Chapter 12: The Final Pursuit
After the battle, Liu Bei's army was confident of victory. However, Zhuge Liang remained vigilant.
"Grand Duke, Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo are still alive. As long as they live, they can rise again at any time."
"So what should we do?"
"We must pursue them. They are now fleeing as defeated remnants. We must completely subdue them now."
"Who will go?" Lu Bu stepped forward.
"I will go. Brother, give me your strongest and most elite troops. I will definitely bring back Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo's heads."
Liu Bei hesitated for a moment, worried about sending Lu Bu alone.
"Lu Bu, it's dangerous for you to go alone."
"Brother, please trust me. I will no longer betray you. I am your younger brother."
Guan Yu stepped forward.
"Gong Zhou, I will go with you. With Lu Bu, we will surely succeed."
Zhang Fei also stepped forward.
"I will go too! I cannot let Lu Bu achieve great feats alone!"
Zhao Yun smiled and said,
"I will go with you."
Liu Bei looked at the four men, tears streaming down his face.
"Thank you... I am truly grateful... Then the four of you will go together. But be careful. A cornered enemy is the most dangerous."
The four strongest generals set off, leading 5,000 elite cavalry. _________________________________________
Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo were fleeing with only 10,000 defeated soldiers.
"This... this can't be... an army of 500,000 defeated by 50,000..."
Cao Cao couldn't believe it.
Dong Zhuo was even more furious.
"That bastard Liu Bei! I will definitely take revenge!"
That was it.
"The enemy! The enemy's pursuing army!"
The scouts reported urgently.
Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo turned their heads. Dust was rising in the distance. And at the forefront was a giant holding a heavenly spear.
"It's Lu Bu! Lu Bu is coming!"
The soldiers trembled in fear.
Lu Bu galloped and shouted,
"Cao Cao! Dong Zhuo! Your lives are over today!"
Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun galloped behind Lu Bu. The sight of four world-renowned generals attacking simultaneously was truly overwhelming. "Block it! Block it at all costs!"
Cao Cao shouted, but the defeated troops had already lost their will to fight.
Lu Bu was the first to charge into the enemy lines. His Fangqian Huajie swung like the wind, cutting down enemy soldiers. His strength was like that of a god.
"Lu Bu! You, you rascal!"
Dong Zhuo charged at Lu Bu with his sword drawn. But with a single strike of Lu Bu's Fangqian Huajie, Dong Zhuo's sword broke.
"Dong Zhuo! Do you remember when you trampled the people and killed your loyal subjects? Today is your end!"
Lu Bu's Fangqian Huajie pierced Dong Zhuo's chest.
"Ugh..."
Dong Zhuo collapsed, spitting blood.
Meanwhile, Cao Cao tried to flee, but Guan Yu blocked his path.
"Cao Cao, do you remember when you committed the Xuchang Massacre? Tens of thousands of innocent people died because of you."
Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade flashed. "I am Guan Yu, the sworn brother of Liu Bei Xuande!"
He beheaded Cao Cao with his Green Dragon Crescent Blade.
Thus, Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo met their end. The two treacherous heroes who had wreaked havoc on the world had fallen on the same battlefield on the same day.
The Great War of Yellow White ended with a complete victory for Liu Bei's forces.
Chapter 13: Unification of the World
After the deaths of Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo, the world quickly unified under Liu Bei's rule. Some of Cao Cao's men surrendered, while others, moved by Liu Bei's benevolence, joined him voluntarily.
Sun Quan also sent an envoy to express his surrender.
"I have heard of Liu Bei's benevolence and martial prowess. I am deeply moved by the news of The Great War of Yellow White. We in Jiangdong will gladly accept Liu Bei as our emperor."
Liu Bei accepted Sun Quan's surrender but granted him authority to govern Jiangdong. "Sun Quan, you have governed the people of Jiangdong well. Please continue to serve the people."
Thus, Liu Bei unified the world not by force but by virtue.
At the coronation ceremony held in Luoyang, Liu Bei ascended the throne as emperor. However, he was not arrogant. Rather, he was humble.
"I may be emperor, but I am still your brother. Let us all work together for the people."
Guan Yu became the General of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Fei became the General of the Three Kingdoms, and Zhao Yun became the General of the Five Tigers. Zhuge Liang became the Prime Minister, and Pang Tong became the Vice Prime Minister.
And Lü Bu became the General of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei's most trusted general.
After the coronation ceremony, the eight brothers gathered in the rear garden and toasted.
"Brothers, we have achieved it!"
Lü Bu said with tears in his eyes. "Victory in The Great War of Yellow White, unification of the country... It all feels like a dream. How could someone like me be this happy..."
Liu Bei poured wine into Lu Bu's cup and said,
"Lu Bu, you are our precious younger brother. Without you, we wouldn't have been victorious."
The eight brothers spent the night drinking and singing together.
And the next day, something incredible happened.
Chapter 14: Return to Reality
Kang Min-woo opened his eyes. He was lying in his bed at home.
"A dream... was it?"
But the feeling of holding Yu-bi's twin swords still lingered in his hand. And something warm lingered in his chest.
His phone rang. It was a message from an unknown number.
"Min-woo, it's Hyuk-jin. Do you remember meeting in your dream?"
Min-woo dialed the number in surprise.
"Hello? Mr. Hyuk-jin?"
"Hyung! It really is you! I was Guan-woo!"
"So... was all of that real?"
Soon, other calls came in. Min-seok, Jun-ho, Hyun-woo, Sung-hoon, Dae-hyun. They all remembered that world.
The seven of them decided to meet at a cafe in Seoul.
________________________________________
The seven of them sat across from each other at the cafe. Although it was their first time meeting, they felt a sense of familiarity, as if they had been destined for a thousand years. "It's truly amazing. Did we all have the same dream?"
Junho asked.
"It wasn't a dream. It was a different reality."
Hyunwoo said calmly.
"There, as Zhuge Liang, I calculated everything and devised strategies. The deception tactics of Genghis Khan of the Mongol Empire in the Battle of Hwangbaek, the strategy of Goguryeo General Eulji Mundeok in the Battle of Salsu, and the naval strategy of Joseon General Yi Sun-sin with the Crane-Wing Formation and Turtle Ship—these were all so vivid."
Minwoo said.
"Everyone, the experiences we were given will have special meaning. We must apply what we learned there here in reality."
"You are right, hyung."
Daehyun bowed his head and said,
"I learned true brotherhood there. Now I'm no longer alone, because I have you all."
Hyukjin patted Daehyun on the shoulder.
"That's right, we are brothers. Eternal brothers."
The seven of them held hands. At that moment, a gentle light flowed from their hands. It was a heavenly blessing.