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Chapter 262 - 262.Fellow Villagers Reunite

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Though the voice was soft, it pierced Lü Bu's ears and burrowed straight into his heart, taking root and sprouting in an instant. 

Lü Bu took an excited step forward, but the maidservant flinched and retreated half a step in fright, her petite frame trembling so much that the silver tray in her hands nearly tilted and fell... 

Suppressing his voice, Lü Bu spoke in a somewhat incoherent manner: 

"...You, you... I—I'm also from Jiuyuan! My home was in the east of the city! There were two twisted trees at the entrance of the alley... Do... do you remember?" 

The maidservant's body visibly stiffened before slowly relaxing. She raised her head just slightly, but the moment her gaze met Lü Bu's burning eyes, she immediately lowered it again, her movement so swift that he couldn't even catch a clear glimpse of her face. 

The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward. 

Those few words seemed to have drained Lü Bu of all his eloquence. Now, he stood there like a wooden post, unsure of what to say or not to say. His towering frame made the already slender maidservant appear even smaller. 

Back when he was outside Luoyang, Lü Bu had repeatedly imagined what he would say or ask if he ever encountered this strangely familiar maidservant. Yet now that they had truly met, all the words he had prepared seemed to have fled his mind, leaving him at a loss. 

It was unclear whether only a brief moment or a long while had passed, but the two figures—one large, one small—stood there at a distance, neither speaking a word... 

Suddenly, the voices of a few Xiliang soldiers chatting as they walked down a nearby corridor snapped the two out of their daze. 

The maidservant let out a soft "Ah" and, still keeping her head lowered, whispered, 

"...General, I... I still have to deliver this hat..." 

"Oh, oh..." Lü Bu took a few steps back, clearing the way for her. 

The maidservant hurriedly bowed her head and scurried off before the approaching Xiliang soldiers could arrive. 

The soldiers rounded the corner of the corridor and, upon seeing Lü Bu, immediately clasped their hands in salute, addressing him respectfully as "Marquis of Wen." 

Lü Bu snapped back to reality and nodded, pretending as if nothing had happened. He forced a laugh and said, 

"Ah, yes... The weather's quite nice today..." 

With that, he chuckled twice and walked off. 

"Huh? Farewell, Marquis of Wen." The Xiliang soldiers, though confused by Lü Bu's abrupt remark, still stopped and bowed in accordance with etiquette, allowing him to pass. 

Once Lü Bu was out of sight, one of the soldiers glanced sideways at the gloomy sky and grumbled inwardly, 

What nice weather? This damned overcast sky—since when is this 'nice'? 

×××××××××××× 

Lü Bu returned home and sat in the hall, his mind still unable to let go of that small figure he had encountered at the chancellor's residence. She was like a tender blade of grass from Jiuyuan, dewdrops clinging to her in the early morning, carrying a unique, refreshing fragrance... 

"It must be her..." Lü Bu murmured to himself. "It must be her!" 

That soft, delicate voice, that glimpse of smooth skin hidden beneath her dark hair—it was as if they had taken root in his heart, growing larger and larger until they filled his entire being, swelling and warming him from within... 

A servant approached the hall and, seeing Lü Bu lost in thought with an ever-shifting expression, hesitated for a long while before finally asking softly, 

"My... my lord, it is already mid-afternoon. Shall we prepare the evening meal?" 

"Evening meal?" Lü Bu repeated. "Mid-afternoon already?" 

"Yes, my lord." 

"...Saddle my horse. I'm going out. I won't... be dining at home tonight." 

×××××××××××× 

Lü Bu followed the innkeeper, twisting and turning through a narrow alley before arriving at a secluded side door. 

The innkeeper pushed the door open, and Lü Bu was taken aback to find that it led outside the establishment—into a remote back alley. Suspicious, he shot the innkeeper a questioning look. 

The innkeeper bowed humbly and said, 

"My lord, someone else will guide you from here." 

Just then, the green-clad servant who had earlier delivered the letter to Lü Bu appeared in the alley. He hurried over and led Lü Bu a few steps further before turning a corner... 

The alley was cramped and devoid of people, with only the servant ahead to guide the way. 

Lü Bu frowned as he followed, his mood souring. 

Now that he was here, it would be improper to turn back. Might as well see what this is about first. 

As soon as he rounded the corner, Lü Bu looked up and was stunned to see Minister Wang Yun standing outside a door, waiting with his hands clasped respectfully. 

Wang Yun spotted Lü Bu, took two steps forward, and cupped his hands in salute—even bowing slightly as he greeted him first. 

"My apologies for the impropriety, Marquis of Wen!" 

"I dare not accept such courtesy from the Minister!" Lü Bu quickly returned the gesture, his earlier displeasure vanishing like mist. 

Though he held the title of Marquis of Wen, sneaking through back alleys and entering through side doors was hardly befitting his status. Yet the fact that Wang Yun—one of the Three Excellencies—had personally come out to greet him was more than enough to soothe any lingering resentment. 

Wang Yun smiled warmly, took Lü Bu by the hand, and ushered him inside while explaining, 

"These are turbulent times, both in court and beyond. To avoid wagging tongues, we had no choice but to resort to such measures. I hope you can forgive the discourtesy." 

Lü Bu naturally responded with humble reassurances. After all, Wang Yun was one of the Three Excellencies—for him to offer such a polite explanation was an immense honor. 

When Lü Bu entered the rear courtyard, he was surprised to find it a hidden gem—a small but exquisitely decorated space complete with pavilions, terraces, and even a pond with an artificial hill at its center. 

The banquet was set up in a pavilion facing the pond. Though the courtyard was compact, the view from the pavilion evoked a sense of tranquility and depth. 

The pavilion was small, seating just the two of them comfortably. Servants flitted in and out, and in no time, the table was laden with delicacies—each dish more exquisite than the last. 

Once the food was served, Wang Yun waved the attendants away, leaving them at a distance. He then raised his cup and invited Lü Bu to drink with him. 

After they shared a toast, Wang Yun spoke unhurriedly: 

"I invited you here today for no other reason than to reminisce about our shared homeland." 

"Just to reminisce?" Lü Bu repeated, skeptical. All this secrecy, just to talk about home? 

Wang Yun nodded, paying no heed to Lü Bu's disbelief. As he urged him to eat, he continued, 

"I left home before I turned twenty, and it has been over thirty years since then. In my dreams, I've returned many times, only to find myself lost on familiar roads. Waking in sorrow, I could not help but shed tears..." 

As he spoke of these emotions, a glimmer of moisture appeared at the corners of his eyes. 

His words struck a chord in Lü Bu's heart, and he couldn't help but sigh in sympathy...

*****

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