Zhang Xin watched with a faint smile as Guan Yu wiped the blood and grime from his face.
Once he had finished, Zhang Xin gestured for Wang Rou to bring forward the wine and meat.
"Stop sending me food and drink," Guan Yu said coldly, turning his head aside. "You are a righteous man—I cannot kill you. Leave."
Zhang Xin assumed Guan Yu's inner conflict had been resolved and quickly pressed forward.
"What are your plans, Lord Guan?"
"I have none," Guan Yu replied flatly. "If you wish to kill me, then do so. If not, I will find some remote place and live out my remaining days."
After the Battle of Xiaquyang, the Han forces had paused to rest and reorganize. Guan Yu had remained in camp, awaiting the court's next move.
But in early December, an imperial edict arrived from Luoyang. The emperor rewarded the volunteer troops with money—and then ordered them to disband and return home.
Zhang Fei led his men back to Zhuojun.
Guan Yu, however, did not follow.
Knowing he and Zhang Fei were not of the same mind—and seeing that the court had no intention of continuing the war—he quietly departed on his own. His goal was simple: find the Yellow Turban army he had encountered before, assassinate its leader, and avenge his lord, Liu Bei.
Only one loyal follower accompanied him.
After more than twenty days of searching, Guan Yu finally tracked the Yellow Turbans to Yuyang.
There, he found them locked in battle with the Wuhuan.
Climbing to a vantage point, he noticed that Nanlou was lightly guarded and that the Yellow Turbans were at a disadvantage. Without hesitation, Guan Yu seized two stray warhorses and charged forward with his companion.
No matter what, the Wuhuan could not be allowed to win.
Personal vengeance could wait—national righteousness came first.
In the chaos that followed, Guan Yu slew Nanlou and used the man's head to approach Zhang Xin.
Everything had been perfectly set for an assassination.
And yet—at the crucial moment—Zhang Xin turned and fled upon hearing his name. What should have been a certain kill failed, and Guan Yu was captured instead.
Worse still, his only loyal companion died in the process.
But unexpectedly, Zhang Xin spared his life—and even treated him with courtesy and good food.
That alone had rekindled a faint hope within Guan Yu.
As long as one lived, there would always be chances.
Yet after today's conversation, that hope vanished.
Killing Zhang Xin would not only eliminate a rare righteous man—it would also remove the one person restraining the Yellow Turbans. Without him, chaos would surely descend upon Yuyang.
And the people would suffer.
Faced with his enemy yet unable to avenge his lord—how could he face the world?
Thus, Guan Yu resolved to withdraw from it.
—
Unaware of all this, Zhang Xin misunderstood completely.
He assumed that in this life, Guan Yu had no connection to Liu Bei.
"In that case," Zhang Xin said eagerly, "since you have nowhere to go, why not stay with me for now? When the court grants amnesty in the future, with your abilities, you will surely earn rank and title—perhaps even lands for your family."
"Never speak of this again!" Guan Yu suddenly roared.
"My lord was killed by you—I came here to avenge him!"
"I refrain from killing you only because you are righteous. But serving you? Never!"
"…What?"
Zhang Xin froze.
Who else could Guan Yu call "lord" besides Liu Bei?
I killed Liu Bei?
When?!
He racked his memory.
Not during the siege—he had never seen Guan Yu or Liu Bei there. Someone like Guan Yu, with that unmistakable beard, was impossible to miss.
Then it could only have been…
…the night breakout.
In the darkness and chaos, it wasn't impossible.
Zhang Xin's mind flashed back—to a cavalryman he had slain with a single spear thrust.
"…No way…"
At that time, Liu Bei would have been leading volunteer troops—lightly equipped, unarmored. And among those he fought, only one man had been mounted.
"…That was him?"
Zhang Xin felt his scalp tingle.
The future emperor—Liu Bei—killed by a single thrust of his spear?
Unbelievable.
But… it explained everything.
No wonder Guan Yu stood here alone.
"My lord? My lord?" Wang Meng called, snapping him back.
Zhang Xin took a breath, thoughts racing.
"I never imagined Lord Guan came for this reason… This is my fault."
He turned. "Wang Meng—bring me a blade."
"A blade?" Wang Meng hesitated.
"Quickly."
Moments later, the knife was brought.
Zhang Xin loosened his hair, letting it fall freely down his back.
"Lord Guan has traveled far to avenge his lord—this is loyalty. You spare me despite your purpose—this is righteousness. A man like you must have served a truly noble master."
He drew the blade and looked at Guan Yu.
"Though weapons have no eyes in battle… the thought that I may have slain such a man weighs heavily on me."
He paused, then continued:
"But I bear the lives of thousands entrusted to me. I cannot die to atone."
"In that case—"
He raised the blade.
"—I will cut my hair in place of my head, and offer it as apology."
Without hesitation, he sliced off a thick lock of hair. His long hair fell to shoulder length.
(…Well, that's more convenient.)
Guan Yu's eyes widened as he rose to his feet.
Though the custom of "cutting hair in place of one's head" would later be associated with Cao Cao, its meaning was clear even now.
In this era, the body—hair included—was sacred, a gift from one's parents. To cut it was a grave act, akin to self-punishment.
Zhang Xin had just humiliated himself to atone.
"My lord!" Wang Meng and his sister cried out.
Zhang Xin placed the blade aside, held the severed hair, and stepped forward. Then he bowed deeply before Guan Yu.
"Take this in place of my head and offer it to your lord. If it is not enough… the blade is here. My life is yours to take."
Having judged Guan Yu's character, Zhang Xin was unafraid.
With a man like this, the more respect shown—the harder it would be for him to act.
If a bow could win over a future legend… it was more than worth it.
Guan Yu sighed and stepped forward, helping him up.
"You came to kill me—why show such respect?"
"When I first witnessed your might, I admired you," Zhang Xin said sincerely. "Now, knowing your loyalty and righteousness, I am ashamed of myself. I only regret that I am of humble origin and cannot stand beside you."
Guan Yu shook his head slightly.
"In loyalty and righteousness, you are no less than others. It is only a pity… that you have chosen the wrong path."
He accepted the hair.
"I will take this as your apology. But I will never serve you. Give up on that thought."
Zhang Xin didn't press further.
Instead, he changed tactics.
"How could I dare hope for a man like you to serve me?" he sighed. "But Yuyang still faces great danger. The people live in fear… I cannot handle it alone."
Guan Yu paused, frowning.
"What danger?"