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

Chapter 106. Intention (4)

In the magnificent garden of the command center, flower petals scattered as two women exchanged sharp glances, with me caught in the middle.

To my side, Zhang Yang clung tightly, rubbing her cheek against mine as she sobbed uncontrollably for hours.

Meanwhile, Lü Bu watched this scene with clear displeasure, clenching her teeth.

And finally, there was me, sitting like a wooden statue, unable to think of any way to resolve this situation.

Separated by a table, the atmosphere felt as intense as a battlefield.

“How long do you plan to cling to him?”

Unable to bear it any longer, Lü Bu was the first to speak up.

She crossed her arms and growled in frustration, practically a beast in her demeanor.

I couldn’t help but feel like prey in front of a predator.

“…My dear, how could you associate with such a woman? What face does she have to be with you?”

Zhang Yang, for her part, showed no signs of backing down.

I understood her perspective.

She had witnessed with her own eyes how Lü Bu slaughtered her soldiers.

Of course, Lü Bu wasn’t one to take such words quietly. She furrowed her brow.

Finally, with a desperate look, I managed to calm her down a bit.

If left unchecked, who knew what Lü Bu might do, given her volatile nature.

Zhang Yang, however, seemed utterly unfazed, remaining glued to my shoulder.

“More importantly, are you truly all right? I heard you went missing for months. What on earth happened?”

“Well, a lot happened. It’s a long story.”

“You’re not unwell, are you?”

“I’m fine now.”

“If you were safe, you should have at least sent me word. I was so worried that something had happened to you… so worried…!”

Oh no, please don’t start crying again.

This is really too much…

Having women clinging to me like this was not something I was used to, and I could only sigh deeply.

“Enough of this nonsense.”

Lü Bu clicked her tongue, glaring daggers.

I prayed silently.

Please, someone save me…!

As if answering my prayers, I noticed a maid in the distance bringing refreshments.

She was gracefully carrying a tray with teacups and snacks, and to me, she looked like a celestial maiden descending from heaven…!

Our eyes met.

“…”

“…”

And then, the maid set the teacups down at an impossible speed and instantly turned around.

The betrayal…!

It was the first time in my life I had ever felt such raw and bitter disappointment.

I remained stuck in my uneasy seat, unable to escape, and only my eyes darted around restlessly.

***

After hearing the full story from Unryong, Zhang Yang pouted with a dissatisfied expression.

She knew he had gone missing on the battlefield, but she hadn’t expected that he had faced a life-or-death situation.

In her heart, whatever curiosity she had about the Sun clan and the Governor of Nanyang was now halved, if not completely gone.

Moreover, what truly unsettled her was the presence of the woman sitting in front of her.

Lü Bu.

Who was she?

During the Anti-Dong Zhuo Campaign, she had cornered Unryong to the brink, beheaded dozens of his comrades, and yet bizarrely fixated on him.

Zhang Yang knew how much Unryong had suffered because of her.

From Zhang Yang’s perspective, having witnessed it all up close, she couldn’t understand why this woman was now by Unryong’s side.

And to think that during the months when he was missing, the two of them had been living together.

Anger welled up inside her, and she nearly pounded the table in frustration, but being the timid person she was, she couldn’t bring herself to act rashly in front of a beast-like Lü Bu.

With her fiery red hair and sharp, intimidating presence, Lü Bu exuded a menacing aura even when just sitting still. How could someone as gentle as Zhang Yang hope to confront her?

So, Zhang Yang puffed her cheeks slightly and said timidly:

“That must have been difficult.”

“What? You little…!”

Despite her words, Zhang Yang quietly placed her hand on top of Unryong’s, a sign that she, too, was maturing.

Lü Bu, watching this scene, ground her teeth furiously.

She was reaching her limit.

Who had saved Unryong when he was on the brink of death? It was Lü Bu.

And when Unryong was immersed in his bizarre act of seeking rebirth, who had remained by his side all this time? None other than Lü Bu.

Yet, despite all this, her pride wouldn’t allow her to openly express her displeasure.

If Unryong ever smiled at her frustration, she’d rather bite her tongue and end it all.

From the start, why was she feeling this way?

Lü Bu couldn’t make sense of it and tried desperately to suppress her growing rage.

The situation only continued to worsen.

Lü Bu glared at Unryong and Zhang Yang as if she intended to kill them both!

Zhang Yang tried to face Lü Bu’s stare but couldn’t muster the courage and ended up hiding her face against Unryong’s shoulder!

And there was Unryong, debating whether to just storm out of the room!

Even a maid behind a tree watched this scene unfold with great interest!

Yes, this was like walking on thin ice…

The atmosphere was as tense as any high-stakes political negotiation.

But they couldn’t remain like this forever.

Unryong gently pushed Zhang Yang away, though he had to avoid her tearful gaze.

Regardless, the current state of the world was moving rapidly.

There was no time to waste.

“Anyway, you’ve heard the full story, Governor. Let’s get to the main point.”

“…Sigh.”

Zhang Yang, aware of the severity of the situation, reluctantly pulled away from Unryong with a peculiar, wistful sigh.

That vixen. Lü Bu’s forehead twitched with visible veins.

“Yes, I’ve also heard about the conflict between Cao Cao’s army and Yuan Shu’s forces. With the court backing her, General Cao surely had nothing to fear.”

“With the court’s backing?”

Unryong tilted his head.

“Yes, during the time when you went missing, General Cao steadily tightened her grip on the court. Whenever I visited Chang’an while searching for news of you, I saw the court officials constantly being replaced.”

“…”

“It seems that the first thing she secured was the right to make appointments. There was no one in the court who could stop her. With her loyalty and valor known throughout the realm, it was a strategy bolstered by overwhelming public support.”

“But Her Majesty is still alive.”

“Have you ever met Her Majesty?”

Unryong shook his head at Zhang Yang’s question.

“Well, I did see her once.”

“Then, what impression did she leave on you?”

“…Honestly, do you want the truth?”

“Yes, please speak without reservation.”

“Well, she seemed… just kind of pitiful… and like a little girl far too young for her position.”

“That’s exactly the problem.”

Zhang Yang raised her index finger.

“Her Majesty, the current emperor, is too young. She’s still like an unripe fruit. And during the crucial years of her growth, Dong Zhuo had control of the realm, causing the public’s faith to wane. The court wasn’t much different. General Cao likely took advantage of this, gathering the officials who were dissatisfied with the current emperor.”

“I see…”

“She is indeed a pitiable figure. If she had loyal subjects by her side, who knows what kind of ruler she might have become.”

Zhang Yang gave a bitter smile, and Unryong sighed, folding his arms.

“In the end, you’re saying that Cao Cao is practically acting as the emperor now.”

“…It’s too soon to make that judgment, but from what I’ve seen, she’s not much different from Dong Zhuo.”

“Phew.”

Unryong rubbed his face.

It seemed that things had indeed unfolded just as Liu Bei had predicted.

“As a result, General Cao now commands the most powerful force in the realm. So it’s not surprising that she declared war on the Governor of Nanyang. To command the Central Plains is to command the world. Though the timing is sudden, it’s also an ideal time, given the chaotic nature of this transitional period. Her declaration of war is, at the very least, not a bad move.”

“The retreat of the Jiangdong scum also played a role.”

Lü Bu spoke in a subdued tone.

“The Governor of Nanyang’s troops are strong, but they’re ultimately inexperienced. His greatest asset was Sun Jian, that wretched old man. But since Unryong here dealt with them, that vixen has every reason to smile.”

“…”

“And as that big-eared woman said, morale is the most critical element in war. The disappearance of you, who made the most significant contributions in both the Cao Cao and Unryong camps, has only added momentum to this situation. Revenge can be the strongest motivation a person has.”

Unryong furrowed his brow at Lü Bu’s words.

“This is really troublesome. But it hasn’t come to an actual battle yet, has it?”

Unryong tried to cling to even a sliver of hope, but Zhang Yang quickly refuted it.

“Luoyang is not an easy place to conquer. Furthermore, Yuan Shu’s forces effectively control Luoyang, Nanyang, and even most of the Central Plains. Preparations have already been completed. Cao Cao’s army is likely planning to besiege the surrounding cities as we speak. They’ve probably already begun the encirclement.”

***

Sima Yi, who had taken command of Unryong’s forces, was leisurely fanning herself beneath a large tree as leaves drifted around her.

Even in the middle of wartime, she exuded a calmness that made it hard to believe she was just a young girl.

The soldiers often looked at her with curious eyes.

However, as time passed, the gazes directed at her were mixed with reverence, fear, and respect.

“We advance southeast from Fengyi Commandery. Our next target is Hongnong Commandery. Before General Cao crosses the river and stations her troops in Hedong Commandery, we will finish this task, so be prepared.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

At the resounding reply, Sima Yi nodded slightly and turned away, walking gracefully.

She gently waved her fan up and down, striding forward without hesitation, where prisoners were held.

“What should we do?”

Baekrang, who was in the process of binding the captives one by one, asked.

Sima Yi’s eyes curved like a crescent moon as she covered her mouth with her fan.

“Kill them all. These ones are of no use.”

A week later, Hongnong Castle fell.

It was a feat that occurred merely two weeks after Sima Yi’s expedition began.