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

In front of the stable.

The fiery red figure emerged completely from the shadows.

Brilliant steed!

This was Zhang Ziqian's first reaction upon seeing it.

Its entire body was fiery red, without a single stray hair. It was tall and imposing, with long, powerful limbs and smooth, explosive muscle lines. Standing there, it resembled a burning flame, noble yet full of wildness.

Especially those eyes, which were lively yet full of arrogance, as if they could see right through people's hearts.

This is Red Hare!

The number one divine steed of the Three Kingdoms!

Zhang Ziqian's eyes lit up instantly, and he almost drooled.

This is way more handsome than those so-called famous horses of later generations! How cool would it be to ride one of these?

Red Hare was also sizing up Zhang Ziqian.

It tilted its head, its intelligent eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of confusion.

The human before it possessed an aura that felt familiar, even somewhat endearing. This aura was similar to that of its master, Lü Bu, but even more... domineering and profound.

This makes it feel very strange.

Instinctively, it felt no hostility whatsoever towards the person in front of it.

"Rhythm~"

Red Hare neighed again and tentatively took a small step toward Zhang Ziqian.

This small step immediately petrified the two Bingzhou soldiers blocking the way.

Their eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets, and their mouths were agape enough to fit an egg.

It's a ghost!

This is absolutely unbelievable!

Red Hare... actually approached someone other than the lord?

How is that possible!

Zhang Ziqian was delighted to see Red Hare approaching him.

It seems that the "resonance" the system mentioned really works!

He grew bolder and tentatively reached out his hand towards Red Hare.

"Hey, big guy, don't be afraid, I'm not a bad guy." He put on what he thought was his most benevolent smile.

Red Hare hesitated for a moment as it looked at the outstretched hand.

It could sense that the person in front of it had no ill intentions towards it; on the contrary, there was a kind of...heartfelt affection and longing.

It took two more steps forward, lowered its noble head, and gently sniffed Zhang Ziqian's palm with its soft nose.

Then, it stuck out its tongue and licked it.

A warm and moist sensation came from my palm.

Zhang Ziqian's heart was practically melting.

Become!

He couldn't resist reaching out his other hand to touch Red Hare's smooth, silk-like neck.

Just then.

"stop!"

A furious and humiliating shout came from not far away.

Zhang Ziqian was startled, and Red Hare seemed to be startled as well, suddenly raising its head and taking two steps back, looking warily in the direction from which the sound came.

Lu Bu, his face dark, strode towards them.

Behind him followed Zhang Liao and Gao Shun, both of whom looked shocked and incredulous.

They had just heard Red Hare's unusual neighing from inside the tent, and feeling uneasy, they came to check on it.

As a result, they witnessed a scene they would never forget.

Their lord's prized steed, which they cherished as their own life, a divine steed that even they could not approach, actually lowered its noble head before a stranger like a docile kitten, and even took the initiative to lick the other person's palm!

This scene had an impact on them no less than seeing Lü Bu's defeat yesterday!

Especially Lü Bu.

When he saw his beloved horse interacting so "intimately" with the man he hated to the core, he felt as if a knife had been plunged into his heart.

It was a feeling of... betrayal!

Even you are going to betray me!

"You! Stay away from my horse!" Lu Bu rushed forward, shoved Zhang Ziqian aside, and then stood in front of Red Hare like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

When Red Hare saw its master, it let out an affectionate neigh and nuzzled his arm with its head.

Lu Bu patted its neck soothingly, but his eyes were bloodshot and filled with rage as he looked at Zhang Ziqian.

"What do you want? Defeating me wasn't enough, now you want to steal my horse?!"

He thought Zhang Ziqian had come to forcibly take Red Hare.

"I didn't mean to steal it." Zhang Ziqian was confused by the push, shrugged, and said innocently, "I was just passing by, and it looked cute, so I came over to say hello."

"Greeting?" Lu Bu laughed angrily. "Is that how you greet someone? What did you do to it? Why would it...?"

He wanted to ask, "Why is it so close to you?", but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

That would be too humiliating.

"I didn't do anything," Zhang Ziqian said, looking even more innocent. "Maybe it's because I'm handsome that it likes me more."

"puff--"

Zhang Liao, who was standing next to him, almost spat out his breakfast.

Handsome?

You call your big, burly, broad-shouldered appearance handsome?

Lu Bu's face had turned a deep liver color.

He felt that every word Zhang Ziqian said was a blatant insult to him!

"Zhang Ziqian! Don't push your luck!" Lu Bu said through gritted teeth, enunciating each word clearly.

"How am I being unreasonable?" Zhang Ziqian frowned. He felt this guy was truly being unreasonable. "I won against you, and according to the agreement, this horse should have been mine. I'm not taking it and I'm letting you continue riding it. I've already been more than generous, okay?"

"Is that enough? That's charity! That's humiliating me!" Lu Bu roared.

"I really wasn't trying to humiliate you." Zhang Ziqian sighed. He felt that communicating with this person was really exhausting.

He stepped forward and, seeing Lu Bu's expression as if his wife had died, suddenly felt a surge of kindness and decided to give his newly recruited "little brother" some advice.

He patted Lü Bu on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Little Bu, you're just too petty."

"You..." Lu Bu was about to get angry, but Zhang Ziqian pressed him back down.

"Let me finish," Zhang Ziqian said, adopting the air of a life coach. "It's just a horse, isn't it? It's just an external possession! Look at you, making such a fuss over a horse, is it really worth it?"

"Besides, fights have winners and losers, isn't that normal? I used to fight with the old yellow dog at the edge of our village, and I lost several times! Do you see me getting discouraged? No! I just go back and eat a couple more bowls of rice, and then go fight it again tomorrow!"

"So, you need to adjust your mindset! You need to broaden your horizons! A temporary setback doesn't mean anything! As long as you work hard for me from now on, give me the support and make sure I have enough to eat, you'll have enough to eat too!"

Zhang Ziqian felt that his words were sincere, touching, and full of positive energy.

However, what Lu Bu, Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, and the two guards who were already dumbfounded heard was...

The whole world fell silent.

Lu Bu stared blankly at Zhang Ziqian; his brain had completely shut down.

The old yellow dog at the village entrance?

A mouthful of horse feed?

He... he actually compared me to a dog?

"ah--!!!"

An unprecedented surge of humiliation and anger erupted like a volcano, instantly shattering Lü Bu's reason.

His eyes turned bloodshot, and he suddenly drew the sword from his waist, like a madman, and stabbed at Zhang Ziqian!

"I kill you!!!"