CHAPTER 1001: CHAPTER 958 - MA CHAO’S PATH TO SELF-DESTRUCTION

The Zhang Clan once told Zhen Mi that the way Chen Xi looked at her was almost the same as the way he looked at himself, and neither of them considered other possibilities. They both thought Chen Xi’s feelings for Zhen Mi were love and affection. Now, Zhen Mi finally understood in her daze.

"Is that how it is?" Zhen Mi murmured in confusion to herself. She couldn’t understand why it was like this, how it could possibly be like this. Although in her heart she already knew this was the most likely explanation, she couldn’t understand the reason.

"Don’t you think Marquis Chen knows too much?" Liu Liang said slowly, "He has completely surpassed the realm of a wise strategist, and don’t you think there are many things he shouldn’t know?"

"And how did someone with innate knowledge learn everything they know?" Liu Liang seemed to be questioning himself while answering Zhen Mi’s query.

Liu Liang left, and Zhen Mi did not stop him. Likewise, he did not go to see Liu Bei again. It was unknown when they would meet again, but Zhen Mi understood that all her doubts had been resolved.

[Strip away the shadow of memory from yourself, or let him destroy that shadow himself; Marquis Chen is too smart. He can distinguish between you and that past relative, but he’d rather continue to pretend. However, once that shadow is shattered, for whatever reason, he will accept you.]

Zhen Mi silently reflected on the method Liu Liang had told her. She also understood Chen Xi’s character deeply, naturally realizing that Liu Liang’s method was very feasible. It’s just...

Zhen Mi blushed slightly and hesitated a little, then recalled the time spent with Chen Xi and quietly calmed her mindset.

Zhen Mi appeared with light steps before Liu Bei and the Zhang Clan. The two of them rejoiced at the sight of Zhen Mi returning to normal, especially the Zhang Clan, who stood up, embraced Zhen Mi, and her eyes turned slightly red without saying a word.

"Mother, I’m sorry to have troubled you, but I have recovered," Zhen Mi said softly, her tone calm, carrying a subtle assertiveness, showing little difference from before.

"Greetings, Lord Xuande, and thank you for your concern," Zhen Mi said with an elegant bow. Zhen Mi, who always appeared before others with grandeur and nobility, seemed even more composed this time.

"There’s no need for such formality, not at all," Liu Bei said with a smile. "Zichuan tends to be dazed sometimes in his actions. I will certainly help to smooth things over."

"There’s no need to trouble yourself; I already know what to do. But if in the end, it causes trouble, I ask Lord Xuande to forgive me," Zhen Mi gracefully declined Liu Bei’s help, speaking with a tone slowly eliminating the former reverence.

"Go ahead and do what you must; if something happens, I’ll take care of it," Liu Bei said with a hearty laugh, to which Zhen Mi responded with a courteous bow and withdrew.

"Alas, my poor daughter," the Zhang Clan sighed repeatedly, her eyes slightly red as she touched her forehead. Although the person had recovered, the heart had yet to fully heal.

"I will help when the time comes, but it’s also time for us to consider our marriage," Liu Bei said with a smile as he looked at the Zhang Clan.

Although Liu Bei was already in his thirties, frequent martial practice kept him young-looking, and his power was at its peak. There was no problem calling him a heartthrob, and the Zhang Clan was very fond of Liu Bei. However, she was still preoccupied with Zhen Mi’s matters, leaving her slightly distracted.

[It seems I need to prepare in advance. Mi’er, mother can only help you so much.] The Zhang Clan sighed inwardly.

In this time when Zhao Yun was searching for a wife, Liu Bei was looking for a wife, and although Chen Xi wasn’t looking for a wife, a future wife was seeking him. Ma Chao encountered the greatest crisis of his life.

In this era, there was a saying: regardless of your opinion, Lyu Bu can defeat you through sheer force. So Ma Chao, riding Lifeisha, attempted a detour to meet the man who wasn’t just reputedly invincible, but was truly unmatched, and perhaps sneak a peek at the renowned beauty of the land.

This sort of reckless act was typically inadvisable, but Ma Chao, with his Inner Qi Manifestation strength, the "world’s best" horse Lifeisha, and an unexpected acquisition of a Divine Stone, took the gamble.

Mind you, this Divine Stone was entirely different from the one Lifeisha had previously coughed up. In prior instances with the Divine Stone carried by the Curly-Haired Red Hare or the Divine Stone vomited by Lifeisha, their Essence Qi had already been absorbed.

This time, however, that Divine Stone was totally different. Lifeisha hadn’t absorbed the Essence Qi of this stone. To specify, this reveals the basic difference between animals and humans. When animals absorb a Divine Stone for the first time, they’re typically enhanced to their limits.

The reason is animals don’t comprehend how to maximize usage; one Divine Stone already pushes their most advantageous traits to the extreme level. Swallowing a second is of no benefit, just dispersing it, so the pursuit by the Curly-Haired Red Hare, Claw Yellow Flying Lightning, and Night Illuminating Jade Lion after Lifeisha was purely instinctual.

So, that Divine Stone ended up in Ma Chao’s possession. Even though Ma Chao adored his Lifeisha, there was no way he’d swallow a stone that came from Lifeisha’s mouth—that image, so to speak, was something else!

Luckily, even if the Divine Stone wasn’t consumed, it could be absorbed slowly, so Ma Chao simply carried the stone, absorbing it gradually. In a few short days, it already matched the progress he’d typically make after a month of training, its effect alarmingly impressive, almost too astonishing for Ma Chao to believe.

Naturally, under such circumstances, it would indeed be strange if Ma Chao didn’t consider himself heaven’s favored, thus risking it all became a logical step.

As expected, Ma Chao overestimated himself. First, he was spotted by the five hundred patrol Vanguard Camp led by Gao Shun. If not for his swift escape, he might have perished.

Then he collided with Zhang Liao, sparking a great battle. This battle was the most exhilarating that Ma Chao had ever fought in since his debut. His previous opponents were either overwhelmingly powerful, pathetically weak, or he didn’t wish to engage.

This encounter in Bingzhou with Zhang Liao, although formidable, gave Ma Chao the endless strength supported by the Divine Stone. The harder he fought, the bolder he became, ultimately ending in a draw with Zhang Liao.

Generally, with increasing bravado and seeming tirelessness, Ma Chao should have surged victorious; however, as the fight progressed, Gao Shun returned with three thousand soldiers, prompting Ma Chao to wisely retreat before getting surrounded.

Unfortunately, though Ma Chao managed to escape, he attracted the attention of the Red Hare, like Curly Hair and the Night Illuminating Jade Lion, who instinctively sensed the Divine Stone. Thus intending to reclaim it.

If one were to ask which horse in the world was the most formidable, undoubtedly the Red Hare, with a combat power on par with ordinary Inner Qi Manifestation. However, in his peak state, Ma Chao inflicted a wound on Red Hare within about a hundred moves.

It is said that with a roar from Lyu Bu, the Red Hare strides through the void, just like Red Hare’s cry of sorrow signaled Lyu Bu’s sudden appearance. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit qidian.com to vote for recommendations or monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)