"Oh, is that so." Xiang Yu reclined upon his seat, lazily observing Liu Bang kneeling below, "Lord of Pei, there is no need to be nervous. Rise and take a seat."

"Duke of Pei, please," Xiang Bo also stepped forward to help Liu Bang to a seat. "General Xiang is perhaps unaware, but when General Ying Bu broke through Hangu Pass that day, he met absolutely no resistance. This clearly shows that the Duke of Pei had no intention of making an enemy of you."

"En." Upon hearing this, Xiang Yu turned his head to look at Ying Bu, who gave a slight nod with the tip of his raised sword.

"Lord Liu is indeed a man of chivalry. The ability to stipulate only three articles of law with the people demonstrates the bearing of one who might govern the world and rule a great nation." Fan Zeng could no longer bear Liu Bang’s brilliant discourse. Every word was aimed at the heart; the talk of governing the world and ruling the nation was clearly intended for Xiang Yu, making him realize that the man before him was his greatest foe.

"Is this the esteemed Elder Fan Zeng?" Zhang Liang responded without missing a beat. "When it comes to discussing the Way to pacify the world, my Duke of Pei is nowhere near as valorous as General Xiang; and concerning the governance of a great nation, our ranks hold no one comparable to Elder Fan Zeng. However, this world belongs to General Xiang, and this great nation is also General Xiang’s great nation."

"Hahahaha, Zifang flatters me! Come, drink!" Xiang Yu had been enjoying great success lately and was accustomed to the flattery of various lords, yet he felt none were as well-reasoned and substantiated as Zhang Liang’s words. "Come, Duke of Pei, drink!"

"To General Xiang," a stone in Liu Bang's heart settled slightly. From the beginning, Xiang Yu had addressed him as 'Pavilion Chief,' which signified that Xiang Yu held him in utter contempt. Now that Xiang Yu had changed his address to 'Duke of Pei,' it indicated that Xiang Yu had begun to look upon him favorably.

After finishing a cup, Xiang Bo feigned casual inquiry toward Liu Bang: "It is said that when the Duke of Pei entered Xianyang, you showed the utmost respect to the Qin prince Ziying, and you did not so much as touch the gold and jewels within the Qin palaces. Is this true?"

Liu Bang smiled slightly and nodded. "How could I, Liu Bang, dare touch those gold and jewels? They belong to General Xiang, and thus, they belong to the entire righteous army."

"General Xiang, look!" Xiang Bo seized the opportunity to praise Liu Bang. "I told you the Duke of Pei harbors no second thoughts! Consider the Qin palace—it holds countless treasures, yet the Duke of Pei has not moved a single one. This is loyalty visible to all!"

"En, it seems I mistakenly listened to the slander of petty men. I am truly unworthy of such praise." Xiang Yu found Xiang Bo’s words highly reasonable and could not help but toast Liu Bang with another cup to express his apology.

Fan Zeng clenched his fist. He felt the outcome of this would be Ah Ji releasing Liu Bang, and releasing him would be tantamount to setting a tiger free to roam the mountains, leaving future troubles. How could he allow such a thing to happen? Thus, he signaled Ying Bu with his eyes, ordering him to go prepare, while he leaned close to Xiang Zhuang and whispered something.

"The atmosphere is so intense today; this humble general wishes to perform a sword dance to liven things up. May I ask if it is permissible?" At this moment, Xiang Zhuang rose and bowed to Xiang Yu.

"Excellent! A sword dance for entertainment, very good, very good!" Xiang Yu was unconcerned, enjoying his meat and wine, clapping his hands in appreciation.

Zhang Liang nodded toward Liu Bang, and Liu Bang seemed to understand the implication. He subtly shifted his body closer to Zhang Liang. Meanwhile, Ye Xiu, who had been cultivating outside the camp, felt his heart leap into his throat. He gripped the Demon Blade tightly; if the situation demanded it, he would have to disregard everything else and save Liu Bang.

"Hah!" Xiang Zhuang, indeed born of a military family, drew his treasured sword. Once unsheathed, it moved like flowing water, sweeping through the entire tent. His form was ethereal, sometimes like a rainbow piercing the sun, sometimes like new lotus leaves struck by rain. Every stance, every movement, every thrust of the dance was a perfect blend of hardness and softness—exquisitely beautiful.

"Good! Good!" Xiang Yu himself loved martial arts, and being in such high spirits today made him feel exhilarated by everything he saw.

Observing Liu Bang’s expression at this moment, he felt utterly uncomfortable. Every time Xiang Zhuang’s sword thrust reached its tip, it was aimed squarely at him. On the surface, it was a sword dance, but in reality, he was drawing closer and closer to Liu Bang’s chest. At this critical juncture, though fully aware of the danger, he dared not make any rash moves. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, yet he dared not wipe it away, terrified that Xiang Yu on the dais might detect his apprehension.

Xiang Bo glanced at Fan Zeng. That old man wore an expression of perfect composure. In truth, though Xiang Bo was Xiang Yu’s uncle, his authority within the army was less than Fan Zeng’s. He had long harbored jealousy toward Fan Zeng. Now, since he already deeply trusted Liu Bang and had arranged an alliance through marriage, it was incumbent upon him, both publicly and privately, morally and reasonably, to protect Liu Bang. Seeing Xiang Yu utterly engrossed, Xiang Bo drew his own treasured sword and began to weave his blade against the path of Xiang Zhuang’s movements.

"Interesting." Xiang Yu lowered his head, supporting his chin with his hand. "This dual sword dance certainly has a unique flavor. What do you think, Duke of Pei?"

Liu Bang’s thoughts and attention were completely fixed on the gleam of Xiang Zhuang’s blade. He barely reacted to Xiang Yu’s sudden question. Fortunately, Zhang Liang subtly touched him, snapping him back to awareness, and he replied, "Excellent, excellent."

Xiang Zhuang’s sword dancing accelerated, while Xiang Bo’s parrying stance grew broader. Where Xiang Zhuang tried to advance in continuous movements toward the Duke of Pei, Xiang Bo leaped forward to block in front of him. Within the tent, apart from Xiang Yu, everyone’s palms were slick with sweat. Such a moment hanging by a thread was almost too much for Ye Xiu outside the tent to bear.

At this point, Zhang Liang could no longer remain seated. Although Xiang Bo’s swordsmanship was superb, continuing this way meant he would soon be unable to keep up with Xiang Zhuang’s speed. If this continued, the Duke of Pei would surely meet disaster. He lightly touched the Duke of Pei’s hand to signal him to remain calm, then slowly rose, bowed to Xiang Yu, and exited the tent.

"Hey, come with me." As soon as Zhang Liang emerged, Ye Xiu grabbed his hand and pulled him into a nearby corner.

Zhang Liang was startled, thinking Xiang Yu was about to strike. He turned back to see his good brother who had helped him assassinate Qin and obtain the Huangshi Bing Shu (Yellow Stone Military Texts) that day, and he was suddenly overwhelmed with joy. "Brother Ye, why are you here!"

"Shh..." Ye Xiu slapped a hand over Zhang Liang’s mouth. "Shouting so loudly, do you want to die!"

Zhang Liang's complexion had originally been as soft and fair as a woman's. Having it firmly covered by Ye Xiu's hand made him momentarily shy; blushing, he whispered, "Brother Ye, what are you doing here? Where have you been these past days?"

Ye Xiu had intended to catch up with Zhang Liang, but realizing the critical nature of the situation, he said, "Don't worry about other things for now. I must tell you that the Duke of Pei is in mortal danger. Fan Zeng, Xiang Zhuang, and Ying Bu are planning to murder him."

"I realized that long ago, which is why I faked a need to use the latrine to find a way out. But inside, Xiang Zhuang’s sword dance is almost striking the Duke of Pei! I fear Xiang Bo cannot stop him." Zhang Liang was extremely anxious, unsure of what remedy existed.

"Get someone to rush in and disrupt the environment! Isn't Fan Kuai with you guys? Send him in," Ye Xiu knew the story of what was happening, though he hadn't expected that the anecdote of Fan Kuai bursting into the camp was one he himself had instigated for Zhang Liang. "Given his temperament, he’s perfect to confront Xiang Yu. Then, you devise a way for the Duke of Pei to escape quickly. Remember, you must not alert Fan Zeng, or none of you will get away."

"En, good idea. I'll go find Fan Kuai now." Zhang Liang nodded in affirmation, turning to leave, but then suddenly grabbed Ye Xiu’s hand. "If we leave like this, Brother Ye, what about you?"

Ye Xiu felt a tingling sensation in his palm. Looking down, he saw Zhang Liang’s hand resting on his arm. "Once the Duke of Pei is safe, I’ll be accustomed to it. Ying Bu’s unwarranted departure most likely means he’s setting an ambush along the route. I will deal with him. You must also watch your own safety."

"Ye Xiu," Zhang Liang called out Ye Xiu’s name with deep affection, but stopped short of saying more.

"Go quickly! What are you looking at?" Ye Xiu found Zhang Liang’s gaze unbearable. He tried to pull away, but Zhang Liang held on stubbornly.

"Brother Ye, have you ever considered joining the Duke of Pei?" Zhang Liang grew quite serious. He had long admired Ye Xiu’s capabilities. Now that he himself held a significant position in the Duke of Pei's army, recruiting talented individuals was effortless.

When Ye Xiu heard this, he saw another opportunity to search for Han Xin. If Han Xin was not with the Chu army, he must be with Liu Bang’s forces—he had not forgotten the mission granted by the heavens. "We can discuss that later. Let’s survive this crisis first, then we can properly gather."

"Brother Ye, take this sword. When you join the Duke of Pei in the future, he will surely employ you greatly upon seeing the sword." Zhang Liang presented the sword at his waist with both hands. It was entirely bronze in color, adorned with embossed designs of birds, beasts, and swimming fish; by the standard of forging artistry, it must be an exquisite sword.

Ye Xiu felt the urgency of the situation and was vexed that at this critical juncture, Zhang Liang insisted on presenting a hero with a treasured sword. He wanted to slap him. "Enough, enough! I understand! You go quickly and save the Duke of Pei, and I must go pursue Ying Bu."

"Until we meet again!" Zhang Liang bowed farewell to Ye Xiu and resolutely turned, exiting the camp.

Ye Xiu took the sword. A peculiar sense of elation filled him. Ever since the Heaven’s Will was seized by Wang Long, Ye Xiu hadn't felt that sensation of a sword resting in his palm. Though holding an unfamiliar sword, it felt strangely familiar. Right! He hadn't asked what this sword was called—that absent-minded Zhang Liang.

"You must remember to take this sword to see the Duke of Pei!" As if sharing a telepathic connection, Zhang Liang, before leaving, turned back and shouted in a low voice, "I believe the famous sword Heng Chen would also be delighted to meet such an extraordinarily capable owner as you."

"What!" Ye Xiu wanted to ask for clarity, but suddenly sensed patrolling soldiers approaching from behind, causing him to quickly lower his head. "Heng Chen—this sword is the famous sword Heng Chen that the Lord of Donghai spoke of."

"Heng Chen?" Ye Xiu doubted his hearing. He gently drew the sword, and a melodious, agile sound immediately echoed around them. It was indeed a fine blade; the luster of its body was enough to reflect the moonlight everywhere that night. But now was not the time for critique. He decisively tucked the sword into his waist, sprang onto the tent roof, and vanished with a ghost-like step.

"I heard General Xiang Yu is a bold and magnanimous man. Why are you reluctant to let us drink and eat meat as well?" Fan Kuai, having received Zhang Liang's instructions, burst directly into Xiang Yu’s tent. "We wish to feast like great lords, drinking heartily and eating large portions!"

"Insolence!" Liu Bang stood up resolutely to shield Fan Kuai from harm. This single action immediately halted the sparring dance between Xiang Zhuang and Xiang Bo. "Why don't you quickly apologize to General Xiang! You reckless fellow!"

"Oh, you all step aside. Let me have a good look at this brother." Xiang Yu waved a hand, signaling Xiang Zhuang and Xiang Bo to stop, then walked down from his dais to examine Fan Kuai. "What is this brave man's name?"

"I am Fan Kuai, the vanguard before the Duke of Pei’s horse," Fan Kuai spoke with remarkable composure, entirely unfazed by Xiang Yu's imposing presence.

"A mere vanguard?" Xiang Yu looked skeptically at Fan Kuai’s status but felt a degree of admiration for his character. "Do you know who I am?"

"I know General Xiang Yu. I admire your valor at the Battle of Julu. However, we are displeased today because we have no wine to drink and no meat to eat." While speaking, Fan Kuai subtly signaled the Duke of Pei to step back. "I know of General Xiang’s heroic might, but if I were in battle, I would be equally fearless."

"Hahahaha, interesting. Come..." Xiang Yu picked a large chunk of pork leg from the table and tossed it to Fan Kuai. "If you want meat, I’ll let you eat meat. If you want wine, you can drink heartily."

"Thank you, General Xiang." Fan Kuai showed no sign of courtesy toward Xiang Yu. He snatched the pork leg and began devouring it ravenously. Moreover, he acted as if he were in his own home, grabbing a wine jug and drinking freely by himself.

"This brave man is extraordinary, Duke of Pei." Xiang Yu watched Fan Kuai’s behavior; instead of angering him, a gentle smile appeared. "It seems the Duke of Pei does not treat his subordinates well."

Liu Bang shook his head and waved his hand, taking the opportunity to wipe the cold sweat from his brow.

"General Xiang, that is unfair. The Duke of Pei is exceedingly benevolent toward his men. He shares any good food or drink with us soldiers and shows great care for the common people too," Fan Kuai declared while eating and drinking. "If a soldier in our righteous army falls ill, the Duke of Pei visits them personally. From the high-ranking generals to the lowliest patrol soldier, he treats them equally. The unity of our righteous army relies entirely on the virtue of the Duke of Pei."

"Enough, Fan Kuai, eat your fill in peace," Liu Bang seized the moment to stop Fan Kuai’s words. He knew his own nature; being good to soldiers and loving the populace was merely surface work. Everyone understood the principle: he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world.

Xiang Yu felt a pang of shame upon hearing this. His previous suspicions regarding the Duke of Pei were truly unwarranted. "Ah, I did not realize the Duke of Pei commanded such prestige within the army. I listened to the slander of Cao Wushang before. Now it seems that fellow truly is a bad sort."

"Alas..." Fan Zeng was deeply frustrated. When he heard Xiang Yu mention Cao Wushang’s name, his heart sank even further. Cao Wushang was, after all, the spy he had planted next to Liu Bang. His previous understanding of Liu Bang relied entirely on Cao Wushang. Now, Xiang Yu had so easily betrayed him.

"General Xiang praises me too highly." Liu Bang bowed, but his eyes were filled with murderous intent. What a Cao Wushang! Once back in camp, he would surely be executed.

"How about it, brave man? Do you still want more wine and meat?" Xiang Yu lowered his head, looking at the happily munching Fan Kuai sitting on the floor, and smiled. "Interested in sharing a bowl with me?"

"I’ll drink! A true man fears not death, why fear a drink? General Xiang, come! I toast you!" Fan Kuai stood up, completely blocking the Duke of Pei with his body. He raised a large bowl and downed it in one gulp.

"Good! Drink!" Seeing this, Xiang Yu became quite enthusiastic. It had been a long time since he had encountered such a fierce warrior.

At this moment, Zhang Liang also entered the tent and cautiously made a gesture toward the Duke of Pei, signaling him to leave the camp. The Duke of Pei bowed to Xiang Yu, cited the need to use the latrine, and followed Zhang Liang out of the camp.

"My Lord, quickly take a horse and return to camp first," Zhang Liang called two stable hands to help Liu Bang onto his horse. "Xiang Yu may not have ill intentions, but Fan Zeng certainly does. Depart quickly."

Liu Bang understood the gravity of the situation, but he still had reservations. "If I leave like this, won't it arouse Xiang Yu's suspicion? What about you two? If Xiang Yu holds you accountable, neither of you will escape."

Zhang Liang smiled gently. "To hear you say that, it is worth our utmost devotion until death. Go, my Lord, and be careful on your journey."

Liu Bang nodded slightly, turned, and spurred his horse out of the Chu army camp. He had faith in Zhang Liang; he knew Zifang was always resourceful and that he need not worry for him.

Zhang Liang sent Liu Bang away and re-entered the tent alone. For the first time, he met Fan Zeng’s gaze directly. He saw that Fan Zeng’s eyeballs were wide, looking as though they were about to pop out.

"Where is the Duke of Pei!" Fan Zeng questioned Zhang Liang sternly. "Why have you returned alone? Where is the Duke of Pei?"

"Yes, where is Liu... Liu Bang?" Xiang Yu had already drunk many bowls with Fan Kuai, and a slight drunkenness was slurring his words. "Where did that fellow go? Isn't he coming back to drink with me?"

"Reporting to General Xiang, the Duke of Pei has returned to camp first. He asked me to beg your forgiveness," Zhang Liang said with utter calmness, showing not the slightest sign of fear or timidity.

"What! You say the Duke of Pei has fled?" Fan Zeng deliberately raised his voice to draw Xiang Yu’s attention. "How could he leave without saying goodbye to General Xiang? He clearly has something to hide!"

Zhang Liang understood Fan Zeng’s intention and calmly replied, "Reporting to General Xiang, the Duke of Pei did wish to bid farewell, but he was truly intoxicated today. Considering the Duke of Pei rarely drinks, his tolerance is perhaps only one bowl. He has overindulged today; he can barely speak clearly."

"Hahahaha, that useless man! What is a little wine? Come, brother, drink on behalf of the Duke of Pei," Xiang Yu was unconcerned and continued to engage Fan Kuai. Fan Kuai, knowing the Duke of Pei was safe, became instantly energized and matched Xiang Yu in another toast.

"Alas..." Fan Zeng was helpless against Xiang Yu, forced to sigh heavily. He thought he still had a fallback plan; Ye Xiu and Ying Bu should have already set an ambush on the Duke of Pei's return route. He could only hope they succeeded.

Seeing that the situation was under control, Zhang Liang immediately produced a pair of white jade discs and presented them to Xiang Yu, then took out a pair of jade cups to offer Fan Zeng. "This is from the Duke of Pei; we hope the two generals will accept with pleasure."

"Ah, letting Liu Bang go today is like releasing a tiger back to the mountains. We will surely suffer for it one day!" Fan Zeng lamented sorrowfully, pointing at Xiang Yu as if to scold him, only to find that Xiang Yu was already hopelessly drunk.