The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

"That woman surnamed Ren, named 'Cicada,' is she so unforgettable to you? You even went to the Situ residence to beg for her? Too bad your information was wrong, she's not a maid in the Wang Situ household!"

"Tell me, in what ways is Guo Fengxiao inferior to her?"

He made it as a joke out of spite, wanting to get to the bottom of things.

Xun Hao was bewildered by the discrepancy in history, and although he heard Guo Jia's question, he did not know how to explain it.

What troubled him most was that without Diao Chan, who would carry out the beauty trap?

His silence was interpreted by Guo Jia as tacit agreement.

Guo Jia slowly released his grip on Guo Jia's chin.

The irritation rising from the bottom of my heart did not diminish but rather increased.

So it was true.

He didn't want to face the child he had watched grow up for the time being, so he took two steps back, creating distance between them.

The intimate atmosphere that had just been there vanished in an instant.

"Alright, I understand." Guo Jia turned around, walked to the window, opened it, and let the night wind blow in.

"You should rest early. It's a pity I couldn't get you the beauty you've been longing for to take care of you."

Xun Hao opened his mouth, but it felt like something was blocking his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word.

For the first time, he realized with such clarity that he was not a detached bystander; his existence, every flap of his wings, was truly changing the world. Xun Hao's throat bobbed, but he ultimately couldn't utter the words "I am not." How could he explain it? That he came from a thousand years in the future and knew a piece of history that should have happened? That he sought that woman not for love, but to use her to complete a scheme? Any of these statements sounded more like madness than any mention of the woman herself.

Watching Guo Jia's departing figure, Xun Hao realized for the first time that he might care about Guo Jia's opinion far more than he had imagined.

But right now, there's no time for sentimentality.

According to records, even when faced with the sudden appearance of Lü Bu, Cao Cao was able to escape unscathed by pretending to offer him a knife after failing to assassinate him.

But what if? What if Cao Cao dies because of this? That would be the end of it.

Xun Hao turned around, pushed open the door, and went straight to Wang Yun's study.

"Lord Situ."

Wang Yun was somewhat surprised to see Xun Hao return.

"Is there something amiss with Young Master Xun's late-night visit?"

"The plan has flaws," Xun Hao said bluntly. "The biggest variable is Lü Bu."

He laid out his concerns: Lü Bu's martial prowess and his protection of Dong Zhuo were the biggest uncontrollable factors in the assassination attempt. If Lü Bu returned to the Prime Minister's residence while Cao Cao was on his way, Cao Cao would undoubtedly die.

Wang Yun's expression also turned serious: "General Lü is indeed valiant and we must be wary of him. But... I have no close relationship with him, how can I possibly hold him back?"

"I'll do it."

Xun Hao's voice was very soft, but it made Wang Yun freeze in place.

"You?" Wang Yun looked at the thin, frail boy in front of him, who seemed like he could be blown away by a gust of wind, and thought he had misheard.

"At three-quarters past noon tomorrow, Lü Bu will return to the Prime Minister's residence from the Western Camp. I will find a way to delay him on the way, the longer the better."

Wang Yun didn't care who would hold off Lü Bu; it was better that Xun Hao was willing to take the risk himself.

"Very well!" Wang Yun slammed his hand on the table. "I will prepare a carriage for you right away and send my servants to accompany you."

The next day, at noon.

Cao Cao, carrying an antique wooden box, entered the Prime Minister's residence.

As Xun Hao had predicted, Dong Zhuo was not in the main hall where the meeting was to be held, but was drinking alone in a small pavilion in the back garden. There were only a few guards around the pavilion, who were drowsy.

A golden opportunity! Cao Cao suppressed his wildly beating heart and slowly walked over.

Meanwhile, on the main road leading from the south gate of Luoyang to the Prime Minister's residence.

An unremarkable carriage, escorted by servants of the Prince's mansion, moved along at a leisurely pace.

Inside the carriage, Xun Hao pulled his cloak tighter, lowering the hood to reveal only a glimpse of his pointed chin.

"Young master, the Marquis Wen's cavalry is just ahead," a servant outside the carriage whispered.

Xun Hao lifted a corner of the carriage curtain.

Not far ahead, a lone rider galloped away, leaving everyone else in the dust.

The man was clad in chainmail armor with beast-faced heads, wielded a halberd, and rode a tall, fiery steed—it was none other than Lü Bu and his Red Hare.

"Get closer." Xun Hao lowered the carriage curtain, his voice calm.

The carriage slowly accelerated.

Fifty steps, thirty steps, ten steps...

Just as the two groups were about to cross paths, Xun Hao's voice suddenly rang out.

"Run it over!"

Without the slightest hesitation, the servant driving the carriage lashed out with his whip, striking the horse's rump hard!

The horse, in pain, let out a long, mournful neigh and charged straight at Lü Bu's mount like a madman!

This happened so fast!

Lu Bu's personal guards were terrified and drew their weapons, but it was too late to stop him.

A bloody collision was about to occur.

"You beast!"

With a roar, Lü Bu spurred his horse's flanks.

The magnificent Red Hare, as if it were a human, reared up, its front hooves drawing a powerful arc in the air, and then, with the force of its four hooves, its entire body lifted off the ground!

Like a streak of crimson lightning, it leaped over the startled horse and the carriage!

Fly across!

The carriage lost its target and crashed heavily into a stone lion beside it, shattering the carriage and sending splinters flying.

A tremendous force struck, and Xun Hao's body was violently thrown out of the shattered carriage.

The expected excruciating pain did not come.

A strong, iron-like arm caught him firmly in its embrace before he landed.

Lu Bu caught the "girl" who flew out of the carriage, and found her to be light and flimsy, with little weight.

The person in his arms wore a large cloak, the hood of which had slipped down, revealing a small face no bigger than a palm. The skin was a sickly white, the eyebrows and eyes were so delicate they looked painted on, but the lips were almost bloodless.

When he looked at her like that, the man's long eyelashes trembled, like the wings of a startled butterfly, and then a pair of clear eyes looked over, with a hint of confusion in them.

"Young lady, are you alright?" Lü Bu's voice was deep. Young lady? How do I look like a young lady?!

Even though he was roaring in his heart, Xun Hao did not deny the title in order to buy time.

He let out a suppressed cry of pain, his body trembling slightly, perfectly portraying the appearance of a girl who was extremely frightened.

"Thank you... thank you for saving me, General." His voice was deliberately soft and gentle.

"Your horse got spooked," Lü Bu said, his gaze falling on the magnificent Red Hare not far away. "Luckily, Red Hare was alert and leaped over the carriage."

Xun Hao's gaze, however, fell on the magnificent Red Hare, and he exclaimed sincerely, "General's steed is truly extraordinary."

These words struck a nerve with Lü Bu.

His proudest possession in life, besides his martial arts skills, was his Red Hare horse.

"That's for sure." A hint of pride appeared on Lü Bu's face. "This horse can travel a thousand miles a day, crossing rivers and climbing mountains as if walking on flat ground."

"Only a general with exceptional martial arts skills could ride such a divine steed," Xun Hao added, following his words.

This compliment made Lü Bu's smile widen even further.