Vol 9 Chapter 177 (1/2)
Chapter 177
VOLUME 9 CHAPTER 177: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS THE 8 DOORS GOLDEN LOCK FORMATION (4)
Liu Bei POV
“Yuan Zhi, I know you might only know what you need to know but I still have to ask,” I paused and asked her softly, “Will any of us die in this battle?”
…
Yuan Zhi did not speak and merely lowered her head as she sank into silence. There was no clear indication if this was a silent admittance or if she did not know but I choose to believe that it was the latter.
As I looked at Zi Long and her troops, I saw that the surround had shrunk yet again. It would not be too long before they would be engulfed and consumed. Yet until now, Zi Long and Chen Dao had not sent any distress signal nor have they surrendered.
Just what did Zi Long feel when she chose to charge in yet again even after seeing the fate that befell the first batch of troops?
“Yuan Zhi, to me, battles hold a very simple meaning to me.” I said softly as I tidied my clothes and armour, “I do indeed hope to go as far as possible and I am very grateful to the heavens for surviving the fall in the Tan stream. It’s not wrong to say that I have begun to cherish my life after that. But all of this does not mean that I will abandon my companions for the sake of victory and survival. For now at least, I do not see any justification to sacrifice others for the greater good here.”
“… Xuan De.” Yuan Zhi called out to me. I looked at her, thinking that she had more to say but she merely remained silent.
“Feng Xian, Wen Yuan.” Seeing that she was still thinking, I turned to the other 2.”
“Here.”
“… Un.”
I have to say here first that I have very rarely felt that my decisions have been the wise ones. In fact, I am well aware that most of my decisions were made due to my obstinance. And I am going to do so again.
“Prepare to attack the Door of Fabrication.” I said slowly and clearly as I raised my arm with my sword in hand, “We’ll save Zi Long and then eradicate the enemy.”
“”Yes!”” They acknowledged the order and stood upright before turning to their troops.
I know what should be the right decision here but I am still going to gamble. No matter what, Zi Long once saved my life. No matter how poisonous her tongue may be, she still spent a day and a night in the ice-cold Tan stream trawling for me.
And so, there is no way I can set her aside for the big picture here. If I do that, how can I still claim to be benevolent and honourable?
“Alright, I got it.” Yuan Zhi suddenly said these words without trying to persuade me against it as she nodded and adjusted her bandana.
“You… Aren’t going to say anything?” I felt surprised and knew that I was doing unnecessary things here but I still had to.
“What can I say?” Yuan Zhi said as she smiled and looked at me, “You’re my lord so I will have to listen to you.”
Eh? Is she saying this because she’s angry? It does seem like that but her tone seems sincere.
“Umm… Yuan Zhi?”
“Xuan De, thank you.”
“… Eh?”
W-what is happening here? Why is she thanking me?
“Did I do something?”
“Of course you did,” Yuan Zhi nodded, “You chose not to listen to my proposal.”
“Wu…”
“No, that is a good thing.” Yuan Zhi said when she saw me looking troubled and thought for a moment as she pulled off her bandana and stared at it, “Because Xuan De helped me to make my resolve.”
“Resolve huh&hel
lip;”