Finally Meeting the Heroes (2)
The Yellow Turbans' main base was in Guangzong of Ji Province, and Julu wasn't far from there. The interior of Ji Province had plenty of plains, making it favorable for advancing troops. We all spurred our horses toward the vicinity of Julu, where Liu Shi was located.
Just as we were galloping along, a commotion erupted from that direction.
"Kugh!!! Retreat!! Retreat!!"
"Damn it!!! What the hell are these guys!!"
Cavalry in unusual black uniforms—too distinctive for regular imperial troops—were fleeing the city streets like madmen.
"Die!!!"
"The rotten branches of the Han imperial family are destined to break!!"
"Kill them all and use their corpses as fertilizer!!"
The Yellow Turbans were charging wildly in pursuit. Despite the vast majority of the Yellow Turbans being infantry and the fleeing side entirely cavalry, the black-clad riders were being pushed back unilaterally.
'They got caught in street fighting.'
Recalling the game's mechanics gave me a rough idea. Cavalry might be an invincible unit on paper, but they had clear counters. For starters, they were terrible in urban or siege street battles. When enemies swarmed from alleyways into chaotic melee, cavalry's breakthrough power fizzled out. And they were weak to archers too. The key was mixing infantry, cavalry, and archers. Blindly stacking cavalry for raw attack power often led to disasters like this.
"Looks like they're our allies."
Liu Bei gaped at the scene.
'Allies....'
From their uniforms, I instantly pegged who they were.
'Dong Zhuo's army....'
These were the horses led by Dong Zhuo, ruler of the Western Liang. Dong Zhuo boasted inhuman records against barbarians, but she wasn't suited for civilized Han warfare. She'd blundered into a street annihilation battle without a second thought. This was a random event—straight out of history, with Dong Zhuo's forces routed in a chance encounter.
"Let's save them first!"
Liu Bei made a quintessentially Liu Bei call.
"......"
Helping that tyrant Dong Zhuo? Logically, for the future, we should bail. But convincing them with foreknowledge? No way they'd buy it. Remember that old elementary school video? The boy who sees the future warns, "The hotteok cart's gonna catch fire!" but everyone ignores him.
[Opportunity Unlocked]
And right on cue, the status window pinged with a Fate Point acquisition alert. Yeah, in the Romance, it was Liu Bei who saved Dong Zhuo. Following that flow rewarded us with Fate Points. I already had two, but you could never have too many—they let you reroll choices in the game. Gotta stockpile.
"Yeah!! Let's go!!!"
"Mm!!! Charge!!"
Zhang Fei and Guan Yu were already raring to bolt.
"Then, brothers!! Flank those Yellow Turban bastards!!!"
Liu Bei drew his Double-Edged Sword and spurred his horse forward.
"Bu Sojeo."
I patted Bu Yong-hwa's thigh.
"Ah.... Yes!"
She nimbly crawled into the grain cart. Honestly, after this lifestyle, wouldn't reality hit hard? But Bu Yong-hwa showed no signs of it—she just burrowed right in.
"Do your best, my lord."
She grinned brightly. "Gaga" was so overused it lost its punch, but "my lord" hit different—straight to the heart, making it flutter...!
"......!"
"Kim. Let's go."
Guan Yu's stern, serious voice snapped me back. Right. Focus.
"You guard Bu Sojeo well."
I stroked my unruly horse, who ignored me half the time, and admonished her.
"Neigh."
She snorted angrily but stayed put by the cart.
"Just kick any approaching bastards."
"Hiiing."
After that pep talk, I drew my sword and joined the infantry charge.
"Old-timers!! Let's sync up and go!!"
Cavalry went to Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei; infantry to me.
"Woooaaargh!!!"
"Yeah!! Let's roll!!!"
"Yellow Turbans!!! Avenge Deok-sam!!"
The volunteer squad was fired up, weapons raised, charging ahead.
'Overflowing fighting spirit—nice.'
Our undefeated streak had them brimming with confidence in every move.
Meanwhile, a woman with feral beauty was desperately hacking a path on horseback. She'd started with a stylish fur scarf and command baton, but the baton was long discarded, and the scarf lost somewhere along the way.
"How dare you!! Against this Dong Zhongying!"
Should she personally swing her sword? Even as that thought crossed her mind, Dong Zhuo wildly slashed foes while galloping.
"My lord!!! More enemies incoming!!"
"Damn barbarian scum!"
Her aides, Li Jue and Guo Si, shouted in dismay, swinging their spears.
"Damn it!! Clinging to the carriage like...!!"
Song Yong, maniacally driving the vicious carriage bristling with blades, eyed the zombie-like Yellow Turbans latched on warily. Cornered foes were terrifying. Lesson learned. The Yellow Turbans fought on, fearless, fixated on killing.
"My lord!!! I'll hold them off!! In the meantime..."
One general, eyeing an escape by sacrificing others, shouted resolutely.
"Shut your crap!!! We can all make it!!"
Dong Zhuo barked that, but coldly calculated who to ditch. Her subordinates shrank under that ruthless, venomous gaze.
Yeah. That ugly-ass general over there. Ditch him. Makes me sick just looking.
As Dong Zhuo plotted to abandon a squad,
"Waaaaah!!!!"
A band of cavalry smashed into the Yellow Turbans' flank from beyond a low hill.
"R-Reinforcements!!"
"We're saved!!"
Few in number but fighting like demons—probably elites under a famed general? Dong Zhuo's Western Liang troops thought so.
"Don't slack off!!! You idiots!!!"
Even amid relief, Dong Zhuo fixed her expression.
"We're joining!! Counterattack!!!"
Being unilaterally rescued wouldn't do for Dong Zhongying's pride. With sheer bravado, she spurred her near-moral-crumbled men. What followed was a one-sided slaughter.
After the fight wrapped up.
"Hoo..."
These Ji Province Yellow Turbans were way stronger than previous ones—higher max HP and stamina, faster reactions on average. Attacks I couldn't block before? Dodged easily now. But I'd grown stronger too.
Roughly cleared the enemies, then rifled pockets for usable loot.
"Gaga... urk...."
Bu Yong-hwa, who'd emerged, clung to my side, stifling dry heaves. No need to force it, really.
"You all!! Thanks!!"
Then, a purple-haired woman galloped up.
'Whoa....'
A mature beauty with a sharp edge. Rude to say, but prime 30s MILF vibes from an adult comic—seductive in ways young women couldn't match. Her sharp eyes hinted at a delinquent past, but now reformed, snagged a decent husband, blending into good-wife life? Bet she'd have tattoos under that tight armor.
Who was she, though? Uniform screamed general.
"You shaved ten years off me. Ha ha."
She laughed heartily, approaching us.
"No, glad we could help."
Liu Bei smiled warmly.
"I'm Dong Zhuo, style name Zhongying. Served in the Western Liang, came at the court's call. Currently hold the rank of Colonel."
She introduced herself straightforwardly. Wait. Dong Zhuo? Nothing like the fat muscle-pig from the game. Genderbent beauty patch like Guan Yu?
"Ahem. Staring too hard, Kim."
Guan Yu pinched my hand.
"You into types like that?"
She muttered, doodling with her Green Dragon Crescent Blade's tip. Kid stuff. She kept writing "Kim (金)" in the dirt. Not cursing me, right?
"Ah. I'm Liu Bei, style name Xuande. No official rank— just raised a militia in Zhuo Commandery. Ha ha. Honored to meet Colonel Dong."
Liu Bei smiled, introducing himself.
"Ah.... No rank?"
Dong Zhuo's attitude flipped instantly.
"Hmph."
Ditching her friendliness, she mounted without a proper greeting—rude as hell.
"Thanks, but.... don't get cocky."
She spat snidely, wheeling her horse.
"That bitch, acting all high and mighty...!"
Zhang Fei couldn't take it, storming forward. Outrage at our insult, sure—but mostly, how dare she talk to our big bro like that? Total Liu Bei fanboy.
Clank.
Western Liang troops aimed weapons at advancing Zhang Fei. Two forces on the brink of clash.
Dong Zhuo smirked mockingly, sticking out her tongue. For what? A raspberry?
Ptoo.
Straight at Zhang Fei's forehead. Spitting? Suddenly?
Shwaaa.
Her saliva sparkled in the sunlight.
Whooosh!!
'That precious stuff....!'
Instinct kicked in—no brain required. Body moved.
"Yide-gong!!"
No! No low blow intended! Can't let Zhang Fei take a spit bath!! That's my goal!!!
Perfect motion. Bodyguard-level reflexes.
Slip.
Tripped on a corpse's arm.
"Ugh!!!"
Stumbled forward.
Splat.
Cool spit splashed my face.
'Gonna wipe and cherish it later.'
Sleek MILF essence.... As I reached to wipe,
The mood froze solid. Dead silence everywhere.
Then, stares—from everyone.
All frozen, watching me awkwardly.
Ah. Kinda weird vibe?
Wiping Dong Zhuo's essence, I glanced around.
Three seconds later.
"Puhahaha!!!"
Dong Zhuo burst into laughter from her saddle. Her troops awkwardly joined in. Whatever—just glad it didn't turn hostile.
Zhang Fei ditched his rage, eyeing me like a weirdo.
All good. Probably.