Mythical Version of Three Kingdom

Zhao Yun stared at the group in front of him with a hint of caution. If it were just Zhou Tai and Sun Ce, he wouldn’t hesitate to fight. However, with the addition of Zhou Yu and that notably ugly young man, Zhao Yun found himself holding back.

For a warrior, seizing the right moment was everything. Missing that opportunity meant that even the most skilled generals would become wary of the abilities of top strategists.

Noticing Zhao Yun’s hesitation, Sun Ce couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy. Recently, many civil officials and military generals had pledged their allegiance to him. Naturally, he interpreted Zhao Yun’s hesitation as a sign of admiration for him.

”Warrior, would you care for a spar? The flowing waters of the Yangtze bring us together by fate, and I find myself itching for a match. Would you grant me this opportunity?” Sun Ce laughed heartily, his tone brimming with the enthusiasm of a combatant eager to test his skills.

”Very well, General. You may attack at will,” Zhao Yun nodded, appreciating Sun Ce’s respectful tone.

”Warrior, would you prefer to leave your wild geese on my ship? Holding such things might hinder your performance, no matter how skilled you are,” Zhou Yu intervened with a smile just as Sun Ce was about to thrust his spear forward. He knew Sun Ce was keen on recruiting this formidable warrior.

”No need. These geese are for a friend’s wedding, so you may attack without reservation,” Zhao Yun replied calmly, his eyes deep and unreadable. He had no desire to get entangled with the Sun family.

”Then let us begin!” Sun Ce, completely missing Zhou Yu’s hint, felt a surge of irritation when he saw Zhao Yun still holding the geese. He lunged forward, spear in hand.

Clang! A loud clash rang out as Sun Ce was sent flying backward. In that brief instant, the others could barely make out Zhao Yun’s movements—he was simply too fast.

”Impressive!” Zhou Tai exclaimed, staring in disbelief at Zhao Yun’s composed expression. He had barely managed to catch a glimpse of Zhao Yun’s spear move. What shocked him even more was that Zhao Yun hadn’t wasted a single ounce of energy.Sun Ce, who had been repelled by Zhao Yun’s spear, flipped in mid-air and landed with a stomp on the river’s surface, creating a large depression in the water. Then, he charged at Zhao Yun again, his body enveloped in a golden aura.

”Too slow,” Zhao Yun remarked with a smile. In this world, challenging him in terms of speed was asking for trouble. No one had ever been faster.

With a light touch of his spear against Sun Ce’s, Zhao Yun sent him hurtling back into the river with even greater force.

Watching the 17 or 18-year-old Sun Ce, Zhao Yun felt a pang of nostalgia. At that age, he hadn’t yet reached such a level. Although it was clear that Sun Ce had relied on external forces to boost his power, internal energy manifestation was still a significant achievement in any era—a state where defeating Qi Refining masters was effortless. There was no such thing as surpassing levels in this world.

Splash! Sun Ce spat out a mouthful of blood, staring at Zhao Yun in shock. Since reaching this final stage of martial cultivation, it was his first time facing an opponent of such overwhelming strength.

”Sun Bofu, you’re quite skilled, but there’s no need to imitate Lu Bu. Every martial artist on the path of internal energy manifestation has their own journey and beliefs. While he may be hailed as the strongest, following his path will only prevent you from surpassing him,” Zhao Yun said calmly, losing interest in further combat with Sun Ce.

The situation was simple: Sun Ce was a formidable internal energy master, but unlike seasoned veterans like Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and Hua Xiong—who had spent years at the peak of Qi Refining before breaking through—Sun Ce lacked the same depth of experience. His sudden surge in power after reaching this level was impressive but couldn’t compare to those with years of accumulated strength.

However, Sun Ce’s advantage lay in his youth. With time and continued training, he would reach impressive heights before hitting any major bottlenecks.

Startled by Zhao Yun’s words, Sun Ce aborted his attack and settled on the river’s surface. Not many could stand on water like Zhao Yun, and Sun Ce realized he had much to learn.

”Bofu, return to the ship for now,” Zhou Yu called out, sensing Zhao Yun’s identity from his words.

”Zhou Gongjin greets General Zhao,” Zhou Yu said with a bow. There weren’t many warriors capable of defeating Sun Ce so easily, and fewer still who could identify Sun Ce’s emulation of Lu Bu. Among those who fit the description, only one wielded a silver spear while riding a white horse—Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun returned the bow without denying it. ”I trust you won’t try to stop me, so I’ll take my leave.”

”Safe travels, General Zhao,” Zhou Yu said with a sigh, realizing there was no way to persuade him to stay.

With a slight smile, Zhao Yun sheathed his spear, tugged on the reins, and swiftly rode off across the water.

”What a shame that such a mighty warrior doesn’t serve me,” Sun Ce muttered, still drenched from the river. ”You held back when we sparred, didn’t you, Youping?”

Zhou Tai scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. Could he really tell his lord that he didn’t want to injure him during their practice bouts?

”I guess I’m not as strong as I thought,” Sun Ce sighed.

”Don’t be disheartened, my lord. Zhao Zilong has been training for many years. You’re still young, and in a few more years, your strength will undoubtedly rival his,” Zhou Tai said earnestly, dropping to one knee.

”I’m not that fragile. Lu Bu, Zhao Zilong—there will be a place for me, Sun Bofu, among them!” Sun Ce declared, rising to his feet and roaring toward the sky.

As he unleashed his inner energy to its peak, Sun Ce decisively discarded the aura he had imitated from Lu Bu. His energy levels plummeted, almost dropping him from internal energy manifestation, but his eyes shone with renewed determination. Zhao Yun’s words had awakened something within him—Lu Bu may be the strongest, but that didn’t mean Sun Ce couldn’t surpass him. A warrior’s path must be carved by his own hands.

Standing on the river, Zhao Yun gazed in Sun Ce’s direction, sensing that the young warrior had shed the sharp aura reminiscent of Lu Bu. He couldn’t help but admire Sun Ce’s decisiveness. Truly, Sun Ce was a man of heroic resolve—quick to make bold decisions without hesitation.

”Bofu, are you alright?” Zhou Yu asked, concerned as he noticed Sun Ce’s pale complexion.

”I’m fine. Drop anchor and let’s rest here for a while. I need to stabilize my strength before we continue,” Sun Ce replied with a wave of his hand.

Neither Zhao Yun nor Sun Ce realized that this brief encounter had far-reaching consequences. Because of Zhao Yun’s advice, Sun Ce had chosen to discard his previous cultivation, causing their ship to remain anchored. As a result, they missed the opportunity to recruit two key civil officials—Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong—who would soon relocate to Yangzhou. Indeed, destiny is a mysterious thing, with every step leading to unforeseen outcomes.