The Road to Luoyang - A Married Woman's Grateful Bath Service
In this era, horses were precious animals to everyone, but to warriors they were practically life itself. No deep thought was needed. Infantry and cavalry received entirely different treatment from the start. Just by riding a single horse, a man's meals improved dramatically. It wasn't only the food—pay was incomparable, and the state even provided weapons and armor. In short, if you could ride, you were welcome with nothing but the clothes on your back. Cavalry was that valuable in battle, which was why warriors treasured their mounts like their own lives. With a good horse, one could escape even the direst peril with ease; it truly was synonymous with survival.
So no sane warrior would ever let his horse wander freely. …Then why was Red Hare standing right in front of me?
The beast currently nibbling on my head was the most famous horse in the entire Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In any game genre, its appearance guaranteed absurdly broken performance. While Westerners might not know it, it was probably the single most famous horse among Eastern people. Even Dong Zhuo wouldn't be foolish enough to neglect such a legendary steed. Yet here it was, roaming alone without its master. That could only mean Dong Zhuo either lacked the presence of mind to care for it or was physically incapable of doing so.
For a warrior to ignore his beloved horse meant only one thing: Dong Zhuo was either dead nearby or on the verge of death.
Zhao Yun's face went deathly pale… then regained its color. Wait. Wouldn't that actually be better? It wasn't just anyone—it was Dong Zhuo. Without her, the Xiliang army would never have seized power. If she died, even if the Ten Eunuchs or He Jin perished, Yuan Shao would take control. And if Yuan Shao became the most powerful man in the Han, would an anti-Yuan Shao coalition form the way it had against Dong Zhuo? Absolutely not.
Though it felt unpleasant that the married woman who had clung to him so desperately was dead… wasn't this still to his advantage?
Zhao Yun's face twisted into a complicated expression. What was wrong with him? He didn't feel particularly good about it. Had sharing the carriage with her stirred some affection? Should he at least follow the hoofprints and check if she was still alive? …No. There was no real need to go out of his way for Dong Zhuo. Damn it, why did she have to appear as a woman and complicate everything? If the game had stayed true to history and made her a fat, hairy old man, how much simpler it would have been. He would already be searching to confirm the kill.
While Zhao Yun's face contorted with pointless thoughts, a deliberately theatrical scream echoed from the distant valley.
"These bastards dare?! Is no one there?! How dare mere prey think they can touch me?!"
…That was Dong Zhuo's voice.
Should he save her? …No need, really. He could even finish her off himself while he was at it. What nonsense was that? Did he seriously think leaving her to die now would somehow absolve future sins? Whatever her intentions, she was still a woman who had thrown herself at him. Her intentions were obvious—she had clearly marked him as a useful talent for when she eventually seized Luoyang. A married woman who had acted like a whore the moment she met him… how chaste could she possibly have been with other men?
As Zhao Yun hesitated, Red Hare, which had been munching grass with a bored expression, slowly approached. Zhao Yun was too lost in thought to notice. Watching him, Red Hare pawed the ground a few times before ramming its head squarely into his unguarded stomach.
"Graaah!"
Caught off guard by the sudden headbutt, Zhao Yun doubled over clutching his belly. Red Hare immediately slid its neck beneath him and lifted its head, depositing Zhao Yun neatly onto its back.
"W-wait a second!"
Zhao Yun tried to stop the horse, but Red Hare ignored him completely and galloped back the way it had come, straight toward the valley where Dong Zhuo's voice had originated.
When Dong Zhuo glared at them while feigning fear, the prisoners who had been hesitating grew bold and approached.
"Kuhuhu… stupid bitch. You were taking a bath without even knowing we were hiding nearby."
"Fuckin' whore. We're out here suffering just to stay alive, and you're shamelessly bathing?"
"Your personality's trash, but your body's nicely ripe. You wanted this, didn't you? That's why you stripped down like that."
"A slut like you dripping milk everywhere…! Haa… haa… You came here hunting people or whatever just so you could get raped, right?!"
As the six filthy men hurled vulgar insults, Dong Zhuo nearly lost her patience and charged them. These bastards…! How could they still run their mouths after having every bone in their bodies broken?! …No. She had come this far; there was no point losing control now. Red Hare… it should be arriving soon. This big sister's patience was reaching its limit…!
When Dong Zhuo remained silent, face flushed red, the men mistook it for shame and fear. Chuckling, they dropped their filthy trousers. Just as their excited members sprang free, the sound of galloping hooves reached their ears.
Finally! Dong Zhuo's expression brightened as she reached for the dagger hidden beneath the water, but she quickly changed her face and began acting the part of a terrified, delicate woman.
"Ahem, ahem! Very well. …Kyaaaaah! Zi-Zilong! P-please save me! I-I'm so scared!"
Red Hare's face twisted in disgust. Seriously…? Who would fall for that terrible acting?! This idiot better not realize it's a trap!
The would-be rapists' faces also contorted. Damn it…! No wonder she was stripping and acting crazy all alone out here… It was a trap! And she even mocked us by deliberately speaking like that. She's a demon!
Of course, Zhao Yun's face twisted as well.
"My apologies for being late, Commandant! You shameless bastards…! Aren't you ashamed, several men ganging up on a frightened woman?!"
He actually fell for it? Red Hare and the prisoners stared at Zhao Yun like he was an idiot. But Zhao Yun was sincere. Damn it… whether she was Dong Zhuo or not, she was simply a woman in need of help! Because he had been foolishly hesitating, he had nearly witnessed a delicate woman being violated. He had even considered whether to kill someone who had yet to commit any crime, all in the name of preventing the chaotic times. How was he any different from these people? Refusing to save an innocent person just to live like a human being—that was exactly the sort of thing one did in chaotic times. It wasn't something a decent person would do.
The chaotic times had not yet arrived, and Dong Zhuo had not yet committed any wrongs. Killing someone was easy, but saving them was difficult. Of course the easy path was tempting, but this situation was different. If he had chosen the easy road whenever things grew difficult, he would have long since abandoned Cao Cao, broken his promise with the Divine, and fled. What he wanted was to live as a human being even when it was hard—not to live like a beast when it was easy.
A terrified woman. Several men trying to rape her. There was only one thing a decent person could do here.
"Don't worry. This Zhao Zilong of Changshan did not survive this long just to watch a delicate woman be violated!"
""……?""
As Zhao Yun charged the prisoners—who had forgotten to flee—Dong Zhuo's face flushed, pale yellow milk dripping from her pink nipples.
"…Whoa! Your skills are incredible! They were all dead in the blink of an eye."
Dong Zhuo poked only her face out of the water to hide the leaking milk and praised Zhao Yun in a deliberately calm voice.
"What on earth were you thinking, bathing here?! You didn't even keep your horse nearby… You nearly met with disaster!"
Though Zhao Yun was scolding her, Dong Zhuo knew his words were laced with concern and simply smiled.
"We can discuss such troublesome matters later… How about you wash up as well? Goodness, you're covered in blood!"
When Dong Zhuo gestured to the water she was in, Zhao Yun's face reddened and he turned away.
"F-first, once you come out, Commandant, I will—"
"Puhuhu… What nonsense."
With a splash, footsteps approached from behind. Resisting the urge to look back, Zhao Yun felt Dong Zhuo's hand gently pat his head before she spoke again.
"Do you intend to make this Dong Zhongying into a shameless woman? What sort of man would refuse to repay the kindness of someone who saved his life twice?"
"…Twice?"
Zhao Yun stiffened. Dong Zhuo chuckled and placed her hands on his shoulders, gently turning him to face her. Her slender fingers traced the back of his neck and head. Zhao Yun's gaze instinctively dropped before snapping back up. Even in that brief moment, he had seen everything—her light brown skin, toned abs, full breasts, and the bright pink nipples standing erect at their centers, from which milk still trickled.
His lower body stirred noticeably. Dong Zhuo didn't miss it. Smiling broadly, she stroked his crotch.
"Let's talk while we wash. The smell of these bastards is making me dizzy."
She roughly yanked his trousers down. His fully erect member sprang free with a sharp slap against her hand. Though she had expected it to be large, its actual size still surprised her for a moment. Then, while fondling his exposed glans, she brought her hand to her nose and inhaled deeply.
"Sniff… sniff… sniff… Yes, this smell…♥ Haa… your cock reeks♥ Despite that innocent face, you've been growing something monstrous down here…♥ Huhuhu. How dare you get hard while looking at your superior? You're quite the wicked man."
Dong Zhuo lectured him smugly even as her body trembled with ecstasy, thick milk spurting from her breasts.