In order to become a Heroic Spirit, I had no choice but to cause trouble in history.

Let this knife pierce the heart of the knife's own sister.

As a human being, I find it utterly despicable.

But as a king, it's well worth it.

But the result is what Liu Ji is seeing now.

Assassinating Liang Ning was not as simple as assassinating Wei Hao. Although Liang Ning also died at Zi Huai's hands, because he was on guard, he caused Zi Huai a lot of trouble. For example, Zi Huai lost an arm, Zi Huai had a wound on his abdomen, and... the portrait of Zi Huai that Zi Juan was holding.

Zijuan was stunned, staring at the portrait with a look of astonishment on her face, remaining motionless for a long time.

Why, why you?

Ashu, why you?

Xiang An glanced at Zi Juan, gently shook his head, looked at the object in his hand—a hideous mask—and then slowly uttered a call.

"Little Four".

Zijuan remained unmoved.

"...Xiao Si."

After a moment of silence, Xiang An called out again.

"...Second Brother, let me...be quiet..." Zijuan responded to Xiang An with difficulty, her voice trembling.

“That’s our enemy.” Xiang An didn’t give Zijuan any space to be quiet. He just looked at the mask Liao Ye had made for him and said in as calm a tone as possible.

"...Second...Brother..." Zijuan's voice was choked with sobs, the portrait cloth in her hand was clenched into a ball, and her whole body was bent over.

Zijuan didn't want to accept this fact.

Moreover, she knew that Xiang An was right.

But she didn't want to accept it.

Xiang An didn't look at Zijuan again, put the mask aside, and stood up.

Then he sat down next to Zijuan and placed his large, rough hands on her head.

"......well?"

Zijuan was stunned, slowly raised her head, and looked to her side.

What came into view was Xiang An's tired but gentle smile.

Just like many years ago.

"Try to cry," Xiang An said gently, looking into Zi Juan's eyes.

Cry, no one forbids you from crying, just like how pathetic I was after leaving my older brother.

Cry out loud.

"Waaaah... Waaah—"

Zijuan couldn't bear it any longer. She gritted her teeth, slammed her head against Xiang An's side, grabbed Xiang An's clothes, and cried softly and desperately, trying her best not to cry out loud.

How could Zijuan not break down when her younger brother, whom she had gained and then lost, returned to her life in this way?

Xiang An is right, Zi Huai is already an enemy of Northern Chu.

He killed Wei Hao and Liang Ning, two pillars of the southern defense line, thus destroying the southern defense line of Northern Chu and causing Northern Chu to fall into its current dilemma. He is Northern Chu's greatest enemy.

Because they are enemies, they must be killed.

"Why, Second Brother—tell me why!?"

Zijuan broke down in tears and asked Xiang An.

Xiang An did not answer, but gently patted Zijuan's back with his left hand, his tired eyes seeming to sigh.

Yeah, why?

This is just a little joke of fate, a cruel little joke.

......

In the Han camp, Liu Ji acted in the same way as Xiang An.

"I won't let you do it anymore."

After much hesitation, Liu Ji finally said those words.

He gently patted Zihuai's back, looked up at the somewhat dirty top of the tent, and said with a sense of loss.

Zihuai raised his head in disbelief, looking at Liu Ji's somewhat relieved face.

"......Really?"

"Go, Ashu." Liu Ji didn't answer, but just rubbed Zihuai's head, trying to make his smile look as kind and friendly as possible. "Kindness shouldn't be a tool to bind you. Go."

Liu Ji stood up, grabbed Zi Huai's shoulders, and pulled Zi Huai up as well. Looking at this young man who was only as tall as his own shoulders, he smiled self-deprecatingly.

"If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't want to be rescued."

"Let Xiang An save you, or crawl out yourself."

Liu Ji wiped away Zi Huai's tears and pushed Zi Huai a step away.

"Go live your own life and get out of the national struggle."

Zihuai stared at Liu Ji with her mouth agape, somewhat at a loss for what to do.

“I’ve left you a house in Xingyang, and a lot of money. If you’re willing, go ahead and do as you please, whether you sell it or live there.”

"I'm sorry, child."

......

Zihuai left, as if she had lost her mind.

Liu Ji sat languidly in his tent, equally dejected.

It's not that I've lost a useful weapon, but simply that, as a person, I'm starting to doubt my own actions.

However, the sound of the tent being opened interrupted his thoughts and self-reproach.

It was Zhang Liang.

"Master Zifang, what has happened?"

Liu Ji stared blankly at Zhang Liang, at that slightly dejected and hunched unfamiliar figure.

"Your Majesty, I have come to ask you for a favor."

Zhang Liang knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I humbly request..."

"After Your Majesty unifies the world, let me leave."

"Let me leave and travel the world."

------------

Chapter 990 River Battlefield

After losing its general for the second time, Liu Ji, who was attacking Western Chu, made a decisive move and immediately ordered a portion of his army to retreat. They seized back a large area of ​​land between the Yellow River and the Huai River from the leaderless Northern Chu army, forcing the Northern Chu army south of the Yellow River.

"We cannot cede the South to Liu Ji, nor can we relinquish the lands of Zhao and Wei." Xiang An stood beside the sand table, solemnly looking at the generals as he spoke.

"Han Xin has temporarily retreated in the north. We must take this opportunity to reclaim the south, otherwise Liu Ji can block us with his back to the river."

With several familiar subordinate generals dying one after another, Xiang An couldn't help but feel grief. However, as the king of Northern Chu, he had no time to grieve. He needed to quickly pull himself together and turn the situation in Northern Chu around.

After discussion, Xiang An decided to temporarily abandon the northern lands and instead try to seize the more strategically important southern lands.

And most importantly...

Although it wasn't said aloud, there was another reason why Xiang An shifted the military center to the south.

He didn't want to see Western Chu perish just like that.

Or rather, he didn't want to just watch Xiang Yu die.

Perhaps Xiang An understood the principle of mutual dependence, or perhaps he still harbored some affection for his unfilial brother; in any case, Xiang An did not want to see the Western Chu dynasty perish.

He appointed several generals to garrison the north, and then led his main force southward.

......

Half a month later, on May 19th.

Xiang An is traveling by water, so his army is moving very fast. At this rate, they should be able to reach the middle of the Yellow River and Huai River before June.

“Ren Ao is guarding this place. Fan Hui is currently attacking Dong’e. We’ll start with Fan Hui,” Zijuan said, frowning as she pointed to the location on the sand table.

“Yes, try to stretch the battle lines out a bit, don’t get bogged down in battle, focus on dispersing the enemy.” Xiang An tapped the sand table and looked at Zijuan and Xiang Lu. “Remember our primary objective: in the first wave of our offensive, we must take back the land.”

"Yes, Your subordinate obeys." Xiang Lu nodded, indicating that he understood.

"Xiao Si, go and attack Changyi. After the first wave of defense, try to encircle Fan Hui's troops. March at night."

"This subordinate obeys your command." Zijuan presented the order with a serious expression.

"Be careful of Fan Hui, he's quite strong." Xiang An looked calmly at Zi Juan. "During the Hongmen Incident, he fought me for several moves without being defeated. His martial arts skills are no less than yours, so be very careful."

"Okay, I understand. Second brother, you be careful too." Zijuan's tone softened slightly as she looked at Xiang An and sighed.

"We'll march tomorrow morning. Everyone, go and rest now."

......

Western Chu, Kangfu.

Pengcheng has already fallen, and the pressure from Ying Bu on the south side is too great. Western Chu has no other choice but to retreat northward, towards Northern Chu.

"Judging by the time, it should be about time."

Despite his repeated defeats, Xiang Yu showed no sign of dejection on his face; he merely squinted his eyes, seemingly deep in thought.

Yu Meiren did not follow behind him.

There is no doubt that Yu Meiren loved him.