New Three Kingdoms Tales: Starting as the expressionless Liu Bei

[Rule 1: Gongsun Zan's transformation into a monster is affected by his hunger level. When his hunger level drops below half, the monster within him will automatically seek out human flesh, and even he cannot control it.]

When his hunger level is above 50%, he can actively command the supernatural creatures to fight. When his hunger level reaches zero, the supernatural creatures will leave their host and seek to possess another.

[Rule 2: Do not stare at Gongsun Zan's painting for an extended period, or something terrible will happen. If you have already looked at it despite this advice, do not panic. Repeat your own name in your mind to stay alert, and you may be able to escape.]

[Rule 3: Remember, in this world of bizarre rules, no one corrupted by the supernatural can be completely trusted. Even brothers can only be used to check and balance each other.]

Liu Bei already knew every rule on that slip of paper by heart. What truly made him ponder repeatedly was rule number 3.

He had actually seen the first rule when he entered the city.

That day, Cao Cao was introducing Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei to Yuan Shu, the leader of the alliance. Liu Bei inadvertently caught a glimpse of several tentacles emerging from behind Gongsun Zan, silently reaching towards Yuan Shu.

In a moment of crisis, he blurted out a line from the classic Three Kingdoms novel, saying that Gongsun Zan was his classmate.

All the lords turned their gazes toward him. Gongsun Zan was so frightened that he immediately withdrew his tentacles. He didn't even bother to think about whether Liu Bei was actually his classmate. He nodded awkwardly and hurriedly acknowledged the relationship.

At the time, Liu Bei was puzzled as to how Gongsun Zan dared to enter the mysterious realm and injure people in broad daylight. Looking back now, the reason is quite simple:

His hunger level had dropped below half, and he was so hungry that he wanted to grab Yuan Shu next to him and take a bite.

However, Liu Bei thwarted their plans, and they failed to succeed.

The second rule has already been verified, so I won't elaborate. This also explains why the soldiers didn't dare to look at the painting for long, while Liu Bei did.

He had the rules to back him up, and knew that as long as he wasn't constantly being watched, nothing would happen.

Even if something goes wrong, he has a solution to save his life.

What he truly couldn't let go of was the third rule.

No one can be completely trusted, not even those as close as brothers; they can only be controlled and exploited.

Liu Bei initially thought this rule referred to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, since they were his sworn brothers. But the more he thought about it, the more something seemed off.

The point of this statement is not "even brothers", but "no one can be completely trusted by anyone who has been corrupted by the supernatural".

If we follow this line of reasoning, then what about Tang Xiaohu? Is he an outlier?

He remembered very clearly that it was written explicitly on the Hua Xiong Rules of Strange Tales page:

[Once the limit is reached, Hua Ci will inherit Hua Xiong's bizarre transformation condition and will be absolutely loyal to you, at your disposal.]

Hua Ci is Tang Xiaohu. Having eaten so much food, he has long since inherited Hua Xiong's bizarre transformation conditions.

According to the rules, this person is absolutely loyal to him. However, according to Rule 3, no one corrupted by the supernatural can be completely trusted.

Tang Xiaohu should be considered to have been corrupted by the supernatural, right? Have these two rules collided?

But then I realized that this rule didn't have a "one is false" label like before, nor did it have any conflict warnings.

If both rules hold true simultaneously, there's only one explanation: absolute loyalty and the inability to completely trust each other can coexist on some level. As for how they can coexist, he can't figure it out yet.

With Gongsun Zan's tentacles chasing Zhang Fei all over the courtyard, there was no time for him to continue pondering.

Liu Bei suppressed these thoughts and shouted to Zhang Fei, "Third brother, activate the Mystic Transformation and proceed according to plan! After it's done, we'll drink our fill!"

The words had barely left his mouth when a strange thought suddenly popped into his head. Why did that last sentence give him the feeling of commanding a Pokémon battle?

Guan Yu, carrying his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, stood guard beside Liu Bei. It wasn't that he didn't want to help, but Liu Bei hadn't allowed him to.

The lesson of Yuan Shao's unpredictable movements this morning was still fresh in Liu Bei's mind, so how could he dare to send out all his guards?

If Gongsun Zan also knew that trick, before the fight even started, Liu Bei would be beheaded first. Once the soul chains were triggered, good heavens, the three brothers would be wiped out.

Upon hearing the word "wine," Zhang Fei seemed to be injected with adrenaline, grinning wildly and instantly transforming into a bizarre being.

The eighteen-foot spear in his hand suddenly swelled several times its original size, and he swung it down at Gongsun Zan.

Instead of retreating, Gongsun Zan advanced, condensing the strange power within his body into his palm, tearing out a scroll out of thin air, and unfurling it with a flick of his wrist, aiming it directly at Zhang Fei's face.

Liu Bei caught a glimpse of the corner of the canvas from afar and mistook it for one of those portraits of beauties painted with corpse oil, and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

The note in his hand, containing strange tales of Gongsun Zan's rules, was found during a search of Gongsun Zan's residence.

They had originally planned to ambush Gongsun Zan at his house while Cao Cao was arranging his troops for the various warlords, but they were shocked to find that the walls were covered with more than a dozen paintings of beautiful women made of corpse oil as soon as they entered.

Fortunately, he had received the note before entering the room. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei repeatedly recited their names in their hearts, which forcibly pulled them back from the painting.

Using a painting of a beautiful woman to deal with Zhang Fei now is simply wishful thinking.

But the next moment, when the painting was fully unfolded, Liu Bei's previously expressionless face almost changed.

The painting doesn't depict a beautiful woman; it depicts wine.

Rows of wine jars, amber-colored liquid overflowing from the mouths of the jars, slowly flowing onto the canvas.

Zhang Fei's gaze was fixed on the painting, as if his soul had been ripped away, and even the spear in his hand drooped.

Gongsun Zan's tentacles pierced through his chest like spears, sending him flying.

Zhang Fei's massive body crashed into a wall, and the falling bricks buried him completely.

Liu Bei felt a pang of anxiety, but remained calm.

He knew better than anyone how tenacious Zhang Fei's life force was; as long as his weak point wasn't hit, he wouldn't die.

He gestured behind him, and a trusted aide immediately understood and waved back. More than a hundred daredevil soldiers filed out from behind the house and surged toward Gongsun Zan.

Gongsun Zan looked at the dark mass of people rushing towards him, a hungry green light flashing in his eyes.

"Perfect timing! I'm starving!"

With a flick of its tentacles, it scooped up several soldiers, armor and all, and stuffed them into its mouth, blood spurting from between its teeth.

The red light emanating from Gongsun Zan layered upon layer, growing stronger and more dazzling.

Liu Bei watched coldly, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Zan, you yourself have become an arrogant soldier without even realizing it.

He remained still, letting his soldiers continue to charge forward to their deaths, while simultaneously building up Gongsun Zan's arrogance, waiting for the most opportune moment to strike.

Just then, Zhao Yun's urgent voice came from outside the courtyard wall: "My lord, are you alright? What's all this commotion inside? Liu Bei, if you dare to harm my lord in the slightest, you will all die!"

Gongsun Zan frowned. This Zhao Yun really didn't trust him at all. That good-for-nothing Liu Bei, how could he possibly harm him in the slightest? He was already showing mercy by not killing them all.

He swallowed the blood and flesh in his mouth and shouted at the top of his lungs towards the outside of the wall, "Zhao Yun, Yan Gang, I'm fine! Don't come in, I can handle things here!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's worries subsided, and he finally smiled.

That's exactly what I was waiting for! Gongsun Zan, you will pay the price for your arrogance!