Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Sun Ce and Zhou Yu escorted Qiao Xuan and his party out of Luoyang. After they had traveled three or four miles, they suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves from behind. The two were delighted and quickly reined in their horses to stop.

Sun Ce and Zhou Yu reined in their horses and looked back, only to see Cao Ang, Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Yao galloping towards them.

The two were delighted at first, thinking it was Ma Chao and the others, but when they found out it was Cao Ang and the others, a hint of disappointment flashed across their faces.

Cao Ang and his men came closer, pulled the reins, and had a complaining look on their faces.

Cao Ang spoke first: "You guys, you didn't even say goodbye before leaving. That's really not nice of you!"

Yuan Tan also said: "That's right, we only found out about your departure from others."

Sun Ce forced a smile and said, "Alas, this happened suddenly and I didn't have time to inform everyone one by one. I hope you brothers can forgive me."

Zhou Yu also said: "Yes, we also want to escort Mr. Qiao and others away as soon as possible."

Yuan Xi continued, "That can't be the case. We are brothers after all."

Yuan Yao smiled and said, "But seeing that you are all okay, we are relieved."

Sun Ce and Zhou Yu exchanged a glance, feeling somewhat reluctant. Sun Ce said, "We really want to say goodbye to everyone, but the circumstances are truly special."

Zhou Yu also agreed: "Yes, let's get together again next time we have the chance."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they reluctantly said goodbye and rode their horses forward.

Everyone continued to escort the convoy forward steadily. When they saw the iconic Shili Pavilion in the distance, a melodious song suddenly reached their ears.

Listening carefully, the song was from the Book of Songs, Beifeng, Yanyan:

"Swallows are flying, their feathers are fluttering. My daughter is getting married, and I am seeing her off in the fields. I look forward to seeing her off, but she is too far away to catch my eye. My tears are pouring down my face.

The swallows are flying, the swallows are swarming with each other. My daughter is returning home, but she is too far away to follow. I look up and see but cannot catch up with her. I stand still and cry.

The swallows are flying, their sounds rising and falling. My son is returning home, I am sending him off far to the south. I look forward to seeing him but he is not there, which really makes me sad.

Zhong Shi is a man of integrity, with a heart of peace and tranquility. He is always gentle and kind, and is prudent in his conduct. The thoughts of my ancestors serve as an encouragement to me.

The singing is gentle and melodious, echoing in the air, as if telling the feelings of parting, making people feel emotional.

Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Lu Su were filled with excitement. Unable to contain themselves any longer, they abandoned their convoy and rode their horses at lightning speed, heading straight for the Ten-Li Pavilion. Arriving at the pavilion, they were pleasantly surprised to find their teacher, Lu Zhi, seated safely within. Ma Chao, Pang De, Xun Yu, and Lu Yu, who served as a kind of junior tutor, were also there, respectfully flanking him. Meanwhile, Cai Wenji and Lu Wan were strumming their zithers, their beautiful song arose from their combined voice.

It turned out that when Sun Ce, Zhou Yu and others said goodbye and went back to pack their luggage, Lu Zhi had already led a group of young people to the Ten-Li Pavilion early to wait for them.

The three of them were extremely excited. They quickly stepped forward to salute their master, and then hugged Ma Chao, Pang De and others tightly.

The convoy was brought to the front of the pavilion. The two old friends, Lu Zhi and Qiao Xuan, supported each other. With emotion on their faces, they expressed their feelings of parting to each other, their eyes full of reluctance.

At the same time, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao also gracefully stepped out of the carriage. Lu Wan and Cai Wenji gathered with them. At first, the atmosphere was filled with sadness and a dull, depressing feeling. Seeing this, Lu Wan brightened the mood and teased Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao. She said to Cai Wenji with a smile, "Wenji, you see, we are about to part, but Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao have Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, two guardians of their love. Do you think they are more sad about the separation, or are they secretly happy?" She then winked at Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao.

Cai Wenji smiled slightly and said softly, "Lu Wan, you just love to joke around."

Da Qiao secretly glanced at Sun Ce out of the corner of her eye, while Xiao Qiao playfully poked Da Qiao, and then the two of them looked at Sun Ce and Zhou Yu together with a bit of shyness on their faces.

Da Qiao said shyly, "Lu Wan, please don't say anything nonsense. We are also very reluctant to leave everyone."

Xiao Qiao stepped forward, hugged Da Qiao, and said playfully, "That's right, Lu Wan, you have Ma Chao too. Tell me, are you two like this too?"

Lu Wan pretended to be surprised and said, "Oh, Xiao Qiao, don't talk nonsense. Ma Chao and I are very serious!" After saying that, she couldn't help laughing.

At this moment, when Cai Wenji heard Xiao Qiao mention Ma Chao, her eyes unconsciously drifted towards Ma Chao, and a subtle complex expression flashed across her face. She secretly liked Ma Chao, but she didn't want to affect the relationship between Lu Wan and Ma Chao because of herself.

Everyone burst into laughter after hearing this, and the sadness of parting gradually dissipated in the laughter.

Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and Zhou Yu stood aside, their eyes gleaming with determination as they passionately discussed feelings of separation, lofty ideals, and national affairs. Their voices, sometimes passionate, sometimes deep, were filled with longing for the future and reflections on the present.

Ma Chao proudly drew his sword, its blade gleaming with a cold gleam. Sun Ce followed suit, their movements smooth as flowing water, their swords clashing with crisp clashes. Their steps were light and powerful, and they pranced about the pavilion, their bodies nimble and graceful, their swords whirling like two streaks of dancing lightning.

Zhou Yu and the others stood by, drawing their swords and singing along to the rhythm of Ma Chao and Sun Ce's dancing. The song was passionate and heroic, full of ancient charm, and it was the inspiring song "Wu Yi":

"How can I say that I have no clothes? I share the same robe with you. When the king raised an army, he repaired my sword and spear. I share the same enemy with you!"

Qi said without clothes?Tongze with the child.Master Wang Yuxing, repair my spear.Work with the son!

How can I say that I have no clothes? Wear the same clothes as your son. The king raised his troops and repaired my armor. Go with me! "

Their singing resonated in the air, as if it would break through the clouds. Every note was filled with their emotions, expressing their faith and determination.

Around them, the gentle breeze from the pavilion rustled, lifting their sleeves and hair. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on their figures, adding a mysterious and sacred atmosphere. Cai Wenji stood by, silently gazing at Ma Chao, her eyes filled with both deep affection and a hint of worry and reluctance. Her fingers gently plucked the strings of her zither, intertwining with the others' singing and sword dancing, creating a magnificent and moving scene.

Lu Zhi and Qiao Xuan stood aside, deeply attracted by this group of energetic young people. They watched Ma Chao and Sun Ce dance with swords drawn, and listened to Zhou Yu and others playing swords and singing, with gratified smiles on their faces.

The conversation between the two elders was filled with a sense of pride and hope. Despite the current social unrest and the hardships faced by people, they saw hope for the future in these young people. They seemed to see these young people fighting bravely on future battlefields, striving for the peace of their country and nation.

Lu Zhi stroked his beard and said to Qiao Xuan with emotion, "Look, these young people make me believe that this chaotic world will eventually be pacified. The future is promising!" Qiao Xuan nodded in agreement, his eyes gleaming, "Yes, they give me hope. With such a young generation in our country, there is no need to worry about its prosperity!"

Under their gaze, Ma Chao and Sun Ce's sword dances became more passionate, and the singing of Zhou Yu and others became louder and louder. The entire pavilion was filled with a vigorous and upward force, as if announcing to the world that the younger generation is ready to meet challenges and strive for a better future.

Finally, Lu Zhi took out the farewell wine he had prepared long ago, and everyone took the cups and drank it all in one gulp. The wine's spiciness seemed to carry the taste of parting.

Ma Chao, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu hugged each other tightly, their eyes full of determination and reluctance, and said take care to each other. Their friendship seemed extremely deep at this moment.

Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao, Cai Wenji and Lu Wan were already in tears. They said goodbye to each other with tears in their eyes, holding each other tightly with their hands, unwilling to let go.

Under the reluctant gazes of the crowd, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu escorted the convoy away. The departing convoy seemed to take away some of the worries in the hearts of the crowd.

A gentle breeze blew, stirring up the dust on the ground, as if adding a touch of melancholy to the scene of farewell. The gradually receding convoy also became an indelible memory in everyone's hearts.

After this separation, perhaps it's truly unknown how long it will be before we meet again. In this world of uncertainty, no one can predict what the future will hold. When they meet again, the world may have shifted dramatically, the situation turbulent, and they, each on their own path, have become the trendsetters driving the times forward.

The time they spent together here will become the most precious memories in each other's hearts. The laughter and lofty ambitions in that pavilion will accompany them and become their driving force for continuous progress in the days to come.

As time goes by, when they look back on the past, they will surely remember the scene of this farewell and feel filled with emotion.