Chapter 185

After entering Hadong Province, there was no more pursuit. It was no ordinary matter.

Though the Yellow River served as a natural border, Hadong Province, just across the river, was a frontline border region of Cao Wei, much like Hongnong, where the Han army could attack at any moment.

Naturally, the Wei army stationed there was on guard against the Han, and measures were taken to foster the people’s ideological hostility towards them.

Yet, despite the soldiers being nearby, the people of Hadong provided us with food and clothes.

This was the sentiment of fellow villagers—a manifestation of reverence and respect for the extraordinary general born in Hadong.

The soldiers also merely watched and did not mistreat the people. Of course, it was because they were wary of us, who stood nearby with gleaming spears and swords.

However, we couldn’t let our guard down yet. The governor of Hadong was Zhao Yan. He had participated in the defense of Xiang Province as Xu Huang’s deputy and later fought alongside Xu Huang on the Yellow River front during the Wei-Wu alliance.

Unlike Xu Huang, who returned to Wan after Zhao Yun’s death, Zhao Yan remained in Hadong as its governor.

“Zhao Yan… the one who stopped Xu Huang at Zhaoyang. Yes, he would later rise to the rank of Minister of Works. I remember him. He’s not someone to be underestimated. We must proceed as if we’re about to engage in another battle.”

I never expected to pass through Hadong without any difficulties just because it was Guan Yu’s birthplace. Cao Wei knew the importance of Hadong; they wouldn’t entrust it to an ordinary person.

The reason I chose to return through Hadong instead of Hongnong wasn’t just because it was Guan Yu’s hometown.

“Hadong is flat terrain. It’s ideal for maximizing our cavalry, the main force of our army.”

My biggest concern was the possibility of the route from Luoyang to Hadong being blocked, but fortunately, that fear was unfounded.

“Still, it’s strange. Our speed wasn’t so fast that they couldn’t prepare, yet someone of Zhao Yan’s caliber would make such a move.”

Had I overestimated Zhao Yan? The situation was unfolding more smoothly than I had anticipated.

However, fearing that Zhao Yan might be preparing a decisive strike, I sent scouts to check the movements of Anye County, the administrative center of Hadong. The information they brought back dispelled my doubts about why Zhao Yan had left us alone.

Zhao Yan hadn’t intended to leave us be; he had no choice but to do so.

Guanzhong had moved.

I had momentarily forgotten. Pang Tong was in Guanzhong. If he had noticed something amiss in Luoyang before news from Xiang Province arrived, he would have acted immediately.

Though they might have blocked the routes from Hadong and Hongnong to Guanzhong, they couldn’t completely cut off all movement along the border.

Pang Tong, having noticed Sima Yi’s movements in Luoyang, had mobilized his forces.

Zhao Yun was sent to Wuguan, Pang Tong himself to Hongnong, and my father, Zhang Fei, marched to Hadong.

“Father…”

Father attacked Popan Fortress, and Zhao Yan moved with the Hadong army to defend it. Thus, Anye County, the administrative center of Hadong, was now empty.

“It will be tough, but we must hurry. If we seize Anye County, it will greatly aid Father.”

Taking Anye County was almost like a bloodless victory. After securing Anye, I tasked Wei Yan with leading the cavalry to support Father by blocking Zhao Yan’s retreat route.

Upon hearing that we had taken Anye, Zhao Yan would likely abandon resistance and try to flee to Hongnong. If we could block his path before then, we could achieve a great victory by capturing him.

Eager to claim merit, Wei Yan quickly organized his troops and set out. Shortly after, we also left Anye and followed.

With the Guanzhong army on the move, there was no longer any need to worry about Sima Yi or Jian Chao from Bing Province attacking. The only concern now was Guan Yu’s condition. His health showed no signs of improvement and was steadily worsening.

Considering Guan Yu’s state, it might have been better to remain in Anye, but Guan Yu was adamant.

“Let’s go… my brother has come to meet me. How can I stay still?”

It was all I could do to dissuade him from mounting his horse. And perhaps, though it might be reckless, this was for the best.

No matter how skilled Wei Yan was, having inherited Zhang Zhongjing’s medical expertise, there were clear limits to what could be done in this era.

Rather than letting Guan Yu rest in one place, it might be more beneficial to strengthen his will to live and ease his mind through spiritual therapy.

Believing that the comfort of his hometown and the stability of reuniting with Father would aid Guan Yu’s recovery, we arrived at Haehyun.

§

There are moments in life when, without any basis, you suddenly realize something. And such intuitions are rarely wrong.

Guan Yu was experiencing such an intuition now.

“My time is up.”

He had foreseen his death the moment his shoulder was pierced by Guan Yu’s spear and Xiahou Shang’s arrow lodged in his side.

Guan Yu had anticipated his own demise.

In fact, he found it hard to believe he was still breathing, thinking, and moving. When he first lost consciousness, he thought this might be his final destination.

“It’s thanks to Master Wei and Lan.”

He had survived this long because Zhang Lan had stitched his wounds to stop the bleeding, and Wei Yan had used his medical skills to barely keep him alive.

Others might not know, but Guan Yu himself was aware.

If others, in their haste, had recklessly cauterized his wounds, the situation would have worsened.

However, the treatments from the two had not fully restored Guan Yu to health. They had only barely sustained his life.

Realizing that his time was running out, Guan Yu headed to Haehyun despite the protests of those around him.

There were countless regrets and lingering attachments.

The regret of not being able to present Luoyang to Liu Bei.

The remorse of recklessly attempting to capture Luoyang.

The sorrow of not being able to witness the unification of the land with his own eyes.

The fear that his attempts might burden his sworn brothers’ dreams.

Letting go of all attachments and regrets, Guan Yu focused on those who remained by his side.

Time is too precious to be wasted clinging to the past and suffering from it.

And as Guan Yu cast aside his past attachments, the end of his past and the beginning of his life unfolded before him.

“Haehyun…”

The place where he was born and raised.

His hometown.

“It has changed so much.”

Stepping down from the carriage and walking on his own two feet, Guan Yu took in the changed scenery of Haehyun, different from what he remembered.

The chaos of war had taken even the appearance of his hometown.

At twenty, he had left his hometown just after his coming-of-age ceremony. Decades later, it looked somewhat unfamiliar.

Of course. They say the landscape changes in ten years, so how could it remain the same after forty?

Guan Yu himself had changed. The black hair of his youth had turned white, and the beard he had started growing had become long and white.

Deep lines marked his face, and the indomitable spirit that once seemed capable of shattering the world had faded, leaving him barely able to walk. He knew better than to measure the scenery of his hometown against the past.

Yet, the emptiness in his heart drove him to quicken his pace.

Hoping to find something that would evoke old memories, nostalgia came to Guan Yu in the form of a voice.

“Master! It’s you, isn’t it?”

It was a middle-aged man, not much younger than Guan Yu. Guan Ping and his subordinates, who were escorting Guan Yu, quickly stepped forward to block him.

But Guan Yu waved them back.

Guan Yu scrutinized the man’s face. Though aged, traces of his childhood remained visible to Guan Yu.

Before leaving his hometown, Guan Yu had dabbled in many things. As one of the few who could read, he had also taught at a village school.

Among the children he had taught was one who resembled the middle-aged man before him.

“Yes… I remember. Huo, Seop Huo, isn’t it?”

“Yes! Master, you remember me!”

“Are you the only one? Where are the others from our hometown?”

“Some, like you, left to serve, and others were conscripted. Ah, but there are still quite a few who remain.”

The scenery had changed, but the people remained.

Hometown. It is a place that draws people back.

Just as Guan Yu had returned after wandering the land, others had also come back to their hometown.

Guan Yu sat down on the spot and said to Seop Huo, who had come to find him:

“Call everyone. Since I’ve returned to my hometown after so long, we should hold a feast.”

Despite hearing rumors of Guan Yu’s arrival, the people were initially too frightened to face the large army. After all, Guan Yu was from the Han, and Haehyun was still Wei territory. They feared what Guan Yu might do, even in his hometown.

But as Seop Huo stepped forward to share what he had seen and began persuading people to gather, it wasn’t long before the sounds of laughter and chatter filled Haehyun.

At the feast held in the village square, Guan Yu shed formalities and sat on the ground, engaging in conversation. Those from his hometown who remembered him gathered around, offering him wine.

It felt as if Haehyun was a world apart.

As if forgetting his pain, Guan Yu’s face was filled with smiles. The people, welcoming the return of their hometown hero who had risen to the rank of Supreme General, were equally joyous.

After a while, Guan Yu sat his son Guan Ping beside him and began boasting about his child. The people laughed and cheered along.

Watching from a distance, Zhang Lan was approached by Wei Yan.

“Shouldn’t you stop him? Drinking isn’t good for his condition.”

“Why don’t you stop him yourself, Master Wei?”

Wei Yan, known for his strong will, had always been strict with Guan Yu, pointing out what should and shouldn’t be done, just as he did with other patients.

But this time, his reluctance to intervene prompted Zhang Lan to ask, and he replied with a troubled expression.

“How could I stop him?”

“Neither can I.”

The feast, which had started in the late afternoon, continued into the night.

As if they had been waiting for this day, people brought out their hidden reserves of wine and drank until they were either drunk and heading home or collapsing on the spot.

Despite his poor health, Guan Yu, who had refused none of the wine offered to him, remained seated, seemingly unaffected.

As the atmosphere grew more lively, a man approached Guan Yu. His stature was no less imposing than Guan Yu’s, and unlike the villagers, he wore armor stained with blood.

He plopped down in front of Guan Yu and thrust out his arm.

“Give me a bowl too.”

“…Alright.”

Guan Yu scooped wine from the jar beside him and handed it to the uninvited guest.

“Penalty drink.”

“Sniff.”

“You’re late.”

“Late? I came right on time.”

Though grumbling, the guest downed the wine in one gulp. Then, before Guan Yu could speak, he scooped more wine from the jar and handed it back to Guan Yu.

“Penalty drink.”

“Penalty drink?”

When Guan Yu asked what he meant, the guest replied:

“A penalty drink for leaving first.”

“That’s not a penalty drink; it’s a farewell drink.”

“We swore to die together, so it’s a penalty drink.”

At Zhang Fei’s words, Guan Yu smiled bitterly and accepted the cup.

Before drinking, Guan Yu looked at the face of his sworn brother sitting across from him.

The man who had boldly confessed his faults to his brothers after losing Xuzhou was now shedding tears.

“Tell our elder brother for me.”

“We will surely meet again… tell him yourself then.”

“Alright. I will. But don’t come too soon, missing me too much. It’s better to come late. I need to see Lan get married.”

“Sniff, if I do that, I might never see you again.”

At Zhang Fei’s words, Guan Yu laughed heartily, enjoying the moment.

With Zhang Fei by his side at his final moments, Guan Yu let go of the last shred of attachment he had been unable to release.

“I’ll go ahead first.”

After downing the wine in his cup, Guan Yu quietly set it down.

And then, Guan Yu’s movements ceased.

The once lively sounds of the feast faded, leaving only the mournful cries echoing through Haehyun.

224 AD.

The year Guan Yu turned sixty.

The age at which Liu Bei ascended to the throne, fulfilling their childhood dream.

Guan Yu returned to his starting point and drew the final period on his long life.