The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu is good at being filial - Chapter 65



＜ The Setting Star Over Luoyang (1) ＞

After returning to Luoyang.

– The general is injured?!

After calming those who were in a frenzy, I headed straight to Wang Yun’s house.

For treatment.

While washing my body was important, I could not use dirty water to treat my wounds.

In the command post, I could wash and disinfect with clean water anywhere, but Luoyang was not like that.

Even the camp of the city lord was no exception.

In the end, there was only one place left.

– G-General! What is this…!

– I will use the guest room.

– Ah, y-yes! You, you there! Call the physician…!

Leaving the flustered Wang Yun behind, I entered the bathroom of the guest room where clean water was available and treated my wounds myself.

“Whoo.”

Using the clean, prepared clear water, I wiped away the blood and applied medicine like an ointment on the wounds.

One of the medicines I brought directly from the command post.

Its efficacy may be weak, but it can certainly be called a golden healing medicine.

‘At least the water won’t cause an infection that worsens the wound.’

This era.

It was common to see dirty water seeping into wounds, causing them to fester.

“…….”

I raise my left hand.

Though bandaged, the traces of the blade from my master remain.

The sensation has not disappeared.

The blood vessels have not been severed.

If I rest for a few days, the wound on my hand will heal, and the hole in my shoulder will leave only a scar after a few weeks.

It’s just a matter of regret.

“Is my training still insufficient?”

I could have fought better.

I could have secured victory more decisively.

‘To have decided to walk the path of a human butcher who kills all traitors, yet to hesitate and hesitate again.’

It is confusion.

While I speak of a killing blow, my heart cannot follow that momentum.

‘Should I think positively?’

In the sense that there is still room for growth?

Since I have not become a weapon of slaughter that discards humanity and kills all enemies that charge at me, I can simply kill whoever comes at me in the future?

‘It’s difficult.’

The mindset of iron and blood.

I thought I had become dulled from having killed many people until now, but it seems I am still not a fully honed weapon.

‘What would my father have said if he were alive?’

At times like this, I should listen to the words of an adult with more life experience than I, but such an adult is no longer around me.

‘Father.’

-My son. No matter how much you have fallen into the past, do not recklessly kill people or anything like that.

Would he have said something like that, advising me not to kill people carelessly?

‘What would you say when you look at me?’

-Yes. It’s good that you weren’t seriously hurt. After all, they are someone else’s children. It’s a relief that my child isn’t dead.

Or would he have told me not to get involved and get hurt for no reason?

‘If you know the answer, can’t you at least appear in my dreams and tell me something?’

– They are all going to die anyway. In an age of barbarism, living according to the times is the way of the world. If killing is the only way to survive, then there is no choice but to kill.

Or perhaps, in line with the flow of the times, did you tell me to kill everyone before you die?

“…….”

What would my father have answered?

Did my father really say that to me?

“…It feels empty.”

I cannot carelessly seek advice from someone other than my father.

Gahura or Sunyu, and countless others would speak in a way that benefits ‘the Leopard of Byungju.’

In the end, the best method is indeed to become ‘Iron-Blooded.’

‘If you want to become a bit more ruthless—’

Knock, knock, knock.

“……?”

While I was momentarily lost in thought, I heard a knocking sound from outside the door.

“Who… no, it doesn’t matter.”

There was no need to say who.

“Come in.”

I could tell who it was just from the sound of breathing and presence.

Creak.

The door slowly opened, and a woman dressed modestly entered the room.

“Chosun.”

“Yes, General.”

As soon as Chosun entered the room, she closed the door.

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“…I have a lot to say, but first, let’s treat your wounds.”

Chosun’s eyes trembled as she looked at the blood-stained white cloth piled up below.

“General.”

“Mm.”

“My hometown was a low land with high mountains to the east and plains to the west.”

“……?”

“It was a land that felt like a tiger stretching its limbs.”

Wait a moment.

I remember learning this before.

“You.”

My head hurts a little.

“Is this it?”

I placed my right hand on my thigh.

Tap, tap, tap-tap.

“Ha…”

Chosun let out a deep sigh.

Both hands tried to rise at the same time but then fell down.

“General.”

Chosun brought her hands together in front of her.

Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap, clap-clap-clap-clap. Thud, thud.

The rhythm of clapping and footsteps was all too familiar to me.

“Oh. You, indeed…?”

“…Yes. It seems that way.”

A person from the same region.

Just as I expected.

“Let’s put off receiving an apology for the soap theft for now. I heard you fought the Peach Brothers.”

“Peach…?”

I did fight the brothers, but they are called peaches—

“Oh.”

Guan Yu said that.

They swore to become brothers under the peach tree.

“Yue Fei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei?”

“Yes.”

Chosun swallowed hard and asked.

“What happened?”

“As you can see, we fought with the intent to kill, and this is how it turned out.”

“Did you kill them?”

“Well…”

“Indeed. As expected. The invincible god of the sickly who avoids lust.”

Chosun closes her eyes and nods vigorously.

“You’ve killed them all. Well done. It’s actually a good thing.”

“…….”

?

“Right now, killing them is the right thing to do. If you leave them alive, they’ll devastate everywhere they go like a plague….”

“No, wait. Plague?”

“Yes. …Did you not know before you killed them? If what King Sado said about the general’s abilities is true… No, were they even stronger than that…?”

“You.”

My head starts to ache.

“Your face looks calm like a beautiful woman, but you have a knack for jumping to conclusions.”

“Jumping to conclusions?”

Chosun looks at me with wide eyes.

“Did you not hear the military report from King Sado?”

“I didn’t hear the details. …Did they not just fight against Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei in the Three Heroes vs. Lü Bu?”

“They did fight, but I don’t know if they died or not.”

It’s something I wouldn’t know.

Truly.

“Perhaps Liu Bei or Zhang Fei might be dead.”

“…Perhaps?”

“Yes.”

I pointed alternately at my left arm and right thigh.

“Liu Bei had his arm cut off, and Zhang Fei has a hole in his thigh.”

This era.

“…If it were reasonable, they wouldn’t have died from excessive bleeding.”

It’s not like they could receive a blood transfusion.

“Then… their life and death are still unclear. …You spared them? Why? …There must be only one reason for that. No, wait…? Didn’t you know anything? …Even if you didn’t know, you still acted? …What on earth is this person? Could it be that they know everything and are acting like this? If that’s the case….”

Chosun mutters to herself for a while.

Seeing her eerie expression, I felt that if I touched her, she might think even stranger thoughts, so I quietly pressed my wounds and waited for Chosun to organize her thoughts.

“Over there.”

Chosun rolled her eyes seriously for a moment.

“You know.”

She leaned in close enough for her breath to touch me and stared intently.

“Perhaps.”

The earnest gaze was like that of an interrogator verifying a thought.

“Are you ‘Chokpa’?”

?

* * *

[Late at night, the Imperial Palace of Luoyang. The Empress Dowager’s Hall.]

In the innermost building of the darkened Empress Dowager’s Palace, only two people are holding hands between the candles spread out on either side.

“Your Majesty.”

The Emperor kneels before the bedding, reaching out his hand.

“Please rise. Do not worry, and gather your strength.”

“Your Majesty.”

The old woman, pale and devoid of color, Dong Empress Dowager, stretched out her frail hand to grasp the Emperor’s.

“This old woman has… committed a grave mistake against Your Majesty.”

“Do not say such things.”

“I brought the beasts of Xiliang, burdening Your Majesty.”

“No, no.”

The Emperor shook his head firmly.

“Even if it were not Dong Zhuo of Yangzhou, whoever it was would have pushed into Luoyang.”

“Your Majesty….”

“If Yuan Shao had tried to ascend to the Grand Commandant instead of Dong Zhuo, Luoyang would have been attacked from the east and west by now.”

“If there is one grave mistake this person has made….”

Dong Empress Dowager closed her eyes tightly.

“…it is not recognizing General Ye and not trying to hold onto her until the end.”

“No, I….”

“Your Majesty. What happened in the battle?”

“That is….”

The Emperor’s expression turned pale.

With a face that seemed difficult to accept, yet one that found it hard to convey the truth to Empress Dowager Dong.

“That is….”

“I apologize. This old man still has his ears open.”

“…….”

“They say General Yu has retreated. The Holo troops… are guarding Dong Zhuo’s forces.”

“……Yes.”

“It will be breached.”

Empress Dowager Dong shook her head firmly.

“Dong Zhuo… is not based in Luoyang. There is no reason for a desperate resistance, and he will want to relocate his base.”

“Surely not to Chang’an…?”

“Yes. …Cough.”

Empress Dowager Dong tightly grasped the Emperor’s hand.

“Your Majesty. Although I have made many wrong choices at this age, could you help me make the right choice just once at the end?”

“Your, Your Highness. How can you speak such desperate words?”

“It is because there is an Emperor in Luoyang… that he is an Emperor.”

Light glimmers in Empress Dowager Dong’s eyes.

“The Emperor. And the imperial seal. The capital can be moved without issue. In the worst-case scenario, if we abandon Luoyang.”

Empress Dowager Dong gripped the Emperor’s hand tightly enough to tremble.

“Go to Bingzhou.”

“Your Highness.”

“Bingzhou was once the capital of the Zhao state. Although it has been hundreds of years, it was also the capital of a nation.”

“…….”

“The lifeblood of this country will be maintained. Even if it does not, the life of Your Majesty will be preserved.”

“…….”

“I do not wish to burden you with the heavy responsibility of protecting the imperial family of this nation.”

“That is a lie.”

As the Emperor declared, Empress Dowager Dong shut her eyes tightly, unable to respond.

“You have… grown.”

“I will find a way. I am searching for methods with the court officials every day. Surely, there must be a way to defeat the traitors.”

“……Your Majesty.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“That method will naturally come with time.”

Dowager Empress Dong nodded her head while lying down, a gentle smile on her face.

“…I have taken too much of Your Majesty’s time. Your Majesty, it is late.”

“…Yes. Please rest well.”

The Emperor rose to leave but paused at the threshold.

“…You should see your great-grandchildren, shouldn’t you?”

With those words, the Emperor left the room.

Whiiing—

A room where only the candlelight quietly flickered.

Tap, tap.

Dowager Empress Dong tapped the floor twice, and soon a middle-aged man in official robes entered.

“Dong Seung.”

“Yes, Dowager Empress.”

“I will soon die.”

“…….”

“Will you become a person of Dong Zhuo, or will you become a person of the Emperor?”

“I will bury my bones for the sake of one royal family.”

“……Good.”

Dowager Empress Dong extended her hand upward.

“I command two things. The first is in case of an emergency. If Luoyang is devastated, you must escort His Majesty and flee to Bingzhou.”

“……To Bingzhou. Yes. Understood.”

Dong Seung did not ask any further questions regarding Dowager Empress Dong’s instructions.

“What is the next command?”

“…Even if I die, it must be a meaningful death.”

Dowager Empress Dong blinked.

“Even in death, I will become a spirit and protect this royal family.”

In her eyes, there was a fierce, ghostly aura lingering somewhere.

“Contact the surviving people of Yuan Shao and find out the deadly poison primarily used by Yuan Shao. And bring it back.”

“……Yes?”

“After all, I will die of old age. Then… before that, I will create a traitor to the world and die.”

“The world will not believe it.”

“Even if they do not believe it, if I can scatter them with immediate tricks.”

Lady Dong looked up at the ceiling as she spoke.

“If I can divide the allied forces with my death.”

“……But how can I use the poison of the original family?”

“It is my own… petty revenge against the great traitor who recklessly spoke of the emperor and divided the nation. Will you follow me?”

“Your Majesty.”

Dongseung bowed deeply.

“I, Dongseung, will carry on Your Majesty’s will.”

“Good. …At least in this matter.”

With a groan.

“The traitor to the world must be killed without exception….”

Lady Dong closed her eyes.

* * *

[At that moment, Hannei-gun in Byeongju.]

“Hmm….”

Gahu, looking up at the night sky, fluttered a black fan and let out a long sigh.

“What are you looking at so intently, Master?”

The boy who called Gahu ‘Master’, Samayi, asked cautiously.

“Samayi, do you believe in astrology?”

“I do not.”

“Why not?”

“Using the movements of the stars to predict a person’s lifespan is all just superstition.”

Samayi calmly said while brewing tea, without even looking up at the night sky.

“My father said that the only thing you can know from the stars is the seasons.”

“Ho. That is certainly correct.”

“I think that the twinkling of the Ziwei Star and talk of fortune and misfortune are all just divination theories. They deceive people with plausible phenomena.”

“Very rational.”

“Judgment should only be made based on the information given. That is how the Samayi family does it. …Is it different for you, Master?”

“Not at all. I do not believe that the energy of the stars has waned.”

Gahu smirked as he looked at the tea brewed by Samui.

“But by observing the movements of the stars, one can discern other things as well.”

“What is it?”

“The flow of time.”

“…Isn’t that just checking the date?”

“No.”

Gahu moved the candlestick placed on the table beside his teacup.

“If we combine how much time has passed with the information we know, we can create plausible information.”

The night sky is captured in the transparent teacup.

Gahu slowly turned the entire teacup to the left, right where it was.

“Just in time, a star is falling in the night sky.”

“That is….”

“Is it because the sky moves that a person’s life comes to an end? Some think so, but the opposite can also be true.”

Gahu gulped down the tea in one go.

“A star is falling to the west. A giant star has set.”

“Other than saying to make use of what can be used… I don’t really know.”

“It’s simple. Even if people cannot see the capital, they can see the night sky.”

“…So, it’s not about predicting someone’s death by observing the movements of the stars, but rather linking someone’s death to the movements of the stars?”

“That is correct.”

Gahu folded his fan.

“It is about time, whether Lady Dong is dying or the Sa-su-gwan is falling.”

“……!”

“Tomorrow morning, we can move the army.”

He pointed to the east.

“One of the rebel alliance’s lords. We will strike the stronghold of Han Bok in Giju.”