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

Chapter 12. The Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition

After everything was over, Haryeong collapsed on the spot, crying her heart out.

I wondered why she was crying and hesitated for a while, only to clear my throat awkwardly when I noticed the cold stares from my younger siblings. I patted her on the back.

“Hey, why are you causing a scene and crying so embarrassingly?”

“But… the blood…”

Haryeong reached out to the blood dripping from my forehead and gently caressed it.

Touching it actually hurt more.

But given the situation, I couldn’t exactly scream in pain.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m really sorry… because of me, you almost…!”

“Hey, it’s just a scratch.”

When did I start caring about such minor injuries?

I patted Haryeong’s sobbing back and stood up.

“Brother, as you instructed, we’ve rescued the prisoners.”

Next to Baekrang were several trembling women, kneeling.

Once everything was settled, we retrieved the prisoners and some loot that the bandits had held.

Though, it was all pretty useless.

“Send them back home. Give them some food for the road, and make sure they get a meal.”

“Yes, sir.”

Even as I spoke, I avoided making eye contact with the women.

Unlike me and Unsam, Baekrang had a neat, clean appearance.

I thought it would be more reassuring for him to deliver the news.

Baekrang just smiled awkwardly and clasped his hands politely.

These guys really are something.

They endured well through all that.

If we had been a bit later, they would’ve been dead.

Even now, those two are wrapped head to toe in bandages.

And then, another group knelt before me.

“Truly, thank you so much…”

It was a woman clutching her child tightly.

I just chuckled. I had only kept my promise, so I didn’t understand what they were so thankful for.

Besides, it was Haryeong who saved the child in the end.

I didn’t do much.

I silently patted the child’s head and turned away.

I didn’t care for these awkwardly sentimental situations.

Haryeong also patted the child once more before clinging tightly to my side.

“Thank you.”

“Huh?”

Surprised by the sudden gratitude, Haryeong tilted her head.

“F-for what?”

“For saving that kid. I would’ve felt uneasy if something had happened.”

“…T-that’s even scarier. Please, just hit me instead… I deserve to be punished…”

I gave a bitter smile at her attitude, as if she was about to burst into tears again, and I pushed her clinging body away.

But anyway.

“…Where did Lü Bu go?”

“Oh, Lü Bu… Wait, what?”

One of my brothers tilted his head.

“She was definitely here just a moment ago.”

“Huh?”

At that, I looked around, searching for Lü Bu’s whereabouts.

But there was no trace of her anywhere.

I’m the type to return favors when they’re given.

That’s what honor is.

Not forgetting a grudge and not forgetting a favor—those are the basic principles of honor.

How could I let Lü Bu’s favor go unpaid?

“Lü Bu! Where the hell are you?!”

So, I desperately shouted, trying to find Lü Bu.

But she was nowhere to be seen.

This woman—where did she disappear without even a goodbye?

She really has no sense of sentiment, does she?

***

“Idiot. Shouting so loudly.”

“Sis, you seem to be in a good mood?”

“Do I?”

“Yes, I’ve never seen this expression on you before. Was there someone worthwhile among the Black Mountain Bandits?”

“Not really.”

Next to Lü Bu, who was walking with a swagger, was a large man.

His name was Zhang Liao.

He was from the same background as Lü Bu and followed her, impressed by her martial prowess.

“So, why are you here? Did that damned father of mine send you to get me?”

“You’re the one at fault here, Sis. What kind of bodyguard leaves her lord unattended for days? Where on Earth do you find something like that?”

“I didn’t expect it to take this long either.”

Lü Bu sighed deeply.

Zhang Liao couldn’t hide his surprise at Lü Bu’s unfamiliar expression.

“I originally came back home to stretch my legs by cracking down on some bandits and foreign scum, but what is this? I ended up doing something a fool would do.”

“If you’re talking about a fool, do you mean that man from earlier?”

Zhang Liao looked at Lü Bu with interest, his eyes gleaming as if he had found an amusing toy.

“Yeah, that fool.”

“He must be strong if you’re interested in him.”

“Strong? What’s strong about beating up some lousy bandits?”

However… Lü Bu continued.

“He does seem useful.”

“Then why didn’t you bring him along? He looked like a penniless nobody. He would’ve eagerly followed you.”

Zhang Liao asked, his face showing confusion.

In response, Lü Bu grinned, baring her teeth.

“That guy’s not the type to follow anyone. Sure, things can change, but he definitely won’t work under me. I already floated the idea to him.”

“Huh… what did he say?”

“Told me to get lost.”

“What?! He dared to say that to you?!”

Zhang Liao shouted in outrage, looking ready to spring into action.

Lü Bu placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Calm down. I’ve already let it go. Surely you wouldn’t want to embarrass your sister, would you?”

“…But.”

“He didn’t know who I was at the time. I had my face covered.”

“If you say so, I understand. But what are you going to do? People like him are best dealt with early to avoid future trouble.”

“That’s true.”

Lü Bu nodded.

“But… it would be a waste.”

“Hm?”

“I have a feeling we’ll meet again someday.”

“…Hearing you say something so girlish gives me chills.”

“You little brat, are you looking for a beating?”

Watching Zhang Liao shrink his large frame, Lü Bu smirked and glanced up at the sun peeking through the clouds.

A man who risked everything for a fleeting sense of honor.

Unryong, walking the opposite path from hers, would cross her path again one day.

Though not in the same way as now—next time, they would meet as enemies.

That would be fine by her.

“When that time comes, I’ll crush that worthless conviction of his. I, Lü Bu, will sever his head and stomp him down so he never rises again.”

A red gleam flickered in Lü Bu’s eyes.

Zhang Liao sighed, exasperated.

“That guy’s doomed. Of all the people to get tangled with, it had to be our crazy sister…”

“What was that, you little shit? Why are you acting up so much today?”

“Alright, alright, calm down. We need to hurry to Luoyang, don’t we?”

“…We do.”

The reason Zhang Liao came here.

It wasn’t just to find Lü Bu after her little escapade; he also had important news to deliver to her.

Lü Bu crumpled the letter in her hand and ground her teeth in frustration.

“That damn woman went and did it.”

“She really is something. I knew she was trouble the moment I saw those red eyes, but I didn’t expect her to be this audacious.”

Zhang Liao, too, couldn’t help but be amazed by the woman’s boldness.

“A storm of blood is coming.”

Lü Bu and Zhang Liao exchanged wry smiles.

Yes, a storm of blood was on its way.

***

A mournful melody floated through the tavern.

The woman leaning against the wall bobbed her head to the music before gazing up at the moonlit sky.

“When a world comes where the emperor calls his subjects ‘father,’ how could there be any joyful songs to sing?”

Her silver hair shimmered sadly under the moonlight, and her red eyes drooped in sorrow.

With a long, gaunt face, narrow eyes, translucent skin, and crimson lips, she gave off a cold aura.

When she occasionally showed sadness, it stirred feelings of pity.

But her most striking feature was her unpredictable expression, which could change in an instant.

Now, as she gazed at the moon, she exuded a cold and ruthless atmosphere.

She gently stroked the proclamation on the table.

Then, she began to write.

Cao Cao and others respectfully declare the great cause to the whole world.

‘Dong Zhuo has deceived both Heaven and Earth, bringing ruin to the kingdom and killing the Emperor. Not only has he defiled the Imperial Palace, but he has also slaughtered countless innocent citizens. His crimes are enough to eclipse the sun.’

…..

‘We call upon all those loyal to the Han Dynasty to raise righteous armies and cleanse the land of this common enemy, saving both the Imperial family and the people.’

‘Those who receive this proclamation must act swiftly.’

“Keep playing the music. Tonight, I wish to drink.”

With those words, the woman downed a cup of wine under the moonlight.

“A capable minister in times of peace, a cunning hero in times of chaos.”

Then, she continued.

“What would that make me now?”

The mournful tune continued to flow.

But the woman no longer wore a sorrowful expression.

Instead, she maintained her usual impassive look, with a crimson glow in her eyes.

“No matter what I may be, I will not let this song end as a weak lament.”

Now, the heroes of the realm would gather in one place, united in their mission to overthrow the traitor Dong Zhuo and make their names known far and wide.

“And I, Cao Cao, will raise the fallen Han Dynasty once again.”

Thus, her proclamation spread far and wide…

—

In Pingyuan,

A woman of humble origins who had once woven mats steeled her resolve.

In Bohai,

A man of the esteemed Yuan family’s main line gleamed with golden ambition.

In Nanyang,

Another man of the Yuan family, of the direct bloodline, grinned with greed.

The Tiger of Jiangdong, the Serpent of Xuzhou, and 18 lords, each harboring their own ambitions, began to move.

The birth of the Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition had begun.