Chapter 26: The Traitor

  Liu Xiu laughed and waved his hand, indicating that he was not interested in Wu Junhou's joke. However, he didn't ask again, after all, this was also someone else's livelihood, there was no reason why they had to tell him.

  "Don't you believe?" Wu Junhou suddenly became serious.

  "Believe me, believe me." Liu Xiu smiled insincerely and asked instead: "Are you also here for morning exercise? You scared the hell out of me just now, I thought it was some kind of fierce beast crouching there." As he spoke, he tucked the stone under his arm, ready to start running.

  Wu Junhou raised the corner of his mouth, and without seeing him make any movement, he suddenly took a step back and blocked Liu Xiu's path. If it wasn't for Liu Xiu's quick reaction to stop in time, he would have almost crashed into Wu Junhou's body.

  "If I said I came especially to wait for you, would you believe it?" Wu Jun looked at Liu Xiu with a hint of a smile.

  Liu Xiu looked at him with a mixture of surprise and curiosity, thinking to himself "You're teasing me again, if you really came to wait for me, why did you use that sentence to brush me off earlier?" He raised an eyebrow and asked in return: "Looking for me?"

  "Hmm." Wu Jun nodded, indicating that Liu Xiu should put down the stone first. Liu Xiu saw his serious expression and didn't dare to refuse, so he had to throw down the stone first, then silently watched him.

  "I wasn't lying to you just now." Wu Junhou said in a low voice, his hands behind his back: "What is called killing aura is actually the accumulation of having killed many people. On the battlefield, being able to kill many people without dying requires some luck, but ultimately it still depends on having superior martial skills. Having superior martial skills doesn't necessarily mean you have killing aura, but at least it gives you a better chance of survival."

  Liu Xiu nodded. Although he had seen many so-called historical blockbusters in his previous life, he didn't believe that a single general could take on hundreds or thousands of people - that was just a myth. On the battlefield, an individual's bravery has limited effect, and even the most powerful person would fear being hacked to death by random knives. However, it is also true that having good martial skills increases one's chances of survival, which is why he had been determined to learn martial arts. From this perspective, killing hundreds of people without dying could indeed cultivate a certain "killing aura", and it wasn't entirely an empty boast.

  "What is killing intent?" Wu Jun continued to explain: "My understanding is the kind of confidence when facing an enemy, the kind of confidence a strong person has when facing a weak one. I've seen many animals on the grasslands, including cruel wolves, ferocious leopards and tigers, as well as packs of wild dogs, and of course, more mice and rabbits. When a wolf faces a rabbit, it is confident because it knows the rabbit is definitely not its match, it can leisurely choose when to attack. But if it's facing a leopard or tiger, it's a completely different story, it will tuck its tail and run away as soon as possible."

  Liu's eyebrows slightly furrowed, seeming to understand yet not understand.

  "A person who can kill many people without dying, their martial skills are naturally not bad. When facing an enemy, they will have strong confidence, just like a wolf facing a rabbit or a leopard facing a wolf. This is probably what is called 'killing aura'." Wu Junhou smiled and said: "Even beasts can evaluate the strength of both sides, humans are the most intelligent creatures, so naturally we are more skilled in this way. When facing an opponent, evaluating their strength from their appearance and posture is not a difficult task. The difference between humans and beasts lies in the fact that humans can pretend, for example, you were tense just now, but you controlled your desire to retreat and made yourself look less tense."

  As he spoke, Wu Junhou turned his head and glanced at Liu Xiu. Liu Xiu smiled wryly, knowing that his previous action had not deceived Wu Junhou, so he just chuckled awkwardly and made no explanation.

  "This is the difference between humans and beasts." Wu Junhou paused for a moment, then continued: "Some people can even make you think they're an expert, even if they're not. Of course, this kind of thing can only be done occasionally; if you really encounter an expert, the outcome will be very ugly."

  Liu Xiu nodded repeatedly. Whether it's pretending or the empty city strategy, if you play tricks too many times, there will always be a time when people see through them.

  "So, what I said earlier was not perfunctory to you, but the truth." Wu Junhou finally drew a conclusion. Liu Xiu smiled and hurriedly cupped his hands in apology: "I was a bit abrupt earlier, please don't mind, Military Officer."

  "It doesn't matter." Wu Junhou waved his hand and looked at Liu Xiu, suddenly asking: "Have you heard from Mao Zong about the martial performance?"

  "I've heard," Liu Xiu said with a smile, "but I don't plan on participating."

  Wu Junhou was slightly surprised, his short eyebrows raised. Liu Xiu chuckled and explained a few words, saying that he had only practiced for two days and was still a novice, and that going on stage would be embarrassing, so it's better to just be an audience member.

  "I don't think so." Wu Junhou directly negated Liu Xiu's view: "In my opinion, you can now defeat more than half of the guards. If it were a bare-handed fight, except for me, probably only Gong Sunzhan could win against you." He took a glance at Liu Xiu and continued to say: "Martial arts is about three things: first is strength, second is speed, and third is technique. Your strength and speed are both better than an average person's. As for the third item, I've noticed over these few days that although you haven't learned many moves, you've practiced them very well. Familiarity breeds mastery, and it's enough to take into battle. If there's anything lacking, it's just experience in fighting against others."

  Liu Xiu narrowed his eyes, and vaguely understood Wu Junhou's meaning, as if he wanted him to participate in this martial performance. However, he couldn't figure out what the point was even if he did participate. He had said it himself that although he had some natural talent, he still wasn't a match for Gong Sunzhan, so even if he went, it would be impossible for him to take first place. In that case, what difference did it make whether or not he participated? Was it perhaps an attempt to recruit him into the Mao family? That was even more impossible.

  "Have you ever heard Mao Zong mention Yan Rou?"

  Liu Xiu's eyes flashed, as if he had suddenly understood something. He thought for a moment and then smiled: "Mao Zong has already arranged for Gongsun Zan and Yan Rou to compete in horse racing, and with you, Jun, joining the army, it shouldn't be difficult to defeat Yan Rou, should it?"

  Wu Junhou shook his head, looked up at the misty mountains and valleys, remained silent for a while, before saying in a low voice: "I won't be able to participate, that's why I came looking for you."

  "Can't attend? Looking for me?" Liu Xiu almost shouted out loud, walked around to Wu Junhou's face, and carefully examined him for a few eyes. Wu Junhou had a serious face, calm eyes, and a hint of unease. Liu Xiu originally wanted to say he was joking, but seeing his expression, the words that came to his mouth were somewhat hesitant: "Junhou, this... isn't right, is it?"

  "I know this sounds a bit strange." Wu Junhou smiled wryly, "But please believe me, I have my reasons, it's just that there's no time to explain now. Let me put it bluntly, Yan Rou has dealings with the Xianbei people, he controls most of the trade between the Xianbei and Han people, he opposes going to war with the Xianbei..."

  Wu Junhou's words were not yet finished, when Liu Xiu's face sank and he blurted out: "Han traitor?" Only then did he remember that yesterday when he heard the name Yan Rou, it seemed somewhat familiar, as if he had heard someone say that this person was a Han traitor from the Three Kingdoms period.

  Wu Junhou looked at Liu Xiu with some surprise. Although he had never heard of the term "Han traitor", he quickly grasped its meaning, but what surprised him even more was that Liu Xiu, who usually didn't get angry easily, was now visibly furious.

  "What's wrong?" Wu Jun asked tentatively.

  "I hate these traitors the most." Liu Xiu scowled, cursed a foul word, and his anger overflowed. Wu Junhou's eyes flashed, and he smiled: "Then are you willing to take my place in battle and defeat him?"

  Liu raised an eyebrow, then let out a sigh: "Wu Junhou, I'd be happy to fight in your place and defeat him soundly. However, I'm afraid I might not have the strength for it, and end up being humiliated instead. If I were to bring shame upon myself, that would be one thing, but if it were to affect the reputation of the Mao family or the county's military preparations, that would be a different matter altogether."

  "As long as you have this heart, it's okay, as for the others..." Wu Junhou suddenly squeezed his eyes at Liu Xiu: "I think I have a way."