MTLNOVEL Chapter 73 - The End of Dong Zhuo
Chapter 73: The End of Dong Zhuo
The coalition army, victorious in the battle at Hangu Pass, surged forward.
The morale of Dong Zhuo’s forces had already plummeted to rock bottom, and strategists like Li Jue, Guo Si, and Jia Xu had devised no plans whatsoever.
Instead, Li Jue and Guo Si were desperately wracking their brains, trying to figure out how to escape this predicament.
Thus, the coalition army successfully entered Chang’an.
The citizens of Chang’an were gripped by anxiety, their worries deepening with each passing day.
In response, Dong Zhuo issued an order.
“Those bastards must never set foot in Dong Zhuo’s territory.”
However, the interior was already rotting from within.
Dong Zhuo was a star on the verge of fading, and it wasn’t difficult to predict that a new era was dawning.
No matter how powerful a warlord one might be, there was no future for one who had lost the people’s hearts.
No one would support Dong Zhuo, and enemies surrounded him on all sides.
As the coalition’s victory became increasingly certain, officials who had previously remained silent began to reveal themselves.
Fear grew day by day, and the atmosphere in the court hit rock bottom.
Even Dong Zhuo’s key aides, Li Jue and Guo Si, were plotting their escape, so how could the lower ranks maintain order and follow orders?
Eventually, the coalition army reached the fortress where Dong Zhuo resided.
The soldiers guarding the gate, much like the trembling citizens before them, wore faces filled with fear.
The coalition’s reputation was well known, having been spoken of repeatedly.
Specifically, rumors about Unryong had already stirred up Chang’an.
Soldiers who had fled from them described Unryong as no longer human, but a demon.
And it wasn’t just a metaphor—they meant it as fact.
The soldiers who had witnessed him were all driven to madness by their terror.
Sima Yi, yawning in apparent boredom, spoke up.
“Let’s spend some time here.”
The girl’s thoughts were straightforward.
Surround the fortress step by step.
There would be minor resistance, but no matter how hard those without Lü Bu’s forces tried, they would never stand a chance against the coalition.
As a result, food supplies would dwindle, and anxiety would gradually grow, eventually forcing the enemy to surrender on their own.
It was a rather accurate assessment.
As the siege continued for several days, some soldiers prepared to relocate with Li Jue and Guo Si, while others deserted, breaking military law.
– Boom!
Dong Zhuo slammed the armrest of his throne.
“You fools! We’re all in the same boat now. If this Dong Zhuo falls, do you really think you’ll be spared?”
Despite his harsh words, Dong Zhuo knew instinctively.
He was brutal and wicked.
He was, after all, a man labeled as a tyrant.
Yet within this brutal Dong Zhuo remained a faint spark—perhaps the instinct of a warrior, or the sense that he understood the looming end better than anyone.
Indeed, Dong Zhuo had once enjoyed his own days of glory in the military.
He had once wielded a sturdy physique instead of this bloated body, and in place of the goblet that sated his greed, he had gripped a sword that cut down foes with valor.
But now…
He was old and sickly.
The fat protruding between his armor was unsightly, and his sword was stained not with the blood of vile Yellow Turbans but of his own citizens.
Time marched on.
The screams of soldiers grew louder in Dong Zhuo’s ears.
The coalition army had entered the main palace.
“Lord, you must escape now.”
Li Jue said urgently.
Dong Zhuo scoffed.
Returning to Luoyang was unthinkable, and retreating towards Hebei wasn’t an option either.
The predator he once was had now become little more than prey.
Anticipating this, Li Jue led the army along with Guo Si and Hu Zhen, fleeing the city.
In the once bustling palace, only Dong Zhuo’s kin, the imperial guard protecting the Emperor, and Jia Xu remained.
“My sword.”
Finally, Dong Zhuo rose from the throne.
His body was heavy.
His bones ached, and his hands trembled from the wine.
Even so, he took the sword handed to him by the soldier.
The sword he had wielded countless times in the past.
“This Dong Zhuo is the ruler of this era.”
A title only one person could hold.
Only one who held the world could claim to be a ruler.
And in this moment, that unique individual was Dong Zhuo.
Thus, he could not allow himself a disgraceful end.
Born a warrior, he would die a warrior.
That was Dong Zhuo’s final wish.
The sounds of clashing metal grew closer.
Footsteps echoed nearer and nearer.
Eventually, as the coalition forces stormed in, the palace guards charged to meet them.
Of course, they were no match.
Watching his soldiers fall helplessly, Dong Zhuo let out a hollow laugh.
Then, a graceful voice filled the air.
“It’s been a while, Dong Zhuo.”
The one with red eyes and silver hair gleaming—Cao Cao, without a doubt.
She threw off her cape and pointed her sword at Dong Zhuo.
“You ungrateful fox. I trusted you, and this is how you repay me?”
“Only the Emperor and Cao Cao can hold this Cao Cao.”
“You ungrateful wench.”
“Hmm, it sounds rather pleasing to hear that from you. Truly, a peculiar thing.”
Dong Zhuo shoved aside the guards surrounding him.
“Yes, indeed. I shall cut you down myself.”
“That’s a tempting offer, but… sorry, I’m not the one who’ll be ending you.”
Then, from behind Cao Cao, a figure slowly walked forward.
Amidst the white light, a man with black hair emerged.
His body was scarred, his hair soaked with sweat, and his sword was smeared with blood.
Beside him stood a blue-haired woman, visibly agitated.
“M-Master! You shouldn’t be pushing yourself!”
Dong Zhuo instinctively realized.
This man was the loathsome one who had posed such a threat to his position.
Finally, Dong Zhuo slowly spoke.
“…You, are you the Unryong?”
“Hoo… Yes.”
Unryong panted.
His body still hadn’t fully recovered, and he struggled to move.
Yet cutting down Dong Zhuo was something he had to do himself.
It was his promise to Cao Cao.
Therefore, he did not stop walking.
His limping movements barely managed to carry him forward, and Dong Zhuo laughed heartily at the sight.
“With that body, you think you can take on Dong Zhuo alone!”
“What, you think I can’t handle one fat pig?”
“You underestimate me.”
Dong Zhuo also began approaching Unryong.
Though he was not what he used to be, his body had once belonged to a martial artist.
He was not weak enough to be cut down by this corpse of a man.
Or so Dong Zhuo thought.
The two halted simultaneously.
“Do you truly seek to take the world? Dong Zhuo’s world?”
“I wouldn’t take it even if you gave it to me, you pig.”
– Clang!
Their swords collided.
Strong.
Dong Zhuo realized it in a single exchange.
There was no way such tremendous strength could come from those slender arms, Dong Zhuo thought as he gritted his teeth and tightened his grip.
Strength had always been his forte.
But look at him now.
Had he truly become this weak?
– Swoosh!
When Unryong’s sword struck upwards, Dong Zhuo’s stance crumbled.
Unryong immediately slashed Dong Zhuo’s side.
“Gah!”
Dong Zhuo clutched his side.
“This is my first time butchering a pig…”
Humiliation and shame surged within him.
Dong Zhuo, his face flushed, took another step forward.
And then, boom!
Dong Zhuo collapsed under his own weight.
“Tsk, pathetic.”
– Thud!
Clicking his tongue, Unryong plunged his sword into Dong Zhuo’s belly.
“Aaaaagh!”
It couldn’t be.
This couldn’t be happening.
This disgraceful end should not be his.
Even if he were to lose, he hoped at least to recapture a moment of his former glory…
– Thud!
“Guhhh!”
Again, the man’s sword pierced Dong Zhuo’s body.
Tears began to well up in his eyes.
“Ugh… ugh…”
The fallen ruler’s end was a pitiful sight.
Was this all there was?
Before arriving here, Unryong had felt a sense of duty.
The burning ruins of Luoyang, and the suffering of the people under Dong Zhuo’s tyranny, had given him some righteous cause.
But look at the man now.
He was nothing more than a pig, not even a person.
– Thud!
“Ugh… ugh…”
Just a pig awaiting slaughter, nothing more, nothing less.
Thus, Unryong no longer swung his sword.
“What’s wrong?”
Cao Cao asked when she saw Unryong lower his sword.
Unryong shrugged his shoulders.
“This has become too dull. The fact that I went through all this trouble to cut down someone like him… I feel ashamed. His end is yours to handle. As for me, as Yun says, I need to rest.”
“…You are crueler than I expected.”
Cao Cao smirked.
She looked down at Dong Zhuo, who was trembling in shame and fear.
“Fine, I will end him myself. There’s no need for your hands to be stained with this filthy blood.”
Cao Cao then approached Dong Zhuo and crouched beside him.
“Well, let’s start by lighting a fire, shall we? After all, a pig is best served roasted.”
And so, this was the end of Dong Zhuo.