"Don't tell me you're not," Guo Jia teased with a playful grin.
"Of course I am, but I just didn't expect you to be so certain," Chen Xi replied with a smile. It was quite surprising that Guo Jia had come to this conclusion.
"No, quite the opposite. I'm not certain, but I feel it doesn't matter anymore. Whether it's Yuan Shao's doing or not is irrelevant. Defeating Yuan Shao is what truly matters. If we don't, everything else is just empty talk. And as for someone else benefiting from the chaos, they need to have the foundation to do so," Guo Jia said with confidence, shaking his head.
Zhao Yun was at a loss for words. He realized that both Chen Xi and Guo Jia thought in unconventional ways, not following the usual paths of reasoning. However, Guo Jia made more sense—regardless of who was behind the attack, it was still a reason to go after Yuan Shao.
"..." Chen Xi fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "You're right. We're past the point of careful scheming. Let's use our strength to show Chen Gong who the true ruler of the Central Plains is!"
"Not just him, but the whole world," Guo Jia added with a slight nod and a confident expression. "I can already feel the grim and bloodthirsty atmosphere of the battlefield in the air. I have a feeling that our war with the North is about to officially begin."
Chen Xi was taken aback. In that moment, he vaguely felt as if he had grasped some crucial insight. His expression turned thoughtful, but as the feeling faded, he looked up and said, "Impossible. The decisive battle for control of the Central Plains won't happen until we're fully prepared."
"Let's hope so..." Guo Jia replied, casting a meaningful glance at Chen Xi. There were some things that no amount of planning could change, and if both sides were still unprepared, it might be better to strike first.
"Don't do anything unnecessary," Chen Xi warned, eyeing Guo Jia, worried that he might provoke a full-scale war before they were ready.
"Don't worry, I won't. But my instincts tell me that some things won't be swayed by our will alone," Guo Jia said, his expression hesitant. It was the first time Chen Xi had seen such uncertainty in Guo Jia.
"If that happens, we'll deal with it. Even if Yuan Shao's foundation is deep, do you really think we would lose? Although he's becoming increasingly formidable, what difference does it make?" Chen Xi spoke with composure, though he couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy.
"Even if we're not fully prepared, the worst that could happen is that we won't be able to both conquer and govern the world at the same time. If chaos ensues, we'll just restore order afterward. I, Zijing, Kongming, and Wenru are all skilled in such matters!" Chen Xi's unease spurred him to resolve that if Guo Jia's prediction did come true, they would face it head-on. His confidence in their abilities was unwavering.
"You're right," Guo Jia nodded, dropping the subject. He then turned to Zhao Yun. "Zilong, are you ready to face Lü Bu this time? Do you have confidence?"
"In this world, I doubt anyone has confidence when facing Lü Bu," Zhao Yun responded with a wry smile. Not everyone could match Zhang Fei's mindset. For most, claiming confidence against the strongest warrior was mere bravado.
"Good. In that case, after lunch, we'll challenge him," Guo Jia said with a smile. "With General Guan and General Xu standing by, you can fight without worry. There will be no danger."
Guo Jia and Chen Xi exchanged glances, both understanding each other's intentions.
"That's fine. Although I'm confident I can escape from Lü Bu unscathed, having someone to back me up is reassuring. Since the last time we faced off at Hulao Pass, I'm curious to see how much closer I've gotten to him," Zhao Yun nodded, showing no fear of Lü Bu.
"Be careful, Zilong," Guan Yu said, placing a hand on Zhao Yun's shoulder. He infused a bit of his inner energy into Zhao Yun to help him gauge his own strength, then let go with a satisfied nod.
"I will be careful. The difference isn't as vast as I feared. He's indeed powerful, but not invincible," Zhao Yun reassured Guan Yu after sensing the strength Guan Yu had demonstrated.
"We're counting on you," Guan Yu said, patting Zhao Yun's shoulder. Although Guan Yu was always brimming with confidence, even he had no good strategy against the monstrous Lü Bu. Despite the suppression of inner energy by the battlefield's cloud energy, the difference in their abilities was overwhelming, and Guan Yu knew it.
"Take care, General Zhao," Xu Chu said with a bitter smile. "Before I fought Lü Bu, I thought all inner energy masters were about the same. But after facing him, I realized that guy is a freak of nature. Maybe he traded his personality and intellect for sheer strength."
"That might be the case. Who knows, maybe his muscles have taken over his brain—and who knows, maybe they've reached his soul too," Chen Xi suddenly quipped.
Chen Xi's remark didn't distract the others, though. Guo Jia had witnessed this reaction several times recently—mentioning Lü Bu always had this effect. His terrifying strength left a lasting impression on everyone.
"By the way, Zilong, that sword is yours now," Guan Yu said, changing the subject as his gaze fell on the sword at Zhao Yun's waist. He smiled and added, "It's a fine sword, but I rarely use it. Consider it yours."
"Thank you," Zhao Yun replied with a smile, drawing the Yitian Sword from its sheath. This sword had been captured by Guan Yu during the battle in Xuzhou, along with the Golden Armor and the steed Zhaohuang Feidian, which Guan Yu now rode.
"General Guan, let me gift you a fine steed in return. On the battlefield, only a great horse can bring out our full potential," Zhao Yun said as he swung the Yitian Sword and then mentioned Guan Yu's mount with a smile.
"No need," Guan Yu shook his head slightly.
There weren't many exceptional horses in the world, and Zhaohuang Feidian was already one of the best. It was at the peak of the Qi Refinement stage, just a hair's breadth away from breaking through to the next level. But that small difference was as vast as heaven and earth.
The most noticeable difference was that a horse at the Inner Qi Separation stage could run through the air, whereas a Qi Refinement stage steed could only gallop on land.
As for other differences, if an ordinary horse was a hindrance to Guan Yu in battle, then a steed like Zhaohuang Feidian would offer only a slight improvement. Only a horse at the Inner Qi Separation stage could significantly enhance his combat power. Unfortunately, such steeds were rare and hard to come by!
Of course, Zhaohuang Feidian's current limitations were due to its age—just three years old. It couldn't compare to Chitu, who had been fighting alongside Lü Bu since the age of two, but it had great potential to reach the Inner Qi Separation stage.
Zhao Yun chuckled as he walked out of the tent. He whistled, and in an instant, Guan Yu sensed two bursts of Inner Qi Separation energy rapidly approaching. It didn't take long for him to realize what they were.
"Is that Chitu?" Guan Yu asked, surprised as he stared at the tall red horse. But then he noticed the distinctive tufts of hair on the horse and realized it wasn't Lü Bu's steed, the roaring Chitu.