It Wasn’t a Martial Arts World, but the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 108. Intention (6)

It had been fifteen days since Lü Bu and I set off on our journey again.

Our progress was noticeably slower than before, and we were arriving later than expected.

The reason was simple: if we rode the Red Hare, it would have been like announcing our presence everywhere, so we left the Red Hare at Shangdang Commandery for the time being.

“The atmosphere’s pretty grim, isn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

Lü Bu clicked her tongue as she held the reins, and I nodded.

Beyond the river, we could see soldiers constantly moving.

It looked like there had already been a battle, as remnants of buildings that hadn’t been cleared away yet were scattered everywhere.

“Damn, we’re a step too late.”

I couldn’t hide my bitter smile.

Up until now, I had tried to ignore Cao Cao’s actions, but seeing it with my own eyes, everything fell into place, and my mind cleared.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

I immediately asked Lü Bu.

“Yeo, given the situation, how do you think the war is going?”

Standing before me was Lü Bu, a woman whose life had been soaked in blood.

Few understood the tides of war as well as she did.

Lü Bu paused, halting her horse and resting her chin on her hand.

“To march from Chang’an to Luoyang, the Cao Cao forces must go through Hedong or Hongnong. Yuan Shu’s forces won’t easily give up the Henan region, so it’s likely to be one of these two routes.”

That meant the answer was clear. We were standing in Hedong Commandery.

“Where is Hongnong Commandery?”

“Cross the river and head south a bit; you’ll reach Hongnong Commandery.”

“Then let’s move. We can’t afford to waste time here.”

“…Are you sure you’re okay?”

Lü Bu looked at me with uncharacteristically worried eyes.

I merely lifted the corners of my mouth.

“My punches have been a bit off lately. I’ll fix that when I get back.”

“Sure.”

Lü Bu took up the reins again, and we resumed our journey.

Meanwhile, I clenched my fists tightly and closed my eyes.

I just hoped we wouldn’t be too late.

***

“What will you do now, Strategist?”

Jia Xu, lying in the grass in a position unbefitting her status, asked the question with a bored expression.

Sima Yi sighed deeply, covering her mouth with her fan as she looked at Jia Xu.

“We’ve taken Hongnong Commandery. The next target is Hedong Commandery. It’s time for Master Wenruo to shine.”

“Ah, I see. So, you plan to march straight from Hedong Commandery to Henei Commandery and establish a base there? You’re aiming to conduct a feint operation?”

“Yes, you always understand me so well, Master.”

As Sima Yi’s eyes curved into a smile, Jia Xu chuckled and shook her head.

“What a sharp young lady. Where did you learn such tactics at your age? You may be beautiful, but it’s a shame your nature doesn’t match.”

“Let’s save those remarks and go to General Cao, who is stationed at Fengyi Commandery. There’s no time to waste here.”

“All right, all right. To think I’d be taking orders from such a young girl; how pathetic I’ve become.”

“Apologies if I overstepped.”

“Don’t worry; if you put it that way, you’ll make me seem petty. I’m a beautiful person inside and out, so don’t concern yourself.”

Jia Xu shrugged her shoulders as she spoke jokingly and eventually got up, brushing the leaves off her clothes as she disappeared.

Sima Yi thought, her half-moon eyes narrowing slightly.

Yes, she’s beautiful, but she certainly isn’t kind-natured.

Regardless, it didn’t matter.

As long as she was competent, her arrogance wasn’t something to worry about.

Sima Yi turned her head.

Beyond lay Luoyang.

She closed her eyes tightly.

Memories from the past flashed by.

When she was much younger, Sima Yi once watched the battlefield from over her grandfather’s shoulder.

Even when ear-piercing screams filled the air, the wind still softly caressed the petals.

She liked that.

She realized that a vibrant battlefield would only make her victory more valuable.

Thus, Sima Yi had always wanted to step onto the battlefield herself and spread her name across the land.

She knew it wasn’t a normal mindset, but the world had gone mad long before, so what did it matter?

It was a time when killing was a norm.

Seeing battle as a strategic game was hardly something to be condemned.

In the end, all fights were for personal gain.

So she eagerly awaited the day when the name Sima Yi would resonate throughout the world.

At least, that’s what she thought.

When had it started?

The desire to elevate not her own name but someone else’s?

A man indecisive in all matters, unable to stand by his convictions.

Yet, when he stood up, brushing off his doubts, he remained unwavering in his beliefs.

A man whose values were so twisted compared to the rest of the world, often spouting bizarre ideas without hesitation.

His back was broad.

When he rescued her at the tavern, and when he decapitated the enemy general Xu Rong in his first battle.

When Sima Yi looked at his back, she felt it was truly broad.

Perhaps it was at that moment that Sima Yi realized.

He was like a cloud.

Belonging nowhere, just drifting along.

Sometimes bringing rain, sometimes hiding himself, but always reappearing to obscure the sun.

That was Unryong.

Sima Yi wanted to see it.

Where the final destination of this drifting cloud would be.

Whether that foolish wish would ever come true.

The way of Jianghu.

“Hah, I must be crazy.”

Sima Yi laughed softly to herself.

“Well, it’s just as well. I’ve finally freed myself from unnecessary distractions, and now the time has come to spread my name across the land.”

Regaining her composure, Sima Yi shook her head.

Dwelling on such thoughts wouldn’t help now.

Sima Yi tapped her cheeks lightly twice, cooling her flushed face with her fan as she pondered.

With her entry into the battlefield, Yuan Shu’s forces would be scrambling to devise countermeasures.

By tomorrow or the next day, they would respond swiftly.

‘The gates of Luoyang won’t fall easily. And they’ll likely deploy troops to Henan Commandery to monitor our movements, so we must tread carefully.’

Countless scenarios played out in Sima Yi’s mind. She sometimes envisioned defeat, other times a meaningless victory.

Then, suddenly.

Sima Yi’s thoughts crystallized.

‘Now, how shall I reel them in…’

Sima Yi had no intention of advancing any further from this location.

By holding this fortress, Yuan Shu’s forces would be compelled to split their troops.

Moreover, Sima Yi’s forces, at a glance, appeared small. The only standout warrior was someone like Zhao Yun.

It appeared like a flimsy shield that could easily be breached.

The spear was the Cao Cao army.

Jia Xu, Cao Cao, Cao Hong, and Xiahou Dun, along with many others, were already waiting at Fengyi Commandery.

As Jia Xu had mentioned earlier, they planned to advance from Hedong Commandery to Henei Commandery.

Once they reached Hedong, a messenger would arrive, and they would then strike Henan Commandery.

With Henan Commandery captured, Luoyang would be encircled on all fronts—isolated.

Having completed all her calculations, Sima Yi snapped her fan shut and walked with her hands behind her back.

Though she was but a child, each step carried an odd weight, like that of a young celestial being.

With her graceful movements, she headed toward the barracks where the soldiers were stationed.

“…Strategist.”

“General Zhao Yun.”

Zhao Yun was sitting on the edge of a rock, looking weary, just outside the tent.

Unbothered, Sima Yi approached and stopped in front of her.

“Have you made up your mind?”

“…”

“I asked if you’ve resolved to avenge your master.”

“Yes.”

Zhao Yun nodded weakly.

“At the very least, I plan to behead my uncle, who’s also known as the Little Conqueror.”

Her eyes, shadowed, glowed with a blue light.

Sima Yi, satisfied, patted her shoulder.

“Good. That’s it. Soon, they’ll attack to retake Hongnong Commandery. When that time comes, you know what to do, right?”

“I’ll cut them all down.”

“Oh, but don’t kill everyone. Some of them might be useful. However, if anyone resists fiercely, cut off their nose and ears and hang them on a spear. It’ll serve as a warning.”

“…”

Zhao Yun was a warrior.

Thus, as a warrior, Sima Yi’s order to trample the dignity of fallen foes didn’t sit well with her.

Seeing Zhao Yun remain silent, Sima Yi’s smile only widened.

“Ah, right. You don’t have to do it yourself.”

Sima Yi turned her head.

Seeing Sima Yi go quiet, Zhao Yun raised her head, turning her gaze to where the young strategist was looking.

Beyond Sima Yi’s figure, soldiers of Unryong’s army were sharpening their weapons.

“…!”

It was brutal.

There were no better words to describe it.

The stench of blood was overpowering.

Some, like Unsam and Zhao Yun, constantly questioned themselves, reconsidering Unryong’s will.

Others were blinded by revenge, exuding a foul aura.

Baekrang was silently tending to his weapon with an expression so devoid of emotion that it sent chills down one’s spine.

Haryeong, on the other hand, was biting the scab on her thumb.

“······.”

Zhao Yun turned her gaze toward Sima Yi.

She wondered if perhaps he was manipulating their emotions.

She thought it was impossible for a child that young to possess such a cruel nature, but Sima Yi’s recent actions were making her entertain those absurd thoughts.

And then, Zhao Yun could do nothing but swallow hard.

Sima Yi was smiling.

She was definitely smiling, but the faint trembling of her hands and shoulders seemed to reveal her true feelings.

That’s right.

Sima Yi was seething with anger.

Toward the army that could never be restored to its former glory, and toward the enemies who had caused it.

In the end, Zhao Yun could only manage a faint, lonely smile.

The stench of blood still lingered heavily in the world.