"Feng Xian, from the bottom of my heart, you have disappointed me."
"Or rather, your titles of Marquis Wen, and Governor of Xu Province, have greatly disappointed me, Cao Cao, because the true Lü Fengxian of Yanmen, the Lü Fengxian of Jiuyuan, fears no death! Even less would he grovel before me, Cao Cao, like a dog!"
"Drag him away and behead him! Marquis Wen Lü Bu deserves to die, but Jiuyuan Lü Fengxian shall not perish!"
Cao Cao's final words echoed.
Countless elite guards dragged Lü Bu towards the execution ground…
*Thump… thump…*
His steps were slow, Lü Bu struggled frantically, as if expressing his unwillingness.
But… when the appellations "Lü Fengxian of Yanmen" and "Lü Fengxian of Jiuyuan" reached his ears, Lü Bu froze. He stopped struggling, allowing the elite guards to drag his body!
It seemed…
He recalled the glorious years defending against the barbarians at Yanmen Pass.
Lü Bu, a name that struck fear into the hearts of countless Wuhuan and Xianbei people…
"Heh heh…"
Suddenly, Lü Bu's soul felt touched by something. Yes, the god of death in the eyes of the barbarians, the guardian god in the hearts of the border dwellers? When had he ever feared death?
Because… even death, at that time, was glorious and uplifting!
But his current death was base and insignificant!
Was he wrong? Had he made a mistake?
Perhaps, he should never have followed Ding Yuan to Luoyang. Perhaps, the vast yellow sands and boundless desert beyond Yanmen Pass were his true home and destination!
Gradually…
The faces of Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Wei Xu, Hou Cheng, Song Xian, and Cheng Lian before him began to fade, leaving only the dark city walls and the inescapable cycle of reincarnation!
The execution ground, is it… is it just ahead?
Just then…
"God of War Lü Fengxian, I, Dian Wei, respect you and will send you off on this final journey!"
A familiar voice reached Lü Bu's ears. He turned his head. Who else could it be but the Ancient Fierce General, his fated rival, Dian Wei?
Heh heh…
Speaking of which, how ironic. In the past, when their forces clashed, Dian Wei would always roar like a rough fellow, "Eat my halberd!"
But seeing him now on the road to execution, recalling his battlefield shouts, Lü Bu felt an immense sense of familiarity.
"Long Xiao Camp's Dian Wei, is it? Heh heh…"
Lü Bu chuckled. Perhaps unwilling to show weakness before his fated enemy, he raised his voice. "Ancient Fierce General, your twin halberds are formidable, but to this day, I, Lü Bu, do not concede to you."
"Isn't that simple?" Dian Wei's expression remained unchanged. "I'll wait for you for twenty years. If you reincarnate, we'll spar again in twenty years, and I'll even give you three moves. How about that?"
"Hahaha… Hahahahaha…"
Lü Bu was amused by Dian Wei's words. "I, Lü Bu, am invincible in the world. Even after twenty years, why would I need you to give me anything? However… we must settle the score then! I have no intention of handing over the title of number one under heaven in this chaotic era!"
At these words, Dian Wei nodded.
"That's for the best!"
With a final word… Dian Wei took out the "Masked Beast Head Linked Armor" from a chest behind him and draped it over Lü Bu, even tying a blue silk sash.
"What is this?" Lü Bu asked in surprise.
Dian Wei replied truthfully, "My young master said that the Peerless War God deserves a peerless death. Even in death, he should not look so dishevelled!"
*Hoo…*
Lü Bu let out a soft sigh. *My young master?* He naturally knew… it was likely the Hidden Dragon that Master Chen spoke of, the mysterious young master Lu Yu in Cao Cao's camp!
"I didn't expect… he has such a thoughtful gesture!" Lü Bu murmured.
*Bang…*
From the wooden box beside Dian Wei, a silver helmet was retrieved, its two pheasant feathers soaring upwards, as if proclaiming an unyielding fighting spirit!
"This…"
Lü Bu looked at the dust on the pheasant feathers.
Dian Wei placed it on Lü Bu's forehead. At this moment… Lü Bu seemed to understand something, and his heart was filled with infinite gratitude and regret.
He was grateful to Lu Yu for giving him dignity in his final moments, and he regretted his earlier groveling before Cao Cao!
Cao Cao was right. The Lü Fengxian of Jiuyuan and the Lü Fengxian of Yanmen had lost their way. Was the current Lü Bu disappointing him?
Groveling? Begging for his life?
Could the Lü Fengxian of Jiuyuan ever do such a thing?
To die heroically! Lü Fengxian of Yanmen, Lü Fengxian of Jiuyuan, why fear death?
With this thought, Lü Bu raised his head. "Today, there is no Marquis Wen, no Governor of Xu Province. I am Lü Fengxian of Jiuyuan. Why should I fear death?"
*Step… step!*
No longer needing to be dragged, Lü Bu's eyes blazed with fighting spirit. He strode with the bearing of a dragon and tiger towards the executioners.
He intended to face death with his head held high!
But at this moment…
"Yanmen's Liu Wang, seeing off General Lü!"
"Shuofang's Liu Jing, seeing off General Lü!"
"Wuzhou's Li Ergou, seeing off General Lü!"
"Shangdang's Lin Fan, seeing off General Lü!"
"Jinyang's Zhang Hu, seeing off General Lü!"
"Shangjun's Wu Gui, seeing off General Lü!"
"Yanmen's Zhang San, seeing off General Lü!"
One, two, three…
Ten, twenty, thirty… more and more armoured soldiers converged.
Lü Bu recognized some of them, and some he didn't. However… looking at their attire, Lü Bu knew they were all from the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry!
They were all unfortunate sons of the border!
The borderlands, where ten houses were empty, forged the iron-willed Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, and also forged their faith in the god of slaughter Lü Bu, the god of war Lü Fengxian!
More and more armoured soldiers poured into White Gate Tower's Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry.
In less than a moment, there were over three hundred. They arrayed themselves before the executioners, knowing… these shouts might bring them endless trouble later!
And they would be listed as Lü Bu's remnants by Cao Cao, to be annihilated one by one!
But…
Not a single one of the over three hundred Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry retreated.
"And I, Zhang Liao, a man of Yanmen and Mayi…"
A voice soared upwards, and a heroic man took a large stride forward… "Feng Xian, go ahead. I, Zhang Liao, will follow shortly! I will go to the Yellow Springs with General Lü!"
"Hahaha… To die, how could I, Gao Shun, be absent!" Another laugh rang out. "My lord knows my loyalty but does not use it. Shun has no regrets towards my lord. My ambition to charge into battle means death or nothing!"
At his shout…
Instantly, hundreds of surrendered soldiers stood up, all shouting in unison—"Our ambition to charge into battle means death or nothing!"
High-pitched, mournful… this scene brought tears to countless eyes.
"You…?"
"What are you doing?"
Lü Bu, as if possessed, yelled hysterically at these soldiers. "You can surrender to Cao Cao! Why… why follow me to the Yellow Springs!"
But at this moment…
An unknown private stepped forward, his eyes filled with a will to die, and he roared:
"My name is Zhang Goudan. I am a man of the Northern Frontier. The General saved me when he defended against the barbarians. I have nothing to repay him with, so I have always followed the General! The General is the protector of the Northern Frontier in my heart!"
"My life belongs to the General. If the General dies today in Xiapi, then I will also die with the General in Xiapi. How can I surrender?"
"To die with the General! How can we surrender?"
"To die with the General! How can we surrender?"
"To die with the General! How can we surrender?"
The shouts of three hundred men… the clouds and wind changed color, and for a moment, it sounded like the roar of a hundred thousand wolf riders.
…
"Venerable Cao…"
These exclamations reached White Gate Tower. Xu Chu, realizing something was wrong, was about to order the elite guards to drag away the incensed Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry.
But Cao Cao waved his hand. "Let them be. Let them see off their master on his final journey!"
*Hoo…*
With a soft sigh, Cao Cao's heart was filled with emotion.
He never expected, just as Yu'er had said, that among the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry and in the borderlands, there were so many loyal and righteous men. These soldiers revered Jiuyuan Lü Fengxian as their idol. These soldiers could be used, and they were indeed capable!
And almost simultaneously!
Liu Bei's eyes narrowed.
His heart was filled with mixed emotions. He never expected Lü Bu to have such prestige among the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry and in the border regions.
*Hoo.*
Thinking of this, Liu Bei let out a long sigh, feeling a hint of relief. Fortunately… his subtle words had sparked Cao Cao's murderous intent. Otherwise, if Lü Bu had surrendered to Cao Cao… it would have been more than a serious threat to him, Liu Bei!
"Elder Brother, Third Brother, what do you think of Lü Bu?"
Guan Yu suddenly uttered.
Zhang Fei scratched his head. "I originally thought he was just a turncoat, but I never imagined he had such a magnificent side to him."
Liu Bei nodded subtly… "What Third Brother said is what I was thinking. Venerable Cao's words were correct. Marquis Wen Lü Bu deserves to die, but Jiuyuan Lü Fengxian shall not perish!"
Hearing this, Guan Yu's face trembled slightly. He said nothing, but… he felt his Green Dragon Crescent Blade was becoming thirsty.
If Lü Bu dies, then in this world, he, Guan Yu, will have no equal!
…
…
Resolute, countless resolute gazes fixed upon the "guillotine"!
Standing before the executioners, Lü Bu's pheasant feathers fluttered in the gentle breeze. Looking at the three hundred brothers who had come to see him off, he shouted—
"Brothers of the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, today, I, Lü Bu, perish here, but my soul will return to the Northern Frontier to defend the borderlands. I… Jiuyuan Lü Fengxian, Yanmen Lü Fengxian, will witness the three tribes of the Eastern Hu perish beyond Yin Mountains sooner or later! I am still the defender of the borderlands, the god of slaughter in the eyes of the barbarians!"
He returned. That… Jiuyuan Lü Fengxian returned at the moment of his death.
He had awakened from his life of decadence.
"We respectfully bid farewell to the General!"
"We respectfully bid farewell to the General!"
"We respectfully bid farewell to the General!"
Without weapons, the three hundred Bingzhou soldiers clasped their hands and watched…
Perhaps, in their eyes, the Jiuyuan Lü Fengxian of these past years had gradually drifted away. They, the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, had also slept in the decadent pleasures of the Central Plains. Together, they had lost their fiery spirit!
But today… Lü Fengxian died heroically, and he returned… that Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, fearless of death, invincible across the land, defending the borders, they had also returned.
The autumn wind howled…
The banners fluttered in the wind. On White Gate Tower… a chill wind swept through, and a tragic atmosphere rippled outwards. Every soldier's eyes were filled with tears!
*Whoosh…*
The great sabers in the executioners' hands were raised.
"General…"
Countless cries rang out again, shaking the heavens, adding a layer of desolation to the atmosphere!
But at this moment, Dian Wei waved his hand, and the armoured soldiers of the Long Xiao Camp extended a piece of white silk in front of the execution ground, enveloping Lü Bu.
This was…
The highest respect the Long Xiao Camp… or rather, Lu Yu, could give Lü Bu!
How could a peerless flying general have his head severed for all to see?
His head must, and always would, be held high.
"Ancient Fierce General…" Seeing the white cloth, Lü Bu sighed. "Your young master is thoughtful!"
"Heh heh…" Dian Wei smiled, then fell silent, saying nothing. He merely shouted loudly to the outer perimeter, "Scribe Lu has ordered that the execution ground be wrapped in white silk to give Marquis Wen Lü Bu his final dignity!"
With a final word, Dian Wei raised his hand. "Executioners, heed my command, immediately—execute!"
As the words fell…
*Hum…*
The great sabers swung down. The blood spurting from his neck stained the surrounding white silk. The blood gushed like a fountain… as if it instantly dyed the sky red, and this small patch of land red.
Countless Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry clenched their teeth, their eyes closed. Even though they were wrapped in white silk, they could not bear to witness the scene of the god of war's fall!
And when they opened their eyes…
Through the white cloth, Lü Bu's body was still standing, but his neck was empty!
In their ears, only the crisp sounds of "thud," "thud" could be heard!
—The head had fallen!
"He's dead?"
Zhang Liao and Gao Shun, witnessing this scene, instinctively closed their eyes. The victor takes all, the vanquished is defeated. Such is the world… is not such a high position meant to be paved with the blood of countless lives?
Of course… Zhang Liao and Gao Shun did not have too many regrets.
Because they knew, the next one… to ascend White Gate Tower and face death would be them.
Surrender?
Never surrender!
"Wen Yuan… listen to my words!" Gao Shun whispered, his words full of deep meaning… "The motto of my Vanguard Camp is—our ambition to charge into battle means death or nothing. My seven hundred brave vanguard soldiers will naturally follow Marquis Wen to the Yellow Springs, but… you, Zhang Wen Yuan, are different!"
"Heh heh, I didn't expect that in General Gao's eyes, I would be such a coward!"
Zhang Liao sneered…
"No!" Gao Shun waved his hand. "Often, death is a release, and it takes more courage to live!"
Speaking of this, Gao Shun's eyes narrowed. "Wen Yuan, have you ever considered? If all of us are gone, then who will take care of Marquis Wen's wife and children? Could it be… Cao Cao? Can you bear to see Lü Bu's beloved Diao Chan fall into Cao Cao's hands?"
This…
At these words, Zhang Liao suddenly understood.
"General Gao, what you mean is?"
"Brother Wen Yuan is a few years younger than me. To die heroically is an easy matter, let me do it. As for… living with greater courage, to take care of Lü Bu's Diao Chan, Lingqi, Ling Ju… and Lady Yan!"
"Yes, Lady Yan has been living in seclusion among the common people for a long time for Marquis Wen's great cause. They must live! They cannot be left without a livelihood!"
"Wen Yuan, this is difficult… this will be more difficult than death, but… only you can do these things!"
Gao Shun's words became increasingly earnest.
"If you surrender to Cao Cao, then he will still have some reservations and perhaps will not harm Marquis Wen's wife and daughters. But… if you…"
"I understand." Zhang Liao gave a wry smile.
After the wry smile, he gritted his teeth. "I know what to do. If General Gao meets Marquis Wen in the afterlife, please tell him… with me, Zhang Wen Yuan here, Marquis Wen's wife and daughters will surely be safe!"
Hearing this, Gao Shun said no more. He was never a man of many words.
And Zhang Liao, Zhang Wen Yuan… this brother who had followed Lü Bu since Yanmen Pass was enough to reassure him, and enough to reassure Marquis Wen in the afterlife.
"Next, it's my turn…"
Gao Shun patted Zhang Liao's shoulder, glanced at the towering White Gate Tower, and then… looked back at the two elite guards holding him. "Venerable Cao, why haven't you sent me to White Gate Tower yet?"
Silence…
The elite guards remained silent!
Gao Shun followed the city steps up to the tower. The victor takes all, the defeated is defeated, the outcome seemed predetermined!
He only hoped…
That Cao Cao would grant him, Gao Shun, and the seven hundred brave soldiers of the Vanguard Camp a swift death!
And fulfill their motto of "Our ambition to charge into battle means death or nothing!"
…
On White Gate Tower.
Lü Bu's head was placed into a wooden box.
Dian Wei carried the wooden box before Cao Cao.
The wooden box was tightly sealed. Apart from Cao Cao, no one could see the head within.
And Cao Cao did not forget to reach out and affectionately touch the blood-stained cheek of "Marquis Wen Lü Bu"…
"What a pity, what a pity…"
He sighed…
Then he raised his hand.
"Bury Marquis Wen Lü Bu with great honor. According to his wishes, bury his remains in Yanmen… let his soul defend the borderlands of our Great Han!"
"Yes!" Dian Wei agreed, then closed the wooden box and quickly withdrew.
*Hoo…*
Hearing this, the great stones in the hearts of Wei Xu, Hou Cheng, Song Xian, and Cheng Lian were lifted!
The great stones in the hearts of countless surrendered soldiers and generals were also safely lifted.
It was stable now, at least they no longer had to worry about Lü Bu's revenge!
After all, what would be the terrifying extent of a peerless god of war's revenge?
*Hoo…*
Liu Bei also let out a long sigh.
In the art of concealed thoughts… the strategy of "borrowing a knife to kill" had succeeded…
Cao Cao had killed Lü Bu. Then, Lü Bu's most loyal generals would surely not surrender to Cao Cao. Thus… it was a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils, minimizing Cao Cao's combat strength to the greatest extent.
However…
Where would his own future, Liu Bei's future, lead?
How long would he have to continue this art of concealed thoughts!
As for Cao Cao…
He lowered his head, his peripheral vision sweeping over the people within White Gate Tower. Seeing them exhaling, sighing, or smiling, Cao Cao's expression remained stern, but his heart was filled with emotion.
The plan…
The plan seemed to be going smoothly!
—Marquis Wen Lü Bu had perished successfully at Cao Cao's hands!
And next…
With this thought, Cao Cao's eyes gazed towards the outside of the city, towards the direction where their Cao camp was originally stationed. There… Yu'er and the main body of the Long Xiao Cavalry had not yet entered the city!
Next… it was up to Yu'er!
—Marquis Wen Lü Bu has perished. Can Jiuyuan Lü Fengxian still not be extinguished?
…
…