The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu is good at being filial - Chapter 66



＜ The Falling Star Over Luoyang (2) ＞

Horogwan.

Even late at night, torches flicker atop the city walls.

The soldiers standing atop the walls, bracing for the enemy’s invasion, exuded a fierce determination, yet a faint sense of unease seeped from beneath their helmets.

Is it because the enemy is stationed right in front?

Because the watchtower has fallen and the allied forces have taken their position?

That too, but also because a certain warrior has retreated.

“Hah.”

Seoyoung, a general of Dong Zhuo’s army, took a brief breath while guarding the Horoguan with the soldiers.

“Morale….”

“Does it seem like mere words?”

“!!”

Seoyoung quickly assumed a defensive stance at the sight of a massive shadow appearing behind him.

“General.”

“What is the enemy’s status?”

Dong Zhuo had personally climbed up to the walls.

It must not have been an easy task to ascend the stairs, yet Dong Zhuo had brought his heavy body up himself.

“Allied lords, including Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, and Dou Jian, are approaching. They cannot get close due to the rain of arrows….”

“That’s only a matter of time.”

“Yes. It seems that….”

“Is it because Hua Yong has fallen and Lü Bu has retreated?”

Dong Zhuo smiled bitterly.

“…It may be inappropriate to say this, but Seoyoung, what do you think of Lü Bu?”

“…I can only be grateful.”

“Grateful?”

“Yes.”

Seoyoung, sweating, gazed at the watchtower.

“If it weren’t for General Lü, I would have died at the hands of those monsters—Sun Jian, Guan Yu, Zhang… whatever his name is.”

“Mm.”

“I believe that General Lü was able to hold them back. If even one of them had succeeded in climbing the walls….”

“Everyone here would be dead.”

At Dong Zhuo’s words, Seoyoung lowered his head heavily.

“It may be presumptuous to say this to Your Excellency, but I owe my life to General Lü.”

“Me too.”

“Excuse me?”

“If I were in Lu Bu’s position, I wouldn’t have stepped forward.”

Dong Zhuo said, placing his hand on the parapet of the castle wall.

“From a distance, like the last bastion in Luoyang, I would have sat quietly while you and the Yangzhou army perished.”

“…….”

“Lu Bu ‘deliberately’ fought for us. Whether it was for the Emperor, for this country, or for Bingzhou….”

Creak.

“With that help, we saved our lives.”

“Your Grace.”

“Lu Bu burned himself to save us. All of us here in Holo Pass.”

At Dong Zhuo’s words, the soldiers of the Yangzhou army, including Seoyoung, gripped their weapons tightly.

“We will protect our lives.”

Dong Zhuo raised the bow he had brought behind him.

“Those who do not repay their benefactor, how can they be called men!”

* * *

[At that moment, the Anti-Dong Zhuo Alliance.]

Silence settled over the barracks.

In the center of the barracks, stained with dark red dried blood, a man lies on the bed with his eyes closed.

“…….”

Liu Bei.

Anyone who sees him would be drawn to his large ears, now mismatched, and one arm, covered with cloth, severed from the shoulder.

“…It’s bitter.”

A man standing next to Liu Bei spoke.

“Is the history of the heroes coming to an end here?”

Cao Cao looked at Liu Bei with a sigh.

“Then why didn’t you join me back then?”

During the fight against the Yellow Turbans, Cao Cao had made a proposal to Liu Bei and his brothers.

“If at least you had been with me, perhaps this wouldn’t have happened—”

“It has already happened.”

The feet set up at the entrance of the tent spread out to the sides as Guan Yu entered.

“Where is my brother?”

“…As you can see.”

Cao Cao pointed to the white cloth draped over his shoulder.

“Fortunately, it seems I won’t have to raise it to my face.”

“…I truly appreciate you arranging for the physician, but your words are quite harsh.”

Guan Yu scanned the medicines scattered around Liu Bei.

“Thank you. This grace, I, Guan Yunzhang, will repay on behalf of my brothers.”

“A hero fights for his beliefs, and yet this is how it has turned out. How could I, Cao Mengde, remain idle?”

“…Beliefs.”

Guan Yu looked at Liu Bei with troubled eyes.

“The price of thinking what one believes to be right, without truly grasping what is correct, is this.”

“…….”

“A tremendous price has been paid.”

“Indeed.”

Cao Cao pressed down on his left arm with his hand.

“Do you know why I, Cao Mengde, have come to flow into this place, leaving the court behind?”

“Did you not come in response to Yuan Shao’s proclamation? I heard you were friends with Yuan Shao.”

“Incorrect. I reported Dong Zhuo’s son-in-law to the emperor, and then I was nearly killed by Dong Zhuo’s army.”

“……!!”

At Cao Cao’s words, the tent’s door opened.

“Hey, Cao Cao.”

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An Liang entered the tent with a fierce look, but—

“Get out.”

“……!!”

At Guan Yu’s words, An Liang froze in place.

“How dare you enter here with your filthy, muddy feet in front of the patient?”

“Th-“

“Can you handle me?”

“…….”

안량 stared at Guan Yu for a long time.

“…Don’t talk nonsense. I can hear everything from outside.”

After that, he glanced at Cao Cao and left a warning before quietly stepping back.

“Thank you, Lord Guan.”

“It’s the price for treating my brother and Zhang Fei’s wounds. The one who brought the local doctors… was it Zhou Yin?”

Guan Yu stroked his beard and looked outside the barracks.

“I never expected you to gather physicians in the rear.”

“I merely did the best I could with the resources I have, this Cao Mengde. I called them, but in the end, all I could do was prevent immediate death.”

“But because of that, the fact that we were secretly operating a unit under Yuan Shao was exposed?”

“Well, yes.”

Cao Cao scratched the back of his neck.

“Originally, I planned to save those who should be saved from behind, but saving people usually comes at a cost. When someone is dying right in front of you, how can you just stand by? Even if Yuan Shao demands troops, there’s nothing I can do.”

“…….”

“Why did you hide it? It’s true that I turned a blind eye to the deaths and injuries of other lords and their troops before. This Cao Mengde is not entirely benevolent, but neither is he evil.”

Cao Cao pointed at Liu Bei.

“I only save those I deem worthy of being saved, according to my own standards.”

“What value does your brother hold for you?”

“He has lost an arm, but he still has one left, and I value Liu Bei for his military strategy.”

“……Hmm.”

“After the treatment is done, come find me in Jinliu. There, we will discuss the future step by step. As long as we are alive, we can do anything.”

Cao Cao alternated his gaze between Guan Yu and Liu Bei before stepping outside.

The barracks fell silent.

Guan Yu cast a quick glance outside and then approached Liu Bei.

“He has left, brother.”

“……Is that so.”

A metallic sound escaped Liu Bei’s lips.

“What about Yide…?”

“He was told to maintain absolute stability.”

“…What about your hand?”

Liu Bei pointed to Guan Yu’s fist with a hoarse voice.

The fist was swollen, and there was someone’s blood on the cuffs.

“…It’s all because of you that my brother ended up like this. I had to subdue him as he was hitting me and causing a ruckus on the way here.”

“Did you at least have a drink?”

“No, I did not drink.”

“…That guy.”

Liu Bei smiled bitterly.

“Well then. I’ve learned a great lesson with my arms and legs, so I won’t cause trouble with my mouth from now on.”

“Brother.”

“If you do cause trouble again… then it will be a disaster, and it’s up to us brothers to bear the consequences.”

“…….”

“Why? Are you going to give up?”

“No. How could a man betray his oath?”

“You can betray it.”

At Liu Bei’s words, Guan Yu flinched.

“It seems that Cao Cao has taken a liking to you. While saying he would take care of me with my severed arm, he actually wants to take you in.”

“Brother.”

“The oath of the Peach Garden was formed by righteous men with virtue and loyalty. But….”

Liu Bei covered his face with his trembling hands.

“I realized while fighting Lü Bu.”

Gripping his blood-stained face, Liu Bei trembled.

“I came here to overthrow the traitor Dong Zhuo….”

“Brother.”

“But in reality, inside here… there is a traitorous scoundrel with big ears.”

“Brother.”

“Did I truly come here with pure intentions?”

“…….”

“Was there even a trace of impure feelings in my heart?”

“Please, no more. You need to rest.”

“Yun Chang.”

Through his cracked fingers, Liu Bei looked at Guan Yu with shining eyes.

“How can I call a traitor my brother?”

“Brother.”

“However, if I cannot overcome this and die….”

Liu Bei placed his hand on the shoulder of his severed arm and closed his eyes.

“I know it’s an unreasonable request… but please, bury me together in the桃园 where my mother is.”

“Please don’t say such things.”

“……Isn’t that right? Hehe.”

Liu Bei smiled faintly.

“Yes. We agreed to die on the same day, but if I die, won’t it put you in a difficult position? Yes. You must overcome… it.”

Liu Bei’s eyes began to slowly close.

“Even if the whole world calls for my death, I will cling to life fiercely for your sake. That is… my duty as the eldest brother….”

Liu Bei’s voice grew softer.

“It would be a filial duty for my parents, who still do not wish to see me…”

“…….”

“So, Yunchang.”

Liu Bei lightly nodded his head.

“Live on. I too… somehow….”

Softly.

With those words, Liu Bei closed his eyes.

“…….”

After standing silently in front of Liu Bei for a long time, Guan Yu nodded silently and stepped outside.

Whoosh.

There were no notable figures around the tent.

The warlords who had been trying to cling to Liu Bei until now had vanished, and only the soldiers guarding the tent were loitering about.

“…….”

Guan Yu looked up at the sky.

The night sky.

A blue star fell, tracing a large trajectory toward the west.

* * *

“What do you mean by ‘Chopara’?”

Something was asked with a very serious atmosphere, but I couldn’t grasp it at all.

“I’m not a Chokpa.”

“Then… could it be a Wipa? Hmm, though it seems unlikely, could it be the endangered Opa? Since you killed two of Sun Jian’s subordinates, it doesn’t seem like it would be that. Is it really a Wipa?”

“…You.”

I reached out with my right hand.

“First, why don’t you calm down a bit?”

“Ah!!”

I tightly grabbed Chosun’s head with my right hand.

“Ah, it hurts!!”

“I’m making it hurt.”

“Y-you’re being so rough with a girl’s head, ahhh!”

Chosun grabbed my arm, trying to escape, but with her slender arms and delicate hands, she couldn’t even handle my one hand.

“Calm down, and if you listen to me, I’ll let you go. Just stay still.”

“…….”

Chosun shut her mouth and stopped.

After a while of silence, I lowered my hand.

“Well….”

“I’ll go first.”

“…Yes.”

As I lowered my right hand and then raised it again, Chosun flinched and looked at me cautiously.

“First, there’s one thing I need to clarify that you’re mistaken about.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t… know.”

I pointed up and down alternately.

“Nothing at all.”

“……You don’t know?”

“That’s right. I don’t know if it’s the Chokpa, Wipa, or Opa that you mentioned, I don’t know anything.”

It can’t be a martial arts sect.

Usually, martial arts sects are referred to as ‘OO sects’ like Hwasan or Mudang, or Cheongseong.

“The reason I couldn’t kill Liu Bei was that my heart wasn’t ruthless enough. Next time will be different.”

“Um, so….”

“I will reflect and fight with a changed appearance. The traitor will unconditionally have their head cut off.”

“……Over there.”

Chosun cautiously raises one hand.

It feels like a student allowing a question, and I unconsciously nod my head.

“Do you happen to know anything about your own name?”

“…Someone might call me that.”

What I knew about the name Yeop.

“Basement Yeop.”

“…….”

“Those who can’t step forward but rampage like tyrants in the basement, isn’t that what we’re talking about?”

“That’s right, that’s true…!”

Chosun’s hand trembles.

“Why? Is it different from what you were thinking?”

“Ha. No, it’s fine. Yes. Right… Should I rather be thankful that I didn’t come from a distant land?”

“Talking to yourself again.”

I pulled Chosun’s hair.

“Speak in a way that’s easy to understand. So that even someone who knows nothing can grasp it immediately.”

“…I can read the heavenly secrets. To be precise, the events that will happen in the future remain in my mind.”

“Um.”

It seems like she’s trying to speak in a roundabout way.

“So?”

“Yubi is… your death.”

“…….”

“Yubi plays the most decisive role in your death… Huh?”

Chosun fidgets with her body.

“Pain…?”

“Thinking about complicated things makes my head hurt.”

“That’s not it….”

“I understand now why our conversations keep going off track when I talk to you.”

I raised both hands and grabbed Chosun’s face, meeting her gaze.

“What, what are you doing…!”

“Look at the present, not the future.”

“……What?”

“Even if you care about the future, I mean to worry about tomorrow.”

“……Don’t think about things too far in the future?”

“That’s right.”

She’s a smart woman.

Seeing that she makes soap, she must certainly be an intellectual.

“Excess leads to deficiency. Knowing too much can also act as poison.”

“…….”

“If human strength cannot go against the flow of the heavens, then isn’t it enough to do your best until you reach that fate?”

My father said.

“Life is like farming. If you don’t live fiercely every day, the land where the crops should grow will be overrun with weeds or dry up into a wasteland.”

“But… there could be droughts, and natural disasters could lead to poor harvests.”

“That’s the will of heaven. If you don’t even make an effort until the season of harvest, you won’t gain anything.”

“Mosa jaein, seongsa jacheon (謀事在人 成事在天)….”

“…….”

I don’t know what it means, but somehow it feels like my master would rush in and scold me for saying it.

“…I understand. You don’t have to know everything about things like the Yuguan or whatever to live in this era. Yes, I understand well.”

“Good. Then—”

“But really, you don’t know anything?”

Chosun stares at me intently.

“Really? Seriously? Are you… from a similar generation as me? Were you born earlier than me?”

“…What’s your seat number?”

“This one.”

Chosun drew several lines in the air.

The shape resembled a ‘4’.

“……This is mine.”

I drew a finger in the air.

“…….”

“…….”

The expression of Chosun contorts wildly.

“How can someone who is ‘1’ not know about the Three Kingdoms…?”

“I find it absurd that you, being ‘4’, would know that.”

How could they know something I don’t?

“It’s possible!”

“It could also be that you don’t know.”

“Ha…!”

Chosun lets out a hollow laugh as if in disbelief, but soon her gaze turns towards my shoulder.

“…I see. Ahem. I think I got a bit too excited. I’ll calm down. To calm down….”

Chosun rolls her eyes left and right, hesitating as if she wants to say something.

“Then, oh… no, this feels a bit like ‘oppa’….”

“Excuse me.”

“Alright. Then, I’ll call you like this.”

Chosun steps back from me, straightens her posture, and bows her head.

“Listen well, older brother.”

“……That.”

For a moment, chills run down my spine.

“Since it’s cringeworthy, how about just calling me like everyone else, or like you did before, General or Sir?”

“Isn’t it polite to call an elder ‘older brother’?”

“No.”

“I’m from Dong… the country of etiquette. Oh, and I’m neither from the Shu nor the Wei factions. Definitely not from the Wu faction either.”

“…….”

“Then… I’ll have to explain to you, older brother.”

Chosun reaches out her hands and grabs my face with both of hers.

“Why, right now, Liu Bei must die.”