Chapter 041: The Shepherd Boy's Secret

After searching the nearby woods for a long time, Du Fuwei and the others failed to uncover any valuable clues and had no choice but to return to report to Li Dong.

Li Dong held Luo Shixin in his arms, resting the boy’s head on his own knee. He gently wiped the blood from the child’s lips and said, “Don’t talk for now. We’re heading back to the city.”

Luo Shixin blinked, his gaze still cloudy and unfocused. He tried to speak, but his strength failed him; after a brief struggle, he lay still.

Seeing how tenderly Li Dong cared for Luo Shixin, Du Fuwei and his companions felt a twinge of jealousy. Was this stubborn young fellow really worth such kindness? The rest of us have fought by your side—life and death together, following you every day—yet you’ve never shown us this much affection.

Li Dong seemed to sense their thoughts, and as if introducing him, said, “This young hero is Luo Shixin. Luo Shixin! Luo… Haha… You’ll certainly be awestruck by his name before long.”

Even if they weren’t happy about it, seeing Li Dong so concerned, Du Fuwei and the others could only help lift Luo Shixin onto a war chariot. The boy lay face down, his wounds cushioned by layers of thick clothing, so that the jostling of the uneven road would not worsen his injuries.

By now, dusk was falling. In pursuit of the defeated army of Zhishilang, Li Dong and his men had already left Zhangqiu behind by more than twenty miles, and were now returning slowly, their carts laden with spoils.

Li Dong followed the chariot carrying Luo Shixin, checking on him from time to time. Meanwhile, Du Fuwei and the others deliberately slowed their pace, gradually widening the distance between themselves and Li Dong. After conferring among themselves, Du Fuwei spurred his horse forward to ride alongside Li Dong.

When they were still five or six miles from Zhangqiu’s north gate, Du Fuwei clasped his fists from horseback, his face tinged with guilt. “We’re not far from Zhangqiu now,” he said, “but my men and I… we will not enter the city. Here, General, we must part ways. When leisure allows, we’ll come to visit you in the city.”

A pang tightened Li Dong’s chest; he felt reluctant to part ways. Yet they had already made an agreement before the battle, and he could not break his word. Returning the salute, he said, “Must you truly go your own way and become outlaws?”

Du Fuwei’s eyes reddened; parting from Li Dong pained him deeply. But thinking of all they’d been through, he realized that the world of officials was even more perilous than the battlefield. He braced himself and said, “I have no wish to consort with the petty scoundrels of the Sui court. The freedom of the mountains and forests suits me better.”

Li Dong mused that being a bandit was, after all, a promising path. Yet, unwilling to drift aimlessly as coming storms swept the land, he could only carve out a place for himself within the cracks of the Sui regime, seeking stability. Out loud, he sighed, “All roads lead to the same end! Sooner or later, we’ll meet again.”

Du Fuwei nodded. “General, you could always come to the Great Wall Ridge and spend some days with us. I doubt anything serious would happen.”

Li Dong replied heartily, “Agreed, it’s a promise. If time allows, I’ll climb the mountain and pay my respects.”

Du Fuwei, still on horseback, clasped his fists again and again in farewell, then tugged on the reins and refused to take another step forward.

Li Dong reined in his horse and laughed, “No need for such sadness. It’s not a final farewell. We’ll see each other again—and when we do, we won’t leave until we’ve drunk three thousand cups together!”

Buoyed by Li Dong’s cheerful spirit, Du Fuwei managed a wry smile. “Yes, we’ll drink for three days and nights, drink until the world spins, until we forget all cares!”

Zhang Junke and Fu Gongtao rode up, their voices choked with emotion. “There will be many hardships ahead. General, take care. One day we hope to benefit from your guidance again.”

Li Dong’s words were spirited, but his heart was heavy. After all they’d been through, to say he felt nothing for them would have been self-deception. Yet, as he considered the turbulent times to come, he knew these men would always skirt the edge of the storm, never entering the mainstream. He hardened his heart and said goodbye.

The group, along with the thousand or so bandits who had followed them from Great Wall Ridge, galloped off in a cloud of dust and soon vanished from sight.

Only after they had gone did Li Dong wipe the moisture from the corners of his eyes and order the remaining soldiers to move on.

After a short rest, Luo Shixin’s spirits revived somewhat. Propping himself up, he caught sight of what had just transpired and asked Li Dong, “Why did they leave? Was it because I came, and they didn’t like me, so they had to part from you?”

Li Dong chuckled. “Don’t talk—mind your wounded back. We’ll get you medicine in the city and, once you’re rested, there’ll be time for questions.”

Suddenly, Luo Shixin sat up, tearing away his tattered clothes to reveal his thin frame. “I’m fine! See? Where am I hurt?” No sooner had he spoken than the chariot jolted, jarring his wounded back. He winced, but in a moment his face returned to normal.

Li Dong could tell the boy had regained some strength and asked, “Why did they torture you earlier but not simply kill you? Did you have something important hidden on you?”

“I was herding cattle this afternoon!” Luo Shixin replied, full of conviction.

Puzzled, Li Dong could not see what herding cattle had to do with being beaten. He could only follow the boy’s line of thought. “Yes, herding cattle is good.”

Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Luo Shixin straightened and asked urgently, “Right! Where are my cattle?” He looked around. The soldiers marched in two orderly columns, most leading horses—there wasn’t a single cow in sight. He grew anxious and tried to jump down from the chariot.

Li Dong quickly stopped him. “The cattle have already been taken into the city. We’ll go there first.”

“No, no, no!” Luo Shixin protested. “My cattle only listen to me—no one else can manage them!”

Li Dong was curious. “How do you make the cattle obey only you?”

Luo Shixin lifted his chin proudly. “If any cow dares disobey, I’ll twist off its horn! And if it keeps misbehaving, I’ll toss it into the sky and let it land flat on its back!”

Li Dong understood Luo Shixin well enough to know that this was no idle boast. The boy was born with extraordinary strength—a peerless warrior, unmatched even by the legendary Qin Qiong.

He asked, “Are you that strong?”

“Of course I am!” Luo Shixin replied without hesitation. To prove it, he stretched out his arms, gripped the wooden shafts at either side of the chariot, and shouted, “Up!”

A miracle occurred—the chariot, drawn by horses, rose more than a foot off the ground. The horses, suddenly burdened, couldn’t budge an inch. Their forelegs reared, bodies leapt, and a shrill whinny split the air.

Even though he’d braced himself, Li Dong was utterly stunned. Was this fellow even human? Xiang Yu only pulled himself across a river by his hair—this boy was lifting an entire chariot!

Li Dong exclaimed, “Young man, you have divine strength! One day you’ll be a tiger among generals!”

Luo Shixin scratched the back of his head. “But I don’t know anything—how can I become a general?”

Li Dong’s heart stirred. Seizing the moment, he shifted the conversation back to the events of the afternoon—to what strange encounters Luo Shixin may have had while herding cattle, and why those soldiers had tortured him so cruelly, yet not killed him.