Chapter 78: Patience and Guidance

"Time to get up and take your medicine!"

Gao Lan sat up, a faint pain in his chest.

By the dim light of the oil lamp, he saw a man coming down from the cellar above, holding a bowl of brewed herbal medicine. He placed it just within reach, through the iron Fence.

Gao Lan touched his chest and sighed.

That night, Zhao Yun had pierced his chest with a spear. The tip went through the gap in his armor, pierced the soft armor underneath, and stabbed into his body.

The spear tip penetrated an inch, hitting his rib, making him gasp for breath. His vision went black, and he fell from his horse.

At that moment, he was extremely unwilling. He had already been exhausted from fighting Qu Yi earlier, and Zhao Yun had taken advantage of him!

If he had been at his peak, he might have been able to block that spear!

But then none of it mattered. Glory for his ancestors, continuing the family line—all turned into bubbles. Thinking of his wife, whom he had married less than a year ago, he lost consciousness.

When he woke up again, he found that he was not dead. The wound on his chest had been bandaged, but he didn't know where he was being held.

Gao Lan was in what appeared to be a cellar, connected to the outside by a ladder. The space was small, with iron Fence blocking the way. Twice a day, someone brought food and medicine.

But no matter what Gao Lan asked, the person who brought the food never said a word.

Gao Lan noticed that the man's steps were vigorous, and he moved nimbly up and down the ladder, clearly not an ordinary person. He was likely a private soldier or a trained assassin.

Gao Lan could guess that this was probably one of Yuan Xi's secretly raised assassins. What was he planning to do?

However, he had been here for half a month, without seeing the sun all day. He was almost driven mad, nearing his limit.

At least other prisons had a window for light. What kind of dog came up with this underground prison!

Gao Lan even felt that if someone came and made any offer, he would agree!

This place without sunlight was no place for a human!

He now deeply regretted why he had gotten involved in the affairs of Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang. He had no right to do so!

Gao Lan had finally figured it out. Even if his situation was exposed, what could Yuan Xi do by killing him?

Would Yuan Shao kill Yuan Xi to avenge him? What a joke!

Yuan Shang was even less likely to do so. He was just using him!

He had really been blinded by greed!

He reached out and drank the bitter, pungent medicine, his empty stomach churning.

He lay back down on the pile of straw in the corner, staring blankly at the cellar ceiling above.

To live like this was worse than dying on the battlefield.

He didn't know how long had passed, but the cellar door above was opened, and a tall man slowly climbed down the ladder.

As soon as Gao Lan saw him, he sat up abruptly and said bitterly, "It's you!"

Qu Yi wiped the rain off his face, pulled a stool next to him, and said, "Gao Lan, you're quite tough to survive."

Gao Lan said coldly, "Why didn't you kill me?"

Qu Yi shook his head. "I don't know either."

"I actually advised the young master to kill you, but he didn't agree."

"He said it would be a pity for such a capable and loyal person like you to die in such an obscure way."

Gao Lan snorted.

Seeing this, Qu Yi sneered, "You have quite the temper. I have an even bigger temper. If you give me that stinky face again, I'll just leave and let you rot here."

Gao Lan was immediately choked.

After a while, Gao Lan said, "I don't understand."

"I thought you would have been killed by the lord long ago."

"Why did the Second Young Master save you? Isn't he afraid of angering the lord?"

Qu Yi snorted coldly: "The reason is similar to yours."

"The young master said that a person like me should die on the battlefield, not in an assassination."

Gao Lan was a little annoyed: "But that's not how you treated me?"

Qu Yi sneered, "That's why the young master spared your life."

"Don't try to be clever with words. If I lose my temper, I can kill you on the spot right now. At worst, I'll go back and report that you were stubborn and unrepentant."

Gao Lan was speechless.

Qu Yi was secretly pleased. After following the young master for a few years, he had learned to intimidate people. Gao Lan, like him, was a simple-minded warrior who was easily bluffed.

Gao Lan said in a muffled voice, "If you kept me alive, it means I still have value."

"Besides, Young Master Yuan Xi might be fine, but if your identity is exposed, it's not certain."

Qu Yi slapped his thigh angrily: "Damn it, Gao Lan, you're pretty smart. But I've died once, what else am I afraid of?"

"I won't beat around the bush with you. The young master sent me here to give you a chance."

Gao Lan looked up, "What chance?"

Seeing Gao Lan was interested, Qu Yi said: "The young master said that if you can swear to keep your mouth shut, he might not be able to let you go back."

"He will find a reason that the Yuan family can accept, and you will still be your Four Pillars and reunite with your wife."

Hearing this, Gao Lan hesitated and said: "I'm afraid you want me to betray the Third Young Master and join the Second Young Master, right?"

"What's the difference?"

"The Second Young Master is not as powerful as the Third Young Master, can he protect me?"

Qu Yi sneered: "He can protect even me, let alone you?"

Gao Lan pondered in silence.

Qu Yi sneered: "Don't be anxious, even if you really want to join, the Second Young Master may not want you."

"I am here to ask a few questions for the young master."

"You clearly married Zhen Rong, and you should also know that the Second Young Master is going to marry Zhen Mi, why do you want to help the Third Young Master fight against the Second Young Master?"

Gao Lan lowered his head and thought for a while before raising his head and saying: "Because Yuan Third Young Master doesn't want Second Young Master to marry Zhen Mi."

Qu Yi was puzzled, "Why?"

Gao Lan hesitated for a moment and said: "I know some inside information."

"When I was following the Third Young Master, I once heard him and several counselors talk about this matter."

"It's about the Second Young Master's prophecy."

He talked about Yuan Shang asking several counselors to calculate Yuan Xi's name and courtesy name, and finally talked about Zhen Mi's face reading, "So the Third Young Master should be very afraid of the Second Young Master."

Hearing this, Qu Yi smiled dumbly and said: "These things, only the noble families believe in them. We are all military generals, why do we believe in this?"

Gao Lan was surprised and said: "Dezhou, prophecies are the laws of heaven and earth. Didn't you believe in this a few years ago?"

Qu Yi spat out a mouthful of saliva: "I believe in a bird, if it was really useful, could I have almost died?"

"If this kind of thing is true, shouldn't you rely on the Second Young Master even more?"

Gao Lan said: "Because the Third Young Master believes it."

"I don't know if this prophecy is true, but I only know that the Third Young Master has already controlled most of the Yuan family's power. If I don't rely on him, I won't live to see the day when the prophecy comes true."

Hearing this, Qu Yi nodded and said: "Don't you feel very aggrieved?"

"We military generals are just because we don't have the backing of noble families, so we can only be used at will, and kicked away after we are used up."

"Yuan Shao is like this, isn't Yuan Shang the same to you?"

"Do you think you will have a good end if you expose the Second Young Master?"

"Look at my experience, don't dream!"

Gao Lan was a little unconvinced: "Is it different if I rely on the Second Young Master?"

"How do you know that he saved you, isn't he using you?"

Qu Yi said coldly: "If that's the case, it would be safest for him to kill you, why take this risk?"

Gao Lan was silent for a while, then raised his head: "What does the Second Young Master want me to do?"

Qu Yi smiled slightly: "It's very simple, the Second Young Master wants to make a bet with you, and swear in the name of his family."

"He is not afraid that you will go back on your word and betray him. At that time, I may die, but you will definitely not survive."

"If you can complete the bet, then as long as you swear that you will not reveal my affairs, he will let you go back and reunite with your family."

"If you can't complete the bet, you can only be used by the Second Young Master."

Gao Lan's eyes flashed: "Really?"

"What bet?"

Seeing that Gao Lan was hooked, Qu Yi said: "Help him defeat or capture a military general."

Gao Lan's first reaction was to shake his head: "If I have to face people like Lu Bu, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou, how can I have a chance of winning?"

"No way!"

Hearing this, Qu Yi said: "Don't worry, the famous generals in these four prefectures will not let you choose."

"The young master said he will choose an unknown person."

Hearing this, Gao Lan was very moved, and immediately said: "If that's the case, I will go all out, I have never been afraid of anyone!"

"I'll bet!"

Hearing this, Qu Yi said: "Okay, now change your appearance and go to Mount Tai Prefecture with me."