It Wasn’t a Martial Arts World, but the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 48. Heavenly Extreme Linked Illusion Sword Technique (4)

I was walking through the streets with Sima Yi and Zhao Yun.

The atmosphere in You Province, which felt as rural as Bing Province, was simple and unsophisticated.

People were busily hawking fruit, while others were roughhousing.

In such remote areas, fistfights like this were a common sight.

It seemed like it was a fight over a bet.

People were cheering for their respective sides, even placing bets, and not even the guards bothered to intervene—they, too, were placing their own bets.

“They’re full of energy.”

“They are.”

“By the way, why are we going to meet the magistrate?”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t fully explained to Sima Yi yet.

“You said we need to closely observe the Governor of You Province to read the situation, didn’t you?”

“…What do you even trust to take a kid’s advice so seriously?”

Sima Yi asked, truly baffled.

I just smiled.

“You’re basically our strategist now.”

“That’s not the point. What I don’t understand is, how can you trust me with something so important? You haven’t known me for long enough to make such a judgment.”

“Huh?”

“I mean… forget it. Talking to you is making my brain feel dumber.”

Obviously, because you’re my ally now.

She sighed deeply, tilting her head as if the whole situation was incomprehensible.

“Hey, you rude little brat.”

I ruffled her hair.

“Ah! I told you not to do that!”

Sima Yi struggled to push my arm away.

“I was born a brute. Politics, finances, strategies—I can’t handle any of that alone.”

“…”

“So, I need the smartest person among us to help.”

“How do you know I’m smart?”

Sima Yi pouted, clearly mocking me.

“Oh, come on. You weren’t bluffing when you showed off your skills in Go, were you?”

“Hmph, of course not. There’s no strategist greater than me in this world.”

Her confidence was through the roof.

Well, being Sima Yi, she was bound to be a genius.

That’s why I trusted her.

Besides, what I said earlier wasn’t a lie.

No matter what, she was now one of my people.

Someone I had to protect, and someone who would protect me.

Before we knew it, we arrived at the meeting place.

It seemed like a small tavern.

Unlike other establishments, it wasn’t completely enclosed—one could see people eating from the outside, as the walls were open.

Suddenly, we heard a loud commotion from inside.

Apparently, two drunks were in the middle of an argument.

“You bastard!”

One of them slammed the table and threw a bottle of liquor.

Unluckily, the bottle flew toward Sima Yi.

She didn’t expect it and just stood there, wide-eyed.

Thwack!

I easily caught the bottle.

“You okay?”

“…Yes.”

Sima Yi nodded, her eyes still wide with surprise.

Whew, that was close.

I waved the bottle around and approached the two brawlers.

“Hey, if you’re going to fight, do it outside. It’s dangerous.”

“And who are you?!”

One of the men, his face red and his head shaved, snarled at me.

Zhao Yun, narrowing her eyes, placed her hand on her spear.

I stopped her.

Even though she held back, she still radiated a menacing aura, clearly displeased with the situation.

I couldn’t help but sigh at the unnecessary trouble.

“Didn’t I say it’s dangerous? Your bottle almost hit our kid here.”

“She looks fine! Now, if you’re done, get lost! I’m busy enough without dealing with idiots like you—!”

At that moment, I picked up a pair of chopsticks from the table and smacked him on the head.

Thwack!

“Argh!”

He groaned, clutching his head.

Immediately, four other men at his table jumped to their feet.

So, he had company.

“I told you to leave while I was being nice.”

“You bastard…! Are you crazy?!”

For someone with such a rough appearance, he was starting to tear up. Disgusting.

Suppressing the urge to gag, I raised three fingers.

“I’ll count to three. Leave before then.”

He stared at me in disbelief, then subtly reached for the axe hanging from his waist.

“One.”

I began lowering my fingers.

“Two.”

In the meantime, Zhao Yun pulled Sima Yi back.

“Three.”

Just as the last finger folded, the bald guy swung his axe. The other four men drew their weapons as well.

“Kill him!”

The bald man swung his axe downward.

Even as a first-rate beginner, his attack was so slow that it was laughable.

His eyes bulged in shock.

“…What?!”

His axe was caught between my index and middle fingers.

He struggled to free his axe, but it was no use.

While the bald man was grunting, one of the other men swung his sword.

I immediately threw the chopsticks in my hand at the man’s shoulder.

Thwack!

“Ugh…!”

A clean strike.

He dropped his sword, clutching his shoulder where the chopsticks had struck.

By now, the remaining three were too scared to make a move.

“I was trying to let you go quietly, but you just had to pull your weapons.”

Snap!

I broke the axe blade in half.

The bald man’s face turned pale.

“Y-you bastard!”

Still clinging to his pride, he threw a punch at me with his remaining hand.

I lightly dodged and kicked him in the side.

“Urgh!”

It was an attack infused with internal energy, like a martial art’s kick. He probably broke a few ribs, but at least I held back a little.

“Are the rest of you going to fight?”

“…Everyone, attack him at once!”

I had to give them credit for their courage.

I took a step back as all three of their sword strikes came at me simultaneously.

Their stances faltered.

I kicked one of them in the side, sending him flying just like the bald man.

Then, I stomped down on another one’s foot just as he was about to readjust his stance.

“Ugh!”

Crack!

I heard the sound of his bones breaking as he dropped his sword.

Clang!

I caught the falling sword and blocked the last man’s strike with it.

Lowering my body, I moved in close and planted my palm firmly on his abdomen.

Boom!

Using the Exploding Palm, the man’s body flew back, crashing into a table and causing a commotion.

“Tch, too noisy.”

Clicking my tongue, I glanced at the man still pinned under my foot.

“I told you to leave quietly.”

His bravado was long gone, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

“I-I’m sorry. Please, spare me.”

“Take those three with you and turn yourselves in to those guards over there, the ones who are busy gambling. Don’t complain about it—they’re your weapons. And if you run and get caught, I’ll kill you for real.”

“Y-yes…!”

He trembled as he gathered his fallen comrades, dragging them away.

“Oh, one more thing.”

“Y-yes?!”

The man stiffened, standing at attention.

I felt a bit sorry for him, limping as he was on one leg, but I didn’t let it show.

“You’re paying for the damages. I don’t have money.”

“…But wasn’t this a mutual—”

“Hmm?”

“O-of course! We’ll definitely cover the cost!”

Finally, the man forced a smile and bowed repeatedly.

That’s more like it.

Shaking off the stiffness in my hands, I turned to the skinny drunk who had been fighting alongside the bald guy.

“You still want to fight?”

“N-no!”

Sobered up, the skinny man bolted away in a panic.

Sima Yi, who had been watching from the sidelines, cautiously approached.

“…How did you just… beat four armed men with your bare hands?”

It seemed like this was the first time she had witnessed such a sight, and she looked visibly shaken.

At that moment—

Clap, clap!

A round of applause came from behind.

“Well, that was quite a show. Impressive.”

With her pigtails and a bright smile, it was Zhang Fei.

“What? You’ve been here already?”

“Yes.”

Liu Bei smiled faintly and nodded.

“So, you were the one we were supposed to meet? Don’t tell me something happened between you and my sister without me knowing?”

Zhang Fei stopped clapping and stood up.

“My sister’s off-limits, you hear?”

“What nonsense is that?”

“Hahaha! Just kidding! But seriously, what’s up with that? You kicked them so hard they ended up half-dead!”

“Martial arts.”

“Huh?”

I was getting tired of this routine.

With a sigh, I shook my head.

“I’m just really strong.”

“Pfft…! Hahaha! Of course, of course!”

Zhang Fei laughed heartily, slapping me on the back.

I suppressed the urge to scream in pain and took a seat across from Liu Bei.

“Kid, don’t just stand there—sit down.”

“…Okay.”

Sima Yi nodded slowly and sat next to me.

“Thanks.”

“Stop being so cheesy.”

I ruffled her hair again.

“Protecting the people in our group is only natural.”

“…Stop acting cool.”

This little brat!

My fist trembled, but I barely managed to hold myself back.

Eventually, I turned my head.

In front of me was Liu Bei, smiling cheerfully.

“That was impressive.”

“Why are you saying that too? Please, stop.”

“Alright.”

She chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand.

Whatever she found amusing, it was clear she was holding back her laughter.

“So, what is it you wanted to say? You only mentioned it was related to yesterday, so I’m not sure what this is about.”

“Hmm, that’s right. Before we get to that, let me cut to the point.”

Liu Bei nodded, then spoke.

“Why don’t you join me?”

She extended her hand as she said this.