Chapter 30

"Alright then."

This Little Overlord immediately perked up. Zhou Yu had told him earlier that he'd seen two warriors on the road who were his equals. Now he was meeting one of them.

"Clang~"

Fujimaru Kyoya shielded Liu Bian and took Sun Ce's spear strike head-on. The force made him frown—not because it was weak, but because it was strong. From Zhou Yu's address earlier, this must be the Little Overlord Sun Ce. His strength indeed surpassed Yan Liang and Wen Chou, but the problem was... who the hell was the first guy he'd fought?

This feeling brought Fujimaru Kyoya back to his first battle, that razor-thin line between life and death, like clashing with a powerhouse from the Age of Gods.

Exhilaration.

And he wasn't the only one thrilled. Sun Ce was ecstatic too. Since childhood, aside from Zhou Yu, who could fight him this freely? No, even Zhou Yu had a chronic illness that kept him from prolonged combat—fighting him was never this satisfying.

As their weapons clashed, Sun Ce grew wilder, not even noticing that his lower half had stirred. But Fujimaru Kyoya, with his Ghost Brain fully activated to observe the battlefield from all angles, caught it.

Damn, there's a HOMO.

"Villain, don't flee!"

Just then, Yan Liang and Wen Chou's voices came from behind Fujimaru Kyoya. These two horseless men had apparently found mounts and, under Sun Ce's distraction, finally caught up.

[You are surrounded by multiple enemies while protecting the weak. "Fight to the Last" activated.]

"See ya."

Fujimaru Kyoya quickly shook off Sun Ce and charged toward Yan Liang and Wen Chou—pick the softest persimmon first.

"Clang~"

Two weapon clashes rang out almost simultaneously. Yan Liang and Wen Chou's arms went numb, unable to stop Fujimaru Kyoya as he retreated. His direction now aimed straight for Dong Zhuo and... Lu Bu.

"Gong Jin, what's this guy doing? Fleeing after just one bout?"

Sun Ce's blood was boiling, itching for three hundred more rounds, but the stakes forced him to calm down.

"That kid he's carrying is the Deposed Emperor Liu Bian. He's trying to lure us away from Luoyang."

"Lure us away? What's the Deposed Emperor got to do with us?"

"Nothing. But he saw us coming for the Imperial Seal. Bo Fu, you must kill him."

Zhou Yu had more or less guessed Zhuge Liang's simple scheme. Like the Secret Letter, it was an open trap inviting them in. Even Zhou Yu could only go with the flow, not break it. Zhuge Liang's setup was even more so—simple but direct, leaving Zhou Yu no time to think.

That man is a Death Warrior.

"Kongming, would you discard a friend like a pawn?"

If Zhou Yu had used this ploy, he'd have left Yan Liang and Wen Chou to notify Yuan Shao. Rather than clash head-on with the mighty Dong Zhuo, dealing with a lone Death Warrior was far easier. But that man still came to provoke Zhou Yu—he'd steeled himself to die.

Unfortunately, Zhou Yu was wronging Zhuge Liang here. Both were master strategists, but who the hell could predict that Fujimaru Kyoya was Directionally Challenged?

Fujimaru Kyoya turned back, and since west was the opposite direction, east it was—definitely not the originally planned north. As for the east, there were Yuan Shao's troops, Dong Zhuo's army, Lu Bu, Gao Shun, Zhang Liao, Hua Xiong... who among them was an easy opponent?

"Are these guys even human?"

Yuan Shao watched Lu Bu wreak havoc. That could no longer be called human—it was a giant Meat Grinder.

Damn it.

Yuan Shao looked at his dwindling soldiers, cursing Yan Liang and Wen Chou for not arriving yet. Did a single kid take this long?

In Yuan Shao's original plan, opening the city gates was the signal for the Allied Forces to enter. He'd slip in first to seize the Deposed Emperor, then he and Dong Zhuo could each back a rival emperor. But this premature fire kept the Allied Forces from entering, leaving Yuan Shaostranded.

Who set the fire?

Yuan Shao didn't understand, and neither did Dong Zhuo.

According to Sima Yi's plan, Yuan Shao's insider would open the gates, then a fire would trap the Allied Forces' main army, letting them break out through the imperial palace's secret passage. Now the fire had started early, the Allied Forces were still lurking outside, and even escaping through the passage would be a mess.

Zhou Yu's fire had roasted both lords on the same spit. Even Zhuge Liang had to admit his inferiority in fire tactics.

With Sima Yi absent, Dong Zhuo turned to his other strategist, Li Ru. Years of partnership meant a single glance conveyed the intent.

Kill Yuan Shao.

The plan had changed, but killing the Allied Forces Leader would throw their army into chaos—a sure profit.

Just then, a fine horse galloped into the battlefield, drawing everyone's eyes. They also saw the Deposed Emperor Liu Bian on its back.

Chapter 53: You Coming to Deliver a Horse Is Just Perfect

Did I get lost?

Fujimaru Kyoya watched the two groups of people glaring at him like tigers eyeing their prey and immediately sensed trouble. At the same time, Yan Liang and Wen Chou arrived, followed by the Little Overlord of Jiangdong.

"My lord, we have failed our mission—this scoundrel has seized the Deposed Emperor."

Yan Liang's words ignited the battle.

Yuan Shao's purpose here was never to slay Dong Zhuo, but to be the first to install the Deposed Emperor and confront Dong Zhuo. Now that the Deposed Emperor had fallen into another's hands, how could he not panic?

Yuan Shao panicked, but Dong Zhuo panicked even more.

The original plan had been thrown into chaos by some unknown meddler. If the Deposed Emperor fell into someone else's hands now, the power Dong Zhuo had fought so hard to grasp would be slashed in half.

"My son Fengxian, quickly retrieve the Deposed Emperor for your father."

"Understood."

Lu Bu mounted Red Hare, gripped his Sky-Piercing Halberd, abandoned his earlier order to kill Yuan Shao, and instead charged at Fujimaru.

Fuck, who the hell is this guy now?

If facing Sun Ce earlier had left Fujimaru Kyoya with some room to maneuver, facing this muscle-bound man meant being completely overpowered.

In weaponry, physique, and mount, Fujimaru was at a disadvantage. His horse's legs were crushed by that single strike, throwing both Fujimaru and the Deposed Emperor to the ground.

"Brat, your time is up."

Wen Chou, overjoyed to see Fujimaru thrown from his horse, spurred his mount forward at full speed, intending to kill him and reclaim the Deposed Emperor to redeem himself.

"Perfect timing."

Even dismounted, Fujimaru Kyoya's Ghost Brain was running at full speed, formulating a countermeasure in an instant. With the True Eye of the Mind's coordination, he could pull off tactics no matter how absurd.

"Slap~"

He slapped the ground, dodging Wen Chou's thrusting spear and landing behind him.

"Bam~"

In that instant, Fujimaru erupted with immense force, slamming his Silver Spear against Wen Chou's head. If Wen Chou's general-grade armor weren't extraordinary, his skull would have exploded by now.

Even so, Fujimaru's strike knocked Wen Chou off his horse, and Fujimaru mounted it himself.

You came to deliver a horse—how nice.jpg

"Brother, I'll borrow your horse for a ride."

Fujimaru said this, scooped up the still-dazed Deposed Emperor from the ground, and bolted again—this time finally heading north. He also clashed spears with the galloping Sun Ce.

"What a man. If only we could fight fair and square."

Sun Ce watched the retreating figure. He had taken a blow from Lu Bu, defeated Wen Chou to steal his horse, and then clashed with him head-on.

That last strike wasn't pure martial skill—it was an insight into the entire battlefield. If Sun Ce had been in his place, he absolutely could not have done better than Fujimaru Kyoya.

"Strategist, what plan do you propose?"

Dong Zhuo looked at Li Ru. With Sima Yi absent, he had to rely on him.

"The Deposed Emperor cannot fall into another's hands. Let Lu Bu give chase while we withdraw through the secret passage."

Li Ru understood the Deposed Emperor's importance, but if Dong Zhuo went after him, he would become a target for everyone. Better to use this chance to escort Dong Zhuo to Chang'an with a small elite force, letting Lu Bu lead some men to distract the Allied Forces.

"Fine, I'll follow your advice."

Dong Zhuo had already wanted to flee; he just needed an excuse. With Li Ru's suggestion, he hurriedly made his escape.

Gao Shun and Hua Xiong led the Camp of the Vanguard to escort Dong Zhuo, while the remaining men, under Lu Bu and Zhang Liao, pursued Fujimaru Kyoya.

Lu Bu, Zhang Liao, Sun Ce, Yan Liang, Wen Chou...

If Fujimaru Kyoya knew who was coming to kill him, what would he think?

Probably... excitement.

The rain grew heavier. News of Lu Bu leaving the city stirred the hearts of the Allied Forces.

Since Lu Bu was Dong Zhuo's adopted son and most trusted general, Dong Zhuo wouldn't leave his protection. Confirming this, the various warlords gave chase.

Only Liu Bei, who had begun settling refugees, and... Cao Cao remained.

"Just as he said. Lu Bu's departure drew away the warlords' troops, and now Dong Zhuo should be escaping through the drained moat riverbed."

Cao Cao looked at the rain, recalling a man who had come to him some time ago.

He had heard of that man's reputation before, but to scheme to this extent was unheard of. Cao Cao couldn't imagine anyone in the world more capable.

"There they are."

Cao Cao had been watching the moat riverbed of Luoyang. Sure enough, people began appearing—a small elite force escorting Dong Zhuo in secret.

"Just as expected. Wang Zuo's Talent is no empty boast. Xun Yu, you truly are my Zhang Liang."

Cao Cao looked at the scholar beside him. This man had given him too many surprises.

"Since my lord considers me Zhang Liang, may I offer another word of advice?"

"Speak."

"In this pursuit of Dong Zhuo, you must lose, not win. The worse the defeat, the better."

"Permitted to lose, not permitted to win"—this order baffled Cao Cao's army, which had been surging with momentum. The hope of slaying the traitor was right before their eyes—why act this way?

"I... understand."

After a brief hesitation, Cao Cao still agreed. He lacked Xun Yu's cunning, but at this moment, to secure this man's absolute loyalty, he had to offer enough trust.

"Then Wenruo wishes you, my lord, a grand defeat."

Xun Yu spoke words that enraged countless soldiers as he watched Cao Cao depart. Only after they had vanished into the distance did a frail, sickly scholar approach.

"Dong Zhuo's retreat route will inevitably pass through the territory of the Yellow Turban Remnants. They are no match for his forces, but they are also a people wronged by tyranny. You must use Cao Cao's defeat to move them, to make them see Cao Cao as a hero who defies the powerful, as the Great Virtuous Teacher who once led them."

"Can't hide it from Fengxiao."

Xun Yu gazed at this sickly scholar. This scheme was not only meant to strengthen Cao Cao but also to win over the man before him.

"Those Qingzhou People were originally the Yellow Turban Army. They have ample combat experience; with a little training, they can become a formidable fighting force. Our lord is currently weak and isolated—killing Dong Zhuo would leave him without the strength to follow through. Better to seize this chance to bring those people under his banner and build up his power."

Indeed, Xun Yu's goal was never Dong Zhuo's head, but tens of thousands of usable troops—the future foundation of Cao Cao's strength.

"Though they number only tens of thousands, the Yellow Turban factions are bound to have connections among themselves. They will actively help Cao Cao absorb a large number of Yellow Turban Remnants. In the future, Cao Cao will have over a hundred thousand soldiers and become a warlord no one can ignore."

Guo Jia silently calculated.

He too had faith in Cao Cao, but Cao Cao had few troops and a shallow foundation. With his own illness and injuries, he might not live long. Supporting such a lord could see him fall halfway. But now, with Xun Yu's strategy...

"Xun Yu, I ask Guo Jia to enter service."

Guo Jia listened to these words and finally nodded.

Xun Yu managed internal affairs, Guo Jia commanded external campaigns. With the two joining forces, who under heaven could rival them?