Mythical Three Kingdoms

Whether they call Yuan Shu peculiar or say he has a problem with his brain, Yuan Shu has maintained such virtues for forty years. He regards the commoners as ants and sees himself and all members of the aristocratic families as pioneers.

Because of this, Yuan Shu holds unparalleled arrogance towards the Humble Family and the commoners, but it is precisely because of this arrogance that Yuan Shu always believes that stooping to the level of engaging with ants is not what someone of his kind should do. Their identity is as pioneers, and leading the ants forward is their duty, but to interact with ants is beneath their status!

Think about it, if Yuan Shu believes that even interacting with ants is a loss of dignity, what would exploiting them imply? Is it embarrassing? No, in Yuan Shu's view, it is a disgrace!

As pioneers who have always been expanding territory and creating Huaxia civilization, they have stooped to exploiting creatures that would go unnoticed even if crushed underfoot—this is something that some nouveau riche might regard as a success, their ability to exploit others, but for Yuan Shu, it is a deep shame for the aristocracy not to be expanding territory and creating civilization, and instead, exploiting ants!

When the dignity of the aristocracy drops to such a level, the only thing Yuan Shu can think of is to cleanse these families. In his mind, the existence of these families insults the entire aristocratic class.

In Yuan Shu's principles, ants can be trampled, ignored, or left to their own devices, but an aristocratic family that accepts the offerings of ants must fulfill their promises. When have you ever seen deities up high breaking their promises to mortals? The aristocracy has degenerated!

"Come, follow me to ask the Elder of the Yuan Family, to what extent does our aristocracy want to shame itself!" Yuan Shu angrily flung his sleeves and headed straight to the Yuan Family ancestral house.

How ridiculous, if deities need to exploit mortals to exist, what value do they hold? If aristocratic families no longer take the responsibility of creating civilization, expanding territory, and educating the people, but instead turn to exploiting them, what value do they hold?

The glory we shared for a thousand years, the brilliance that never waned in hundreds of generations, were they gained through exploiting the masses? Has the Yuan Family, who produced Four Generations Three Dukes, risen through exploiting ants? Shall the honor of the aristocracy end with me?

The moment Yuan Shu stepped into the ancestral house of the Yuan Family, his sword was already drawn from his waist, and Jii Ling had his three-point double-edged knife at the ready, waiting for Yuan Shu's order.

"I have seen the Head of the Family." A Maid, seeing Yuan Shu approaching, immediately curtsied as usual, but Yuan Shu, without even a glance, passed by her.

"Bang!" Yuan Shu kicked open the side door of the central hall; although the main door was open with singing and dancing inside, Yuan Shu did not conceal his anger as he kicked open the side door, his fierce eyes sweeping across the senior members of the Yuzhou Aristocratic Family and Elder of the Yuan Family.

The joyful and laughter-filled hall came to a sudden halt under Yuan Shu's angry gaze, falling into silence, leaving only the singing and dancing maids.

"You all may leave now." Yuan Li glanced at an angry Yuan Shu and slowly turned his head, speaking calmly to the maids and servants.

After the maids and servants had left, Yuan Li then pointed to a seat, "Sit down, Gonglu, what has angered you so? A leader should know to 'Conceal Emotions,' which is fundamental." His tone implied dissatisfaction with Yuan Shu's lack of composure.

"Ah!" A scream erupted as a servant rushed in, cutting off the words Yuan Shu was about to speak. Yuan Li's face turned dark, "Take this disrespectful cur away and administer thirty strokes of the cane!"

"It's terrible, Liu Bei's Army is attacking!" The servant cried out in despair.

"What, that's impossible!" Yuan Li and the other clan elders and high-ranking members were shocked, rising to their feet, their earlier composure gone, while only Yuan Shu's cold gaze swept over them, with Jii Ling standing emotionless like a tower behind him.

"Gonglu, did you come to speak of this matter?" Yuan Li quickly surmised the source of Yuan Shu's rage. With such a significant event unfolding, Yuan Shu's kicking in of the door and his murderous intent seemed justified.

"Lord!" Yano Xiang rushed in and called out urgently, Yuan Shu's words had shocked him, but he understood that now was absolutely not the time to fall into internal chaos.

"Yes!" Yuan Shu thrust his sword directly onto the desk, nearly killing the head of an aristocratic family, but at this moment no one took Yuan Shu's excessive actions seriously.

"Quickly, order someone to find Zhou Yu! If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have provoked Liu Xuande, what to do, what to do!" Yuan Li immediately ordered in a panic.

"Hiss!" Yuan Shu coldly laughed as he pulled out his sword from the desk, sneering at Yuan Li's words, "Get lost, since when is it your place to overstep and command my generals!"

Suddenly, Yuan Li's face turned red with anger. Yuan Shu had actually disrespected him, an elder of the Yuan Family, in front of many people. Yuan Li had wanted to use this opportunity to establish in front of everyone the impression that the Yuan Family could control Yuan Shu, but the recently listless Yuan Shu actually exhibited such boldness.

"Xibo, go inform Gongjin and the others that I will be waiting for them at Shouchun Government Office," Yuan Shu said without even glancing at Yuan Li, turning his head to speak to Yano Xiang.

"Hulai, prepare the troops!" After Yano Xiang left, Yuan Shu turned his head to look at his trusted general Jii Ling.

"Yes!" Jii Ling saluted with a fist, then took long strides out, while Yuan Shu, holding a three-foot green blade, swept his eyes over the aristocrats with a cold snort, and strode out directly. After Yuan Shu's departure, the aristocrats immediately began to argue heatedly, each wanting to take advantage without paying the price. For two hundred years, the Yuzhou aristocratic families had lost their initial valor.

When Yano Xiang arrived at Zhou Yu's residence, many people were standing still outside the house, pausing to listen attentively.

At this time, Yano Xiang could not afford to worry about provoking public anger and decided to push the door open without hesitation. Inside, he saw Zhou Yu sitting on the ground with his back against the main beam of a stone pavilion, gently playing the zither, and Little Qiao was slowly dancing to the tune at his side, truly a matched pair of talents and beauty.

"Hum~" Following a sustained note, Zhou Yu slowly stopped playing his zither, and Little Qiao stopped waving her flower fan and stood elegantly behind Zhou Yu.

"Sorry to interrupt you both," Yano Xiang said, bowing deeply to Zhou Yu, despite the latter being less than half his own age, Yano Xiang would never underestimate him.

"Little Qiao, go keep your sister company. I must head to the battlefield," Zhou Yu slowly stood up without asking Yano Xiang what he wanted, smiled at Little Qiao, and replied with an indifferent expression.

"Please be careful, Zhou Yu." Little Qiao glanced at Zhou Yu, her eyes skimming past Yano Xiang as she spoke after curtsying, then she retreated gracefully.

"Gongjin, you must already know what has happened," Yano Xiang asked Zhou Yu, thinking that someone who could still play the zither after such a big event must have a rather twisted temperament.

"Nothing else but Liu Xuande's army marching this way. Where are they now?" Zhou Yu asked with his eyes closed.

"At the city gates," Yano Xiang said with a wry smile, assuming Zhou Yu already had a clever plan.

Zhou Yu's hand trembled involuntarily at that response, and he slowly opened his eyes then silently glanced back at the direction where Little Qiao had gone, before turning to Yano Xiang, "Let's go! Let's meet them." (To be continued. If you like this novel, you are welcome to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)