Liu Bei POV

When we left, the winds were blowing rather strongly. I’d thought there weren’t going to be too many people sending us since the ones I really knew were Bo Fu, Sun Quan, and some of Bo Fu’s subordinates. As for the rest, I felt that it would have been better if they didn’t come as I wouldn’t need to hear too much snide remarks. Zhang Zhao would rank top amongst them.

“So we’re really leaving Jiangdong huh?” Wen Yuan sighed as we exited Shouchun city’s gates.

“Yes, we’ve stayed here long enough. It’s time we left.”

“Wen Yuan, you wouldn’t be thinking of staying, would you?”

“No way?! I was just a little… Reluctant to part, that’s all.”

Wen Yuan was a little frantic when Yun Chang and Feng Xian questioned her. It was clear that she liked this place.

“The people here are nice, there’s enough to eat, abundance of resources, and great scenery. What a great place~” Wen Yuan sighed and then looked at me, “My lord, won’t you reconsider?”

“Reconsider what? I don’t know what I should be taking advantage of.” Of course, I know what she’s talking about but I have no intention of doing so.

When she heard this, Wen Yuan sighed and didn’t continue any further.

“Gong You, how are we leaving?” I asked again how we were going to leave just after we fully exited the city.

“… We will be travelling upstream using s.h.i.+ps, towards Jiangxia.” “It should take us 3-4 days to get there.” “Don’t worry, we’ve already borrowed the best s.h.i.+ps from Lord Sun Ce. They will bring us there.”

The Xu state 3 replied softly. I looked over and saw that they weren’t very good with riding as usual and slipped about as they rode. Looks like I’m much better than them after receiving Zi Long’s training.

But really, it’s time we left.

I’ve been asking myself a lot of questions, half of which were about the future while the other half were about Jiangdong and Bo Fu. Though I was appeared to be calm and in control, this was only on the surface. I still didn’t know what I should do about Bo Fu’s future actions.

Jiangdong will probably grow stronger and more prosperous under the joint stewards.h.i.+p of Bo Fu and Sun Quan.

As Liu Bei, it looks like it will be quite some time before I take Yi state. I wonder if the historical Liu Bei would feel just as pressured as I am if he was faced with the circ.u.mstances I’m faced with now? I would never know, but unless that Liu Bei is as easygoing as I am, he would probably be wrought with anxiety.

Hahaha, it should be fine, I thought and dealt with these issues as I always have – Leave them be for now. This was the most reasonable and relaxing way after all.

“Big brother, look ahead.” Yun Chang called out to me as she pointed in front. I looked over and found that there were rows and rows of troops in formation lines up ahead at the port.

Bo Fu and Sun Quan stood at the head, wearing grand coat armoyr. To their left were Zhou Yu, Lu Su and the other strategists and administrative officials, with Zhang Zhao amongst them. To their right were Han Dang, Cheng Pu, Tais.h.i.+ Ci and the other warrior generals, with Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin amongst them.

What made me surprised was that Huang Gai was here as well. Compared to befre, she gave me a much more domineering impression as she stood beside Bo Fu.

“Is this really the sort of farewell you give to a loser? Or is it because you’re a royal relative?” Chen Gong said. All of us were similarly surprised at what we saw.

“This has nothing to do with being a royal relative. All this boils down charisma.” Liao Hua seemed unperturbed by this sight and said in a calm voice, before looking at Chen Gong, “Whether one is a loser or not does not depend on one’s present circ.u.mstances but rather one’s future prospects.”

“Hmph, anyone can try and wriggle out like that.” Chen Gong wasn’t happy with Liao Hua’s words but she wasn’t entirely unconvinced either as she looked at the troops.

“Attention!”

*Ka*!

Just as we made our way to the port, Han Dang roared out and the troops to our right and left stood at attention and watched us silently pa.s.s. The wind was very strong but none of them were shaken in the least.

“Xuan De, I’ve come to send you off.” Bo Fu yelled out at me from afar. From how she sounds, it seems like she’s back to normal now.

I waved at her, but quickly retracted my hand and saluted her instead when Zi Long cleared her throat.

“I didn’t think Bo Fu would give me such a grand farewell. I really am surprised.” I said what I truly felt when we got closer.

“This isn’t much. I’m not satisfied with how I hosted you in this period after all.” She slapped my back a couple of times as she said so, making me cough a few times. Her strength is as great as ever huh.

I smiled and looked about. All the generals were saluting me. Apart from the few I knew before coming here, I’ve mixed up some of the names already. This isn’t a television show after all, so there’s no display tag with their names. But to express my grat.i.tude, I still saluted and bowed to each and every one of them.

“Xuan De, I won’t say too much.” Bo Fu walked up and lightly clapped my shoulders, with a relieved expression, “Now that you’re leaving, I’m going to feel a little lonely again.”

“Doesn’t big sis still have me?” Sun Quan said, at which Bo Fu laughed and rubbed Sun Quan’s head,

“Work hard, Imperial Uncle. I’ll be looking to you as a role model.”

“What role model? I’m not even remotely good at ruling.” I said honestly and laughed.

I turned back and saw that my warrior generals were mingling with Jiangdong’s warrior generals; Ma Zhong, Pan Zhang were chatting and laughing with Yun Chang and Guan Ping, while the Xu state 3 were engrossed in discussions with some administrative officials as well. Everyone else seemed to be chatting with someone on the Jiangdong side.

Perhaps the Sun-Liu alliance is something that will definitely come to pa.s.s, I thought.

“We’ll be seeing you off from here then. Zhang Zhao and Huang Gai will be taking you to Jiangxia.” Bo Fu saluted me as she said.

I nodded resolutely and returned the salute.

“Ah, right.” Just then, she suddenly thought of something and came up close as she whispered in my ear, “By the way, what do you do in your era when sending people off?”

Bo Fu’s eyes were gleaming. Seems like she’s really interested in this.

I don’t really know how I ought to answer this. Shaking hands feels a little bland to me personally speaking.

“… That would have to be a kiss I guess–”

Just as I finished, I felt something soft cover my lips.

As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words.

At this very moment, I fully understood our mutual attachment to each other and our reluctance to part.