Prologue: One Born in Solitude
Bing Province, Wuyuan Commandery.
In the boundless wilderness, the winter wind howled.
In this desolate land, where human presence was scarce, a boy was born.
Lü Bu—Fengxian.
When he drew his bow, birds fell from the sky.
When he rode his horse, he outran the wind.
He was faster than anyone, and stronger than all.
But from a young age, he was lonelier than anyone.
He knew no parents, had no family, and there was no one to teach him loyalty or virtue.
No matter how strong he became, there was neither praise nor affection.
In a harsh and unforgiving land, he had no choice but to hone his strength just to survive.
Amid the wind that tore through the wilderness,
The boy grew stronger—alone.
This is the beginning of the tale of the man who would one day be called
“Lü Bu, the Mightiest Among Men”—
a man unmatched in power,
and unmatched in sorrow.
Chapter 1: His First Loyalty
The cold wind of Bing Province pierced Lü Bu’s cheeks.
At just seventeen, his strength and horsemanship were unmatched.
Locals whispered of him as a “monster,” and rumors of his prowess spread among the regional officials and influential figures.
Yet there was no one to praise him—no one to guide him.
Until one day, he caught the eye of a stern-faced, middle-aged military officer.
The man’s name was Ding Yuan.
A regional military commander, known for his strong sense of justice and righteousness.
He led provincial forces on missions to suppress uprisings and hunt down bandits,
and had come to recruit skilled warriors.
That’s when he heard the rumors of a young man called Lü Bu Fengxian—
a “monster,” as the locals called him.
A powerful, muscular frame.
And eyes as sharp as a beast’s.
Ding Yuan halted his horse.
Ding Yuan:
“Hey, boy.”
“What’s your name?”
“Lü Bu. Fengxian.”
The young man answered curtly, staring back at Ding Yuan.
Not with fear—
But with the eyes of a predator sizing up its prey.
Ding Yuan narrowed his eyes.
There was something—
a raw, untamed scent of the wild that pierced his chest.
And in that moment, Ding Yuan thought:
Ding Yuan’s thoughts:
This one… is no ordinary soldier.
Ding Yuan:
“Shall we put you to the test?”
“These men are some of the fiercest warriors in my army.”
“Face them in combat!”
Ding Yuan tossed him a spear.
Without hesitation, Lü Bu caught it and took his stance.
Ding Yuan summoned his strongest soldiers, proud of their skill.
But Lü Bu did not flinch.
With sharp, precise movements of his spear,
he brought his opponent to the ground within three strikes.
A wave of astonishment—followed by silence.
Ding Yuan:
“This one… he’s no mere fighter.”
“He’s worth ten men—maybe more…”
The wind stirred the grass once more.
Ding Yuan slowly lifted the corner of his mouth into a smile.
Ding Yuan:
“You’ve got skill.”
“It would be a waste to let that strength rot away in this backwater.”
“Come with me.”
“I’ll take you to a greater battlefield.”
“And I swear, I’ll make you into something truly great.”
Lü Bu remained silent for a moment.
In all his life, he had never heard a voice that needed him.
Without a word, he nodded.
For the first time, he felt the gaze of someone who saw worth in him.
Chapter 2: A Bond Begins to Grow
Seasons passed,
and Lü Bu became the chief registrar of Ding Yuan’s army.
From then on, they rode into battle together, clashed blades, and crossed the brink of death countless times.
He struck down enemy generals, crushed rebellions, and raised Ding Yuan’s renown.
On any battlefield, as long as Lü Bu was there, defeat was never an option.
One night, by the campfire,
as Ding Yuan removed his armor caked with mud,
he spoke to Lü Bu:
Ding Yuan:
“Fengxian. To me, you’re like a son.”
“Yes, you are strong—no one can deny that.”
“But sheer strength alone will never earn you true followers.”
Lü Bu:
“If I’m strong enough, won’t everyone respect me?”
Ding Yuan:
“They don’t respect you…”
“They fear you.”
“Respect and fear—are not the same.”
“Use that sword of yours to protect those who live with honor, even if they are weak.”
“That… is true strength.”
Lü Bu etched those words deep into his heart.
What he had longed for as a child—
He felt it now, unmistakably, here and now.
This was Lü Bu’s first, and perhaps last, moment of true, untainted loyalty.
He swore to himself:
I will never betray this man.
That was his vow—
until the day he did.
Chapter 3: Between Glory and Temptation
But fate was cruel.
When Ding Yuan’s forces entered Luoyang,
What awaited them was Dong Zhuo—
a bloated general, steeped in power and greed.
The moment Dong Zhuo laid eyes on Lü Bu,
He made no effort to hide the glint of desire in them.
Dong Zhuo:
“That young beast…”
“Too fine a weapon to be wasted as Ding Yuan’s subordinate.”
“I must have him—no matter the cost.”
A messenger crept toward Lü Bu.
One night, in the quiet of the stables,
He revealed a horse—its coat shining a deep, fiery red—
and whispered:
Dong Zhuo:
“This is Red Hare—a divine steed like no other in all the land.”
“I offer this greatest of horses to you.”
“With a warrior like you astride this beast, no one could ever stand against you.”
“What is it you desire? Gold? Rank? Power?
All of it can be yours—with this one horse.”
“Think carefully. You’re not just gaining a horse…”
“You’re claiming your future.”
“…That is, if you’re ready to cast Ding Yuan aside.”
Lü Bu’s chest tightened.
Ding Yuan’s words echoed in his mind.
Ding Yuan:
“You are strong, yes—
But strength alone will never earn true loyalty.”
Yet Red Hare… was blinding.
Its brilliance outshone the night.
Lü Bu:
“Is that really true?”
“If I’m strong enough, won’t everyone respect me?”
“Ding Yuan saw my worth because of my strength.”
“Everything I’ve gained until now—was earned through power.”
“Even if I cast it all aside… I’ll win it back again.”
“With strength alone.”
“I have that kind of power.”
“I am that strong.”
And then—
Lü Bu silently reached for his blade.
Chapter 4: The Morning of Betrayal
The sky over Luoyang hung heavy, like molten lead.
Lü Bu stood frozen, sword still in hand.
The floor was stained with blood.
At his feet lay Ding Yuan, collapsed and lifeless.
The last thing he saw—
were eyes that seemed to forgive.
Even in death, his benefactor’s gaze still held
the light of faith in Lü Bu.
Ding Yuan:
“Fengxian… why…?”
That voice clung to the back of his mind,
refusing to fade.
Only the sword in his hand was trembling.
Lü Bu clenched his eyes shut—
as if to silence the world.
Lü Bu:
“There is no regret—
There must not be.”
“I am strong. Stronger than anyone.”
“With this strength, I will seize everything.”
Lü Bu stroked the mane of Red Hare,
and turned toward his new master—Dong Zhuo.
As he gripped the reins,
he felt something inside him crumble with a quiet crack.
Loyalty.
Trust.
Warmth.
He had severed them all—
With his own hand.
Mounting Red Hare, Lü Bu galloped through the night streets of Luoyang.
The sky was dark,
the road endless,
and behind him stretched the inescapable shadow of his sin.
Lü Bu:
“So this… is the path I’ve chosen.”
A path of unmatched strength—
and unbearable solitude.
The life of Lü Bu Fengxian,
a life beyond redemption,
had just begun to unfold.
Chapter Five: The Invincible God of War
Dong Zhuo:
“Well done, Fengxian! You’ve come!”
Dong Zhuo laughed, his bloated body quivering with each breath.
Lü Bu bowed in silence,
still clutching the sword—
Its blade not yet dry from Ding Yuan’s blood.
From that day on, Lü Bu became Dong Zhuo’s most trusted right-hand.
On the battlefield, he was nothing short of unstoppable.
Mounted atop Red Hare,
each swing of his spear sent enemy soldiers scattering like leaves.
The mere sight of his face turned enemy generals pale with fear.
He looked less like a man—
and more like a god of destruction, descended upon the earth.
“Among men, Lü Bu; among horses, Red Hare!”
So sang the people.
Lü Bu had reached the pinnacle.
Feared more than any other,
praised above all.
Chapter 6: The Battle of Hulao Gate
The gates of Hulao creaked open with a heavy groan.
From within the mist, a lone warrior emerged.
Red Hare beneath him.
Golden armor gleaming.
In his hand—
a long, massive Fangtian Huaji halberd.
Lü Bu.
The soldiers all gasped in unison.
“That’s… Lü Bu, the Warrior Among Men…!”
Some soldiers trembled
just from meeting his gaze.
Overwhelming pressure.
Majestic presence.
And the scent of death.
Lü Bu slowly opened his mouth.
Lü Bu:
“Even if a hundred of you came at me together—You still wouldn’t reach me.”
“Come forth… though I offer no promise you’ll leave alive.”
One after another, enemy generals stepped forward to face him.
But none lasted even three exchanges.
Chapter 6: The Invincible God of War
Tearing through the dense fog, Red Hare charged like a beast unleashed.
Lü Bu—
a living embodiment of the god of war.
His golden armor blazed in the sunlight,
his Fangtian Huaji cleaving through the sky and carving into the earth.
A dozen enemy soldiers closed in, surrounding him—
But he didn’t flinch for even a heartbeat.
Lü Bu:
“Out of my way, you insects.”
With a thunderous roar, Lü Bu’s halberd howled through the air.
A sweeping strike—
And several soldiers vanished in a spray of blood and dust.
With every stomp of Red Hare’s hooves, enemy formations shattered like glass.
When a soldier lunged at him from behind, Lü Bu didn’t even look—
he drove the butt of his halberd backward, crushing the man’s throat.
Then, leaping from his saddle,
He kicked off the earth and dove into the enemy ranks—
like a storm given flesh.
Lü Bu:
“I don’t have time to count the likes of your heads!”
Before the enemy general could even state his name,
Lü Bu had already cleaved it from his shoulders with a single sweep.
The chaos of the battlefield fell silent—if only for a moment.
Around him, only blood remained.
No one dared move.
And yet, Lü Bu’s eyes still burned with life.
Not with rage, nor mercy—
But with hunger.
For the next prey.
For the next battle.
At the rear of the formation,
Liu Bei watched the battlefield in silence.
Beside him, Zhang Fei spun his spear with a snarl, shouting:
Zhang Fei:
“That bastard’s taken down how many on his own?!”
“Brother, let me at him!”
Guan Yu:
“Wait.”
“Zhang Fei, let me go first.”
“I want to see for myself… what kind of monster we’re dealing with.”
A deep voice cut through—Guan Yu.
He slowly unsheathed the Green Dragon Crescent Blade.
Zhang Fei:
“Tch. You’ll need the two of us—
That guy’s not human.”
Liu Bei gave a silent nod.
And with that, Guan Yu spurred his horse forward.
Chapter 6: Clash of God and Demon
Guan Yu:
“Guan Yu, styled Yunchang—come to face you.”
With his declaration, the Crescent Blade sang through the air.
Lü Bu smirked, the corner of his mouth curling upward.
Lü Bu:
“Oh…? So you’re Guan Yu.”
Blades clashed—
Winds roared around them.
Hooves sparked against the ground like lightning.
Three strikes. Five. Ten.
Neither gave an inch.
Lü Bu’s halberd howled through the air,
while Guan Yu’s blade met each blow with razor precision.
The soldiers watching forgot to breathe.
Lü Bu:
“Heh… interesting… You’re not ready to die yet, are you?”
Guan Yu:
“You too—seem to have some backbone.”
But deep inside,
Guan Yu felt a flicker of unease.
Guan Yu’s thoughts:
“His strength… it’s crushing.”
“His speed—blinding.”
“And his technique… leaves no opening.”
Just then, Zhang Fei charged in with a roar.
Zhang Fei:
“Hey now, Guan Yu!”
”Don’t you dare forget about me!!”
The serpent spear roared through the air like thunder.
Three weapons clashed in a storm of steel.
It was no longer clear who was striking and who was defending.
Two against one—
And still, Lü Bu did not falter.
Lü Bu:
“Two-on-one…? How very rude of you!”
Zhang Fei:
“That’s ’cause you’re a damn monster!”
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei began to synchronize.
Spear and blade crossed paths, working in tandem to break through Lü Bu’s defense.
But Lü Bu leapt high,
and brought his halberd crashing down.
The ground split open—
stones shattered and exploded outward.
Chapter Seven: Three Bonds vs One Loneliness
Liu Bei:
“Enough.”
With that voice—
Liu Bei rode his horse into the battlefield,
cutting through the chaos.
Liu Bei:
“This man… he’s strong. Too strong for one alone.”
“But no matter what, we will stop him.”
“Because that is our righteous duty.”
“It’s time we show him the power of our bond—
The bond of three sworn brothers!”
Liu Bei clenched his fist.
The moment the three stood side by side,
They became a symbol of righteous unity.
Lü Bu looked at them—
And for the first time,
He readjusted his stance.
Lü Bu:
“…Not bad.”
“That thing you have—‘comrades you can entrust your back to.’”
“…I’ve never had that.”
For just a moment,
a flicker of loneliness crossed Lü Bu’s face.
The three brothers took formation,
silent and resolute.
All:
“Come, Lü Bu!”
With that roar,
The battle erupted once more.
Chapter 8: An Endless Battle
Twenty bouts… thirty…
Blows were exchanged, wounds were dealt—
Yet no victor emerged.
Red Hare’s hooves were slick with blood,
and Lü Bu’s breath grew heavy.
All:
“Even with the three of us… we still can’t bring you down…!”
“That alone proves you’re no ordinary warrior.”
“But Lü Bu—
A blade without righteousness will one day shatter.”
For a moment, Lü Bu seemed like he was about to say something.
But instead, he spurred Red Hare—
and vanished from the battlefield.
Retreat.
No one gave chase.
On that lone back—
was etched with the quiet weight
of a man once called the strongest…
carrying a solitude heavier than any blade.
Chapter 9: A False Father and a Faint Light
Nightfall.
Deep within Luoyang Castle, in a private chamber where only Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu sat.
Dong Zhuo, guzzling lavish wine, turned to Lü Bu and said:
Dong Zhuo:
“Fengxian… I have no sons of my own.”
“But I see you as one—as if you were my flesh and blood.”
Lü Bu quietly raised his cup, sipping in silence.
But his expression remained unchanged.
Behind the glory he had newly gained,
His heart was beginning to crack.
Lü Bu’s thoughts:
(Ding Yuan… said the same thing.)
But Lü Bu knew.
Though the words were identical,
Ding Yuan’s and Dong Zhuo’s were nothing alike.
Lü Bu:
“Dong Zhuo sees me only as power.”
“He values me because he needs my strength—not because he cares.”
To Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu was neither someone to protect nor someone to save.
The smile he wore as he spoke kind words—
was the smile of a master who believed he had tamed a wild beast with fangs.
And Lü Bu knew it.
But he… could do nothing about it.
Lü Bu:
“I’ve thrown everything away—
my oath, my loyalty, my master.”
“And none of it will ever come back.”
“I can’t stop now.”
“All I can do is keep moving forward.”
When Lü Bu walked through the streets of Luoyang,
The crowd parted before him.
The townspeople lowered their eyes, blinded by the gleam of his armor.
The nobles stepped aside and bowed their heads.
But what he saw in their eyes wasn’t respect.
It was fear—
Or worse, desire.
He had earned great fame through the swing of his sword, yes.
But the more fame he gained, the more distant people became.
And those who did approach…
only sought to use him.
There was no loyalty among them.
And so, Lü Bu remembered Ding Yuan’s words.
Ding Yuan’s words:
“You are strong, yes—
But strength alone will never earn true followers.”
Those words had become his reality.
That night, standing atop the castle walls,
Lü Bu looked up at the sky.
Lü Bu’s thoughts:
(What am I fighting for?)
There was no answer—not anywhere.
When he swung his blade, enemies fell.
But beyond each victory—
There was always nothing but the cold, dry wind.
Chapter Ten: A Faint Light
One day,
Lü Bu was invited to the residence of Wang Yun.
There, he met a woman.
Dressed in white,
With eyes as clear as obsidian,
and a quiet, gentle smile.
Diao Chan.
The moment she smiled gently—
Something long forgotten stirred in Lü Bu’s chest.
Lü Bu’s thoughts:
(Warmth…?)
Lü Bu, without thinking, reached out his hand.
But his fingertips could not reach.
No—he must not reach.
For Diao Chan’s eyes…
were steeped in sorrow.
The presence of this woman—whose name he did not yet even know—
lit a faint warmth in Lü Bu’s heart.
And that fragile warmth
began to quietly, ever so quietly,
crumble the last fortress buried deep within him.
Chapter 11: Between Love and Betrayal
Luoyang.
A quiet banquet held at Wang Yun’s residence.
Yet even this gathering felt hollow.
Laughter soaked in gold, wine, and vanity
echoed through the hall—empty and meaningless.
Lü Bu had removed his heavy armor
and sat quietly along the wall.
The lavish decorations, the bustling crowd—
None of it held any color in his eyes anymore.
In a room thick with warmth and noise,
he alone drank in silence, his gaze cold.
And then—
The air shifted.
Diao Chan appeared.
Draped in white silk,
radiant as if bathed in moonlight.
As she approached with quiet grace,
every breath in the room was stolen by her beauty.
Even Lü Bu found his gaze stolen—against his will.
Their eyes met.
But within hers, he saw it—
a sorrow so deep, it looked like it had drowned in silence.
Just a moment.
And yet, that was all it took—
for his chest to ache.
Lü Bu’s thoughts:
(What… is this feeling…?)
Lü Bu felt it clearly.
A racing of the heart—
something he had never felt,
not even on the battlefield.
Chapter 12: A Secret Tryst
A few nights later.
In a quiet corner of the garden,
moonlight spilled across the stone path,
And the air was crisp with a sharp, clear chill.
Guided by Wang Yun,
Lü Bu met with Diao Chan in secret.
Beneath the moonlight,
Diao Chan gently touched a flower in the garden with her slender fingers,
and began to speak softly.
Diao Chan:
“Lord Fengxian… I…”
“My heart… and body… were taken by Lord Dong Zhuo.”
Her voice trembled, barely above a whisper.
“He desires only my appearance—nothing more.”
“There is no affection… only hunger.”
“I am nothing more than one of his possessions…”
“And yet, I can do nothing about it…”
“I cannot cry for help.”
“I cannot scream.”
“Each day, I simply kill my heart… and keep breathing.”
Her words pierced Lü Bu’s chest like a blade.
Lü Bu:
“It’s the same…”
“Dong Zhuo sees me as nothing more than a weapon to wield…”
“And she… she’s no different…”
Lü Bu clenched his fist.
Tighter than he ever gripped his sword.
Lü Bu’s thoughts:
(I have to save her—)
A voice deep within him screamed.
But alongside it… another voice whispered:
(Will you betray again? This time… Dong Zhuo?)
Lü Bu clenched his teeth.
Staring at Diao Chan’s delicate, sorrowful figure,
He found himself locked
In a war not of steel—
But of self.
Lü Bu:
“…I’ll save you.”
His voice was low—strained, as if torn from his chest.
Diao Chan:
“But if you do that… Lord Lü Bu, you’ll be the one in danger…”
Lü Bu:
“It doesn’t matter.
I’ve already stained these hands once by killing my own lord.”
“There’s no turning back now.”
Diao Chan:
“Very well.”
“Then let us run away—together.”
“If I’m with you, I feel as though I could go anywhere.”
“At dawn tomorrow, when it’s all over…
Come to the top of the castle wall.”
“I’ll be waiting for you there.”
She smiled softly.
And that smile—
shattered what remained of Lü Bu’s heart.
Chapter 13: The Night of Decision
Late at night.
Lü Bu stood atop the White Gate Tower.
His sword rested across his knees,
As he sat beneath the cold night wind,
gazing silently up at the sky.
Lü Bu:
(Dong Zhuo… you gave me everything.)
(And yet, what you gave me was neither freedom… nor love.)
(It was—a cage.)
Below, the city of Luoyang burned—its flames lighting the darkness.
In the distance, the anguished cries of suffering people.
Closer still, echoing within his heart,
was the sound of Diao Chan’s weeping.
Lü Bu gripped his sword.
With this blade, he had betrayed—more than once.
With this blade, he had sworn to protect.
And now—
With this same blade,
He would once again take the life of his lord.
Chapter 13: Betrayal
The next morning.
Lü Bu slipped quietly into Dong Zhuo’s private quarters.
The massive figure of Dong Zhuo still lay upon his bed.
Hearing footsteps, he lifted his head.
Dong Zhuo:
“Fengxian…?”
“What brings you here?”
A heavy voice—
The same voice that once summoned Lü Bu,
That granted him rank and glory.
But Lü Bu gave no reply.
He stepped forward—once, then again.
A faint, smug smile crept across Dong Zhuo’s face.
Dong Zhu:
“What’s the meaning of this, Lü Bu?”
In that instant—
The sword flashed.
Dong Zhuo’s expression twisted—
from arrogance to sheer shock.
Dong Zhu:
“Y-You bastard—!”
Blood spilled, staining the floor a deep crimson.
Wordless rage,
and the despair of a pitiful, final betrayal,
spread across Dong Zhuo’s face.
Lü Bu said nothing.
Coldly, silently,
he drew his blade free.
And in that moment—
Something inside him shattered completely.
Yet still—there was hope.
Diao Chan.
He had slain his own lord,
for one reason alone—
for her.
Lü Bu:
“Diao Chan! I did it!”
“I did it!”
“For you—I feel like I could do anything!”
“Let’s leave this place together! As far as we can go!”
After the execution was done,
Lü Bu stumbled up the castle wall—
where she was supposed to be waiting.
But—she was nowhere to be found.
There was only one thing waiting for him:
the overcast sky,
stretching endlessly above.
Lü Bu:
(Why… did I do all of this…?)
Lü Bu thrust his sword into the ground and sank to his knees.
The wind carried with it the scent of blood.
He was supposed to have gained everything—
power, fame, the woman he loved.
But what lingered in his chest
was neither love,
nor freedom.
What remained was only—
a deep, aching loneliness.
Chapter 14: At the End of Loneliness
Lü Bu—the hero who slew Dong Zhuo.
But his moment of glory was painfully brief.
To Wang Yun and the others,
he had become a man whose use had run its course.
He was invited to fewer banquets,
and in the shadows, whispers began to spread.
“A traitor has no future.”
In the streets of Luoyang,
when Lü Bu walked, people parted before him.
But in their eyes was a mix of fear and contempt.
Lü Bu knew this well.
Whenever he wielded his sword, everyone feared him.
Yet not a single soul ever reached out a helping hand.
Chapter 15: The Wanderer
After fleeing Luoyang, Lü Bu stood drenched in cold rain on the outskirts of the capital.
Red Hare was exhausted,
and his once-glorious armor was stained with mud and blood.
Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao, Zhang Yang—
Lü Bu sought out powerful warlords across the land.
But in every camp he visited,
he was met with cold, wary eyes.
“So, that traitor Lü Bu… he’ll betray us again someday.”
“No fool would ever trust their back to a traitor.”
Wherever he went, doors were slammed shut in his face.
What awaited him were suspicious glances—
and days spent shunned, feared for the betrayal he once committed.
Lü Bu didn’t know how to live without drawing his sword.
But he understood one brutal truth—
He was seen only as a disposable blade.
So he fought, he plundered, and he wandered from place to place.
Chapter 16: Hope with Liu Bei
Dragging his body and heart, battered and bruised,
Lü Bu finally reached Xuzhou.
There he found Liu Bei—
a man clad in humble armor,
sharing laughs and stories with his retainers,
seemingly unremarkable, even a bit unreliable.
But—
His eyes told a different story.
Clear and unwavering,
the eyes of one who believed in loyalty and honor.
Liu Bei extended his hand to Lü Bu.
Liu Bei:
“Mistakes are made by all of us.”
“Stay here.”
“And this time, I want you to use your strength to protect the people.”
Lü Bu felt his chest burn with emotion.
To think—
There was still someone who would reach out unconditionally.
A feeling he had long since forgotten.
Lü Bu:
(Do I… still have a place in this world?)
Deep inside his chest, Lü Bu felt a small flame ignite.
Chapter 17: The Chain of Betrayal
But—
It didn’t last long.
To defend Xuzhou, Lü Bu gathered troops and rebuilt his army, reclaiming his “power.”
Yet the stain of being a traitor didn’t wash away so easily.
Many still eyed him with suspicion.
And once again, a voice whispered deep within his mind.
Lü Bu:
“No one trusts me…”
“At this rate, I’ll be betrayed and killed…”
“I need more power…
power so overwhelming that no one can stand against me…”
“I must strike before I’m struck…”
Conflict.
Rage.
Desperation.
And once again—betrayal.
Lü Bu seized control of Xuzhou for himself.
Lü Bu:
“I will unite this land and claim the realm as my own!”
Liu Bei rushed forward, shouting.
Liu Bei:
“Fengxian! I trusted you!”
Lü Bu said nothing.
He couldn’t meet those eyes.
But deep inside, he knew—
He had betrayed him once again.
Seeing the disappointment in Liu Bei’s gaze,
Lü Bu chose to look away.
Chapter 18: The Kingdom of Solitude
Lü Bu seized Xuzhou.
But—
It was like a castle built of sand.
His retainers were all there for profit.
Not a single one swore true loyalty.
No one genuinely respected Lü Bu.
And he understood this perfectly.
Lü Bu’s thoughts:
(What I sought wasn’t a kingdom.)
(What I truly wanted was someone—
someone I could trust.)
That night, burying his face in Red Hare’s mane,
Lü Bu whispered quietly.
Lü Bu:
“…Why?”
“All I ever wanted…
was just someone—
someone I could truly trust.”
The only answer was the cold wind.
Chapter 19: The Arrival of Despair
To Lü Bu, the final disaster was closing in.
Cao Cao.
Like a god of war risen,
This man began his march toward Lü Bu’s stronghold in Xuzhou.
And even his former comrade, Liu Bei, had joined forces with Cao Cao.
The very man who once reached out to him—
Now, he raised his sword to bring Lü Bu down.
From atop the city walls,
Lü Bu gazed out at the sea of banners rippling across the distant horizon.
Once,
He had never feared any enemy.
But now,
in this moment, Lü Bu understood.
Lü Bu:
(Ah… I am no longer needed by anyone.)
Chapter 20: Lü Bu — The Final Night
At White Gate Tower, beneath a murky sky,
Cao Cao’s massive army laid siege to Xiapi.
Lü Bu stood atop the city walls,
silent, staring down at the enemy forces.
Among them was his former comrade—Liu Bei.
On the faces of his men, despair was written plain.
Supplies had run dry, soldiers were starving and exhausted.
Unlike before,
no one offered words of praise to him.
Only fear, distrust, and resignation remained.
Lü Bu understood this all too well.
Lü Bu:
(No one… trusts me anymore.)
Chapter 21: The Night of Betrayal
Midnight.
Deep inside White Gate Tower, Lü Bu shed his armor
and gently stroked the mane of Red Hare.
The only one who never betrayed him.
The only one he never betrayed.
Red Hare let out a soft snort.
Then—
A faint presence stirred behind him.
Before Lü Bu could turn around,
the soldiers launched their attack all at once.
Hou Cheng.
Song Xian.
Wei Zhu—
Once his trusted subordinates, now betrayers.
Betrayers:
“Our army is finished.”
“But if we hand you over to Cao Cao, we might be spared.”
Those who once served Lü Bu—
now turned their blades against his back.
At White Gate Tower—
Lü Bu was captured.
He offered no resistance.
No shock, no fury.
Only—
a quiet closing of his eyes.
Lü Bu:
(…So this is my end.)
Bound and broken,
There was no trace left of the hero he once was.
Chapter 22: Plea for Life
Captured and bound in ropes, Lü Bu was brought before Cao Cao.
Cao Cao looked down at him with cold, piercing eyes.
For the first time in his life, Lü Bu bowed his head low—like never before.
Lü Bu:
“Lord Cao… it would be a shame to lose my strength.”
“I will serve you. From now on, I will wield my sword for your cause…”
His words were calm.
But beneath them lay a desperate, trembling urgency.
Lü Bu:
“Red Hare is here as well.”
“If I join your side, we will be invincible under heaven…!”
A plea.
A desperate appeal.
He was begging for his life.
His pride long cast aside.
He just wanted to live.
To be acknowledged—just once more.
But—
Beside him, Liu Bei spoke quietly.
Lü Bu:
“Lord Cao, you surely know—how many times Lü Bu has betrayed his masters…”
“Surely, you haven’t forgotten.”
Cao Cao stared at Lü Bu for a moment,
Then gave his order calmly and without emotion.
Cao Cao:
“Execute him.”
It was a death sentence delivered with chilling simplicity.
Chapter 23: The Last Pride
Lü Bu:
“What… did I ever do wrong?!”
As he was dragged toward the execution platform, Lü Bu shouted out.
However, no one answered his question.
The words of his former lord, Ding Yuan:
Ding Yuan:
“You are indeed strong. But strength alone will never earn true followers.”
That was the answer.
The answer had long ago been taught to him by his benefactor, Ding Yuan.
Lü Bu lowered his head and smiled.
A dry, sorrowful smile.
Summoning his last strength, he took a step forward—
Without waiting for anyone’s command,
He walked with dignity toward the execution platform.
Chapter 23: The Empty Sky
The sky above White Gate Tower was heavy and overcast.
A blade was raised.
Lü Bu looked up at the sky one final time.
There was
neither star nor light.
Only an endless expanse of gray.
And then,
He quietly closed his eyes.
Lü Bu:
(If I could be reborn—
I wouldn’t want fame or praise.
Just one person—
someone I could truly trust with all my heart.)
That wish was never fulfilled,
scattered away with the wind.
The blade came down, staining the ground with blood.
Lü Bu Fengxian—once hailed as “Lü Bu, the Mightiest Among Men”—met his end here.
His name was etched into history not as a hero,
but as a mere traitor—strong, yes, but utterly devoid of honor.
Epilogue: Beyond the Gray Sky
A wind swept across the ruins of Luoyang.
Among the rubble, a broken Fangtian Huaji lay, its blade stained red with rust.
Once, a man who was faster than anyone, stronger than all, and lonelier than any—
Today, his name is known to many as either the mightiest or the traitor.
But—
In the quiet of the night, the breeze carries a voice no one else can hear.
Lü Bu:
“I had… nothing but strength.
And strength—no one could surpass me in that.
So I trusted only that strength, and kept fighting.
But—by the time I realized,
There was nothing left.”
These were the final words of the man called a traitor—
a wish more human than anyone else’s,
and more painfully sincere than any.
Beyond the gray sky,
His soul still rides—
across endless grasslands,
With Red Hare beneath him.
Bound by no one.
Free.
Forever.
───
Afterword: The Life and Legacy of Lü Bu Fengxian
Lü Bu Fengxian.
When people hear that name, many say:
“A traitor.”
“A ruthless man.”
“Just a brute with strength.”
But—is that really the whole truth?
He was purer than anyone.
He believed in those he wanted to trust,
tried to protect what he cherished,
And each time he was betrayed,
He was hurt and left more alone.
Yet still, he never let go of his sword.
He had strength—but he didn’t know how to use it.
That’s why he was a clumsy man, trusting only his own strength, trying to seize everything by force.
He may have been foolish.
He may have been unrewarded.
But—
Lü Bu lived.
More fiercely than anyone else.
More painfully than anyone else.
And until his very last breath,
He never let go of his pride.
This story is—
a quiet requiem for a man who was never truly understood—
a solitary soul that undeniably existed.
If, after reading this tale,
You felt even a flicker of pain for his clumsy, troubled life—
Then this story is complete.
Thank you, Lü Bu Fengxian.
To the man who was stronger than anyone,
and lonelier than all.
───
The End
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Author: Fuji
Human history is truly complex, isn’t it?
There are countless websites introducing historical figures and events, but many of them are just plain explanations—not exactly exciting to read.
On the other hand, reading books takes a lot of time and effort.
That’s where I come in.
Through “stories that are more engaging than explanations and shorter than books,” I aim to bring the world’s history and humanity’s records to you in a more accessible and interesting way.
If my stories inspire you to love history a little more, I’d be absolutely thrilled!
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