Three Kingdoms Retold Book 1 ☆ God of War

Chapter 1 River East, Ancient China, Winter 183

From a distance, the salt evaporation ponds resembled rice paddies covered with fresh snow. Under the morning sun, the white crystals sparkled like diamonds.

Guan Yu pushed a heavy wagon full of salt harvested by his father's employees into his family's warehouse. After wiping sweat off his forehead, he tucked his silky black hair under a headdress made of luxurious brocade. His green robe contrasted with his distinctive skin color, a brownish red like sweetened dates.

While he was unloading the salt, his father shouted. "Happy birthday, my baby boy!"

Guan Yu turned back to the warehouse entrance. "Papa, I'm twenty-one years old-not a baby anymore."

"No matter what, you'll always be the baby of our family. If your mom had not passed away-" The old man grew teary-eyed.

Over the past year, Guan Yu had seen his father burst into tears many times. Such awkward moments made him nervous. "Mama would come here with you and my little nephew. Where are my brother and his son?"

"I think your big brother has gone drinking again."

Guan Yu frowned. "If so, he won't remember my birthday."

"I told him to stay sober. He never listens to me, and I don't want to talk about him. Today I've come here to give you this." Guan Yu's father was carrying an unusual weapon.

Shaped like a crescent, the blade had a sharp edge with an icy gleam. The blade was mounted on a metal pole covered with paintings of green dragons.

Guan Yu's eyes narrowed. "What kind of a weapon is this?"

His father whipped the blade round and round, creating an ephemeral silvery circle. "This is what the blacksmiths call the Crescent Blade."

Guan Yu's eyes widened in response to the amazing display of his father's martial arts skills. The old man was an avid practitioner though he was past his prime. "Bravo!"

"You've taken enough kung fu lessons to advance from a practice weapon to a real one. This is your birthday present."

As Guan Yu took it from his father, it dipped in his hand. Its unexpected mass caught him off guard. "This is twice the weight of my old blade."

"It's heavy enough to strike down horses along with their riders. When you master it, you'll be able to block an army." His father nodded. "Next year, I'll buy you a warhorse. The one I have in mind is called Red Hare."

Guan Yu had heard of the famous horse but never seen him. "Why is he named Red Hare?"

"His hair is reddish brown, and his face is shaped like a rabbit's."

Guan Yu visualized a handsome stallion. "How can you buy him? He belongs to a ruthless governor in the Northwest."

"People in the Northwest are poor, so I can buy anything there."

The boast of his spendthrift father made him chuckle. "Oh, please don't waste your money!"

"I'll do everything I can to help you become the best warrior in the World Under Heaven." Guan Yu's father used a literal translation of the empire's name. "In chaotic times like this, outlaws who robbed and killed my wife are becoming common. Your brother tried avenging her death, but too many people participated in the riots. You must seek revenge by joining an army."

Guan Yu peered at the tears welling up in his father's eyes. They streamed down the old man's cheeks and beard. "Please don't be sad."
"I'll always be sad until a hero appears and gets rid of all bandits. You still want to become a general and quell the next wave of rebellions, don't you?"