Liu Bei POV

Feng Xian’s halberd fell with a clatter onto the ground.

“Xuan De!?” Feng Xian called my name out once more as she dismounted and stared right at me.

Was it really Feng Xian?

I didn’t dare to believe what I was seeing, and could only tell Zi Long to lower her spear.

I dazedly took a step forward as I looked right at Feng Xian as she looked at me.

“…” She came forward step by step hurriedly as well.

“Feng…” I was about to call out her name once more, but before I finished, she hugged me tightly.

Feng Xian bent down slightly and wrapped her arms around my neck before putting her whole body weight on me. I’d always thought Feng Xian’s armour would be heavy but it was surprisingly light. She held on to me tightly and rested her face on my shoulders, making it impossible for me to move at all. I spied on her face and saw that there was a weak smile on her but she was biting her lower chin, and looked like she was holding back tears. Though she was taller than me, and slightly older as well, she seemed like a little girl at this time.

As I looked at Feng Xian, I slowly stretched my hand out and rubbed her head.

“Feng Xian, it’s alright, I’m here.”

“Un, it’s not just me. Everyone in Xuchang is worried about you as well,” Feng Xian slowly put her hands on my shoulders as she got up and looked at me for a while before exhaling, “But I can finally relax now that I see my lord is fine.”

“Are Yun Chang and the rest alright?”

“Un, everyone is fine. My lord need not worry.” Feng Xian nodded, her eyes never leaving me for a moment.

“What the heck, so you already knew my lord huh?” Zi Long sighed as she looked on at us from the side.

“Un?” Only now did Feng Xian seem to realise that Zi Long wasn’t an ordinary soldier, “My lord, this is…”

“I forgot to introduce you.” I slapped my head when I realised it, and hurriedly introduced the 2 to each other, “This is Zhao Yun Zhao Zi Long. She recently joined us and was formerly Gongsun Zan’s subordinate general. Zi Long, this is Lu Bu Lu Feng Xian.”

“Ah, we met before in Hulao Pa.s.s.” Zi Long said and saluted Feng Xian, “I look forward to working with you.”

“Oh.” Feng Xian saluted her as well and nodded as she frowned.

Because time was tight, I only briefly told the 2 of them what each of them had to know and heaved a sigh of relief when I saw that they understood.

It was good that they didn’t actually start duelling for real, or they would both be injured badly.

“Another one came huh…” Feng Xian sighed, and began muttering.

“Un? Feng Xian, did you say something?”

“No, nothing.”

“My lord need not think too much about that. I think it will be very difficult for my lord to understand with that blockheaded nature of yours.” Zi Long seemed to understand what Fenf Xian meant though, and shook her head as she admonished me with a meaningful smile. But she quickly withdrew the smile and said with seriousness, “But Lord Lu Bu, what are your plans from now?”

“Un? My plans?” Feng Xian said as she tilted her head to the side, “One more, one less doesn’t matter. We agreed on a fair compet.i.tion so I have no objections.”

Un? What is Feng Xian talking about again?

“That’s not what I meant…” Zi Long said as she smiled helplessly, and pointed at our surroundings, “I was asking how and when do you plan on rejoining our lord.”

“Right now,” Feng Xian answered immediately, “I’ll join my lord now and return to Yuan Shao. When they hear that I have joined Yuan Shao, Lord Guan Yu and the rest will definitely understand why and come over as well.”

“No way that can work!” Zi Long shook her head anxiously and looked about before pulling the 2 of us to a more secluded area.

After we were at the edge of the battlefield, she stopped and said, “Lord Lu Bu killed Yuan Shao’s favoured general Wen Chou. If you join just like that, won’t you incur the wrath of Yuan Shao?”

That’s right, Feng Xian killed Wen Chou. If she joins Yuan Shao, she will probably be killed.

“Un…” Feng Xian went silent and thought for a long while before she continued, “I’ll go back to camp then, and discuss it over with everyone, before coming over together.”

“But I heard from our lord that there are still our lord’s people in Xuchang right?” Zi Long shook her head as she continued, “If you’re going to come, then you have to bring them along as well right?”

Un… I hadn’t thought about all that but after hearing Zi Long’s a.n.a.lysis, it does seem to be very troublesome indeed.

“Never mind, I don’t know how to deal with such complicated matters,” Feng Xian thought for a while before giving up, and picked up her halberd before mounting her horse, “In any case, I’ll head back to Guandu first. Lord Guan Yu and Wen Yuan are much smarter than me so I’ll discuss it over with them first.”

As she said so, Feng Xian made to leave the battlefield without bothering about the battle at all.

“You’re not going to wait for the battle to end?”

“No, since I’ve found Xuan De, there is no point fighting this meaningless battle any further.” Feng Xian raised her halberd and spun it her hands before pointing it at Zi Long all of a sudden, “I’m not very happy about this, but I’ll entrust my lord with you for the time being.”

“Un, I’ll do that even without you asking.” Zi Long smiled and pushed the halberd away with her spear, “Well then, take care Lord Lu Bu.”

Feng Xian nodded, and turned her horse–

“Feng Xian, you…”

“Ah, umm, Xuan De…”

Feng Xian suddenly turned back, and wanted to tell me something, while I too called out to her at the same time.

“Eh!” “Ah…”

In that instant, our eyes met, and we both hurriedly turned away.

“Xuan De, you must remember to take care of yourself. We’ll be with you in a while.”

“Un. Feng Xian must take care as well. Please also send my regards to the rest.”

Feng Xian did not turn back, and slapped her horse as she galloped off.

Looking at Feng Xian’s back, I began feeling sad. We had finally met after a long while and much difficulty only to separate again so quickly. I wonder when we will meet again.

“My lord.”

“Un?”

“Leaving aside everyone else, who do you think is better, me or Lord Lu Bu?” Just then, Zi Long asked me seriously as she looked at the distant Feng Xian.

Un… Feng Xian and Zi Long huh?

“Zi Long mustn’t get angry when I say my answer.” I thought for a long while before slowly giving my answer, “Though I haven’t seen you both fight each other for real, when it comes to martial arts, Feng Xian should be better… Ouch! Why do you have to hit me?”

My head was suddenly knocked by the blunt end of the spear, which made me see stars.

“You deserved it, my lord.” Zi Long said as she raised her spear and headed back to the battlefield.

I shakily followed after her, and heard her softly mutter– “Blockhead.”

After we returned to the battlefield, the battle ended shortly as the Cao army side’s numerical disadvantage was far too great without the help of Feng Xian. But because a large number of troops were trapped in the narrow pathway, neither side was able to decisively win and so the Battle of Mount Jiluo ended in a draw. And from the intelligence gathered, it seems like Meng De has no plans on withdrawing.

Though it was only a small skirmish, it was very important to me as I was able to see with my own eyes that Feng Xian was alright and hear that everyone was safe and sound.

Perhaps we can all get together again very soon. So I thought on the way back.

And after that, Cao Ren intercepted more supply caravans which greatly angered Ben Chu, but that’s another matter.