Mythical Three Kingdoms

... Liu Bei fell silent, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were speechless. After learning the news about the Imperial Jade Seal, the first thing they did was come to notify Liu Bei—wasn't it because they had hoped that the Imperial Seal would end up in Liu Bei's hands? But now, Chen Xi was saying that the Imperial Jade Seal was merely bait. Had it not been for a series of schemes that had previously earned Chen Xi the recognition of Guan and Zhang, they would have already slapped him by now. Liu Bei took a deep breath, his eyes slightly red as he looked at Chen Xi and said, "I placed too much importance on the Imperial Jade Seal, just as you said; it is nothing more than a worldly object. Li Ru is truly terrifying!" Liu Bei felt as if his heart was bleeding. He finally understood the horror of Li Ru. Even now that Chen Xi had told him it was just bait, he still wanted to snatch it. What's more, others did not know it was bait, and truly believed it was accidentally fished up by Sunx Jian and the information had inadvertently leaked. "Let's go and take a look. Lord Xuande just needs to remember not to get involved when it's time to make recommendations, no matter what. I imagine that even Sunx Jian, with no regard for shame, would die before admitting it," Chen Xi said with a sigh. Li Ru's moves were simply irresistible to the Guandong Lords. Now, it wasn't just about chasing Dong Zhuo; it would be a miracle if they didn't end up displaying their full martial prowess right then and there. "Very well!" Liu Bei said solemnly. "I ask that you, Zichuan, remind me more in the future about such matters. Li Ru indeed has far-reaching plans. It seems this war is just as you said, merely a strategic retreat by Li Ru, who after returning to Western Qin, will continue devising strategies that will stir up the world." Chen Xi did not bring up the Imperial Jade Seal again. Since Liu Bei said he would not get involved with the Imperial Seal, then it was best not to mention it again. If he couldn't even control such temptations, then he wouldn't be Liu Xuande. "It's not exactly a strategic retreat," Chen Xi shook his head and said. "If Dong Zhuo were still the same as before, we wouldn't even have to say all this is bait; retreating would just be to watch the fire from across the river. But now it's different. Dong Zhuo is deposed, and these plans are still being executed, but the focus has shifted. Without Dong Zhuo's ambitious spirit, his days are not far from ending." "Oh, that's good to hear," Liu Bei was startled, and though a hint of joy appeared on his face, he opened his mouth as if to say something but in the end, he did not speak, his words turning into a sigh. After all, Li Ru was a rebel. As usual, Liu Bei, accompanied by Guan and Zhang and Chen Xi, entered the tent. However, unlike the usual amiable situations, this time the atmosphere in the tent was so oppressive it was hard to relax. As soon as Liu Bei walked in, apart from Kong Rong, Tao Qian, and Cao Cao signaling with their eyes, the others all wore faces full of wariness. Alliance Leader Yuan, now that Luoyang has been taken and Dong Zhuo has already fled, we have achieved our predetermined strategic objectives. I shall be returning to Mount Tai to assume my post after a few days. Regarding other matters, I plea with you all to retain some goodwill and not turn this situation into a spectacle for the Xiliang warriors to mock," Liu Bei said, noting everyone's wariness and feeling helpless. One piece of news had succeeded in dividing the lords, so he hinted at his intention directly. Upon hearing Liu Bei's words, it wasn't clear if they grasped what Liu Bei wanted to say, but they did catch the implication that he was withdrawing from the alliance. Since he was stepping back, he naturally wouldn't pose a threat to their competition for the Imperial Jade Seal, and thus, to everyone present, Liu Bei was no longer a constraint but an asset! Suddenly, their enthusiasm towards Liu Bei warmed considerably. [Sigh, I've helped you as much as I can. It seems someone has already understood the implication. Zichuan said Ju Gong was wise, and it's true, as he already discerned the subtext. But is it hard to imagine his constantly changing expressions?] Liu Bei thought with interest, not because he did not want to clarify, but because doing so would be pointless. The contention would continue regardless, and it would drag him into it too. Regarding everyone's attempts to draw him in, Liu Bei merely smiled without indicating anything. Like Kong Rong, he was merely a witness. Should they actually obtain the Imperial Jade Seal from Sunx Jian and gain permission to keep it, witnessed by the Han Imperial Kinsmen and the descendant of the Saint, there would certainly be much to be discussed in the future. The wait was long, the flowers all withered, when finally Sunx Jian appeared with Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Hann Dang, all looking ashen and as if they were half-buried in the yellow earth. "Cough cough cough, please forgive me, Alliance Leader," Sunx Jian struggled to speak amidst his coughing. "My old illness has flared up, and I can no longer lead our cause. I've let down your kindness and I deeply apologize, cough cough cough." His coughs seemed to confirm his sickness, "Left with no choice, I plan to leave Luoyang today and return to Eastern Wu, lest I end up buried in foreign lands." His words sounded so desolate; a robust man had turned into a white-haired elder overnight. His heroic spirit had shifted to a hero gasping for breath, only wishing to die in his homeland. How utterly helpless this was. If it were not for the matter of the Jade Seal, Yuan Shao would have let him pass without a second word, even going so far as to escort him for ten miles. But now, with the complication of the Jade Seal, it didn't matter if Sunx Jian was still alive or dead; they would have to dig him up to find the seal. Sitting in the main seat, Yuan Shao let out a cold laugh after another, thinking, "Look at how considerate Liu Bei is, and yet you dare to play tricks on me? You're asking for death." With a sneer, Yuan Shao addressed Sunx Jian, "Wen Tai's illness is a lie, but obtaining the Jade Seal is true, isn't it!" Upon hearing this, Sunx Jian was shocked. How could Yuan Shao have known? He thought he had locked down the news tightly. Feigning ignorance, he replied, "What are you talking about, Alliance Leader? I don't understand. When did I obtain the Jade Seal?" Yuan Shao scoffed, "Ask the people around you if there's anyone who doesn't know." Sunx Jian was stunned. After obtaining the Jade Seal, he had ceased his looting and went straight back to his camp. Then he prepared his troops to leave Luoyang and return to his homeland of Yangzhou, planning to build up his power and wait for the right moment. He hadn't paid any attention to the rumors in the camp, and in his mind, the matter was a closely guarded secret that no one could know. But when Sunx Jian looked around at everyone, his heart sank with urgency. Almost all of them were looking at him as if he were a fool, and he immediately realized that the secret of the Jade Seal was out! "Sunx Wentai, what say you now!" Yuan Shao demanded without a shred of courtesy, "Hand over the Jade Seal, it's not something you should touch!" With a hard resolve, Sunx Jian retorted firmly, "I haven't obtained the Jade Seal at all, what do you expect me to hand over to you!" Yuan Shao erupted in rage, driven to frenzy by Sunx Jian's stubbornness, "Hengheng, let me introduce someone to you!" With a clap of his hands, a soldier walked in from outside the tent, "He saw with his own eyes as you retrieved the Jade Seal!" Enraged, Sunx Jian saw that the man was one of his trusted aides, who now stood beside Yuan Shao. Drawing his sword, he moved to execute the turncoat. "You dare to kill a soldier! You must be mocking me! Where are Yann Liang and Wen Chou?" Seeing that his softer approach wasn't working and watching Sunx Jian draw his blade, Yuan Shao yelled out loudly. In an instant, Yann Liang and Wen Chou appeared on both sides of Yuan Shao, their swords pointed at Sunx Jian. Meanwhile, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Hann Dang also took up arms and stood ready before him. In a flash, the entire tent was on a knife's edge, poised for bloodshed at the slightest provocation. The Feudal Lords rushed forward to intervene, just as Sunx Jian pointed to the heavens and declared, "If I have stolen the Jade Seal, may I die by random arrows one day." Without waiting for anyone's reaction, he immediately left, then quickly departed with his soldiers, who were already prepared, before the rest could even react.