Mythical Three Kingdoms

”They’ve switched people. Strategic talent is needed there now, so Yuanzhi was sent over. We need to start concerning ourselves with matters of unification,” Guo Jia said with some resignation. Zhou Yu’s Legion Talent in large army warfare was clearly demonstrated at the Northern Frontier; we are not blind.

If Zhou Yu is given free rein in large army operations, it seems we won’t be able to match him. Thus, the significance of Guo Jia going there isn’t very great; it would be better to send Xu Shu. Xu Shu also has talent in this area, although not as extraordinary as Zhou Yu. Cultivating him is a good idea.

”Oh, well, let’s go; staying here is pointless,” Jia Xu said in a resigned tone, spurring his horse to Guo Jia’s side and leaving with him.

Li Youu glanced at Chen Xi and, after a pause, said, ”We’ll settle this matter like this, okay?”

Chen Xi hesitated. Li Youu’s meaning was clear: to let this matter go without further pursuit. Yet so many had died, and Chen Xi was somewhat unwilling to let it rest.

”Then keep thinking,” Li Youu noted Chen Xi’s lack of response but wasn’t overly concerned, confident that no one could uncover the truth.

”Sigh, Li Wenru, anything to do with killing cannot be entrusted to you.” Chen Xi remarked with exasperation, signaling the end of the matter.

As Li Youu cleared the last domestic threat, Gan Ning, studying in the Kushan, also concluded the final phase of his learning.

Gan Ning realized, however, that there was still a gap between him and Mengg Kambu. This wasn’t due to a lack of teaching but because some things relied more on application and experience—a level Gan Ning had yet to reach. The Kushan navy was truly formidable.

”Let’s go~” Gan Ning chuckled as he walked out of the water village; no one stopped him. Over the past year, Gan Ning had gradually gained the recognition of an entire army from being a promising naval commander.

Through this in-depth understanding, Gan Ning came to realize that the navy he had initially encountered were more like loafers, akin to how the Central Plains army divides into elite troops and miscellaneous soldiers. The initial batch he faced was merely miscellaneous soldiers intended to divert attention.

Although there were undeniably six Inner Qi Manifestation users among them, they all only possessed combat power, lacking any troop command capability, and couldn’t even perform basic Belief Blessing.

As for the subsequent thousand-sail army, although it had elite and auxiliary troops, it wasn’t the strongest navy.

Having spent a year with Mengg Kambu, Gan Ning knew that although Mengg Kambu often cursed the Cecil Clan of Kushan, he once admitted while drinking with Gan Ning that, whether it was acknowledged or not, the naval commanders from the Cecil Clan were indeed Kushan’s strongest commanders.

Mengg Kambu often badmouthed the Cecil Clan, bragging about his own prowess. However, even with Belief Blessing, group defense, Legion Talent, and Cloud Qi techniques, Mengg Kambu confessed he might not be able to defeat that individual from the Cecil Clan.

Were it not that Mengg Kambu was indeed a genius-level Naval Commander with protection, and the Kushan Emperor was currently suppressing the powerful Cecil Clan, he might have already been severely oppressed by now.

”So, Qiu Lique isn’t a renowned general; doesn’t that make it risky for him to command hundreds of thousands of naval forces stationed so far away?” Gan Ning curiously inquired at the time.

”Qiu Lique’s ability wouldn’t even rank in the top five of the Cecil Clan, but his status is sufficient. Besides, relatively speaking, he is quite stable, and the Cecil Clan’s power is vast,” Mengg Kambu clearly wasn’t entirely oblivious.

Vasu Deva I is a tyrant, and the Cecil Clan is a long-standing family with considerable strength. Therefore, Vasu Deva I wanted to weaken this family but couldn’t go too far. Amidst various forces checking each other, Qiu Lique ultimately became the naval commander-in-chief.

The miraculous country of Kushan, initially a purely inland nation, mysteriously developed exceptional ocean-going capabilities after moving to South Asia. Historically, they sailed from the Indian Ocean to the mouth of the Yellow River and then to Chang’an—their ocean-going capability was already off the charts.

Moreover, as a South Asian nation, they occupied the Southeast Asia Malacca region for a long time, engaging in trade there. Overall, it is a remarkable country.

Gan Ning himself is an extraordinary person, so nothing was strange in this remarkable country. Over the year, he quietly learned and noted those who posed threats, especially after hearing that Qiu Lique didn’t even rank among the top five. Remembering how he annihilated the detachments Qiu Lique deployed against him, Gan Ning became even more determined in his studies!

”Has he left?” After Gan Ning’s departure, Mengg Kambu’s deputy entered the tent to wake Mengg Kambu.

”Yes, General,” the deputy said, bowing his head.

Mengg Kambu glanced at the spot where Gan Ning often sat, remembering that fellow’s occasionally rogue behavior, and smiled knowingly. ”Probably has some matters back home; I suppose we’ll meet again someday.”

After leaving the water village at Minagara, Gan Ning quickly ran to the temple where he had initially been scraping by.

Inside the temple was pitch dark. Just as Gan Ning was about to dismantle something, he suddenly sensed something, turning to the dark. Sure enough, from within, emerged the monk he hadn’t seen for a long time, slowly.

”Monk, don’t scare people like that!” Gan Ning exclaimed, startled yet showing no sign of awkwardness from being caught.

”Are you here to take that sculpture?” Maudgalyayana asked calmly as he looked at Gan Ning.

”Yes, this object is of great use to me.” Gan Ning showed no fear, despite knowing from the opponent’s manner of entry that they were an expert among experts.

”Without a bond to Buddha, taking it is useless.” Maudgalyayana’s eyes were calm as water, ”Are you prepared to leave this country, benefactor?”

”Yes!” Gan Ning stared at the other, ”Monk, you seem to know everything.”

”Indeed, I know of the Great Han, know of Parthia, know of Rome, and I am aware of the impending war, aware that this place will be engulfed in the flames of battle.” Maudgalyayana looked at Gan Ning calmly.

”If that’s the case, why don’t you stop me?” Gan Ning asked with a calm expression.

”It’s useless.” Maudgalyayana closed his eyes and silently recited scriptures.

”If it’s useless, why did you come to see me?” Gan Ning asked with a peculiar expression.

”Just to send the benefactor off.” Maudgalyayana replied plainly.

”I decided on a whim to leave today, and you could still meet me. The temple was always empty before; you’re really something!” Gan Ning said with a sneer.

”I told you, you have a connection with Buddha.” Maudgalyayana didn’t mind Gan Ning’s sarcasm.

”This time I’m really leaving, if you have any conditions, just say them quickly.” Gan Ning finally spoke up. After all, the monk had helped him a lot, so even if he had requests, it was normal; Gan Ning didn’t like to owe favors.

”You may go; you’ll understand when you return next time.” Maudgalyayana waved toward the sky, and a dragon horse flew down from above.

”It’s for me, right? I knew it, haha!” While speaking, Gan Ning eagerly rushed over. The grayish-yellow dragon horse moved tens of steps away without much visible effort, then stood to the side, disdainfully snorted at Gan Ning.

Gan Ning had long coveted this horse, but it never paid him any mind. Every time Gan Ning came, the horse would fly away, leaving Gan Ning with no opportunity to act.

”It’s borrowed to you, not given. Born of heaven and earth, how could it be given to you?” Maudgalyayana sighed, patted the horse’s head twice, and then left.

”Haha, since it’s born of heaven and earth, it means it’s ownerless, then doesn’t that mean it’s mine...” Maudgalyayana’s departing words were clear to Gan Ning, prompting a happy response.

However, before he could finish speaking, the dragon horse kicked Gan Ning in the chest, silencing him completely.

This horse had been raised by Maudgalyayana for several years and could understand human speech. Particularly with Gan Ning’s cheeky expression, this horse instinctively dealt a kick akin to Gan Ning’s cheeky antics.

The enlarged hoof kicked Gan Ning’s chest, sending him flying. Although Gan Ning’s carelessness was partly to blame, the horse’s combat capability was impressive.

After being kicked, Gan Ning realized the horse had suddenly grown fatter and its height had increased from similar to his own to taller than him.

Knocked down by the dragon horse, Gan Ning got up, only to see the horse shaking its head disdainfully at him, as if looking at trash. Its human-like understanding left Gan Ning speechless, but it didn’t matter, it would soon be his.

”I’ve fought many battles, but never been despised by a horse; you’re the first!” Gan Ning was immediately furious and lunged at the dragon horse.

However, in the blink of an eye while still airborne, the dragon horse appeared behind Gan Ning like it teleported, delivering another kick. This time, the kick even produced a sonic boom, the inner qi trained into the muscles of this warhorse, making its short-range burst extraordinarily powerful.

This time, albeit more prepared, Gan Ning instantly reacted, fully unleashing his ultimate inner qi manifestation strength, shaking the horizontal river iron chain to wrap around the horse’s leg.

In the next moment, the dragon horse erupted with tremendous force, dragging Gan Ning violently. Since Gan Ning wasn’t a strength-type valiant general and couldn’t use lethal force on the dragon horse, the horse’s explosion nearly scraped Gan Ning’s face on the ground, instantly angering him.

With both hands gripping tightly onto the horizontal river iron chain, the dragon horse went crazy, wildly running and jumping, sending Gan Ning soaring like a kite.

Gan Ning held on resolutely, and after stabilizing himself, he leapt onto the horse’s back, directly wrapping his arms around its neck with an impulse to strangle the beast.

The dragon horse thrashed wildly, and Gan Ning tightly hugged its neck, intending to choke it into submission. The dragon horse spread its four hooves skyward, flying downward in a suicidal move, and they both crashed into the ground.

Despite the impact, both horse and man were unharmed. But at this point, Gan Ning could see it clearly: though the horse’s top speed wasn’t high, it had formidable combat power, with both its inner qi and physique exceeding the ordinary.