Lü Boshe

Clatter! Clatter!

We made it out of the palace in one piece. With a bit of experience under my belt, I slipped straight into the stables and managed to steal a pair of horses.

"Hey, Miaocai, I've got somewhere I need to be, so I'll just—"

"Go where? We're meeting Mengde. Get ready."

"Mengde...? Didn't Cao Cao already head back to Peiguo?"

"Does that make any sense? He snuck me into the palace and then just left on his own? There's a rendezvous point near Chenggao. If Dong Zhuo died, he'd need to rush back to the palace and clean up the mess, right?"

"Bolder than I expected. So that's how he stayed hidden even while Dong Zhuo tore Luoyang apart looking for him?"

Even as cold-blooded as Cao Cao was, he hadn't just abandoned his little sister and run. He'd simply hidden in Chenggao instead of Luoyang, slipping free of Dong Zhuo's grasp.

"What? Already excited just because you're meeting Mengde?"

"Excited? Why would I be excited about anything?"

"Why? You made a whole scene at the martial arts tournament because you wanted to serve under him, didn't you? Then Xu Shao hit you with that Yuedanping evaluation and you folded like a wet paper bag."

"..."

Why did she have to dig up that sore spot again? Still, this was an opportunity of sorts.

Back then I'd been a thorough White-Haired Failure and Cao Cao had written me off, but the man standing here now was a completely reborn strategist—a pure, hundred-percent pure advisor with the cunning of a ghost. On top of that, I'd saved the life of Xiahou Yuan, who was as good as one of his own limbs. Even if the Yuedanping still rankled, he ought to be willing to take me on by now.

It would put some pressure on Yu Hyeop, sure, but it still beat Yuan Shao, who was already planning to depose the emperor outright. Depending on how I played it, I might even keep Cao Cao as a true loyalist of the Han.

"By the way, how did you pull that off earlier? You and Lü Bu don't look anything alike. Why couldn't they tell you apart?"

"That? I was in a Beijing opera troupe when I was a kid, so my acting's top-notch. The Lü Bu I played looked more real than the actual Lü Bu."

"Does that even make sense? Weird shit's been happening nonstop since the prison, and you're just taking it all in stride? Are you hiding something from me?"

"Nothing of the sort. I'm just good at facial acting—I can imitate anyone. Look, even now. Don't I look exactly like your brother?"

Since she still wouldn't believe me, I casually used the transformation art and turned into Cao Cao. Xiahou Yuan jumped in shock.

"I-It's real? Just now you were the spitting image of Mengde. Then how did you know Lü Bu had written his own name into that play?"

"You think I'd start something without knowing that much? You're the assassin here, and you barely studied Dong Zhuo or Lü Bu at all."

"I don't do studying. Mengde handles all the thinking—he never told me any of that. Wait... does that mean you're smarter than Mengde?"

"Come on, no way."

Of course, right this second I was six points smarter in Intelligence. But he was going to be my lord soon enough; showing off would only backfire.

"Hold ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on! If that's the case, why have you been hesitating this whole time? You could have killed Dong Zhuo whenever you wanted!"

"..."

She just kept poking the bruises. That was because dumping everything into one ability left me brain-dead in the other four for a whole month.

So why not just dump it all into Force and assassinate Dong Zhuo right away? Easier said than done.

That was the help text I'd seen while flipping through my special traits earlier. The damn developer had slapped a nasty penalty on the immortal state—nothing but short-term sleight of hand allowed.

Without a restriction like that the balance would completely collapse, sure. Point was, right now I couldn't kill so much as an ant, let alone Dong Zhuo.

Having Xiahou Yuan do the killing for me was also off the table.

"Well... let's just say there were various complications."

"Anyway, whose commission are you even on? Don't tell me our ambitious new female Son of Heaven decided to stab Dong Zhuo—the guy who put her on the throne—in the back?"

"As if. The emperor doesn't know a thing about today's events. Your brother's not the only loyal subject left in this world."

"Right, there was definitely a girl giving you orders. Wait—are you weak to pretty faces? You're itching to jump me right now, aren't you? Admit it."

"Haa... How many times do I have to say it? No matter how weak I am for women, looking at the state you're in right now doesn't move me an inch."

"What was that, you bastard? Take that back!"

For a ruthless killer, she flared up the second I needled her looks just because she was a little bruised. Proof she still had feelings after all.

Earlier she'd talked like she'd do anything for Cao Cao, then quietly resented him for not coming to save her.

"Ahem... Changing the subject, Miaocai. Were you serious about that earlier?"

"About trying to jump you? I thought I was about to die, so I figured I'd go out with one last good time. Why? Regretting it now?"

"No, not that... the other thing. You said you were saving your first time for Cao Cao."

"What about it?"

"What about it? Even if cousin marriages are common in this era, you and Cao Cao are still family."

"You sound just like Mengde. Why do men always get hung up on that? Doesn't that kind of relationship make it even hotter?"

"..."

There it was. Xiahou Yuan respected Cao Cao as the head of the clan and a hero who would navigate the chaos—but she also loved him as a man.

Even a womanizer like Cao Cao apparently drew the line at his own cousin. Or maybe...

"What Mengde likes isn't pretty girls or girls with good bodies. He only likes women who already belong to someone else. Like that bitch who came with you last time."

"You mean Yu Bi? Come to think of it, he suggested they go recruit soldiers in Peiguo together."

"That bitch is nothing. If Yuan Shao hadn't shown interest, why would Mengde ever invite some no-talent like her to Peiguo?"

"..."

The second Cao Cao came up she got fired up—classic little-sister complex. Even now her face twisted with pure jealousy toward Yu Bi.

I'd thought it was odd myself when Cao Cao suddenly took an interest in Yu Bi. He was just an NTR addict who specialized in married women.

But the higher the target, the deeper the satisfaction. He'd reached for Yu Bi while dreaming of snatching the woman of the far-too-brilliant Yuan Shao.

Chenggao was a fair distance. The night was dark and the horses ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were tired, so we rested and rode in turns.

A full day later, darkness had fallen again by the time we reached the outskirts of the village.

"How much longer until we get there?"

"We're here. That's it."

Xiahou Yuan pointed to a grand mansion rising ahead. It was late, but the place felt especially desolate—or was that just me?

"Mengde! Mengde! I'm back!"

Xiahou Yuan dismounted and threw the gate open. Immediately came the sound of feet pounding the ground, and several women came rushing out.

"Miaocai! How are you even alive?"

They didn't give names, but I could roughly tell they were Cao Ren, Cao Hong, and Xiahou Dun. Xiahou Yuan thrust her ruined face forward.

"Had a rough time of it. If these scars stick, I'll chew Dong Zhuo alive someday."

"That doesn't make sense. You failed the assassination, got beaten half to death, and still escaped?"

"This guy helped a little."

Thump thump! Xiahou Yuan pounded my back and introduced me to her sisters. She was heavily downplaying my contribution, but I let it slide.

"W-What are you doing, Miaocai?! Why would you bring an outsider here?"

Shiiing!

Their reaction was extreme. The moment they spotted me they drew weapons and dropped into combat stances as one.

"What's wrong with you all? He saved my life!"

"Even so, this is our secret place! Who the hell is this guy?"

"His name's Do Yeop, but that's all I know either... Who exactly are you taking orders from?"

Truth was, all Xiahou Yuan knew about me was that some unknown woman had handed me a treasured sword and sent me to assassinate Dong Zhuo. I scratched my head and answered.

"If I have to name someone, the one who put me up to Dong Zhuo's assassination was Wang Yun."

"The Henan Yin? That guy stayed completely quiet when Dong Zhuo seized power—I thought he was a total sycophant. So it was all an act?"

Hearing Wang Yun's name, Xiahou Yuan relaxed. But for some reason the other sisters still kept their blades trained on me, fully on guard.

"What's with everyone? He's Wang Yun's man."

"Wang Yun's man or not, you shouldn't have brought him here! Get him out right now."

"...?"

Both Xiahou Yuan and I had question marks floating over our heads. Just how secret was this rendezvous spot that they were slamming the door on the man who'd saved her life?

"What's going on? Why have you drawn your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠swords... again?"

Then the master of them all appeared, the one who would end this entire scene. A short man approached with that distinctive, swaggering gait of his.

Cao Cao himself.

"Mengde! I'm back! The assassination failed, but—"

"I never really thought you'd pull it off. Still, making it out alive is a bit of a surprise."

"..."

Cao Cao's indifferent reply shut Xiahou Yuan up cold. Looking back, there hadn't been a single contingency plan after the attempt, had there?

Cao Cao's attitude had been pure "if she comes back alive, great; if not, whatever." Originally she probably would have failed the assassination and still miraculously escaped—but by picking yesterday as the day of the attempt, I'd created an irregularity.

"Th-This guy helped..."

Xiahou Yuan was clearly disappointed by Cao Cao's reaction. She half-heartedly introduced me, and Cao Cao tilted his head.

"I've seen that face somewhere before."

"You don't remember? At the martial arts tournament, the shop clerk who was with Yu Bi..."

"Ah! That idiot of peaceful times? Now that chaos has arrived, should we call him the idiot of chaotic times instead? Either way, an idiot's still an idiot, right? Hahaha!!!"

"..."

Only someone who could gut a man with words and still laugh that heartily... My ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mood soured for a second, but how was I supposed to show it in front of the man who would soon be my lord?

I forced a smile. Beside me, Xiahou Dun spoke up.

"What do we do? He claims he's Wang Yun's subordinate, but I don't know why Miaocai brought him all the way here."

"He helped her escape, so she probably wanted to repay him. Check inside for money or valuables. Give him a generous amount and send him on his—"

"No! I don't want any monetary reward! Just bringing the right arm of Lord Cao—who will one day conquer the realm—back safely is more than enough for me."

Sensing he was about to buy me off and kick me out, I jumped in first. Cao Cao gave a crooked smile.

"This guy's flattery skills haven't changed a bit. Is there something else you want?"

"Well... would you reconsider taking me into service? I know the Yuedanping still bothers you. But even someone like me must have a use somewhere..."

"Do it, Mengde. Without this guy I might've been in a little danger. He turned out to be surprisingly useful in all sorts of ways."

Xiahou Yuan stepped up to recommend me as well. She was still downplaying my achievements, but a request from his beloved little sister might just sway Cao Cao.

"Haa... What to do?"

Yet Cao Cao still hesitated. The sisters' blades pointed at me hadn't dulled in the slightest either.

"Fine. Bring him in."

At last Cao Cao gave permission. Xiahou Yuan immediately grabbed my hand and pushed past her still-reluctant sisters into the compound.

And then...

"Urgh..."

I couldn't stop myself from gagging. Because what lay beyond was a vision of hell I never could have imagined.

Past the main gate, the courtyard was littered with blood-soaked corpses. The ground that should have been bare earth was stained red, and sections of the carefully stacked stone walls had collapsed into ruins.

What in the world had happened here?

"Me-Mengde? Why is it like this? Why is Lü Boshe's entire family lying dead?"

"...?"

Then came an even more absurd line. Xiahou Yuan, what did you just say?

Whose house was this supposed to be?