Infinity, The Arcade Age

With a gentle stroke of his beard, a faint smile graced Guan Yu's face as he turned back toward the shade of a tree.

Zhou Cang, catching the tossed Green Dragon Crescent Blade, stood frozen for a moment before rushing over to Guan Yu's side. He leaned closer and whispered cautiously:

"General, about those three…"

"Use them."

"But earlier, you said they might be spies for Wei…"

"They might have been earlier, but not anymore. I know the skilled warriors of Wei, and if these three were from their ranks, I would recognize them. Warriors of this caliber wouldn't be wasted as spies; their loss would be too great a cost."

Resuming his seat under the tree, Guan Yu picked up his copy of Spring and Autumn Annals. With a glance at the newcomers, he addressed them with a calm and measured tone.

"Gentlemen, forgive Guan's caution. Our defeat has left us vulnerable, and with Xiahou Dun relentlessly hunting us, I cannot afford to be careless. Trust is earned, not given freely. If you lack the strength to oppose Wei, allowing you to join would mean sending you to needless deaths."

Finishing his explanation, Guan Yu clasped his hands and gave a small bow of apology.

Qin Ming, who had been rubbing his neck while silently observing the famous general, returned the bow with a composed expression.

He had already deduced Guan Yu's lack of hostility during their exchange. If the general had truly intended to kill him, his absurdly high defensive capabilities wouldn't have been enough to endure a strike empowered by 60 Strength—especially with skill amplification.

The rumors of Guan Yu's character seemed accurate. His pride and arrogance were paired with a genuine respect for those he considered his subordinates.

To those beneath him, Guan Yu was generous and approachable. But to peers or anyone deemed his equal, he was aloof and dismissive.

It was not uncommon to hear him belittle others with phrases like, "Just another head for the chopping block." He tolerated no rivals on his pedestal, yet treated those who served him with warmth and encouragement.

Now recognizing Qin Ming and his companions as capable, Guan Yu's attitude softened considerably. Their relationship began on a note of mutual respect, with their reputation firmly established.

This newfound acceptance also unlocked a key advantage: access to the Shu army's exchange inventory, managed by Zhou Cang himself.

Among the many weapons and consumables available, two items stood out as the pinnacle of the inventory:

Name: Holy Sword - Replica (Dynasty Warriors 2)

Category: Weapon (Common Silver Story Equipment)

Requirements: 20 Spirit

Attributes:

Attack: 25–30

Attribute 2: Wrath of the Green Emperor (Adds 25 fire damage per strike)

Description: A replica of the Holy Sword, used by the Han Emperor Gaozu to slay the White Serpent. Though a copy, it retains considerable power and is regarded as a symbol of honor among Liu Bei's generals.

Name: Warhorse Gong (Dynasty Warriors 2)

Category: Consumable (Dim Silver Quality)

Effect: Summons a warhorse for combat, with all base attributes at 15. (One use per world)

Description: Though infantry is often preferred, cavalry remains a decisive force in battle.

Both items were attractive in their own right: the sword for its raw power and the gong for its strategic mobility.

However, Qin Ming and Ghost Lady found themselves staring not at the exchange list but at a different treasure entirely—the Green Dragon Crescent Blade standing proudly beside Guan Yu.

Ghost Lady's unique talent for replicating main-character items had her nearly salivating at the thought of copying the legendary weapon.

But as much as she yearned to make her move, she hesitated.

The blade, like a wife to a warrior, was a deeply personal possession. Asking to borrow or replicate it without the right relationship level could easily offend the general and result in a significant loss of goodwill.

Recalling her past mistakes with such requests, Ghost Lady clenched her fists and remained silent. Even Qin Ming, with his burning curiosity to see the blade's stats, chose not to push his luck.

As the two of them exchanged reluctant glances, Guan Yu suddenly broke his silence, his eyes narrowing as he stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"Li Dian, acting as the Wei army's vanguard, is stationed at the main pass with 3,000 soldiers, cutting off all our supply lines.

Behind him lies Xiahou Dun, commanding an army of 20,000, ready to reinforce at a moment's notice.

With our limited forces, a direct assault would be suicidal. We must devise a strategy to lure Li Dian into a trap and eliminate him swiftly."

Ghost Lady, snapping out of her thoughts, offered a proposal.

"General, if you trust the three of us, perhaps we could act as bait to draw Li Dian out."

"Oh?" Guan Yu's brows arched slightly. "And you believe you can succeed?"

"Possibly. We've already clashed with him—his cavalry, to be precise. Yesterday, we annihilated them. If he learns we're nearby, his anger might cloud his judgment and draw him into the open."

Guan Yu's eyes widened in surprise.

"You destroyed Li Dian's cavalry?"

The general, who had remained composed until now, momentarily lost his calm.

He had heard of the cavalry's devastating defeat but had assumed it was the work of his third brother or another prominent ally.

Releasing his beard, Guan Yu fixed his gaze on Qin Ming and Ghost Lady.

After a moment of tense silence, his voice grew cold and authoritative.

"Soldiers of the Shu army do not make idle boasts.

If you are willing to serve as vanguard, luring Li Dian into our grasp, then answer me this:

Do you dare swear an oath of military accountability?"

Hearing the challenge, Qin Ming and Ghost Lady exchanged glances.

Without hesitation, they bowed deeply and declared in unison:

"We are willing to swear such an oath!"

Guan Yu's expression softened as he nodded.

"Very well. If you succeed, you will be credited with the highest honors in this campaign.

When the time comes, I will personally recommend you to my elder brother!"

(End of Chapter)