Looking at the four corpses lying before him, Zhang Chen couldn't help but feel his insides churn.
This was his first time killing someone.
In the real world, he was a law-abiding citizen. But this was the chaotic era of the Three Kingdoms, and if he wanted to contend for dominance, he couldn't avoid bloodshed.
He mustn't be soft-hearted!
He suddenly turned his head, his eyes filled with intense killing intent, the bloodstained steel saber held in his hand, pointing at the black-clothed men in front of him.
They were scared!
They saw clearly that Zhang Chen had just killed four people in one go, without even blinking.
What the hell is this guy surnamed Huang doing? Didn't he say this kid was just a down-and-out Gongzi?
Immediately, these people cursed Huang Wenyi's ancestors eighteen generations back in their hearts.
And at this moment, Gao Shun also finished off the last archer, jumped down, and stood beside Zhang Chen.
He secretly glanced at Zhang Chen, his eyes somewhat complex.
"Don't be afraid, everyone! There are only two of them, let's all go together! Kill them!"
Among the black-clothed men, someone suddenly shouted loudly.
Zhang Chen narrowed his eyes and saw that it was indeed the house servant named Huang Yong.
"Kill," Zhang Chen said coldly.
Gao Shun lifted his foot and kicked the hilt of a steel saber on the ground, which flew out instantly, directly piercing Huang Yong's chest.
Huang Yong didn't even groan before falling down.
At this, the group of black-clothed men immediately panicked and scattered in all directions, attempting to flee.
Just then, a rapid sound of horse hooves came from a distance. Gao Shun's expression immediately became stern, and he whispered, "Gongzi, it's a military formation!"
Before Zhang Chen could reply, he saw twenty to thirty riders galloping from not far away. The General leading them was wearing light armor and a bronze crown, holding a long saber in his hand, arriving first.
The more than twenty riders behind him were all dressed in black tight-fitting clothes, holding hard crossbows, and instantly surrounded Zhang Chen and the others.
The General reined in his horse and shouted at Zhang Chen and the others, "Which scoundrels dare to commit murder at my manor's entrance!"
His voice was stern and filled with killing intent. The group of bandits had never seen such a formation and were instantly terrified, their legs turning to jelly.
Zhang Chen sized up the person from head to toe and secretly activated his "Insight Eye."
【Name: Qu Yi】
【Possessed Attributes: First to Ascend Breaking Formation (Gold), Proficient in Cavalry Combat (Gold), Pinnacle Swordsmanship (Gold), Arrogant Due to Achievements (Blue)】
【First to Ascend Breaking Formation (Gold)】: You possess a unique method of training soldiers, allowing you to form the special unit 'First to Ascend Soldiers.'
【Proficient in Cavalry Combat (Gold)】: You are skilled in cavalry combat tactics, having a thorough understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of cavalry. (When appointed to an official position of Colonel or higher, the attack power of our cavalry is greatly increased, and the defense power of enemy cavalry is greatly decreased.)
【Pinnacle Swordsmanship (Gold)】: Your swordsmanship has reached mastery, reaching the pinnacle and rarely seen in the world. (Swordsmanship power is greatly increased.)
【Arrogant Due to Achievements (Blue)】: Loyalty slightly decreases with each victory achieved.
There are actually three gold attributes! These stats are even more formidable than Gao Shun's!
It's just that this 【Arrogant Due to Achievements】 is quite a pity. No wonder Qu Yi became arrogant due to his achievements later; it turns out this attribute was causing trouble!
Otherwise, with his ability, he would have been enough to become a famous General!
However, such a person is merely driven by profit. As long as enough benefits are given, there's no need to worry about him being unwilling to obey orders!
Zhang Chen was lost in thought. When Qu Yi saw him standing frozen, he thought Zhang Chen was looking down on him and immediately became enraged. He pointed his saber at Zhang Chen and roared, "I'm asking you a question, and you dare not answer? Kid, you're tired of living!"
Well, in order to subdue this person in the future, I must first show goodwill to him today!
Having made up his mind, Zhang Chen bowed deeply and said loudly, "Zhang Chen, Zhang Zifan, a humble merchant from Guangping County, pays his respects to Manor Lord Qu!"
Qu Yi was startled for a moment, then after a while, he said, "Kid, you're just a merchant, and you know me?"
Zhang Chen immediately said, "I have long heard that Manor Lord Qu is skilled in archery and horsemanship, possessing the courage to face ten thousand men. The eight hundred First to Ascend under your command are elite troops who have fought in countless battles and fear not even a hundred thousand strong army. I have long admired the Manor Lord's prestige, and therefore, I have specifically prepared a small gift to visit today. Unexpectedly, halfway there, I was intercepted and attacked by these villains. If the Manor Lord had not led his men to arrive, I'm afraid my humble life would have already been lost!"
Zhang Chen spoke eloquently, making Qu Yi feel confused and very pleased.
After Zhang Chen finished speaking, he took a brocade box wrapped in silk cloth from the damaged carriage nearby and handed it over with both hands.
Qu Yi, sitting on his horse, used the tip of his saber to pick it up and received it. Upon opening it, he saw a beautiful and luxurious piece of mutton-fat jade.
After looking at it, Qu Yi remained calm and nodded slightly, saying, "You, kid, are quite interesting."
Huh? Seeing that Qu Yi wasn't particularly happy, Zhang Chen couldn't help but frown slightly.
This mutton-fat jade is quite valuable. Could it be that it still doesn't catch Qu Yi's eye?
Just as he was thinking, he saw Qu Yi's stern gaze sweep over the black-clothed men and shouted, "You scoundrels, you dare to act presumptuously at my manor's entrance in broad daylight! Men, kill them all! Leave none alive!"
"General, spare us! General, spare us!" The bandits were instantly scared out of their wits, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing like pounding garlic.
Those First to Ascend Soldiers didn't care about any of that. Qu Yi's words were a military order. Having received the order, they immediately raised their hard crossbows and mercilessly shot and killed those people.
Those black-clothed men were thus shot into pincushions, one by one.
Immediately afterward, the First to Ascend Soldiers dismounted and dragged the bodies away.
The entire process was done in one go, without any hesitation. From beginning to end, Qu Yi sat on his horse, completely unmoved.
This is the chilling aura of military men!
Not long after, the First to Ascend Soldiers returned and cupped their fists to Qu Yi, presumably having properly disposed of the bodies.
Qu Yi then looked at Zhang Chen and said, "Your name is Zhang Chen, Zhang Zifan?"
Zhang Chen bowed again and said, "Reporting to Manor Lord, yes."
"Good. I will remember the kindness of your gift today! From now on, within a hundred miles around here, if anyone makes trouble for you, just mention my name, and they won't dare to make things difficult for you!"
"Thank you, Manor Lord!" Zhang Chen was overjoyed and immediately cupped his fists in a bow.
With these words, he would have a protective charm in this area from now on, and he would no longer have to worry about someone secretly causing trouble.
Just for this, today was not in vain.
"Brothers, let's go!" With that, Qu Yi was about to leave with his men.
Zhang Chen, however, secretly frowned, thinking that the gift just now didn't seem to move him. Could it be that he guessed wrong, and Qu Yi isn't someone who values profit?
But if not, why did he betray his master twice? Could it be just because of that attribute?
No! No one betrays for no reason, after all, the reputation of disloyalty is not good. If it's not for profit, could it be...?
Zhang Chen's thoughts raced. He suddenly thought of something and quickly said, "Manor Lord, wait. I am indebted to the Manor Lord for saving me today and have nothing to repay you with. How about this: from today onwards, the food and supplies needed by the Manor Lord's troops will all be provided by me, as repayment for the Manor Lord's life-saving grace."
The food and supplies for eight hundred people, while not a huge amount, is not small either. It would require at least four to five hundred shi per month, which is roughly thirty thousand in silver.
This small amount of money is just a drop in the bucket for Zhang Chen.
He just wanted to verify his guess.
Upon hearing this, Qu Yi's eyes immediately lit up, and he was overjoyed, with even a hint of gratitude in his eyes.
Qu Yi immediately laughed, "Haha! Little brother is indeed generous! From today onwards, you are my, Qu Yi's, brother! If anyone dares to make you unhappy, they are making trouble for me, Qu Yi, and I will not spare them!"
"Thank you, Brother Qu! I will have someone send the food and supplies to the manor every month." Zhang Chen was not polite at all and immediately went along with it, changing his address directly.
"Haha! Good, brother, we shall meet again! I'm leaving!"
With that, Qu Yi turned his horse around and headed back the way he came, followed by the more than twenty riders.
The group disappeared at the end of the official road.
Zhang Chen looked at Qu Yi's receding figure, his heart filled with excitement.
Indeed, his guess was correct.
When he first met him, Zhang Chen initially thought that his two betrayals were due to the 【Arrogant Due to Achievements】 attribute. But upon closer thought, how did he know that he hadn't seen that Han and Yuan were difficult to achieve great things?
He is not alone; those eight hundred First to Ascend are his brothers and comrades and must not be buried in the hands of an incompetent master!
Those people are his "weakness." As long as he can win them over, he won't have to worry about Qu Yi not working for him.
As for a wise ruler? Hmph, among all the wise rulers in the world, who else but me!