Chapter 062: Uncle, You Cannot Touch Diao Chan

On the upper floor of the White Gate Tower, Cao Cao leaned back with a look of utter satisfaction, his eyes never leaving the graceful figure before him.

Before him, Diao Chan was dancing in splendid attire. Her movements were enchanting, captivating Cao Cao to the point where his heart wavered and his thoughts scattered.

“Your dance, my lady, is truly unmatched in all the world!” Cao Cao praised her with a smile.

As one dance came to an end, Diao Chan stopped as well. She held a wine jug and walked slowly toward Cao Cao, preparing to pour wine for him herself.

“General, do you like it?” she asked.

Though her face still bore the weariness of recent distress, every glance and smile only made her seem more delicate and pitiable.

“I like it, I like it very much!” Cao Cao stammered, nearly incoherent. At last, he understood why Dong Zhuo had been willing to turn against Lü Bu just to keep Diao Chan by his side.

As he gazed at her through drunken eyes, Diao Chan had already reached him.

Perhaps it was because he had survived too many perils, but his body had developed an instinctive sense for danger.

Though his nose caught the fragrance of Diao Chan, and her intoxicating scent filled the air, Cao Cao suddenly sensed a surge of murderous intent.

With a crash, Cao Cao sprang to his feet, the abrupt motion knocking over the table in front of him.

Diao Chan stopped in surprise, thinking her plot had been discovered. Instantly, she drew a dagger from her sleeve, its blade dazzling with seven gemstones set into it, sparkling like stars.

“General, do you recognize this blade?” Diao Chan asked, holding the Seven-Star Dagger, her gaze both desolate and resolute.

Cao Cao’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept a calm smile. “Of course I do. Years ago, your foster father Wang Yun lent me this very dagger. It was with this blade that I assassinated Dong Zhuo and made my name known throughout the land.”

“You must know how sharp this dagger is, then!” Diao Chan replied, as though possessed, and once more advanced step by step toward Cao Cao.

“Put the knife down!” Cao Cao shouted, his composure lost. A wise man does not linger by a crumbling wall; as a man of importance, he cherished his life dearly.

No one knew the Seven-Star Dagger better than he did. It was the very weapon he’d used to stab Dong Zhuo—its sharpness was unquestionable.

Even though Diao Chan was a delicate woman, women could be deadly when desperate. If she wounded him, he would be the one to suffer.

Suddenly, the doors burst open!

“Wicked woman, stand down!” Xu Chu stormed in, broadsword in hand.

He was followed by Cao Peng, Dian Wei, and Cao Ang. The sudden commotion startled both Cao Cao and Diao Chan.

“Everyone, calm down. Nothing has happened yet, so let’s talk this through,” Cao Peng said with a genial air, positioning himself to keep Xu Chu, Cao Cao, and Diao Chan apart.

“Cao Anmin, you again!” Cao Cao roared.

His anger was not just from being startled, but also from recalling the incident in Wan City, where he’d lost the beauty Zou Shi who should have been his.

Indeed, it was Cao Peng again, who had successfully rallied Cao Ang, Dian Wei, and Xu Chu to come with him, all to prevent Cao Cao from taking Diao Chan.

Cao Peng smiled awkwardly, as if foiling his uncle’s plans had become a habit.

He wondered if Old Cao might be frightened into illness by him someday.

Though embarrassed, Cao Peng kept his cool and said with a slight smile, “Uncle, I didn’t mean to spoil your fun, but you really can’t touch Diao Chan.”

“Why not?!” Cao Cao nearly cursed aloud, his plans foiled yet again.

In that moment, he completely forgot how close he had just come to death.

This time, before Cao Peng could speak, Cao Ang stepped forward. “Father, have you forgotten what happened in Wan City?”

Cao Cao bellowed in reply, “How can you compare the current situation to Wan City? Now all of Xuzhou is in my hands—she’s just a woman. Who can do anything to me?”

At that, Cao Peng interjected, “Uncle, you haven’t considered this carefully enough. No matter what, this woman was Lü Bu’s consort, and though Lü Bu’s troops in Xuzhou have surrendered, their loyalty is unsteady.

If you take Lü Bu’s woman so hastily, how do you think they’ll feel? If this stirs up trouble, it could be another disaster like Wan City!”

Cao Peng’s warning was not idle talk. Before coming to the White Tower, they had all noticed that Zhang Liao and the others looked quite unsettled.

“Yes, my lord, we have risked our lives to come here. We cannot let you touch Diao Chan!” Xu Chu put away his broadsword and knelt before Cao Cao, his eyes resolute.

Dian Wei joined him, kneeling by his side and refusing to rise.

At this moment, a thousand wild horses seemed to gallop through Cao Cao’s mind. He wanted to curse, but he didn’t even know whom to blame…