Mythical Three Kingdoms-Chapter 652 - 617: Worth a Try

Chen Xi, adhering to the belief that one should not diminish the joy of dining, had naturally tidied the area spotlessly clean. Were it not for the absence of dancers and singers, now would have been the perfect time to summon a troupe, enjoy beef and drink fine wine, a beautiful event amidst the invigorating autumn to visit friends.

"Not bad, right? This is enough to give him face," Chen Xi said with a smile to Guo Jia, "How about it? I did a good job, didn’t I?"

"Indeed, you did well," Guo Jia said with a chuckle, "Over there, Zhongkang is already ready and can set off at any time. However, I didn’t expect you to have such a formidable protector with you. To avoid Lyu Bu’s rebound, I think it’s best to invite him to take a seat. Yunchang and Zhongkang might not notice, but Lyu Fengxian may well be able to."

"You have a point," Chen Xi nodded, then turned back and called out, "Old Master Hann, surely you have heard as well." There was no movement behind him, and just as Chen Xi was about to turn back to explain to Guo Jia, he found Hann Qiong had already appeared before him.

"Old Master Hann, please take a seat," Guo Jia said with a slight bow, yet Hann Qiong indifferently walked towards a spot slightly behind the seat of honor and sat down, lost in his thoughts.

After Chen Xi and the others had arranged everything else, they awaited Lyu Bu’s arrival. It was said that, had Zhang Fei been there today, he would have cursed Lyu Bu for making all these people wait; however, in Zhang Fei’s absence, everyone present was civilized and calmly waited for Lyu Bu’s appearance.

"He’s here," Zhao Yun, with his sharp eyes, was the first to spot a distant figure. The figure was not galloping on horseback, but neither was it moving slowly; Zhao Yun could sense the relaxed and natural joy emanating from Lyu Bu.

"Trouble, quickly have Zhongkang return," Guo Jia immediately said, "True enough, man’s plans are inferior to those made by heaven. Lyu Bu has actually come with only one companion."

"That’s Lyu Bu for you," Chen Xi stood up, a smile spreading across his face. Only such courage could match the title of the world’s number one.

Since parting at Hulao Pass years ago, it had been several years before Chen Xi saw Lyu Bu again. Compared to the arrogance of Lyu Bu at Hulao Pass, Lyu Bu, still clad in the same armor, now appeared more composed, the passage of time having left its mark on him.

Nevertheless, when Chen Xi first laid eyes on Lyu Bu, he still felt a shock. Even though Lyu Bu came with only one associate, there was a feeling that the vast sky and the thick earth were all but a backdrop to highlight Lyu Bu alone, a sensation that lingered in Chen Xi’s mind. This was Lyu Bu, the undefeated and strongest of them all!

"Jiuyuan’s Lyu Fengxian pays his respects to Marquis Chen," Lyu Bu, riding his horse and wielding his whip, appeared instantly on the martial field, greeting Chen Xi with a clasp of his hands, showing no arrogance at all.

"Marquis Wenn, there is no need for such formalities. Please, take a seat," Chen Xi gestured invitingly, inwardly sighing at the thought that Lyu Bu was indeed an extraordinary individual; it was a pity he repeatedly chose the wrong leaders to follow. Despite his mistakes, nothing could diminish his brilliance; among men, Lyu Bu was without equal.

"Very well!" Lyu Bu swung his big red battle robe and strode forward, heading towards the chief seat on the left. Chen Xi couldn’t help but think that Lyu Bu’s majestic and powerful stride was truly unequalled, no wonder he was considered the strongest military general today.

"Yanmen Zhang Wenyuan pays his respects to Marquis Chen," Zhang Liao held his spear and saluted Chen Xi.

"General Zhang, please take a seat," Chen Xi said with a smile, glancing back at Zhao Yun, who subtly shook his head. No matter how well Zhang He acted, he couldn’t change the rigidity of his inner Qi, while Zhang Liao’s inner Qi was supple.

Speaking honestly, at this moment, both Guan Yu and Zhao Yun were also shocked by Lyu Bu’s boldness, each giving a slight nod in acknowledgment. They were not the type of people who would deny the facts before them to the bitter end. Naturally, they were astonished by Lyu Bu’s heroic courage, and putting aside personal character, they had to admit that Lyu Bu truly was a formidable figure.

"Let’s talk about the matter of making friends through martial prowess later. I was indeed surprised by the visit of Marquis Wenn and Wen Yuan, and the preparations I made earlier now seem petty in comparison. All guards, return to the camp. Since we are making friends through martial arts, our army will also show the highest standards. Ruan Yuliang, lead the soldiers back to camp and have Zhongkang come to join us as well!" Chen Xi stood up, cupped his hands in a salute and expressed his admiration for Lyu Bu’s boldness.

The moment Lyu Bu and Zhang Liao arrived, Chen Xi instantly knew that Tian Feng must have felt like facing a formidable enemy, thus it would be unwise to risk a raid on their camp now.

Of course, what was more important was Lyu Bu’s current aura, which seemed negotiable. There’s a saying that "the appearance reflects the heart," and Lyu Bu now had quite an impressive presence.

"Understood!" Ruan Liangyu immediately stood up and led seven to eight hundred soldiers away, leaving behind only a dozen or so soldiers to pour wine and serve dishes. The departure was smooth and without the slightest delay, a true embodiment of strict order and discipline.

Lyu Bu nodded at Chen Xi as the seven to eight hundred soldiers left. Now that there was no obstruction by Cloud Qi, there was no one in the world who could block his path. Precisely because of this, he could feel even more the sincerity behind Chen Xi’s gesture.

[Truly deserving of the widespread reputation of Marquis Chen, his actions are open and aboveboard. Choosing to join Liu Bei is indeed an excellent choice, at least none of the people here are narrow-minded.] Zhang Liao rejoiced inwardly, feeling just like Chen Gong, that Lyu Bu was already preparing to join Liu Bei’s forces.

With Chen Xi there to ease the atmosphere, and Lyu Bu not causing any trouble this time, the mood soon warmed up. Guan Yu and Zhao Yun were especially impressed by Lyu Bu’s bravery in coming alone, and they only talked about pleasant things, refraining from making things difficult. Thus, the atmosphere became even more relaxed than what Chen Xi had imagined, and at one point, Zhang Liao even performed an impromptu sword dance.

"Oh, isn’t this Fat Xuu?" Lyu Bu greeted the hurriedly arriving Xuu Chu with a smile, his mood seeming quite good.

"Marquis Wenn, I heard people saying you came here alone with just one person, and I thought it was a joke. I didn’t expect it to be true," Xuu Chu said with a deep, resonant voice.

Unlike others, although Xuu Chu was steadfastly loyal, his admiration for the strong came from the heart. Although he did not approve of Lyu Bu’s behavior, he greatly respected Lyu Bu’s strength.

"Hahaha, here’s a bowl for you!" Lyu Bu said with a flush of tipsy redness on his cheeks, clearly enjoying Xuu Chu’s forthright praise. He liked straightforwardness and could never learn to be cunning and deceptive.

"Thank you, Marquis Wenn." Xuu Chu downed the drink in one go and then was taken aback, "Alcohol?"

Alright, previously Chen Xi joked about distilling alcohol, but till now the limit was still sixty degrees, and most of the time it was just over fifty degrees. However, the name alcohol was still retained.

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Given Xuu Chu’s reaction, how could Lyu Bu not know that Chen Xi and the others had indeed made a great effort? With this, he felt even more satisfied.

"Alcohol, what a good name, truly the essence of liquor! This is the strongest drink I’ve ever had," Lyu Bu laughed, "The liquor flows freely, the spirit is slightly tipsy, and since this gathering is about making friends through martial arts, as a guest I will follow the host’s lead. Since that’s the case, why don’t I go first!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)