Finally Meeting the Heroes (6)
"Can you tell me what that Liu Bei army is?"
Cao Cao smiled as he approached the child.
"Ugh... seriously, watch your words..."
"No, no! Our kid doesn't know anything..."
The townsfolk chuckled and tried to pull the child away. It wasn't groveling, exactly—just a rational stance for surviving this era. You bowed to the man with the sword, or you died. That knowledge shaped their posture naturally.
"No need. I have no intention of harming anyone. Haha."
Cao Cao shook his head with a friendly smile.
"I'm just curious about this hero who was doing good deeds first."
He crouched to the child's eye level, flashed a warm grin, and continued.
"Little one. Can you tell me who this Liu Bei guy is?"
Cao Cao's innate charm shone through. Meanwhile, his mind raced.
Was there a Liu Bei among the imperial clansmen in office?
He mentally listed every Han imperial relative he knew in government. No Liu Bei.
"Oh, Uncle Liu Bei? Sure."
The child started scribbling on the ground with a nearby stick, drawing something incomprehensible. A man with long, poop-like things dangling from both sides of his head. It took Cao Cao a moment to realize they were ears.
"This is Liu Bei. After driving off the Yellow Turbans, he gave us food and took us to safety. He's already saved so many people."
"Hmm. A good man, then."
Using his own funds to save folks. Impressive仁義 gentleman we've got here.
Cao Cao couldn't help the cynical thought—too many hypocrites and opportunists out there.
"And this is Zhang Fei. He's super strong."
Next came a balloon-cheeked, bearded blob. The crude sketch showed a face smothered in spiky whiskers like chestnut burrs. Beside him, a woman with long hair—Guan Yu, apparently. A stunning big sis swinging a massive Green Dragon Crescent Blade like a tree branch. Then a bland stick figure: circle head, stick limbs, holding a sword-like rod. Clearly some swordsman.
"Who's this one?" Cao Cao asked.
"Oh... Kim, I think? Weird name. These four are sworn siblings. No blood relation, but like family. Hehe, funny, right?"
The child giggled bashfully.
"Hmmm..."
An odd quartet. He'd know more upon meeting them.
"Thanks, kid."
Cao Cao ruffled the child's hair with a smile.
"Everyone, you're all safe now! Rest easy! The court will soon wipe out these Yellow Turban scum!!!"
With that, he mounted his crimson-armored steed. Clop-clop!!! The unified charge of red-armored cavalry projected undeniable majesty. Solidarity, order, power—it gave these chaos-weary commoners a strange sense of security. The crowd just stared, dumbfounded.
-------
Back to the Liu Bei army's perspective. We'd decided not even to piss toward Dong Zhuo's side—just hang back and focus on civilian aid. But we weren't total spectators. Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and I took scouting duty along the path from Guangzong.
To monitor Dong Zhuo's movements.
History's law: what will happen, happens. Dong Zhuo's straight-line charge met Zhang Jiao's final Yellow Turban diehards at Guangzong.
"Kim. See anything? I can't..."
Zhang Fei squinted at the distant dust cloud.
"Dust everywhere..."
Guan Yu frowned too. All I saw was yellow haze rising. No telescopes here—eyes only had limits.
"Uwaaaah!! Kill them all!!!"
"Kill!!"
Clop-clop!! Clanggg!! Clash!!
Weapons clashed in the distance. War. The armies had finally engaged.
"Wanna get closer?"
Guan Yu leaned on her Crescent Blade like a staff.
"What if we get dragged in, sis?"
I held her back.
"Psh. Worry not. If they come at us, it's their funeral."
Zhang Fei bellowed a laugh.
Yeah. With these two, we're solid.
Early game, and they're level 30 elites.
I'd just hit 10, but that was high-tier here. Thirty was world-top, barring irregularities like level-55 fixed elite Lu Bu.
"Alright. Let's go."
What was there to fear with these bodyguards? We edged closer.
Time to watch Dong Zhuo get schooled.
Pretty lady or not, her actions tanked her appeal. I wanted to see the Yellow Turbans smack her down.
Clop-clop!!
Basic cavalry swarm tactic: mass charge like a bug horde. Solid against normies.
But variables.
Dong Zhuo telegraphed too hard. Yellow Turbans had prepped sharpened-log barricades.
Thud!!!
As cavalry closed in, the front line yanked up half-buried stakes.
Pfshhk!! Pffbt!!
Front ranks slammed into 45-degree barricades, speed-killed into a bottleneck. Spears thrust from behind, skewering riders reverse.
"Kahaaah!!"
"Damn it!! What the hell!!"
Should've pulled mid/rear, but full throttle meant chaos pileup.
"Now!! For heaven's will!!!"
"Zhang Jiao's behind us!!!"
Yellow Turbans seized the moment, charging into melee. In the melee scrum, Xiliang troops started dropping.
Gear gap sucked for exchanges, but infantry vs. cav value differed. Three footsoldiers per rider? Huge W for Turbans.
"Tch!! Didn't you eat?!! Why fight like shit!!"
Mounted Dong Zhuo panicked rearward.
Her blunder flipped momentum—Yellow Turbans surged.
Ramming dino's limits.
Mindless barbarian rams worked in the west, not here.
"Hmm. As brother and our Kim said. Dong Zhuo botched it."
Guan Yu nodded with a smile.
"Kim's sneakily smart. Making me feel left out."
Zhang Fei scratched his head, oddly acknowledging me.
What was this forced headpat vibe? Had they sniffed my defection?
Anyway, our "minkgi-jeok" wait-and-see was right. Joining would've wiped us.
"Ahaha!! Chance to claim merit!! Let's report back!!"
Zhang Fei grinned wickedly, turning to retreat.
As we three wheeled—
"D-damn!! Horse won't listen....!!"
A Xiliang chariot berserked our way.
"Hiihihihiing!!!!"
Spear-riddled horse panicked, blood-tears streaming, bolting blindly.
Clop!!!!
Shit. Hit direct? Isekai'd for real.
I rolled dodging the runaway cart. Zhang Fei and Guan Yu? No worries—they auto-evaded. Monster physiques.
Kabooom!!!
Heavy cart smashed our building—fine. But half-ruined durability? Problem.
Crasssh!!!
Impact collapsed roof beams, walling us off. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei on one side, me isolated.
Me alone. Hollywood much? This contrived straggler plot?
Whoosh!!!
Torch from cart ignited debris—fire wall now.
Ultra contrived...
"Kim!! You okay?!!"
Her pretty voice echoed. Our Guan Yu sis.
"Ow!! Fire's blocking—hard to clear...!"
Zhang Fei's flustered yell too. Row houses screwed us—bypass meant crossing battlefield.
Shit...
Felt like every bullshit cosmic troll converged.
But bullshit or boon? Up to you.
Just lunch.
These clingy kids firewalled away? Perfect for me.
Scenario: loot battlefield, "lost in melee," natural defection.
Genius ploy.
"I'm fine!! Head back!! Report to Lord Xuande first!! I'll make my own way!!"
I heroic-shouted war-movie style.
"Eyyy!! This puny blaze!!"
Guan Yu hacked the firebarricade beyond.
"Sis!! We'll burn!! Kim's got you blind..."
Zhang Fei reining her. Surprise: he was the sensible one here.
"Kim!! Don't push!! We'll come save you!!"
Zhang Fei dragged screaming Guan Yu away.
Yeah, yeah. Friendship noted.
Their presence faded. I scanned battlefield, advanced. Grab easy weapons... escape. Kill soft targets.
Plan set—
Clop-clop!!!
Perfect bad timing: crimson cavalry swarmed the melee.
Cao Cao's men...!
Hobung Song's under Cao Cao arrived.
Whatever. Y'all fight. Bystander mode, exiting—
"Haha!! Die, you rats!!!!"
A pretty, clear voice pierced toward me. Battlefield outlier—refreshing lilt.
"Sis!! Don't charge ahead...!!"
Another girly voice trailed.
Shwick!!!
Twin-tail beauty swung small-axe spear madly on horseback. Trailing: bow-toting twin-tail cutie finished stragglers.
Spear-girl green hair, bow-girl blue. Similar faces, color-coded.
Three Kingdoms with moe vibes... like Guan Yu, Dong Zhuo cases. Dizzying looks, but combat and affiliation clicked: Xiahou Dun and Yuan sisters.
"Huh?"
Then Xiahou Dun's gaze locked me.
"Found you!!! Bandit scum!!!"
She charged murderously.
"S-sis!! Listen..."
Xiahou Yuan panted, chasing her stride.
Vroooom!!!
No time to plead—Dun's spear thrust straight.
Already murder-step.
Claaangggg-!!!
Half-drawn sword barely parried; I desperately backpedaled.
Thoroughly screwed feeling.
