Vol 9 Chapter 116 (1/2)

Chapter 116

VOLUME 9 CHAPTER 116: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS THE AFTERMATH OF OUR DEFEAT (3)

Liu Bei POV

Wu… I could feel the barbs contained in Huang Zu’s words. Of course, I could just be sensitive but I do not think that this is the case given how she worded her reply. I would very much like to say that I could keep it up forever but I did not have the confidence to say it and so, I merely remained silent and let this topic naturally fade away.

Ah, yes. I just remembered that I ought to thank her.

“Ah yes, umm, Lord Huang Zu,” I called out softly and looked over and saw that she did not react but continued anyway, “Though Lord Huang Zu may have her own thoughts on this, I’m actually rather grateful.”

“Un?” Huang Zu did not understand what I meant and looked over. There was a gleam in her eyes as though she had much to say on this, “Why do you have to thank me? I’m just protecting a city that belongs to my state.”

“Be that as it may, Xinye is under my rule after all, and I feel that I should be thankful for all the help that Lord Huang Zu has rendered to me.” I smiled, “But no matter what, once this battle is over, no matter how it ends, Lord Huang Zu must get elder brother to swiftly fortify the main cities once Lord Huang Zu returns to Xiangyang. It’s clear that Meng De intends on taking the whole of Jing state after all.”

“…”

“Un? What’s the matter?” I asked when Huang Zu did not reply and merely looked at me. But when she heard me ask her, she turned away.

“Nothing,” Huang Zu said as she slowed down, “I just feel that Lord Shamoke is really impressive for being able to act like this even though my lord has brought harm to Lord Liu Bei, albeit unintentionally.”

“Ah… That’s not very impressive. Now that I’ve come this far, I can only continue walking down this path after all.” I said as I smiled stiffly and waved my hands.

“Continue walking huh…” Huang Zu repeated. Seems like these words have affected her but I did not ask her why or how.

“My life should have ended in the Battle of Jiangxia. Yet I still continue to walk in the realm of the living.” She continued without my prompting. At this time, her fringe was still obscuring my view of her expression and all I could see was her eyes that seemed to be filled with hesitation. After a moment’s pause, she continued, “To be honest, I was very lost when I first awoke after I was saved. I really wondered if I should continue living back then.”

“What are you talking about? You managed to survive miraculously so you should live–”

“Even for a general who lost a critical battle and all that awaits her is just punishment?” Huang Zu interrupted me with a loud but calm voice and suppressed my view with just 1 sentence.

Yes, for a general like Huang Zu, survival entails punishment when she returns. She lost the battle, the army was practically decimated and the city was lost. The punishment for this cannot be light. So I was very surprised but also impressed at how adamant Huang Zu was about returning to Xiangyang.

“That can’t be helped…” I said and trailed off. I wanted to tell her that she need not return to Xiangyang but she would probably just scold me if I said so and decided against it. But I felt like I could not let this go and an idea flashed in my mind. It was a dangerous one and I hesitated for a moment before asking with trepidation.

“Could it be,” I asked as I looked at Huang Zu, “That Lord Huang Zu is beginning to feel afraid?”

“That’s your

fault.” She replied immediately.

“Me?” I asked as I pointed at myself, feeling surprised.

“I’d already made the resolve.” Huang Zu said as she looked at a small stall by the roadside and continued in a slightly softer tone, “But the longer I stay at Xinye, the more my resolve is eroded–”

“But as the battle nears its conclusion, the fear of being subject to punishment when you returns grows huh?” I interrupted her like how she usually does.

Huang Zu’s shoulders trembled slightly and she replied softly, “That’s what it’s about.”

Stay here then. The impulse to say so rose up once again but I do not know why I could not bring myself to say it. Instead, I said something else, “Umm, if Lord Huang Zu feels that you will only become more fearful and hesitant to leave with time, you may leave before then.”

“Un?” Huang Zu turned around and looked at me, “Does Lord Liu Bei think that I am ineffective and is trying to get rid of me?”

“No no no! Not at all!” I hurriedly looked up and shook my head, and tried to explain myself so that Huang Zu would not misunderstand me, “I was just thinking that, since the battle has not ended and Lord Huang Zu is an outsider, you need not stay and defend the city to the last moment with us. Besides…”