Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 163 A New Mount
When Zhao Yun led his troops to Tianshui to assist in the defense, he had already inquired about Wei Xiaobao's whereabouts.

At that time, Wei Xiaobao's fate was unknown. Ma Teng and Ma Yunlu were worried that Zhao Yun would take his anger out on them, so they lied to Zhao Yun and said that Wei Xiaobao had volunteered to persuade Guo Si of Anding to surrender, thus keeping the matter a secret.

Zhao Yun had already noticed something amiss, but Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang had ordered him to do his utmost to assist Ma Teng in defending Tianshui, so Zhao Yun did not investigate further at the time.

After returning to Chang'an, Zhao Yun sent people to Anding City to inquire about Wei Xiaobao's whereabouts. Upon learning that Wei Xiaobao had not appeared in Anding City, Zhao Yun was filled with anxiety.

Upon receiving the message from the city gate guards, Zhao Yun was overjoyed and rode to the city gate to greet Wei Xiaobao.

Seeing the soldiers in Chang'an treating Wei Xiaobao with utmost respect, Ma Yunlu already began to regard Wei Xiaobao in a different light. She was even more surprised when she saw Zhao Yun personally come to greet him.

"What position did he hold in Liu Bei's army, and why did even Zhao Yun treat him with such favor?"

After seeing Wei Xiaobao, Zhao Yun naturally looked him over carefully from head to toe, and then asked, "When will you return to Tianshui, Second Brother? Where have you been all this time?"

When Wei Xiaobao heard Zhao Yun ask this question, he already knew that Ma Teng and Ma Yunlu had been hiding their situation from Zhao Yun.

Ma Yunlu's heart was pounding with anxiety, worried that her lie would be exposed. She blamed herself for being so focused on being intimate with Wei Xiaobao along the way that she had forgotten to tell him about this beforehand.

Wei Xiaobao, of course, knew how to handle it: "After finishing the tasks assigned by General Ma, I returned to Tianshui. I was slightly injured on the way, so I didn't come to Chang'an to see my elder brother in time."

"Ah? How did you get injured? Where are you injured? How is your recovery going?"

Zhao Yun asked three questions in a row, and Wei Xiaobao chuckled: "Don't worry, brother, didn't you say that there aren't many people who can hurt me? I just accidentally fell and hurt my back, and I'm fine now."

Seeing that Wei Xiaobao was hesitant, Zhao Yun knew that Wei Xiaobao was unable to explain himself clearly because Ma Yunlu was present, so he stopped asking.

Changing the subject, Zhao Yun said mysteriously, "Second brother, this time, following the strategist's brilliant plan, I not only captured the city but also obtained a treasure."

Upon hearing about the treasure, Wei Xiaobao was already impatient, rubbing his hands together and asking, "Brother, what treasure have you gotten? Quickly, show it to me!"

As they spoke, the group arrived at the Chang'an Imperial Palace.

This temporary palace was built under the orders of Dong Zhuo for Liu Xie to reside in and conduct state affairs. After Zhao Yun entered Chang'an, he temporarily stayed elsewhere. The palace was pitch black inside, but the surrounding area was filled with lights, indicating that the army was encamped here.

Zhao Yun said, "We can't take that treasure out, but it's in the military camp. I'll take you there to see it now."

Ma Yunlu, concerned about Wei Xiaobao's injuries, wanted to advise him to rest early, but Wei Xiaobao was determined to follow Zhao Yun to see the treasure. Besides, Ma Yunlu, being a woman, couldn't bring herself to urge Wei Xiaobao to rest in front of his sworn brother, so she could only drive the carriage behind the two brothers into the military camp.

The three handed over the carriage and horses to the gentry and walked towards Zhao Yun's military tent.

From a distance of about ten paces from the military tent, Wei Xiaobao's eyes were already drawn to it.

Outside Zhao Yun's military tent was a magnificent horse, pure white with golden hooves, exuding a noble and extraordinary air, and arrogant and domineering. Even though it was tied to a hitching post, it still gave off an untamed and domineering aura.

"Cao Cao's Clawed Yellow Flying Lightning?"

Zhao Yun laughed heartily: "Second Brother, you really do recognize this horse. When Cao Cao fled, he hurriedly boarded a boat. When Ma Chao caught up, Cao Cao panicked and ran away, abandoning his horse. Unfortunately, Ma Chao didn't recognize this horse and let it run wild in the wilderness. A few days ago, the soldiers went to the field to train the cavalry and happened to encounter this horse, so they captured it."

"Of course I recognize it. Cao Cao always rode this horse back to camp after winning a battle. This horse is no less powerful than my Jueying."

Thinking of Jueying, Wei Xiaobao felt another surge of hatred. The thought of Jia Xu and Tang Zhou enjoying themselves in Ye City only fueled his anger. Zhao Yun said, "After acquiring this fine horse, my first thought was to give it to you, Second Brother. Unfortunately, after being captured and brought back to the camp, it refuses to eat or drink, and won't let anyone near it. I wonder if you have any way to tame it!"

Wei Xiaobao kept a few steps away from Clawed Yellow Flying Lightning and circled it a few times.

Sensing hostility, the Clawed Yellow Flying Lightning raised its head, snorted, and pawed at the ground with its front hooves!
Wei Xiaobao pulled a dagger from his pocket, stared intently at the horse, and said, "I'll give it a try!"

Before he could finish speaking, Wei Xiaobao darted forward, grabbed the reins on the hitching post, and with a swift movement, slashed the reins with his dagger.

Clawed Yellow Flying Lightning was suddenly startled and turned its horse around to rush out.

With quick reflexes and agility, Wei Xiaobao used the momentum of the Clawed Yellow Flying Lightning's charge to flip himself onto the horse's back and sit on the reins.

Seeing Wei Xiaobao's movements were executed flawlessly, Zhao Yun couldn't help but praise, "Second Brother, what skill you have!"

Ma Yunlu felt a chill run down her spine. Wei Xiaobao's injuries had not yet healed, and if he were to be jostled like this on horseback, his injuries would likely worsen.

In the blink of an eye, the Clawed Yellow Lightning had already run through the military camp and sped through the streets of Chang'an.

Wei Xiaobao understood that if he wanted to tame such a magnificent horse, he absolutely could not use brute force; he should just keep his body steady and let it run wild.

Unable to see Wei Xiaobao, Ma Yunlu quickly said to Zhao Yun, "General, may I borrow your horse?"

Zhao Yun asked in surprise, "General Ma, what use do you have for the horse?"

"I'm going to chase after Xiaobao."

"Don't worry about your second brother, his riding skills are no less than yours or mine."

“His injuries haven’t healed yet. I’m worried that this horse is too wild and might throw him off again, which could worsen his injuries.”

Zhao Yun waved his hand and said, "Second Brother's movements on the horse were clean and efficient just now, and that little injury will definitely not affect anything. If he can't tame the Clawed Yellow Flying Lightning, he will definitely keep thinking about it. Let's just wait here in peace."

After a long while, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the military camp.

Kick-tock, kick-tock.

Ma Yunlu's face lit up with joy as she hurried toward the gate.

Wei Xiaobao, looking smug, rode on his horse and said to Zhao Yun, "What a fine horse! It can run dozens of miles even after being hungry for several days! If this steed were mine, Cao Cao would be so angry he wouldn't be able to sleep for days!"

Zhao Yun laughed heartily: "With this Clawed Yellow Flying Lightning by my side, Second Brother will be like a tiger with wings."

Wei Xiaobao dismounted, handed the reins to a soldier beside him, patted the horse's neck and said, "Go on, eat plenty of good feed to replenish your strength. I'll be taking you to the battlefield in a couple of days!"

The horse recognized its new master and became much more obedient, following the soldiers to the stable.

(End of this chapter)