, this shabby old man clearly had some skill. His arm was still weak, but the pain had greatly subsided.

Chen Cong rummaged in his clothes and fished out a few copper coins.

“I have nothing to repay your lifesaving kindness but this small token. I hope you will accept it, sir.”

The old man’s face twisted in disdain.

This kid was nothing if not honest—he said it was a small token, and indeed, it was. Seven coins of five-zhu, not even enough to cover the cost of medicine!

It wasn’t that Chen Cong was stingy—he was broke.

Before leaving Luoyang, he’d received a thousand gold from his father-in-law and extorted another hundred from Dong Zhuo. But carrying large sums was inconvenient—most was buried in Luoyang, the rest spent on daily life.

A month of revelry costs money.

Cao Cao was shameless, freeloading and then taking what he could back. Chen Cong, on the other hand, believed in paying for quality service—how could you expect the best for free?

“Forget it, forget it. You dress well, so you must have fallen on hard times. Take this string of coins and six doses of medicine. Consider it fate that brought us together.”

Even Chen Cong, thick-skinned as he was, felt his face burn with embarrassment.

Doctors in ancient times treating patients for free and even giving out medicine—he’d heard of that. But paying out of pocket to treat someone? That was new.

What nobility of character!

He clasped his hands in salute. “Please, sir, may I know your name? I will repay you handsomely one day.”

“The old man’s surname is Hua, given name Tuo, style Yuanzhi.”

“Oh.” Chen Cong nodded thoughtfully.

Best not to put off repaying such a favor. A true man does not defer gratitude to another day.

Repay it—immediately!

In the next instant, Tai’a sword flashed from its scabbard and rested on his benefactor’s shoulder.

“Since your name is Hua Tuo, I’m afraid you must forgive me.”

Hua Tuo jumped in fright, cold sweat streaming down his brow.

His lips trembling, he stammered, “Y-young hero, what are you doing?”

“Kidnapping you, can’t you tell?”

“What do you mean, kidnapping?”

“It means abduction, coercion, forced recruitment—do you understand?”

Hua Tuo only looked more confused.

Abduction, coercion—he understood. But forced recruitment?

What, drag him off by force to make him an official?

That’s a great thing! Why use force?

“May I ask, young hero, who are you? And what office would you have me serve?”

A glint flashed in Chen Cong’s eyes.

There’s hope!

“I am... the son-in-law of the Governor of Yan Province. You... can start as a deputy magistrate. If you do well, you’ll be promoted.”

Hua Tuo frowned in thought.

“I have only heard of Inspector Liu Dai, style Gongshan. Since when did Yan Province have a governor?”

“Matters of court don’t concern you,” Chen Cong replied offhandedly.

Either way, he was determined to have Hua Tuo. If he was sensible, he’d come willingly; if not, he’d be taken by force.

Not much difference.

Only by experiencing Hua Tuo’s medical skill firsthand could one truly understand what “divine physician” meant.

Chen Cong was already wondering whether he should “invite” Zhang Ji of Nanyang as well.

Hua Tuo suspected nothing.

After all, he was just a down-and-out doctor. The other man, though looking a bit rough, wore silks and a jade belt—a man of status, clearly. No reason to deceive him.

“Please, young hero, sheath your sword. I am willing to go.”

“Excellent!”