NOVPUB[The Yellow Turbans long for something so simple, Great Leader, is this what you wanted me to understand?] As he listened to the cheers ringing in his ears, Guann Hai gazed up at the sky, his body slowly emitting a yellowish Inner Qi. Gradually, the color of the Inner Qi faded until it became colorless, and the imposing presence of a martial artist on him slowly dissipated, becoming ordinary.
[It turns out I’m just as foolish...] Guann Hai mocked himself inwardly. He did not feel much euphoria over accomplishing Inner Qi Manifestation, only a sense of calm.
"Where loyalty lies, death is without regret." This phrase surfaced in Guann Hai’s mind, and the bitter smile on his face also faded away. In the end, someone must bear it all. [Great Leader, I now understand your initial thoughts. Someone must stand up, so let it be me.]
At that moment, Guann Hai also clearly understood the transformation that had occurred within him. His mindset had changed, and he had let go of his life.
"Take the food away!" Guann Hai had instinctively learned how to use Voice Transmission, and his not-so-loud voice directly covered an area of dozens of miles.
All the Yellow Turban Commanders, great and small, cheered. Even if they were fools, they understood that Guann Hai, whose Inner Qi had emerged, had reached the ultimate realm of a martial artist, Inner Qi Manifestation.
"Congratulations, Great Commander, congratulations!" A swarm of commanders, both major and minor, surged forward, bowing to Guann Hai in their excitement. It was incredible that one of their Yellow Turbans had attained Inner Qi Manifestation!
"Hehehe…" Guann Hai laughed calmly. Even as death approached, he had no fear left. The future of a million Yellow Turbans, compared to his own life, truly meant nothing.
Guann Hai distributed the steamed buns to every Yellow Turban and then found a spot to start eating himself. There were no other dishes, but to the starving Yellow Turbans, nothing was more satisfying than a bun.
"So satisfying." A Yellow Turban Commander hooped after gobbling down two large buns in no time, and as he stood up, he couldn’t help but look toward the steaming baskets, longing to grab another. Then he sighed deeply and sat back down silently.
"It reminds me of the time I worked at the Basic Construction Team of Mount Tai, having a bun to eat was really great," said Jiang Gong as he broke a bun into pieces and ate while talking.
A group of Qi Refining to Gang martial artists, had they not been from the Yellow Turbans, wouldn’t have to settle for just buns; having lavish meals every day wouldn’t be an issue. They could even conceal their identities and offer their services to a feudal lord, who would likely turn a blind eye and take them in.
Unfortunately, the Yellow Turbans who have survived until now are burdened by their families—unable to let go of these people, they have no desire to leave. They need a lord who will take them all in, not one who picks out the able-bodied like selecting vegetables, only to let the rest starve to death. It is for this reason that they took a liking to Liu Bei, because only he would not mind taking in those women, children, and elderly without much productivity.
"It will be soon," Guann Hai said calmly. He felt no sadness now, only a sense of peace. He had come to terms with everything.
"Yuanjian, come with me," said Guann Hai as he stood up after finishing his bun, addressing Liaoo Hua, who had divided a bun into four pieces for Du Yuan and others.
"Alright," Liaoo Hua originally planned to tease Du Yuan, Sima Ju, and Guann Cheng a bit longer, but when Guann Hai called him over, he lost interest. He gave the three a piece of steamed bun each, ate a small piece himself, and then chased after Guann Hai.
"Guann Hai, what’s the matter?" Liaoo Hua curiously followed Guann Hai to a remote spot.
"Is Guan Yunchang a man of benevolence and trust?" Guann Hai leaned against a large tree that had been stripped of its bark.
"General Guan belongs to the ranks of the loyal and righteous," Liaoo Hua, though puzzled, did not speak out of turn and recounted everything he knew about Guan Yu.
"That’s good to hear." A smile crept onto Guann Hai’s face. "Go back and tell Guan Yunchang that I’m willing to emulate the Great Leader’s righteous acts of the past, but I can’t be as indifferent as he was. I want to die under his blade. I want to witness what an ultimate Inner Qi Manifestation master is truly like."
"Guann Hai?" Liaoo Hua was startled and stood up abruptly.
"Don’t be so shocked," Guann Hai casually leaned against the tree trunk, gazing at the clouds in the sky. "I, too, have been unwilling, but in the end, I understood. The Yellow Turbans don’t need a hero who can rally a multitude at his call; what they need is a peaceful and calm life, a bite to eat, and a plot of land to cultivate."
Listening to Guann Hai’s casual words, Liaoo Hua couldn’t help but feel a sourness in his eyes.
"Yuanjian, I won’t be able to see the future life of the Yellow Turbans, but I know that many of our commanders will still take to the battlefield. I hope that General Guan will offer them some protection in light of my death," Guann Hai calmly entrusted his last wishes to Liaoo Hua, without a trace of fear or resentment.
"Our Yellow Turbans only ask to be treated as ordinary people. Tell Guan Yunchang, if he agrees to these terms, I will give a satisfactory account to Mount Tai like the Great Leader did. I command more commanders than the Great Leader did - Chen Bai, Fuyun, and those three rubbish. When sending troops, only a small number of Yellow Turbans follow them, but I have seventy commanders, major and minor, at my call. As long as Guan Yunchang gives me a satisfactory answer, I will convince all the commanders for him, for Liu Xuande," said Guann Hai, his face holding a hopeful expression, feeling he had grasped the benevolence of the Great Leader and understood his choices.
"Guann Hai, I..." Liaoo Hua knelt before Guann Hai, well aware that Guann Hai was a man tough as iron. For him to speak such words meant he was truly ready to die for the millions of Yellow Turbans, an integrity that evoked deep respect in Liaoo Hua, who had been too timid to speak. Another hero had emerged among the Yellow Turbans.
"You relay my words to Guan Yunchang. Tell him, even if he cannot do it, Guan Yunchang, I am willing to die. You’ve told me about life on Mount Tai, and I think that life is worth trading mine for the Yellow Turbans," Guann Hai laughed somewhat helplessly. He had no bargaining chips with Guan Yu, but for the sake of the survival of millions of Yellow Turbans, he was willing to die, just like the Great Leader before him.
"Guann Hai, I, Liaoo Yuanjian, swear to convey your words to General Guan without omission. I, too, am prepared to offer my life to secure this!" Liaoo Hua knelt in front of Guann Hai, tears brimming in his eyes as he spoke.
"Go now, swiftly convey these words to Guan Yunchang. I await your news. When the Yellow Turbans face certain death, there always needs to be someone who stands up. Last time, it was the Great Leader. This time, it is I, Guann Hai. The Taoist Fire does not extinguish, the Taoist Fire does not extinguish..." Guann Hai muttered to himself, now qualified to utter these words.
"I’m going now, I will immediately tell General Guan about the situation of the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou. Guann Hai, wait for my message. Even if you die under General Guan’s blade, I will take care of our brothers. Our fortune in Qingzhou is having had the Great Leader and you, someone to stand up at the most dangerous time." Liaoo Hua knelt three times before Guann Hai, then stood up, his voice bitter yet impassioned as he spoke. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)
