Chapter 11: Heroes Who Kill People and Protect the Escort!

  Lü Bu sat in his carriage, bringing with him the wealth and grain he had plundered from Luoyang, as well as Ding Yue (also known as Guo Nuwang), following Cao Song's procession as they grandly marched towards Qiao County. For the safety of his father, Cao Cao specially ordered Cao Chun to bring five hundred family soldiers to protect Cao Song's entourage, adding to the servants from Cao Song's mansion in Luoyang, making a total of over a thousand people in the grand procession, with an imposing presence as if an emperor was on the move.

  On this day, Cao Song and his entourage arrived within the borders of Chenliu. The large group of people stopped to rest by a small stream, where they would take a break until after noon before continuing on their way, planning to spend the night in Chenliu.

  Lü Rui jumped off the carriage and started calling people to catch fish by the river. He wanted to eat roasted fish here.

  Before long, a young man wearing a long sword caught the live fish, set up a frame, and started roasting the fish. Soon, the aroma reached Lü Rui's nose. Lü Rui wiped his mouth and asked: "Shi Ah, is the fish ready? This prince wants to eat!"

  Shi Ah spun the fish around and said: "It's done, young master, it's ready."

  The person who roasted the fish was Shi Ah, Wang Yue's junior apprentice. Lü Rui used his identity as a marquis to summon Shi Ah with just one of his guards. Shi Ah and Wang Yue were both minor officials in the Eastern Han dynasty, where it wasn't easy for someone from a humble background to make a name for themselves. Lü Rui lured Shi Ah with his title, and naturally, Shi Ah followed him. Thirty of Wang Yue's apprentices also joined them on their journey, all of whom had been hired by Lü Rui as guards at the marquis' manor. Ha ha, having become a marquis, it was only natural that he would need some capable attendants!

  Soon, the roasted fish was done, and Lü Rui began to devour the fragrant fish meat in big mouthfuls. Cao Song and others also started eating their dry rations. Suddenly, someone shouted: "Be on guard!"

  Shi Ah and Lü Rui's guards all drew their long swords, one of whom collided with Lü Rui and knocked half of his roasted fish to the ground. Lü Rui shouted: "What's going on? My roasted fish!"

  Lü Rui's words had just fallen when he saw Cao Chun leading the guards to form a circle around the periphery. Lü Rui was curious and ran over, Shi Ah and others followed suit, while Ling'er shouted from behind: "Young master, young master, wait for me."

  Lü Bu arrived at the front and saw two people. One was dressed as a scholar, looking weak and frail. The other had a sturdy build, but his head was somewhat small, not quite matching his physique. However, both were covered in blood, clearly having just gone through a fierce battle. Cao Chun grasped his sword and shouted at them: "Who dares to cause trouble here?"

  The well-dressed man was stunned, seemingly not expecting to encounter this group of people. The robust man with a tiger's back and bear's waist stepped forward, cupped his hands and said: "Sir, we two have killed corrupt officials and are being pursued by the authorities. We're trying to escape now, hoping you can provide us with a way out!" Although it was a request, the man spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, exuding an air of heroism in his eyes!

  Cao Chun let out a loud shout: "Where did this hairy bandit come from? Watch me take him down with one slash!" With that, Cao Chun charged forward.

  A sturdy man with a tiger's back and bear's waist shook off the scholar, pulled out a dagger, and confronted Cao Chun. Although the man was tall and robust, much more so than Cao Chun, his movements were extremely agile, dodging up and down, occasionally using the dagger in his hand to parry Cao Chun's large knife! What a clever move! This man was using clever force, a masterful technique! Suddenly, with a loud crash, the man struck Cao Chun down with one punch.

  Lv Rui took a look, this person's martial arts are not bad, Cao Chun is the leader of Cao Jing's Tiger and Leopard Riders in the future, his high martial arts skills are famous in the Three Kingdoms. In the official history, Cao Chun led 500 Tiger and Leopard Riders to pursue Liu Bei who escaped to Jiangxia, successively defeated Liu Bei's generals Zhang Fei, Chen Dao, and Zhao Yun, and captured two of Liu Bei's daughters. Although it was relying on the combat power of the Tiger and Leopard Riders, as the leader, his own martial arts skills must be good. This person can defeat Cao Chun so quickly, except for Cao Chun's underestimation, this person's martial arts skills are absolutely above Cao Chun!

  Cao Chunyi was knocked down, and the rest of the guards rushed up to fight the man. However, the guards were no match for him. Over a hundred guards went forward, but as soon as they engaged in battle, more than ten of them were knocked down.

  Cao Song looked at his guard, his face turned gloomy. At this time, Cao Song felt someone pulling his pants leg. He took a look and found it was Lü Rui. Cao Song picked up Lü Rui and asked: "Rui'er, are you scared?"

  Lü Rui shook his head, then waved his fist and said: "Ta Ye, Ta Ye, this person is so fierce, I want him to be the guard of my mansion, can you recruit him for me? Is it okay? Is it okay?" After finishing speaking, he twisted around Cao Xing's body, being coquettish!

  Cao Song looked at Lü Rui and then looked at the man, before smiling and saying: "Alright, alright, Rui'er, I'll hire him as your bodyguard!"

  Cao Song shouted loudly: "Stop!" The guards all stopped and retreated.

  Cao Song stepped forward and asked: "Did you really kill the local official? Are you being pursued by the yamen runners?"

  The tiger-backed and bear-waisted man patted the dust off his body, then said in a stern voice: "I am the one who killed the corrupt official. What am I not daring to say? Why do you want to deceive me?"

  Cao Song nodded in satisfaction and said: "Good, heroes of the rivers and lakes." At this moment, there was a rolling dust in the distance, it seemed that the yamen runners had caught up.

  Cao Song glanced at the two and said, "You quickly enter the camp to hide, we will deal with the yamen runners." After finishing speaking, he let someone clear a path. Wen Shi was still stunned there, but the robust man had already pulled Wen Shi into the camp quickly.

  Before long, a group of yamen runners arrived. The leader of the runners looked at Cao Song and his men, then asked loudly: "Have you seen two people covered in blood? One dressed as a scholar, one with a tiger's back and bear's waist?"

  Cao Song ignored the yamen runner and simply walked into the crowd, as if it wasn't his turn to speak yet. Of course, Cao Song was a former Taishi official and also held the title of Marquis, so ordinary yamen runners wouldn't dare to converse with him. That unlucky ghost Cao Zhong had died, and Cao Chun's chest still felt a surge of chaotic energy. The rest of the servants didn't dare speak without their master's indication.

  The leading official saw this and suddenly became enraged. Within the borders of Chenliu, no one had ever dared to treat him like this before. Although he saw that it was a group of people, he estimated that they were also a wealthy merchant group. As the saying goes, "the common people do not fight with officials." Chenliu was still his own territory! Thinking of this, the leading official shouted: "Who is the master of the house? Come out and answer me! This is an official matter, if you don't confess truthfully, you will be sorry!" After finishing speaking, he waved his hand, and the officials behind him surrounded them, numbering in the hundreds. They should have been all the officials from Chenliu County.

  Seeing the leading yamen runner, Lü Rui smiled and played with the dagger in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, the dagger flew across the face of the leading yamen runner, leaving a trail of blood. Lü Rui shook his head and sighed, "Alas, still not enough strength." He had originally intended to cut off one ear, but somehow only managed to draw a little blood.

  "Ah!"; The leading yamen runner seemed to have not expected Lü Rui to make such a move, covering his face and shouting: "Who, which scoundrel dares to hurt the master?"

  Lü Rui didn't respond, but instead walked to a place not far from the yamen, picked up his dagger, and said to the yamen runner: "My skills are insufficient, I only scratched you a bit. Originally, I wanted to cut off one of your ears." After finishing speaking, Lü Rui headed towards his own troops.

  The leader of the yamen attendants was taken aback, then reacted and asked which family's child dared to be so rude. Too impolite! I'll let you see my prowess, then turned to the several attendants beside him and said: "Quickly, catch him for me!"

  Several yamen runners immediately gave chase, preparing to capture Lü Rui. Shi Ah saw the situation and hastily led his men forward, using a capturing technique to subdue the runners. Lü Rui didn't even turn his head, but calmly said: "Kill!" Several of the runners' heads fell to the ground.

  The leader of the yamen runners was shocked when he saw this, "You dare to kill the yamen runner? Brothers, charge for me!" Before the leader of the yamen runners could finish speaking, several sharp arrows flew over, knocking down all those around him.

  The rest of the yamen runners were stunned, not daring to come forward. The lead runner held back the frightened horses and looked at Cao Song and his men with a terrified expression on his face. This was an archer squad! Archer squads weren't something that ordinary households could have; they were usually only found in the service of aristocratic families or high-ranking officials. And yet, here they were, appearing out of nowhere! The identity of these people wasn't simple!

  The leader of the yamen runners looked at Lü Rui and then asked: "Little kid, who are you? How dare you order the guards to kill the yamen runners? Do you know they are all officials of the imperial court? Killing them without reason is a capital offense!"

  Lu Rui heard this and cursed in his heart, "What a joke! I am the Marquis of Qi State, when did the yamen become people of the imperial court? You really think that I, the marquis, am some commoner who can be intimidated by the imperial court? Thinking of this, Lu Rui swung his sleeves and said with his hands behind his back: "Can you control whether or not I kill a few yamen? Don't waste words, I'll kill you too!"

  The leader of the yamen runners was taken aback, "Houye?" Then the leader burst out laughing and said, "Houye, you little brat, you really are ignorant. Do you know what Houye is?" After that, the other yamen runners around him also burst into laughter.

  Shi Ah stood up at this time and shouted: "How dare you, my young master is the newly appointed Marquis of Qi by His Majesty! Open your dog eyes wide and take a look, what is this!" After finishing speaking, he took out the token from his arms and showed it to the leading official, only to see that there was a copper token with the words "Qi Guo Hou Fu Hu Jun Xiao Wei" (Marquis of Qi's Mansion Guard Lieutenant) engraved on it!

  The leading yamen runner took a look, was stunned for a moment, and indeed it was the Marquis of Qi. The leading yamen runner cupped his hands, then said: "So it really is the Marquis of Qi, I have offended you just now, I still need to pursue the fugitive, farewell!" After finishing speaking, he took the yamen runners and left.

  At this time, Lü Rui was stunned. How could it be different from what he had imagined? Shouldn't the leading yamen runner roll off the horse and beg for mercy nonstop? Then he could show off his power, but how did the yamen runner just leave?

  Cao Song looked at the departing leader of the yamen runners and then stroked his beard, saying: "A young master from a noble family!"

  Lü Rui suddenly understood, it turned out that this was a child of a noble family. No wonder he didn't even put himself in his own eyes. It seems that the power and influence of the Han Dynasty's aristocratic families are overwhelming the imperial court. This person should be from a large clan in Chenliu, not even putting a marquis in his eyes. The imperial power is declining, this is the true face of the Han Dynasty's aristocratic families, except for Luoyang, each place is independent and self-governing!

  Lü Rui ignored the yamen runner and followed Cao Song to see the two people covered in blood. The two saw the yamen runner retreat, bowed to Cao Song and said: "Thank you, sir, for saving our lives. We will definitely repay your kindness when we have the chance!"

  Cao Song nodded and said to the muscular man: "Brave warrior, my grandson has great admiration for you. He hopes that you will be his bodyguard. What do you think?"

  Lü Rui also ran forward, pointing at the man and saying: "I want you to be my bodyguard!"

  The young man looked at Cao Song and Lü Yi, cupped his hands and said: "Thank you, sir, for saving my life, but I still have important matters to attend to. If you are willing to accept me into your mansion, please stay in Chenliu for a few more days. Seven days later, I will definitely return to Chenliu and offer my services to you as the young master's bodyguard!"

  Cao Song looked at the man and smiled, saying: "Alright, since that's the case, I'll stay in Chenliu for seven days to await your return, brave warrior!"

  The man nodded and left with his friends. Lü Rui suddenly became agitated, saying: "Master, Master, why did they leave? Stop them, stop them!"

  Cao Song picked up Lü Rui, smiled and said: "Rui'er, don't make trouble, seven days later, he will definitely come back, let's go to Chenliu City first." After finishing speaking, he didn't allow Lü Rui to struggle and took him towards Chenliu.

  Seven days have passed, and the man has not yet arrived at the inn where Cao Song's group is staying. Lü Rui can no longer bear it and cries out to Cao Song, demanding that he provide him with a bodyguard as compensation. Cao Song cannot withstand Lü Rui's crying and comforting says: "Rui'er, don't cry, that strong man will definitely arrive today, if not, I'll compensate you with a bodyguard."

  Lv Rui looked at Cao Song and said, "Grandfather, I want to be more powerful than my father and uncle. Whoever can knock down my father and uncle with one punch, just like that strong man, will be the one." Cao Chun listened on the side, covering his chest, too embarrassed to respond.

  Cao Song looked at the embarrassed Cao Chun, then said: "Alright, Rui'er, I'll find someone who can beat your son and uncle. Come on, Grandpa will take you hunting." In order to deal with Lü Rui's nagging, Cao Song had no choice but to take Lü Rui hunting.

  Hunting was Lü Rui's favorite activity in this era, because there really wasn't anything fun to do in this era, and hunting was Lü Rui's only pleasure. Lü Rui brought Shi Ah along to the outskirts, Cao Xiong and his concubine rested at the foot of the mountain, and Lü Rui took Shi Ah and a group of people up the mountain to hunt.

  Drawing a bow and arrow to kill prey, Lü Rui couldn't do it. Lü Rui's hunting was just seeing the prey, then pointing, and naturally there were archers helping Lü Rui to kill. After finishing the hunt, Lü Rui could add dishes again!

  Lü Rui climbed the mountain and searched everywhere, but didn't find any prey. Lü Rui felt annoyed in his heart, the guards were gone, and no prey had been found yet. Then he ordered everyone to expand the search range. Lü Rui picked up a small stone and threw it east and west, what's going on? Not a single prey was found today?

  Lü Rui picked up a large stone and threw it, but to his surprise, the stone bounced back with a loud thud. Before he could figure out what was happening, a deafening roar echoed through the air, causing leaves on nearby trees to fall off in succession.

  Lü Rui's eyes widened as he looked ahead, and his big brother exclaimed, "Look! There's a huge tiger in front of us, no more than fifty steps away!" No, it should be the Tiger King! Because its roar didn't cause any resonance with other animals or tigers, and there weren't any animals running out from nearby, that means it's the Tiger King. Its arrival made all the other animals retreat!

  Shi Ya and others heard the tiger's roar, looked at Lü Rui, saw that Lü Rui was less than fifty steps away from the tiger, and were frightened. In order not to startle the tiger, they all slowly approached.

  Lü Rui then fell to the ground with a thud and stopped breathing! At this time, Lü Rui's mind was completely blank, only thinking of the story about black bears not eating dead people that he had read in books before. Lü Rui could only pretend to be dead, oh no, young master hasn't lived enough yet, hoping the big tiger won't eat me!

  The tiger seemed to have found Lü Rui and let out a loud roar, taking step by step towards him.

  "One step, two steps, three steps." Lü Rui was silently counting in her heart. Where were Nainai and Shiya? Why hadn't they arrived yet? The prince was about to hang on! In fact, it wasn't that Shiya and the others weren't moving, but rather they only had bows and arrows in their hands, without any sharp blades. If they shot an arrow, it might enrage the tiger, and Lü Rui, who was nearby, might not survive. Shiya and the others could only draw out their short swords and slowly approach the tiger, hoping to use close combat to deal with it.

  Suddenly, an iron chain flew out of the dense forest, turned in mid-air and locked onto the tiger's neck. The tiger let out a loud roar, struggling frantically to break free from the chain, but it seemed as if the chain was enchanted, no matter how hard it tried, it couldn't shake it off. In less than a minute, the tiger roared a few more times before all sounds ceased!

  At this time, a tiger-backed and bear-waisted man walked out of the dense forest. This man was the strong warrior who had been chased to death earlier. Shi Ah and others were all stunned. This man used iron chains to strangle the tiger to death, a way of killing that no one had ever seen before. His arm strength was like a god's, and he could actually strangle the tiger to death!

  Lü Rui perked up his ears to listen, but why was there no sound? Where's the tiger? Did it run away? There's no reason for that. At this time, Lü Rui heard a familiar voice: "Young master, get up, the tiger is dead."

  It's Shiya's voice! Lü Rui opened his eyes and saw Shiya's worried gaze, then looked around and saw that the tiger was tied up with a large iron chain around its neck and fell to the ground. Lü Rui blinked and asked: "Shiya, did you kill the tiger?"

  Shi Ah shook his head and pointed forward, saying: "Young master, it was the strong man we met a few days ago who killed him!"

  Lü Rui followed Shi Ah's pointing finger and saw that the tiger-backed, bear-waisted man was holding an iron chain, smiling at Lü Rui. Lü Rui immediately ran over, circled around the tiger, and exclaimed, "This tiger was strangled to death with this iron chain! What kind of strength is this? A rope can be easily tightened, but this is a thick iron chain, not a thin rope!" He looked at the intact tiger skin and thought that if it were made into a coat, it would definitely keep him warm in winter.

  Lü Rui looked at the robust man with a tiger's back and bear's waist, cupped his hands and said: "Thank you, strong warrior. Strong warrior, you're back?"

  The man knelt down on one knee, clasped his fists and said: "Yes, young master. Since you have been waiting for me here for seven days, from now on I will be your bodyguard, willing to protect you wherever you go!"

  Lü Rui nodded, heh heh, this man would be his own hunting god in the future. The protected animals that he couldn't eat in his previous life could now be killed and eaten like this. Anyway, killing protected animals was called "for the people, eliminating harm" and "eradicating wild beasts".

  Lü Rui patted the man's arm, what a sturdy muscle! He himself was already a bit of a strong person, and with one exertion, he actually bounced back. Lü Rui smiled and asked: "Does the unknown strongman have a name? Where is he from?"

  The man clasped his fists and said: "I am Chen Liu, at your service! I pay my respects to the young master!"

  "Di Wei?" The evil of old has come, Lü Rui was stunned!