Guan Yu turned his back to Lu Bu and descended slowly to the ground. Lu Bu couldn't see Guan Yu's expression, but Chen Xi and the others could. They saw the helplessness in Guan Yu's face—perhaps Lu Bu could only be described as a man who had encountered the wrong people.
"I won't die, Guan Yunchang, and you shouldn't die either!" Lu Bu called out after Guan Yu had landed. "If we et on the battlefield again, I will show rcy. If we don't face each other, then one day, I will repay the favor you showed
today!"
Guan Yu didn't respond, nor did he say anything like "don't show
rcy." He knew that Lu Bu truly had the right to say such things to any opponent, because he was an invincible war god. As long as he wasn't careless, it was hard for anyone in the world to kill him.
Zhang Liao, watching this scene, felt a sense of relief. Lu Bu had finally done a good deed. Zhang Liao could see clearly from below that although Zhao Yun and Guan Yu still harbored so resentnt towards Lu Bu, they were impressed by his heroic and majestic display this ti and did not hold any serious hostility.
As for that biggest troublemaker, the loud-mouthed Zhang Fei, Zhang Liao figured that with one in the north and the other in the south, surely such a vast land could accommodate both of them. Everything seed to be heading in a positive direction. Next, they should be able to reach a high level of agreent and eventually join Liu Bei's forces.
With this in mind, Zhang Liao was visibly eager, waiting for the next step to begin. However, throughout the whole process, Chen Xi hadn't spoken, which made Zhang Liao feel extrely conflicted. What was the purpose of this so-called friendly exchange through martial arts? Of course, Zhang Liao realized he might be too anxious, but Chen Xi's calm deanor was driving him crazy!
"Wen Hou, before we part, let
offer you a final toast. We live in different regions and serve different lords. Once we part today, it may be difficult to share wine together like this again," Chen Xi said, raising a cup of wine from the main seat.
Zhang Liao's heart leaped with joy. Finally, they were getting to the heart of the matter! He quickly looked at Lu Bu. Serving different regions and lords—wasn't that a hint that they could join forces? Saying that it would be hard to et again—wasn't that suggesting that now was the ti to find a way to unite?
Zhang Liao was screaming in his mind, desperately hoping Lu Bu would understand. He felt that this was his mont to step in and answer.
"Part for years to co?" Lu Bu paused, and suddenly, everything beca clear to him. He realized why he had felt so excited, why he had dressed so grandly, why he had co here, and why his mood had been so good.
In an instant, Lu Bu understood everything. He had been trying to show his valor, his heroism, and his most impressive self because he wanted the approval of his fellow countryn. He longed to return to Bingzhou, but he felt too ashad to go back.
Bingzhou was the place that had birthed and raised him. The desire to return to his roots, his hosickness—it weighed heavily on him. How many tis had the Wolf Cavalry dread of returning to Bingzhou? How many tis had they sighed and looked north, suppressing their longing to continue following Lu Bu across the world? But Lu Bu felt too ashad to return to Bingzhou.
The three thousand northern Wolf Cavalry had followed him in breaking the Xiongnu and battling the Xianbei, bringing glory to the Han soldiers and earning Lu Bu the title of Flying General.
When he left Bingzhou, he carried the hopes of the people there. He thought the battle in Luoyang would be easy, but upon arrival, he realized how powerful Dong Zhuo truly was.
Even under his leadership, the invincible Wolf Cavalry of Bingzhou had been defeated head-on by the Western Liang forces. If he hadn't fought his way into the Western Liang army and cut down their command banner, the Wolf Cavalry would have been routed.
That ti, over three thousand of his fellow countryn, whom he had sworn to protect, perished on the battlefield. Yet Ding Yuan insisted on continuing to fight for the throne. Lu Bu didn't understand why they had to persist. He only wanted to bring the Wolf Cavalry back safely.
Later, unable to tolerate Ding Yuan sending the Wolf Cavalry into increasingly unbalanced battles, he killed Ding Yuan after being provoked by Li Su and joined Dong Zhuo. At that ti, he saw Dong Zhuo, strong and valiant, as a good choice for a protector. With such a shield, the Wolf Cavalry could suffer fewer losses.
Unfortunately, Dong Zhuo, who once said "one day you will belong to " even as Lu Bu cut down his guards and broke his command banner, had beco corrupt after entering Luoyang—rotten to the core.
Yet, despite his corruption, at least his Wolf Cavalry had survived.
But corruption is corruption. Lu Bu had acted for Diao Chan, and Dong Zhuo had died. He did not regret it, but why did Wang Yun insist on fighting?
He had failed again. With or without Dong Zhuo, the Western Liang cavalry remained terrifyingly strong. The three thousand n he had sworn to protect had been reduced to just over ten thousand. He didn't know how to explain it. He still rembered his promise to bring them back, but why were they gone? Without them, how could he go back?
With each battle, the Wolf Cavalry dwindled, and his heart grew colder. He felt that the possibility of returning to Bingzhou was becoming increasingly remote. The last ti he impulsively wanted to return, he reached the border between Henei and Bingzhou. Just one more step, and he would have been ho, but he hesitated and withdrew his leg.
The only thing that brought him so comfort was that letter from his fellow Bingzhou countryn. Even though the original had been destroyed, the copy that Lu Bu himself had recreated contained all his hopes for Bingzhou.
The people of Bingzhou still rembered him. He wanted to see that fellow countryman. If that person asked him to return, he would go back—back to the Juyuan of Bingzhou that haunted his dreams, to fight against the barbarians once more.
This was the only way he could think of to return. This letter embodied everything about Bingzhou and was the most fragile part of his soul.
"Can I et the person who wrote that letter?" At this mont, Lu Bu's throat felt dry, but he managed to voice his request.
"What letter?" Chen Xi asked, puzzled.
"The letter inviting
here," Lu Bu replied, trying to maintain his composure, though his voice trembled noticeably.
"Oh, I wrote that," Chen Xi said with a strange expression, noticing Lu Bu's reaction.
"You wrote it..." Lu Bu asked, his voice shaking.
"Yes, Wen Hou, you seem to be trembling," Chen Xi said, his expression growing more curious. What was going on?
"Did you write
a letter before, back when I was in Luoyang?" Lu Bu's face twisted slightly.
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