Chapter One Hundred and Ten: Lü Bu and Diao Xiu’er (Part Two)

"During the Xi era, the Xianbei tribes invaded. I followed my father south, leaving Wuyuan County behind and arriving in Taiyuan Commandery. It was there that I first saw you."

...

"That day, your uncle's birthday was approaching. I intended to head into the mountains to hunt some rare birds and beasts as a birthday gift for him, and you, Xiu'er, insisted on coming with me... How could I ever refuse you?"

Diao Xiu'er listened in a daze; she had not the slightest recollection of what Lu Bu was describing.

"And so, together we managed to bag five wild hares, three pheasants, and a wild boar. One of the pheasants had tail feathers of seven colors... you loved it dearly."

"Just as I was preparing to take you back, a low growl suddenly echoed through the forest, and a bear lunged out at us." As he said this, a formidable aura suddenly erupted from Lu Bu.

In the Three Kingdoms, Dian Wei once chased a tiger across a ravine, yet compared to a bear, a ferocious tiger is slightly inferior.

As Liu Zongyuan wrote in *The Tale of the Bear*: "Deer fear the *zi*, the *zi* fears the tiger, and the tiger fears the bear. The bear stands upright like a man with disheveled hair; it possesses immense strength and is extremely harmful to people..."

...

"I told you, 'Xiu'er, do not be afraid.'"

"With me, Lu Bu, here, no one can harm you!"

Such soaring arrogance and heroic spirit buffeted Diao Xiu'er's empty mind, yet she still could not recall the scene Lu Bu described.

"I first loosed three arrows, striking its legs and head, but I never expected the beast to dare fight me to the death. Since that was the case, I, Lu Bu, naturally had to grant it the respect due to a warrior!"

"I swung my fists and grappled with it. Ha! Its strength was the greatest I have ever encountered in my life, but how could it ever be a match for me, Lu Bu? We wrestled from the forest to the edge of a cliff. I did not expect that, beast though it was, it was quite cunning; it intended to push me over the precipice."

Listening to Lu Bu's account, Diao Xiu'er could not help but feel a tightness in her chest—that was a bear!

"Indeed, in terms of raw strength, I could not best it. I had intended to completely subdue it, but you were standing behind me, Xiu'er, and I could not allow you to suffer any harm."

"I drew my sword and hacked it down at the cliff's edge. Seeing it stir no more, I was about to step forward to skin it and extract its gall, but the wily beast suddenly lunged up and grabbed me."

"And then?" Diao Xiu'er asked subconsciously.

"It and I fell over the cliff together, losing consciousness and knowing nothing more."

"Then, General, you..."

"At that time, you called me Lord Fengxian." Lu Bu smiled with the affection of a man lost in memory. "When I woke up again, several days had passed. They said it was you who rescued me."

"You, a frail woman, how could you have gone down to the bottom of that cliff? How could you have saved me? I do not believe it! I want to find you, I want to ask you how much suffering you endured to bring me back, I... I want to ask for your hand in marriage from your parents!"

Diao Xiu'er shuddered.

"I tore off the bandages wrapped around me and rushed out of the house to find you, only to be told that you had already left Bing Province with your parents."

"Why? Why were you unwilling to wait for me to wake up? You did not even leave a single letter!"

The tenderness Lu Bu displayed was swallowed by urgency; in the words of this indomitable warrior, there was actually a trace of resentment.

"I don't know... I don't know anything!" Diao Xiu'er was already weeping, a sight that made Lu Bu’s heart ache as if pierced by a blade.

"Xiu'er, you do not need to think about it." Lu Bu stepped forward and pulled her into his embrace, and she did not resist.

"Leave everything to me. One day, I, Lu Bu, will uncover exactly what happened to you."

He raised his hand and gently wiped the crystalline tears from Diao Xiu'er's face, then held her tighter.

"That day, at the request of the Excellency, I came to the mansion for a banquet. When he called for you, I could not believe my eyes."

Lu Bu cradled Diao Xiu'er's peerless face and said softly, "It must be that Heaven took pity on me, Lu Bu, and allowed me to find you again. This time, I will never let you leave again."

Diao Xiu'er could not speak a word. It was only then that she remembered the strange feeling she had when she first saw Lu Bu. It was as if they had known each other for a long time, as if she held a deep affection for him.

Could it be that everything he said was true—

"Rebellious son!"

A roar of fury!

Diao Xiu'er started and pulled away from Lu Bu's arms. Lu Bu was also taken aback by the sound, and both turned around.

"How dare you, rebellious son!"

Dong Zhuo stood in the corridor of the rear courtyard, backed by dozens of armored guards.

He snatched a long halberd directly from the hands of a nearby guard and made a gesture to throw it, but seeing Diao Chan standing so close to Lu Bu, he could not bring himself to strike.

"I do not wish to see you again. Leave Diao Chan," Dong Zhuo said, suppressing his rage.

"Foster Father!" Lu Bu took two steps forward and knelt, saying, "The lady Xiu'er and I are in love—"

"Shut up!" Dong Zhuo kicked Lu Bu in the shoulder. "I treated you with such importance, viewing you as my own flesh and blood! I never imagined you were a wolf-hearted traitor who could never be tamed!"

Dong Zhuo threw the halberd aside and drew the sword at his waist. "What? Now that you are invincible under the heavens, you want to snatch your foster father's beloved concubine too?"

"Foster Father, she—"

"Shameless wretch, how dare you defy me? Do you truly think I dare not kill you!?"

The razor-sharp blade pressed against Lu Bu's throat; it seemed as if a single swallow would be enough to slice his neck open.

Lu Bu slowly stood up, looking at the furious Dong Zhuo, his own eyes beginning to burn with anger.

Dong Zhuo raised his right hand, and dozens of armored guards instantly raised their bows and crossbows. Those cold, piercing arrowheads were all aimed at Lu Bu's chest.

"Get out!"

Before the arrows could be loosed, Dong Zhuo swung his sword. The blade slashed across, and a bloody gash burst open on Lu Bu's chest, with crimson blood immediately seeping out.

Lu Bu smiled and turned to look at Diao Xiu'er.

Seeing the wound on his chest, the tears Diao Xiu'er had managed to stop began to flow again. She trembled, wanting to step forward.

"Wait for me. I will return."

Before Diao Xiu'er could move, Lu Bu turned and left, brushing past the furious Dong Zhuo.

"To think I accepted such a beast as my foster son. I must have been blind," Dong Zhuo cursed. Just then, Wang Yun emerged from the corridor on the other side.

"Grand Preceptor, please calm your anger. General Fengxian is young and hot-blooded; seeing my daughter's beauty, he momentarily lost his self-control. It is not entirely incomprehensible—"

"You are still speaking for him!" Dong Zhuo glared, causing Wang Yun to shrink back and fall silent.

Walking into the courtyard, Dong Zhuo lifted his sleeve and wiped the fresh tears from Diao Xiu'er's face. "Look at how he has bullied my Chan'er! Do not be afraid, Chan'er. I will never show mercy to this scoundrel."

Diao Xiu'er heard this and hurriedly said, "Grand Preceptor—"

"Grand Preceptor!" An attendant came running in a panic, causing the hand Dong Zhuo intended to place on Diao Xiu'er's shoulder to fall listlessly.

"What is it!" The Grand Preceptor asked, flicking his sleeve, clearly displeased.

"Zhang Yu! The whereabouts of Zhang Yu have been found!"

"Oh?" At these words, the expressions of both Wang Yun and Diao Xiu'er changed drastically.

Dong Zhuo patted Diao Xiu'er's shoulder and looked at Wang Yun, who was waiting to the side. "Chan'er, continue to accompany Minister Wang and fulfill your filial duties. I have matters to resolve, and I will come to fetch you later!"

With that, Dong Zhuo hurried away with his men.