Disclaimer : I don't own Dynasty Warriors.
Apologize for any grammatical errors.
"Welcome, welcome! Ladies and gentlemen! Miss?! Come in! Please come in and have a look! I have good stuff and it's definitely of high quality! You definitely won't be disappointed! Please come in and have a look!".
Qiang Lu, a merchant and convenience store owner, was calling for customers outside his shop which was located on a busy street in the middle of a sunny day.
With his loud yet friendly and pleasant voice, typical of a salesman, Qiang Lu easily attracted the attention of the ladies and gentlemen, most of them were from the elite and upper class, flocking one by one to his spacious and luxuriously decorated shop.
Qiang Lu is indeed a high-end merchant. He decorates his shop as beautifully as possible to target the upper-middle class consumers.
"Eh, come on in! Please come in, Sir! You too, Madam! Please, please! I've got whatever you're looking for! Ah, young lady over there! Don't just stand around in this hot weather, your beauty will fade! Come on, make yourself comfortable in my shop! Come on in, choose whatever you like, I've got everything you need!".
The young lady who had just been called by Qiang Lu just nodded with a faint smile, trying to politely avoid the merchant's invitation. She's not in the mood to stop by anywhere.
How shocked she was when suddenly Qiang Lu's hand grabbed her as she tried to keep walking straight ahead, ignoring him. Luckily she didn't get to hit him, for she so shocked. She gasped in surprise whereas Qiang Lu was still babbling nonchalantly.
"Come on Miss! Don't be shy! It's hot out here, take a break inside and have a look! Who knows something might interest you, hmm ...? Come in!".
Then, without any hesitation, firmly, and half forcefully, Qiang Lu pushed the lady into the shop.
Inside the shop, the lady sighed in annoyance while blowing her bangs. But, since she didn't want to attract attention or make a fuss, so she decided to just stroll around the shop once and then left with the excuse that she didn't find anything she wanted to buy.
Still a bit irritated, the young lady started to look around her and just realized, the shop she was standing in, was really nice. Luxury and fancy. Her eyes glanced quickly at the people around him. Nobles and upper middle class, of course. Well, no wonder actually. There's no way a shop as good as this would be entered by just commoners or peasants.
She started walking and looking around. Expensive silks, antique jars and porcelains, various kinds of jewels are displayed and scattered everywhere in a beautiful arrangement to the eye. Well, at least to the eyes of the rich.
However, before walking even halfway through the shop, the girl felt bored. She had absolutely no interest in silks or gems. She was just about to turn towards the exit to leave the shop, when her eyes caught the crowd of visitors in the dark back corner of the shop.
She squinted her eyes to get a better look, but to no avail. The shop was too big, so from where she stood she could only faintly catch a glimpse of ... a giant cage?
Curious, before she knew what she was doing, her feet brought her closer to those giant cage in the corner of the room. The closer she got, the more she could see clearly.
It was indeed a cage. A very huge one, she didn't see it wrong.
Her forehead wrinkled. But why is there a cage of this size in the middle of a luxury shop like this? Does the merchant also sell wild animals to be kept as pets? Tiger, for example?
The closer she got, now she could hear people whispering and pointing into the cage. From their voices, they sounded disdainful and disgusted.
"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT, HAH?!".
The crowd that was right in front of the cage shrieked in surprise, including her, before finally they all ran helter-skelter, because all of sudden, a big - very tall man, she estimated that maybe his height was about two meters, sturdy and burly, burst out from inside the cage, yelling and growling. He looks very ferocious.
With both stout hands, the giant man gripped the iron bars that imprisoned him, shaking it and screaming like he was in a trance.
"AAGGHH! GET ME OUT OF HERE, COWARDS! HOW DARE YOU TREAT ME LIKE THIS! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!".
Because now only that young lady who was still left in front of the cage, so they couldn't help but meet their gazes now. The gaze between a young lady who looked wide-eyed with her mouth slightly open versus the fierce and savage gaze of a beast man. Strangely, the girl didn't look scared. The giant man narrowed his eyes. Yes, the young lady didn't look scared even though she did look shocked. Instead, she looked ... was it pity?
Suddenly he became furious. Enough of all the insults and ridicule he had received so far!
"Hmph! Little Missy won't run away? If I manage to get out of these bars, I won't let you go!".
Now the giant man was really annoyed. Turns out the threat didn't work. This young lady in front of him is actually quite brave. Instead of running away like everyone else, and that was exactly what he wanted, this girl now even calmly glanced at the writing under the giant cage that imprisoned him.
There are only two kanji characters written there.
Lü Bu.
Upon hearing a commotion from inside his shop, and of course seeing his customers who are now running out of the shop, Qiang Lu hastily ran into his shop while persuading and begging people to stay and not leave his shop.
"Master, Madame, it's okay, don't worry! The cage is very strong. That monster won't be able to get out! I promise you, everything is fine. Hey! Please, come back!".
But of course, it was in vain. No one wants to last a second longer in the same place that beast is in.
"Please! Please don't go! I promise nothing will happen!".
Qiang Lu was still trying to grab the hand of a rich man whose five fingers were decorated with rows of huge green jade rings. The rich man now screamed hysterically as the merchant grabbed his hand, and before he knew what was happening, Qiang Lu felt a pain in his butt. It turned out that the rich man's aide pushed him to the ground.
While rubbing his now sore buttocks, Qiang Lu could only helplessly stare as people rushed out of his shop. Suddenly, the shop that was already quite busy with rich potential buyers, instantly became as quiet as a grave.
"Wait … Don't go … Please …" Qiang Lu could only plead weakly and pitifully as he saw the last person rushing out of his shop, but of course no one listens to his plead.
Feeling defeated, Qiang Lu looking down languidly for a few seconds, while still rubbing his buttocks, before finally he looked up, his eyes now filled with anger and hatred.
"That beast! I'll kill him!".
Qiang Lu who didn't know that there was still a young woman in his shop, shouted and cursed harshly while half running towards Lü Bu's 'cage'.
"Lü Bu, you crazy bastard! This time I'm really going to chop off your head and throw it into the pigsty! Eh? Miss? Why are you still here?".
However, before she could answer, Qiang Lu rather harshly turned her shoulders to direct her towards the exit and pushed her all the way to the door while raving nonchalantly.
"Go! I have no interest in continuing to open today. Besides, I have some business with that scumbag over there that I have to deal with today as well!".
"What are you going to do with him?".
Not expecting to hear the lady ask, Qiang Lu paused for a moment before replying, "And what does that have to do with you, hmm?".
"Are you really going to kill him?".
Now Qiang Lu looked at the young woman in front of him in astonishment.
Really, what's on this girl's mind? What did she care if the beast lived or died?
"Look, Miss ..."
"You're really going to kill him, aren't you?". She seemed to think for a moment, "Then ... what if I want to redeem him? How much are you asking to free him?".
Now Qiang Lu was wide-eyed in shock. What? He didn't hear wrong, did he?
Seeing the merchant's eyes widen in shock, and actually, the man in the cage was as surprised as the merchant was, only she didn't know, the girl smiled. "Aren't you a merchant? Then, you'll understand, you'll get more profit if you release him, rather than just killing him?".
Hearing the girl's challenge, Qiang Lu's surprised look now turned into a sly smile. She's right. After all, today he lost a lot, he couldn't sell because all his customers ran away from his shop, and it was all because of that bastard Lü Bu. So ... just think of it as compensation. Plus, wasn't she the one who offered herself?
"Well, then ..." Qiang Lu was acting dramatic, his tone had now changed to that of a merchant's. "A thousand gold pieces! You can take him with you if you give me a thousand gold pieces!".
The girl's eyes widened and Lü Bu snorted in his cage. There's no way she'd redeem him at such a high price, though to be honest, he had hoped ... But now he's given up.
"What? A thousand gold pieces? But that's a lot!".
Qiang Lu shrugged arrogantly. "Well, you take it or leave it! It's okay if you don't want to! My pigs still need to eat!".
A thousand gold pieces was indeed a lot. Even though she does seem like the daughter of a rich, there's no way this young girl has that many gold coins. Even if he didn't get those golds, at least he got Lü Bu's head! Ha! Now he's in a winning position anyway!
The girl now seemed to be deep in thought.
'Wah ... she turned out to be a stubborn girl!' said Qiang Lu to himself. Stubborn girls are usually troublesome.
Whatever! The important thing is that whatever the result, he will still feel satisfied. In fact, Qiang Lu had already begun to imagine enjoying the moments sharpening his machete which he would use to slash Lü Bu's head.
"A thousand pieces of gold and a weapon for him ..."
Luckily Qiang Lu snapped out of his daydream before he said yes.
"Oh no! No way! A thousand gold pieces for his head! End of the story!".
"You are so greedy!".
Qiang Lu opened his arms wide with a mocking smile, "Why? You said yourself that I was a merchant! And this is the art of trading, Miss! Bargain!".
"But a thousand gold pieces is a lot ..."
"Hhh ... Lady, I don't have time to play haggle with you. I assume you won't buy him! The exit is over there ..."
"At least give him proper food and clothes! If you still call yourself human!".
Qiang Lu gritted his teeth in annoyance, but for the sake of a thousand gold pieces, he chose not to say anything. He still can't believe it! A thousand gold pieces this easy! Two pieces extra of clothing and some meat buns won't bankrupt him!
"Very well, then! I'll have my servants prepare your purchases!". Qiang Lu then waved his hand to one of the male servants in the corner of the room, as a sign to release Lü Bu from his prison, then dressed him properly to present him to his new lady master.
The male servant instantly paled in fright. He even dared to look at his boss with a pitiful face, so that he's not the one who was given the task. Releasing the giant and savage man from his cage meant seeking death. It's the same as releasing a hungry tiger that hasn't eaten in days.
Qiang Lu, who could immediately understand the meaning of his servant's silent plea, immediately shouted, loud enough that Lü Bu could definitely hear him. "Lü Bu, my dearly beast ... A lovely lady just bought you at an unbelievably fantastic price! Now you are free! My servants will prepare you well and you will take care of your manners, yes? Don't bite anybody!".
After receiving just a grunted answer from Lü Bu, Qiang Lu was now looking at the young lady with a grin. "Now I want my gold!".
Very slowly, the lady finally reached into a small pocket that she had hidden in her … underwear. Qiang Lu's eyes widened. He did not expect that she kept it there. Alas, he got caught and the girl now misunderstood him, she even now accused him!
Just as she was about to pull the pocket out, the young lady looked at Qiang Lu with annoyance. "Turn your face away, will you! Do you want me to sue you as a harasser?".
Qiang Lu turned his face away with an annoyed snort. She is so bossy, eh! Did she think she's as beautiful as an angel that he wanted to peek at her? Seriously? Apparently not only bossy, but she's also overconfident! Cih! Disgusting girl!
"Here's your gold!".
Again, Qiang Lu's eyes widened as he stared at the gold before him. Qiang Lu had long been a merchant exclusively among the rich. With just one look he knew, the gold that was now presented before him, was a rare type of high quality gold.
Now he took turns looking at the gold and the face of the girl in front of him, he was watching the girl carefully. The clothes she was wearing were indeed made of good materials, but they could still be said to be simple. But, from her bossy way of speaking, her confidence, and of course, from these quality gold coins ...
She's definitely not just a commoner. But who is she? And if she's a noble woman, why did she wander around alone, without a single maid or a bunch of bodyguards following her, like the daughters of nobles as usual?
"What's the matter? Come on, start count it!".
Qiang Lu chewed his inner mouth as he grabbed the pile of gold coins in front of him and started counting. Ya, ya ... Who cares about who she really is? Business is business!
"Yep, exactly the right amount ... No less, no more!" said Qiang Lu as he put down the last gold coin he had finished counting.
Right at that moment, two servants appeared from the back of the shop, they were still shaking with fear. Behind them, stood a giant man. He's really tall, big and very manly. In short, from his appearance alone, he looks fierce and intimidating.
The two servants hurriedly fled when their master let them go, while Qiang Lu looked contentedly at Lü Bu. Well, he still looks quite handsome and pretty clean now, although there are a few scars and scratches here and there. Hey! He is a dignified merchant! He won't sell bad and low quality stuff, though to be honest, he didn't expect that someone would even be willing to spend so many gold coins to redeem a beast like this man. And she is a young girl too, in addition!
Ah, never mind. That's none of his business anyway. He just needs to continue his service to his customer now. "Here your purchase, Miss! Enjoy it!", Qiang Lu gave her a sweet smile complete with a sweet merchant-like tone.
Surprisingly, the lady's forehead wrinkled in disapproval. Sure enough, she's start complaining now. "Now wait a minute. You call that a proper clothes? Can't you see, it looks more like a hay sack?".
"Hhh! Listen, you Miss ..."
"You have agreed to give him proper clothes!".
"I do! And here it is! This is what he deserves. I even gave him another extra set of clothes ..."
"That's not even clothes! That's an old straw sack!".
Qiang Lu now raised one eyebrow and said in a defiant tone now. "Are you trying to blackmail me, Miss?". Usually people will be intimidated if he acts like that.
Which of course didn't work.
"And you just robbed me of a thousand gold pieces! I think I have every right to ask for proper clothes, which really come from fabrics, not from sacks!".
Ugh! What the hell! It's sucks! He's really really pissed off, even though he knew this lady was right. But then he remembered something, in his favor of course and that was his trump card.
"Alright, I know it's a sack. But don't get me wrong! I gave him that because I don't have clothes his size. See?! You can see it for yourself, right? He's so big and very burly! Regular size clothes wouldn't fit him. What can I do, then? Or ... would you rather just have him naked? I was right, wasn't I?".
Seeing his interlocutor blushing, probably because of the part where he mentioned Lü Bu was naked, and now she was confused, Qiang Lu hid his triumphant smile behind his hands.
'Give up, Miss! Luckily for you, today I still generously gave a little bonus in the form of 'clothes'. Not to mention the meat buns you asked for ...'
"When he came here ... No matter where you got him from, but, when he came here, he must be wearing clothes, right?".
Qiang Lu's smile instantly vanished. The hell? So this 'bargain' isn't over yet?
"You mean ..." Qiang Lu replied carefully.
"Just give him back his old clothes then. The size is sure to fit. Problem solved!".
Lü Bu, who had been silently watching the 'bargaining war' between a young girl who had just helped him, whoever she was, and this greedy merchant, couldn't help but be amazed. This girl is definitely brave and smart!
And it seems that this greedy merchant also agrees with him, now he leaned towards the young lady. "I have to admit, you are smart one, Young Lady! Unfortunately, I already sold the armor he was wearing. Like you said, I am a merchant. I will sell anything as long as it makes me money!".
Now it's the lady's turn to lean towards Qiang Lu. "You may be a good merchant, Sir, but you're a terrible liar, you know that?".
Qiang Lu's face immediately darkened and Lü Bu couldn't help but snort in amusement, making Qiang Lu even more irritated. But the lady didn't give him a chance to dodge.
"First, you said yourself, with such a large body size, no ordinary person would fit his clothes, so there's no way you could sell his clothes. No one would buy them, anyway.
Secondly, you also mentioned yourself, that he was wearing a suit of armor when he came here. As we all know, armor is a suit used in war, usually covered in blood and sweat. You, Sir, are a merchant with buyers from the upper middle class. I don't think any rich buyer would want to buy a used armor that's already covered in blood and sweat.
Third, when I saw earlier, there's no price under this man's name. Although in fact, you put a clear price tag on every items in your shop, even to the small item like this silver hair comb ..."
Intermezzo, she picked up the silver comb that was on a nearby table and read the price aloud. "Thirty gold coins ... Yikes! So expensive! Now, where was I? Oh, right ... There's no price under this man's name. Yet you still 'display' him in the shop. You know what that means? It means you proudly show everyone that you 'own' him. And what's that for? Obviously for your pride!".
Now she lowered her voice, for some reason Qiang Lu got goosebumps. "Therefore, for the same reason, I'm sure you must still keep his armor ..." She tapped her fingers on her chin dramatically. "In fact I thought maybe you even still had his weapon as well ..."
Qiang Lu now unconsciously gulped. He started to get nervous, "Then what? It's mine. I already paid for it!".
The lady rubbed her hands happily, for her trap had worked. Qiang Lu had just admitted that he indeed still had Lü Bu's armor and weapon, even without needing her to provoke any further. Heh, he doesn't even seem to realize he's trapped!
"Not anymore. It is mine now! With the price I just gave you, I think I should also get this man complete with his armors and weapons, just exactly as it was when you ... bought him". Lü Bu could feel the doubt in her voice as she uttered the word 'bought him'.
"No fair! That's not our deal!" Qiang Lu started to whine.
"On the contrary, I guess I paid you tens or even hundreds of times the price when you bought him, heh? A merchant can't afford to lose, can he? Moreover the greedy one ..."
Qiang Lu stood up annoyed. "This nonsense conversation is over! You've got your stuff. Good afternoon, Miss and goodbye! I hope we'll never see each other again!".
Unexpectedly, the lady voluntarily stood up from her chair. Now Qiang Lu could breathe a sigh of relief again ...
"Alright, that's fine. Be prepared to accept lawsuits from me, anyway. Blackmail, robbery, fraud ... Is there more? Oh yeah! Harassment towards a weak young girl. Oh, and even human trafficking! Hhhh ... What a horrible shop!".
Lü Bu had to bite his lower lip so he wouldn't laugh out of control. It had been a long time since he'd been entertained like this. Before he even realized it, his feet were already moving instinctively, walking after the young lady, who was now walking towards the exit, while casually and cheerfully detailing the greedy merchant's vices one by one.
Qiang Lu was now frantically chasing after her, so that the young woman wouldn't leave the shop.
Usually he didn't care about threats like this, because usually they were just bluffs.
However, this time, his instincts kicked him hard, told him that behind her nagging and fussy attitude, this young lady was somehow "dangerous" and could damage his reputation and the business he had worked so hard to build in the blink of an eye. And as a person who had come from a commoner to become the wealthy merchant he is today, Qiang Lu trusted his instincts very much, for his instincts never deceived him.
"No need to be so rash, Miss! Okay, fine! I'll return his armor and weapon, if you'll give me a little time to prepare them ..."
"Five minutes! And I'll be waiting here!" In a bossy manner, she sat herself firmly on one of the wooden chairs adorned with carved ornaments. "If it's still not done in five minutes, then I will ..."
"I understand! Please wait!" Qiang Lu was already halfway into his shop when he turned his head again to face the lady. "You're not going anywhere, are you?".
"In these five minutes? No. By the way now you only have four minutes and thirty seconds ..."
"I'll be right back!". Then he ran inside like someone who had just seen a ghost, leaving the young lady alone with Lü Bu.
Lü Bu's eyes never left the girl, whereas the girl now ... Look at her! She now casually yawns without closing her mouth while stretching her arms up.
Wah, now she even closed her eyes, even though Lü Bu was now standing freely in front of her, with no barrier at all between them. He was only a few meters in front of her but she just closed her eyes casually and indifferently.
Isn't she afraid of him?
Shouldn't she be afraid of him?
Judging by her sitting pose, the answer is definitely no. She's definitely not just a random person and Lü Bu couldn't help but praise the young lady in front of him.
Normally Lü Bu wouldn't be easily impressed by trivial things like this.
Heck, he's Lü Bu! Once a warlord! The most powerful and perhaps the most feared in all of mainland China.
However, because of his carelessness and arrogance, a mistake has turned his fate upside down, which was originally full of glory, wealth and praise, completely turned around. He was betrayed by his own men and army. They sold him to his enemies. Luckily he was still able to escape, before he finally ends up in a tragically disgraceful and humiliating position, becoming a 'pet' of a greedy merchant.
Back then, when he was a pet on display in a giant cage, like animals in the zoo, Lü Bu didn't know which was better, would he rather die executed by his enemies or die in humiliation as a pet like this. Not only that. Scorn, ridicule, disgusted looks are his daily food. He was tortured, beaten, spat on and rarely fed. In fact, he was deliberately left to starve, so that when he was tortured and beaten, he had no more strength, so he was unable to retaliate.
He had even given up and accepted his fate, when suddenly, this young lady appeared out of nowhere. What even more miraculously is, somehow, she was attracted to free him, redeeming him even though she had to pay with large amounts of gold coins. Plus, she doesn't know him at all. Then why ... What does she want from him?
Or maybe ... she is also an enemy in disguise? She did this on purpose to catch his guard, then she would bring him back to Cao Cao and his other enemies?
How surprised Lü Bu was when just at the same time as his suspicions began to arise, the young lady opened her eyes and now glanced at him.
'What? I didn't say it out loud, did I? Or maybe she can read minds?'.
The girl was still staring at him without saying anything. And Lü Bu suddenly became nervous.
What?
He?
Lü Bu?
He is nervous? In front of just a little girl like her? Impossible!
"Haish! What took him so long? Isn't it more than five minutes already?" In her funny and goofy manner, she got up from the chair and was about to walk towards the back of the shop, as if she were the owner of the place, when Lü Bu couldn't stop himself from asking, "Who are you? Why are you doing this? What do you want from me? What are your real intentions and goals?".
Being asked so many questions at once, in Lü Bu's signature deep, masculine and intimidating baritone voice, which usually makes people tremble in fear, down to their bones, the young lady just answered calmly and indifferently while still walking. "I don't like human trafficking. Or slavery. Whatever you call it, but just like your situation!".
Lü Bu narrowed his eyes. Just that?
"I don't believe you!".
This time she turned around and looking at him. "That's none of my business. At least, I've tried not to leave living humans for sale!".
Lü Bu was suddenly offended by her answer. He was about to open his mouth to yell at her, when the greedy merchant, followed by four male servants, finally appeared from inside the shop. They were carrying some items that seemed so heavy, that they were all gasping for air.
Lü Bu's eyes lit up when he finally saw his armor and his beloved halberd again, which had accompanied him fighting in so many battles. Even his iconic headdress, with violet gold and phoenix wings. He thought he would never see them again and instead, died horribly, dressed in despicable sackcloth.
"Here ... hosh-hosh ... your weapon and hosh-hosh ... armor. I've given them all. Now hosh-hosh ... go!". Qiang Lu explained while struggling to breathe.
Uniquely at the same time, both Lü Bu and the young lady thought the same thing, because their eyes were also staring at the merchant's bulging belly. 'He needs a diet!'. It's just that they don't know each other.
She turned to Lü Bu. "Is there anything he hasn't given yet?".
Because he was too happy and also a little bit prestige because he just had bad thoughts about her, Lü Bu just shook his head.
"Good ... hosh-hosh ... Now you guys, get out of here! Auh ... I'm ... hosh-hosh ... so tired!" Qiang Lu threw himself into the carved wooden chair previously occupied by the lady. Finally, this time he was really free of this female lice!
It's a shame, though, because he's now lost Lü Bu. But, in exchange he got a thousand gold pieces so … he will be patient.
"Actually, something is still missing ..."
And failed.
Qiang Lu jumped from his chair in rage and disbelief. "What now? What haven't I given you, hah?!".
She smiled sweetly, which turned out to be contagious to Lü Bu, so he smiled too, viciously.
"You haven't given the food you promised!".
Half relieved, but also half annoyed, Qiang Lu rolled his eyes before shouting harshly at one of his maids. "Get this lady two pieces of meat buns! Quick! So they can get out of my sight!".
"Just two?".
Qiang Lu counted to ten, repeatedly took deep breaths while closing his eyes, then with great effort he tried to smile, a very stiff one so that the corners of his lips twitched.
"All right. Five pieces of meat buns. FIVE! That's more than enough!".
Actually she still wanted to continue her nosy, but, she didn't have the heart either. He might die from a heart attack.
So when a maid came rushing over with a large paper bag filled with hot meat buns, there's a faint smoke that could be seen coming from inside the paper bag, she immediately accepted it and didn't forget to thank her, something that was almost impossible to happen. For servants and maids, it was not even proper to look at the faces of those in the caste above them.
The maid was so amazed, that she was speechless and just stared at the lady in amazement. Likewise with Lü Bu, but of course, he kept quiet.
As for Qiang Lu, he didn't care. He just wanted them to leave as soon as possible and never come back. Then after this, he would stare at his precious gold coins, polishing them one by one until they were dazzlingly shiny.
When he realized they hadn't left yet, Qiang Lu rebuked her harshly. "Well? What are you waiting for? Get out of here quickly!".
Seeing Qiang Lu's rudeness and arrogance, Lü Bu became irritated. He didn't notice, he was just as rude as Qiang Lu back then.
"Get out and never come back!".
"Just a moment? Please? He has to wear his armor properly" She pointed at Lü Bu, "And I-I need to go to the bathroom..." Her legs move uncomfortably like someone who is holding back to pee.
Qiang Lu slapped his forehead and Lü Bu looked away, he couldn't hold back his chuckles anymore.
"Do as you please!" Not knowing what else to do, Qiang Lu decided to just go inside his shop, clutching his head and now grumbling at length, "Auw! Auw, auw, auw, auw! My head, my head!".
After Qiang Lu left, instead of going to the bathroom, she approached Lü Bu instead. "Can you put it on yourself? Need some help?".
Before Lü Bu had time to answer her, she had already answered her own question. "But this armor must be very heavy and hot. Do you want to wear it all day? Unless you're going to war. But you don't have any other clothes. Then, how is this supposed to be? Hmm ..."
While the girl was thinking, Lü Bu looked at her carefully.
Weird girl. Why did she care about him so much? While everyone he knows only wants him to use his mighty power to win battle for them. They use him for their own personal gain. Then, they just dumped him like trash.
Who betrayed him? Everyone.
And who was looking for him when he was in such a lowly, humiliating position as a pet? No one.
"Actually I have an idea, but ... you'll have to hang on to that sack for a while, I'm sorry. So we'll find a clothing store then I'll ..."
Kkkrrrr ...
How embarrassed Lü Bu was, when his stomach shamelessly rumbled at a time like this.
"Ookay ... I'm hungry! Let's find something delicious to eat first. Come on, come on!". She's not even trying to embarrass him. Instead, without hesitation, this lovely lady took Lü Bu's arm, pulling him out of the rich merchant's shop.
They immediately became the spotlight. How can they not? They look so conspicuous.
A beautiful young woman who looked rich and educated, hand in hand with a giant man wearing sackcloth, looked savage and cruel, while carrying a halberd and a suit of armor.
But she didn't care.
They ate at a beef noodle shop. Lü Bu had forgotten the taste of good food, he ate up to three bowls. After that, they shop for clothes. To be precise, it was him who bought a few pieces of casual clothes that could be used daily. Meanwhile the lady paid for it.
As a man, of course Lü Bu felt ashamed for letting a woman pay for his food and clothes. But he couldn't do anything. He doesn't have any money.
At the end of the day, they're standing in front of an inn. "Well then, eh ... Master Lü Bu?" She sounded confused and hesitating on how to properly address his name. "Thank you for being with me today. It was a very nice day, I really enjoyed it! Here ..." She cupped Lü Bu's palms, then poured her small pouch over them. Several gold coins quickly filled those large palms.
"No! I can't take it!".
"Take it, take it! It's not much, but at least enough for you to survive for a few days. Weeks even, if you can sparing it!".
Having had enough, she tied her little pouch back. "I don't know how you ended up there, but, now that you're free ... Live well! Find a good job, save up, you know ... that kind of stuff!" She explained while shrugging.
Lü Bu looked at her with a feeling that he himself couldn't describe it. In his mind, he had the urge to ask if he could come with her. But, he was afraid if she rejected him.
"Sayonara, Master Lü Bu! Promise yourself, you will become a much better version of yourself than you are now! Don't fall in the same pit a second time!" She waved her hand, then called a rickshaw. She still waved at him for a moment, before finally her rickshaw slowly drifted away from him.
Lü Bu himself was speechless. Instead he froze as he saw the young woman who he also didn't know who she really was, but clearly, he knew she's now walking away from him.
What should he do? Was he really going to let her go like that?
Confused, Lü Bu lowered his head. He's thinking hard.
He has no home ...
No acquaintances ...
Hell! Everyone he knew betrayed him instead!
He doesn't know anymore who he can trust. Who's friend who's foe. But she ...
Shit! He even forgot to ask what her name was!
Lü Bu looked at the rickshaw carrying that lady which was now getting smaller and smaller, a few hundred meters ahead of him. Then a second later, he knit his brows together.
He had decided, he would serve her!
Hey! Hadn't she actually bought him? Isn't she the one who paid for his freedom? And now she just left him! Well, in that case ... Then he doesn't mind sending himself to his lady.
Cheerfully, Lü Bu started running after that rickshaw.
Thanks to his long legs, Lü Bu was able to catch up to the rickshaw quickly, before he saw it with his own eyes, when suddenly the rickshaw made a swift turn into a deserted alley, with suspicious movements. Lü Bu could even clearly hear the shriek of surprise from the lady.
"What the hell?" His instincts told him that something was wrong and his brain immediately ordered him to run faster.
Did he just witness someone ... abducting his lady? And suddenly Lü Bu lost control. As if the warlord's soul that had been buried within him all along, was now resurrected. The warlord who is ... bloodthirsty.
The mighty Lü Bu.
"Wow! Look at this girl!".
The young woman moved restlessly, she tried to free herself from the ropes that bound her body, legs and hands. Her mouth was also gagged, she can't scream for help. Cowardly bandits! Dare to attack only in groups!
"Beautiful, with smooth creamy white skin ... You're good at picking girls!".
She will bite him if he dares to touch her.
Gosh, he even drooled at the sight of her thighs! Eww! Disgusting!
"Hey, Boss! Look what I found!" One of the bandits shook a small pouch tied with rope.
The girl didn't know whether to be happy or sad. Of course, the bandit leader's attention immediately shifted from her thighs to her little pouch. But that pouch is full of gold!
"This bag though small but very heavy!" said the lowly bandit as he shook her little pouch.
"Means the contents ..."
There were shocked gasps from them, when they saw what was inside the pouch.
"Gold! It's gold! Real gold! And there's a lot of it!".
"Lemme see! Lemme see! Whoaaa! You're right! This is real gold! Aww! My eyes! It's so dazzling!".
"Whoaaa! Jackpot! We won the jackpot! She's beautiful and rich!".
"Then, what are we waiting for?".
The bandit leader gulped at the sight of their frightened prey.
"Gosh, she's so beautiful! From her flawless skin, I'm sure she's still a virgin!".
The young girl trembled in fear as the bandit leader walked closer and closer to her.
'No, no, no! Oh God! Help! Somebody! Please help me!'.
She's still hopeful, yet at the same time surrender. She absolutely doesn't want to be tainted by bastards like them!
"Today is truly my lucky day!".
She closed her eyes, unable to see anymore as the bandit leader started to crouch in front of her. She still hopes for a miracle to happen.
"Eh? What? Who are you, Bastard?".
"GET OUT!".
Duaagghh!
"UAGHH!".
Hearing the commotion that had just occurred, and now that one of his friends was lying helplessly after flying like a soccer ball, having just been kicked by something, or someone with a great force, all bandits immediately stood up, including the bandit leader.
"Huh? What's that?".
"What just happened?".
It turned out that not only one of their bandit friends was kicked, but also the door of their lair. The hinges even fell out of place.
A dark silhouette of a gigantic person standing at the entrance of this rogue's lair gathered, blocking their access.
"Who's ... Who's that?" One of the bandits asked in a trembling hoarse voice, as the silhouette slowly walked closer, intimidating them.
The bandits gasped when the mysterious figure finally appeared before them.
A man.
He was really tall, big and very burly, maybe even about two meters tall. He walks calmly while carrying a spear on his shoulder.
"Who are you?". The bandit leader fitted up and confronted him. Behind him, his men were ready with their respective weapons in their hands.
"Oh, sorry I ruined your party. I just needed to get something of mine which you guys apparently carried away!".
"Bastard! I'm asking you, who the hell are you?! How dare you come here! Do you want to die, huh?!".
These pathetic weaklings dared to challenge him? Ha! Interesting! He hasn't exercised in a long time!
He pointed the tip of his halberd at them. And then, he smirked.
"Come!".
A/N : Uwaaaa...! I've never written a story this long in one chapter! However, I enjoyed it so much that it just flowed through the lines!
Anyway, this storyline is definitely not in the same order as the original historical story, as well as in the novel "Romance of The Three Kingdoms" nor in the "Dynasty Warriors" game, although indeed some names will join as the story progresses.
Until then, I hope you enjoy this story! Happy reading :))