Chapter 948: Intelligence Rising~

【Strange, why did that sword strike feel so natural, as if Heaven and Earth themselves aided me? And how did each bit of my strength release more than 100% of its power? How is that even possible?】

"..." The girl’s hand trembled as she pointed at the mountain peak. The almost mirror-like cut made her feel as though her eyes were about to be blinded. Dropping her pretense of being a refined lady, she shouted in disbelief, "How is this possible? How can this be?"

"That's why I said your brother Mengqi might need a few more years to catch up to my current level." Unable to figure it out, Zhao Yun simply stopped thinking about it. He smiled, unaffected by the girl’s outburst.

The girl was left speechless, unable to refute Zhao Yun’s strength. This level of power made Ma Yunlu, who had idolized Ma Chao, feel utterly humbled.

"How is this even possible?" Ma Yunlu murmured to herself.

"It's really nothing. Just the other day, General Guan slashed down the walls of Ye City, which were guarded by tens of thousands," Zhao Yun said modestly, touching his face.

"Are you all monsters?" Ma Yunlu didn't know how else to describe it. There was no overwhelming aura, just a casual slash, and the mountain was cut. It was simply cut—just like that!

"By the way, I still don’t know your name," Zhao Yun finally remembered his manners and quickly asked.

"I am Ma Yunlu from the Ma family of Fufeng. Greetings to General Zhao." Ma Yunlu awkwardly dismounted and gave an overly formal bow. Perhaps realizing how improper it looked, she blushed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed since it was difficult to perform a lady’s courtesy while wearing armor.

"As expected of General Ma’s daughter," Zhao Yun praised with admiration.

"However, Miss Ma, if you’re heading to Ye City now, I’m afraid you’ll have just missed your father and brother. Also, the horse your brother rides, the steed named Li Feisha, is a peerless treasure. Though your red chestnut horse is a fine steed, it pales in comparison to that godlike horse capable of leaping through the heavens and seas," Zhao Yun paused and gestured toward the captured bandits.

"Although Ji Province is prosperous, it just endured a great war. There are still many bandits and rogue soldiers causing havoc," Zhao Yun smiled as he continued.

"True, I’ve already encountered several attacks on this journey." Ma Yunlu, still stunned by Zhao Yun’s incredible swordsmanship, began to reflect. She had sneaked out to the Central Plains, frustrated that her father and brother had not taken her along, and it didn’t sit well with her to return so easily.

"Ji Province was once the heart of the nine provinces of the Central Plains, with a grand atmosphere of its own. Unfortunately, no matter how much control is exercised, war always brings chaos and desolation. This place has lost its former glory," Zhao Yun remarked, feeling his intelligence had reached a level beyond that of a mere warrior. His speech was beginning to resemble that of Li You, carefully guiding others to voice the conclusions he wanted.

"Yeah..." Ma Yunlu, who had initially appeared confident and proud, deflated slightly. "Having lived in the remote west for so long, I always yearned for the prosperity of the Central Plains. When I arrived in Chang’an, I found it impressive, but it lacked the grandeur I’d imagined. My father and brother said that it’s due to the ongoing wars and that the people haven’t recovered enough to restore the land to its full glory."

At this point, Zhao Yun realized Ma Yunlu had likely snuck out on her own. It wasn’t uncommon for people living on the frontier to yearn for the splendor of the Central Plains, and it was even more understandable for a young woman like Ma Yunlu.

"But Miss Ma, if you continue to Ye City, you won’t be able to see your father or brother, nor will you witness the true prosperity of the Central Plains," Zhao Yun calmly explained. Though his words were mostly true, they were laced with a fair amount of embellishment—Zhao Yun had finally grasped the art of bending the truth.

"So where should I go? I heard that Nanyang was ravaged by war too. War is really terrible—it ruins so many beautiful places," Ma Yunlu pouted, clearly unwilling to be sent back to Chang’an.

"In today’s world, if you're seeking a place of grandeur, Fenggao stands out as the most prosperous. Backed by the famous Mount Tai, its culture and economy are unmatched," Zhao Yun proudly proclaimed, wearing an expression of genuine pride.

Though Ma Yunlu had been intimidated by Zhao Yun’s swordsmanship, she was still wary by nature, especially given her background in a powerful family. However, Zhao Yun's extraordinary strength, handsome and noble demeanor, and his reputation as an upright man put her at ease.

When Zhao Yun mentioned the splendor of Mount Tai, Ma Yunlu paid close attention, but she found no trace of insincerity in his expression—only the pride and satisfaction of a creator.

This completely dispelled any doubts she had. After all, she had already heard much about the prosperity of Mount Tai on her journey, so her curiosity was piqued.

Zhao Yun chuckled inwardly. Although he gazed up at the sky, he could feel Ma Yunlu’s gaze on his face.

It was impossible for anyone to detect falsehood from Zhao Yun’s expression. His pride in Mount Tai was genuine. He had contributed during the most difficult early stages of its development, and even now, when he walked through the city, the people would often offer him food and drink in gratitude.

"He looks so proud..." Ma Yunlu muttered softly, but before she could finish, Zhao Yun confidently replied, "You wouldn’t understand the feeling of building a great city from nothing, nor would you grasp the satisfaction of seeing the people you helped ensure that they have food to eat. It’s truly fulfilling."

"In the past, I might have taken pride in my own strength, but now, the thing that satisfies me most is knowing the people have food!" Zhao Yun’s tone shifted, and he spoke with conviction.

Ma Yunlu was taken aback, surprised that a renowned warrior of the Central Plains was more proud of feeding the people than his terrifying strength.

"Miss Ma, thank you for your assistance earlier. If you truly wish to see the prosperity of the Central Plains, Mount Tai and Xu Province are the best places to visit, especially Mount Tai. Only there will you fully understand the meaning of grandeur," Zhao Li, seizing the moment, offered his help.

"Well... alright." Having traveled with Zhao Li for some time, Ma Yunlu trusted him to a certain extent. Despite her decent martial skills, she wasn’t yet an internal energy master, so she knew she could still fall victim to trickery.

"I have nothing better to do, so I might as well visit Mount Tai!" Ma Yunlu chirped happily, her mood shifting like a young girl’s often does.

"In that case, please leave a seal of your mark so I can write a letter to inform your father. That way, it will be easier for him to know where you are," Zhao Yun suggested with a smile.

Ma Yunlu didn’t reject Zhao Yun’s kind offer. After all, if she stayed away for too long, even with the support of Ma Chao, Pang De, and Ma Dai, she would still face a scolding. Given Ma Teng’s strict discipline, even though he adored her, he might still have her kneel in the ancestral hall.

After Zhao Yun finished writing the letter, Ma Yunlu sneaked a glance at it and felt satisfied. She cheerfully stamped her seal and handed the bamboo tube containing the letter to Zhao Yun.

"General Zhao, please show me the hospitality of a local," Ma Yunlu said with a grin, clearly feeling much closer to Zhao Yun after handing over the letter. Her money had long run out, which was why she had been traveling with Zhao Li’s caravan.

Zhao Yun shook his head, noting how quickly Ma Yunlu’s personality had shifted in such a short time. "Miss Ma, please follow me to the post station. We’ll outfit your horse with a saddle and stirrups. Although the roads leading to Mount Tai are relatively smooth, we should still make sure you're comfortable for the journey."

"Just call me Yunlu," Ma Yunlu replied, loosening up even more now that she trusted Zhao Yun. "By the way, this saddle and stirrup are really impressive. Who made them?"

"Yunlu, please mount your horse, and we can discuss it on the way. These were crafted by our strategist and have greatly improved our cavalry's effectiveness, especially for the Xiliang cavalry," Zhao Yun said with a smile, squinting slightly to appear more approachable. Upon hearing the mention of Xiliang cavalry, Ma Yunlu understood their significance.

Neither Liu Bei nor Ma Teng knew about this fortuitous encounter Zhao Yun had along his journey. Likewise, Ma Teng had no idea that his beloved daughter was being subtly wooed. Given the strength and cleverness of the man involved, even if Ma Teng were present, he would have been left speechless.

Upon arriving at the post station, Ma Yunlu, thanks to Zhao Yun’s authority, passed through smoothly. After she had freshened up, Zhao Yun had already outfitted her red chestnut horse with a new saddle and stirrups. Additionally, her worn-out armor had been replaced with a fine silk outfit suited for travel.

The quality was top-notch, enhanced by secret preservation techniques Zhao Yun knew, ensuring the outfit was as durable as her previous armor while being far more comfortable.

"Where’s my armor?" Ma Yunlu asked, her wet hair hanging down as she looked around, unable to find it.

"Miss, your armor was too worn out, so it was discarded. General Zhao found you a suitable new outfit," a maidservant explained cautiously.

Ma Yunlu looked at the new clothes laid out on the bed, feeling a bit dissatisfied at first, but once she picked them up, she was pleased.

"Does Lord Xuande really have this kind of armor available?" Ma Yunlu marveled. "Does this mean there are female soldiers too?"

Armor quality can easily be judged by veterans, and while Ma Yunlu wasn’t a veteran herself, she had trained in martial arts for years, so she knew that this silk outfit, with its hidden protective qualities, was on par with her old armor. After all, high-quality Shu brocade was known for its ability to guard against slashing and stabbing, especially after being treated with Zhao Yun's secret techniques.

She didn’t even consider the possibility that a man might have handled her clothes, as the garments were clearly new.

The maidservant didn’t know how to respond, and Ma Yunlu wasn’t expecting much from her anyway. Waving her off, she began to change into her new outfit.

In truth, very few women in Mount Tai could afford such finely crafted and enhanced clothing. Typically, only those with significant influence, like Cai Yan, or families with strong backing, could obtain it.

As for Zhao Yun, who had personally enhanced the fabric using secret methods, he might very well have been the only man who could do so. It seemed that, at certain times, both intelligence and capability in men can increase dramatically.

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