Chapter 15: Chihiro's Heroic Spirits

"Um, may I ask for your name?"

Chihiro asked, curiosity evident in his tone after hearing the old man's words.

The elderly figure answered slowly, "I am Zhang Jiao."

"Zhang Jiao!"

Chihiro was stunned to hear the name. He couldn't believe it—Zhang Jiao, the famous revolutionary figure associated with the Yellow Turban Rebellion during the late Han Dynasty, had appeared as a Heroic Spirit. (Note: In this setting, Zhang Jiao's Heroic Spirit card was not yet released when Chihiro reincarnated.)

Zhang Jiao chuckled, "It seems you know my story. It's not exactly a legacy of honor, is it?"

Chihiro shook his head quickly. "No, that's not it… I mean, regardless of the outcome, you were undoubtedly a man of great resolve."

After all, few dared to lead a large-scale uprising in defiance of the established order, even if the movement's end was mired in tragedy.

"Alright, alright, no need to flatter me," Zhang Jiao said with a weary smile. "History has never been kind to my name."

He had hoped to overthrow a corrupt regime and bring relief to the common people. Yet, in a matter of months, the Yellow Turbans, who had initially been viewed as a beacon of hope, became reviled as mere bandits due to the chaos that followed.

Zhang Jiao continued, "Well then, I'll lend you my strength for the next seven days."

"Thank you, Zhang," Chihiro responded gratefully. He then produced the Heroic Spirit Summoning Card. "But before we proceed further, let's welcome another companion."

"What is that?" Zhang Jiao inquired, observing the card in Chihiro's hand with curiosity.

Chihiro briefly explained the system's mechanics, though he left out the fact that its core resided within himself. He and Zhang Jiao had only just met, and it was too early to fully trust him.

"Activate."

The summoning card dissolved into white light, forming a new summoning circle that materialized out of thin air. Unlike Chihiro's previous makeshift circle, this one seemed to transcend class limitations, its glow suggesting it was capable of calling forth a powerful spirit.

Chihiro could only hope for someone capable of facing Gilgamesh. He definitely didn't want to get crushed by the King of Heroes.

"Rider, I am here to manifest myself. This body, which knows no equal, will henceforth serve you."

The voice that echoed from the summoning circle was deep and resonant. Chihiro's eyes brightened with hope. Could it be Lu Bu?

Although in the original work, Lu Bu often appeared as a Berserker, his deeds indicated that he could easily fit the Rider, Archer, or Lancer classes any of which could potentially make him more powerful than his Berserker counterpart.

The Berserker class's "Mad Enhancement" stripped away Lu Bu's ability to use his martial skills to their full extent. It made him more of a raging beast than the unparalleled warrior that history remembered.

If Chihiro managed to summon him in the Rider class, perhaps he could avoid the pitfalls of Berserker's madness. He would just have to be cautious and make good use of his Command Spells to keep the warrior in line.

The light of the summoning circle faded, revealing a tall figure. However, upon seeing who had actually been summoned, Chihiro's excitement quickly turned to bewilderment.

The "warrior" standing before him wasn't Lu Bu at all. Instead, it was a centaur clad in crimson armor, wielding a massive spear.

It was none other than the famous steed—Red Hare. (Gudako will be so jealous lmao)

Of course, it had to be Red Hare. He should have realized the identity from the voice alone.

"Greetings, Master. I am Lu Bu. From this moment on, I shall lend you my strength," said the centaur in a surprisingly dignified tone.

"Uh… Thank you. I look forward to working with you," Chihiro replied, quickly collecting himself.

Well, a summoned Red Hare was better than nothing. As for the fact that Red Hare considered itself Lu Bu, that was an issue that Chihiro didn't need to worry about.

After all, there was no correcting this particular misconception.

"This is…"

Zhang Jiao gazed at Red Hare, visibly taken aback. The centaur's armor was clearly from ancient times, but Zhang Jiao had never encountered such a being before.

With a sigh, Chihiro began explaining Red Hare's identity to Zhang Jiao.

"So, you're saying this creature is from the same era as I am?" Zhang Jiao said, laughing as he processed the information. "It's a pity I never had the chance to meet the 'world's mightiest warrior' in my lifetime."

His gaze drifted back to Red Hare. "Though I never expected that even a horse could become such a being."

"There is a small issue…" Chihiro muttered as he looked at the centaur before him. "How am I supposed to bring Red Hare into the city like this? He'd be taken for some kind of monster."

Having no other solution, Chihiro turned to Zhang Jiao for help.

"Ha! This is hardly a problem for me," Zhang Jiao chuckled. He raised his hand and summoned a talisman, pressing it onto Red Hare's forehead. In an instant, the centaur's form shifted to that of a burly, rough-looking man.

"What kind of spell is this?" Chihiro asked in surprise. "A transformation spell?"

"No, it's merely an illusion," Zhang Jiao clarified. "It tricks the eyes of those who look upon him, making them see a human. In reality, Red Hare remains a centaur."

As he spoke, Zhang Jiao placed another talisman on Chihiro's forehead, and the illusion faded, revealing Red Hare's original form once more.

"I see. You truly live up to your reputation, Zhang," Chihiro remarked, impressed by the seamlessness of the illusion.

"Hmph, you still have much to learn," Zhang Jiao said with a knowing smile. "So, should I disguise myself as well?"

"No, that won't be necessary," Chihiro replied. "Just change your clothing to something that matches the current era."

He gestured toward the distant, well-lit cityscape of Fuyuki. "You should dress like the people here."

"Ah, so that's how people look in this era," Zhang Jiao mused. With a mere thought, his attire morphed into a black suit, complemented by a yellow overcoat draped over his shoulders.

*****

T/N: I understand that some of you might feel conflicted since his servants are Chinese, while he is supposedly of Japanese descent, these are just tweaks I made.

Ultimately, this is a Chinese translation and don't worry his next servants aren't Chinese, so if that doesn't bother you, feel free to continue reading.

Also if you enjoy reading this drop a review and PS