Yun Chang POV

The road through the mountains was narrow but it was still decently wide enough for our caravan to pa.s.s through. However, due to large number of rocks and pot holes, we had to pa.s.s through slowly. It was a good thing that there was a stream that flowed alongside the road we took so we would never lack for water.

That should have been the case…

“Hai, I’m all sweaty from the long journey here from Xichuan~” The male barbarian named Meng Huo smiled as he stripped and leapt into the stream and began bathing. He then turned and called out to me, “Blade girl, why don’t you come on in?”

I didn’t want to see such an embarra.s.sing sight and turned away and stopped the carriage since he had leapt in.

“I thank you for your kind intentions but men and women should not bathe together. Please go ahead.”

“Eh~ So the people from the Central Plains still have such a rule huh? We just bathe together on our side.”

Bathing together huh… I wouldn’t mind if it was with big brother…

Un?! Wh, what am I thinking!

Could it be that because I haven’t seen big brother for too long that I’m thinking of such shameless things? Un, i, it must be because of that.

“Come on in, my lady~ Ahuina too~”

“No way, that’s too shameless.” Lady Zhurong swiftly denied Meng Huo and continued on without paying him any more heed.

“Our king really doesn’t know how to read the mood, how shameful.”

“You don’t actually need to wait for him. He’ll follow along when he’s done so let’s continue on.”

As they said so, Dongtuna and Ahuina did not pay any more heed to their king and followed behind the lady.

Un… Since they said so, we might as well continue on. I gestured to the carriage master as I thought so and bade him to continue.

I turned back and saw that Meng Huo was bathing carefreely, and bowed before continuing. Though we did continue, the pace slowed down as it was now Lady Zhurong who led the way.

Come to think of it, where were their soldiers? I wanted to ask but they could have their own customs so I didn’t.

“Yun Chang, Yun Chang.”

Un?

Wen Yuan was on alert as she looked at the barbarians in front and continued when she saw she had my attention, “Is it really alright to go with these people from Nanman? If they should attack us along the way, it will be difficult to defend ourselves.”

“If they wanted to do something, they wouldn’t need to ask so many questions or go along with us.” Lu Bu said as she combed Red Hare’s fur with a pleased expression as Red Hare gave very cute and endearing cries, “But if they really want to do something, we can’t help it so it’s best we just stay on guard so we can deal with whatever comes.” As she said so, Lu Bu swung her halberd.

Un… Being on guard is fine, but–

“Though these barbarians may be robbers, the scent of blood on them is very thin, and I doubt they are the evil and violent sort. Though they are a bit strange.”

“Yun Chang is too kind. You see the good in everyone.”

“That’s not it… Hai, never mind. In any case, let’s not pick a fight unnecessarily.”

The 2 looked at me and nodded. It was good to travel with more people after all.

“Blade girl~ It seems like there’s a stone wall in front.”

“A stone wall?” I looked ahead when I heard Lady Zhurong call out all of a sudden adn saw an unnatural wall that was not too tall blocking our path.

Looks like we’ve reached the first Pa.s.s.

This Pa.s.s wasn’t particularly big and was as large as the distance between the 2 mountains. The discoloured gate was shut tight and just above the gate was a tablet with [Dongling Pa.s.s] written on it in beautiful calligraphy. Above the tablet were several sentries standing watch silently.

“Blade girl, is this how Pa.s.ses in the Central Plains look like?”

“Un, most Pa.s.ses are like that. There are bigger and smaller ones but this one is a smaller one.”

“Eh~ How are we going to get past this Pa.s.s? Do we have to climb it?” Meng Huo frowned and said in exasperation after he rushed over.

“How could that be? …” I laughed but then stopped almost immediately when I realised that we still had to figure out how to cross it.

… In any case, we should speak with them first.

I looked at Wen Yuan who nodded in understanding and began to yell out, “Oi! Open up!”

The tower went silent for a while before a reply came, “Who goes there?!”

Seeing a man who wore a uniform unlike that of the ordinary troops, I took out my official seal and yelled back, “I am Guan Yu Guan Yun Chang, Marquis of Hanshou Village, and am on a journey to seek Imperial Uncle Liu Bei with the permission of the Imperial Chancellor!”

(TL: In the original, Guan Yu left the seal, and the t.i.tle, behind when he left Cao Cao.)

“Do you have an exit permit?”

Exit permit?

My heart sank as I didn’t know I needed official doc.u.ments. I looked at Lu Bu and Wen Yuan and they both shook their heads.

Un…

“We were in rush and did not receive any doc.u.ments from the Imperial Chancellor. This journey is of paramount importance to us and any delays would be abhorrent. I seek the Administrator’s understanding in letting us pa.s.s., As I said so, Lu Bu was about to raise her halberd, but I hurriedly stopped her and shook my head.

No matter what, we must wait for the Administrator’s reply.

After a long while, the voice above continued. “I am but a mere petty official and I cannot make this decision. I ask the General to rest here for 4-6 hours whilst I send a courier on a fast horse to check if what the General has said is true and if so, I will let the General pa.s.s.”

No other way about it huh… There will be a delay but it’s better than having to fight our way through. If it’s just a few hours, it’s still fine…

“Brothers, take Dongling Pa.s.s!” Just as I was about to accept the condition, Meng Huo roared out.

And in an instant, shouts for blood came from both sides as a group of dark-skinned people leapt out and charged at the Pa.s.s.

“Kuh! Guan Yu! You actually had an ambush waiting! Soldiers, charge out! We’ll kill this Guan Yu!”

“…”

The hope for crossing the Pa.s.s peacefully has just been shattered.