Chapter 26: Farewell Outside the Village on Horseback

  Although Ma Chao and Zhao Yun both knew about Zhao Yu's little trick, the two of them couldn't say anything, they could only shake their heads in dismay and smile bitterly.

  It's getting late, let's clean up and go back to our own homes to rest. As for the remaining venison, we'll eat it tomorrow.

  Maybe it was because of his thoughts during the day and dreams at night, Zhao Yun dreamed that he and Ma Chao led a large army to battle against the barbarian troops, defeating them thoroughly.

  Cui An dreamed that Ma Chao no longer restricted his drinking, and he drank until he was unconscious every day.

  Ma Chao had a dream that Zhao Yun was bowing to him as his lord, and from then on he and Zhao Yun along with other subordinates roamed the world, invincible wherever they went.

  The most interesting dream is that of Zhao Yu, who dreamed that Ma Chao bought her a lot of delicious food and fun things to please her, and no matter how she bullied Ma Chao, he didn't get angry.

  They spent the night like this.

  By the second day's early morning, Ma Chao and Cui An got up one after another. They thought they had gotten up very early. But when they came out to take a look, Zhao Yun was already outside practicing his spearplay. It seems that Zhao Yun is quite diligent and hardworking, and Tong Yuan this teacher is also quite strict.

  Tong Yuan and Zhao Yun also saw Ma Chao and his men. Tong Yuan said, "Meng Qi, Fu Da, you've come just in time. Eat something first, then we'll go to the forest together!" What he said, of course, Ma Chao and his men had to obey.

  "Alright!" After finishing speaking, the two turned around and went back into the house to eat. The meal was made by Zhao Yu, a young girl who, despite her small age, had learned how to cook at a very early age due to the passing of her parents and older brother. She had made deer meat porridge, which both Ma Chao and Cui An thought tasted great.

  After finishing breakfast, Ma Chao and the others followed Tong Yuan to the forest. When they arrived at the place where they met Tong Yuan yesterday, Tong Yuan first explained and demonstrated some spear techniques to Zhao Yun, which took about an hour. Then he asked Zhao Yun to practice on his own, "If there's anything you don't quite understand, you can ask your senior brother Fu Da for guidance!"

  "I understand!"

  After Tong Yuan finished instructing Zhao Yun, he led Ma Chao to the woods. The reason for leaving Zhao Yun and Cui An behind was not that there was anything to hide from them, but rather what Tong Yuan had to say only concerned Ma Chao alone. Besides, he preferred quiet surroundings, the fewer people around the better.

  As he walked, Tong Yuan pulled out the book written by Nan Hua that Ma Chao had lent him to read. He returned the book to Ma Chao, "Meng Qi, I finished reading the book last night. If you have any questions about the spear and sword techniques in it, feel free to ask."

  Ma Chao was overjoyed when he heard this. He didn't think Tong Yuan would be so generous, and not only did he know how to use a spear, but also knew how to wield a sword.

  In fact, he didn't think carefully, Tong Yuan's martial arts were not inferior to Nan Hua. Although he didn't study knife techniques, at his level, everything was interconnected, and the type of weapon was no longer important.

  "Thank you, Master Shu!" Ma Chao thanked Shi Yue sincerely.

  "From today on, every day from 5 pm to 7 pm, I will teach you the skills of guns and knives until you can master them all!"

  Ma Chao was overjoyed, every day for two hours, let alone two hours, even if it's just two minutes, it's enough to see. This Shu uncle is really good to me, I think even my own uncle wouldn't be this good.

  Ma Chao was about to pay his respects, but was stopped by Tong Yuan. He told Ma Chao to seize the time and ask any questions he had about gun and knife techniques. Ma Chao then asked several things he didn't understand, and Tong Yuan gave him a thorough explanation for each one.

  After listening to Tong Yuan's words, Ma Chao felt a sense of sudden enlightenment, and the moves that he had been racking his brains trying to figure out were actually so simple. Having someone to guide you is indeed different from self-study.

  From then on, Tong Yuan instructed Ma Chao for two hours every day. He not only answered with his mouth but also personally demonstrated with his gun at times. Ma Chao not only understood the previously unclear spear and sword techniques, but also solidified the ones he already knew under Tong Yuan's guidance. It wasn't just Ma Chao who benefited; Cui An also received instruction from Tong Yuan for an hour every day. This wasn't because Tong Yuan favored one over the other, but rather because Cui An didn't have as many misunderstandings as Ma Chao did. The rest of the time was spent with Tong Yuan personally guiding Zhao Yun in his martial arts training.

  While Tong Yuan was not around, if he went to instruct Ma Chao, then there would be Cui An urging Zhao Yun to practice martial arts. If Tong Yuan was instructing Cui An, then of course there would be Ma Chao accompanying Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun did not need someone watching him to practice well; rather, whether it was Ma Chao or Cui An, although neither was as good as his teacher Tong Yuan, most of the time they could answer his questions. With their level of skill, instructing the current Zhao Yun would be more than enough.

  Day after day, more than half a year has passed. Tong Yuan devoted himself to teaching them, and Ma Chao and others also devoted themselves to learning. During this period, the martial arts of Ma Chao and Cui An have made progress again, and the level of their martial arts should be settled by now. Both are at a first-rate level, except for encountering Lü Bu's abnormality, they are basically standing at the peak.

  It sounds simple, but the hardships involved are only clear to them. Cui An has been learning his craft since he was six years old, and now at twenty-two, it's been sixteen years. With talent and hard work, he has achieved what he has today.

  Ma Chao is eleven years old this year, although he is young, but has been practicing martial arts for eight years. He was born with divine power and had a natural talent, and he worked hard to learn martial arts bit by bit. Every day, he practiced martial arts for at least one hour, and after receiving guidance from a famous teacher for more than half a year, it can be said that what he lacks now is only experience in fighting against enemies. Ma Chao's experience is far less than Cui An's, let alone the veteran generals on the battlefield.

  Lü Bu's strength can be called the world's number one, but he certainly wasn't born as the world's number one. His experience was also gained bit by bit through fighting in the army. As for his martial arts skills, they were honed through constant self-improvement, and it took him a long time to reach his current position.

  For more than half a year, Ma Chao's gratitude to Tong Yuan was beyond words. He had thought of ways to thank his master, but found that there was really no good way to do so. Great kindness is not spoken of in thanks, and Ma Chao revered Tong Yuan extremely. Although the two were not master and disciple by name, Ma Chao had long since regarded Tong Yuan as his own teacher.

  On this day, on the eighth of April in the second year of Guanghe, Ma Chao and Cui An bid farewell to Tong Yuan. Early in the morning, Ma Chao and Cui An entered Tong Yuan's house. As soon as they entered, they saw that Zhao Yun and Zhao Yu were also there. It seemed that Tong Yuan had expected them to come, so he had called everyone together.

  Ma Chao and Cui An paid their respects to Tong Yuan, "Today, I and Fu Da have come to bid farewell to Master Uncle. We hope that Master Uncle will take good care of himself. For more than half a year, we have been fortunate enough to receive Master Uncle's guidance. Please accept our bows!" After finishing speaking, Ma Chao and Cui An paid their respects to Tong Yuan with a big bow, knocking their heads three times.

  Tong Yuan didn't stop them, because this was indeed something they should accept for themselves. If they had to be stopped by their juniors, they would feel even more indebted to themselves.

  "Meng Qi, Fu Da, you both get up. There is no banquet in the world that does not disperse, those who should come have come, and those who should leave have left, everything has its own destiny. You chat, I'll go out first." Tong Yuan went out of the house, leaving the remaining time to a few young people.

  "Brother Mengqi!" Zhao Yu hugged Ma Chao, which Ma Chao would not refuse, but he did not expect the first to speak up was this little girl Zhao Yu.

  For more than half a year, Ma Chao and Zhao Yu got along very well. Zhao Yu was more like his own sister, and he really didn't have any other thoughts about it. Besides, Zhao Yu was only six years old now, and Ma Chao temporarily had no thoughts about a little girl who was just six years old.

  But Zhao Yu is clearly very dependent on Ma Chao. In the past six months or so, their relationship has improved, and even their way of addressing each other has changed. Now that Ma Chao is about to leave, she is extremely reluctant to part with him, but she also understands that it's unavoidable. When Ma Chao wants to leave, no one can stop him.

  "Meng Jie gege, when can you come back again?" The little girl had already cried her nose red.

  This really stumped Ma Chao, who himself was uncertain when he could come again. Zhao Yun was a great talent that must be recruited under his banner, but it was hard to say when he would see him again. If he said he would come to Zhaojia Village again in the future, what if something came up and he couldn't make it? Wouldn't that be breaking his promise? And if he came late, Zhao Yun and the others might not be there anymore, so what was the point of coming at all? Therefore, Ma Chao didn't dare to guarantee this.

  He could only say: "Xiao Yu, we will meet again in the future. At that time, you and your second brother can find me together. My home is in Longxi, and Yun Di knows the specific location." As he spoke, Ma Chao also wiped away Zhao Yu's tears with his hand.

  Zhao Yu reluctantly left Ma Chao's arms and looked at Zhao Yun beside him, "Second brother, are the things Mengqi brother said true?"

  Zhao Yun didn't say anything, he just nodded slowly towards Zhao Yu. Seeing Zhao Yun nodding, Zhao Yu finally stopped wiping away her tears, "Brother Meng Qi, in the future I and Second Brother will definitely go find you!" After saying that, she still clenched her right hand into a small fist.

  Ma Chao patted Zhao Yu's little head, "Alright, I'll wait for you guys."

  Zhao Yu obviously didn't like Ma Chao constantly patting her head, she stuck out her tongue at him and made a face. Ma Chao looked at her and couldn't help but think of his little sister Ma Yun, who was now three years old. It had been almost a year since he last saw her, and he wondered if she still remembered her big brother.

  "I'll see Mengqi Brother off!" Zhao Yun naturally wouldn't cry and hug like Zhao Yu, he had already made arrangements with his teacher Tong Yuan to send off Ma Chao and the others, Tong Yuan agreed and had long prepared the horses.

  "Alright, thanks Cloud Junior."

  "What Brother Mengqi said is reasonable!"

  Then the three of them bid farewell to Zhao Yu and left the house. Tong Yuan didn't know where he went, but Ma Chao had already said goodbye to him, so he didn't pay attention to this.

  Three men came down from the mountain and found their respective horses. They mounted their horses, whipped them into a gallop, and Zhao Yun escorted Ma Chao out of the borders of Zhao Family Village.

  At that time, after going down the mountain, Ma Chao and others also went to Zhao Laobo's home. Since Zhao Laobo had helped him so much, he naturally wanted to see him before leaving.

  Old Zhao expected their arrival and said a few words, meaning young people work hard, I'll be watching you. After bidding farewell to Old Zhao, the three of them left Zhao Village.

  After Zhao Yun sent Ma Chao out of Zhao Family Village, Ma Chao and Cui An stopped their horses one after another. Zhao Yun also came to a halt.

  "Yun-di, I'll escort you for a thousand miles, but we must part ways eventually. No need to see me off again!" Ma Chao said with a fist bump towards Zhao Yun.

  "Alright, Mengqi brother, Fuda brother, take care of yourselves!"

  "Take care!" "Take care!" Ma Chao and Cui An said in unison.

  "Clouds will no longer send far, two brothers please!" Zhao Yun was after all on leave, Ma Chao would not let him go far.

  Ma Chao and Cui An continued riding their horses, while Zhao Yun looked at the backs of the two for a few seconds before turning his horse's head towards Zhaojia Village.

  When the two sides had walked for over a dozen steps, Ma Chao only heard Zhao Yun shouting loudly in the distance: "Brother Mengqi, don't forget what we said before, let's ride together across the battlefield and drive out the barbarians!"

  Ma Chao heard this, pulled the reins tight, turned around and looked at Zhao Yun in the distance. Ma Chao smiled, "How could I forget? I'm just afraid that when the time comes, you little kid won't dare to come!" Ma Chao even made a small joke with Zhao Yun. After finishing speaking, Ma Chao turned back, pulled the reins again, and didn't look at Zhao Yun anymore, then rode his horse away.

  Zhoa Yun initially heard what Ma Chao said and was slightly stunned, then also turned around and rode his horse towards Zhao Family Village.

  Before long, both of them burst out laughing loudly enough for each other to hear. Only Cui An was confused and didn't understand what was going on.