Cai Yong stared at Zhang Xin as if he were looking at a stranger.
Or perhaps—
At a fool.
"Zi Qing… you truly intend to take Dong Zhuo's daughter as a concubine?"
His voice carried disbelief.
And something deeper—
Disappointment.
Zhang Xin laughed softly.
"Teacher, you misunderstand."
He leaned back, tone casual.
"They say Dong Zhuo is hideous beyond measure."
"I've heard his name for years, yet never seen him."
A faint smile.
"I was simply… curious."
Cai Yong paused.
Then shook his head.
"Rumors exaggerate. Lord Dong is no beauty—but neither is he a monster."
"As for his daughter…"
He hesitated.
"It is said her mother was a Qiang woman of exceptional beauty."
"She should not be lacking."
Zhang Xin's eyes flickered.
So that's it.
Not a legitimate daughter.
Not suitable for marriage.
Only fit—
As a political offering.
A concubine.
Not an alliance.
Zhang Xin lost interest immediately.
"Since Teacher has come…"
His tone shifted.
"You should not return."
Cai Yong looked up.
"I'll send you to Qing Province."
"Stay there."
"When I defeat Dong Zhuo and bring back the Son of Heaven—"
"I will invite you to court again."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then Cai Yong spoke slowly.
"Zi Qing… may I say something?"
"Of course."
"Since ancient times…"
Cai Yong's voice was calm, measured—
"…no regional lord has raised troops against the capital."
"A rat fears breaking the vase when thrown."
"How much more so—"
"The Son of Heaven?"
Zhang Xin said nothing.
Cai Yong continued.
"Dong Zhuo wishes to ally with you. That alone proves he values you."
"In my view…"
"You should go to Chang'an."
"Rectify him."
"Assist the Son of Heaven."
A pause.
"With you there…"
"The Han… may yet endure."
Zhang Xin stared at him.
Then—
Smiled.
"Teacher."
His voice was light.
"Did he pay you for that?"
Cai Yong did not blush.
Did not hesitate.
"I merely fulfill a trust."
Zhang Xin shook his head.
"Dong Zhuo burned the capital."
"Seized the Son of Heaven."
"Desecrated the palace."
His gaze turned cold.
"And you speak of rectifying him?"
"No."
Cai Yong fell silent.
He knew.
His task—
Was done.
"Zhao Ji is still in Chang'an."
His voice softened slightly.
"I cannot leave."
Zhang Xin sighed inwardly.
A father, in the end.
"Then stay two days."
"Let me fulfill my duty as your disciple."
Cai Yong nodded.
He stayed.
And then—
He left.
Zhang Xin did not stop him.
Because he already knew—
Cai Yong would never abandon his daughter.
But Dong Zhuo had agreed.
A fragile agreement.
A thin thread.
Cai Yong will not be used against me.
And I will leave Dong Zhuo a path to survive.
A lie?
Perhaps.
But for now—
It held.
Earlier—
Zhang Xin had written three letters.
One to Cai Yong.
Survive.
Endure.
One to Dong Zhuo.
Do not cross the line.
And one—
To Lü Bu.
Not to kill.
Not to betray.
But to remember.
When the time comes…
Do not dig up the imperial tombs.
Especially not Liu Hong's.
Even in chaos—
There were lines that could not be crossed.
After Cai Yong left—
The camp returned to silence.
Then—
Movement.
"My lord."
Wang Ling entered.
"A group of youths seeks to enlist."
Zhang Xin did not look up.
"Handle it."
"I did."
Wang Ling hesitated.
"However… their leader claims to be from Yuyang."
Zhang Xin paused.
Yuyang.
A distant memory.
A past life.
"He says he has long admired you."
"And wishes to see you once."
Zhang Xin leaned back slightly.
Then smiled.
"Let them in."
Moments later—
They entered.
More than ten of them.
Young.
Travel-worn.
Eyes sharp.
Dian Wei had already searched them.
No weapons.
No threats.
Only ambition.
At their front—
One stood apart.
Handsome.
Composed.
His gaze—
Clear.
Unwavering.
The moment he saw Zhang Xin—
It ignited.
He stepped forward.
Bowed deeply.
"Tian Yu of Yongnu—"
"Greets Lord Zhang."
Zhang Xin studied him.
Silently.
This one…
Is not here to follow.
He is here…
To be seen.
Far away—
In Chang'an—
Dong Zhuo stood before a map.
He had already asked about Zhang Xin's camp.
And learned nothing.
Blocked.
Watched.
Guarded.
Zhang Xin trusted no one.
"Summon Jia Xu."
When Jia Xu arrived—
Dong Zhuo wasted no time.
"How do I defeat Yuan Shao?"
Jia Xu glanced at the map.
Then answered calmly.
"To defeat Yuan—"
"You must first defeat Zhang Xin."
A simple truth.
"Can you do it?"
Dong Zhuo asked.
"Yes."
Hope flared.
"Use Cai Yong."
Jia Xu said.
"Bind him before the army."
"Force Zhang Xin to hesitate."
Dong Zhuo froze.
Then shook his head violently.
"No."
Not because he couldn't.
But because—
He wouldn't.
Some lines—
Even he would not cross.
"Then I have no plan."
Jia Xu spread his hands.
Silence.
Then—
Dong Zhuo spoke again.
"What if I deceive him?"
"Feint at Mengjin—"
"Strike from Xiaoping Ford?"
Jia Xu shook his head.
"You might deceive others."
"But not him."
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Pressing.
Time was running out.
His soldiers—
Were beginning to tire.
To long for home.
Six months.
At most.
If he did not win—
He would fall.
Completely.
Jia Xu watched him.
Then asked quietly—
"Why spare Cai Yong?"
Dong Zhuo answered.
Simply.
An agreement.
A future.
A gamble.
When Jia Xu heard it—
He understood.
A long moment passed.
Then—
He smiled.
"In that case…"
"There is another way."
Dong Zhuo looked up sharply.
"What way?"
Jia Xu's voice was soft.
"Spies."
Dong Zhuo frowned.
"That cannot defeat him."
Jia Xu shook his head.
"No."
"But it can ensure—"
"For a time—"
"He is not your enemy."
And in this war—
That alone—
Was enough.