Gan Ning: I do not consent to this marriage.

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A Bow to Heaven

The old steward led Gan Ning and his men into the manor. At that moment, a wedding ceremony was in full swing atop the grand stage within the estate.

Seeing this, Gan Ning could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He thought to himself, “It’s not about arriving early—timing is everything. Heaven must be aiding me, Gan Ning! Had I come a day later, the bride might have departed with the groom, and then where would I even begin to search for her?”

Now, everything was falling into place—he could seize all he desired in one fell swoop.

“Wait!” Gan Ning bellowed, startling not only the bride and groom but all the guests in attendance.

Everyone turned to stare at Gan Ning, wondering, “Who is this man? We’ve never seen him before! How could someone be so clueless as to disrupt a wedding at the very moment of the ceremonial bows?”

The patriarch of the Huang family—Huang Chengyan’s elder brother—stepped forward and asked, “Who are you, and for what purpose have you come?”

Just as the old steward was about to speak, Gan Ning brusquely cut him off.

“I do not consent to this marriage!” Gan Ning declared with swaggering bravado.

Huang Chengyan: “????”

Huang Yueying: “????”

Zhuge Liang: “????”

The rest of the guests: “?????”

Shock rippled through the crowd at Gan Ning’s words. He did not consent to the marriage? But who was he, and since when did he have any say in this?

“Who are you, you blind fool, that you dare cause trouble at the Huang household?” the patriarch shouted, jabbing a finger at Gan Ning’s nose.

Gan Ning gave a wicked, charming smile and barked to his men, “Brothers, tell them who we are!”

No sooner had he spoken than, with a loud clatter, his men threw open their chests and drew out every weapon imaginable: swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, flails, and more—the full arsenal of the eighteen classic weapons.

As if that weren’t enough, they swiftly shrouded their faces in black veils.

The speed and coordination of their transformation stunned everyone present.

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All those in attendance were left dumbfounded, frozen in place for several moments before anyone could react. “Who are these people?” they thought. “What is this—some kind of CSPLAYER act?”

“Old man, do you understand who we are now?” Gan Ning asked menacingly, tapping the patriarch’s face with the flat of his blade.

“Bandits… Mountain bandits…” Before the patriarch could answer, the old steward who had led Gan Ning into the village stammered out a reply, his heart sinking. “I… I’ve led bandits into the village. How could I have been so foolish?”

“How dare you mountain bandits cause trouble at the Huang household! Today, we’ll capture you and deliver you to the magistrate for a reward!” At that moment, several guests in scholar’s robes sprang to their feet. Sword at their sides, they drew their blades and charged at Gan Ning and his men.

Scholars of the Qin and Han eras were not like those of the Song and Ming, who were weak and bookish. In these times, a scholar was expected to master the six arts: ritual, music, archery, charioteering, writing, and mathematics.

These particular scholars, here as wedding guests, drew their swords and attacked Gan Ning’s group.

Gan Ning shot Tai Shici a look, and Tai Shici and Qu’e stepped forward to intercept.

The scholars were skilled, but against generals of the caliber of Tai Shici and Qu’e, they were outmatched. In little more than ten breaths, the scholars lay beaten and sprawled upon the ground.

Xu Shu had given prior instructions not to take any lives, so both Tai Shici and Qu’e struck only with the shafts of their spears, restraining their full force.

The scholars, bruised and battered, lay face-down on the earth.

“You’ve got some guts!” Gan Ning sneered, surveying the defeated scholars with domineering arrogance. Playing the part of a bandit suited him all too well—after all, he had once been a pirate, so this was hardly an act.

On the way over, Gan Ning had asked Xu Shu, “Strategist, how do I play a bandit? I’ve never done it before!”

Xu Shu had pondered a moment, then replied earnestly, “Just restrain yourself a little, and you’ll be fine.”

“Bah!” one of the scholars spat, defiant even in defeat. “Scoundrel! If you have the guts, kill me now!”

Ding Chong, one of Gan Ning’s men, was quick-witted and dragged over the elderly man who had been registering gifts at the door.

Anyone who came to the feast had to present a gift and report his name, so this old man was sure to know the identities of the scholars.

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“Boss, this old man must know who they are!” Ding Chong said, hauling the registrar before Gan Ning.

Gan Ning tapped the old man’s face with the back of his blade and demanded, “Tell me who they are, and I’ll spare your life.”

Unlike the scholars, this old man had no stomach for heroics. He immediately fell to his knees and pleaded, “Great chieftain, spare me! Please don’t kill me!”

“Their names are Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, and Meng Gongwei. They’ve all studied under Master Water Mirror and count as his unofficial disciples. They’re friends of the groom and came specially for the wedding feast!”

Gan Ning stroked his chin, thinking, “All disciples of Master Water Mirror—these are men of great talent! My lord is ever eager for capable followers. If I bring them back, he’ll be overjoyed.”

With that, Gan Ning asked the old man, “Are there any other notable figures here?”

The old man paused, then shook his head. “No, no more!”

Gan Ning nodded. “You’re obedient—now get out of here!”

The old man, feeling as if he’d been granted a royal pardon, fled the estate without looking back.

The Huang patriarch, seeing Gan Ning truly spare the old man, began to hope that maybe these bandits would be content with money and leave without bloodshed.

He hurried forward and tried to bargain, “Great chieftain, whatever sum you demand, the Huang family will provide! Today is a day of great joy for us—please, at least stay for a cup of wine…”

But before he could finish, Gan Ning kicked him to the ground with a curse. “Who the hell told you I came for money?”

After sending the patriarch sprawling, Gan Ning pointed at the three scholars lying on the ground. “Tie them up and stuff them in the chest!”

At his command, Ding Chong and the others bound Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, and Meng Gongwei and forced them into a chest.

At this point, Zhuge Liang, standing on the stage, sensed something was amiss. These men weren’t after riches—they were abducting his three friends.

Moreover, their actions were organized and methodical, nothing like the chaos of real bandits. Their discipline was that of a trained army.

It must be said, the reputation of Wolong Zhuge Liang was well deserved. Though still only eighteen or nineteen—just come of age and not yet at his future peak—his brilliance was already uncanny.

He was the first among all present to realize that Gan Ning and his men were not what they seemed.

(End of Chapter)