Chapter 187: Chapter 178: Swine and Dogs of Chaotic Times, Heroes of an Age of Prosperity
Yang Jin looked at Liu Bei in astonishment.
What he saw after entering the city and the "Taiping Law" gave him confidence in this journey.
Now seeing Lü Bu’s gentle temperament, although without desire or ambition, he understood the situation emotionally and rationally. If there were no surprises, he was over fifty percent sure that Lü Bu would come forth.
Before coming, he had made several plans for everyone, as he initially did not understand Lü Bu’s temperament.
He reminded Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, but left out Liu Bei, who dared to question Lü Bu face to face...
Everyone gazed at Lü Bu’s calm face; even if his aura didn’t leak slightly, it was enough to make them feel fearful and anxious.
As Liu Bei questioned Lü Bu face to face, he faced those calm eyes for only a few breaths before fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He was not fearless of death; he still had great ambitions to fulfill.
Yet, he still chose to firmly confront Lü Bu, unwilling to retreat a single inch.
Liu Bei couldn’t get past a hurdle in his heart.
Wuyou Daoist glanced at Liu Bei quietly; she didn’t reveal the slightest detail of the Hulao Pass incident to Fengxian. This person had witnessed Fengxian’s extraordinary power but knew nothing of his temperament, and still dared to speak so sharply.
Admirable courage.
"Slaughter mortals?"
Lü Bu stared at Liu Bei for a moment, not angry, without explanation, and just lightly reminded: "In the future, if you encounter my Divine Thought, remember, as long as you do not obstruct, you can avoid death."
After the Divine Thought dissipates and power returns, there will be some fragmented memory images, but the memories have no emotions from the main body and naturally won’t remember how many ants were crushed underfoot.
Moreover, those who are against him, in his eyes, are "enemies not only refusing to surrender but also daring to retaliate against me?"
Lü Bu grew up in piles of corpses from a young age, carrying no burden for these matters; dying was considered bad luck. He only remembered Uncle Zhang’s words: on the battlefield, it’s either you die, or I survive; never show hesitation.
Once it begins, just remember one word: "kill"!
Phew.
Yang Jin noticed that Lü Bu didn’t mind Liu Bei’s offense, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then signaled Zhang Fei with his eyes.
Beside them, Zhang Fei instantly understood, gently tugging at Liu Bei’s clothing.
Liu Bei was obviously not satisfied with this response.
Yang Jin cautiously asked: "May I ask Mr. Lü, do you still have a few strands of Divine Thought left externally?"
If Lü Bu’s Divine Thought was too numerous, and he couldn’t invite Lü Bu out, he felt he might as well go home and lie down.
After all, assisting Liu Bei in competing with heroes across the world, if one day attacking some small place, a "Young Lü Bu" suddenly appeared opposite with the Sky-piercing Halberd, charging over in chaos, such a scene was unimaginable.
Yang Jin shivered.
Too terrifying.
Lü Bu glanced at Mr. Wuyou not far away and replied, "Only one strand of Divine Thought remains outside."
In the past, he killed the King of the Grasslands, gathered three strands of Divine Thought, and couldn’t tolerate Dong Zhuo and Li Ru visiting daily, entangled with enthusiasm, so he gave all three strands to Dong Zhuo.
As for the Divine Thought he himself later gathered, one strand was given to Mr. Wuyou for self-defense outside, and one strand remained in Jiuyuan City.
Yang Jin followed Lü Bu’s sight to the Taiping Master. This Taiping Master could directly call Lü Bu by his courtesy name and was addressed by Lü Bu as "Mr." Clearly, the relationship between them was intimate.
The most important thing was, she actually carried a strand of Divine Thought, the power equivalent to a personal "nuclear weapon"!
Yang Jin secretly noted down the appearance of this Taiping Master; if they met in the future, he could not oppose her forcefully.
"Mr. Lü, have you heard that sensational affair outside?" Yang Jin further inquired.
They went lightly, in full gallop, took a little over ten days to reach this remote small town Jiuyuan from Luoyang; presumably, news of Lü Bu breaking through Hulao Pass alone hadn’t spread here yet.
And seeing Lü Bu’s indifferent attitude towards this affair, likely he was also unaware.
"That should be my Divine Thought at work." Lü Bu replied.
"Mr., your power is truly invincible. Just relying on one person, you defeated our Eighteen Lords coalition." Yang Jin sighed.
"Understood." Lü Bu nodded slightly at these words, his expression water-like, heart unperturbed.
As Yang Jin spoke halfway, his heart cooled significantly, though Lü Bu was gentle by nature; what could possibly move this invincible existence? Rely on sheer passion? Move the heavens? Move the earth?
"I wonder... what do you think of these chaotic times?" Yang Jin asked solemnly.
"For you, this shouldn’t really be called a chaotic times; after this war, your era of prosperity is about to arrive."
Lü Bu’s gaze swept over the crowd, saying indifferently.
His Martial Dao is too strong, yet he focuses attentively on reading, flipping through the millennial history book given by Mr. Wuyou. The world’s conflicts are unending; there’s never been truly chaotic times, only "prosperous times."
Whenever a Mortal Dynasty reaches its end, land annexation occurs, one-tenth of the people occupy nine-tenths of the resources, leaving the rest unable to survive. After being oppressed for long, a war sweeping across the land eventually erupts.
At that time, countless "heroes from the wilderness" will emerge to calm the world, as the world has experienced calamity, the population dwindles, and survivors can possess vast lands, thus ushering in a Taiping era lasting nearly a hundred years.
Chaos is the ladder of progress.
Therefore, what real chaotic times exist in the world? Clearly, they are prologues to each "prosperous time."
In this "prosperous time," despite the demise of countless lives, figures like Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun will emerge as unparalleled heroes whose names will be revered in history.
That Liu Bei, though of humble origin, yet exceedingly courageous, may indeed become a generation’s formidable leader, leading the era’s trends.
These chaotic times are true chaotic times for those without even a weapon, but for people like Liu, Guan, and Zhang, who are of humble descent yet possess considerable martial power, it is a rare era of prosperity to change fate.
This is also the reason why Lü Bu is unwilling to end these chaotic times. He has already ended his own "chaotic times." Jiuyuan City has achieved unprecedented prosperity in the hands of him and Mr. Wuyou; he has reached the finish line.
Everyone present was visibly surprised by Lü Bu’s answer.
"Prosperous times?!!" Yang Jin exclaimed, showing perplexity.
Lü Bu looked at Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, explaining:
"With the astonishing martial prowess the three of you possess, you can easily carve out a foundation in these chaotic times. Subsequently, it follows naturally to be appointed generals and granted noble titles, enjoying a century of wealth and glory. Your descendants will thus remain noble through generations, how can this not be considered your prosperous times?"
Upon hearing this.
Guan Yu remained silent.
He was originally a wandering ranger in the Jianghu, possessing a noble pride and considerable talent in Martial Dao. With the Cyan Dragon Crescent Blade and its essence within, he devoted decades of painstaking effort to perfecting his unprecedented skills.
For what purpose? Naturally, to follow his elder brother, serve the nation, establish a monumental achievement, and be appointed as a marquis and general, leaving his mark on history!
Rather than remaining unknown in the world as a wandering ranger named Guan Yu.
Lü Bu’s words, indeed, held some truth, this indeed is Guan Yu’s era of prosperity. And in this prosperous era, the more enemies slain, the more renowned he becomes.
Zhang Fei remained silent as well.
Born to a family of local magnates, generations of butchers, owning some wealth, though not a feast every meal, yet free from worries about food and clothing.
Since childhood, he never experienced hunger nor suffered from the cold. He scorned those who bend for petty gain, and he regarded the mediocre with utmost disdain.
Most admirable to him were those unparalleled heroes, thus he willingly squandered family wealth, swearing to loyally follow his eldest brother and wander the world.
For what purpose? Merely for his eldest brother’s grand vision of restoring peace to the land!
This is the desire of Yan People Zhang Yide!
Yet were it not for the Yellow Turban Rebellion sweeping across the land, he would not have met his elder brother, perhaps spending a lifetime in the small town, slaughtering pigs and selling meat...
Yang Jin was taken aback, lowering his head into contemplation.
He traveled across here, stepping out the door without a deep understanding of the term "chaotic times."
He merely wished to witness this magnificent Great Era, eager to observe firsthand those historically renowned heroes, to see what brilliance they would exhibit in this Mythical World.
However, witnessing the tragic scenes of parents eating their children, seeing heads fall, observing the desolate white bones by the roadside, the phrase "Rather be a Taiping dog than a man of chaotic times" was etched deeply into his heart.
He sympathized with those innocent civilians.
But his heart exceeds his abilities.
As for changing the world, he would take it step by step.
A naturally lazy person, his perspectives are deeply rooted; how could he have such grand ambitions? He merely wished to live peacefully under a certain Duke’s banner, spending the rest of his life safely in these chaotic times.
He would treat the civilians under his rule kindly, given his safety.
Of course, that’s all.
...
