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

Chapter 58. The Realm of First-Rate (2)

“When do we have to keep waiting, Brother?”

Unsam, looking down at the battlefield from the hill, pounded his chest as if feeling suffocated.

Baekrang was in the same state.

The usual calmness on his face was nowhere to be seen.

With their infantry spread in a line, Cao Cao’s forces were gradually being encircled.

Despite leading the charge on the battlefield, Cao Cao found himself being cornered.

However, the red banner was still nowhere to be seen.

“I know that young lady is clever for her age. But if this continues, we’ll all just die for nothing, won’t we? And if something happens to General Zhao Yun—”

“Wait.”

So, I waited.

Kid.

I believe in you.

So, make your move.

At the moment you deem optimal.

When you do, I will be your sword.

I will clear the path ahead of you.

“Damn it! They’ve gained momentum!”

Finally, General Xu Rong’s presence was becoming increasingly alarming.

With Cao Cao at the forefront, the surrounded troops began to retreat, and General Xu Rong drew his sword and gave chase.

I clenched my fist. Not yet. It’s not time yet.

Perhaps, what Sima Yi is aiming for…

Cao Cao halted.

And so did Xu Rong.

It was the moment when they managed to outmaneuver most of the leading commanders and corner the supreme commander.

The enemy’s defensive formation also perfectly enveloped our forces.

Although we were putting up a decent fight, if this continued, victory would be difficult to guarantee.

Yes, their movement stopped.

Furthermore, due to the hasty encirclement, the formation’s thickness had thinned.

I turned my gaze.

In the distance, the red banner finally soared high.

A smile naturally formed on my lips.

I gathered strength in my dantian and tightened my abdomen.

Drawing my sword, I stepped forward.

“Xu Rong───!”

And then, I shouted.

***

It’s coming. It’s coming. It’s coming!

The enemy was gradually pushing forward.

Sima Yi could feel sweat dripping from her hands.

It was extremely risky.

If this failed, the coalition army would lose its central force and be defeated.

However, to confront Dong Zhuo’s forces ahead, securing the Guanzhong Plain before the Hangu Pass was essential.

“… It’s your turn, old man.”

Sima Yi muttered.

A man who beats warriors with his bare hands like stray dogs and uses strange sorcery no one had ever seen before.

How would he fare on the battlefield?

“Pursue them!”

General Xu Rong shouted.

Simultaneously, Sima Yi’s right hand slowly rose.

“Raise the red banner.”

Show us.

Show us your valor.

Show us your strength.

And the qualities of a hero.

At that moment—

— Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!

In an instant, the earth shook. Sima Yi flinched at the subtle tremor.

The other soldiers felt the same.

Everyone’s gaze turned downward.

“What is it?”

This time, the sound of birds chirping was heard.

All the animals started fleeing the forest in a frenzy.

Birds circled above the battlefield, as if predicting an impending disaster.

“───!”

Finally, a roar echoed from the hill.

Sima Yi instinctively clutched her ears. It felt like her eardrums would burst if she didn’t.

Others were no different.

Many clutched their ears, and some even fell to their knees in the face of the overwhelming roar.

“Haa… Haa…”

Sima Yi gasped for breath, clutching her chest.

A feeling of dread overwhelmed her.

She had never felt anything like this before.

Someone was coming.

Someone was approaching this place.

Chirp, chirp, the birds cried noisily.

Animals howled, and the whole world seemed to be shaking.

“What the hell is this noise?”

The commanders on the battlefield were also taken aback.

The roar from the hill had left their horses paralyzed, refusing to budge.

“It’s… It’s Master’s voice…”

“His?”

“Yes, I’m sure of it. But even I don’t know what’s going on…”

Zhao Yun had exchanged martial arts with Unryong dozens of times, but she had never heard such a thunderous roar.

However, this sensation was familiar.

Occasionally, when sparring with her master, her entire body would tingle with this feeling.

Master had definitely called this…

“Internal energy…”

Zhao Yun had just opened her mouth when—

“Everyone! Follow me───!!”

“Kyaaa!”

Once again, Unryong’s roar began.

Cao Hong, who was sensitive to such sensations, immediately covered her ears.

When she turned her gaze to the source of the noise, she saw him descending the mountain at an unbelievable speed.

Moreover…

“What the hell? Why is he barefoot…?”

His light movements, leaping effortlessly between trees, were a sight that was hard to believe even while watching.

Cao Hong gaped, her mouth wide open, and Xiahou Dun and Zhao Yun rubbed their eyes in disbelief, blinking repeatedly.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao, with her crimson eyes gleaming, let out a chuckle.

“Ha, you never cease to surpass my expectations.”

Facing the woman, Xu Rong spoke without changing his expression.

“What trick are you using?”

“I don’t know either. But he’s coming.”

“What is?”

“The hero of the coalition.”

“Unryong.”

Xu Rong said.

Even without hearing it, he already knew the name.

The man who had cut down Hua Xiong in a single strike, driven off Lü Bu’s forces, and now once again raised his sword to his own lord’s throat.

“Impressive.”

However, the outcome had already been decided.

The distance between the man and Xu Rong was still considerable.

Moreover, even if the defensive formation had thinned, breaking through that many at once would not be easy.

In the meantime, Cao Cao would die here.

Even if Xu Rong himself were to die, losing the central force of the coalition would mean the end of their advance.

Xu Rong pointed his sword at Cao Cao.

Cao Cao, too, raised her sword.

***

Xu Rong’s defensive line, third formation.

The soldier who had retreated to the rearmost position was trembling, legs shaking, having wet himself from the sudden noise.

He was a coward by nature.

Thus, he was utterly helpless against the roar infused with Unryong’s internal energy.

Drooling and his eyes twitching, he trembled.

The only solace was that there were still many comrades in front of him.

The soldier prayed in his heart.

Please, don’t come here.

His comrades beside him likely felt the same.

And finally, the approaching enemy appeared faintly between his comrades’ heads.

He had expected a charge with momentum on horseback, but that was not the case.

The riders were still descending the hill.

And there he was, coming slowly.

Alone.

The soldier, feeling a mix of tension and relief, blinked as he let out a sigh.

Blink.

His vision darkened.

He opened his eyes again.

By then, the man was already mingled with his comrades.

Blink.

Then, he swung his sword.

The path of the blade was impossible to follow.

Blink.

His comrades fell.

Blood splattered, and armor shattered.

Watching as he wiped the blood from his sword, the man’s weapon appeared to be nothing more than an old, dull blade with broken teeth.

Yet, how?

Blink.

The sword split.

Blink.

And in an instant, six men collapsed.

Blink.

The man raised his sword high.

Blink.

The sky flooded over.

After a few blinks, the man had already closed the distance.

“S-Stop him!”

The voice of the vanguard commander rang out.

But his body wouldn’t move.

Only questions remained.

What is that?

Finally, before him, all he could see was the vast, endless blue sky.

The soldier, as if mesmerized, raised his sword to block the blow.

But—

– Crackkkkkkk!

The sword split in two. His helmet shattered, and his body was cleaved.

He couldn’t even comprehend what had happened.

Had he been cut?

That was the only question in his mind.

Thud.

His body split in two.

“Whew… This is tiring.”

Unryong dusted off his hands and grabbed the back of his neck, stretching as he loosened up.

Executing sword qi continuously with the Gate of Opening was no easy feat.

It was fortunate he had fully entered the realm of first-rate; if he were still at the beginning, he wouldn’t have been able to draw out any sword qi.

“About ten more exchanges to go.”

Unryong wiped the bloodstains from his sword and walked forward.

Step, step, step.

With each step Unryong took, the sound of swallowing filled the air.

People who met his gaze flinched, and some even fell to their knees.

“What the hell is wrong with them?”

He thought the road ahead would be tough, but why were they acting like this?

Just as he was mulling over this, the vanguard commander of Xu Rong’s forces stepped forward boldly.

“I shall face you!”

Was it a greatsword or a colossal sword?

In any case, it was an enormous blade.

As the vanguard commander mustered his courage and advanced, the soldiers who had been cowering slowly began to approach Unryong.

As expected.

Unryong clicked his tongue and gripped his sword hilt.

He then released the qi flowing from his dantian.

Flow.

Blue qi streamed from the sword, and his entire body heated up.

“Die—!”

Swoosh.

This time, there was no loud noise.

It was just a clean cut.

The blade, slashing perfectly in a straight line, tore through the air.

The large man was chopped into pieces.

The enormous sword clattered to the ground with a hollow clang, just like the man, cleanly cut in two.

No one here could understand.

The difference between the man and themselves.

This was the gap between the first-rate and the ordinary.