Three Kingdoms: Zhang Fei was sent flying by a single spear thrust, leaving Liu Bei stunned.

Chenliu, Cao Cao's military camp.

It was late at night, but the lights were still on in Zhang Ziqian's tent.

However, he was neither diligently studying military strategy nor polishing his precious weapons.

He was sitting cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed, with a blissful expression on his face, feeling the amazing changes happening in his body.

"Awesome! That's so awesome!"

Zhang Ziqian was screaming inwardly.

After fusing with the martial spirit fragments of "Lu Bu among men", he felt as if his body had undergone a complete upgrade.

The power that originally belonged to Li Cunxiao was steady and profound, like the earth and mountains, emphasizing the word "strength," where one force can overcome ten techniques.

Now, a new power is flowing through his meridians. This power is violent and sharp, like a raging storm from the heavens, full of aggression and explosive force.

The two forces, one yin and one yang, one still and one moving, not only did not conflict with each other, but blended together perfectly, forming a wonderful balance.

Zhang Ziqian could clearly feel that his control over power had reached a new level.

Previously, when he used the Yuwang Spear technique, he relied on Li Cunxiao's instincts and his own exploration, which was bold and vigorous, but lacked variety.

Now, countless insights into halberd techniques have appeared out of nowhere in his mind.

Chop, thrust, flick, hook, sweep... all kinds of moves, all kinds of variations, as if he had practiced them for decades, so familiar with them that he couldn't be more familiar with them.

He even had a feeling that if he picked up the halberd now, he could immediately unleash Lu Bu's magnificent and deadly "Unrivaled Halberd Break".

No, he can even do it better than Lü Bu!

Because his power far surpasses that of Lü Bu!

"System, show me my personal panel!" Zhang Ziqian silently prayed.

Name: Zhang Ziqian

[Position: Guard in Cao Cao's Army Tent]

[Martial Soul: Flying Tiger General Li Cunxiao (100% Fusion), Lu Bu Among Men (1/3 Fragment Fusion)]

Strength: 115 (The human limit is 10)

[Agility: 98]

[Physical Fitness: 110]

【Spirit: 85】

[Skills: Yu the Great's Spear Technique (Grandmaster), Basic Archery (Master), Lu Bu's Halberd Technique (Beginner)]

Points: 15000

[Bound by: Cao Cao (Trust)]

[Special Status: Flying General's Approval (Activated), a faint resonance occurs with 'Red Hare'.]

"Holy crap! My strength has increased again?"

Zhang Ziqian was startled when he saw the number "115" on the panel.

Previously, his strength was 110. After fusing a fragment of Lu Bu's martial soul, it increased by 5 points! If he were to fuse all of Lu Bu's martial souls, how abnormal would his strength become?

In addition, a new skill, "Lu Bu's Halberd Technique (Beginner)," has been added to the skill bar.

Although it was only an entry-level assessment, Zhang Ziqian knew that this was merely a system evaluation. With the insights he had gained into halberd techniques, reaching the grandmaster level with just a little practice would be a piece of cake.

What interested him most was that special state.

"A faint resonance with 'Red Hare'? What does that mean?"

Zhang Ziqian was a little curious.

He thought back carefully and realized that at the moment of fusing with his martial soul, he did indeed feel a faint connection pointing towards the direction of the prefect's stable.

Could it be that by fusing with Lu Bu's martial spirit, one can gain the affinity of Red Hare?

"Interesting, very interesting!"

Zhang Ziqian became more and more excited, wishing he could run to Lü Bu right now and bring out Red Hare to test it out.

But after thinking about it, I decided against it.

It's not a good idea to bother someone in the middle of the night. Besides, what he really wants to do right now is... sleep.

Today was a day of rushing around and fighting, it was exhausting.

"Of all things, eating and sleeping are the most important."

Zhang Ziqian yawned, pulled the blanket over himself, tilted his head to the side, and within three seconds, he was snoring evenly.

……

Unlike Zhang Ziqian, who slept soundly, Lü Bu suffered from insomnia.

He lay in the guest room Zhang Miao had arranged for him, his eyes wide open, staring intently at the roof beams above his head.

My mind was a complete mess.

The scenes of the daytime battle replayed in his mind again and again.

Zhang Ziqian's casual "I'll take it."

That earth-shattering, terrifying power that directly confronted his full-force attack.

That was unreasonable; it shattered his own "Unrivaled Heaven Breaker" sweeping attack in one move.

And there was that icy, piercing halberd blade resting before my throat.

And finally, that word that filled him with shame and indignation... "Little Bu".

"Ahhhhh!"

Frustrated, Lü Bu grabbed his hair and sat up abruptly in bed.

He couldn't understand it!

He really couldn't understand it!

How can there be such a person in this world?

That power doesn't belong to humans at all! It's a power that only gods and demons should possess!

He didn't lose unjustly; in terms of pure strength, he was completely outmatched. He had to admit that.

But what he couldn't accept was the other party's attitude!

If Zhang Ziqian mocked him after defeating him, or killed him with a single blow, he might be able to accept it.

If you are not as skilled as others, you should admit defeat and die like a warrior.

But the other party just wouldn't listen!

Not only did the other party not kill him, but they also said they would "temporarily" leave Red Hare with him and "borrow" it when they wanted to ride it again.

Finally, why did they insist on making him some kind of "underling," responsible for "cheering him on and serving him tea and water"?

What is this?

This is humiliation! This is a humiliation ten thousand times worse than killing him!

but……

Lu Bu thought of Zhang Ziqian's face again.

There was no mockery, no contempt on that face, only a sense of... matter-of-fact acceptance.

It seemed to him that all of this was perfectly natural.

His clear yet foolish eyes gave Lü Bu the illusion that this guy wasn't really humiliating him. Was that what he was thinking?

The moment this thought crossed Lu Bu's mind, he felt even worse.

Being defeated and humiliated by a powerful enemy, though painful, can ignite the flames of revenge.

But if the other person doesn't take you seriously at all, everything they do that you see as humiliating is just something they say or do casually in their eyes...

That feeling of powerlessness, that frustration of punching cotton, can drive a person crazy!

"My lord, are you still awake?"

Outside the door came Zhang Liao's concerned voice.

He stayed outside the door, listening to the sounds inside, and couldn't rest easy.

"Come in," Lu Bu said hoarsely.

Zhang Liao pushed open the door and entered. He saw Lü Bu sitting on the edge of the bed, his face unusually pale in the candlelight, and he felt a pang of pain in his heart.

"My lord, your health is of utmost importance. You should rest early."

"I can't sleep." Lü Bu shook his head, looked at Zhang Liao, and suddenly asked, "Wen Yuan, tell me... what kind of person is this Zhang Ziqian?"

Zhang Liao was taken aback, not expecting his lord to ask this.

He hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, "This man... possesses unparalleled bravery and strength in this world. I... have never seen him before. But his actions... are eccentric and illogical, like... a child."

child.

This word made Lü Bu's eyes flicker.

Yes, like a little kid.

A capricious, unpredictable brat with world-destroying power.

He'll ask for your good horse right away just because you have one.

He might want you to be his follower just because he beats you.

His way of thinking is simple, direct, and brutal, completely disregarding other people's feelings and worldly rules.

"He wasn't humiliating me..." Lü Bu said, as if talking to himself, yet also as if speaking to Zhang Liao, "He just... really thought that way."

Zhang Liao remained silent.

He didn't know how to respond.

Because he also had this feeling vaguely.

"My lord, what should we do next?" Zhang Liao asked. "Are we friend or foe to Cao Cao? And what about Zhang Ziqian...?"

Lü Bu did not answer.

He stood up, walked to the window, opened it, and looked out at the dark night sky.

The cold night wind tousled his hair and also cleared his confused mind a little.

What should I do?

Surrender to Cao Cao?

Impossible! He can't work as that "brat's" "boss"!

Just leave like this, as if nothing happened?

Absolutely not! His pride wouldn't allow him to slink away like that!

Moreover, Zhang Ziqian said that Red Hare was only "deposited" with him.

That guy will definitely come looking for me again!

Thinking about this, Lü Bu felt his psychological trauma had expanded even further.

"Wen Yuan," Lü Bu suddenly spoke.

"Your subordinate is here."

"Tomorrow morning, you'll go and find out everything about Zhang Ziqian for me." Lu Bu's voice was cold and firm. "His background, his past, what he likes, what he dislikes... I need to know everything."

Know yourself and the enemy, a hundred battles will never end.

If you can't figure it out, then go and find out.

He wanted to see just who this man was, who had shattered everything he was so proud of!