chapter 386

[?]: We caught up!

[?]: Liu Bei is at the foot of the hill. Let’s descend!

[?]: The… the Cao army is here!

chapter 386 The Path of Gold

[?]: General Mi, the Cao army has arrived and scrambled our forces at the front!

{Liu Bei’s officer, Mi Fang}
[Mi Fang]: Tell the civilians to separate from our soldiers so that they don’t get hurt!
(simplified)

[?]: Here they come!

[?]: Third battalion, get ready!

They…

[?]: You dogs of Liu, bet you didn’t realize we’ve infiltrated your ranks since Xiangyang.

[?]: Block their escape path. Surround Liu Bei’s troop and attack!

[?]: Oh no! It’s a pincer attack!

KILL~

KILL~

[?]: General, a large force of the Cao army has appeared in the rear,

[?]: but we haven’t yet made contact with the matrons as planned…

[Mi Fang]: Wh… what!

[?]: In order to kill someone, first you wear them down;

[Liu Da]: second, you plan for the right location;

[LD]: third, you strike when they’re least expecting it.

[?]: Go.

KILL~

{sfx: cha~}

{sfx: cha~}

{sfx: cha~}

{sfx: cha~}

{sfx: pong~}

{sfx: pa~}

[?]: Ladies, please come with us!

[?]: Oh.

[?]: Haha, are you blind? They’re in the pit!

[?]: This way, matrons, hurry!
{Liu Bei’s second wife, Lady Mi}
{Liu Bei’s wife, Lady Gan}

[?]: After them!
[?]: Oh, it’s that fellow again…

[?]: After them, don’t let them blend into the crowd!

[?]: Over here, matrons, hurry!

[?]: Don’t worry, ma’am, the people will surely…

[?]: Look out, dear!
(“husband…”)

{sfx: cha~}

[?]: Ahhhh!

[?]: Old Zhang!

[?]: What’re you doing!

[?]: Matrons, run!

[?]: And in order to achieve one’s mission,

{sfx: cha~}

[?]: sacrifice everything!

[?]: Yes. Four points.

[LD]: Excellent. You’ve all learned them.

[?]: Boss, I caught one!

[LD]: Excellent.

[?]: Boss, we got the mother and child too.

Excellent.

My chance…

has returned.

Yes, one must learn to take advantage of an opportunity.

Understand…

what the most important thing in life is…

[?]: Thanks.

[Liaoyuan Huo]: Go join your family.

{sfx: cha}

[LD]: Haha, you’re still cold-blooded.

[LD]: But you did right. Don’t let him work the crowd again.

[LD]: Look at your senior, boys. See how calm he is.

[LD]: It’s because he knows how to achieve great things.

[LD]: Learn from him, because his future will be…

[LYH]: Boss, give them to me.

[LD]: Didn’t we agree that you’ll take care of the two VIPs?

[LD]: Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.

[LYH]: We use the target’s family as bait. Trick of the trade.

[LD]: We’ll follow along then.

[LD]: You lead, we help.

[LYH]: Have you no faith in me, boss?

[LD]: I’m just afraid Liu Bei’s pretentiousness has rubbed off on you.
(inspired by reader Nazne’s translation)

[LYH]: Yes, boss is right.

{sfx: cha}

[?]: Whoa!

{sfx: pa}

[?]: Go, take Lady Gan with you.
[?]: Yessir.

[LD]: Pity. There goes our riches, all because of him…

[LYH]: No, boss. Instead of passing on your wealth in gold…

[LYH]: better were it wealth in sagely wisdom.
(wordplay on homonym “gold” and “scripture”, scripture refers to Confucius text; I’m tempted to change the translation to “the classics”, but might be anachronistic since they might not be referred to as such back in the day)

[LYH]: I… have found my bright path.

It’s becoming bright and crystal clear.

I think… a new era is about to begin.