Chapter 958: Ma Chao’s Path Towards Self-Destruction

Madam Zhang had once told Zhen Mi that Chen Xi looked at her in much the same way he looked at herself, and neither of them had considered other possibilities. Both believed that Chen Xi's feelings for Zhen Mi were love, a mix of affection and tenderness. However, now, in her daze, Zhen Mi finally understood the truth.

“So this is how it is?” Zhen Mi murmured, bewildered. She couldn't comprehend why things were this way. It seemed impossible, though deep down she knew this was the most plausible explanation, even if she didn’t understand the reasons behind it.

“Don’t you think Chen Hou knows far too much?” Liu Liang said softly. “He has already surpassed the realm of mere intellect. Don’t you feel there are things he knows that no one should?”

“How could someone be born with such knowledge?” Liu Liang mused, half answering Zhen Mi’s unspoken question.

Liu Liang left after that. Zhen Mi didn’t stop him, and Liu Liang didn’t seek out Liu Bei again. Who knows when they might meet again, but Zhen Mi understood that all her questions had now been answered.

“You either need to shed the shadow of your past from his memory, or let him destroy that shadow himself. Chen Hou is too clever—he can distinguish between you and the person from his past, but he would rather continue pretending. However, once that shadow is shattered, he will accept you, no matter the reason.”

Zhen Mi silently recalled Liu Liang’s advice. She understood Chen Xi’s nature well and knew Liu Liang’s suggestion was highly feasible. But...

A blush crept across Zhen Mi’s face, and she hesitated slightly. Then, recalling the times she had spent with Chen Xi, she calmed herself.

With light steps, Zhen Mi returned to where Liu Bei and Madam Zhang were waiting. Both were overjoyed to see her back to her normal self, especially Madam Zhang, who immediately stood up and embraced Zhen Mi, tears welling up in her eyes without a word.

“Mother, I’m sorry to have worried you. I have recovered now,” Zhen Mi said softly, her tone steady and confident, with little difference from how she had been before.

“Greetings, Lord Xuande, and I thank you for your concern,” Zhen Mi said with graceful composure as she curtsied. She had always been noble and poised, but this time, she appeared even more at ease.

“No need for such formalities,” Liu Bei said with a smile. “Zichuan can be muddled sometimes, but I’ll certainly talk to him on your behalf.”

“There’s no need to trouble you, Lord Xuande. I already know what to do. Just, if I cause any trouble later, I ask for your understanding,” Zhen Mi said calmly, politely declining Liu Bei’s offer for help. Her tone carried a confidence that subtly removed any previous reverence.

“Go ahead and do what you must. If anything happens, I’ll handle it,” Liu Bei said with a hearty laugh. Zhen Mi smiled and bowed before gracefully retreating.

“Oh, my poor daughter,” Madam Zhang sighed, her eyes red as she rubbed her temples. Although Zhen Mi had regained her composure, it was clear her heart had not fully healed.

“I’ll help when the time comes. But now, we should consider our own wedding plans,” Liu Bei said with a smile, looking at Madam Zhang.

Though Liu Bei was already in his thirties, his regular martial training kept him youthful, and with his power at its peak, he still had the charm to attract many. Madam Zhang was deeply smitten with him, but at this moment, her thoughts were still occupied with Zhen Mi’s situation, leaving her a bit distracted.

[It seems I must make preparations in advance. Mi’er, my daughter, I’ve done all I can to help you,] Madam Zhang thought with a sigh.

While Zhao Yun and Liu Bei were finding wives, and although Chen Xi wasn't actively looking for one, his future wife was certainly seeking him out. Meanwhile, Ma Chao was encountering the greatest crisis of his life.

At that time, there was a saying across the land: "Whether you admit it or not, Lü Bu can make you submit." Ma Chao, riding on his steed Li Feisha, decided to test this truth. He planned to see for himself the man who wasn’t just rumored to be invincible but truly was. And, of course, he also wanted to sneak a glance at the so-called most beautiful woman in the world.

Ordinarily, such reckless behavior would be avoided. However, Ma Chao, with his inner energy cultivation, his legendary steed Li Feisha, and a recently acquired divine stone, felt emboldened.

This divine stone was different from the ones previously consumed by Li Feisha or the ones that had empowered the horses such as the curly-haired Red Hare. This one hadn’t had its energy drained. In truth, most animals can only absorb one divine stone to their limit. Beyond that, their bodies are unable to further enhance their abilities.

Unlike humans, animals don’t know how to refine their power further. A single divine stone would already push them to their peak, so any additional stones they consumed would simply be wasted. This is why even mighty steeds like Red Hare and other famous horses would instinctively pursue Li Feisha for the stone.

And so, the divine stone ended up in Ma Chao’s possession. As much as Ma Chao adored Li Feisha, he wasn’t about to eat something that had come from the horse’s mouth—just the thought of it made him cringe!

Fortunately, the divine stone could still be absorbed slowly, so Ma Chao wore it on him, and in just a few days, he felt as though he had progressed more than a month's worth of training. The rapid improvement left him amazed.

Naturally, with this newfound strength, Ma Chao began to believe that the heavens had favored him, making his reckless actions seem all the more justified.

The result, however, was predictable. Ma Chao overestimated himself. First, he was spotted by Gao Shun, who was leading five hundred of the patrol forces from the Camp of the Righteous. Had he not escaped quickly, he would’ve been killed on the spot.

Later, he ran into Zhang Liao. The ensuing battle was one of the most exhilarating Ma Chao had ever fought. His past opponents had either been overwhelmingly strong or pathetically weak, or he hadn’t felt like fighting at all. But this time, Zhang Liao proved to be a worthy match. Thanks to the power of the divine stone, Ma Chao was brimming with energy and fought with increasing vigor. In the end, they fought to a draw.

Given Ma Chao's ever-increasing strength and endurance, he should have won. But as the fight dragged on, Gao Shun returned with three thousand troops. Realizing he was about to be surrounded, Ma Chao wisely fled.

Though he managed to escape, Ma Chao's actions attracted the attention of Red Hare, who, like the other legendary steeds, sensed the divine stone and wanted to claim it.

If there was a horse that could truly fight, it was Red Hare, whose combat prowess was comparable to that of a warrior with internal energy cultivation. However, Ma Chao, in his prime state, managed to wound Red Hare after about a hundred exchanges.

Just as Lü Bu’s bellow once summoned Red Hare, Red Hare’s cry of pain now drew Lü Bu forth, soaring through the sky.

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