— Where am I?
— Who am I?
— What am I going to do?
A string of soul-searching questions surfaced on Lu Bu’s brow. Looking at the military tent before him, the layout within, Lu Bu was utterly bewildered upon opening his eyes.
He had… he had died, hadn't he? Died at Bai Men Lou, under that great saber.
There were still three hundred Bingzhou warriors to see him off, Zhang Liao and Gao Shun to speak his last words.
To the Yellow Springs together?
Shouldn't he be heading to the Yellow Springs?
Could it be… this Yellow Springs was the appearance of a military camp?
Lu Bu subconsciously touched his neck. No scars. The ancients were extremely particular about the integrity of their bodies. Even in death, who wouldn't wish for a complete corpse?
Thankfully, his head was still there…
Not a headless wandering spirit!
Lu Bu sighed, but he felt a sharp pain at the back of his head. Reaching out to touch it, there was still bruising… clearly, he had been struck and knocked unconscious by a wooden club.
“Awake?”
A voice sounded!
This… there was still a voice on the road to the Yellow Springs?
Lu Bu looked up, seeing a burly, sturdy man. Broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, his forearm was as thick as Lu Bu’s thigh, like a bear. A saber hung at his waist…
This person, Lu Bu recognized him. He was Cao Cao’s personal guard, the commander of the Tiger Guards – Xu Chu!
But? Had he died too?
“Didn't expect you to be killed by Cao Cao as well?” Lu Bu sighed. “Cao Cao is truly unpredictable!”
“Bastard, what nonsense are you spouting?” Xu Chu’s eyes were cold. “This is the military camp of the Long Xiao Battalion outside Xiapi City. Speak any more nonsense, and your head might truly fall to the ground!”
The reason Xu Chu was here was specifically ordered by Cao Cao.
According to Yu’er’s plan.
During the execution, a white cloth would be wrapped… to give Lu Bu his final dignity, Lu Bu would be swapped with another prisoner.
The one whose head was severed, whose blood splattered, was that prisoner…
And Lu Bu, he was merely knocked unconscious by Xu Chu with a club!
Just as a 'tanuki cat' could be exchanged for a crown prince, naturally… a death row inmate could be exchanged for a living Fengxian!
However, Cao Cao worried about Yu’er's safety.
Therefore, he specially sent Xu Chu to personally escort Lu Bu to the Long Xiao Battalion camp, reiterating his instructions to protect Lu Sinong and ensure his safety! Xu Chu had been guarding Lu Bu’s side. Seeing him stirring, he quickly informed Dian Wei, asking him to report to Lu Sinong.
It was just…
To Lu Bu, this was all a fog…
Astonishing, and unfamiliar…
It was as if he… should not have belonged to this world anymore.
“Long Xiao Battalion? Military camp?”
Lu Bu murmured, looking around.
Indeed… everything around him was too real. He could even feel the breeze outside the tent and the chill after the torrential downpour!
Wait!
Why was he alive? Why was he in the Long Xiao Battalion?
Lu Bu asked urgently, “Was… was Young Master Lu the one who saved me?”
“I don’t know…” Xu Chu waved his hand. He truly didn’t know.
Whatever Cao Cao told him to do, he would do it. Anything else, anything that shouldn't be asked, Xu Chu wouldn't ask.
“This is the Long Xiao Battalion, then…” Lu Bu continued to ask, his tone more urgent. “Where is Young Master Lu? Your Long Xiao Battalion’s Young Master Lu?”
“I’m here!”
As Lu Bu’s voice finished, a crisp voice came from outside the tent.
Immediately following, a handsome young gentleman appeared before Lu Bu. The corners of his lips curled into a faint smile, his expression calm and composed. He walked up to Lu Bu and generously recited a line.
“Lu Fengxian, a pleasure, a pleasure!”
This…
Lu Bu’s eyeballs fixed. Was this… was this the Hidden Dragon Yu, who was always mentioned by Master Gongtai, hidden behind Cao Cao’s curtain, the unfathomable strategist, the commander of the world-renowned Long Xiao Battalion – Lu Yu?
He seemed too young!
Lu Bu found it difficult to associate such a dashing young man with the Hidden Dragon who was full of schemes and unfathomable plans, but seeing Xu Chu’s and the surrounding guards' attitudes towards him, Lu Bu could definitively confirm that this was Lu Yu!
— A person’s reputation is like a tree’s shadow…
Whether Hidden Dragon or Lu Yu, this name carried immense weight.
“I never imagined that I, Lu Bu, was not dead, and even less did I imagine that I, Lu Bu, would be able to meet Young Master Lu of the Long Xiao Battalion!”
Lu Bu rose abruptly.
As he stood, his imposing frame exuded an innate aura of deterrence.
The deterrence of an unparalleled God of War.
Even Xu Chu felt a subconscious tremor, but Lu Yu remained with his hands behind his back, a smile on his lips, as if… Lu Bu’s deterrence was not worth mentioning before him.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll harm you, Young Master Lu?” Lu Bu asked curiously.
“Afraid? Why be afraid?” Lu Yu spread his hands, then smiled and reminded him, “The one on my left, you should be very familiar with him. You’ve fought him three times!”
That’s right, Lu Bu recognized him. Standing to Lu Yu’s left was the ancient Fierce General – Dian Wei!
This morning at the execution ground, he had come to see him off for the last time!
“Didn’t expect to meet again so soon! Marquis Wen!” Dian Wei said.
Lu Bu was about to reply when Lu Yu’s voice continued, “The one on my right, you should have heard his name too. The one who shook Jingnan, the one who could shoot a willow leaf from a hundred paces – Huang Zhong, Huang Hansheng!”
Hoo…
Lu Bu softly murmured.
Huang Zhong, of course, he had heard of him.
Known as invincible in Jingnan, Lu Bu’s subordinate “Galaxy Archer” Cao Xing had died by Huang Zhong’s arrow.
When Lu Bu heard of this, he was eager to challenge Huang Zhong’s archery skills!
“Lu Fengxian, I heard you shot an arrow through the辕门 (yuan men), hehe, I, Huang Zhong, am not convinced. If there’s a chance, we must spar!”
Huang Zhong patted his chest, looking eager.
He had only just learned that Lu Bu was not dead; this was all Young Master Lu’s strategy!
Besides admiring Young Master Lu’s strategy, Huang Zhong felt a sense of inexplicable relief in his heart.
In this era, there were truly few people in archery who could pique his interest in a contest. It would be too regrettable if he died…
Lu Yu’s words continued.
“And the one by your side, he is the commander of the Tiger Guards, the Tiger Marquis Xu Chu who shakes Huai and Ru! If I may be so bold… putting aside the Red Hare horse, in a battle on foot, you, Lu Bu, may not be his opponent!”
As Lu Yu said this!
Xu Chu chuckled and blurted out four words: “If you’re not convinced, come and fight!”
Heh…
Now, Lu Bu understood. No wonder Young Master Lu was so confident and unafraid of him…
Heh, just these three within the tent, each one was a formidable warrior comparable to Lu Bu himself!
“Heh heh…” Lu Bu gave a wry smile. “The Long Xiao Battalion truly lives up to its name, a place where dragons and tigers lie hidden…”
Hearing this…
Lu Yu smiled slightly. “So, General Lu, even if you want to harm me, it won’t be that easy.”
With that said… Lu Yu’s eyes twinkled as if he had thought of something.
“By the way, General Lu, you haven't eaten today, have you?”
And of course, it was true. Lu Bu had a packed schedule, suffering a rebellion in the dead of night, being bound tightly, and then rushing to the execution ground in the morning. He hadn’t even had time to eat his last meal, the poor child!
Lu Yu turned and beckoned.
“Have the kitchen send a bowl of dumplings. It’s cold, so let our General Lu warm up!”
Eating dumplings during the Winter Solstice was because of the cold weather!
But now, after the torrential rain, the air outside was much fresher, but the weather was also very cold! It was almost like the Winter Solstice!
Of course, Lu Bu’s heart must have felt even more “chilled.”
“Heh…” Lu Bu gave a wry smile and sat back down on the couch. “Young Master Lu saved my life, but surely not just for this bowl of dumplings, right…”
That’s right.
Lu Yu smiled and waved his hand. “No hurry. Let’s talk after you’ve eaten. General Lu, you don’t know me well, so you naturally don’t know that I, Lu Yu, am a benevolent person.”
“If Young Master Lu doesn’t explain things clearly, I fear I won’t be able to eat these dumplings!”
Lu Bu had heard that people from Yanzhou liked eating dumplings, and he was curious about what dumplings were! But the key issue was… he was completely baffled right now! How could he have the mood to eat dumplings?
Cough cough…
Lu Yu coughed lightly, then spread his hands. “Alright, since… General Lu doesn’t want to eat dumplings, let’s talk about your wife then!”
As the saying goes, nothing is tastier than dumplings, and nothing is more enjoyable than a sister-in-law.
Beautiful things should always be discussed together, such as dumplings and sister-in-laws.
This…
Lu Bu’s eyes narrowed. He subconsciously thought of someone. He stood up abruptly, his emotions particularly agitated.
“Diao Chan? Where is my Diao Chan?”
Seeing this posture, Lu Bu wanted to grab Lu Yu.
Uh… what a reaction!
This posture startled Lu Yu.
Lu Yu originally wanted to say, “Damn it, Diao Chan isn’t around my waist, why are you so agitated!”
“Cough cough…”
With a light cough, Lu Yu beckoned towards the door.
Several guards quickly entered with several scrolls of drawings. Lu Yu gestured to the first guard, who unrolled the first scroll.
The scroll depicted a woman in a plain white robe, her hair dishevelled. The woman was exceptionally graceful and stunningly beautiful.
However, it was clearly evident that her complexion was extremely pale, without any makeup, and not a trace of color on her cheeks. Her eyes were filled with tears!
Beside her, a little girl was crying…
But the woman paid no attention to the little girl, as if her heart had died, and could no longer be awakened by anything external.
“Diao Chan… what happened to my Diao Chan?”
Lu Bu recognized the woman in the drawing at a glance, his pupils widening… he asked repeatedly in a hurry.
“Diao Chan, you see…” Lu Yu pouted. “Diao Chan thought you were dead. She wouldn’t eat or drink, nor would she dress up. She just sat there. When the attendants asked her, she only said…”
At this point, Lu Yu deliberately paused.
As expected, Lu Bu was extremely anxious. “What did Diao Chan say? What did she say?”
He was almost lunging at Lu Yu. If Xu Chu and Dian Wei hadn’t restrained him, he would have already pounced.
“She said she wants to collect the corpse of her husband, wants a nanmu coffin, a six-foot jade slab, and to be buried with the rites of a prince. The tombstone should be inscribed – Tomb of Lu Fengxian, the Brave and Victorious General, Marquis of Han Wen!”
“These are the conditions… only if Situ Cao approves these will she dress up again, go out again, and meet Situ Cao!”
— Drip…
— Drip, drip!
People say that adversity reveals true affection!
But Lu Bu now, even though he had "died," could see Diao Chan’s affection!
Seeing this painting, hearing Lu Yu’s explanation.
Tears streamed down Lu Bu’s eyes, dripping…
He had spent his life in battle for Diao Chan. He had failed everyone, but he had never failed Diao Chan. And… had Diao Chan failed him?
What else?
What could make Lu Bu shed more tears than this?
“Diao Chan… Diao Chan…” Lu Bu wept, rarely for a nine-foot man, he pounded his chest and stamped his feet, weeping uncontrollably, acting like a maiden!
Hoo…
Seeing this scene, Lu Yu waved his hand.
The second scroll was unfurled…
This was a scene of three hundred Bingzhou soldiers kneeling at the execution ground. They were motionless, their teeth clenched, their upper bodies bare, with whip marks on their backs. The leading two, Zhang Liao and Gao Shun, even bit their hair with their teeth to show their resolve… a posture of determination to descend to the Yellow Springs.
Around them, countless spears and sabers pointed at them, as if… forcing them to leave, but they knelt there on the execution ground, before the headless, fake Lu Bu, Lu Fengxian!
“This…”
Lu Bu’s emotions were once again stirred.
Lu Yu’s voice was perfectly timed. “They are kneeling to the Lu Fengxian of Jiuyuan. Marquis Wen, the Governor of Xuzhou Lu Bu, is dead, but Jiuyuan Lu Fengxian is not destroyed! You should be grateful that you still have such brothers who believe in you and follow you!”
Silence…
Lu Bu fell silent. Brothers! He, Lu Bu, was not abandoned by everyone. He, Lu Bu, was merely blind, mistaking treacherous officials for loyal friends! He still had brothers by his side who had come with him from the border.
And at this moment…
Lu Yu unfurled the third scroll.
It was still the woman from the first scroll. She was dancing gracefully, exuding immense charm, and a middle-aged, not handsome man sat before her, drinking wine.
However, the dagger in the woman’s sleeve was particularly sharp, its edge about to be revealed!
“…What is Diao Chan doing?” Lu Bu asked urgently, increasingly panicked…
If the woman was Diao Chan, then wasn't this middle-aged man Cao Cao!
It was one thing for Diao Chan to dance for Cao Cao, after all, the victor takes all. Women… in this era, were merely accessories to war!
But… what about the dagger in Diao Chan’s sleeve, or more precisely, the “Seven-Star Sword” in her sleeve?
Was she… going to assassinate Cao Cao?
How could she have a chance? Was this courting death?
“Calm down, General Lu… calm down!” Lu Yu shook his head slightly. “This painting was drawn by an artist I commissioned. It hasn’t happened yet, but… I’m certain this will be one of Diao Chan’s endings!”
At this, Lu Bu’s heart trembled.
So it was speculation?
But… if this speculation came from someone else, if it was predicted by someone else, Lu Bu might not believe it.
Yet, these words came from Lu Yu’s mouth, from the Hidden Dragon. Lu Yu was unfathomably wise, the Hidden Dragon was revealing heavenly secrets!
Hoo…
Lu Bu’s heart surged like a stormy sea. He didn’t even dare to think about it, for fear that his beloved Diao Chan would perish and die here!
“Does this painting mean… Young Master Lu predicted that Diao Chan would… would assassinate Cao Cao? Foolish… Diao Chan is so foolish!”
Cao Cao, what a cunning schemer!
How could he be assassinated by such a weak woman as Diao Chan?
“No…” Lu Yu waved his hand. “Diao Chan is not going to assassinate Cao Cao. She is going to commit suicide before Cao Cao. She wants to follow General Lu to the Yellow Springs together. General Lu is faithful to her, and she is also faithful to General Lu!”
In a low tone, at the end, Lu Yu added, “Of course, this is all my speculation. It may not be precise, but it will definitely be one of Diao Chan’s two possible endings!”
Two endings?
Were there other endings?
Lu Bu became even more nervous.
“What is the other ending?”
His tone grew heavier…
At this moment, Lu Bu only wanted Diao Chan to be safe. As long as she was alive, it was fine. After all… after all, they still had Ling Ju. How could Diao Chan abandon Ling Ju and descend to the Yellow Springs with him, Lu Bu?
To live on, though it was difficult!
But… Lu Bu hoped Diao Chan would live on! Even if it was… a more humiliating existence!
“Unroll it…” Lu Yu continued to instruct. The fourth guard unfurled the scroll in his hand. This was a very “seductive,” very “enchanting” drawing.
It was still Diao Chan, dancing gracefully under the moonlight. However… unlike the previous drawing, Diao Chan had no Seven-Star Sword in her sleeve, nor was she attempting to assassinate anyone.
Her complexion, her posture, were exceedingly seductive, as if… she intended to use her seductive arts to attract the man before her.
And this man was not Cao Cao, but a man with a red face and a long beard.
He was like Liu Xiaohui incarnate. No matter how Diao Chan teased him, he remained unperturbed. It was clearly visible that in his hand, he held a copy of the “Spring and Autumn Annals,” and he was forcing himself to calm his mind to read the text.
His face was flushed, perhaps due to his original complexion, or perhaps due to Diao Chan’s allure in the moonlight. His heart was indeed moved!
“What does this painting mean? What does Diao Chan mean? Who is this man?”
Lu Bu asked urgently…
Lu Yu’s answer followed swiftly; “Isn’t it obvious? This red-faced man with a long beard is Guan Yu. Diao Chan is provoking Guan Yu, and Guan Yu remains unperturbed…”
You…
Lu Bu made to stand up, wanting to grab Lu Yu, but… Dian Wei and Xu Chu both forcefully pushed him back.
“You are insulting me!” Lu Bu said coldly.
“Insulting, you think?” Lu Yu spread his hands. “I don’t think so?”
“Think about it, besides the ending described above, where Diao Chan commits suicide before Cao Cao, fulfilling her loyalty to General Lu, what other ending could there be?”
“It can only be the blackening of Diao Chan… Diao Chan voluntarily sacrifices herself to a certain general, let’s say Guan Yu… she feigns a sacrifice, but in reality, it is to sow discord between Guan Yu and Cao Cao, intending to use her charms to, through Guan Yu’s hand, kill Situ Cao and avenge the General!”
“In the past, to fulfill the grace of her adoptive father Wang Yun, and to save the Han Dynasty from peril, she once employed the beauty trap and the chain scheme… Now, to avenge the General? Why would this beauty trap, this chain scheme, not be staged again? Is it because your love for her is less than her adoptive father Wang Yun’s love for her? And for whom is she doing this?”
At this point, Lu Yu paused, as if to give Lu Bu ample room for imagination.
Seeing Lu Bu’s expression change from green to purple, Lu Yu continued.
“However, the final outcome… will likely be ‘Great King Guan Slices Diao Chan Under the Moon.’ The beauty trap is ineffective against Guan Yu, and the chain scheme will also be seen through by Situ Cao!”
Hoo…
Hoo…
Lu Bu gasped repeatedly. Lu Yu’s voice was not loud, but every word, every sentence was like a sharp blade, piercing into his heart.
It was like a scene from the Yuan dynasty opera “Great King Guan Slices Diao Chan Under the Moon.”
Diao Chan, in order to avenge Lu Bu, did not hesitate to employ the beauty trap again, using her seductive arts to entice Guan Yu, attempting to alienate Guan Yu and Cao Cao… This could be considered a re-enactment of “Lu Bu Teases Diao Chan” at Fengyi Pavilion!
Guan Yu felt something was amiss. The “Spring and Autumn Annals” in his hand suddenly lost its appeal…
He muttered to himself that if he kept Diao Chan, one day he would fall under her pomegranate skirt, and therefore… he picked up the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and sliced Diao Chan under the moon!
This scene, vividly presented before Lu Bu by Lu Yu, made him fearful and uneasy!
Diao Chan… my Diao Chan!
At this moment, Lu Bu’s heart ached. He felt like a useless person, unable to protect even the woman he loved most. What kind of unparalleled God of War was he?
What kind of unparalleled Flying General was he?
It was a joke, his entire life as Lu Bu was a joke!
“Heh heh… heh heh heh heh…”
A cold laugh, followed by repeated cold laughter!
Although they were merely drawings, through Lu Yu’s detailed explanation, Lu Bu’s vision was filled with these paintings, and more so with Diao Chan, the Diao Chan who had perished!
Besides this, a small part of Lu Bu’s heart surfaced with those subordinate generals… those brothers who had been implicated and died because of him!
Failure…
Lu Bu felt he had failed miserably. His death had caused such endless sorrow!
“Is this why you wanted to tell me this?”
After the cold laughter, Lu Bu calmed down. He lowered his head, murmuring, “Lu Yu, is this why you saved me? To let me know what a failed man I am!”
He raised his head and gazed at Lu Yu… his eyes were incredibly hollow, as if… he had fallen into an abyss from which there was no escape. He no longer wanted to open his eyes, daring not to face this world.
— “Why are you telling me this? You… why are you telling me this?”
“General Lu, you have misunderstood!”
The atmosphere had been sufficiently built up. It was time to get to the main point.
Lu Yu’s tone suddenly became solemn, his intonation meticulous – “I am not here to tell you this. I am here to help you change these things!”
Who says a person’s life cannot be changed?
Perhaps, Lu Yu could become Lu Bu’s “life simulator,” no… a life mentor!
…
…