Three Kingdoms Mythology World.

In fact, it wasn't just Lin Mu who was a little confused; Liu Bei was also bewildered by Dong Zhuo's attitude.

At the time, he thought he was about to fight a fierce battle and carve a bloody path through the enemy lines. Unexpectedly, the Xiliang cavalry treated them with great courtesy after learning their identities.

It should be noted that Liu Bei was a prince listed on the list of princes of heaven and earth, and he was destined to be a prince. Dong Zhuo definitely wanted to seize his destiny.

Is this a case of trying diplomacy first, then resorting to force?!

Therefore, although the three accepted Dong Zhuo's kindness, they did not let their guard down at all.

Inside a courtyard of the Imperial Clan Court, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei sat in the main hall, all deep in thought.

"Brother, could this be a trick by Dong Zhuo?" Zhang Fei asked with a serious expression.

Before Liu Bei could speak, Guan Yu stroked his long beard and nodded in agreement: "Third brother is right. Dong Zhuo is a traitor to the country, and his wolfish ambitions are obvious. Our sudden infiltration into Chang'an is clearly not for good. Why would he treat us with courtesy for no reason? He must be plotting something. We must be on guard."

"It's alright, the three of us brothers have greatly increased our strength, we're not afraid even if that bastard Lü Bu comes!" Zhang Fei said confidently.

Liu Bei paused slightly in his teacup, blew on the foam rising to the surface, and slowly said, "What you two brothers say makes sense. Dong Zhuo has coveted the world for a long time, and even the emperor is under his control. This secret abdication is a coup to usurp the Han throne!"

“The three of us brothers ran into his territory, so he couldn’t have been without ulterior motives. It’s just that he hasn’t shown any signs of aggression yet, so let’s wait and see what he really wants to do.”

Dong Zhuo had confidence, and Liu Bei also had an inexplicable confidence.

Let's see what the next match between the two sides brings...

Guan Yu's brow remained furrowed. After hastily taking a sip of tea, he immediately put down the teacup and said softly, "Dong Zhuo has always acted tyrannically. This time, his unusual show of goodwill towards us is probably aimed at the aura of a warlord that you possess, brother. I just don't know what methods he plans to use. We must not sleep too much tonight, in case of any unforeseen circumstances."

"Brother, should we still contact Wang Yun?" Zhang Fei asked again.

"Let's not contact them for now. Dong Zhuo invited us directly to the Imperial Clan Court's residence; isn't that a sign of surveillance?" Liu Bei waved his hand and said.

Their plans are highly confidential, and they will avoid revealing them if possible. Even if the specific arrangements haven't been clearly explained to them, they can still act according to the situation.

"In twelve days, Dong Zhuo should officially set off from Mei County and travel all the way to Chang'an. The journey will take about five days..." Liu Bei squinted slightly, looking at the swaying bamboo forest outside the hall, and said meaningfully.

"According to the servant's instructions, we need to set off for the Temple of Heaven on the sixteenth day..."

"The date that will decide the fate of the Han Dynasty is so short. Alas..." Liu Bei sighed softly, his face full of vicissitudes.

Upon hearing this, the two brothers felt the same way. If that thing really happened, what would become of their eldest brother...?

"It's all my fault for lacking the power and wisdom to stabilize the world. If I had, how could I have allowed such an absurd thing to happen... Alas..." Liu Bei began to lament the state of the world again.

"Don't worry, brother. As long as the three of us are together, our strength will be unbreakable. We will definitely be able to build a foundation in this chaotic world!" Zhang Fei said firmly.

"That's right! Brother, don't be confused. We will definitely have a place in the future!" Guan Yu echoed.

"With two younger brothers who offer their unwavering support, my life has not been in vain!"

The three brothers shook hands, tightly joined together.

"Brother, have you decided on whom to use the Luck-Borrowing Technique?" After boosting morale, Guan Yu asked in a low voice.

"We can't use this on Dong Zhuo..." Liu Bei suddenly said.

The two were slightly startled upon hearing this. Their elder brother had been so firmly committed to Dong Zhuo before; how could he have changed his mind after arriving in Chang'an and entering the Imperial Clan Court?
“I used my ability to observe fate to examine the Xiliang cavalry and found that their destiny is already fading. Dong Zhuo’s destiny may be the same… Once I become entangled with him, it might really affect me…”

Normally, if he borrowed Dong Zhuo's fortune and Dong Zhuo died, then he wouldn't have to repay the borrowed fortune; he could have gotten it for free!
However, he would have to bear the consequences that Dong Zhuo had to bear. The consequences of usurping the Han throne were too great for his small stature (foundation), so he could not bear them. Therefore, he could not go to deliver the offering!
"That's why I dared to lead you all into the Imperial Clan Court alone," Liu Bei said slowly.

"Does Brother mean that Wang Yun will definitely succeed?!" Zhang Fei asked in surprise.

"It should succeed... but we don't know exactly what methods Wang Yun has arranged for us yet." Liu Bei nodded and then shook his head.

"Now Dong Zhuo is very polite to many people, which makes me feel uneasy," Guan Yu said quietly.

"Chang'an City now is a place where undercurrents are surging and it is by no means a good place."

“No wonder those extraordinary people fled for their lives…they must have sensed something,” Liu Bei sighed softly.

"By the way, how has Third Brother been lately?" Guan Yu suddenly asked.

“We haven’t heard from him lately…” Liu Bei said, his brow furrowed. He had a feeling something had happened to Zhu Xuan, which made him uneasy. “Currently, there are quite a few warlords in Chang’an…”

The three of them sipped their tea and continued their conversation...

The news that Liu Bei and his two companions had arrived in Chang'an and settled in the Imperial Clan Court reached a large hall within the Temple of Heaven complex immediately.

If Liu Bei were inside the main hall, he would surely have noticed that his third brother, Zhu Xuan, was standing there.

Besides Zhu Xuan, there was a gentle woman wearing a veil beside him. She gently held Zhu Xuan's arm, acting like a little bird clinging to him.

In front of the two were five men in black.

The leader of the group, dressed in black, was holding a scroll with a golden dragon design.

If Liu Bei were here, he would surely discover that the scroll was actually Zhu Xuan's way of breaking into the Peach Garden and forcibly joining their sworn brotherhood with an imperial edict, becoming the third of the four!

At the time, only a portion of the scroll was opened... as if some secret was still hidden within.

"Buzz!!!~~~" Just then, the leader of the men in black slowly raised his left hand, and a small, ancient tower surrounded by a hazy gray aura suddenly appeared in his palm.

He held a small pagoda in his left hand and an imperial edict in his right.

"Are you really sure?" the man in black asked, his eyes deep and his tone ethereal.

"Of course, I know that although my sworn brotherhood with them appears harmonious on the surface, I have never truly integrated into their group. If I can play a role this time, I will also understand a cause and effect." Zhu Xuan glanced at the man in black, then turned his head and tightly grasped the soft hand of the beauty beside him, speaking sincerely.

"Thank you for your help, my lord." The veiled woman grasped her husband's arm tightly, deeply moved.

"Good, this technique can temporarily sever the sworn brotherhood between Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, and can even influence the three of them at the level of destiny. At that time, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei will be able to act according to our will!"

Zhu Xuan was shocked by the man in black's words. This guy was incredibly powerful, and the level he was involved in was terrifying; it was something he had never even considered before.

If he truly had the support of such a family, Zhu Xuan would surely have a place in the land of China!

The Xun and Cai clans under Lin Mu's command are not worth worrying about!

He never imagined that such an opportunity would fall into his lap...

I never expected that the foreshadowing I had laid would be used ahead of schedule.

It's worth noting that a great deal of effort was put into obtaining this imperial edict. Perhaps his luck was also shared by Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei; otherwise, his career and path to becoming a lord wouldn't have been so fraught with difficulties...

"Clan Chief, I still have a Divine General Recruitment Order. Can I use it on Guan Yu and Zhang Fei?!" Zhu Xuan asked the black-clad leader in a deep voice.

"We'll see how things go... I don't know the specifics either." The man in black's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't give a specific answer.

"Alright, we can begin setting up the formation... Try to activate the formation a few days in advance to subtly influence the fates of the three, and ideally, separate them... that way, Liu Bei's influence on the two will be even smaller," the leading man in black said quietly.

After that, the five men in black began to set up in the main hall.

Zhu Xuan watched the five busy men, his eyes gleaming. Frankly, he desperately wanted Liu Bei to be severely injured in this Chang'an arc, and then for him to take his head. That way, he could replace Liu Bei on the prestigious list of warlords, and if he could also recruit Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, he could truly become a player on the chessboard, vying for supremacy!

He had a premonition that this mysterious, reclusive family also yearned for an official position!

Otherwise, why would they go to such lengths to help Wang Yun?
At the same time, he also discovered that the Mythology Research Institute, the Sima family, and others were also connected to this mysterious family.

Furthermore, their connections are very deep... and they seem to be plotting something even more terrifying!
Outside the main hall, Lü Bu led a patrol team to survey the surrounding area.

This was a special instruction given by Dong Zhuo; all threats posed by the buildings near the Temple of Heaven needed to be eliminated.

Lu Bu led his men into the main hall, but found no trace of Zhu Xuan and the others; the hall was empty.

However, a glint of light appeared in Lu Bu's eyes. He could sense that something was amiss in the hall, but he didn't say anything. He led his patrol team around the side for a quick look and then left.

This main hall is for ceremonial preparations; the ceremonial supervisor and other officials will reside there later.

As the appointed time drew closer, Chang'an City grew increasingly peaceful. (End of Chapter)