Chapter 53: Unexpected Person

Qu Yi jumped down from the carriage, landing heavily on the ground with a thud.

He didn't open the carriage door first, but instead took two steps towards the man.

Thud, thud, with each step, the ground trembled slightly. The seated man's fingers twitched almost imperceptibly, then returned to their relaxed position, without even turning his head.

Qu Yi turned back, opened the carriage door, and Yuan Xi, with his hands behind his back, slowly stepped down.

Qu Yi whispered, "Be careful, that man is very powerful."

Yuan Xi looked at the man's back and nodded slightly.

Then Wu Zhao also got out of the carriage, covering his face.

At this moment, the man sitting with his back to them spoke, "Which of you three is Hidden Tiger?"

Yuan Xi replied, "I am."

"Hmph!" The man snorted, the sound like a great bell reverberating through the courtyard, causing Qu Yi and the others to feel a slight pain in their eardrums.

"You better be the real Hidden Tiger, or you'll find it hard to leave this courtyard!"

Hearing the threatening words, Yuan Xi's expression remained unchanged. He smiled slightly and said, "I would like to meet Master Dong Fang."

The door of the house opened, and a middle-aged scholar with a stern face walked out, saying, "He is not here."

Yuan Xi thought to himself, could it be that Dong Fang sent someone to test me?

Just as he was about to speak, he felt Wu Zhao reach out behind him and write a few words on the palm of his hand.

After each stroke was completed, Yuan Xi was stunned.

This wasn't a test, it was a direct strike, throwing out a trump card right away.

He took two steps forward and bowed to the middle-aged scholar, "I have met Master Gongtai."

The middle-aged scholar was taken aback, a look of doubt on his face, "You recognize me?"

Yuan Xi didn't answer, but bowed again to the person still sitting, "I have met Lord Wen."

The man stood up abruptly.

Only when he stood up did Yuan Xi realize how tall he was, over nine chi in height, with a broad back and a thick waist, long arms like an ape, and slightly shrugged shoulders, like a fierce tiger ready to pounce.

The man slowly turned around, his eyes like lightning, his appearance dignified, and an overwhelming aura rushed towards him.

After Wu Zhao's reminder, Yuan Xi realized that this man was actually Lu Bu, Lu Fengxian!

And that middle-aged scholar was Chen Gong, Chen Gongtai, who had secretly broken with Cao Cao long ago!

This was completely beyond Yuan Xi's expectations. According to his previous guess, he should have first met Dong Fang through the letter of introduction he had Dong Zhao send in advance, and then been introduced to Zhang Miao, the governor of Chenliu.

If Zhang Miao thought he was reliable, he would discuss it with Chen Gong, and finally they would welcome Lu Bu together.

But now, Lu Bu and Chen Gong were waiting for him in this small courtyard!

Calculating the time, Cao Cao was now preparing to attack Xu Province, and Zhang Miao and Chen Gong had already planned to rebel against Cao Cao and welcome Lu Bu.

But Yuan Xi didn't expect that Lu Bu was already in Chenliu!

This was truly audacious. Chenliu Commandery was adjacent to Wei Commandery, where Yuan Shao's headquarters, Yecheng, was located. Puyang City was less than a hundred li away from Yecheng, which meant they were stirring up trouble right under Yuan Shao's nose!

Lu Bu's expression was somewhat gloomy, "How do you know me?"

"Could it be that you used spies to inquire about my whereabouts?"

He took two quick steps forward, arriving in front of Yuan Xi, and with a stretch of his long arm, he was about to grab Yuan Xi's shoulder.

Seeing this, Qu Yi flashed forward, blocking Yuan Xi, and with a smack, he waved Lu Bu's hand away.

This was unexpected. Lu Bu's palm was knocked away a few inches, but what kind of person was Lu Bu? He immediately changed his palm into a grab, pinching Qu Yi's wrist.

Qu Yi felt that the other's hand was like a steel ring clamping his arm. He let out a low shout, shook his wrist, and countered by grabbing Lu Bu's wrist.

Seeing the other party twisting his wrist, and that he was about to lose his grip, Lu Bu's expression hardened, and his five fingers hooked onto Qu Yi's fingers.

Seeing this, Qu Yi also went with the flow, interlocking his fingers with the other party's. The two instantly began a single-handed contest of strength.

The bones in both of their palms made cracking sounds at the same time. After only three breaths, Qu Yi's arm trembled slightly, showing signs of weakness.

He roared lowly, and his palm suddenly exerted force, causing Lu Bu to feel a great increase in pressure on his hand.

Seeing this, Lu Bu shook his hand, and the two separated their palms. Lu Bu's body swayed slightly, while Qu Yi took half a step back to steady himself.

Lu Bu revealed a hint of surprise and said, "You do have some skill."

Qu Yi was depressed again.

After his injury, his strength had indeed greatly declined, but it was still enough to deal with those second-rate generals.

However, recently he had been suffering setbacks one after another. First, he encountered the exceptionally talented Zhao Yun, and then he encountered Gao Lan, one of the Four Pillars of the Hebei Generals. Both times, his efforts were in vain.

And today, he encountered the Dragon Among Men, Lu Bu!

Was he cursed to be following Yuan Xi?

Was Yuan Xi poisonous?

Lu Bu was even more surprised.

He was suspected and hunted down by Yuan Shao, and was forced to hide his identity and lie low.

Almost no one would have thought that he was hiding in Chenliu Commandery, not far from Yuan Shao's base camp. Now, he had been recognized by an uninvited guest who had only seen his back!

Although Lu Bu had someone to protect him, Yanzhou was under Cao Cao's control. If his whereabouts were leaked, even as powerful as he was, he had no confidence in escaping unscathed.

He had thought that the people coming to meet him this time would be weak scholars, and he could leave them all behind with one hand, but he didn't expect there to be a powerful expert as well!

If the other party intended to escape, he really didn't have the confidence to keep them all!

Thinking of this, Lu Bu's expression became serious, ready to strike at any moment.

At this time, Yuan Xi, seeing this, took two steps forward, walked up to Lu Bu, and smiled, cupping his fist in salute, "Lord Wen's name is like thunder in my ears. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation."

One doesn't strike a smiling face, and with Yuan Xi taking the initiative to approach Lu Bu, indicating that he had no ill intentions, Lu Bu's expression gradually relaxed.

Lu Bu stared at Yuan Xi and said, "You are Hidden Tiger?"

Yuan Xi nodded and said, "That's right."

At this time, Chen Gong spoke, "Please, sir, come inside for a discussion." After speaking, he stepped aside, opening the door.

Yuan Xi nodded, cupping his fist and saying, "Then I'll take my leave."

He put his hands behind his back, his sleeves fluttering, his demeanor elegant, and he walked in leisurely.

Although his predecessor was weak in character, he was, after all, the son of a noble family. The aristocratic style imprinted in his bones still remained, and he didn't need to pretend.

Wu Zhao and Qu Yi followed him into the house. Chen Gong glanced into the carriage, confirming that there was no one inside, and then breathed a sigh of relief, following Lu Bu in and closing the door.

After entering, the five people sat down. Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Chen Gong said to Yuan Xi with an apologetic expression, "Master Hidden Tiger, please don't be offended. We are discussing matters of great importance that concern our lives and families, so we must be cautious."

Yuan Xi chuckled and said, "Please don't call me 'Master.' I am just a reclusive person who knows a little about astrology."

Lu Bu snorted coldly, "The art of astrology is illusory. I have seen many famous scholars in the world, but I have never heard of anyone who is proficient in this way."

He and Chen Gong and Zhang Miao, the governor of Chenliu, were secretly on good terms. Earlier, Dong Fang, a strategist under Zhang Miao, received a letter from his brother, Dong Zhao, saying that he had encountered an extraordinary person.

This extraordinary person claimed to be proficient in astrology, saying that Yanzhou would soon undergo a great change, and if they made a wrong move, Zhang Miao, Chen Gong, and others would face a great disaster.

When Zhang Miao received the letter, he was initially skeptical, but Dong Zhao was a man of great prestige, and it was impossible for him to make something up out of thin air, so Zhang Miao had to take it seriously.

Moreover, there was a sentence in the letter that made Zhang Miao even more concerned.

The stars show that a new master will appear in Yanzhou, a hero of the world.

At this time, Zhang Miao and Chen Gong were discussing welcoming Lu Bu, and after the two discussed it, they decided to have the so-called Hidden Tiger come to Chenliu.

This matter was extremely secretive, but their plan had been revealed by someone whose intentions were unknown. Zhang Miao was a little panicked. The time for the launch was imminent, would there be a major change?

Lu Bu was currently under Zhang Miao's protection, and when he heard this news, although he felt that the hero in the letter was himself, which should be a good omen, how could he know if it was just a con man trying to deceive people?

So he came in person.

Lu Bu saw that Yuan Xi in front of him was young, and he was even more skeptical. As a result, Yuan Xi's words shocked Lu Bu and Chen Gong.

"The stars are ominous, indicating a major war."

"Are you two planning to wait for Cao Cao to send troops to Xu Province and take the opportunity to start a rebellion in Yanzhou?"