Mythical Three Kingdoms

Xi Zhicai suddenly collapsed, startling Chen Qun considerably. If Xi Zhicai were to die just like that, how was he to explain to Cao Cao? If this fellow inexplicably died, Chen Qun simply would have no way to account for it to Cao Cao!

With just the two of them in the carriage, no matter how Chen Qun tried to explain such an incident, it would sound implausible. Even if Cao Mengde were magnanimous and let it go, it would still be a thorn in his side! Xi Zhicai was, after all, one of Cao Cao’s most capable strategists, and although Chen Qun had greatly pleased Cao Cao, he was still new on the scene. Wouldn’t everyone know toward whom Cao Cao was more inclined?

”Hey! Hey! Hey!” Chen Qun exclaimed in alarm, supporting Xi Zhicai’s arm as he bellowed, ”A doctor, call a doctor quickly!”

Xi Zhicai naturally did not know how his fainting had caused such great trouble for Chen Qun. The originally planned daily travel distance was immediately canceled; the priority was to treat Xi Zhicai. At the same time, the ever cautious Chen Qun sent his subordinates to inform Cao Cao right away, then requested Cao Cao to order whether to send Xi Zhicai back. In short, he had to completely disassociate himself from this matter!

At the Mi Family Restaurant in Fenggao, Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi had both been chastised by their own brothers, and naturally, they also realized that their siblings were not ordinary individuals. Sima Lang was shocked that Zhuge Liang possessed Spiritual Talent at an even younger age than his brother, while Zhuge Jin was astounded that Sima Yi was the very person who had eradicated his Gift.

”So, this Sima Zhongda can exterminate the Gifts of people like us. From what you’ve experienced, does his Spiritual Talent have any flaws?” Zhuge Jin asked with a furrowed brow, realizing that such a wide-ranging extermination of others’ Gifts had occurred not long ago across Fenggao!

”If nothing unexpected, it should be indiscriminate,” Zhuge Liang replied calmly. ”After all, even his elder brother’s Spiritual Talent was sealed, and he didn’t even remember to spare someone so closely related to him. There can only be this possibility. However, if it’s just a matter of comparing intellect after sealing the Gifts, I am not afraid of him!”

Zhuge Jin frowned slightly. For Zhuge Liang to say that he was not afraid, it already spoke volumes about the pressure the slightly older youth had placed on Zhuge Liang. The last person to receive such an assessment from Zhuge Liang was probably Pang Tong.

Thinking of that uncoordinated young man who might match Pang Tong in wisdom, Zhuge Jin felt a headache coming on. He might currently have an edge over Pang Tong because of age and experience, but Zhuge Jin was well aware that in just two or three years, both his younger brother and Pang Tong would surpass him.

”Truly, this era brims with individuals of brisk intellect. Not to mention those of my generation like Chen Zichuan, Liu Ziyang, and Lub Zijing, who have already made a name for themselves, but even considering the younger group behind me, it surely is an age where talents convene.” Zhuge Jin reflected emotionally, ”A hundred years ago, how many possessed Spiritual Talent, four or five? Now... ”

”Indeed, Boda also possesses Spiritual Talent; now thinking about how I could engage in amiable conversation with a stranger feels quite unbelievable,” Zhuge Jin sighed, ”Kongming, you must surpass your brother!”

On the other side, Sima Yi and Sima Lang’s room was repeating the same scenario, but compared to Zhuge Jin, Sima Lang was even more shocked.

”Kongming is truly remarkable, at least I have never seen anyone of my generation who can match him, not even someone slightly inferior. I’ve played three games of chess with him, and except for the last one which ended in a draw—and it took a long while for me to figure out how to beat him—all the others were lost,” Sima Yi said with a melancholic expression. There was nothing to say about being defeated by Zhuge Liang; he only lamented the fact that he had not met Zhuge Liang earlier and had thus wasted quite a bit of time. The saying about the loneliness of a strong competitor was referring to the solitude of Sima Yi.

”All were lost?” Sima Lang was downright startled. That kid was two years younger than Sima Lang, and yet his chess skills were now such that even Sima Lang could hardly dull his sharpness. To think he had lost two games to a child younger than Sima Yi, and only managed a draw in the third game—Sima Yi only realized how to win after Zhuge Liang had left!

”Brother, do you know why I’ve had to unlock my Spiritual Talent?” A hint of excitement surfaced on Sima Yi’s face. The appearance of Zhuge Liang had made him step out from the halo of a prodigy and see another path in life, an eternal competitor!

Without waiting for Sima Lang to respond, Sima Yi continued, ”It’s because I lost two consecutive games and ended up losing control. I couldn’t even suppress the jealousy in my heart. Enraged, I no longer compared elegance and refinement with him but put forth my Sage’s Halo to make him submit before me in governing the state and pacifying the world. Yet, I still lost.” Sima Yi’s face showed a bizarre smile, ”Kongming also possesses Spiritual Talent, and in terms of Spiritual Capacity, he is already not inferior to you, big brother. He is truly a genius!”

As Sima Yi spoke these words, there wasn’t a trace of jealousy but only the excitement of meeting a match. ”After seeing him, I realized that this world is full of surprises, you never know what you might encounter. It’s a great feeling, facing the endless unforeseen, and when your own abilities are insufficient, I’ve found the most correct approach—to endure!”

”To hold back one’s jealousy, to hold back one’s arrogance, to hold back one’s desires, to hold back one’s heart that wishes to soar, to quietly watch your opponent until the moment arises for a fatal blow. If the opponent is so perfect that they give you no chance at all, then just like in that previous game of chess, wait until they leave!” Like he had an epiphany, the sharp edge that Sima Yi usually exhibited had softened, and the domineering arrogance had subsided, becoming more ordinary and muted. He had found his direction.

From his initial shock, Sima Lang gradually returned to calm. The fact that Zhuge Liang had bested Sima Yi with two victories and one draw in chess games was indeed shocking, followed by Sima Yi revealing his Spiritual Talent and Zhuge Liang demonstrating a Spiritual Capacity on par with top Strategists in their prime was even more unexpected. However, compared to the growth of Sima Yi, which seemed like an epiphany, Sima Lang smiled in relief. Sometimes, one gains more from a failure than from a success.

Watching the transformation of his brother in front of him, Sima Lang laughed heartily, ”I once heard Chen Zichuan say, ’Reading myriad books is less valuable than traveling myriad miles; traveling myriad miles is less valuable than meeting myriad people; meeting myriad people is less valuable than having a master’s guidance, but having a master’s guidance is inferior to self-enlightenment.’ Truly, truly so! Such a defeat has allowed Zhongda to grow to such an extent, it’s worth it, very worth it!”

Sima Yi looked calmly at the ecstatic Sima Lang without speaking. If the old Sima Lang had spoken such words before Sima Yi, the kind that boosted another’s morale while undermining his own prestige, Sima Yi would have shown a sarcastic expression. But now, Sima Yi’s state of mind had become as tranquil as a still pond, and he could remain indifferent to such remarks. Indeed, losing to Zhuge Liang had been a good thing. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian ) with recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)