"Interesting!" Tang Er observed Gan Quan from a distance and spoke leisurely. "He wouldn't have acted if he wasn't cornered!"
"You speak wisely, Commander. In these times, how can one survive without some skill? They'd likely die without a burial place!" a Brocade-Clad Guard chimed in.
"Keep a close eye on him. You absolutely must not let him come to any harm, for he is someone our Lord needs!"
"Rest assured, Commander. With us here, forget those insignificant pests. Even someone like Hua Xiong, we could take ten of them and still have strength to spare!" the Brocade-Clad Guard declared confidently, then hurried away.
"Good. Also, urge them along. Their current speed is too slow. If they want their Lord to die on horseback, they can stroll leisurely!" Tang Er issued his orders. "If anyone refuses to listen to us, you may employ extraordinary means."
"Understood!" The Brocade-Clad Guard acknowledged and went to make arrangements.
The scholars pressed closer to Gan Quan. "Since you refuse to cooperate, we cannot be blamed. Attack!"
"The truth is revealed at last! I never imagined you all to be so despicable and shameless!" Gan Quan cursed, backing away from their encirclement. He knew that a confused opponent could be dangerous, so he had to be cautious. As he reached the edge of the cliff, the leading scholar grinned. "Where do you think you can escape to now?"
"Little thing, you thought you could rely on Prince Chu and disregard us? A grave mistake!" the leader snarled, thrusting his spear. Gan Quan expertly dodged the first strike with a flick of his soft sword.
"In consideration of our shared service to the court, I will give you one more chance. Will you say those words or not?" the leading scholar demanded ferociously. "If you refuse, I will show no mercy!"
"Bring forth whatever means you have. If I falter, I'll be no hero!" Gan Quan replied coldly. His soft sword moved like a swift serpent. The remaining scholars naturally could not stand idly by and joined the fray.
Fists are no match for four hands, especially when these men intended to take Gan Quan's life and held nothing back. Soon, Gan Quan sustained numerous wounds.
"My Lord has truly misjudged people, and so have I!" Gan Quan roared to the heavens. "I beg you all to treat my Lord well, or Gan Quan will not rest in peace!"
"Hmph. If you live, it's not our doing. And if you die... Now, just explain clearly what your Lord told you. Are you willing to lead us down the mountain?" the leading scholar sneered. "Agree to everything, and there will be land for you when it's divided!"
"Rebellious traitors! Take my life!" Gan Quan spat out a mouthful of blood. Realizing their treacherous intentions, he charged forward recklessly. His soft sword drew a shimmering arc, and in an instant, half an ear was severed from a scholar, gushing blood. The man cried out in pain, clutching his ear, and roared, "Kill him! Kill him!"
"I gave you a chance, but you were useless!" The leading scholar waved his hand slightly, and they all surged forward. Gan Quan knew he was no match for them. His soft sword slipped from his grasp as he instinctively fell backward. "My Lord, Gan Quan has failed you!"
As he lay there, quietly awaiting death, Gan Quan suddenly found his body completely still. He opened his eyes and saw a stranger holding him tightly. A smile flickered across his lips. "You wish to die? Our Commander does not permit it!" Though he couldn't discern who it was, Gan Quan nodded heavily at the chance of survival and grasped the offered hand, standing steadily at the cliff's edge. Tang Er casually tossed Gan Quan's soft sword back to him, sneering coldly, "What a pathetic waste. In the end, I still had to step in!"
"What a lively scene here. Has this general missed anything good?" Tang Er said coldly. "If there are any issues, face me. Why bother with this young man?"
"Xing Daorong, this has nothing to do with you. I advise you not to meddle, lest you lose your life!" the leading scholar snapped, drawing his sword. "Escort us down the mountain, and we might spare your life!"
Tang Er crushed the wine cup in his hand and said coldly, "What grand authority you wield. However, this general does not accept your suggestion. Everything here is under my command!"
"Do not make a mistake. Everyone here is with us. No matter how great your skill, you will not escape this net!" the leading scholar declared chillingly.
"The many ganging up on the few. This general is quite familiar with that," Tang Er said with a wry smile. "However, do not regret this!" With a light clap of his hands, all the Brocade-Clad Guards leaped out, standing their ground and staring coldly at the scholars. "General, how should these be dealt with?"
"Kill them all. Leave none alive!" Tang Er waved his hand, ordering. Seeing Gan Quan's troubled expression, he asked gently, "Does the envoy have other thoughts? It's not impossible to negotiate."
"Whatever the General wishes, that's how it will be. It's just... my Lord!" Gan Quan thought of Ye Feng, whose men were present, and hesitated.
"He is a man specifically requested by the King. How could we possibly let him be harmed? Rest assured, envoy," Tang Er said with a smile. "As for the rest of these people, they all must die!"
"Xing Daorong, do not push your luck! Be careful not to end up with a broken net and a dead fish!" the leading scholar glared at the emerging Brocade-Clad Guards, swallowing hard.
"You're scared!" Tang Er smiled slightly, approaching step by step with his embroidered spring blade. "Let me tell you another truth. The fish will certainly die, but the net may not necessarily break!"
"Who are you?" the leading scholar asked, backing away as the embroidered spring blade drew closer. "Zhang Miao could never have such subordinates. You are Prince Chu's man."
"It seems you've finally gained some intelligence before your death. Attack!" Tang Er sneered. With his command, they removed their outer garments, revealing the flying fish robes beneath. Instantly, some scholars knelt. They were greatly awed by the sudden appearance of the Brocade-Clad Guards.
"This matter has nothing to do with us. It was all... all his idea!" some scholars stammered.
Tang Er gripped his embroidered spring blade tightly and said out of the corner of his eye, "If your Lord were to wake up, do you know what you should say?"
"He... he was arguing with General Hua Xiong, and in the midst of the fight, they both sustained injuries," the scholar replied hastily, fearing that a slow answer would lead to him being devoured by Tang Er.
"A wise man. This general can spare you!" Tang Er laughed heartily. "If there's an opportunity, this general will recommend you to the King!" Though it was an empty promise, in the Three Kingdoms era, Ye Feng's reputation was known to all. They knew very well which choice offered a brighter future. Seeing more and more people defecting, the leading scholar raised his sword above his head.
"Fate plays cruel tricks, cruel tricks indeed." The leading scholar seemed to have gone mad. "Heaven, why do you torment me? You give me a chance and then play such a joke!" Just as the treasured sword was about to descend, a dart flew out, striking the sword precisely and knocking off the scholar's hairpiece. Covered in blood and with disheveled hair, the leading scholar roared like a demon crawling from hell, "I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"
"Seize him!" Tang Er waved his hand, instructing. The Brocade-Clad Guards moved in unison. Before they reached the leading scholar, a shout was heard: "Stop! Stop!" Tang Er looked in the direction of the shout and saw a young man tightly gripping Wang Kuang's neck as he rushed out, his dagger trembling. He stammered, "Let... let him go, or else... or else I'll kill him!"
The leading scholar's expression changed, and he cursed, "What are you doing out here? Go back! This is no place for you!"
"G-General, you saved me. I... I can only help you this much!" the young man cried. "You go quickly. I'll handle things here!"
"You are no match for them. Go quickly!" The leading scholar's face turned pale. He tried to push the young man away but found the slender body unmoving. "If you don't leave, I will die here!"
"Then I'll kill him and die here with you!" The young man's face was flushed, and he was stubborn.
"Fine, I will indulge you this once today." The leading scholar laughed heartily and pushed himself up from his seated position. "Let him go! Let me go! There is still room for negotiation, otherwise, he will surely die!"
"Don't be impulsive, don't be impulsive," Gan Quan quickly waved his hands, subconsciously glancing towards Tang Er. He had no say in this place.
Tang Er had thought everything would unfold as he predicted, but he never expected such a turn of events. His expression changed instantly. He said coldly, "He has nothing to do with me. If you want to act, then do it quickly. If you delay, I will look down on you!"
"What about the envoy? Will you watch your former Lord die a tragic death?" the young man said bravely. "Do you want the world to laugh at you, and your descendants to be scorned?"
Gan Quan's expression was calm. "I have already pledged my allegiance to Prince Chu. The world will only say you betrayed your lord and were ungrateful; they will never blame me!"
"Kill him, and at least he'll be a companion in death!" The leading scholar made his decision immediately.
"Good." Just as the young man was about to act, a shout was heard: "Wait!" The voice was incredibly familiar. The young man's focus wavered for a moment, and the dagger fell from his hand. Tang Er seized this opportunity and pulled Wang Kuang over. However, the remaining two plummeted to their deaths down the cliff.
Gan Quan rushed to check Wang Kuang's condition, only to find that Wang Kuang, already weak, was now on the verge of death after this ordeal. He immediately knelt on the ground, utterly despairing.
Tang Er's expression changed. He pulled Gan Quan up and slapped him several times, angrily yelling, "Foolishness! If you're sick, get treatment. What are you kneeling here for?"
Gan Quan's eyes lit up. "Hua Tuo! Hua Tuo! Perhaps he has a solution!" The next moment, he abruptly sat on the ground, tearing at his hair. "Hua Tuo, Hua Tuo, where is he? My Lord, I couldn't save you."
"Let me tell you, Hua Tuo is currently under Prince Chu. It's not too late to go down the mountain now. If you delay, who knows what might happen!"