LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 2 - "It's Common Knowledge That Lü Bu is a Woman, Right?"
Chapter 2. “It’s Common Knowledge That Lü Bu is a Woman, Right?”
The first time I manifested martial arts was seven years ago.
I had been training for about three years, and at the time, I had no idea about the true nature of this world.
That was to be expected. After all, I had succeeded in mastering martial arts.
I had finally accumulated the internal energy necessary to perform martial arts and discovered the form of my dantian, so I simply lived in a sense of accomplishment.
However, as time passed, strange things began to emerge one by one.
First of all, people didn’t seem to know anything about the martial world.
When I first spoke with Haryeong, I asked her about this, and she answered exactly like this:
“Is it something you eat?”
I felt a sense of discord, but at the time, I laughed it off.
Haryeong was still young back then, so I thought maybe she just didn’t know.
Of course, other people were just as clueless about the martial world, and I started to get an odd feeling, but I didn’t have the luxury to dwell on it too deeply.
At that time, I was still far from reaching my goal, so I decided not to think about useless things and focused solely on training.
For 10 years, without leaving the mountain once.
The only news I received from the outside world was what I occasionally heard from my younger siblings, so I was able to devote myself entirely to my training.
But then, I heard it.
“Bro, I heard the eunuchs caused a rebellion?”
“A rebellion?”
“Yeah, the Ten Attendants or something. It’s a real mess.”
“What? The Ten Attendants?”
The year I turned 17, I learned about the Rebellion of the Ten Attendants.
That’s when I realized it.
The source of the strange feeling I had been having all this time.
From the beginning, there had never been any martial arts in this world.
For reasons unknown, I was the only one capable of using martial arts.
No wonder Haryeong couldn’t grasp the internal energy techniques I tried to teach her.
“It wasn’t a martial arts world, after all.”
“S-sparing my life, please?”
“Hm?”
Before I knew it, the strength drained from my hand, and I dropped my sword to the ground.
The shock from the past hit me all at once, and I couldn’t hold out.
The bandits seemed to have misunderstood something as their faces brightened up.
“Brother, really?”
Meanwhile, Haryeong’s face darkened, perhaps because she, too, had misunderstood.
Had I lost my mind? Letting these guys live?
No matter how much, I couldn’t let these trash live.
There may not be martial arts in this world. Power may not exist as I know it.
But,
Righteousness can exist anywhere.
As long as one is alive, righteousness can always be practiced.
Therefore, even though this may not be a martial world, I will act in righteousness.
A world where righteousness and chivalry exist is a martial arts world.
Just as I was about to pick up my sword again,
—Clang! Clang! Clang!
I heard the sound of blades clashing behind me.
“Brother Unryong, we’re here!”
***
After that, the situation was quickly resolved.
I didn’t even need to step in, as my younger brothers had arrived.
Of course, they weren’t my blood relatives.
They were just beggars I had picked up from the streets.
To be more precise, they had attached themselves to me on their own.
In any case, these three were the ones who had been with me the longest among the beggars.
“Why did you guys show up so late?! Thanks to you, our brother had to go through all that trouble!”
Haryeong screamed.
She had been clinging to my back, pushing me forward just a moment ago.
“There was someone who got lost, you see.”
“This bastard? You were the one who got lost! Even the local kids have a better memory than you!”
“What? You wanna go? Right now?”
“Fine! Let’s settle this today. Let’s see who’s better, you weakling.”
Baekrang and Unsam were trying to make excuses, each attempting to avoid responsibility.
Haryeong sighed deeply at the sight.
“Honestly… Whatever, where are the others?”
“They’re searching the bandit’s hideout for anything useful. There’s a big bundle stuffed with all sorts of things. Wonder how much they’ve raked in.”
At Haryeong’s scolding, Baekrang took a deep breath to calm himself down before answering.
“As expected of our brother! You anticipated even this!”
“Do you think our brother dealt with these scumbags for something like that?”
“I’m just saying, man! This guy keeps picking fights with me!”
“Are you two going to keep this up in front of our brother?”
“……”
“……”
Only when Haryeong mentioned me did the two of them stop arguing.
Those two are way too hot-headed. They’re always at each other’s throats at any opportunity.
“Are you all done talking?”
“Sorry, brother…”
“Apologies, brother…”
At my words, Baekrang and Unsam nodded apologetically.
“Then, let’s set off as soon as the others arrive.”
“Huh? Where are we going? Do we already have a destination?”
“Yeah, we’re heading to Luoyang.”
“W-wait! Where?!”
Haryeong suddenly stuck her head forward.
“You mean we’re walking straight into Luoyang, which is probably in flames by now? Are you crazy?! That place is already a battlefield beyond imagination! Why are you even going there?!”
“The reason is obvious, Haryeong.”
Before I could answer, Baekrang grinned and spoke.
“For righteousness.”
“What?”
“Our brother upholds righteousness. So do I. His goal is to bring peace to the world and comfort to the people. That’s his true aim, the essence of benevolence and the great cause. So don’t even think of arguing against it.”
It’s not quite that grand, though…
“Wow, seriously.”
Whack!
Haryeong smacked her forehead and shook her head. Then, she ignored Baekrang and turned her gaze toward me.
“…Brother, you know who’s currently in Luoyang.”
Of course I did.
I nodded.
“And you’re still going? Luoyang is where Dong Zhuo is. You’re not seriously thinking of stopping his tyranny with our strength, are you? He’s the one who not only trapped the imperial court but also absorbed even He Jin’s Imperial Guards.”
Dong Zhuo.
A name I knew all too well.
I didn’t expect to hear it here, though.
Once again, I realized where I was.
This was the world of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
What is The Three Kingdoms?
It’s often said that anyone who hasn’t read it at least three times is not worth dealing with.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t read The Three Kingdoms three times.
In fact, I hadn’t even read it once in full.
Naturally.
I’ve always been into martial arts novels, so I never bothered to look at things outside my interests.
Of course, it’s so famous that I know the gist of the events, but…
To survive in this chaotic era, even that little bit of knowledge had to be used to its fullest.
That’s why I came up with this plan.
It’s the year 189.
Soon, it will be 190.
In 190, the Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition was formed.
The 18 warlords will unite to launch a campaign against Dong Zhuo.
Although the campaign ultimately fails, the important thing is that future warlords will gather in one place.
In other words, it’s the perfect stage to make a name for myself.
Most importantly, as Baekrang said, since I pursue martial arts and righteousness, I couldn’t miss such an event.
Even though this world lacks martial arts, as long as there’s righteousness, it’s a martial arts world!
The common people have been trampled on and on and on.
How could I, as a martial arts enthusiast, stand by and let that continue?
Of course not.
“Brother?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Oops, I had gotten lost in my thoughts.
“Sure, just like you said, Dong Zhuo’s forces are too large. Even the most famous people in the world would find it difficult to stop his tyranny.”
“Yes, Dong Zhuo is practically a king already. The current emperor is just a powerless child, and it’s obvious who holds the real power. Even if you were a monster, brother, this is impossible.”
I nodded because what she said was true.
But Haryeong, as if she wasn’t done yet, kept on talking.
“And finally, if you’re a monster, Dong Zhuo has a monster too.”
“Lü Bu.”
“That’s right, that woman! I don’t know how Dong Zhuo managed to win her over, but thanks to her, he removed the court officials and seized power.”
Even a non-expert like me knows Lü Bu.
Who is Lü Bu?
The famous general known as Among men, Lü Bu; among horses, Red Hare.
His martial prowess, wielding the massive halberd Fangtian Huaji with one hand, would make anyone shiver, and the fact that no one survives an encounter with him is legendary.
Lü Bu is one of the most famous fierce generals in the Three Kingdoms.
But wait a minute.
“Lü Bu is a woman?”
“Of course she’s a woman.”
“Huh?”
“Yes?”
We both tilted our heads, falling into silence.
I hurriedly shifted my gaze to Unsam.
“You’re joking, right?”
“What do you mean, brother? It’s common knowledge that Lü Bu is a woman.”
This time, I turned to Baekrang.
“Yes, brother. Lü Bu is indeed a woman.”
What the hell.
The Three Kingdoms I knew…?
I’ve never heard of Lü Bu being a woman.
“Is Dong Zhuo a woman, too?”
“No, brother.”
“Now you’re pushing it, brother.”
“Haha, you’re quite the jokester, brother.”
“Th-then what about Zhang Fei? Guan Yu? Liu Bei?”
“……???”
They all had confused looks on their faces.
Come to think of it, those three aren’t famous yet.
“So, is this not the Romance of the Three Kingdoms…?”
“What’s that?”
“Oh, nothing.”
“Brother, you always say such strange things.”
“Don’t try to understand it with your dull mind. Brother always stands above us.”
“Baekrang, shut up for a bit.”
“….”
Anyway,
“Like Haryeong said, it might be too early. So heading out right away would be difficult. There are still things we need to take care of first.”
Haryeong sighed in relief, as if that was the best news she’d heard all day.
“So where are we going?”
“Bingzhou.”
“…That’s just as dangerous, isn’t it?”
Her answer made a smirk spread across my lips.
She was absolutely right.
Bingzhou was still home to the Black Mountain Bandits, a bandit force.
Eliminating the Black Mountain Bandits was a necessary task.
To make a name for myself and possibly secure a position within the Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition, I needed to build up my reputation.
Plus, it was a righteous act to rid the world of those who oppressed the weak, in line with my ideals.
Lastly, there were some martial arts techniques I wanted to test.
It was the perfect opportunity—killing two, no, three birds with one stone.
No one objected this time.
And so, our destination was decided.
But before that, there was something I had to confirm.
“It’s a lie, right?”
Lü Bu isn’t really a woman, right?
***
“Hoo…”
The cold winter air filled the surroundings. White snowflakes slowly descended, blanketing the ground.
Between the lips of a woman, white breath emerged, only to disappear into the air.
She shook the snow off her crimson hair, turning her head this way and that, and then stretched her arms wide.
“The weather’s pretty nice.”
The winters in Luoyang were harsh.
Ordinary people would feel their entire bodies being clawed at by the fierce northern winds.
But she didn’t feel the cold at all.
In fact, she had never felt pain.
Not even once.
And she probably never would.
Her name was Lü Bu, courtesy name Fengxian.
Among men, Lü Bu; among horses, Red Hare.
For Lü Bu, defeat did not exist.
“The weather’s nice, but it’s boring as hell. Don’t you think so?”
Lü Bu spoke to the soldier lying at her feet.
His blood seeped into the white snow, gradually dyeing the ground red.
“D-damn…monster…”
She shrugged and bent down.
With a single motion, smash!
Just a flick of her finger.
She wasn’t even holding a weapon.
Just a flick.
That alone scattered the snowflakes in the air.
The way the flakes danced in the wind looked like a beautiful performance.
This was why Lü Bu liked winter.
The blood-dyed snow scattered like her favorite flower petals.
Feeling pleased, Lü Bu took a deep breath and then spoke.
“Maybe it’s time I showed my face back home.”