Chapter 966: True Nature Revealed

Sun Quan shot an angry glance at Sun Ce, thinking that he would definitely have Zhou Tai serve as his personal guard in the future. Sun Ce’s careless behavior had left him very dissatisfied.

"I’ll go take a look. Be careful," Sun Ce said as he leaped into the large crater. After a crackling sound, Sun Ce's hair stood on end. "There’s still electricity running through him. Could he have been the one who took care of Yu Ji?"

Sun Ce placed his hand on Ma Chao, and more sparks crackled. This time, Sun Ce himself felt a slight sting, but the electricity had no source, so after a few moments of sparks, it dissipated.

"He looks about my age," Sun Ce muttered, rubbing his chin as he lifted Ma Chao onto his shoulders. As for Li Feisha, Sun Ce quickly realized that it was indeed a rare and valuable horse, but he wasn’t greedy for it.

After carrying Ma Chao out, Zhou Yu also looked curious. He had seen that terrifying lightning bolt earlier, and now this man had fallen right after it struck. It seemed likely that he had been hit by the lightning, yet he had survived what should have been a strike capable of killing Yu Ji instantly.

An expert at the pinnacle of Internal Energy Manifestation, possibly even stronger than Bo Fu, Zhou Yu instantly deduced Ma Chao’s strength.

"Gongjin, should we wait here, or...?" Sun Ce asked, reaching for Ma Chao’s hair and amusing himself with the static effect. Zhou Yu, unable to stand it any longer, slapped Sun Ce’s hand away.

"Reinforcements will arrive soon. As for this man, he helped us kill Yu Ji and seems to be seriously injured. We should take him back and have Doctor Zhang treat him," Zhou Yu said calmly, already planning to repay Ma Chao with kindness and draw him into their camp, even though he didn’t yet know who Ma Chao was.

As Zhou Yu spoke, Han Dang had already arrived with nearly a thousand soldiers. Although Zhou Yu hadn’t explicitly said anything earlier, Han Dang’s instincts as a veteran told him that whatever had made Zhou Yu so cautious must be serious. Thus, ever since Zhou Yu entered the northern defense zone of Jingzhou, Han Dang had been on high alert.

"Lord, Gongjin, Zhongmou, are you all alright?" Han Dang asked, clasping his fists in greeting. After a quick glance at Sun Ce and Zhou Yu to confirm they were unharmed, he spoke.

"Thanks to Yo Ping’s desperate efforts, we were able to avoid disaster. Please prepare vehicles to take us to Xiangyang for some rest and recovery," Sun Ce said, looking at Zhou Yu. He still had great respect for his father’s old general.

"Yo Ping was injured so badly?" Han Dang exclaimed, looking at the now-scabbed wounds on Zhou Tai. Still, he wasn’t too worried—Zhou Tai was breathing, after all. In his eyes, these were just superficial wounds.

"The enemy was strong, but it’s over now. Strengthen patrols around the outskirts and prepare to repair the roads to prevent this from happening again," Zhou Yu signaled Han Dang not to speak further. He would explain everything later, but now wasn’t the time.

Han Dang understood Zhou Yu’s signal and asked no more. He immediately ordered the preparation of vehicles and horses for a quick retreat. As for the Qiao sisters, though they had many questions, they didn’t know where to begin in the urgency of the moment.

Later, after Zhou Yu took Xiao Qiao aside, Sun Ce stopped Da Qiao. All the words they had wanted to say melted away in the warmth shared between Zhou Yu and Sun Ce.

A few days later, Ma Chao slowly opened his eyes to the sound of a maid’s excited voice beside him, "My lord, you’re awake!"

Ma Chao turned his head slowly, taking in the scene outside the door. Blue brick paths, scattered red petals, small stone steps, intricately carved beams, arched moon gates—it all embodied the gentle elegance of the south, a stark contrast to the rugged and bitter landscape of his homeland in the north, Xiliang.

He looked around the room. On the eastern wall hung an ancient zither, while a copper incense burner emitted a faint fragrance. Next to it, a long vine had stretched over a meter in length, coiling around a nearby stand. The soil in its pot was covered in a soft layer of green moss, exuding vibrant life.

On the western wall hung two paintings—one with bold and powerful calligraphy, the other a simple ink drawing of birds and flowers. It was clear that the home he was in belonged to a person of great wealth and taste, its elegance imbued with hints of grandeur.

At that moment, the Qiao sisters, who had been about to leave, exchanged a glance when they heard the maid’s cry. Hand in hand, they appeared in front of Ma Chao.

"Thank you, ladies, for saving my life," Ma Chao said, startled for a moment upon seeing the two sisters, but quickly realizing that they were not mere maids. He stood up and respectfully expressed his gratitude.

Even his voice lowered a bit at this moment, as he couldn’t help but feel instinctively drawn to such beauty. After all, it’s human nature to be attracted to the beautiful, and the Qiao sisters were renowned as legendary beauties.

"There is no need to thank us. We didn’t save you; rather, your final strike saved both my husband and my brother-in-law," Da Qiao said, bowing with grace. Her demeanor exuded a noble elegance, full of understanding and magnanimity.

"I thank you as well," Xiao Qiao chimed in with a smile. Unlike her elder sister, Xiao Qiao still carried the lively spirit of youth.

Ma Chao felt a pang of sadness, as if a love that had barely begun had already ended. His heart ached, but outwardly, he became even more respectful. Since they had mentioned they were married, he knew he had to keep his behavior in check.

"May I ask your name?" Da Qiao inquired as she rose from her bow, noticing that Ma Chao had become more courteous. This reassured her, as she didn’t want her husband to associate with someone of questionable character.

"Ma Chao, styled Mengqi," Ma Chao replied simply. At this point, he was not yet the future Godly General of Heavenly Might. Jingzhou was far from Xiliang, and Ma Chao believed that few people here would know of him.

"The descendant of General Fubo, Ma Mengqi of Xiliang?" Xiao Qiao asked. She often stayed by Zhou Yu’s side, and he never hid his work from her. With her quick memory and broad knowledge, she had heard of Ma Chao, even if she hadn’t paid close attention to the details.

"You know my name?" Ma Chao asked, surprised as he looked at Xiao Qiao. In these times, people barely knew anyone beyond ten miles away, and only the most famous individuals were recognized a hundred miles from home. Xiliang was over a thousand miles from here.

"I’ve heard my husband mention your name. You are said to be the youngest top-tier warrior in the land," Xiao Qiao said, her eyes pure and sincere, without a trace of falsehood.

Ma Chao was secretly delighted but smiled modestly and said, "I’m not worthy of such praise. There are countless masters in the world, and I’m just a minor figure."

It seems that all men have a desire to show off in front of beautiful women, and the degree of this desire depends on the woman’s beauty. Whether it was Da Qiao or Xiao Qiao, both were stunning, and Ma Chao, lacking any real guard, soon found himself revealing more than he had intended under Xiao Qiao’s gentle questioning.

Previous Chapter | | Next Chapter