"Dian Qing, Dian Yuse!"
Liu Bei recounted the circumstances of his meeting with Shaodian Qingnu to Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang was even more surprised. He asked, "Why didn't you ask Yuse to stay, General? Her scholarship is far beyond my own! If you could have her assistance, what would you have to worry about?"
"But she recommended you, sir!"
Liu Bei's gaze was sincere as he looked at Zhuge Liang and said, "In Lady Yuse's eyes, your knowledge must also be rare in this world!"
"Just now, sir, your insights proved that the world's grand trends are entirely within your grasp. Although I am of little fame and thin virtue, I hope you will not reject me and will join me to save the common people of the world!"
"Master Wolong—aaaaa"
After speaking, Liu Bei bowed deeply, tears staining his lapel.
Seeing Liu Bei so sincere, Zhuge Liang was deeply moved. He knelt to help Liu Bei up and said, "To realize your ambitions, General, I am willing to serve you with the loyalty of a horse and hound!"
Liu Bei had gained Zhuge Liang.
He was like a fish in water, overjoyed beyond measure!
Before leaving, Zhuge Liang instructed the young boy at his home to take good care of the fields; when success was achieved in the future, he would return.
As they left Longzhong, they saw an old yellow ox walking slowly through the vast mountain wilderness ahead.
"Brother, look! There's someone on that ox!"
Zhang Fei led his horse, pointing at the figure on the back of the old yellow ox as he spoke to Liu Bei.
Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a young girl in azure robes sitting cross-legged on the ox's back. The girl was playing a clay xun; a deep and ancient melody drifted over, making the listeners feel as if they were truly placed in the primordial world.
The sky and fields were boundless, clearing the mind and lifting the spirit.
"The heavenly dao is ever-changing; success or failure lies in human planning!"
"Return, return home now..."
Accompanying the ancient sound of the clay xun was a female voice as clear as a spring. On the back of the old yellow ox, Shaodian Qingnu lifted her bamboo hat to look over.
Her gaze fell upon Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang. After a moment's pause, she called out, "My Lord!"
"Lady Yuse?"
"It is Yuse!"
Both Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were delighted upon seeing her.
However, before they could step forward, Shaodian Qingnu continued, "Hear my advice, My Lord! Do not, out of embarrassment, refuse Jingzhou and let it fall into Cao Cao's hands for nothing."
Liu Bei stood stunned where he was as she spoke, but by the time the words were finished, she had already driven the old yellow ox away.
"Brother, I'll go stop her!" Zhang Fei said hurriedly.
Liu Bei shook his head to stop him, saying, "Do not disturb Lady Yuse."
Once Liu Bei's group was out of sight, Shaodian Qingnu leaned down and patted the old yellow ox's head, pulling her skirt out of its mouth.
"Brother Ox, stop chewing on my skirt, alright..."
Her aura of a hidden master had almost been ruined by it; fortunately, she had kept her composure.
"Moo~!" the old yellow ox replied.
Shaodian Qingnu felt even more helpless and said, "If you're hungry, there's grass all over the ground! Is my skirt really that fragrant?"
"Moo~!" The old yellow ox shook its head.
Shaodian Qingnu tapped its horn and scolded, "...Bah, you old ox! Well, since you've carried me for a while, I'll count it as a merit. This snake will remember you; I won't eat your descendants."
"Let's go. Carry me to Xiangyang now; I have some business with Liu Biao."
Shaodian Qingnu did not think that a single piece of advice would be enough to make Liu Bei accept Jingzhou without any psychological burden.
On the ridges between the fields, the old yellow ox's head swayed gently.
Its lowing was long and resonant.
One person and one ox leisurely wandered into the distance.
In the era of the Three Kingdoms, the temperature was cold. Fine snow was now falling over the lands of Jing-Xiang, but the snake was no longer afraid of the cold; after all, she was the frost and snow goddess.
She left the old yellow ox outside and slipped into the governor's residence. At this time, although Liu Biao was not yet terminally ill, his complexion looked extremely poor. A faint black aura of death hung between his brows; one look revealed that his remaining days were few.
Liu Biao was startled to see Shaodian Qingnu climbing in through the window.
"Who... who are you?"
Shaodian Qingnu went directly to him and said, "Don't ask who I am. I've come for business. While you're still healthy enough, give me a succession document!"
As she spoke, she took out a piece of silk and spread it on the table.
A succession document?
Hearing this, Liu Biao's expression changed drastically. He questioned, "Who sent you?"
"Why so much nonsense? Come, I'll teach you. Write it here, and then press your seal in this spot. That's it!"
Seeing her pointing at the silk, Liu Biao immediately moved to call for his men.
The snake girl raised a hand, freezing the main door shut.
"Hiss—"
Liu Biao's pupils shrank violently.
Shaodian Qingnu tapped the table and said, "Come, write!"
"Cough, cough—!!"
Liu Biao turned his head woodenly toward her. He covered his mouth and coughed violently, his face turning even paler.
After he finished coughing, she was still there by the table, staring at him.
Liu Biao caught his breath and asked softly, "Immortal... may I know to whom I should address this succession document?"
"Liu Bei, Liu Xuande."
Hearing the name Liu Xuande, Liu Biao was stunned. He was hesitant, but mostly astonished.
He looked Shaodian Qingnu up and down. Seeing her appearance like that of a divine consort or celestial maiden, he sighed and said, "I did not expect that Xuande would have an immortal helping him! Fine, I shall write this succession document!"
To be honest, Liu Biao had already intended to hand the power of Jingzhou to Liu Bei.
None of his sons were capable of great things!
However, he was not a decisive man and had been wavering. Now, Shaodian Qingnu's appearance forced him to make a final decision.
Once the document was finished, she nodded slightly. "Good! Those who recognize the times are heroes."
After confirming the document had been sent to Xinye, she left the governor's residence.
But when she came out, she found a familiar figure standing in the spot where she had parked the old yellow ox.
Shaodian Qingnu paused her footsteps and called out softly.
"Jingang."
Hearing the voice, Jingang turned around excitedly. Upon seeing her, he hurried forward and said excitedly, "I knew the Goddess would be here!"
She raised a hand and tapped Jingang's forehead, asking, "Hold it. How did you find me?"
Unable to move forward, Jingang could only scratch his head and explain, "I followed the scent! You have a very special fragrance, Goddess. I just followed my nose!"
Unexpectedly, as soon as Jingang said this, the scenery before him suddenly shifted. When he regained his senses, he found himself outside the city of Xiangyang, being held mid-air by Shaodian Qingnu.
"Goddess—?"
Jingang blinked, feeling lost and surprised.
She said coldly, "If you dare reveal my whereabouts to anyone else, I'll beat you."
"No... I won't! I absolutely won't! Goddess—"
Jingang hurriedly promised.
Shaodian Qingnu glanced at him and tossed him down lightly, saying, "I grant you a small statue. Use it to report the movements of the others to me at any time!"
"Now..."
"Scram!"
After landing, Jingang looked up at her. She raised a hand and made a shushing gesture. She was suspended in the air, her bare feet floating as her silk skirt and hair danced in the wind. Snowflakes drifted down, forming a statue the size of a jade hairpin before him.
Jingang swallowed, bowed to her, and then turned to dive into the woods, vanishing instantly.
When it came to obedience, the wolf brothers were as capable as loyal hounds.
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