It Wasn’t a Martial Arts World, but the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 103. Intention (1)

The world was moving rapidly.

The warlords each held their own ideals, acted upon them, and the era flowed with their waves.

Whether it became a flood that brought disaster or not, the waves that had already started flowing could not be stopped.

Even the Unryong Army was no exception.

The small ripple that began with Unryong’s disappearance had grown into a wave that now engulfed the entire army.

That unprecedented wave was hatred and anger.

Zhao Yun, wiping her spearhead with oil, spoke quietly.

“Is Baekrang’s condition any better?”

“Well, that bastard is always the same. You could say he’s overflowing with enthusiasm to the point of excess.”

“I see.”

As Unsam said this, Zhao Yun nodded and turned her gaze towards the vast field.

Training was in full swing.

With Cao Cao determined to attack Yuan Shu, the Unryong Army was also swinging their swords diligently, preparing for the next war.

Watching blankly, Unsam hesitantly opened his mouth to Zhao Yun.

“Captain Zhao Yun, I don’t understand. Is this really right? We’re our brother’s subordinates, not Cao Cao’s.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“What I mean is, shouldn’t we be more careful… Damn it, I was born a fool, just like Brother always said, so I can’t even explain it properly. The same goes for Baekrang, and all the others too. They’re too eager. I just don’t know. Is this really what Brother would have wanted?”

Unsam didn’t know how to convey his thoughts any further and scratched his head roughly.

It was then.

Unsam felt a certain weight on his shoulder.

A small, white hand.

It was not the hand of a warrior wielding a sword.

“This is not the time to be choosy about our means.”

Over Unsam’s shoulder, violet eyes shone quietly.

“If you’ve been wronged, isn’t it a warrior’s duty to pay it back? This lack of spirit is pathetic.”

The girl exhaled softly.

Unsam looked at her and furrowed his brows in distaste.

“What’s with that face?”

“N-Nothing.”

“And besides, don’t you have work to do? I told you to organize the military rations with Haryeong around noon, didn’t I?”

“…Ah, got it. Stop nagging already, geez.”

That brat, no, Sima Yi, would always nag like that whenever she had a chance.

In other words, the best course of action was to avoid her whenever she showed up.

Otherwise, that small, rodent-like girl could turn into a terrifying monster.

When Sima Yi straightened out the Unryong Army, whose discipline had slackened in Unryong’s absence, she could only be described as a devil.

In the end, Unsam, sweating profusely, quickly fled.

“Captain Zhao Yun, isn’t it time you also participated in the training?”

“…”

“Hah, honestly… You still haven’t gotten over it, have you? That sense of loss.”

Sima Yi crouched down beside Zhao Yun, who sat on a rock, silently polishing the tip of her spear.

“That’s not it, Strategist.”

“It’s not, huh? Then why do you look so scary?”

“…”

“Captain Zhao Yun, you’re the sharpest sword I have. But at the same time, you’re also the dullest. Do you know what that means?”

“…I’m not sure.”

“A sword with emotions can never truly cut anything.”

Sima Yi smiled sweetly.

The girl wasn’t usually one to smile, but in certain situations, she would show such an endearing smile fitting her age.

For example, when she felt anger.

“Captain Zhao Yun, I plan to wipe out every last member of the Sun family. Anyone related to the Suns—I’ll gouge their eyes, peel their skin, and hang their heads.”

Sima Yi continued.

“To do that, we need to seize control of the Central Plains and expand our power. Right now, our allegiance to Cao Cao is just a means to an end. You’ve realized it too, haven’t you? That to ensure our survival, we need strength.”

“…Strategist.”

Zhao Yun slowly set her spear down and spoke.

“I… I don’t know. Honestly, I feel the same as Unsam. The master I swore allegiance to was our teacher. But now, our army…”

“And yet, you can’t let go of your regrets.”

At Sima Yi’s blunt statement, Zhao Yun swallowed her breath.

It was true.

She couldn’t let go of her regrets.

If only she had been a little stronger that day.

And if she had learned her teacher’s teachings.

‘That incident’ might never have happened.

It had been months now.

They couldn’t find any trace of their teacher, and rumors had already spread that he was dead.

Every time she heard such rumors, Zhao Yun denied them, and Sima Yi would track down those who spread them and beat them mercilessly.

“Pfft… In the end, you’re just like me, Captain. You want revenge, don’t you?”

“…”

“You want to fulfill your duties as a disciple, right?”

Sima Yi pushed Zhao Yun.

She had relentlessly pressured her over the past few months.

Not just Zhao Yun, but she had also driven the entire Unryong Army, who were mired in loss.

As Zhao Yun hesitated, Sima Yi stood up.

“Well, I trust you, Captain Zhao Yun. You’re one of the few people I truly rely on, so please live up to my expectations. All of this is for vengeance.”

“…Understood.”

Sima Yi then turned away.

The girl hated losing what was hers more than anything.

If there was a thief trying to take what was hers, they would have to pay dearly.

Sima Yi smirked.

The war was right at the doorstep.

***

“…”

A majestic throne adorned with dazzling patterns stood before her.

The young girl on it wore a troubled expression.

In front of her were letters from Cao Cao.

Most were military documents.

Official requests asking the emperor’s permission to carry out various actions.

The girl didn’t need to read them.

All she had to do was stamp her seal, as she had always done.

Such was life.

Though she sat at the highest position in the country, the girl was nothing but a puppet.

The girl, Liu Xie, gave a bitter smile.

In the end, nothing had changed.

The court still existed for the emperor, but there was no one there for the emperor; they were all filled with the intention to use her.

Suddenly, memories of the not-so-distant past surfaced.

‘I’ve come to save you.’

She was the emperor, yes, but she had only just turned ten.

So, she couldn’t easily forget the warrior who had come to rescue her.

‘I am Unryong. I’m here, so rest easy.’

A man who reached out to her in the pitch-black darkness.

Though their meeting had been but a fleeting moment, Liu Xie felt a sense of comfort.

The aura that flowed around him, and some unknown sense of uprightness, conveyed itself to her in that brief encounter.

So perhaps, just a little, she had hoped.

That in this pitch-black darkness, this man could save her.

“Your Majesty.”

Then, a voice that echoed through the court forcibly pulled Liu Xie out of her memories.

“…General Cao.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I am Cao Mengde.”

If Unryong had brought her comfort, then the woman kneeling before her now brought her fear.

Like the warm sun contrasted with the cold moon.

To Liu Xie, Cao Cao was always expressionless, but the ambition flickering in those red eyes seemed to rival Dong Zhuo’s.

“I have come to offer a modest report as a loyal servant of Han.”

Whenever she spoke like this, her intentions were obvious.

Cao Cao had announced that she would soon march on Luoyang with the court’s forces.

The emperor had approved.

She also added that there would be so many matters to handle that she would no longer be able to visit in person.

This too, the emperor approved.

“I plan to appoint officials to court positions. I hope it’s not too bold of me to say, but the current court needs to change.”

“Yes, I see.”

Despite the ongoing disloyalty, Liu Xie could do nothing.

Normally, such blatant talk of filling the emperor’s closest advisors with one’s own people would not be tolerated, but what could she do if she didn’t tolerate it?

While Liu Xie was being consumed by the grandeur of the throne, Cao Cao steadily took control of the court.

“I will follow your advice.”

“I am deeply grateful.”

Without a single change in expression, Cao Cao gave a slight bow and stood up.

Liu Xie could only watch her back as she left.

A girl swept away by the power play could only lower her gaze in silence.

***

The changes caused by the disappearance of a single man were also evident in Shangdang Commandery.

Over the past few months, dissatisfaction within the commandery had been rising.

The target of their discontent was clear.

It was aimed at Zhang Yang, who had fallen from a compassionate governor to a frail woman.

This was a natural development.

Anyone who saw her by chance would express their displeasure.

Her disheveled hair and the shadows under her eyes gave rise to rumors that she was possessed by a ghost.

“…Ah.”

And so, another morning arrived.

It was hard to tell how many days had passed.

Though the voices of discontent were loud, she simply couldn’t get up.

Her body was weak.

She had no appetite.

Thus, she failed to uphold the virtues required of a warlord.

The governor, who should always have been resolute, was now bedridden.

It was almost laughable.

Realizing this, Zhang Yang could only smile weakly.

“…Unryong.”

Eventually, Zhang Yang murmured.

“As expected, I am nothing but a coward.”

Her voice trembled faintly.