Mythical Three Kingdoms

Although the Eastern Han era was extremely lenient on freedom of speech, thanks to the Hundred Schools of Thought advocating that scholars could criticize the emperor as long as they had reasonable grounds and no one would interfere, it still depended on the occasion, and Liu Bei’s boldness at the moment was somewhat excessive.

”What’s wrong with me scolding him?” Liu Bei spoke impulsively, clearly overwhelmed with anger, though Chen Xi’s reminder brought him back to his senses. But the words were already out, and it was hard to retract them, so he added, ”I’ll bring Duke Bo’an along later, not only to scold him but also to beat him up!”

”Cough, cough, cough.” Chen Xi repeatedly coughed; he felt no reverence for the emperor, but speaking of which, Liu Yu was the Minister of Ceremonies, and provoking him held significant importance given his status as an Imperial Uncle, so beating the emperor was understandable and acceptable.

As Chen Xi spoke, the military generals who had been eating together earlier were already in an uproar. Having defeated almost all the Hu People in the North half a month ago, the fact they hadn’t yet gone to trouble the Southern Huns was fortunate, yet the Southern Huns dared to raid.

A large group immediately wanted to fight the Southern Huns; they had enough people to casually form a team and crush the Southern Huns.

That being said, it was precisely because they’d experienced a brawl that all the military generals felt the thrill of team fighting. Previously, those with Inner Qi Manifestation and Legion Talent rarely acted together, partly because they could individually handle most issues and partly because not many deserved to join forces with such near-peerless warriors.

Thus, this group had rarely felt the excitement of teaming up with comrades of the same level to brawl, and the few times they did were when battling Lyu Bu, a chaotic group fight against him that wasn’t particularly enjoyable.

This time, they truly felt the rush of chopping down enemies together; although competing for kills was troubling, coordinating as a team with mutual support made even battling Lyu Bu something they didn’t dread.

Back during Lyu Bu’s Ascend battle, if this lineup were present, it’s likely Lyu Bu would’ve had no chance to Ascend.

Amidst the military generals requesting battle, Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing were carried over by Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan.

The two, upon arriving, knew what had happened. Hua Tuo immediately checked Xun Yu’s pulse, saying, ”Anger attacked the heart, injuring the Vital Energy, and impacting lifespan, though not severely. Think positively, dietary supplements for a few days, no need for medication, and the body will be fine.”

”What blow did he suffer? The issue doesn’t lie in the body, but in the mind,” Zhang Zhongjing assessed Xun Yu, saying, ”The physical ailment is minor, but if the psychological knot isn’t resolved, he will gradually waste away.”

Both were top-notch physicians of the era, thus instantly identifying Xun Yu’s problem. At this moment, Xun Yu, in his prime and healthy, losing blood shouldn’t mean significant harm to his Vital Energy—it was purely his faith collapsing.

Just like Li Ru back then in Chang’an, aware but passively awaiting the axe to fall.

Now Xun Yu faced a similar collapse of faith as Li Ru did when his belief shattered, an issue beyond ordinary medical skills. If Ji Xiang were present, psychological methods could perhaps offer some partial efficacy given Xun Yu’s firm disposition, surely better than having no remedy.

Cao Cao heard Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing’s diagnosis, stunned. Not long ago, he’d deeply confided in Xun Yu, only for the two to inform him that failure to surpass this hurdle will be fatal for Xun Yu, prompting a desire to kill Liu Xie.

”Wen Ruo, don’t mind it, don’t mind it; wasn’t it worse during Minister Wang’s time? I once risked my own life stabbing Dong, took a blow, but managed to pull through, right?” Cao Cao, hands on Xun Yu’s shoulders, spoke feebly.

Cao Cao shook Xun Yu vigorously; Xun Yu’s sage-like, composed demeanor was continuously declining. His eyes gradually shifted from tranquil to lifeless; his spirit was dying.

Cao Cao, nearly frantic, rambled, ”There’s no hurdle in life that can’t be overcome; who hasn’t encountered scoundrels in their life? People can’t let scoundrels defeat them. Without Liu Xie, you still have me.”

Chen Xi, hearing Cao Cao’s nonsensical words, realized that Cao Cao was already in a desperate frenzy and quickly chased away the remaining military generals and most civil officials, as letting others hear these words would be unfavorable.

Chen Xi peeked at Liu Bei’s expression, seeing him nodding to Cao Cao’s words, and wiped the sweat from his forehead, seemingly aware Liu Bei was equally infuriated.

[This time it’s truly driven Lord Xuande and Cao Sikong to fury, reasonably speaking, it shouldn’t have gone this far.] Chen Xi thought silently.

Chen Xi had overlooked a major issue: aside from Liu Bei, the blood cost incurred by Cao Cao and Xun Yu this time led to such an outcome, with Xun Yu failing to overcome and his faith collapsing; if Cao Cao did the math, the result wouldn’t differ much from Xun Yu’s fate.

However, Xun Yu spitting reverse blood stunned Cao Cao, and Xun Yu’s influence on him allowed Cao Cao to avoid this pitfall.