Chapter 102: Lü Bu Has Arrived!

“Sister Xiu’er, Yu, I only have one question for you—are you truly willing to risk your life for this plan?”

Diao Xiu’er simply looked at him with a calm smile. “What else could I do?”

“Ha, I was being foolish,” Zhang Yu shook his head.

Willingness and consent don’t always mean pleasure—sometimes, there’s simply no other choice.

...

“Traitor Zhang Yu, today I, Zhang Xiu, will avenge the humiliation you brought upon me!”

A silver flash cut through the air like a thunderclap breaking the silence of the heavens, fiercely striking toward Zhang Yu’s chest.

Earlier, watching Zhang Xiu and Han Long fight, he hadn’t felt it, but now, standing on the battlefield himself, he truly sensed the sharp, deadly intent.

A single moment of hesitation was enough to doom anyone lacking skill to retreat or death.

Yet, endowed with martial prowess, Zhang Yu’s body instinctively dodged in an incredible reflex, narrowly evading the spear’s tip.

Then, his arm moved uncontrollably, swinging out a sword strike like a swarm of deadly fireflies. Zhang Xiu hastily retracted his spear, circling and defending in response.

“You hide your strength well,” Zhang Xiu said harshly.

“True masters always conceal their talents,” Zhang Yu replied.

“Hah, in these turbulent times, which capable man wouldn’t strive to achieve great deeds and carve out a grand future? You’re just a petty thief from a backwater village with no ambition,” Zhang Xiu scoffed.

“That’s not quite right, is it, Master Jia Xu?” Zhang Yu smiled and looked behind Zhang Xiu.

“Master?” Zhang Xiu turned sharply but saw no one in the empty street.

“General, he’s deceiving you!” Hu Che’er shouted from the side.

“Damn it!”

Zhang Xiu’s instincts screamed danger; his body tensed as he fell forward, pulling his spear up to guard himself.

“Bang!”

It was only luck that saved him—at the critical moment, he wildly swung his spear back, blocking Zhang Yu’s blade.

In a flash of light and thunderous clash, the two clashed like lightning and thunder.

Zhang Xiu bore the title of Spear King, but Zhang Yu moved with the grace of a sword immortal.

Their weapons intertwined, breaking and striking; in the end, Zhang Yu held the advantage.

Soon, tears appeared in Zhang Xiu’s battle robe, blood seeping through.

“Your swordsmanship surpasses that of your guards—and it’s the finest I’ve ever seen in my life,” Zhang Xiu looked at him, his hatred fading.

“I’ve come to understand why His Majesty counts you as a brother; you truly are extraordinary.”

“Your recent poem recitals at the Cai Mansion have made your name famous, and I’ve even read your ‘Epang Palace Rhapsody.’ Your literary talent rivals the gods.”

“Yet no one expected that Zhang Yu, the Jade Gentleman reputed for his brilliance, would also be a peerless swordsman.”

“You flatter me. My motto is to quietly amass wealth,” Zhang Yu replied.

Zhang Xiu ignored him and continued, “Your literary fame is your best disguise. His Majesty and Wang Yun must have long known your martial excellence. Conveniently, many resent the Grand Tutor, so you two conspired early on to assassinate him. Am I right?”

Zhang Yu forced an awkward but polite smile. “Reasonable and convincing.”

---

Zhang Xiu smiled as well. “I also suspect your visit to the Situ Mansion tonight was a joint plot with Wang Yun.”

“After fighting you, I can feel your true skill is far greater. If you fought at full strength, I couldn’t stop you.”

“I can tell you’re badly wounded, far from healed, physically weak. But perhaps time is short, and you chose to take a desperate risk by attempting to kill the Grand Tutor today and become a hero of the Han.”

Zhang Xiu’s expression showed newfound respect.

Zhang Yu’s face grew darker; his consciousness felt like drifting away, limbs aching and weakening, sometimes numb, sometimes sharp pain—like being bitten by insects.

Damn, this guy wants to wear me down!

Zhang Xiu pressed on. “Though we have different beliefs and can never agree, I admire you—someone willing to sacrifice for their cause.”

“I forgive your earlier insult, but today you are doomed to fail. This isn’t merely a duel between us.”

“You deserve me, Zhang Xiu, to lay down my warrior’s pride for you. It’s just a pity I cannot fight you at your prime.”

“You...” Zhang Yu coughed violently, spitting more blood.

“So confident you can beat me?”

“Not just me,” Zhang Xiu raised his spear. “Hu Che’er!”

“Here!”

“Attack together!”

“Yes!”

“Damn,” Zhang Yu stepped back two paces, coughing. “I’m already beaten up like this, and you still gang up on me? Have some shame!”

“Before the Battle of Hulao Pass, General Fengxian once fought three alone. Today, the two of us will take you on!”

“After you die, your fame will soar—it’s the respect I, Zhang Xiu, offer you.”

“Kill!”

“Hahaha, very well... come then! Let’s fight fiercely!”

Zhang Yu sprang up, all weakness gone, his flowing robe nearly touching the moonlight.

He descended from above, leaving behind countless afterimages, his cold sword’s edge like exposed silver needles.

“A man’s life—who doesn’t dream of mastery?”

“Even if not to dominate the battlefield, I’d rather wield my sword across the world.”

Zhang Yu’s awareness blurred and cleared in turns, as if drifting through a dream or watching a slow-motion replay.

Slow motion!

“Bang!”

He bent low to dodge a spear strike, then drove his knee with all his strength into Hu Che’er’s ribs.

“Crack!”

“Ah—”

Bones broke, iron tower flew.

Hu Che’er fell out of the fight.

Almost simultaneously, Zhang Yu let the spear’s tip strike his shoulder, then snapped the spear shaft with his sword and swiftly retreated.

---

“Cough...”

Sweat and blood mixed.

Zhang Yu pulled the broken spear out, coughing up more crimson blood.

“Beep! Beep! Beep!”

“Are you trying to die!? Host, what’s going on?” the training director roared angrily, while a little girl asked anxiously.

“Warning! Warning! Host’s health dangerously low!”

“Bang!”

Zhang Yu planted the spear’s tip into the ground for support. Nearby, Hu Che’er was unconscious; Zhang Xiu, covered in blood, stared at him.

“Was it worth it? For the so-called Han dynasty or the young emperor?”

“Heh... I’m only doing it for my sister. Honestly... I don’t even know why. I just want to. It’s foolish, isn’t it?”

“At this point, stop hiding the truth. You think I don’t see—you fear bringing harm to Wang Yun or even the Emperor?”

“What is it about them that inspires so many to give their lives, to swear loyalty?”

“The Han dynasty? What has it given you?”

“Aristocrats, noble clans, princes, ministers—they’re the true scourge of the people! So why won’t you accept the Grand Tutor and us Western Liang soldiers?”

“Putting aside everything else... just look at what your Western Liang army has done!”

“I know, but I believe,” Zhang Xiu picked up a half-broken spear, “the Grand Tutor is also helpless.”

“But he truly deserved to die.”

“But you all will die.”

“Only you will die first...”

The broken sword cast a faint gleam, ready to strike at Zhang Xiu.

“Tat-tat.”

Zhang Yu turned his head.

“Tat-tat-tat.”

He froze.

At the far end of the long street, a lone rider appeared, mounted on a fiery red steed, followed by an endless sea of black-armored Western Liang soldiers.

But no one noticed the countless troops behind.

The crimson horse seemed a mythical beast, radiating the might of a fierce tiger.

The rider bore an awe-inspiring presence, scornful of the world.

In his hand, a long Fangtian Huaji halberd seemed to command the power to shake heaven and earth.

He rode unhurriedly, yet the soldiers behind did not follow.

Instead, they gazed upon him with reverence, almost worship.

Lü Bu had arrived.