Chapter 473 - Guan Yu VS Zhang Tong – Part 1 (1/2)
Chapter 473 – Guan Yu VS Zhang Tong – Part 1
As usual, Guan Yu never drank wine. He only had a teapot, a teacup, a plate of roasted duck, and a plate of a sliced extra-cheese spicy chicken pizza on the table.
Upon noticing Tong and his entourage, he stood up and bowed, ”Greetings, your majesty. I am Guan Yuncheng, your duel opponent.”
Tong looked at his food table with a complicated smile, ”Eating before a duel? Won't it affect your performance?”
Guan Yu snickered, ”To be honest, it probably will. Well, I just treat them as my last meal before an important fight. Do you mind if I finish my plates first and allow me to meditate and digest the food?”
”Take your time. Well, your old friends are already here, so you should talk to them,” Tong glanced at Zhao Yun and Wei Yan behind his back.
Guan Yu smiled and greeted the two.
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It was like a reunion between graduated students who had not met each other for years. Everyone formed a click and reminisced of their past life.
Even Lu Bu had fun picking a fight with Xiahou Dun, and they ended up taking their weapons outside of the banquet hall for a quick spar. The result was obvious, but they enjoyed themselves.
Cao Cao kept teasing the three great generals, Xu Huang, Zhang He, and Zhang Liao. Still, they chatted about how they became Tong's subordinates in this life and recalled their funny events, including Tong's cliché lines that he wanted to be an immortal king.
Surprisingly, Taishi Ci got along with Xiahou Yuan well since both were master archers. They talked about how they should hold an archery competition sometimes in the future.
As for Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, they did their best, attempting to persuade Guan Yu to Tong's side.
As prideful and loyal as ever, Guan Yu refused.
”I'm a man of duty, Zilong, Wenchang. I swore that I'll bring peace to the people with my brothers. I will see it through to the very end.”
Zhao Yun retorted that peace had returned. They could just stop all the hostility between Liu Bei and their forces, and everyone would be happy. They also accidentally blurted out that Cao Cao and Sun Clan were also on their side.
Tong did not mind the two motormouths. Since Cao Cao showed up here, Guan Yu already guessed that they had formed an alliance in secret, just like how Wu and Wei came to an agreement to hunt him down in Jing Province.
Ironically, in Guan Yu's last life, he died because of Wei-Wu coordination. Now, it became the Han-Wei alliance against Liu Bei's forces.
The red-face god-of-war felt the bitterness of his fate. No matter how he and Liu Bei struggled, they could not seem to get an advantage in this civil war.
'Fate, huh?'
Guan Yu placed his chopsticks down and turned to Tong, who was eating his food quietly despite being pampered by Dong Bai and Diaochan.
”Your majesty, we haven't talked about our bet yet.”
Tong raised his eyebrows and nodded, ”What do you want, then?”
”I will be direct, your majesty,” Guan Yu paused to muster his courage as what he was about to say would ruin the party.
”I want both of your arms as compensation for killing my younger brother. You will also have to give the throne to Liu Bei.”
As Guan Yu had predicted, the music ceased, and everyone stopped drinking and eating their food.
The hall fell to silence. All banquet participants looked at Guan Yu and Tong, listening to the development.
Strangely, nobody reprimanded or yelled at Guan Yu for being audacious like usual. After all, officers, minor officials, and others already left them alone. Only maids, performers, and miscellaneous servants remained in the hall.
Everything was fair-game this time. Only strength talked!
”And what if I win?” Tong asked back, ”What can you give me in return?”
Guan Yu gritted his teeth and fell into deep thought. It did not take long for him to come up with a solution.
”I will commit suicide. After my death, my brother won't stand a chance against your forces.”
Tong nodded. The bet was fair since they would lose everything they had.
For Tong, losing the throne would hurt him since it was something that he earned it through his hard work and effort. He had raked his brain and trained hard before he got to this point, so losing it was like losing his only child. Moreover, giving Liu Bei the throne would ensure chaos and infighting among Tong's subordinates, which was not a good idea.
As for Guan Yu, he placed his life on the line for his brother. Even if he were to defeat Tong, there was no guarantee that Lu Bu and the two demonesses would spare his life.
As long as he could kill Tong in the duel, his sacrifice was worth it since the Court would collapse to pieces because of the infighting for the successor position. Even if Liu Bei failed to inherit the throne, Tong's forces would be weakened.
Cao Cao's eyes gleamed as he was aware of the aftermath. Deep down inside, he prayed for Guan Yu's victory. But if Tong won, it was fine either way.
'Go on. Kill that otherworlder and make this world fun!'
Xiahou Dun, who had been beaten black and blue, smacked the back of Cao Cao's head, warning him.
”Don't ever wish for more chaos. We fought enough. I want to retire one day as well. I want to live with my both eyes intact this time, mind you.”
The back-head slap was so hard that Cao Cao's face slammed onto the food on his plate. Pizza's ketchup sauce and cheese got stuck on his face.
”I know, goddammit!”
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An hour later, both Tong and Guan Yu rested enough. They walked toward the entrance of the assembly hall, leaving the building.