fake gentry

Team leader never dreamed that Chen San would betray him.

The young refugee drew his knife, and the squad leader staggered and fell to the ground.

Xie Hong was momentarily dazed.

I'm alive again?

He then saw the captain still struggling on the ground, and suddenly became enraged. He snatched the sword from Chen San's hand and pounced on him, hacking wildly.

"I'll let you kill someone!"

"I'll let you tie me up."

"I'll let you eat me."

"I'll teach you to slip away from me!"

"Beast! Beast! Beast!!"

He didn't know where the strength came from, but he slashed down fiercely with his sword.

The captain didn't even know how he died.

Xie Hong slashed more than fifty times in a row, and only stopped and gasped for breath when he saw that his opponent had finally turned into a pile of mangled flesh.

Did I kill someone?

He felt weak all over, and his heart almost jumped out of his chest.

On the first day of their journey, two lives were lost.

What are you afraid of, Mr. Xie? Why are you acting like a saint again? You'll have to get used to it.

This was the era that ushered in the chaos of the Five Barbarian Tribes, where killing was as commonplace as eating.

The most important thing now is to figure out what exactly happened between Chen San and Liu Chong. Otherwise, that boy could end up like me.

Xie Hong composed himself, narrowed his eyes slightly, and looked at Chen San and Liu Chong with an air of aloofness.

The firelight shone on his slightly dirty, pale white robe, and his headband was askew, yet it still radiated a light that was almost blinding under the glow of the campfire.

More than thirty refugees gathered around the campfire. Some looked terrified, some trembled with fear, and a few were itching to make a move.

Liu Chong suddenly raised his ring-pommel sword, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with a menacing look: "Do you all want to end up like this traitor?"

The few restless refugees immediately quieted down.

Chen San stepped forward and shouted: "Listen to me! You've all been fleeing here for months, and what have I done to you?"

None of the refugees spoke.

Chen San pointed at Liu Chong: "This is my young master. If you are willing to support him as your master, I will make sure you are well-fed and clothed, and that you are registered as good citizens. Those who submit, kneel down; those who do not, get out now."

The refugees were stunned by this turn of events, staring blankly at Liu Chong. After a brief commotion, all the refugees knelt down before Liu Chong, saying, "Greetings, my lord."

Xie Hong looked at Liu Chong and thought to himself, "So you're the real hidden master. I completely overlooked you."

What a blunder!

After calming the refugees, Chen San turned to Xie Hong and said with a smile, "Young Master Xie, will you pay homage to my master?"

Xie Hong gave a bitter smile, then declared proudly, "A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated!"

Chen San's eyes suddenly lit up; these words were truly astounding.

The Xie family of Chenjun could not have produced such a talent!

The young refugee stepped forward and with a light flick of his ring-pommel sword, Xie Hong didn't even see the other's movement before his Han sword was knocked away by a powerful force and pierced through a peach tree.

A blood-stained blade was pressed against Xie Hong's neck: "Are you really not afraid of death?"

Xie Hong felt as if he had eaten shit, extremely uncomfortable.

Damn it, it's like chasing away tigers and driving away wolves.

Is there any time traveler more unlucky than Lao Tzu?

He didn't bother with further words, coldly looking at Liu Chong: "Since you're so powerful, why didn't you kill that beast in the first place? What did the boy do wrong?"

A look of astonishment flashed across Liu Chong's face, and he involuntarily looked at Chen San, whose gaze toward Xie Hong also became strange.

Xie Hong understood in an instant.

Yes, what you learn from books is ultimately superficial; I'm simply not used to this era.

Is the life of a commoner even a life?

No, it's not even as good as a dog kept by a noble family.

That's just weeds.

The boy's death did not cause the slightest ripple in the eyes of the displaced people.

They were all numb.

On the contrary, his own behavior was completely out of character for the gentry of this era.

Xie Hong cursed under his breath; the current situation didn't allow him to be a sentimental, overly kind person.

Suppressing his emotions, his voice was surprisingly calm: "Please allow me to tidy myself up before you kill me. Please give me a quick death, I'm afraid of pain."

A sense of respect crept into the eyes of the young refugee.

People who are not afraid of death in any era deserve respect.

Xie Hong pretended to be adjusting the headscarf on his head, but his head was actually spinning.

When a person is about to die, they must struggle desperately a few times.

Why can't my brain work properly right now?

Xie Hong, Xie Hong, aren't you the one who talks the most during your live streams? Groups of middle-aged women send you gifts and ask you to have babies.

It's a joke that time travelers can't handle the local people.

What should I do? What should I do?

How can I stay alive?

Chen San suddenly bowed to Liu Chong and said, "My lord, let's eat first."

Liu Chong nodded, glanced at Xie Hong, sheathed his knife, turned around and drew the sword from the peach tree trunk, then walked straight to the head of the group, sat down, and began to eat heartily.

The other refugees also began to bury their heads in their food, no longer glancing at Xie Hong.

Xie Hongya was stunned.

You're not going to kill me?

There are still two corpses on the ground. How can you eat them?

Chen San seemed to have seen through Xie Hong's thoughts and asked directly with a smile, "Young Master Xie, won't you eat?"

Xie Hong almost cursed; this old silver coin was such a damn good actor.

"There is millet and pottery in the cave. If you are hungry, please help yourself. If you are not hungry, you can go into the cave to get a straw mat to sleep on. From now on, you can stay with us for the time being."

Xie Hong's anxiety finally died.

We're doomed.

You can't die, but you can't escape either.

I definitely won't eat it; I'd rather starve than eat it.

The main problem was that there were still two corpses lying on the ground, so he couldn't eat. He simply crawled into the cave, took a new straw mat without any hesitation, lay down on the stone platform, and continued to think of a way to escape.

The refugees quickly finished their meal, and Chen San instructed a few men to find a place to bury the bodies of the team leader and the boy, and then tidy up the camp. As darkness fell, it was time to go into the cave to sleep.

Liu Chong pulled Chen San aside and whispered, "Uncle Cen, how should we settle this Xie boy?"

Chen San didn't answer immediately, but pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "What do you think, sir?"

"I don't know either." Liu Chong snorted. "I can't kill him, and I can't let him go. He doesn't obey me, so it's hard for me to establish my authority."

Chen San sighed inwardly and said in a low voice, "My lord, please remember not to clash with Xie Fengzhi for the time being, and even show her enough respect."

Liu Chong glared at him, his expression one of intense resentment and defiance. After a long pause, he finally said in a low voice, "Does Uncle Cen want me to treat scholars with respect?"

"Yes and no!"

"What does that mean?" Liu Chong's eyebrows twitched. "Does he really want me to use his identity to be his servant?"

"This Xie Fengzhi is no ordinary person. He is only sixteen or seventeen years old, yet not only is he handsome, but he also possesses extraordinary integrity. How many people can remain unmoved even when swords are at their feet, and utter the heroic words, 'A scholar can be killed but not humiliated'?"

Chen San slowly said, "I have followed the Lord to meet famous scholars all over the world. Even Yu Liang, Ruan Fang, Wen Qiao, Huan Yi, Wang Xizhi and others have never given me this feeling. I am more and more certain that he is definitely not a son of the Xie family. Only the Sima family can cultivate such a gentleman. This boy can truly be called the number one person in Jiangzuo."

Chen San paused, then looked up at Liu Chong: "Young master, do you know why this person is so unknown?"

Liu Chong shook his head.

Chen San, however, seemed to see through something, and uttered a sentence: "With the Jin dynasty in turmoil, this young man may well be keeping it a secret, waiting for the right moment to act. How will you, my lord, handle yourself then?"

Liu Chong's expression changed several times, showing resentment, shame, and worry. Finally, he said fiercely, "I might as well kill that guy."

Chen San quickly whispered, "Young master, be careful what you say!"

Liu Chong reluctantly shut his mouth.

Chen San looked at Liu Chong and lowered his voice even further: "Young Master Zhuozhi can show him sincerity, return the sword to him, and give him freedom without taking him out of control."

Liu Chong spun around a couple of times, looking somewhat agitated, then turned his back to Chen San: "I don't want to give it to him."

Chen San was both amused and exasperated: "My lord, this sword originally belonged to him; everything is for the long term."

Liu Chong remained silent for a long time, and ultimately did not refute.

If Xie Hong knew what Chen San was thinking, he wouldn't know whether to laugh or cry.

The most deadly thing is the unspoken assumptions made in one's mind.