Vol 9 Chapter 104 (1/2)

VOLUME 9 CHAPTER 104: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS A RAID ON FAN CITY (8)

Liu Bei POV

From how she said it, it seemed like she was doubtful, and a little curious, about me. I could not tell if it was out of kindness or malice but her question does make sense and it seems like those words of mine pushed some of Yuan Zhi’s b.u.t.tons.

“That huh…” I trailed off as I scratched my head and tried to think of some grandiose reason but failed and decided to be honest, “I know that I might not be of any help if I go but at times like these, I still feel like I want to help.”

“And what if you are unable to help if you went?” Yuan Zhi continued to ask. It was a very normal topic but I felt that it had become serious all of a sudden.

I turned to look at Yuan Zhi and saw that she was looking at me very seriously. Her eyes were trying to tell me something but I could not tell what that was. I looked down and saw that she had folded her arms across her chest and was fidgeting about. This might be because of the cold or the height but it’s not very high up to be honest.

Un… When I realised that my answer to this question probably mattered a lot to Yuan Zhi, I closed my eyes and began to carefully consider it.

“Yes, that’s correct. I feel that what Yuan Zhi said makes sense and I have indeed considered that issue before.” I slowly answered as I grasped at the bricks on the walls, grabbing some sand and dirt, “Back then, my martial prowess was much worse and even mounting a horse was difficult for me. I remember thinking ‘Ah, what is the point of my existence? If I’m so weak, why don’t I hide at the back?’ and other similar things.”

As I said so, I looked up, at the troops in the distance, who were moving rapidly towards us as they formed ranks. I squeezed my hand and tried to mold the sand and dirt into a lump and continued doing this for a while before I continued.

“But as time went by, I began to ask myself, is it really okay for me to be like this? To curl up and hide in the back safely because I am weak.” I looked at Yuan Zhi as I said so and saw that she was looking at the enemy troops in the distance as well. Unlike me, she was not doing anything else, apart from listening to me, “And thereafter, I began to feel that I shouldn’t hide any longer. Even if I can’t be of much help, I can at least help to protect.”

When I finished, I threw the lump of sand and dirt in my hands into the distance.

“Though I’m here atop the city tower right now, I am ready to lead the several thousand troops we still have in the city to a.s.sist them at any point.” I said as I reached down to my twin swords by my waist. At the end of the day, it all boiled down to a desire to do something, anything, to help no matter how small it may be.

“… Protect huh?” Yuan Zhi repeated. Looks like she was indeed listening to me. But when I looked at her, she seemed calm and unconvinced.

“Of course, Yuan Zhi is different from me naturally.” I said, “You’re far more capable than me so you would definitely be able to save many more people than I can.”

“No…” Yuan Zhi shook her head, “I can’t.”

“Aiya, Yuan Zhi, why are you–” I smiled stiffly and wanted to tell her not to be so modest all the time but she covered my mouth.

“Even though Xuan De thinks that I am being overly modest over and over again, I have to say that I am actually capable of nothing.” Yuan Zhi continued.

I frowned and felt puzzled as I looked at Yuan Zhi who looked like a kid who did something wrong, “Yuan Zhi, why do

you have to say such things? Be it the last battle or this, weren’t you the architect behind our strategies? How can you say that you’re capable of nothing?!”

“I too wish that I was the one who came up with them.”

“… Eh?”

What did Yuan Zhi just say?

“You wish too… What do you mean by that?”

Yuan Zhi pulled down her bandana and looked away before giving a soft reply ‘Nothing’ as though she wanted me to forget what she just said. Naturally, I would not forget it as those words were truly strange.

“N-no matter what, we s-should observe the battle that is about to happen first.” Yuan Zhi changed the topic as she revealed a little of her eyes from below the bandana. Since she stuttered, it means that she is nervous. Her aura has also weakened considerably.

… Never mind. As she said, this can wait till the battle is over.

I s.h.i.+fted my gaze towards outside the city and found that the enemy had already finished forming ranks and were waiting some distance away from the city. Now that they were closer, I could see that their numbers seemed to be very similar to that of the last battle, which meant that they were indeed about 10,000 strong.

Soon, a loud creaking could be heard and the tower trembled.

“The gates have opened huh?” I said softly as I poked my head out.

“Please be careful, my lord.”