Chapter 25

Chapter 659: Lü Bu's Counterintelligence (2)

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Four days. As agreed with Guo Jia, Lü Bu did not seek out Zhang Xi for four days.

For Zhang Xi, who needed to get closer to Lü Bu as soon as possible, this was a time of great anxiety.

"His eyes definitely showed that he was attracted to me..."

"Big sister, what are you muttering to yourself?"

"Huh? Nothing. Where is Zhen Xi...?"

As soon as Zhang Xi asked about Zhen Xi's whereabouts, a strange fragrance wafted in. Zhen Xi appeared, holding a small incense burner from which a pale smoke was rising.

"What's all this?"

"This? It's a secret weapon to ease your worries. It's an incense stick that can only be obtained from the land of Ji. I originally wanted to use it for you, but I got it too late..."

Zhang Xi nodded as if she understood.

No doubt, the incense Zhen Xi brought would contain a scent to arouse men's desires.

Just smelling this incense wouldn't make men go wild and rush towards women, but it would help set the right mood.

But this was enough.

Zhang Xi was confident that if she were left alone with Lü Bu, she could definitely charm him. The problem was that Lü Bu wasn't coming to her.

'Why hasn't he come yet?'

Zhang Xi was frustrated that Lü Bu hadn't sought her out even though she was all prepared.

However, she couldn't show her impatience first. The side that shows impatience first would lose control.

Zhang Xi waited and waited, feeling as if she were pricking her thigh with a needle. The saying that a moment feels like a long night must have been coined for situations like this.

And before that night was over, an opportunity came to her. Lü Bu sent someone to summon Zhang Xi.

* * *

Lü Bu's quarters. Lü Bu had called Zhang Xi, and Guo Jia was busily moving around.

"Hey! Master, what are all these books?"

Lü Bu noticed the books Guo Jia had placed on the desk and asked. Guo Jia smiled at Lü Bu.

"Only by spreading these out can you appear learned."

"But even if I do, I'm not a scholar who has studied the classics. Putting out books of the classics..."

Lü Bu seemed uncomfortable with the books of the classics.

However, Guo Jia believed that placing such deep books would make Lü Bu appear more learned.

If Lü Bu's appearance were to be described, he was a rare handsome man. But in terms of learning, he could barely read and write.

Guo Jia wanted Lü Bu to appear as a learned ruler rather than just a strong warrior to Zhang Xi. This was his calculation to make Lü Bu more appealing to Zhang Xi.

Lü Bu wasn't worried about deceiving Zhang Xi. He was afraid that if she asked about the content of the classics, he wouldn't be able to answer and his trick might be exposed.

"This, Lü Fengxian, is not a man who lives by the words of the sages. If she asks if I've read the classics, what will I say?"

"That won't happen. The beauties sent by Huang Bosun will try to charm you, not discuss the classics, as that would ruin their own plans."

Lü Bu couldn't argue with Guo Jia and instead changed the subject.

"Where did you put the writing materials? Have you forgotten that I like to write?"

"Oh! If the beauties see your writing, they'll come at you with knives. Your writing should only be for your enemies."

"What are these bamboo slips for?"

"These are military treatises I've been reading."

Guo Jia said this and inserted a bamboo slip into Lü Bu's waistband.

"Hey! This is where you put a sword, not a bamboo slip. What's the point of that?"

"This is the latest trend. This is also..."

Guo Jia offered a feathered hat.

"No, I don't want that. Trends are fine, but I don't want to lose myself."

Seeing Lü Bu's strong resistance, Guo Jia decided not to insist on the feathered hat. Instead, he reminded Lü Bu again.

"General, this is for the greater good. You must not be swayed by emotions."

"Do you think I'll be so easily charmed by the beauties?"

"I'm just preparing for all possibilities. I've been trained to consider every possible scenario."

Guo Jia was actually very worried.

Isn't it natural for a man to not refuse a woman if he has the strength to stand? It was beyond Guo Jia's understanding that a hero like Lü Bu wouldn't be attracted to a beauty.

'General, it's just that he is deeply in love with Lady Chao and doesn't want to be close to other women. But the human heart is like a reed, and it can change at any time.'

On the other hand, Lü Bu was confident he wouldn't be charmed by other women.

He had already tasted the ultimate pleasures of the world. He was confident that nothing ordinary would move his heart.

"Master, don't worry. No matter how the beauties try to charm me, I won't let it ruin the plan. I promise."

* * *

Guo Jia wanted to say more to Lü Bu, but he couldn't. Someone announced that Zhang Xi had arrived at the door.

"General, I will take my leave now. I wish you good luck."

"What good luck? You're not going to battle."

Guo Jia bowed to Lü Bu and quickly left through the back door.

Lü Bu's gaze then turned to the door where Zhang Xi was standing.

"Bring in the beauty!"

Soon, Zhang Xi entered, and the servant who had brought her bowed slightly and left the room.

Alone together. Now that they were alone, Lü Bu didn't know what to do.

"General, how long do you plan to keep me standing here?"

Zhang Xi's words snapped Lü Bu out of his daze.

'So, she's trying to take the initiative?'

Only then did Lü Bu realize who he was facing.

"You are a gift sent by Huang Bosun to surrender. Can't I do as I please with you?"

"Then are you just going to keep me standing here?"

"That's not bad, either."

Lü Bu said this brusquely and sank deeper into his chair. Zhang Xi, without permission, began to look around the room.

At first glance, she seemed to be looking around out of curiosity. But in fact, she was examining Lü Bu's belongings to find any important information.

The books on the desk were so difficult that just a glance at a few characters made her head hurt.

'No way. Lü Bu reading these books?'

Lü Bu was just a general from the border of Bingzhou, as was known. Unless he was from a scholar's family, it would be very rare for a warrior to read the classics.

Yet, the classics were spread out on Lü Bu's desk, which made Zhang Xi suspicious.

'They look like they've been used a lot. The same with the bamboo slips. If so, Lü Bu's learning might be better than I thought...'

Zhang Xi was suspicious, but she had no way to verify it.

Still, her eyes roamed around Lü Bu's room, hoping to find something useful. She searched with a keen eye, but the results were not impressive.

After all, the military strategies of the Lü Bu army came only from the military strategist. Lü Bu himself followed the strategies, so there would be no documents related to military strategies in his room.

"Planning to steal a military order and give it to Huang Bosun?"

Lü Bu said this in a bored tone, and Zhang Xi flinched. But she turned around and smiled as if nothing had happened.

"Of course not. I'm just a beauty here to sing and dance for you."

"Is that so? Can you dance?"

Zhang Xi inwardly rejoiced at Lü Bu's reaction.

"I'm skilled in singing, dancing, and various instruments, but I'm best at dancing. Would you like to see?"

"Sure, if you say so. Dance for me."

"Here?"

"Would you rather dance outside?"

The location wasn't the problem for Zhang Xi.

The problem was the lack of music. If An Xi or Zhen Xi were here, she wouldn't have worried, as they were also skilled in music.

But now, Zhang Xi was alone. She couldn't play an instrument and dance at the same time.

"Without music? At the very least, someone should provide a tune."

"Then I'll sing for you."

* * *

Zhang Xi had an unprecedented experience of dancing to Lü Bu's song, which was usually sung at the military gate.

Still, as she had said, she was indeed skilled at dancing. Lü Bu enjoyed singing, partly because Zhang Xi's dance was quite impressive.

Moreover, singing loudly after a long time made him feel good, so he sang even more enthusiastically, which led to a misunderstanding.

The singing that leaked out of the door made Chaoxian's expression serious. She nodded to Zhegao, who had come with her. Without a word, the two of them began to move in unison.

Chaoxian and Zhegao decided to meet Lü Bu after the song ended. When the singing finally subsided, Chaoxian called out from outside the door.

"Lord, your humble servant Chaoxian is here."

Hearing Chaoxian's voice from