Chapter 18: Dark Lu Bu (Part 2)

Humans are incredibly peculiar beings. A wrong action, especially in the eyes of most, may not be honorable. Even if they understand it to be the correct thing to do, some might hesitate. However, once one person takes the first step, the psychological burden on others becomes lighter, and they follow suit.

In the past five years, even though the battalion initially oppressed Lu Bu, there were many who resisted oppressing him. Lu Bu's hard work and capabilities were acknowledged by all. Jealousy was natural, but his abilities were cultivated through collective efforts. Thus, even if Yingzheng disliked Lu Bu, there were still some who remained neutral.

Yet, as those closest to Lu Bu were gradually assimilated by Yingzheng, others quickly joined in suppressing and exploiting him.

And now, Lu Bu was using the very same tactics to return to others what Yingzheng had done to him. But where Yingzheng had wanted Lu Bu's heart, reputation, and credit, Lu Bu wanted only one thing: his life!

It didn't matter who initiated it. The night was eerie. Yingzheng's screams echoed for over an hour. He begged for mercy, his agony apparent. Many soldiers vomited at the sight, but there was no other option. They stood by Lu Bu's side, actively encouraging those who hadn't been cut yet to join in, without Lu Bu needing to push further. The entire battalion had been complicit in Yingzheng's demise.

Even though Yingzheng had fallen silent, the punishment continued. Five years' worth of grievances finally erupted, and when Lu Bu saw Yingzheng's nearly unrecognizable body, half of his fury dissipated. But it was not enough. In this moment, Lu Bu was consumed by a thirst for revenge. He was calm, yet his calmness was terrifying. In the dream, he was merely an ordinary person with a plain appearance, but now, that ordinary face was instilling an indescribable sense of dread. Even a brief gaze left people shivering.

"From now on, you will all follow my orders. Is there any doubt?" Lu Bu brought a horse into the camp, surveyed the group of soldiers, and asked with a smile. Though not an exceptional horse, it brought a hint of reality to Lu Bu's demeanor.

The two teams were the first to declare their allegiance. Now, whoever could lead them to safety would have their loyalty. And with their past experience, this battalion had developed a deep-rooted fear of Lu Bu.

"What's our next move?" one of the team members asked Lu Bu.

"We'll dig trenches and hide the horse ropes. Before sunrise, I want the Xiaoqinghe area to become a trap. Scouts will lie on the mountains and observe the surroundings. Once they spot Hu Qi, they'll signal us immediately. This battle won't just be fought—it will be won!" Lu Bu proclaimed with pride.

"Are you out of your mind!?" The two team members' expressions changed drastically. Lu Bu intended to launch a full-on assault.

"Out of my mind?" Lu Bu glanced at them. "You've spent too much time with him, so you've forgotten that my frontier soldiers are the wolf kings of this grassland. No matter how many barbarians they are, they're nothing more than a rabble. What is there to fear?"

Even though he lacked bravery in reality, in his dreams and his dream, Lu Bu never considered the Hu people as his equals. If it weren't for the chance to achieve the greatest merit in the world's peaceful times, Lu Bu would never have chosen to join the army here.

"But~" one of the team members was about to argue, only to witness Lu Bu suddenly draw his sword and behead him.

"Follow orders, or face the same fate!" Lu Bu declared. In this moment, he exuded the aura of a general more than any other time.

The soldiers were already suppressed due to Yingzheng's situation. With Lu Bu's sudden act of aggression, any remaining resistance evaporated. No one dared to question Lu Bu's orders. Overnight, under Lu Bu's command, they dug three trenches and set up over 30 snares in the grass.

Naturally, Lu Bu wouldn't pit a battalion of soldiers against tens of thousands of Hu warriors. Even the real Lu Bu didn't possess such power. However, based on his observations, the Hu people in this world differed from those in reality. While they shared a loose organizational structure, the most powerful tribes consisted of only one or two clans, each with its own interests.

And it was these tribes that Lu Bu intended to target!

The soldiers who were preparing to rest were caught off guard by Lu Bu's ambush. The hastily constructed camp had not been expected to save lives. Now it was too late for regrets. They fired at the charging Hu warriors.

Nobody fled~www.mtlnovel.com~ As border soldiers, they knew all too well the consequences of infantry retreating before a cavalry charge!

With this step, Lu Bu once again emerged victorious. The soldiers were driven to desperation, igniting a fighting spirit they rarely displayed. The camp they had just set up was reduced to rubble in an instant. The Hu warriors' momentum waned, and this was exactly what Lu Bu had been waiting for.

While cavalry were mobile, restarting a charge after coming to a halt was far from simple.

A small group of Hu warriors charged forward. Lu Bu led the charge and almost fell to the enemy's general. At this critical moment, he was no longer the invincible general from Bingzhou, but an ordinary one. He nearly lost his life during the battle, only to sever the enemy commander, Hu Jiang, from his horse.

With the enemy leader's death, the already chaotic army descended into further chaos. Brandishing a large sword, Lu Bu led his men to charge through the disarray. In a matter of moments, he had slain 2,000 cavalrymen, with only 300 soldiers remaining. Cast aside, helmets and armor strewn in his wake, the Hu warriors retreated in disarray. As for Lu Bu's own soldiers, of those who fought, only five remained standing alongside him!

"From this moment onward, all past grudges are null and void. I am the leader, Lu Bu, and this battalion is the Dead Battalion. Do you understand?" Lu Bu addressed the remaining five.

Despite his body being battered and bruised, Lu Bu radiated a commanding presence. His injuries didn't matter; his entire being exuded an astonishing aura. Even though they were seriously wounded, the five remaining soldiers dared not show any disrespect. At this moment, Lu Bu was everything to them.

"Understood!" The five didn't hesitate. One battalion had broken through a thousand troops; they had witnessed Lu Bu's prowess. In this moment, they had fully submitted themselves to Lu Bu. Even if there was no threat, they were eager to become Lu Bu's unwavering supporters.

"The enemy will soon arrive. We'll withdraw immediately and lead them toward our main force!"

"Understood!"