He Is Not Worthy / Clash of the Nobodies

[Your passion for studying was clearly nowhere near your passion for martial arts. Long periods of training had led to rapid progress in your martial skills, and gradually, even the instructors at home were no longer a match for you.]

[Your parents hurriedly stopped your martial arts training, hoping you would focus properly on your studies. They also began preparing to send you to Water Mirror Manor for further education.]

[You did not give up your martial arts training. Even without opponents, you could rely on your imagination to construct enemies you had encountered before in your mind. Through repeated battles with those illusions, your martial skills grew stronger and stronger.]

[Talent "Ghost Brain" awakened: Supported by a powerful spiritual body, you could control your own body to the utmost limit, even using your imagination to perform the most basic martial arts training.]

[Your parents did not notice your changes, but the plans for your entry into Water Mirror Manor continued as scheduled.]

[You were about to leave home. Before departing, you repeatedly asked your father whether you had a cousin named Zhao Yun, but the answer remained no.]

He Wasn't Worthy

"Today, we will be discussing Mr. Water Mirror's On Morale..."

Water Mirror Manor was now an academy coveted by scholars throughout the land.

Founded by Mr. Water Mirror, Sima Hui, it had taught countless outstanding students. Whether in the imperial court or in the provinces, those students had all found respectable positions.

Whether they came from powerful clans or humble families, as long as they obtained a "diploma" from Water Mirror Manor, they would essentially gain access to an enormous network. Senior Disciples could be found everywhere under heaven.

With such a renowned teacher and such connections, some clever students had already begun building their reputations. The most outstanding among them was Yang Xiu. As for another negative example...

"Zhao Tian, you bastard."

The instructor looked at Fujimaru Kyoya sleeping below the platform and flew into a rage. He grabbed a ruler and swung it at his head.

Smack!

The ruler snapped. The instructor stared blankly at the half of the ruler in his hand, then at Fujimaru Kyoya slowly waking up, completely frozen in place.

"Teacher, I'm cultivating over here too."

Fujimaru Kyoya rubbed his bleary eyes. Though he had appeared to be sleeping just now, he looked utterly exhausted.

In truth, he had been using Ghost Brain to simulate enemy after enemy, fighting them in his mind. Such simulations not only consumed mental strength, but also affected his physical body, making him feel as though he had truly experienced a brutal battle.

"Bastard, you still dare talk back? Is this classroom a place for you to sleep? If you want to sleep, get out and sleep!"

"Fine."

Fujimaru Kyoya felt as though he had been granted a pardon. He immediately grabbed his textbook and left the classroom without looking back. Before long, cheerful laughter rang out from inside.

It was impossible to tell whether they were mocking the teacher or Fujimaru Kyoya.

"Ah, I can finally get some proper rest."

Fujimaru Kyoya went to the edge of a small pond, used a bamboo scroll as a pillow, and lay down to rest.

He understood that his parents had sent him here to study properly and become a strategist. But if he became a strategist, wouldn't that mean competing against those monster-like military advisers?

Never mind Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi, those two monsters. Guo Jia, Jia Xu, Xun Yu... which one of them was easy to deal with?

From Fujimaru Kyoya's observations so far, aside from Yang Xiu, the rest of them were really... give me a break.

[You began cultivating beside the small pond. You simulated opponents in your mind, fighting them again and again, only to be defeated time after time.]

The enemies simulated by Fujimaru Kyoya's Ghost Brain were much weaker than the originals, yet they were still incredibly difficult to handle.

Lloyd, Shadow, Gilgamesh, Artorius, Gawain, Lancelot...

They were all powerful enemies he had fought before, and they carried remnants of the Age of Gods. Their constitutions were naturally far stronger than his.

In this life, Fujimaru Kyoya had no Divine Ancestral Regression, nor was he the Benevolent Dark Emperor. Even when facing weakened enemies created by Ghost Brain, he struggled terribly.

Every failure and every death caused his brain to react, followed by intense pain coursing through his body.

Even a virtual game was no joke.

[You were killed by the illusory "Lloyd."]

[You woke up and found an acquaintance slowly approaching in the distance. It was someone you knew.]

"Don't you have class? You sleep even more often than I do."

Fujimaru Kyoya looked at the newcomer. He was a young man around Fujimaru Kyoya's age, but there was an indescribable sorrow between his brows.

Since this man sighed all day, slept constantly, and called himself a nobody, Fujimaru Kyoya had nicknamed him Discouraged Brother.

"My teacher is about ready to give up on me, so I sleep whenever I feel like it."

"Then your teacher has quite the temper. I accidentally snapped my teacher's ruler just now, and I got kicked out."

Water Mirror Manor had many students, so naturally they could not all be taught by one teacher. Still, that did not really matter. Unless one became Mr. Water Mirror's personal disciple, there would always be an enormous gap between them and the others.

"You snapped a ruler? Damn, even Zhou Yu isn't as impressive as you."

Discouraged Brother immediately perked up. Rumor had it that Zhou Yu had a violent childhood friend. To avoid getting accidentally beaten to death by that person, Zhou Yu had trained hard in martial arts and could now fight that fellow for several hundred rounds.

"Zhou Yu is Mr. Water Mirror's personal disciple. Who would dare snap Mr. Water Mirror's ruler?"

Fujimaru Kyoya had no interest in comparing himself to Zhou Yu. That man was famous for being skilled in both literary and martial pursuits, not to mention his handsome appearance. He was the well-known heartthrob of Water Mirror Manor.

"Speaking of Mr. Water Mirror, have you heard about that matter?"

"Dong Zhuo?"

Though Fujimaru Kyoya slept through class most of the time, he was very alert after class. Besides, he was surrounded by a group of ambitious students, so he had some understanding of the current state of the world.

"Although the mastermind behind the Yellow Turban Rebellion is dead, the Yellow Turban Remnants remain unceasing. Granting the governors of every province the authority to recruit private troops may have solved the immediate problem, but the consequences have finally emerged."

Thinking of the current Han Dynasty only made Discouraged Brother more disheartened.

This world might as well perish already.

"The Eunuch Faction and the Imperial Relatives fought like a snipe and clam, only for Dong Zhuo to reap the benefit. Now Daimyo from every side have gathered in Luoyang to oppose Dong Zhuo, but what does that have to do with us?"

Fujimaru Kyoya did not understand every detail, but he knew this part of the story. After this, it would be the first time Liu, Guan, and Zhang truly shone.

But everyone at Water Mirror Manor was a student. They could hardly wait to avoid the flames of war. What could this possibly have to do with them?

"Mr. Water Mirror sees that the realm is about to fall into chaos and that the decline of the Han Dynasty can no longer be reversed. So, he plans to have all the students leave Water Mirror Manor and watch the Eighteen Lords campaign against Dong Zhuo."

As the saying went, good birds chose the right tree to roost in. Mr. Water Mirror intended to bring his many disciples to see how those Daimyo would reveal their true nature amid the chaos of war.

The students of Water Mirror Manor never lacked opportunities. With the golden signboard of "Water Mirror Manor," it would not be the Daimyo choosing strategists, but the strategists choosing Daimyo.

Water Mirror Manor truly had that confidence. It was not merely because of the words "Water Mirror," but because of the people who had already gained some renown among scholars.

Zhou Yu, Guo Jia, Xun Yu, Jia Xu... even the Daimyo would not dare neglect these people. Any one of them was someone who could win the world for his lord.

They were too dazzling. No one understood why Heaven had placed all these people in the same era. As a result, Water Mirror Manor's highest honors, "Crouching Dragon" and "Fledgling Phoenix," had yet to find their owners.

"This time will also determine who becomes Crouching Dragon and who becomes Fledgling Phoenix, right?"

Fujimaru Kyoya understood. This was a test for the strategists to judge the Daimyo, but was it not also Mr. Water Mirror's test for the strategists?

Who could foresee the future? Who could see through the battlefield? Who would become Crouching Dragon, and who would become Fledgling Phoenix? All would be decided in the Battle of Luoyang.

"Pang Tong, Pang Shiyuan. He'll get one of them. As for the remaining position, I'm betting on Zhou Yu."

Discouraged Brother gave his answer. To Fujimaru Kyoya's surprise, he had gotten half of it right the moment he opened his mouth, making Fujimaru Kyoya regard him more highly.

"What about Zhuge Liang, then?"

"Zhuge Liang?"

Discouraged Brother froze for a moment before replying.

"He isn't worthy."

Clash of the Nobodies

[You were surprised by Discouraged Brother's answer. However, according to your observations, there truly was no news at Water Mirror Manor concerning Zhuge Liang. You only knew that he was Mr. Water Mirror's disciple, yet he hid himself away and never showed his face.]

[You did not argue with Discouraged Brother. You believed Zhuge Liang's talent needed no explanation, and there was no need to clash with an unknown sleeping companion over it.]

[Your life returned to its routine: eating, sleeping through class, and cultivating within your mind. Your martial skills improved rapidly, though no one knew of it.]

[You left Water Mirror Manor. Just as Discouraged Brother had said, Mr. Water Mirror brought you to Luoyang to observe the battle.]

"Something's strange."

Discouraged Brother looked at the mighty procession of students. Logically, they should have been watching the battle from a distant hill, but they were now heading toward the military camps of the Eighteen Lords.

That was not normal.

"You're way too withdrawn. I already heard that the Allied Warlords received a secret letter from Dong Zhuo's army. After learning that we were nearby, they asked us to go decipher it."

Fujimaru Kyoya looked at Discouraged Brother in surprise. This guy had to have severe social anxiety. It was the sort of news one could learn just by listening to gossip, yet he truly knew nothing about it.

"A secret letter... tsk, troublesome."

Discouraged Brother could not help feeling a headache coming on. Mr. Water Mirror's original approach of observing the battlefield from outside was good, but it lacked detail. Now that they had been invited into the military camps, they would naturally have a chance to observe the Daimyo from much closer.

It would indeed be greatly beneficial for the students when choosing their future lords, but it was even more likely to be a trap.

As the convoy drew closer to the warlord camps, the sense of unease grew stronger.

"Zhao, you seem to be proficient in martial arts."

"That's right."

"Please ready your weapon. The enemy is coming."

As if to prove Discouraged Brother's words, dust rose in the distance. A group of cavalry seemed to be charging toward Water Mirror Manor's convoy. They did not appear to belong to the Allied Warlords, but to Dong Zhuo.

They had actually come?

The Eighteen Lords were pressing toward Luoyang, yet Dong Zhuo had still managed to find Water Mirror Manor's convoy at a time like this. Was it coincidence, or was there an insider?

"Mr. Water Mirror is renowned throughout the land, and my lord has long admired you. Please bring your students to Luoyang and support the Han Dynasty together with my lord."

The commanding young general was very young. Holding a long spear, he looked valiant and heroic at a glance, clearly a remarkable man—what a pity that he served under Dong Zhuo.

"Dong Zhuo is a traitor who usurped the Han Dynasty and deposed and enthroned emperors at will. I will not associate with such a villain."

Mr. Water Mirror's words left no room for compromise. The reason he could speak so absolutely was naturally because students of this era...

"Confucius said: If friends come from afar, they will be punished no matter how far away they are."

Boom!

A student muttered the words, and his clothes exploded apart, revealing a solidly muscled body. In just a few moves, he knocked several soldiers trying to approach to the ground.

"The Master said: If I hear the Way in the morning, I may die in the evening."

Another man burst out of his clothes and charged into the formation, his presence as overwhelming as that of an army of ten thousand.

Hold on, was this really the Three Kingdoms era?

If even strategists were this absurdly strong, wouldn't generals be unstoppable?

"Is Water Mirror Manor really this violent?"

"It's just flashy nonsense. Useless."

Discouraged Brother shook his head. These spells that used the words of sages to empower oneself were merely the most basic kind of magic. Those students had no combat experience at all. They could handle ordinary soldiers, but once they faced a military formation, they would be helpless.

"Boring."

With a single thrust, the leading soldier pierced the student who had been slaughtering enemies moments ago. Then he shook his spear and tore the living man in half.

Such terrifying arm strength made the students, who had never seen blood before, tremble in fear. Yet Mr. Water Mirror remained calm, because Zhou Yu was among the students.

A figure in white robes rode out and restrained the leading soldier. Among all the students, only Zhou Yu possessed such martial skill.

"Zhao, can you hold that general back?"

Discouraged Brother watched the two men fighting fiercely. He knew Zhou Yu was strong, but he suffered from a chronic ailment. The young general might be unknown, but he was incredibly formidable. If the battle dragged on, Zhou Yu would surely lose.

What they needed now was someone to arrange the troops and lead the students in fighting their way out.

"I can."

"Please take Zhou Yu's place. He cannot fight for too long."

Fujimaru Kyoya naturally did not want Handsome Zhou to die here for no reason. He immediately took up a spear, mounted a horse, and entered the chaotic battle.

[You went to support Zhou Yu. After the enemy confirmed that you were no ordinary fighter, he quickly withdrew. What truly shocked you was the nobody before you.]