Chapter 517

"Big brother, let's fight them!" Zhang Fei said to Lin Yu.

"Stay calm. They're hoping we'll act—that's exactly what they need to convict us. We'll cooperate for now and think of a strategy later. I and the president will go back with them; you all return home to care for Guan Yu, and we'll figure out the rest later." Lin Yu replied.

Cao Cao nodded in agreement; the two followed Li Ru and Mei Niang away, while the Five Tiger Generals helplessly watched their retreating backs.

【342】 Silver Dimension, Sun Shangxiang appears and gives instructions to the group.

At Cao Fu, the severely wounded and unconscious Guan Yu was placed in a pool by Hua Tuo, who poured medicinal liquid into the water and added numerous flower petals; Guan Yu's furrowed brow gradually relaxed.

"Hua Tuo, will this really work?" Zhang Fei asked.

"If you don't understand, don't talk. Guan Yu's injuries are severe; my medicine is extremely mild and perfectly suited to his current condition—this is my own creation." Hua Tuo said confidently.

"It really smells good, looks great too—I want to soak in it too," Ma Chao chuckled.

Diao Chan, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, stared at Guan Yu half-naked in the pool, her face faintly flushing; Xiao Qiao teased her beside her.

"Xiao Qiao, you just called saying Guan Yu was captured—why did you suddenly hang up?" Zhao Yun asked.

Xiao Qiao pointed to her own nose, bewildered. "Me? I didn't call you at all! I just heard Guan Yu was injured."

"It must be Dong Zhuo's forgery—he wants to lure us to Fengming Temple to crush us all," Huang Zhong speculated.

"Dong Zhuo is utterly despicable—he's framed Big Brother and the president. What do we do now?" Zhang Fei asked.

"Why don't we just go rescue the president and Big Brother?" Ma Chao suggested; Zhao Yun agreed.

Diao Chan stopped them. "Stay calm. Dong Zhuo wants us to walk into his trap and attack us without restraint. Tomorrow, we'll listen to what the president and Brother Liu have to say."

Hearing Diao Chan's words, everyone fell silent.

"Hey, what are you all doing!"

A strange woman's voice rang out; everyone looked around.

"Don't bother looking—you can't see me～ˇ."

"What's going on? Why is the speaker talking by itself?"

Zhang Fei recognized the voice coming from the speaker and walked over to check; the speaker spoke again.

"Don't touch anything."

Everyone scrambled back in fear; Zhang Fei even fell onto his rear.

Zhang Fei turned and asked everyone, "Why is this thing talking?"

The speaker emitted another voice.

"Look at this—have our Five Tiger Generals turned into weak little kittens? A little storm and you're all depressed."

"So it's alive."

"Beautiful lady, who are you?" Zhao Yun looked toward the speaker, sensing a fluctuation of spiritual energy.

"Hehe, guess who I am? Go to the back courtyard and meet me." A playful female voice came from the speaker.

"Brothers, let's go check out the back courtyard," Zhao Yun led the way toward the rear garden.

When they arrived, they saw a short-haired woman calmly riding a white horse into view.

Xiao Qiao whispered to Diao Chan: "This girl has real presence."

Diao Chan nodded slightly: "Indeed, she has great poise."

Zhang Fei laughed: "Cool chick."

Zhao Yun stepped forward and asked: "Are you a relative of Brother Liu?"

The woman, hearing the question, grinned mischievously: "Heh, clever. But do you know why I'm here?"

Zhang Fei tilted his head and said, "No idea!"

"Of course I'm here to help."

Zhao Yun bowed respectfully: "You truly came to help? May I ask your esteemed name?"

The woman laughed: "Oh, don't call me 'you'—I was just teasing you."

With that, she leapt lightly, one foot stepping on the horse's head, then landed gracefully like a white crane spreading its wings; Xiao Qiao and Diao Chan stared, mouths agape, Xiao Qiao clapping excitedly.

"I'm Sun, Shangxiang. From Jiangdong High. My father is Sun Wentai; my brother is the Young Tyrant Sun Bo Fu. My father sent me to rescue Cao Cao—I wasn't particularly willing."

Zhang Fei muttered: "If you didn't want to come, don't come."

Sun Shangxiang retorted: "Hmph, who wants to come? If Cao Cao's old man hadn't begged my father, I wouldn't have lifted a finger."

"Old Zhang, stop arguing—she's here to help."

"Miss Sun, the problem is Dong Zhuo has falsely accused the president and Brother Liu of covert assassination, with forged evidence. Do you have a solution?" Zhao Yun asked.

Sun Shangxiang paced thoughtfully, then suddenly smiled: "I've got a way to break the deadlock."

"Really?" Everyone's eyes lit up with surprise.

Sun Shangxiang continued: "But I can only save one person. Who should it be?"

Everyone looked at each other; Sun Shangxiang smiled: "Hard to decide, right? Tomorrow I'll go see Cao Cao and Liu Bei first—I'm leaving now." Then she spurred her horse away.

"Old Zhao, can we trust her?" Zhang Fei could only ask Zhao Yun—his big brother had been taken, his second brother severely wounded.

"I don't know why, but I feel like she's one of us," Zhao Yun said.

"I feel the same," Xiao Qiao agreed.

"What do you think?" Zhang Fei looked around at the others.

"Not sure," Huang Zhong said.

"Can she really save someone?" Diao Chan wondered.

"More precisely, she can save one person," Xiao Qiao corrected.

"Strange—how can she save only one?" Ma Chao puzzled.

Everyone stared at Sun Shangxiang's retreating figure, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.

Elsewhere, Li Ru and Mei Niang led troops escorting Cao Cao and Lin Yu to the detention chamber of the Donghan Academy—this place had no doors or guards, and entry and exit were unrestricted.

"Dong Zhuo is counting on us to escape, so he can punish us severely," Cao Cao remarked, gazing at the spartan surroundings.

Lin Yu smiled faintly and said nothing.

"Old Liu, you're so calm—it takes real courage," Cao Cao said admiringly.

【343】 Locked in prison, Dong Zhuo deliberately set a trap!

"What's there to fear? When the cart reaches the mountain, a path will appear," Lin Yu replied.

"The hope is slim—Dong Zhuo will find a way to manipulate the Sacrifice to Heaven ceremony," Cao Cao said anxiously.

"Let things take their course. Don't worry—I'll see you through," Lin Yu reassured Cao Cao.

The next day, Sun Shangxiang came herself to the cell holding Lin Yu and the other man. Seeing both with eyes closed, sitting in silence and ignoring her, she pouted and shouted loudly.

"Hey!"

Cao Cao and Lin Yu opened their eyes and turned toward her. Sun Shangxiang smiled, lips pressed together: "Greetings, both of you. I'm Sun Shangxiang, daughter of Sun Jian, head of Jiangdong High, and sister to Sun Ce."

"Hello, I'm Cao Cao."

"Hello, I'm Liu Bei."

Both bowed with clasped fists in return.

"Your father, Cao Song, asked my father to send me to get you out," Sun Shangxiang said to Cao Cao.

"Then thank you very much," Cao Cao said with a smile.

Sun Shangxiang waved her hand: "Don't thank me yet—you're suspected of assassinating the headmaster. Even backdoors won't help."

"Miss Sun, do you have any suggestions?" Lin Yu asked with a smile.

"I checked 723—execution by Heavenly Mandate is scheduled in two days. Two death warrants. Whether you draw or not, death is inevitable, right?"

Both nodded.

"Don't worry—I can save one of you. Who do you choose?" Sun Shangxiang asked.

"Of course save Cao Cao—he's the one whose father sent you. Who else would we save?" Lin Yu said.

"That makes sense," Sun Shangxiang nodded.

"No. We face life and death together," Cao Cao declared firmly.

"Alright. My method can save one. The other must find another way. Save one first, the other will adapt as needed," Sun Shangxiang explained, then revealed her plan to them before turning to leave.

Soon after Sun Shangxiang left, the Five Tiger Generals, Diao Chan, and Xiao Qiao came to find Cao Cao and Lin Yu.

"This isn't a cell—it doesn't even have a door," Zhang Fei said, puzzled.

"Dong Zhuo wants us to escape on purpose," Cao Cao explained.

"Big Brother, Headmaster, are you both alright?" Guan Yu asked with concern.