Chapter 33: Regicide, Get Down From the Carriage

The news of Lu Ge slaying the King of Zhao spread like wildfire throughout Handan.

By dawn, when Lu Ge returned to the courtyard, he found Shen Dao, Lu Buwei, and Zichu sitting together in the hall, gazing at him with complex expressions.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lu Ge asked, glancing down at himself. "I'm quite clean. Is my hairstyle messed up?" He reached up to touch his hair as he spoke.

Shen Dao stepped forward and asked, "Master, is it true that you killed the King of Zhao?"

Lu Ge was taken aback. "Wait, I killed him in the middle of the night and walked back. You already know? News travels this fast?"

Lu Buwei spoke anxiously, "Master, in just half the night, the news has spread through every street and alley. This is clearly being spread deliberately by someone trying to incite the people of Handan to trap us here, perhaps even to ensure our deaths."

Lu Ge glanced at him dismissively. "What are you panicking about? Have you packed your luggage and prepared the carriages? If you're ready, let’s head for the State of Qin."

Lu Buwei paused, bewildered. "Carriages? Aren't you going to fly us back?"

"You have quite the imagination," Lu Ge retorted. "Fly back? I only have two hands; I can't carry all of you. Besides, you have your wives and concubines with you." He looked at Zichu and Lu Buwei. "Do you want me to carry your wives while flying through the sky?"

Zichu blinked. If it were the Master, that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. Of course, he only dared to think this; he certainly couldn't say it aloud, lest others suspect him of having strange tendencies.

"Rest assured," Lu Ge said. "Prepare the carriages. I will see you safely to Qin."

Seeing that Lu Ge had made up his mind, the others had no further objections. Soon, three carriages were ready. Lu Ge rode with Shen Dao, Lu Buwei traveled with his family, and Zichu’s family occupied the third. The carriages moved slowly toward the city gates.

"Master, you are truly compassionate," said Shen Zhong, who was driving, as Shen Dao and Lu Ge sat inside.

"Huh? What am I compassionate about?" Lu Ge asked, genuinely confused.

Shen Dao sighed softly. "I thought you would fly us back. Lu Buwei had already prepared to abandon his wives and concubines, leaving them behind. Even I..." He glanced at Shen Zhong, who was driving outside, his face filled with shame. "I didn't expect that you wouldn't forget them, even if it meant traveling slowly by carriage. The road ahead will surely be fraught with obstacles, and I fear it will all fall to you to shoulder the burden."

Lu Ge fell silent. In that moment, he truly realized how different his values were from those of this era. When fleeing for one's life, wasn't it natural to bring one's family? To cause trouble and then run away, abandoning loved ones to face the consequences—and potentially death—wasn't that just monstrous? Wouldn't one be haunted by nightmares? What would be the point of living like that?

After a long pause, Lu Ge replied, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have even considered it. Whether it was when we discussed returning to Qin last year or after I killed the King of Zhao, the thought of abandoning them never crossed my mind. I have always intended to take everyone with me. After all, remaining behind means a nine-in-ten chance of death. And now that I have killed the King, leaving them behind would turn that into a ten-in-ten chance. If they were to suffer because of this, even if I wasn't the one who killed them, they would have died because of me. Every day, every hour, I would be filled with guilt. If my heart were restless and my spirit unstable, I couldn't even stand firm in this mortal world, let alone seek the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. And if one day I meet my teacher again, how could I face him?"

Lu Ge still remembered what he had said when he officially became a student of Lao Dan. He might not be able to bring great glory to the school, but he would never disgrace its name. If he lacked the ability to save them, that would be one thing. But he had the power to protect them, and to choose to fly away with just a few men while leaving the others to their fates—he couldn't even imagine the look on his teacher's face. Even the ox would look down on him.

Shen Dao was deeply moved by Lu Ge’s words. In this era, women were mere accessories; in times of crisis, who would care if they lived or died? But hearing the Master’s words, it was clear he viewed them as people, not property. "Your virtue, Master, is something I deeply admire."

Lu Ge waved a hand. He didn't blame Shen Dao or Lu Buwei for their coldness; it was a limitation of their time. He simply felt that he should do what he believed was right; he couldn't control what others did.

The carriages rolled along until they reached the city gates, where they suddenly came to a halt.

"What's wrong?" Shen Dao asked. Before the driver could answer, a loud shout echoed: "Slayer of the monarch, get down from that carriage!"

Lu Ge blinked and pointed at himself. "Is he shouting at me?"

"He is cursing you," Shen Dao said earnestly.

Lu Ge lifted the carriage curtain to see a man standing in their path, holding a sword, dressed like a wandering knight-errant.

"Who are you?" Lu Ge asked, leaning against the frame. "And why do you block my path?"

The man performed a flourish with his sword and held it behind his back. Seeing the growing crowd of onlookers, he raised an eyebrow. "My name is Guan Yi, a mere wanderer. I heard that a rogue of the Daoist school killed our King of Zhao and is now fleeing in panic. I have been waiting here for you. If you surrender and accept your punishment, all is well. Otherwise, do not blame my blade for being heartless."

Lu Ge looked at the wanderer, then at Shen Dao. "Are all the knights of Zhao this reckless?"

Shen Dao was also stunned. He had seen many knights in his time, but none so bold.

Lu Ge asked Guan Yi, "You tell me to surrender and accept my punishment. May I ask, what law have I broken?"

Guan Yi was caught off guard by the question. "To kill is a crime! You have murdered our sovereign; your sin is heinous. How dare you ask what law you have broken?"

Lu Ge chuckled, intrigued. "If you were about to kill me, and I killed you in self-defense, would you consider me guilty?"

Guan Yi shook his head without hesitation. "Of course not. It would not be my intent to kill you; it would be a forced act of defense."

Lu Ge spread his hands. "Exactly. The King of Zhao intended to kill me and had already taken action. Last night, he sent Lord Pingyuan with hundreds of armored guards to rain arrows upon me. To save my own life, I had no choice but to fight back. By your own logic, what have I done wrong?"