Lu Bu of Hulao Pass (2)
In front of Hulao Pass, tension hung thick over the battlefield like a drawn bowstring. As the allied forces' morale plummeted in response to Lu Bu's taunts, three unfamiliar generals stepped forward.
Large-eared Liu Bei, Xuan De. Long-bearded Guan Yu, Yun Chang. Tiger-whiskered Zhang Fei, Yi De.
But no one welcomed their appearance. Instead, jeers and mockery rained down.
"Who the hell are those guys? Aren't they just country bumpkins without proper banners?"
"They're the ones who were cowering behind Gongsun Zan... and they dare challenge Lu Bu?"
Yuan Shao, in particular, made no effort to hide his disgust.
"Xuan De, was it? What office do you hold?"
Liu Bei answered politely.
"Magistrate of Pingyuan."
"Magistrate of Pingyuan? A mere county official dares to volunteer as vanguard in the presence of the realm's lords? And who are those red-faced and black-faced louts behind you?"
Guan Yu gripped his Green Dragon Crescent Blade and replied in a heavy tone.
"Bow Cavalry Officer Guan Yu."
Zhang Fei glared and bellowed.
"Bow Cavalry Officer Zhang Fei!"
Yuan Shao snorted in disbelief.
"Bow Cavalry Officer? Haha! Shameless foot soldiers without a shred of fear! Get back now! If Lu Bu sees riffraff like you, he'll mock the coalition for lacking talent!"
The other lords chuckled and chimed in.
"Exactly. Don't drag down the prestige."
"They must be suicidal."
Guan Yu's face flushed red, and Zhang Fei trembled with rage, ready to charge at Yuan Shao. Even Liu Bei bit his lip in humiliation.
That was when it happened.
"Shut your mouths!"
A thunderous roar exploded outward. All eyes turned to one spot.
There stood Yuan Shu in his ornate silk armor, chin raised arrogantly.
Yuan Shu shot Yuan Shao a venomous smile.
"Alliance Leader. Is this the time to quibble over status? There's a monster rampaging right in front of us—whoever goes out and stops him is all that matters, isn't it?"
"Wh-what? Gong Lu, are you saying—"
Yuan Shu cut off Yuan Shao and turned to the three Liu brothers. With feigned magnanimity—but loud enough for all to hear—he declared,
"Heroes care not for their origins, as the saying goes. To my eyes, these three have the mettle to rival the Alliance Leader's favorites, Yan Liang and Wen Chou."
Yuan Shu drew his sword from his belt and pointed it skyward.
"If they step up and the Leader blocks them out of fear, that would be the laughingstock of the realm. Wouldn't you agree, my lords?"
The lords fell silent as if their mouths were sealed with honey. Only Cao Cao nodded with gleaming eyes, intrigued.
"The Rear General is right. As long as the cat catches the mouse, who cares if it's black or white?"
Yuan Shu approached Liu Bei and clapped his shoulder.
"Xuan De. Our Alliance Leader means well, but he's a bit rigid—forgive him. Go break that arrogant Lu Bu's nose. I'll back you up solidly from here!"
Liu Bei was moved. For a scion of the prestigious Yuan clan to treat a nobody like him this way.
"Rear General... I won't forget this grace."
I smiled contentedly from behind Yuan Shu. Of course, those lines were what I'd fed him last night.
"My lord. The Liu brothers may be down and out now, but their martial prowess is unmatched in the realm. Bestow favor on them to pull them to our side. When the Alliance Leader scorns them, if you shield them, they'll never forget your grace."
Just as I'd advised, Yuan Shu had played the magnanimous lord to perfection. Now, the Liu brothers' strength belonged to Yuan Shu—or rather, to me.
Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and I, Seowon. The four generals advanced side by side toward Lu Bu.
Lu Bu was busy rallying his disordered troops after the gold bar chaos. Spotting us approach, he sneered.
"Hmph! Rabble swarming like rats. Yuan Shu! Hiding like a coward and sending only small fry?"
Yuan Shu bristled at the taunt, but I raised a hand to stop him. Stepping forward, I called out to Lu Bu.
"Lu Bu! Long time no see!"
Lu Bu furrowed his brow.
"Who the hell are you? Some nobody I've never heard of."
I pulled a gold bar from my robes and dangled it. It gleamed in the sunlight.
"Did you like the gift I sent? Must've been tough pocketing it without Minister Dong noticing."
"Wh-what?!"
Lu Bu's face turned beet red. Whispers rippled through the soldiers.
"See? The general did take it."
"Told us not to touch any..."
Lu Bu panicked. Indignation and fury boiled up together.
"Y-you scheming bastard! I never took it! This is your dirty trick!"
"Come on, why deny it between us? I saw you have General Hou Cheng sneak it away."
I lied shamelessly. But it wasn't entirely false— from afar, I'd seen someone rallying the rear, and given Lu Bu's nature, he'd snatched every last ingot.
"Shut up!! Shut up!!"
Lu Bu lost his reason. He raised his Sky Piercer halberd and roared.
"I'll rip that lying mouth off! Whole army, charge—no, get out of my way! I'll kill him myself!"
No prey was easier than a general who'd lost his cool. I gave a subtle nod to the three brothers beside me.
"Now."
Zhang Fei lunged first, bellowing like thunder as he thrust his serpent spear.
"You three-headed bastard! Taste my spear!"
Boom! Lu Bu parried with his Sky Piercer. A deafening clang sparked flames. Zhang Fei's arm muscles bulged like they might burst, but Lu Bu didn't budge. He smirked leisurely, absorbing the blow.
"That all you got, you black pig?!"
"You bastard!"
Zhang Fei flushed and charged again, but Lu Bu's halberd slithered like a serpent, blocking every strike. Zhang Fei's hands went numb.
Then, red-faced Guan Yu swung his Green Dragon Crescent Blade in a crescent arc.
"Take my Dragon Blade too!"
Clang! Lu Bu leaned back, dodging the blade by a hair, then swept his halberd to check both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.
Clang! Clash! Kang! Weapons tangled in a din like shattering metal. Even as the era's two top warriors pressed him, Lu Bu not only held but gained momentum. His Sky Piercer danced like a living dragon, deflecting their assaults.
"Hahaha! Come on! Two or three, doesn't matter! I, Lu Bu, am invincible!"
Lu Bu laughed maniacally. He was no man—he was the God of War incarnate.
Cold sweat beaded on Guan Yu's forehead.
"What a monster... No openings even against Yi De and me together."
Zhang Fei clicked his tongue.
"Brother! This guy's no joke—feels like hitting a boulder!"
Liu Bei then swung his twin swords at Lu Bu's blind spot.
"Opening!"
His blades sliced in sharply, but Lu Bu twisted his Red Hare without looking, evading. The three heroes surrounded him, yet couldn't scratch him.
This wouldn't do. Lu Bu's momentum was surging. I leaped from my horse, diving at him from above.
"Down you go, Lu Bu!"
Kaboom! My sword smashed into his Sky Piercer. The aerial strike, infused with my inner power, sent shockwaves exploding dust outward.
"Guh?!"
Lu Bu's eyes widened for the first time. He blocked, but the impact jolted straight to Red Hare. The legendary steed whinnied and buckled its forelegs.
Lu Bu's ironclad stance crumbled in that instant.
"Now! Strike!"
Zhang Fei from the left, Guan Yu from the right, Liu Bei head-on, and me from above. Fatal blows poured from all sides.
Lu Bu gritted his teeth. Even off-balance, he spun his Sky Piercer like a windmill to fend us off.
Kakakakang! Sparks flew, metal shards scattered. Lu Bu's godlike skill avoided lethal hits, but the onslaught from four peak masters was too much, even for him.
I gave no quarter, slamming my sword into his halberd's shaft.
Kang! A vibration like tearing flesh shot through his grip. The Sky Piercer flew upward.
An opening. Victory was sealed.
The invincible Lu Bu was sweating, staggering back, overwhelmed by our four killers' aura.
"Y-you cowardly dogs!"
Lu Bu spat in frustration. Sensing death if he lingered, he cracked Red Hare's flank with his halberd shaft.
Neigh! The horse thrashed in pain, barreling toward the weakest link—Liu Bei.
As Liu Bei flinched, Lu Bu burst through the gap and fled like the wind.
"You'll pay for this! I'll tear you four apart!"
Leaving the loser's lament, Lu Bu bolted toward Hulao Pass. Cheers erupted from the coalition behind him.
"Waaaaah! Lu Bu's running!"
"We won!"
Zhang Fei raged to pursue, but I stopped him.
"Zhang Fei, hold. Chasing a cornered thief brings calamity."
Zhang Fei huffed in annoyance but soon marveled.
"Damn, he got away! But that guy's a real monster. Four of us—you included, General Seowon—and not a scratch."
Guan Yu stroked his beard and nodded, awe for Lu Bu lingering in his eyes.
"Lu Bu... Truly worthy of the War God title. Without General Seowon's final blow, victory wasn't guaranteed."
We stood amid the battlefield, gazing at each other. Faces smeared with blood and sweat. But our eyes shone like stars.
Liu Bei approached and clasped my hand.
"General Seowon. Without your strategy and valor today, we'd be under Lu Bu's blade. I respect you sincerely."
"No, it was the three brothers' bravery that made it possible."
I humbly called them "brothers." Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's expressions softened.
Then, Yuan Shu came galloping up breathlessly.
"Seowon! Seowon! Are you hurt?!"
He leaped off his horse and checked me over, genuine worry in his eyes.
"I'm fine, my lord. As you see, we drove off Lu Bu."
"Hahaha! Well done! I knew I could count on you!"
Elated, Yuan Shu approached the Liu brothers too.
"Xuan De, and Guan Yu, Zhang Fei. Good work! I'll reward you handsomely as promised. Come to our camp—let's have a drink! I make killer honey water, perfect for the hangover after."
The three exchanged stunned glances. The haughty Yuan Shu offering to mix honey water?
This was all my design. Yuan Shu's prestige soared to the heavens, the Liu brothers opened their hearts to him. Cao Cao burned with desire for me, and Yuan Shao's jealousy would blind him to ruin.
I smiled at Hulao Pass.
Dong Zhuo. Pack your bags. Time to vacate.