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As night fell, the camp of Lü Bu was illuminated by flickering campfires. Soldiers stood watch in small groups, their armor glinting coldly in the firelight. Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves echoed from a distance, gradually approaching the camp gates. The soldiers inside became alert, hands resting on their weapons, eyes sharp as hawks, coldly watching the newcomer.
"Stop! Who goes there?" shouted the lead soldier, his tone laced with caution.
The newcomer reined in his horse and calmly raised a hand in greeting. "I am Li Su. Please report to General Lu that an old friend has come to visit." His voice was confident, and his gaze steady, seemingly untroubled by the soldiers' hostility.
After a moment of hesitation, the soldiers sent someone to relay the message. Soon, a deep and authoritative voice came from within the tent: "Let him in."
Li Su dismounted and walked slowly into the tent. Inside was simple yet tidy; the Fangtian Halberd stood beside the main seat, emanating a sharp cold light, a symbol of its owner's formidable presence. Lü Bu sat at the head of the table, clad in armor, exuding an imposing aura. His gaze sliced through Li Su like a blade as he spoke in a low voice: "It’s you, Li Su? It’s been many years. What brings you here so suddenly?"
Li Su smiled slightly and clasped his hands in greeting. "General, I hope you are well! It has been years since we last parted. I have recently been appointed as Tiger Elite Colonel by the court and am now serving the nation. Today, hearing of your great deeds in upholding the state and your formidable reputation, I felt compelled to bring a small gift to express my admiration."
Lü Bu raised an eyebrow at this, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "A small gift? You’ve traveled such a long way for what purpose?"
Li Su's smile deepened as he clapped his hands; a soldier led a magnificent horse into the tent. The horse was a fiery red, as if it were burning with flames, its mane shimmering with intense light. It was robust and powerful, its hooves steady and strong; its head held high with bright eyes that exuded vitality, snorting heavily like a beast ready to charge.
"This horse is named Red Hare," Li Su proclaimed. "It can travel a thousand miles in a day and can cross rivers and climb mountains with ease—rare indeed in this world. You are a dragon among men, General; this horse is king among steeds. I present it to you to enhance your might."
Lü Bu's attention was captivated by Red Hare. He set down his cup and stood up to approach the horse, circling it as he examined it closely. Red Hare neighed loudly, its powerful muscles rippling beneath its skin as if ready to burst through the tent and gallop into the vast wilderness.
"What a fine steed!" Lü Bu finally exclaimed in admiration. He reached out to gently stroke Red Hare's mane, feeling its strength and warmth; his eyes revealed an uncommon softness and satisfaction.
Looking at Red Hare with delight, Lü Bu could not help but reach out again to caress its fiery mane, his face filled with awe. "Such an exceptional horse is rare indeed. Brother Li’s generous gift leaves me wondering how I might repay you."
Li Su raised his wine cup with a slight smile. "My dear brother, you are mistaken. I have come today not for any reward, but purely out of brotherhood and loyalty." He downed the contents of his cup, his tone infused with a hint of bravado.
Upon hearing this, Lü Bu felt even more pleased. He clapped his hands, signaling for more wine to be served, welcoming Li Su. As they drank and conversed, Lü Bu grew increasingly relaxed and cheerful, revealing a rare warmth. However, just as the atmosphere became lively, Li Su suddenly set down his cup and shifted his tone, a playful smile on his face. "Brother, I truly envy you. We seldom meet, yet your father often visits me."
Lü Bu was taken aback, his smile freezing instantly as he looked at Li Su in confusion. "Brother, have you had too much to drink? My father has been deceased for many years; how could he meet with you?"
Li Su burst into hearty laughter, the expression on his face deepening with meaning. "You misunderstand, dear brother. I am not referring to your late father but to Ding Jianyang."
Lü Bu was momentarily stunned before he grasped the implication. His expression darkened as he slammed his cup onto the table, his gaze turning wary. "What do you mean by that? I serve under Ding Jianyang out of necessity."
Seeing his reaction, Li Su's smile widened further, a hint of teasing in his voice. "Necessity? That sounds contradictory. You, Lü Bu, are one of the rare heroes of this world, wielding the Fangtian Halberd and riding the Red Hare. Who does not know your name? Fame and fortune are but within your grasp; how can you claim it is out of 'necessity'?"
Lü Bu fell silent for a moment as his defenses slowly faded away, replaced by a sense of resignation and bitterness. "It has always been difficult for heroes to find worthy lords. If there were a capable master to employ me, would I be forced to remain beneath others?"
Li Su listened intently, a faint smile playing on his lips as he spoke calmly yet with an alluring undertone. "So you have yet to encounter a worthy lord for yourself. As the ancients said, 'A good bird chooses its tree.' If you do not make a decision soon, it may be too late to regret it later."
Lü Bu looked at Li Su with a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes and tentatively asked, "Since you are within the court, have you ever encountered a true worthy lord of this age?"
Li Su gently set down his cup and leaned slightly forward, lowering his voice. "To my shame, among all the ministers I have observed, only Dong Zhuo can be called a hero of the world. He respects talented individuals and is clear in rewards and punishments; he harbors great ambitions and is destined for greatness. If you assist him, you will surely gain fame across the land and achieve monumental success."
Lü Bu pondered for a moment while stroking the mane of Red Hare, a cold smile creeping onto his lips. "I have long heard that Dong Zhuo possesses talent but have struggled without connections. If we could align our interests, wouldn't that be like adding wings to a tiger?"
Li Su's gaze flickered slightly as he spoke softly yet with an air of mystery. "There are certainly ways; it all depends on whether you dare to take that step."
Lü Bu raised his head, a strange light igniting in his eyes, like a fierce tiger hidden in the grass, as if he had made a decision.
Li Su smiled slightly, taking out an exquisite wooden box from his bag. He gently opened it to reveal a neat arrangement of dazzling gold beads and a shimmering Jade Belt. Under the light, these treasures emitted a dazzling glow that reflected on Lü Bu's face, igniting a flame in his dark pupils.
Lü Bu's gaze sharpened, his pupils narrowing slightly as he seemed unable to believe what lay before him. He reached out, touching the intricate patterns on the Jade Belt, and asked softly, "Brother Li, what does this mean?"
Li Su glanced around, waving his hand to dismiss all the attendants in the tent. Then he lowered his voice, laced with a hint of secrecy: "General, these treasures are a tribute from Duke Dong to you. He has long heard of your great name, and this Red Hare is also a special gift from Duke Dong, meant to show his sincerity."
Lü Bu was taken aback, retracting his hand and asking in a deep voice, "Duke Dong treats me so generously? How should I repay his kindness?"
Li Su smiled calmly, stepping closer and adding a touch of temptation to his tone: "Duke Dong is a wise lord who recognizes and values talent. A nameless individual like me has already been promoted by him to Tiger Elite Colonel. If someone like you, the dragon among men, were to pledge allegiance to him, your future would be beyond measure; this small gift is merely an overture."
Lü Bu's gaze flickered as he tightened his grip on the Fangtian Halberd. He said softly, "But I am currently under Ding Jianyang's command with no achievements to my name and empty hands. How can I qualify to meet Duke Dong?"
Upon hearing this, Li Su revealed a sly smile at the corner of his mouth: "Achievements? General, fame and fortune are merely at your fingertips. The key is whether you are willing to seize this opportunity."
Lü Bu furrowed his brows in thought for a moment before suddenly lowering his tone: "Ding Yuan has treated me with great kindness but repeatedly suppresses my ambitions. At this rate, when will I ever achieve greatness and make my name known? What if... I killed Ding Yuan and brought my troops to join Duke Dong? What do you think?"
Li Su's eyes sparkled at these words, though his expression remained serious. He nodded vigorously, suppressing the excitement in his voice: "General, if this succeeds, it will be an immense contribution to the world! Once you take this step, your future will undoubtedly be limitless! However... this matter cannot be delayed; it must be resolved swiftly to avoid prolonged complications."
Lü Bu lowered his head, his hand gripping the Fangtian Halberd trembling slightly as if he were struggling or making a decision. After a moment, he suddenly raised his head again; there was no trace of hesitation left in his eyes—only boundless ambition and cold resolve. Gritting his teeth, he declared: "Alright! Tonight marks Ding Yuan's death!"
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