Liu Bei's Gift

Tong Yuan was beginning to question his understanding of the world.

Was this how one harmonized the Five Elements? Fire and Water were completely crushing Metal, Earth, and Wood, weren't they?

And with things like this, were Qi Fei's internal organs all right?

"Cough."

Just then, Qi Fei, who had been surrounded by onlookers, suddenly spat out a cloud of black smoke.

"Are you sure there's nothing wrong with the way you're breaking through?"

Chen Xi asked, looking dubious.

He wasn't the only one. The others also looked uncertain.

"I... wait, I need to step outside for a moment."

Covering his mouth, Qi Fei pushed open the door and hurried into the courtyard.

Then he raised his head toward the sky.

Boom—

A multicolored torrent of Internal Qi burst from Qi Fei's mouth, just like the breath of a legendary dragon.

After being spat out, the Internal Qi of different attributes collided with one another, triggering violent explosions that allowed Qi Fei's breath to expand and cover an even wider area.

Almost every resident of Fenggao, the seat of Mount Tai Commandery, witnessed this magnificent spectacle.

Thinking back, the last time anything similar had happened was during that inexplicable rift in the sky.

After that rift appeared, the authorities had given everyone three days' worth of steamed-bun vouchers as compensation for the disturbance.

—Steamed-bun vouchers were the currency Chen Xi used to pay people for relief work. They could be exchanged for steamed buns and the like at the government-run bun shops.

Of course, people could also choose to be paid in copper coins, but copper coins didn't qualify for discounts at the government bun shops.

The people of Mount Tai, who couldn't even afford food, naturally chose the more cost-effective bun vouchers.

This successfully eased the monetary strain across Mount Tai Commandery.

Chen Xi was then able to spend as much money as possible on buying grain from the wealthier provinces, preparing for the later annexation of the Yellow Turbans in Qing Province.

In short, thanks to the bun vouchers distributed last time, the residents of Fenggao were relatively calm.

Some had even begun discussing whether vouchers would be handed out again, just like last time.

They couldn't help it. The bandits that had once plagued Mount Tai had put the common people through such misery that they no longer dared hope for anything more.

Even Chen Xi, with his seemingly cheat-like talent for governance, couldn't solve this problem quickly.

All he could do was his best to help the people prosper, then rely on time to heal their wounds.

"Pretty nice."

Chen Xi said from the courtyard, his head tilted back.

He hadn't expected to enjoy a fireworks show after transmigrating. Zihong always managed to bring unexpected surprises.

I've decided. I'll have Zijing arrange for people to hand out some more bun vouchers later.

The summer harvest was nearly complete anyway. They could treat the grain as something to spend for the festival.

"You..."

Lu Su, who had inexplicably been saddled with more work, started to speak, then stopped.

Never mind. We have a new recruit joining us, so if that means more work, so be it.

Just then, Qi Fei finally ran out of Internal Qi, bringing the fireworks show to an end.

"That was close."

Qi Fei coughed twice and spat out the last bit of black smoke.

He'd nearly died of embarrassment.

Sure enough, this method of harmonizing the Five Elements wasn't right for him. Next time, he'd use Zhang Xiu's breakthrough method instead.

Zhang Xiu, the Spear King of the North, was one of Tong Yuan's disciples.

His method of breaking through the Boundary Breaker realm involved using Water and Fire Internal Qi to absorb Heaven and Earth Essence, then forcibly fusing the two forces. This raised an Internal Qi manifestation controlled by a god, which he then devoured.

Its advantage was its simplicity. Its drawback was that it was easy to lose control of one's Internal Qi and cause an explosion.

But that explosion was incredibly powerful.

Tong Yuan, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong...and even some Roman experts had suffered from this technique.

Even Lu Bu, the world's greatest warrior, had been given a Mediterranean hairstyle by Zhang Xiu.

As far as anyone knew, no other general besides Zhang Xiu had ever managed that feat.

That alone showed how powerful the technique was.

More importantly, Zhang Xiu's explosions released Internal Qi from his entire body at once. He wouldn't run into the awkward situation Qi Fei had just faced, where his Internal Qi circulated through his internal organs and nearly caused a disaster.

As Qi Fei thought, he refined Heaven and Earth Essence to tend to his damaged organs.

"Before you try again, you should raise your Metal, Wood, and Earth Internal Qi to match the level of your Water and Fire Internal Qi."

Tong Yuan, who had been watching, offered.

"Don't worry. I had a new idea just now, and I've already given up on this method of breaking through."

With the Idealistic Will of a God Boundary Breaker accelerating his recovery, Qi Fei's regenerative ability had been pushed to its limit.

He was already able to move normally.

"You have another idea? I wonder if I might watch when the time comes."

Tong Yuan couldn't help admiring Qi Fei.

As expected of the first martial artist in the world to break through the Boundary Breaker realm. His insights into the Martial Dao were truly extraordinary.

He had already managed to grasp a breakthrough method suited to himself from Tong Yuan's own harmonizing of the Five Elements.

Impressive.

"If you're willing."

Qi Fei hesitated for a moment, then readily agreed.

Tong Yuan's going to get blown up anyway. What difference does it make if I'm the one who blows him up instead of Zhang Xiu?

"I want to come too," Ma Chao added.

"Then I'll send you all invitations when the time comes."

Since he was already planning to blow up Tong Yuan, Qi Fei naturally wouldn't turn away anyone else who wanted to join.

A bigger crowd would only make the explosion more satisfying.

If it weren't awkward for Qi Fei to invite him personally, he would've liked to invite Zhang Xiu, the creator of the technique, so they could all get blown sky-high together.

"Heh heh heh—"

Chuckling inwardly, Qi Fei followed the others back inside.

Afterward, he let Liu Bei and the other civil officials experience the feeling of becoming God Boundary Breakers.

As an experienced Qi Solidification cultivator, Liu Bei used the opportunity to break through to Internal Qi Separation.

The civil officials merely gained a little Internal Qi in their bodies, enough to keep them healthy.

Of course, to thank Lu Su for stepping in, Qi Fei also took the opportunity to treat his private affliction.

The kidneys belonged to Water and were connected to reproductive Essence.

His medical knowledge from his previous life, his practical experience with Qi Boundary Breaking, and a tiny bit of insight into the Water Law—

Together, they allowed Qi Fei to call himself a master of men's health, in a sense.

"Thank you, Zihong."

Lu Su was practically in tears. He bowed to Qi Fei again and again.

"It's nothing. It was the least I could do."

Qi Fei helped Lu Su to his feet.

Hopefully, this time Lu Su won't be forced by his family to divorce his first wife.

The others looked at the two of them in confusion.

They didn't know what the two were hinting at, but from Lu Su's reaction, it was clearly no small matter. So they could only stay quiet.

With Lu Su's matter taken care of, it was time to take the new recruits to their posts.

But Liu Bei stopped them.

"As Yunchang said, Zihong is humble. He helped us break through, yet refuses to take credit. But we must not overlook his contribution."

Liu Bei set the tone first.

With Liu Bei leading the way, the others naturally chimed in.

In truth, they would've done the same even without him getting things started.

Anyone with a shred of decency would think about how to repay such a favor after receiving so much from someone.

They wouldn't eat another man's food and then find all sorts of ways to curse him behind his back, like in some television drama that claimed to be based on historical records.

"?"

Qi Fei looked at everyone in confusion.

Judging by the way this is going, they seem about to reward me with something.

But the problem is, as for official rank, I'm already a commandant, on the same level as Second Master and the others. Anything above that is beyond the scope of a commandery.

As for money and goods, impoverished Mount Tai doesn't have anything to spare.

What could they possibly reward me with?

Could they send a memorial to Dong Zhuo's court and ask him to make me a general?

As Qi Fei wondered, Liu Bei spoke.

"This sword is one of my Twin Swords. I give it to Zihong today. From now on, seeing this sword will be like seeing me. I ask you all to bear witness."

As he spoke, Liu Bei took one of the Twin Swords and approached Qi Fei.

"A gentleman wears a sword to display his virtue. Nine Phoenix isn't convenient to carry, so I hope Zihong won't refuse this sword."

Liu Bei presented the sword in both hands.

Qi Fei had previously worn a sword. In this Han dynasty era, a sword was one of the basic accessories people wore in their daily lives.

But after Nine Phoenix was born, Qi Fei found the other swords uncomfortable to handle. And since Nine Phoenix itself wasn't something he could easily carry around, he'd stopped bothering with a sword.

Liu Bei had noticed this.

He'd once tried to have a sword made, then invited Qi Fei to admire the ones he thought were decent.

But Qi Fei had always seemed rather uninterested in them.

So Liu Bei hadn't been able to find a solution.

Until today.

Liu Bei had suddenly found one.

Since Qi Fei didn't wear a sword because the others didn't feel right in his hand, Liu Bei could simply stop thinking in terms of practicality.

"This humble soldier has only just arrived and rendered a few small services. I truly don't deserve such a generous gift. Please take it back, Lord Xuande."

Qi Fei bowed, then politely demurred.

"Zihong has helped me so much, and I have no way to repay him. I could only prepare this small gift. Please don't refuse."

Liu Bei knelt before Qi Fei and raised the sword in both hands until it was level with his brow.

If Qi Fei refused again, he'd be acting rather ungraciously.

"In that case, I'll accept Lord Xuande's generous kindness."

Qi Fei bowed again and accepted the treasured sword with both hands.

To be honest, he was still a little surprised.

From Liu Bei's words, he'd already guessed that Liu Bei meant to reward him. But Qi Fei hadn't expected him to give away one of his Twin Swords.

And he'd even said that seeing the sword would be like seeing Liu Bei himself.

That meant Qi Fei could carry it and have Second Master and Third Master bow to him without it being considered excessive.

—Of course, no one would do such a thing unless necessary.

And that wasn't even mentioning the authority it represented, such as the right to mobilize troops and speak on Liu Bei's behalf.

Liu Bei really did trust him.

Qi Fei couldn't help feeling moved.

As he reflected on that, Qi Fei realized the situation could easily turn into an allusion.

So he immediately thought of a question.

"Lord Xuande has given me his own sword. If you don't have a suitable weapon for yourself, then I would be at fault."

Qi Fei said this.

He was sure Chen Xi and Lu Su would come up with a good answer, one that would be passed down as a classic.

Liu Bei burst out laughing.

"With Zihong and all these generals at my side, what need have I of weapons?"

He was so delighted that Qi Fei was willing to accept the sword that the words slipped out before he could stop them.

Qi Fei hadn't expected Liu Bei himself to respond. He froze for a moment, then laughed even more heartily.

Everyone present offered their congratulations to the two of them, and the scene grew lively in an instant.

"Why don't I fasten the sword on Zihong myself?"

After laughing, Liu Bei spoke again.

"I'm already deeply honored by your kindness. How could I trouble Lord Xuande again?"

Qi Fei politely declined.

He simply wasn't used to having a grown man touch his belt.

"Zihong, there's no need to be so polite."

Liu Bei thought Qi Fei was just being courteous, so he took the sword and bent down to fasten it around Qi Fei's waist.

Qi Fei could only accept it helplessly.

Afterward, everyone congratulated Qi Fei again and again before going their separate ways.

Qi Fei went with Cai Yang. He was going to treat Cai Quan once more and share his Qi Solidification realm with him, so he could recover his health gradually.

Second Master went straight home to prepare a gift, planning to bring it to Qi Fei later.

Third Master, Hua Xiong, and Xu Chu did the same.

Lu Su not only went home to prepare a gift himself, but also wrote to his family back home, asking them to send some things over.

His family wasn't particularly wealthy, but they had still produced someone with a Mental Talent, so they had a rich collection of books and the like.

Mi Zhu had no idea what to give, so he simply had his people gather up the family's collection and send a cartload to Qi Fei.

Jian Yong dug out some old books from home, packed them in a box, and sent them to Qi Fei.

Zhao Yun, meanwhile, mysteriously pulled his master along. No one knew what he was up to.