Liu Bei POV

As I looked down at Red Hare, I felt that it had great potential. I wonder if there are any dogs used in warfare in this era. It should not be too implausible since pigeons are trained to send letters.

I could not help but to imagine that at some point in the future, Feng Xian would be on the battlefield with a large and fully geared hound by her side. I do not know why but that image gives me an impression like Yang Jian (Erlang Shen) and the Howling Celestial Dog.

No, no, that’s impossible. Feng Xian is far too overprotective of Red Hare and would never let her beloved dog face danger on the battlefield. As I played around with various thoughts, my gaze happened to s.h.i.+ft to Feng Xian who also happened to be looking at me.

Ah.

When she saw that I was looking at her, she calmly turned away. I was curious and decided to continue looking at her. As expected, her gaze returned to me not long after and when she saw me looking at her, she very awkwardly turned away before clearing her throat.

“Umm, Xuan De, you don’t need to take care of Red Hare so much.”

“That’s fine. I haven’t been able to play with it for while now.” I said as I shook my head and stroked Red Hare, who was engrossed in eating. Red Hare seemed to like it and looked up as it licked my fingers.

Un? When I looked up, I found that Feng Xian was still looking at me.

“Un? Is there anything, Feng Xian?” I asked as I could not hold it in any further.

“Ah, no.” Feng Xian shook her head and clasped her hands on the table as she turned red and slowly said, “I just feel that it’s really great that Xuan De is alive.”

She’s still on about that huh? I could not help but to think back to when I just returned, when Feng Xian sank to her knees upon seeing me. Thanks to everyone, and her in particular, I learnt how important I really was and that I was the reason why everyone could stay together.

When I read books in the past, I could never understand why people would cry when they reunited but now that I am in such a situation myself, I finally understand why. Compared to crying however, just staring into each others’ eyes is perhaps an even better way of sharing the common feelings of longing and joy.

“Before Xuan De came back, I went berserk a couple of times in the mansion.”

“I see.” I replied calmly but chuckled inside. Looks like she did end up going wild huh? No wonder Wen Yuan and Yun Chang were like that before.

“Back then, I thought that Xuan De was really gone.” Feng Xian said and smiled. Perhaps it was self-deprecating in nature but from my perspective, her smile is a little scary, “I did lose myself back when they pranked me but it was much worse this time, beyond even my own expectations.”

Feng Xian’s smile faded and she looked over but then turned away soon with a guilty look, “I hurt a lot of people then, including Lord Chen Dao who is dancing weirdly now. However, I’ve already forgotten what I did exactly back then.”

You did not need to add that ‘dancing weirdly’ bit in. That was a pretty emotional scene too. But I have to admit that her dance is really weird. In fact, Chen Dao’s dance is much sillier and weirder than Zhou Cang and everyone else.

“After that, I thought about a lot of things in my room, about my actions and my path.” Feng Xian then raised a finger and pointed at me while still looking ahead as she said so, “But after that, I found that my path was still here, with Xuan De.”

“Me?”

I was no

t surprised with the answer as it seems like Feng Xian, and everyone else, seems to be able to sense that I am supposed to be responsible for something, something big in future. I am, however, surprised that Feng Xian was able to say all of that to me so calmly. It was so straightforward that I feel a bit embarra.s.sed to hear it.

“Yes,” Feng Xian nodded, “After going through so much, I still feel like my future is murky. However, I found that though Xuan De thinks the same of his, he is able to find a clear path nonetheless. I want to borrow your eyes to see what my path should be.”

The way Feng Xian said it made it seem very mysterious and fantastical. That said, everyone else seems to say it like that whenever we broach this topic. I do not quite understand it myself but I get the main gist of it. To put it simply, they see something in me that is worth sticking with. Unfortunately, this is all I can gather from her words and I am sure that’s not all so I was not able to give a concrete response and merely nodded and smiled.

“So it’s really great that Xuan De could come back.” Feng Xian concluded with words that were similar to how this topic of conversation began.

But this ignited my curiosity and I decided to ask, “But what if I never came back? What would you do then?”

Would she have eventually accepted Chen Gong’s proposal? In that case, she might end up being very similar to the historical version of Lu Bu though I am not sure how she would end up.

“I don’t know,” Feng Xian shook her head, “That’s why I was so lost back then. Only when Xuan De appeared before me did I heave a sigh of relief. As did everyone else.”

Yes, I too heaved a sigh of relief when I found that I was alive.

“But there is one thing that I don’t understand myself.” I continued after Feng Xian finished and she looked at me and waited for me to continue further, “Why did Feng Xian choose me?”

This was something I wanted to ask ever since Feng Xian and Wen Yuan joined us for real. The answer I got back then was not clear. Like Yuan Zhi, I do not know why everyone has chosen to throw in their lot with me. Unlike Yuan Zhi however, Feng Xian should not be here. She should have gone on her own path, from the very beginning.

“That question huh?” It seemed like Feng Xian had not completely considered this either and thought for a moment before replying, “Because–”

“Lord Guan Yu, come over and dance too!”

“Wu!”

Just then, a surprised gasp interrupted Feng Xian.

“Alright! I’ll keep you girls company then.”

When I turned back, I found that Yun Chang had been dragged into the center by Wen Yuan and was now swaying about with several others in the center. They had even begun to do a train and were making rounds in the center.

Ah. Just then, I looked about again and found that barely anyone was left sitting at the table. It was supposed to be a normal celebratory banquet but it has now become a ball.

Let’s see… Who else is still here… Me, Feng Xian, Gong You, Huang Zu– Ah, Gong You got pulled up by xiao Yong.

“Xuan De, are you listening?”

It seems like Feng Xian had continued saying what she had been telling me about but this is not what I should be worried for now.

“Ah, un. Feng Xian, I’ll be heading out for a bit first.”

If I do not slip away now, then I will definitely be pulled up as well. Go up and do that sort of silly dance? No way! I am not even drunk too!

“Un? Xuan De, you– Ah.” Feng Xian tried to stop me when she saw me sneak away but then stopped herself and awkwardly retracted her hand, “Ah, Xuan De is going to do ‘that’ right?”

Looks like Feng Xian has learnt a thing or 2 and is more tactful mow.

“Un, ‘that’ indeed.”

Of course it’s not for that. I am just trying to flee the scene. I had already thoroughly settled the purging of liquids from my system a while ago after all. But I do not have time to talk to Feng Xian, I must get out as soon as possible.

“Ah!! Lord Lu Bu! You should come too!”

“Come, my lord!!”

Just as I reached the doorway, a howl came for me and I quickly ran out. After a few steps, someone yelled for me again. When I heard this, I quickly hid behind a rock, afraid that someone would yank me back in and force me to dance.

It’s a good thing that they are really caught up in the mood as they gave up soon after. Or perhaps they naively believe that I will return after a while. Of course I will, but only after you are all dead drunk. When that time comes, I will have to haul you lot back to your rooms, keep the tables, wash the dishes etc. In any case, I have a mountain of work to do.

“Haa… So tired…”

Un? As I sat on the rock. a voice could be heard. I thought it was my inner voice at first but then there’s no way that my inner voice could be a female one.

*s.h.i.+ku*~~ And soon after was the sound of drinking.

When I looked over, I saw Yuan Zhi sitting on another rock beside mind. She had a cup in her hands and was sipping from it as she gazed at the moon. Beside her were the gourds which she always used to store her sugar water. By the looks of it, she’s on her 3rd gourd by now.

But Yuan Zhi came out as well huh? I wonder if she came out here because she could not take that horrid dancing or if she was afraid of being forced to partic.i.p.ate?

“…”

Un? All of a sudden I could feel that the air around Yuan Zhi changed slightly and became heavier. What was happening–

“Who’s there?” A delicate voice came from Yuan Zhi and a branch snapped with a *Da* and was pointing at my forehead in the blink of an eye.

Eek! I made a weird sound as I clenched my teeth. It was just a tree branch but I got a shock and nearly fell over backwards but was able to get a good grip and kept my balance.

“Eh?” Yuan Zhi said as she recognised me under the moonlight and looked at the main hall, “Why is Xuan De here?” She asked with a very surprised look as though I should not be here.