Section 025: Heroes Turned Foes

“What means did he use to persuade Zhang Junke and the others to agree to follow you to Zhangqiu and lend their support?” Li Dong asked. When Zhang Junke took the initiative to promise the position of mountain stronghold leader to Du Fuwei, Li Dong felt the urge to forge a friendship. Such bold, chivalrous men are rare; once encountered, they must be brought close, for there will surely be a time when their strength is needed.

“Provisions,” Du Fuwei replied. Zhang Junke descended from the mountains to plunder precisely to solve the dire shortage of supplies. By helping Li Dong resolve the crisis in Zhangqiu, when Zhi Shilang was routed, provisions could not be transported away in time, allowing them to seize a great advantage.

After the campaign in Zhangqiu ended, the bandits from the Great Wall Ridge busied themselves pillaging the baggage train. Had Li Dong not acted swiftly, hurling his saber to pierce the chest of a soldier, Zhang Junke would have nearly been killed by the desperate struggle of that dying soldier.

Naturally, the events of a few days ago remained vivid in memory. With Du Fuwei’s reminder, Li Dong’s heart cleared, understanding at last why the county constable delayed so long in opening the city gates, and why the magistrate Lu Li’er seemed to have prepared food in advance when welcoming them. The constable had recognized them as bandits from the Ridge and laid a trap to capture them all at once.

“After leaving the prison, why didn’t you escape immediately, but instead hid in the city for a night, and then opened the gates the next day, letting Zhi Shilang into Zhangqiu?” Li Dong asked. Though only a single night had passed, he had made three misjudgments: mistaking Du Yu’s magnanimity and loyalty, misreading Lu Rou’s character, and wrongly assuming Du Fuwei had slipped out of the city.

“It was a twist of fate. We wanted to escape, but the patrols on the walls were strict, and two squads searched the city. We hid for a long time, tried many times, but couldn’t leave safely. If we forced our way out and were discovered, on foot, pursued by mounted men, we’d be caught all the same.” The memory of that night still left Du Fuwei uneasy and resentful.

Li Dong managed a bitter smile and waved his hand, saying, “No need to explain, I understand. When I returned that night, I too ran into an awkward situation. Lu Rou was kidnapped from the Lu residence, and Lu Li’er dispatched two squads for a thorough search.”

Du Fuwei chuckled, “Actually, even if we hadn’t fled, we weren’t in grave danger. Zhi Shilang attacked Zhangqiu the next day, and he wouldn’t have had time to send us to Zhang Xuduo in Licheng.”

After a moment’s thought, Li Dong said, “You let Zhi Shilang in, intending to slip out in the chaos and return to the Ridge as an outlaw. Yet things turned out otherwise; instead, you found favor with him and now covet the glorious future he promised, unwilling to return to the Ridge?”

Du Fuwei smiled awkwardly. “You see through me completely. That’s the difference between us. Tell me, under these circumstances, could I return to the Ridge? Zhangqiu couldn’t be held, let alone those broken mountains—wouldn’t they fall at the first attack? I have no choice.”

Li Dong laughed and told Du Fuwei, “Treat those thousand bandits from the Ridge well. I will have great use for them in the future.”

Du Fuwei immediately understood Li Dong’s true intention. The two exchanged a knowing smile. Du Fuwei said, “I can’t stand him either, and have long wanted to remove him.”

Suddenly, a somewhat familiar voice shouted, “You two shameless villains, scheming here—are you not afraid Zhi Shilang will find out and have you beheaded for display?”

Before the words faded, the door was kicked open and flew into the courtyard. Two corpses lay on the threshold, and beside them stood a man.

This was the man Li Dong could not forget, the one he longed to draw into his camp—the very Du Yu who, out of gratitude, killed the prison guard and freed Du Fuwei and the others.

Du Yu was not tall, similar in stature to sixteen-year-old Li Dong, thin but explosive and skilled. Judging by the way the two corpses fell, he dispatched them in a single move, leaving no chance to resist.

While Li Dong and Du Fuwei conversed in the courtyard, Du Yu silently slew the men outside without a sound. Such skill was not merely impressive—it was truly terrifying.

Du Yu sneered, “I saw these two sneaking around, eavesdropping at the door. They must have been up to no good, so I dealt with them for you.”

Du Fuwei was delighted and stepped forward to thank him, but Li Dong quickly pulled him back, urgently saying, “Don’t go over. He’s… no longer the Du Yu who saved us.”

Du Dong’s words baffled Du Fuwei. He looked carefully—Du Yu hadn’t changed since the night before. If he wasn’t the same Du Yu, why help by eliminating two spies?

Li Dong sighed, “I understand him, but you do not.”

Du Yu laughed heartily and said, “It seems your reputation is well-earned—you have some skill. Unfortunately, you won’t live to see the sunrise.”

Li Dong asked, “Brother Du, must we fight to the death? With your skills, wherever you go, whatever camp you join, you wouldn’t be struggling as you are now.”

Their exchange felt like a riddle, leaving Du Fuwei confused. Du Yu had saved him from prison, presumably to help Li Dong, but now followed them here to kill Li Dong, and Li Dong seemed to know his purpose and stopped Du Fuwei from approaching.

Why? Why save only to kill? Isn’t it pointless?

Li Dong pressed urgently, “Can’t we simply test our skills and leave it at that?”

Du Yu shook his head and sighed, “You’re mistaken. I am not here for a contest, but to kill you—or be killed by you. There are only two choices: either you die, or I do.” With that, he leveled his sword and shouted, “Draw your weapon and face death!”

“Wait!” Du Fuwei hurriedly interjected, “Brother Yu, forgive me for calling you so, but please tell me—what is going on? You’re making me quite confused.”

“Can’t figure it out? Then ask the guardians of the underworld when you reach the eighteen levels of hell—they hold all the answers you need.” With that, Du Yu struck at Du Fuwei, his blade flashing toward the throat.

Du Fuwei could not let him succeed. He drew his sword to parry and exclaimed, “Brother Yu, let’s talk this through—put down your weapon! Blades have no eyes, do not harm your own brothers!”

Du Yu gave no reply, only pressing his attack, each move tighter than the last, his sword waves surging against Du Fuwei.

Helpless, Du Fuwei could only defend, unwilling to strike back in earnest. Du Yu, intent on killing them both, pressed forward with deadly moves, and any slip could mean grave injury for Du Fuwei.

Watching for a while, Li Dong spotted flaws in Du Yu’s swordwork and knew he could subdue him if he acted. Yet he could not bring himself to do it. Du Yu was not an evil man, always acting beyond expectation, and Li Dong needed a plan to win him over completely.

Though he knew this would be harder than simply killing him—perhaps nearly impossible—so long as hope remained, he would not give up easily. After all, Du Yu had shown him kindness, and with chaos looming at the end of the Sui dynasty, Li Dong had never felt so urgent a need to build a force truly his own.