Among the Warriors, Lu Bu. Among the steeds, Red Hare.
The girl did not show any reaction as she know she is being pursued. Perhaps she is luring them to traps? It is not known yet, these three only know that the girl, Lu Bu tried to lure them to some kind of cave. When she is indeed cornered. Zhang Liao begged to Minister of War Li Ru to let her have fun in battling such strong opponent. This time, Kazuto relent. He also realized the possibility of traps and that he had to protect Yue. So he stay with Yue . He hold Yue, so he could just grabbed and escaped with her if the situation turned sour. It is not because he is a cruel person that he will abandon Zhang Liao. It is just, Zhang Liao dislike disturbance in dueling. And also it seems that this girl, Lu Bu is an honorable warrior, because just like in Wuxia series, her Ginkang and Battle aura only has pure intention. And there is no hesitation in her sturdy stance. Only a true martial artist could let out such impression toward another martial artist. It seems that Zhang Liao also realize this fact, because she can not erase her smile in engaging her opponent.
As Zhang Liao moved to engage Lu Bu, Lu Bu change her battle stance. As if waiting for a best timing to decide her next movement. Perhaps she is trying to judge whether this will be two on one fight or just a duel between two martial artist. Because there is no movement or battle stance that she could sense from Minister of War Li Ru, her attention moved solely to Zhang Liao. Using only one crashing wave that she let out from her weapon, she tossed Zhang Liao! Truly ! her raw power is for real! She is a warrior really among the Warriors!
Zhang Liao was surprised , she never thought that there is another person who outmatch her. The only person who she considered stronger than her in her past experience is only the War Minister himself who never showed his true strength. Now there is another person capable in single handedly defeating her! Truly ! Beneath the sky, there lies another sky! But Zhang Liao upon feeling herself the taste of defeat instead of being disheartened , she grab her weapon once again and march to battle her opponent. This time she move simultaneously , creating after image of herself….! No, she is not using any magic ! it just optical illusion caused by her footwork, making her appeared numerously. And, the battle aura raised! Those two warrior are preparing their best move! Just like in Wuxia! No, not the drunken fist!
"Geho!" a sound of someone coughing in pain. It is the sound that disturb the fight.
XXX
Lu Bu and Zhang Liao who were trying to unleash their best movement, are now remain motionless. Their movement stopped, as they are disturbed by the loud voice. Lu Bu seems to know that voice and look worried and retreat , she left Zhang Liao who still dumbfounded and going inside the cave.
Yue who know something wrong with her give a sign to Kazuto to follow that girl. Kazuto responding the little girl in his arms, nod and chase her inside the cave. He tried to be careful by channeling all his five sense (in Wuxia sense. In normal sense it means he is being more careful and always look around to determine the safety of this place) he tried to detect any traps. But it seems it is just a normal cave. And he sees for himself , Lu Bu is sitting. she is backing Kazuto to check something… or someone.
"Ren sama… did I bother you again?"
Lu Bu shook her head. "Nenene…is…sick. Ren worried."
The Girl named Nenene coughed a bit and said." Ren-sama. It is already over for me. Please take care of yourself."
"Nenene…is being…foolish. Nenene…will be… alright. Nenene…only need…more food."
As she finished her sentence, she felt someone behind her and readied her weapon. Kazuto who is being threatened ignored her and approached the girl named Nenene.
"Malnutrition, hot fever, bad cough." Kazuto murmured as he check the body temperature. Lu Bu who see that Kazuto did not do something that would harm them, let down her weapon.
"Nenene..?"
"Influenza." Kazuto finally end his diagnose and turned to Yue. "She got some influenza, we need warm food, warm place for her. This place is unsanitary… (when he look at the girls puzzled expression, he changed his word)… I mean we need some place clean for her. This place is full of bacteria, and the temperature here is bad. "
Hearing the suggestion, Yue nodded and agreed.
XXX
Return to the inn, and let us ignore any grumbling that come from Zhang Liao whose joy in fighting earlier were snatched away from her along the journey to the inn. "#$?% and.. I never fought opponent that good before! ?#$ this is Li Ru Darren's fault! ?#$% meeting a good opponent is not easy !" making Kazuto annoyed and promised her that he will spar with her in Luoyang capital.
Inside the inn, Kazuto awoke the inn owner asked him to make some porridge , and write some herb that will be needed to be added in the porridge. And he asked Zhang Liao to looked for nearby pharmacist (there is no licensed doctor in this era) to get some medicinal herbs (also, there is no drugstore in this era, neither the cellular phone. Even though author gave laptop for Kazuto?) . Well, maybe tonic soup is better.
Well, as we already know, an influenza did not require such elaborate treatment. Just gave the patient some rest, some nutritional food, and some drug to keep the body balance, and we leave the rest to the patient 's body which will formulated more antibodies. And more blah blah blah. And let us fast forward this boring event .
XXX
In the next day, Minister of War Li Ru invited governor of Bing, Wang Yun for answering the problem about the monster roaming. Li Ru suspected that it was caused by Lu Bu.
"Li Ru Darren, I had never seen the monster myself, but the witness claimed that the monster glows and gave a strange inaudible sound."
"Did the monster attacked or doing something that disturb the civilians?"
"No, Li Darren. The monster only stood there , but his only presence is more than enough to instill fear. "
"no one injured? Then… what about the ten soldiers who was beaten?"
"Apparently, my soldier were too afraid to understand the situation , and they strike first."
"why did you not send an investigation? "
"The rumor become more exaggerated and no people dare to check."
"Then… there is no one that could be blamed. It is the civilian who were afraid themselves."
"Apparently yes, Darren."
"Then… tell all the people that the monster has been slain by Dong Zhuo Darren's strongest warrior."
"…? Darren, I can not comprehend.."
"Tell the people that this Li Ru has witnessed the monster. The monster is more stronger than anything. As if it was a mythical beast from the heaven. And Prime Minister 's strongest warrior Lu Bu Fengxian is the person who slain it. That is right. Lu Bu Fengxian is the god of war himself."
"Yes, Li Ru Darren."
XXX
Not while later, the girl Nenene has recovered from her illness. Apparently her influenza is caused by exhaustion in long journey.
"Chen Gong bowed before the Prime Minister Dong Zhuo and Minister of War Li Ru."
Minister of War Li Ru questioned her. " What are your relationship between you and the girl named Lu Bu?"
Chen Gong bashfully answered " I owed my life to her."
"What are your origins?"
"I am of Dongjun (Shandong), while Lu Bu sama is of Jiuyuan. "
"What are your purpose of coming here? Did you do something in your homeplace?"
"No, Minister Darren. Lu Bu sama and I are only planning to traveling around the realm. We do not have special purpose. Unfortunately, due to exhaustion … I fell to sickness."
"I checked from Governor here that you don't have any problem here. " Then Li Ru rise from his seat and said. "I believe that you are clear to do so. There is no problem. I can allow you continue your journey." Li Ru then have private talk with Yue that the matter has been solved out. As they are planning to get out.
"Wait! I have not said our gratitude. Please let us do so!" Chen Gong said.
Li Ru then look at them. "Are you sure? What about her?" Li Ru meant about Lu Bu.
"Ren-sama also agreed that . if we can at least do something to repay for your kindness."
It is not Li Ru who answered rather Yue. "you don't have to do so."
"Please let us, Prime Minister Dong Zhuo!"
It seems that these two insist to join, Li Ru who seems to know and expect it said. " Yue. Lu Bu is an excellent warrior. And the empire always welcome a new talent."
Yue thought about it and agreed.
"Please let us serve you. I am Chen Gong also, I have a little knowledge in military matter. I hope that I can be help to you."
"….Please."
And so, with the following event , Dong Zhuo has gotten herself the service of the strongest warrior in this land. Many regarded that the title was exaggerated until the day, when the battle of Hulao pass, where the rumor is true. That … Among the warrior is Lu Bu.
XXX
In their returning journey, to please Yue who seems to has not enjoyed their trip enough, Minister of War Li Ru asked Chen Gong some path that they never know (because it is pointless to ask Ren).
"Minister Darren, we can try the forest path. There is some beautiful pond and flower field there."
"Really? Thank you, Nenene. I can not bear to see Yue gloomy. At least I want to let her enjoy this trip."
"Minister Darren, you really spoiled the Prime Minister."
Hearing that Chen Gong was teasing him, Kazuto scrubbed her hair.
Zhang Liao tried to befriend Lu Bu hoping that at least they can spar in near time. Zhang Liao insisted to Lu Bu to let her taste her ginkang . because she herself never mastered it and Kazuto never used the ginkang toward her. As the party chatted and Yue was let to enjoyed the scenery at her own pace, the party reached to some kind of abandoned shrine. Kazuto become suspicious and asked Chen Gong.
"Forgive me Minister Darren. Chen Gong has no knowledge about this shrine."
Kazuto then thought. Is it some kind of RPG? Will this shrine is some kind of Save Point? Or perhaps has the effect of Healing their Life point or Health point and Magic point if you pray here? Nah… It can not be! If it were , he wished for Reset Button. Because he still can not adapted to the world where almost all heroes from the era of three kingdom is girl. Rather than that it is more plausible that this shrine is….
"A trap? No! it must be it!"
As if this is an RPG game, he checked the surrounding of the shrine, but nothing suspicious was found. Then he do one thing. Checked the shrine it self.
"Huh..? a suspicious looking button."
it.
it alone.
As the author said previously that this is no RPG game, of course the choice is clear.
"Number 1." Kazuto murmured.
The other girl who heard it asked "What ? Li Ru Darren?" Kazuto realized that he talked silly and covered it up. "Nothing. "
Let us forget this RPG fiasco. As The Minister of War pressed the button and moved the freakish looking statue, a hidden path was revealed. Zhang Liao was surprised and happy.
"Li Ru Darren! Let us go inside!"
Kazuto shook his head. "No. this might be dangerous. I am worried to bring the Prime Minister there."
Yue then interrupted. "Let us go, Li Ru. Don't worry about me. And also… when we are not as the imperial retainer… I only want to remember my name as Yue."
Seeing that the girl is determined, Li Ru relent. "I hope Jia Xu Darren would not mind if we got your clothes dirty, Yue."
Yue laughed a bit saying . "Ei will settle…. I wished that the path lead to some kind of thing that I can give to her."
Then the party proceed to enter. It is some kind of manmade path. Li Ru asked Zhang Liao and Lu Bu to search for any trap or anything suspicious. But it seem the path only lead to straightway, so as long that they did not missed anything it would be allright. And as the author said before this is not an RPG, there is no random battle encounter even if the party did not have the encounter none ability.
Then they reached to somewhat of stone inscription. It is as if this place is a big abandoned tomb. And they reached the gravestone.
"Having roamed the northern realm for more than 30 years, I have obeyed my emperor and killed all of Qin's enemy. Under heaven, I dedicated my life for the well being of the people. Alas, all my life gone fruitless because of the betrayal. Ashamed for my failure, I could only retreat and live in seclusion with my faithful steed as my companion." – General who defended the North.
Chen Gong was immersed by the inscription word, while Yue look at it. Kazuto in the other hand tried to understand it.
"General who defended the north? Qin? "
And when all of them are still immersed , Kazuto proceed himself to go to the next room. How surprised he is when he see…
"No…way… it should not be here …yet!"
Yep, the thing that he saw, how could he become shocked? The thing should not be here, at least for another two millennia.
"A motorcycle?"
Kazuto then checked the motorcycle. "it is intact. Let see… Yamaha 450cc motocross.? The fuel….. no! even in my era, this fuel is not possible!"
H20. In other word, you can put in the fuel tank , a water.
He then turned the motorcycle. "oil is fine, the lubricant is still good. No problem in the machine voice….Good god! This is still good." And because of the motorcycle noise, Dong Zhuo, Lu Bu, Zhang Liao, and Chen Gong hurriedly entered .
"Minister of war Darren! What is that object?" Chen Gong asked in her awed.
Seeing that he has caught their attention, in his hurriedly mind he answered. "this is the legendary steed that General Meng Tian of Qin rode to defended the great Qin from the Xiongnu barbarians. The Red Hare. it was said to be able to run one thousand li in a day (500 km) ."
So… this is the time when the Red Hare entered the stage. Yep… using only water as it fuel and constant standard motorcycle care, it is truly a steed among the steeds, The Red Hare (Chi tuma) .
Author Note:
Please don't ask me about the technical spec of the motorcycle, i know nothing about them.
Thank you for the review. for the response i will once again answer the reason i use the Pinyin naming of the character.
it is more because i am not familiar with the japanese naming it is goes like this.
Hokkian : Liu Pei
Pinyin : Liu Bei Xuande
Japanese naming : Ryubi Gentoku
and, i also expected to place some character that Baseson SHOULD have placed in their visual novel like Jiang Wei, Deng Ai, Sima Yi, Sima Zhao , Sima Shi, Jia Kui, Jia Chong, Liao Hua, Zhang Yi , Zhuge Jin, Zhuge Dan , Ji Ling and many more. i don't know their japanese naming and i expected no one would know or recognize them. so... the easier solution is use the Pinyin naming and use their original manna like Aishia, Tohka, RinRin, Shion, Sui,Sei, Shuri, Karin.
No. i don't consider i am well versed in history. i still don't know about General Yue Yi . and it is important because Shuri or Zhuge Liang considered herself in the same value of General Yue Yi and Prime Minister Guan Zhong.
about Meng Tian rode Red Hare is just a lie. and even the inscription is taken from Dugu Qiubai tomb . Dugu Qiubai is the character from Jin Yong's Wuxia novel, considered as the lone master swordsman.