HLCOB C47

Chapter 47

 

Arriving at the Bing Prefecture, Owon.

A sixteen-year-old boy who was a local of Owon found the world utterly beautiful.

“Ahaha!”

Yet those who saw him reacted differently.

“Is the Young Lord really mad? Why is he laughing as if crazy?”

“Wasn’t he crazy from the moment he tried to catch a bear with just an axe?”

“Well, if he caught the bear, wasn’t it a success, not madness?”

“Right. It’s not madness if mad acts succeed…? But that’s not the real point…!”

This boy, who at sixteen had the build of a man in his twenties and was naturally treated as an adult, was named Lü Bu. He was so widely seen as having reached adulthood that he had even been given the style name Fengxian early.

Thus Lü Bu was a well-known figure in Owon.

An adult-like body.

The strength to fight a bear with an axe.

And by age fifteen, the martial skill to fight bandits with just a club.

By these merits, the Bing Prefecture Administrator, Zhang Yuan—who followed Wang Yun—was already eager to recommend Lü Bu. Yet that Lü Bu wandered the alleys grinning like the village idiot. But Lü Bu was more than a huge man—he was a giant among men.

His stiff frame blushed upon seeing flowers along the road, an eerie sight betraying a remnant youthfulness.

“…!”

People who shuddered at that uncanny sight asked,

“Does anyone know why the Young Lord has gone mad like that?”

“Ever since he came back from Jinyang, he’s been like that.”

“Wasn’t it to see Lord Wang? With the elders gone, isn’t the Young Lord practically the head of the family?”

“Jinyang? Could it be because of that lady?”

“A lady?”

“I heard a rumor that the Young Lord gave a jade pendant to a lady in Jinyang, promising to wait for her all his life…”

What kind of beauty could have moved Lü Bu, whose life was like that of a wild boar, to suddenly hand over the clan’s jade pendant symbol?

“Could the recent declaration that he would not marry because of a true love be because of that?”

“How beautiful could that lady be? Lü Bu, despite his rough exterior, apparently cared much about beauty!”

Someone recalling the rumors in Bing Prefecture about the Lü Bu who many now saw as mad answered,

“They say that lady’s beauty rivals that of Lord Huaseo.”

Meanwhile, Lord Huaseo was suffering flashbacks.

Memories from the day his hometown burned to the present in Luoyang, where he had made a place. His life, about to turn nineteen since he was born late the year before Dongzhi.

After two episodes of flashbacks, Huaseo woke, muttering as if possessed.

“…I must kill.”

Since recalling the memories of modern Jaheon, he had resolved never to kill kindly, three who stood out.

First was Wang Yun, who sold Choseon.

Second, Dong Zhuo, the greatest villain of the Three Kingdoms who played with Choseon.

Third, Lü Bu, the strongest general of the Three Kingdoms, who had Choseon but was defeated.

“…I must kill.”

His eyes, gnashing teeth, turned bloodshot.

His name was Lü Bu.

Courtesy name Fengxian.

Known as “Horse Central Red Hare, Among Men Lü Bu,” he was one of the most renowned generals in the Three Kingdoms. But so what if he was renowned? Lü Bu was one who lived as he pleased and died for it. Moreover, having fought Dong Zhuo and obtained Choseon, he should have protected her, yet he let her die. How could that be left unpunished!

‘I knew he was in Bing, but never thought I’d meet him so soon.’

Even in modern Jaheon’s memories, Lü Bu’s birth was unclear and taken lightly. Who could have imagined that this great but failed general would be the son of a powerful local noble in Bing and known to meet Wang Yun?

Moreover, Lü Bu acted emotionally in ways that made it hard to believe he was the educated son of a noble.

‘Damn. Is there no way to kill Lü Bu in Luoyang?’

Jaheon felt more mentally disrupted than when Wang Yun had openly threatened him using Choseon, or when Cao Cao had used Choseon to win him over. At least those could be stopped. But if Lü Bu cared for Choseon enough to give her the jade pendant, there was no way to stop it!

‘Surely he did not truly think she was his betrothed and give her the emblem?’

Is there a way to control a man’s feelings?

How can one stop Lü Bu from following Choseon just because he liked her? Unless Lü Bu is cut down quickly, no solution exists.

The problem, however, was not only Lü Bu’s feelings.

‘If Choseon were to develop feelings for Lü Bu…’

He must be killed beforehand.

Biting his lips hard, Jaheon emitted murderous intent at Lü Bu.

“Eek…!”

O Juk-yeop, entering unaware that Jaheon had just woken, screamed upon seeing Jaheon’s bloodied lips and fierce face.

“…My lord! Why do you sit so frighteningly?”

At the scream, Jaheon wiped his lips. Seeing the red blood on his hand, he casually wiped it with a wet cloth.

“I should send assassins to Bing…”

“No. No assassins.”

Despite her beauty, a ghostly presence was a ghostly presence. Jaheon grinned eerily. Terrified, O Juk-yeop clung to the doorpost, asking,

“A‑assassins?”

“No. No assassins needed.”

Jaheon laughed, his lips stained deep red with blood.

That smile sent chills down the spine of O Juk-yeop, who brought decoction hurriedly, shouting,

“My lord! The doctor cared a lot when you collapsed! You must rest a moment!”

“Where is there time to rest now?”

If he stopped here, that damn scoundrel would soon appear before Choseon. So no chance was to be given Lü Bu to intervene.

Jaheon gulped down the decoction O Juk-yeop offered. His mind was clearer than ever.

“What of Masuseong’s family?”

“…They were provided a decent home and the family was adapting well.”

“Then have Masuseong check children picked from the slums. Have him filter out the weak. And assign martial arts teachers to those selected.”

Since Ma Teng seemed born for military service, he would be able to pick out talented children. Jaheon planned to raise those kids to protect Choseon.

“Those named Yeobongseon must be brainwashed to kill without question…”

Jaheon stopped suddenly before leaving the room.

“Ah, no.”

To kill Yeobongseon outright might plant a harsh protector next to Choseon. He considered and added,

“First, I will see the children for myself.”

He could not bear to see a scoundrel like Lü Bu cling more closely to his sister. Jaheon needed to observe and screen the children with his own eyes.

“Yes, my lord. I will arrange for a meeting with the children tomorrow evening.”

“…And what is Choseon doing now?”

“She’s managing the household affairs since you collapsed. Shall I call her?”

Jaheon shook his head.

“No. Leave her be.”

Considering information gathering and merchant transactions in this house, it was better if the servants saw Choseon as the true master rather than Jaheon.

“If that happens, more will be there to protect Choseon.”

If money and information were controlled by Choseon, even in emergencies, she would likely survive. For even in antiquity, information was a weapon that controlled life and death.

“Tell them when it is done that I have recovered.”

“Then, what will my lord do…?”

“I will go to the palace.”

“The palace? Not yet recovered…”

Rumors about the Yuan family in Runan spread.

Also, appointments to vacant offices would soon be finalized—which meant drawing swords.

“We must petition the ministers to submit memorials for the Empress’s appointment.”

Then it was time to draw the sword.