Reverse Scale Unleashed – First Strike on Lu Bu
What's done is done. All I could do now was squeeze every last drop of profit out of this situation. That was the gamer's creed.
Honestly, if things got too ridiculously unfair, I could just reload a save file and nullify it in a game. But this was reality. No take-backs on what had already happened.
As long as Yeo Po stayed in Xiaopei, I could wring every resource out of her forces to the max.
"Y'know, I like strong guys."
Guess we were buddies now? The moment we hit the training grounds, Yeo Po dropped the formalities and came right up to chat with me.
"My type's a man stronger than me. Hehe."
She kept staring straight at me as she said it.
Well, Guan Yu had been hostile to her from the start, and I was the only one worth talking to anyway. No wonder she kept coming to me.
"Finding someone stronger than you? Good luck with that."
I tossed back some small talk with small talk while scanning the training grounds.
For starters, all the Xiliang generals were assembled. Go Sun and Jang Liao were picking out wooden swords at the center, along with the others. They hurt like hell if they hit, but they wouldn't kill you—perfect intensity.
Go Sun and Jang Liao were at the core of one group, with Song Hyeon, Hu Sung, Wei Sok, and the rest clustered around them. It was clear Yeo Po's generals split into two big factions.
What a shame their stats are actually pretty solid... Yeo Po's army had a surprisingly deep talent pool. In Xiliang, where only the strong survived, holding a general's rank meant you were the real deal. And yet, even with this lineup, Yeo Po ended up dying pathetically. It drove home one brutal truth: meet the wrong person, and you're done.
"That's why... that horse you rode, Kim Gong, it's awfully unique. Its build has the signature Xiongnu muscle of a Wuhuan horse, but the skull structure screams Xiongnu traits too."
Hu Sung ignored the half-listening kids around him and blabbered on about horses nonstop.
"So it's a mutt, then..."
Wei Sok shot him a look of pure exhaustion.
"Mutt! Ah, but even calling it a hybrid doesn't add up—there's way more weird stuff. Normal crossbreeds don't inherit all the good traits from both sides. Horses have dominant and recessive genes; one expresses first, the other gets suppressed. Emphasize one trait, and the other dies out. A specimen like yours, inheriting everyone's best features? Extremely rare!"
Hu Sung suddenly went off on a rant.
"Fuck!! Stop with the horse talk!!!"
"Enough!! Can't you drop the damn horses for one topic?!"
The generals immediately snapped, blocking him.
Hu Sung hadn't changed a bit. His horse obsession was legendary. Just look at how he'd ignored the mood around him and set up a feast like his legs were about to snap when his escaped horse came back.
Anyway, this era had no DNA or evolution theory, yet he grasped dominant and recessive genes? Deep mastery in one field really reveals universal truths, huh.
In the back, a scrawny-looking general sighed as he gripped a wooden sword.
[Jin Uirok] Ah, Yeo Po's army's named general—in every sense. Jin Uirok.
His wife was so hot, players drooled over her. Jin Uirok's wife was Dushi, the famous beauty from the histories. Even in-game, her model was top-tier eye candy. Newbies turned from virgins to MILF chasers, desperate to claim her.
Wonder if she's here too. Hey, I'm a guy—I wanted a peek at Dushi myself.
Pinch.
Right then, Yong Hwa and Guan Yu both roughly ruffled my hair.
"What the hell."
Something guilty hit me, making my voice a bit shrill.
"No reason. Just felt like you were scheming to sow some wild oats, my lord."
Yong Hwa stared at me with her blue eyes.
"Yeah. Same vibe here, Yong Hwa."
Guan Yu nodded along.
Sharp instincts, huh?
"Alright!! Let's do some friendly spars!! Better to know the strength of allies we'll fight with!"
Yeo Po twirled a long wooden staff and took her stance.
"Kim. You're fighting me, right?"
She asked first.
"Sure. Have at me."
I said it casual, grabbing a wooden sword.
Me versus Yeo Po, Guan Yu and my squad versus her other generals, rotate as needed. Suck up all that Xiliang XP.
It was called gye-gyo—generals dueling. Way less efficient than slicing real enemies, but safe XP grinding.
My opponent? None other than the Central Plains' number one, Yeo Po. Even just clashing weapons would make me meaningfully stronger.
Plus, practice for her boss fight. If she turned enemy, I'd need Plan B. Yeo Po was just a game boss following patterns—tough, but crackable with practice. I wouldn't die.
"Heh. I'll let you go first."
Yeo Po showed warrior's leisure, flicking her staff at me.
"Cool. Here goes."
Even giving her three free moves, she'd still dominate, so no point refusing.
Thud!!
I kicked off the ground, swinging the wooden sword wide.
Clang!!!
Clanggg!!!
Wooden sword met blunt staff, ringing out clear and sharp.
My Kim Squad rotated with the Xiliang troops, building real combat experience. Guan Yu went full rampage mode, dojo-storming the other Xiliang generals.
Go Sun barely lost to Guan Yu. Jang Liao traded blows evenly.
Worried the Xiliang guys would spot Mok Lan's identity, but good—they didn't. Mok Lan sparred hard while hiding who she was. No weird looks from the Xiliang troops. Just intense stares at her voluptuous figure.
And me?
"Hah!!!! 34 matches, 34 losses!!!"
I took Yeo Po's spear thrust straight to the chest and flew back.
"Urgh..."
Still no easy win. Close-range brawls always ended with me overpowered.
"But you lasted longer this time. Wow, your growth rate is insane."
Yeo Po crouched beside my fallen form, grinning.
Oof... Squatting like that, her thick thighs and killer hips were on full display. Damn, what a body. Hard to hate a girl Lu Bu.
A man's sad instincts, I guess.
Rolling around against Yeo Po looked pathetic, but the gains were real.
Finally breaking the 90 wall on swordsmanship. Stamina, strength, agility grew slow anyway, but hitting 90 proficiency was huge.
Unlocked the pinnacle Taiji Sword technique: Yeokrin.
I opened the status window's skill tab, hit acquire on Yeokrin at the bottom of Taiji Sword.
Perfectly defends all incoming attacks for 5 seconds. After activation, unleashes a powerful counter on the nearest enemy.
Yeokrin is the reverse scale on a dragon's neck—the one soft spot. Legend says Liu Bang slew the dragon by slicing exactly there. The fallen scale stunned all with its size; even the world's strongest couldn't scratch it.
Auto-parries every melee or ranged attack for 5 seconds, plus a brutal counter? Peak technique for sure. Gamers get it—no questions asked perfect defense is broken. High 90 sword req made it worth it.
"One more round."
Time to test the skill. I gripped my sword and reset my stance.
"Hehe. I like a guy with grit."
Yeo Po grinned, staff ready.
"Yeah. I'll play till you get sick of losing today."
She flashed a sly smile, kicked off her back foot, and rocketed at me like a cannonball.
Arms tucked, timing it—I triggered Yeokrin.
Whoooosh!!
Right before the spear hit, a lightning-like strain hit my eyes.
Yeo Po's trajectory slowed. My casual swing rode atop the staff's path.
Shiiiing!!!
For the first time, I effortlessly deflected her spear—no resistance.
"...!!"
Yeo Po's eyes widened in shock.
Shiiiing!! Clang!! Tick!! Tiiiing!!
Her usual barrage followed, but I parried each flawlessly, stance unbroken. Brutal onslaught, but I saw every arc coming.
Perfect defense worked even against Yeo Po—for 5 seconds.
Shing.
As the counter prompt faded, I raised my sword to mid-guard.
"Hah!! Fun!!"
Yeo Po swung her staff down for the finisher.
Tiiiing!
I flicked it aside, unleashing Yeokrin's counter flower.
Thwackkkk!!!!
Her vertical thrust met my horizontal slash—clean hit to her shoulder.
Perfect round. Real fight? Her pauldron would've shattered.
"...!!"
"...!"
Post-fight silence from the crowd.
Jang Liao feels awe at you for landing a hit on Yeo Po in sparring. Affinity with Jang Liao rises.
Go Sun feels awe at you for landing a hit on Yeo Po in sparring. Affinity with Go Sun rises.
Affinity messages flooded my view—not just from Jang Liao and Go Sun, but all of Yeo Po's generals.
All in your unit are awed by your martial prowess. Loyalty and affinity of your squad members rise.
My Kim Squad's loyalty spiked visibly.
Your companion Guan Yu is enchanted. Guan Yu resolves to bear your seed no matter what.
Some shady message slipped past the status window. Whatever.
"...."
Guan Yu stared this way with an ecstatic look. Sweet, but... like a predator eyeing prey. Tonight felt like it'd be a squeeze-fest. Gut feeling.
Yeo Po takes great interest in you.
Finally, Yeo Po's affinity message. She eyed me with wonder.
"...Found you."
Yeo Po muttered like she'd realized something. Her bloodshot eyes? Kinda scary for no reason.