It Wasn’t a Martial Arts World, but the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 67: The Path of Unryong (2)

What am I doing right now?

This was my chance to end the grudge that had lasted all this time.

But before I could even finish thinking, my legs were already moving.

The battlefield came into view.

I could see my brothers desperately swinging their swords, my disciple, and the enemies.

And the dark shadows approaching from afar were closing in on them.

“Haah… haah…”

I was out of breath.

The closer I got to them, the more I felt my entire body stiffening.

I had lost too much blood.

My consciousness was fading.

Within the fading consciousness, the scenery kept changing.

There, I was clasping hands with the Governor of Shangdang.

I was boasting loudly to my brothers, laughing.

I was preaching the Way of Jianghu to the kid and promising my disciple that such a world would come.

I gripped the sword hilt.

The blade was already shattered.

There was no way I could win.

A pointless death.

That was the current situation.

Yet, I was still taking steps forward.

“The sky is the sky…”

The sky was just the sky.

An infinitely vast blue sky.

Underneath it, people lived tirelessly.

I did, my brothers did, and the common people did too.

“There is no master of the world…”

Life was a cycle.

All living things are born and die repeatedly, enduring the changes of seasons, living on like that.

The principle of the cycle was equal for people, beasts, and all things.

I was just one among many, a mere insignificant being.

But I resisted.

Against the reality given to me, against the enemies blocking my path, against those who denied me, against the infinitely repeating cycle.

I just kept resisting.

There was no answer.

I simply sought to move forward on the path I believed was right.

The closer I got to the battlefield, the rougher my breath became.

My qi was disrupted.

My blood vessels were twisted, and my middle dantian had taken a serious hit.

Even in such a state, I couldn’t help but smile.

It wasn’t madness.

I was just grateful to be alive.

As long as I was alive, I could resist.

However.

– Thud!

One of my knees gave out.

Just a little further, and I would reach the battlefield.

I was still breathing.

I could still fight.

I could still resist.

But why?

“Move…”

Rage boiled over.

“Move…!”

I whipped myself.

“Moveee…!”

But my body wouldn’t listen.

Soon, even my remaining leg gave way.

And with that, my head hit the ground.

Thud, thud.

The shattered sword slipped from my hand.

Move. Resist. Cut.

Just being alive wasn’t enough.

Even if the road ahead seemed endless, I had to keep going.

With my head buried in the ground, I crawled. Blood and dirt filled my mouth, leaving a gritty taste.

My whole body ached. My insides felt hot, as if my organs were twisted.

My consciousness drifted. My vision gradually narrowed.

Just as my awareness was about to blur completely—

– Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sound of hooves struck my ears.

That sound allowed me to grasp onto my fading consciousness.

“Damn it…! Damn it…! Damn it…! Why am I…?!”

Then, a familiar voice echoed.

I could never forget that voice.

A horse as dark as blood entered my view.

“You, who defeated Lü Bu, why do you look so pitiful?”

“…Yeo.”

“Ah, seriously!”

Lü Bu grabbed the reins and stopped in front of me, then ruffled her hair furiously.

So that’s it.

Grudges were like lifelong karma.

Whether it was grace or enmity, it would never disappear unless severed by one’s own hands.

I had failed to repay the grace she had shown us, and that was my first karma.

I had failed to avenge the enemy who killed my brothers, and that was my second karma.

Finally, it was time to pay the price.

However, instead of offering her Fangtian Huaji, she extended her hand.

“Grab it!”

“…”

“You idiot, can’t you hear? Hurry up and grab it!”

I couldn’t understand her intentions.

Yet, my hand was already reaching for hers reflexively.

***

“Do not disrupt the formation. The Governor of Shangdang’s forces that joined the center must regroup, and the commander must bolster the center. Hurry as much as possible!”

Upon Sima Yi’s command, signals were quickly relayed.

Victory seemed assured.

With Unryong holding back Lü Bu, the balance was tipping.

However, who would have thought that such a massive army would arrive?

In this hilly area, it was impossible to command all those troops.

Hence, it was assumed reinforcements would not come.

But with reinforcements arriving, the story changed.

It was no longer enough to bind Lü Bu.

If Lü Bu rejoined the battle, the momentum would shift.

‘Uncle…!’

He had to do it.

Only if he succeeded could they win.

A promise.

That’s what the man had said.

So now, I had no choice but to believe.

At that moment, the sound of hooves came from the hill where Lü Bu and Unryong were fighting.

Sima Yi turned her head.

What she saw was none other than a blood-red horse.

Red Hare.

How could anyone not recognize that famed steed?

“No…”

Sima Yi’s brow furrowed. Gritting her teeth, she clenched her jaw.

Was this truly the end?

Sima Yi folded the fan that covered her mouth.

Then, slowly, she began to speak.

“…Retre—”

“Kkid, hey!”

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.

Sima Yi’s head snapped back towards the Red Hare.

Sima Yi widened her eyes, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Lü Bu, who was slumped over but still holding the reins, and Unryong, catching his breath while gripping the broken sword.

It was a scene her mind couldn’t comprehend.

Though her head couldn’t understand, Sima Yi shouted.

“Pull back the troops!”

She yelled at the soldiers rushing to block the approaching Red Hare.

At Sima Yi’s cry, the soldiers parted to create a path for the Red Hare.

The Red Hare soon halted in front of Sima Yi.

“What is going on?! Why is Lü Bu with you…?!”

Sima Yi swallowed her words, unable to continue.

Both of them were barely alive.

Their wounds were hidden by Red Hare’s crimson color, but they were bleeding profusely.

“Ah, Uncle!”

Sima Yi jumped up and quickly ran to Unryong.

She cautiously examined Unryong’s wounds while keeping a wary eye on Lü Bu.

Lü Bu clicked her tongue at the sight of the suspicious girl.

She couldn’t understand why she had done it.

But even as she bled profusely, she had seen the back of the man struggling forward.

It was a scene she had seen many times.

The back of a woman who had once stood in her way overlapped with the man’s.

She knew.

The woman in her memories was just as foolish as the man.

Stubborn and idiotic.

No matter the temptation, she pushed forward.

And so did he.

Lü Bu squeezed her eyes shut.

Then, she grabbed Unryong by the back of the neck and pulled him off the horse.

Unryong’s legs still trembled, unable to support his balance, so Sima Yi barely managed to hold him up.

Of course, Sima Yi’s small frame couldn’t fully support the sturdy man.

– Thud!

Unryong’s head slumped against Sima Yi’s shoulder.

“Uncle? Uncle!”

“…Shut up. I’m still alive.”

“W-what happened?!”

“…”

Unryong buried his face into her shoulder, catching his breath. He couldn’t answer; even he didn’t know why.

“Lü Bu, why did you come back with Uncle?”

Ignoring Unryong, Sima Yi turned her gaze to Lü Bu.

Just by looking at their injuries, it was clear they had fought fiercely.

But why had she shown mercy?

Lü Bu clenched her teeth, annoyed by Sima Yi’s question. She turned her head away.

Then she grabbed the reins and rode off.

“Lü Bu!”

No matter how many times Sima Yi called, Lü Bu didn’t respond, disappearing in an instant.

Red Hare’s speed made pursuit impossible.

“…Kid, what’s the status of the battle?”

While Sima Yi was distracted, Unryong propped himself up on one knee.

“…Reinforcements. At least ten thousand. No, more. A massive army is approaching this place.”

“…”

“We must retreat. Uncle’s condition, and with Lü Bu returning alive, if this continues, they’ll seize the momentum.”

“…Retreat.”

In truth, the situation wasn’t entirely unfavorable.

Just like Uncle, Lü Bu was also incapacitated, and the coalition currently held the upper hand.

But Unryong’s condition was the issue.

What would happen if Unryong died?

Sima Yi knew how much Unryong’s forces relied on him.

If they retreated now, they might never get another chance to capture Dong Zhuo.

Even knowing this, there was nothing she could do.

Sima Yi sighed softly, supporting him.

“Can you walk? I’ll prepare the retreat signal immediately. In the meantime, try to recover—”

“Kid.”

“Yes?”

“I can still fight.”

“…What?”

Sima Yi tapped her ears a couple of times. It was such an absurd statement.

The man’s condition was pitiful,

obvious even to the naked eye.

“Are you out of your mind?! Even resting wouldn’t be enough, and you’re thinking of fighting in that state?!”

“Kid, you said it yourself.”

Unryong spoke in a calm tone.

“You called me a famed sword.”

“So what if I did…?!”

“No warrior cares if their sword gets worn.”

Sima Yi’s eyes widened.

“Use me. Lead us to victory. That’s your role.”

Before long, a fierce aura began emanating around the man.

The area was enveloped in his aura.

Instinctively, Sima Yi’s shoulders tensed.

“What should I cut?”

“…Uncle.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“…”

What is he? Is he truly unafraid of death?

Suddenly, she recalled his words.

A world where everyone is fed.

His voice echoed in her ears as he boldly proclaimed he would achieve it.

By the time Sima Yi came to her senses, he was already staring at the battlefield.