500 Price of Survival (2/2)
Wei Yan clenched his fists to the point that his nails wounded his palms. As for Sima Yi, his breathing became rough and short as he was doing his best to calm his temper.
He had just lost his father. Now, someone ravished his crush! Sima Yi's blood pressure spiked, and his heart rate went beyond 200 BPM. It was a miracle how the blood vessels in his brain had not burst yet.
Their face turned from red to blue while their bulging blood veins were visible.
No one dared to talk to them anymore.
Zhao Yun and Hu Che-er were sweating as they looked at their friends.
”Boss…” Even a hoodlum like Hu Che-er was intimidated by their aura.
”You saw it in the clan chat. Don't say anything.”
”…”
Everyone sat on their horses and waited for Sima Yi's words.
Although Sima Yi and Wei Yan did not type or comment on anything to the clan chat, they watched the chaotic messages flooding the chatbox without caring about the world.
Ten minutes later, a threatening presence of an angry 8-wing demon exploded out their killing intent. All common soldiers behind Zhao Yun and Sima Yi almost fainted from fear.
The origin came from Ye City's direction!
'Zhang Tong or Diaochan must have learned about the news. Lu Bu is as good as dead.'
Zhao Yun shook his head and glanced at Sima Yi and Wei Yan, who also wanted to vent his frustration, humiliation, and heart pain. These two fell in love with Zhang Min, but they could not express their feeling because of their statuses.
Wei Yan and Sima Yi had been working their hardest to raise their ranks, proving themselves to Tong that they were worthy to marry his daughter. Yet, Lu Bu soiled Zhang Min and indirectly slapped them in the face.
Someone had to die! Or else, this scandal would become a thorn to their heart for the rest of their lives.
With trembling hands, Wei Yan slowly typed to the clan chat.
Wei Yan: ”@Lu Bu, you're dead.”
Sima Yi stopped breathing and turned toward Wei Yan. As if the former knew what the latter was thinking, Sima Yi nodded.
”Good. Let's deal with these insects first, then we'll take Lu Bu's head.”
”Agreed. What's the plan, by the way?”
Sima Yi paused and gazed at the top of the wall. Banners of Zhen Yi were still there.
”You and General Zhao will fly in there and capture Zhen Yi. If they resist or Sun Ce's officers are still there, withdraw. Do not engage if there are two or more immortals with 4 wings inside. However, if there is only one, take him down.”
”Understood!”
Zhao Yun and Wei Yan nodded. They spread their wings and flew over the walls.
After the vanguards had left, Sima Yi turned to the vice general, Hu Che-er, ”Tell the soldiers to construct siege towers. If our vanguards retreat, we will begin the siege.”
Despite being angry, Sima Yi maintained his cool and could still utilize his logical thinking. He simulated more scenarios in his mind and thought about his future.
'One at a time. I'll get rid of Zhen Yi and Sun Ce's remnants here first. Lu Bu and Zhang Min are not my priority, but I won't forget them!'
.
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= South Gate of Zhongshan City =
Civilians, merchants, and various travelers entered and left the city through Zhongshan's southern gate as it was the main road to Julu and a detour road toward Nanpi.
The road was not a red-dirt path those other regions had, but it was a stone pathway with 8 vehicle lanes. The width of this pavement was the symbol of Julu's prosperity as every street that connected to this city would have this luxurious stone-paved passageway.
Ye also had these paved roads, but they were concrete ones, which Te Langpu designed. Julu-Zhongshan road was based on Tong's old design, which he left behind for his father a decade ago.
Because of the massive crowd, no one noticed a group of 20 men and women walking out of the city.
Zhen Yi disguised himself and his family as commoners and left the city via the south entrance. His wives and Zhen Ji were also among the crowd.
The reason for their escape was the recent clan chat messages from Dong Bai and others, threatening him to surrender and accept the punishment. Zhen Yi knew full well that he and his entire family would have been executed had they surrendered, so he chose to flee.
Still, he had no idea where he could go. Tong had unofficially unified the country already, so they would not be able to enjoy a lifestyle of Han's nobles anymore. The only way they could survive would be living as commoners.
Zhen Yi sighed and looked at Zhen Ji in regret. He should not have told Tong and others when Sun Ce had first appeared in his city and threatened to kill his family. He was scared out of his wits and yielded to Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, which led to this situation.
He could only blame his indecisiveness and bad luck.
”Where are we going, father?” Zhen Ji was confused about why her father abandoned his post and fled the city.
”Anywhere but here.”
Zhen Ji squinted her eyes, ”Did you do something that angered the emperor?”
”… You can say that.”
”Was it because of Sun Ce's goons?”
”… Yes.”
Zhen Ji shook her head, ”You should have reported this incident to the emperor. You sheltered them, and now, he found out about it. Obviously, we will all die.”
Listening to his daughter's lecture, Zhen Yi's face gloomed.
”I'm sorry.”
”Don't be. We're still living because you yielded to Sun Ce,” Zhen Ji knew that her father saved her life and others at the price of betrayal. Even though it was a bad move, Zhen Ji did not take it to heart.
”I have a connection with Cao Pi. Let's move to Xu Province, so we can join the Cao House.”
”Okay… Wait! How did you know about-!?”