Chapter 29: Yu Ji Becomes Xiang Yu’s Sister-in-law

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Gazing at Liu Bang and Xiang Yu inside the tavern, Wang Kun was suddenly struck by an idea. He smiled, looking at the two men, and said, “Gentlemen, would you care to sit and share a drink?”

Liu Bang and Xiang Yu had crossed paths once before; they exchanged glances. “Why wouldn’t I dare?” Xiang Yu was the first to take a seat at a nearby empty spot.

By now, the tavern’s original patrons had all fled in a panic. Even the troupe leader who’d come with Lady Yu and a few other singers had hastily escaped. As for Lady Yu, she knew the deaths of these Qin soldiers were tied to her. There was no way she could simply leave, and Wang Kun had already pulled her forcefully into his arms. Faced with such dominance, she had no choice but to yield like a timid bride.

“Heroes, I am Liu Bang. May I ask your esteemed names?” Liu Bang had always been skilled at winning people’s hearts. He’d seen Xiang Yu’s prowess earlier; the man’s skills far surpassed his own, and even his sworn brother Fan Kuai might not be Xiang Yu’s match. As for Wang Kun, though he’d missed the earlier spectacle, anyone bold enough to slay so many Qin soldiers here could hardly be ordinary. Liu Bang had always delighted in befriending the world’s talents.

“Xiang Yu.”
“Wang Kun.”

The two men replied simply. After stating his name, Wang Kun got straight to the point. “I see both of you are men of courage and chivalry. Our meeting today is a stroke of fate—why don’t we swear brotherhood here and now? I am a few years your senior, so allow me to be the eldest brother. Xiang Yu, you’ll be second, Liu Bang, you third. What do you say?”

In terms of true age, Wang Kun was indeed the eldest among them. But in appearance, it was not so. Liu Bang looked the oldest, then Xiang Yu, while Wang Kun seemed the youngest. Yet Wang Kun insisted on being the oldest brother. Not just Liu Bang—even Xiang Yu frowned at this.

“Brother Wang, surely you jest. Of the three, you seem the youngest!” Xiang Yu protested.

Wang Kun laughed lightly, unconcerned. “Very well, let’s not determine rank by age. In these turbulent times, strength is all that matters. When the Qin soldiers arrive, whoever kills the most shall be the eldest. Agreed?”

“Agreed!” Xiang Yu, ever proud, accepted at once.

Liu Bang had little choice but to go along. If he didn’t agree, he’d be left out entirely—which was never his way.

Just as the three decided on the rules of their brotherhood, a commotion erupted outside the tavern.

“Make way! Where are the rebels?”

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A squad of several dozen Qin soldiers stormed into the tavern, murderous intent in their eyes.

Bang!

The tavern doors were kicked open.

“There are the criminals! Seize them all!”

At the sight, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu sprang into action, pouncing like hungry wolves upon the lead Qin soldiers.

Blades flashed; in moments, they had cut down several foes. Xiang Yu fought with particular ferocity—any Qin soldier who approached fell to a single blow.

Wang Kun, meanwhile, sat as steady as a mountain, not moving an inch.

Swish!

A single bamboo chopstick flew from the table, darting like a living thing, and in an instant, several Qin soldiers collapsed, slain where they stood.

It happened so quickly that neither Xiang Yu nor Liu Bang could react; all their enemies had fallen before their eyes.

A field of corpses remained.

“Well? Now do either of you object to me being the eldest brother?” Wang Kun’s voice drifted over.

“Xiang Yu!”
“Liu Bang!”
“Greetings, Elder Brother!”

They were convinced—utterly convinced. With such power at his command, how could either dare claim seniority over Wang Kun? In the blink of an eye, he had annihilated dozens of Qin soldiers. Such invisible, deadly skill was terrifying to behold.

“Good! Second and third brothers, rise.” Wang Kun lifted his hand slightly, then looked at Lady Yu in his arms. He said to the other two, “This is your sister-in-law, Lady Yu.”

“Xiang Yu.”
“Liu Bang.”
“Greetings, Sister-in-law.”

“Haha, your sister-in-law is still a bit shy. Come, let’s drink!”

After a few cups with Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, Wang Kun said, “The main Qin force will be here soon. Let’s leave the drinking for now—when we next meet, we’ll drink to our hearts’ content.”

“Elder Brother, take Sister-in-law and go first—we’ll hold the rear,” Xiang Yu offered loyally.

“There’s no need! I’m only worried that the two of you won’t escape the Qin army’s encirclement. As for the safety of me and your sister-in-law, you needn’t concern yourselves.”

“Now, go—quickly!”

Hearing this, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang felt Wang Kun was being overconfident.

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Yet recalling the deadly skill Wang Kun had just shown, they dared not object.

“Then my second brother and I will take our leave, Elder Brother. Until we meet again!”

“Until we meet again!”

With that, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu left the tavern swiftly.

Wang Kun glanced down at Lady Yu in his arms, speaking half in jest, “Lady Yu, are you afraid?”

Lady Yu: …

What could she say? A frail woman, powerless to resist, now held tightly in his arms—what choice did she have? Even if the Qin army surrounded them, she could only endure in silence.

Clip-clop, clip-clop…

The sound of hooves approached, and soon a hundred black-armored cavalry surrounded the tavern, with dozens of archers ready in the rear.

At this critical moment, Wang Kun, still holding Lady Yu, stepped onto a black hexagonal shield and soared from the tavern’s rooftop into the sky.

“Look! He’s flying!” The onlookers nearly dropped their jaws in shock.

But Wang Kun had no time for their amazement. Carrying Lady Yu, he flew out of the city, vanishing from the Qin army’s sight in moments.

The Qin soldiers stared at one another in disbelief.

“General, what do we do now?”

“Clear the battlefield. That’s the end of it!” The commander swallowed hard; clearly, this was beyond his comprehension.

Several hours later, hundreds of miles north of Pengcheng, Wang Kun and Lady Yu rode together at a leisurely pace towards a small city.

Having now won Lady Yu, Wang Kun intended to head north to Tu’an Kingdom and claim Princess Yushu as well.

After all, Lady Yu was the heroine of the Banquet at Hongmen, and Princess Yushu the heroine of the Myth. Since he aimed to change the story, he would begin by altering the fates of these two women.

Of course, seizing the world would come too—but not yet. Emperor Qin Shi Huang still lived; no matter how powerful he was, conquering the world would not be easy while the emperor reigned. Better to first seek the elixir of immortality, and only then consider the small matter of domination.