Chen Xi's most outstanding trait was his calmness. He rarely got angry or shaken by anything. Once he made a decision, he would pursue his goal relentlessly. More importantly, Chen Xi had always believed that his intelligence was sufficient to execute his plans.
But for the first time, Chen Xi wavered because of Lü Bu's bravery, his boldness, and the many other aspects of his character. He didn't want to kill someone who had the potential to become a hero, so he extended an olive branch, hoping to keep him.
As long as Lü Bu spoke up, no matter why he was acting so brave and grand today, as long as he maintained that demeanor, Chen Xi was confident he could find a way to clear Lü Bu's name and settle him. But fate played a cruel joke. After Chen Xi wavered in his decision for the first time, the heavens made him swallow the bitter fruit, and his anger surged uncontrollably.
"Die!" Lü Bu ignored Han Qiong's attack and swung his halberd towards Chen Xi. Fortunately, Guan Yu and Zhao Yun desperately intercepted the strike.
"Slash!" Han Qiong's spear cut through Lü Bu's arm, slicing his armor open. But to everyone's shock, Lü Bu's wound healed at an alarming speed.
"Die?" A cold glint flashed in Chen Xi's eyes. How many years had it been since anyone dared to utter that word in front of him?
"Stop talking to him; that guy's just a lunatic," Guo Jia, equally enraged, approached with a grim expression.
"I think so too," Chen Xi replied, his face darkening. "I must have been blind just now. I'll never waver again."
"Let's get out of here. We only have the strength for close combat, and against a master like Lü Bu, one sweeping strike could shred us to pieces," Guo Jia sighed. "Let the army handle it. We're too close, and it's incredibly dangerous."
"Let's go." Chen Xi's face turned black, but he didn't hesitate. He followed Guo Jia and left.
In this situation, the two of them staying would only be a burden. The only mental attack they could muster was a suicidal move meant to drag others down with them, and being too close was simply too risky. As for physical attacks, they had little effect on someone like Lü Bu.
Ruan Liangyu immediately escorted Chen Xi and Guo Jia away. Once they left, Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, and Han Qiong could finally unleash their full strength, fighting Lü Bu with all they had. Surprisingly, the three of them quickly began to suppress Lü Bu after going all out.
"Die!" Lü Bu roared furiously as he slashed at the three of them. His once-glorious armor was now covered in numerous cuts from their attacks.
"Lü Bu, what are you fighting for?" Zhao Yun suddenly knocked Lü Bu's halberd aside with a powerful thrust, propelling himself backward, and then shouted at him with a heart-calming technique.
Guan Yu and Han Qiong also used the momentum to fly backward, forming a triangular formation around Lü Bu. It was clear to them that Lü Bu's mental state was far from normal.
Of course, if this were a battlefield, there would be no hesitation—they would kill Lü Bu without question. But today was supposed to be a friendly match, and Lü Bu's behavior had become far too bizarre. None of them wanted to push him too far. If they had grievances, they would settle them on the battlefield. A surprise attack like Lü Bu's would only earn him the scorn of true warriors.
"What for? What for? What am I fighting for?" Lü Bu howled at the sky, his voice filled with bitterness that turned into a sorrowful wail. The golden flames around him flickered erratically, and tears welled up in his eyes. He finally realized where his roots lay, where his home was. He wasn't homeless, but he could never go back—never go back!
"Zilong, there's no need for this. This man is a great threat. He nearly killed Zichuan with that attack. Even if we don't kill him, we must capture him!" Han Qiong warned Zhao Yun in a low voice.
"No, I think there's more to this than meets the eye. It can't be that simple," Zhao Yun shook his head. "Wenhou, even in your rage, you must have a reason. The Military Advisor treated you kindly, yet you acted like this. If you don't give us a reason today, we'll have no choice but to bring you to face the Military Advisor."
As Zhao Yun spoke, his left hand rested on the Heaven Relying Sword, and an incredibly sharp aura emanated from him.
"Kindness? Kindness..." Lü Bu's face was filled with bitterness and a sense of hopelessness. After a moment, he collected himself and glanced at the three men before him. "What more is there to explain? You want to take me to see him? Let's see if you have the ability. Come on, then!"
Meanwhile, Zhang Liao and Xu Chu were locked in a chase. To be honest, it wasn't that Zhang Liao couldn't fight Xu Chu. Even if Xu Chu were uninjured, Zhang Liao could still hold his own against him.
But Xu Chu had been severely injured by Lü Bu and couldn't keep up with Zhang Liao. Zhang Liao, on the other hand, didn't want to fight a wounded Xu Chu. He still hadn't figured out what had gone wrong—how had things turned out like this?
But as Lü Bu's howls, his sorrowful wails, and his frenzied attacks continued, along with the scattered words he muttered, Zhang Liao gradually pieced together the whole story. And once he did, he understood what had happened to Lü Bu.
Zhang Liao bitterly smiled. His mind wasn't dull, and having been involved from the start and knowing Lü Bu well, he quickly grasped the situation's cause and effect.
With a resigned smile, Zhang Liao knew that if he didn't act now, they would both die here—killed by their own foolishness.
"Fengxian, Bingzhou has been taken by Yuan Shao. Even if the people of Bingzhou still remember you, do you dare to return?" Zhang Liao, in a moment of clarity, shouted.
"Dare!" Lü Bu's eyes blazed with fury as he knocked back Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, and Han Qiong with a single strike, then roared at Zhang Liao.
"Then why fear the warlords? What do you have to fear?" Zhang Liao shouted back. "If the people of Bingzhou still remember you, go ask them yourself!"
Upon hearing these words, Lü Bu suddenly halted his halberd mid-swing. For the first time, someone had bluntly spoken such words in front of him.
"Go ask them... yes!" Lü Bu's expression calmed, and he muttered to himself. Then, he looked up at Zhao Yun and the others, snorted coldly, and whistled. Soon, the Red Hare horse galloped over.
Lü Bu mounted his horse, and Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, and Han Qiong did not try to stop him. They couldn't, even if they wanted to. Although they had managed to suppress the mentally unstable Lü Bu, preventing him from leaving would have been difficult. Moreover, after Zhang Liao's words, Lü Bu had regained his composure.
After taking a few steps, Lü Bu stopped and turned back to glance at Zhao Yun and the others. "Tell Chen Zichuan that this was a misunderstanding. I will repay him for this favor!"