《Mythical Three Kingdoms》


 Chapter 1 - The Meteorite that Changed History

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Young Master, Young Master¡­¡± Chen Xi could hear someone muttering next to his ear as he was in a daze.


    ¡®My head is so heavy,¡¯ Chen Xi struggled to open his eyes. ¡®If I had known I wouldn¡¯t have drunk so much.¡¯


    Three days had passed and Chen Xi had finally understood his current situation. He was in the Three Kingdoms era. The Yellow Turban Rebellion had just been crushed and it was an era where heroes walked the earth. It was also an era when Chen Xi had fantasized about in his spare time. No matter if it was Zhao Zilong who wielded the White Stallion Silver Spear, or the very avatar of intelligence Zhuge Kongming, they all had a lot of fans. What could he say? There were many people in China.


    He belonged to the branch family of the Chen clan of Yingchuan. He had some connection, but he was at the point where no one would notice even if he had left home. Other than a maid and butler that took care of him at home, he was a classical representation of those who only needed to take care of himself to survive.


    As he looked at his butler practice with his sword to the point where perhaps even drops of water wouldn¡¯t be able to penetrate his defenses, Chen Xi could only look not knowing what kind of expression he should wear on his face. Were all the people in this era this powerful? Could it be that history was right and all the ancient humans could easily surpass modern humans? Was this possible? But Chen Xi wouldn¡¯t believe it.


    ¡°Lord Chen, have you felt any better recently?¡± An old man wearing the trappings of a doctor asked with a smile.


    ¡°Much better.¡± Chen Xi quickly bowed. He knew that in this era, a simple headache or fever could kill him. It must have taken the old man a lot of effort to save him seeing how sick he was previously.


    ¡°You look much better now. You should focus more on your internal energy,¡± the old man said with a smile, ¡°If that is the case, I should take my leave.¡±


    ¡°Uncle Chen,¡± Chen Xi called as he turned his head back.


    The butler quickly led a horse over as he dashed. He was so quick that it was quite unbelievable.


    ¡°Uncle, I see that you are in a rush. That means you must be on urgent business. I would like to gift you this horse as a mount. Please accept it.¡± Chen Xi forced the reins into his hand. Speaking of which, he still didn¡¯t know his name, but he didn¡¯t introduce himself either.


    The old man looked at Chen Xi and nodded after giving it a thought as he accepted his gift. He did have an urgent business to attend to. A horse would be able to save him much trouble.


    ¡®I need to at least return the favor as he did save my life. While a doctor does not seek repayment to save a patient, it is my obligation to at least return the favor in some way. Chaos will drown the world soon. If something happened to him, there is no way for me to return it even if I wanted to.¡¯


    After the old man had left, Chen Xi closed the door and prepared to return to his room to do some reading. There was nothing more important to him than learning the texts and writings of this era. While he did have the original Chen Xi¡¯s memories, it was obvious that it wasn¡¯t complete.


    ¡°Young Master, Master brought that horse all the way from Bing Province as a gift to you. Is it not improper to gift it to someone else so easily?¡± Butler Chen said to Chen Xi after he had closed the door.


    ¡°No matter. I have no use for that horse regardless. By the way, take all the books from the studies to my room. I want to do some revision,¡± Chen Xi said as he shook his head. He knew how valuable that horse was, but it was still not comparable to him saving his life. He felt that it was worth it. At least, it would no longer weigh down on him.


    Chen Xi wasn¡¯t born into poverty. In fact, he was born with a silver spoon. Unfortunately, after his father Chen Luo had passed away, Chen Xi fell sick and never recovered. The amount that he had spent on his treatment and the push out from his own clan was enough to cause a wealthy family to fall.


    In the mind of Butler Chen however, as long as Chen Xi had recovered, then this branch of the Chen clan would still have the hope to return to its previous glory. After Chen Xi had fallen sick, most of the servants and songstresses had all left, leaving behind only Butler Chen and the songstress cum maid Chen Lan in the large Chen household.


    Chen Xi didn¡¯t pay that much attention to it, however. It was fine if they wanted to leave, seeing that he had the two most loyal ones remain by his side.


    After Chen Xi had recovered, he didn¡¯t leave the Chen Residence¡¯s gate for three whole months. He had spent most of his time mastering all that the original Chen Xi had learned. For example, writing. For example, the four classical arts of the Chinese scholar: Playing the Guqin, playing the Go, calligraphy, and painting. And of course, most importantly on how to use his Psionic Power and the arrays.


    After revising all these things, Chen Xi understood that the Late Eastern Han Dynasty that he lived in now was completely different from the Late Eastern Han Dynasty that was from his memories. Perhaps it was still the same history, but the world itself was completely different.


    As he flipped through the history of the Chu Han Era, Chen Xi had remembered the part where it described the Battle of Gaixia. Xiang Yu went into war alone and defeated Liu Bang¡¯s 30,000 elite troops and died of exhaustion. Despite having the chance to escape, he rather died in combat than to let the Sons of Jiang Dong be disappointed. No one dared to approach him even after his death, cementing his name as the Undefeated Conqueror.


    Chen Xi then read through the annals of history carefully, and finally confirmed that the times had changed four hundred years ago during the Chu-Han Contention.


    All the changes came from a meteorite, and it was recorded in history as the Divine Rock. The Divine Rock fell unto the Central Plains and started to change the physique of those living there.


    Originally, there were only some who could conjure chi and strengthen themselves during the seven-hundred long Spring-Autumn Warring States Period. And there were even fewer of those who could awaken their Psionic potential and resonate with Heaven and Earth. But that rock had changed the entire Central Plains, and brought great change to everyone¡¯s physique.


    Anyone could conjure chi through training, and the difficulty of awakening one¡¯s Psionic potential had also greatly reduced. That had caused all the generals during the Chu Han period to be exceptionally powerful, and Xiang Yu was the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me.


    ¡°I have the strength to pick up the mountains and my might is sufficient to conquer the world.¡±


    If that poem was an exaggeration in the original history, then this poem was true in this world. At his peak, Xiang Yu could use his own strength to drag a small hill and throw it out. He could beat the air into liquid form, and the solidified air be blasted into the ground and splinter the earth like a missile. In short, he was no longer human.


    In the four hundred years during the Han Dynasty, many martial sects had appeared. The generals that originally used their talents to earn their keep during the Chu Han period had slowly opened up a path for training systematically. Cutting down thousands with the power of one was no longer a myth, but reality.


    Similarly, the methods of awakening to one¡¯s Psionic potential had also created their own sects. The so-called Arcane magic, Daoist magic had also appeared. And similarly, arrays and formations had also been developed as a method to curb the power of powerful generals to greatly reduce their attack power. Of course, if one were to face them with an untrained, rag-tag band of courageous soldiers, then there would only be one ending for them.


    After 400 years of development, the knowledge of Chi and Psionic had become very widespread. While most didn¡¯t master anything good, at least they had the opportunity to interact with such things. That meant that this world¡¯s Late Han Period had farmers that could throw several hundred kilograms¡¯ worths of rocks by a dozen meters¡­


    As for how powerful generals were, it was clearly recorded that Xiang Yu could pick up a mountain and throw it out. So, if he were to calculate it by a similar ratio, Chen Xi felt that Lu Bu¡¯s all-out attack could possibly shatter an entire mountain¡­


    ¡®This is no longer the historical Three Kingdoms Period. This is perhaps a Mythical Three Kingdoms Period,¡¯ Chen Xi thought to himself.

 Chapter 2 - Separation

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Three months-worth of revision was enough for Chen Xi to understand the weirdness of this world as well as to understand the usage of his Psionic power. It didn¡¯t matter how powerful one¡¯s Psionic power was because from history Chen Xi understood that other than a better defense, Psionic powers didn¡¯t contain any powerful offense even if he could resonate with Heaven and Earth.


    If one wanted to blast an enemy with a lightning bolt, one should stop dreaming. It couldn¡¯t be done. While their combat capabilities were only so-so, one could not dismiss the effect of one¡¯s Psionic power on their mental capabilities. The more powerful one¡¯s psionic capabilities, the faster one could think and the faster one¡¯s mental reaction would be. Originally, something that could only be understood in one hour could be understood in ten minutes. The difference was immense.


    If Chi allowed martial artists¡¯ physical combat prowess to greatly increase, then the existence of Psionic allowed all the intellectual¡¯s intelligence to greatly increase. While it would be difficult to say which is more important between strength and intelligence, the two different developmental directions would decide where one¡¯s path would be.


    Of course, it could not be denied that some might want to train in both Chi and Psionic. Improving their own martial capabilities as well as their intellect. However, normal people would only die from the effort. While it couldn¡¯t be denied that there were those who were trained in both, it would be extremely difficult to be able to reach the peak of both at the same time. From what Chen Xi could understand from history, no one like that had yet appeared.


    After understanding that, Chen Xi had decided to give up the training on his physical body. While the original Chen Xi did manage to conjure Chi, but he only managed to conjure very, very little of it. This was mostly because of his clan, since the technique that he had was quite good.


    After Chen Xi had recovered, he could still use Chi to throw a big rock or something. If he were to continue to train and go to combat a few times, he could probably become a Centurion but that was about it. There would be no chance for him to advance any further.


    He could also stop dreaming about reaching the height of Xiang Yu where he could walk in the air. That was not a height that a human could reach. If he were to use the generals¡¯ record back in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, then perhaps only around twenty-four of them could reach that level. As for someone like Lu Bu, Chen Xi felt chills down his spine. Lu Bu would most likely be a human nuke!


    Since Chen Xi trained in both, that meant that he had trained his Psionic powers as well. But similar to his Chi, it was very weak. Perhaps he couldn¡¯t even defend against the arrow shot by a child that hadn¡¯t even conjured his Chi yet¡­


    Fortunately, perhaps the fusing of the two had stimulated Chen Xi¡¯s brain, it caused Chen Xi¡¯s Psionic power to continuously grow for the past three years. At least it was something he could take pride in since with the strength of his Psionic, he could at least use those Arcane Magic or Daoist Magic to raise mists, rain, and defend against arrows. He was considered to be at least an adept.


    As per Chen Xi¡¯s own admission, his current mental process was like that of a mental patient. His ability to process thoughts and ideas had greatly increased and so did his ability to learn. If he had that kind of memory and this mental acumen, he would have joined the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Even Chen Xi himself felt that he had evolved.


    Smack!


    After finishing reading all the books in his home, he threw the scroll on his desk. He had already memorized all the important ones, and he was at least familiar with those that weren¡¯t important. The growth of his Psionic power had also slowed down. From then onward, he could call himself a genuine man from the Eastern Han.


    ¡°Young Master, do you not want to train your Psionic power a bit longer?¡± Chen Lan asked Chen Xi, who was lying under a tree bored.


    ¡°There is nothing to train anymore.¡± Chen Xi smiled bitterly. He only knew recently that once his Psionic power had reached his current level, there was nothing more that could be taught to him through imitation. He needed to learn the rest himself. Perhaps that change would be in an instant. Perhaps this was where his journey ends. That being said, further changes would only make his Psionic power purer, harder to be affected by other thoughts, as well as allowing him to use it much easier.


    ¡°Nothing to train?¡± Chen Lan asked in confusion. She didn¡¯t understand that concept yet.


    ¡°The wind is blowing, we should return. It will rain soon,¡± Chen Xi didn¡¯t explain much and changed the topic of the conversation. It was going to rain soon. He had already mastered this so-called Arcane Magic. Due to his understanding of how rain is formed that he gained from the future, it was much easier for him to use than what was described in the book. He could manipulate it at an even larger area, but at a smaller cost.


    ¡°The wind is blowing?¡± Chen Lan looked at the sun as she raised her head, but before she protested the sky suddenly turned cloudy.


    Chen Xi smiled and pulled his only maid back into their home. He had spent an entire morning creating this rain, and it should cover several dozen kilometers. And thanks to the richness of water in the air, the rain was going to continue for a while, and it would be quite strong too. Perhaps no one would guess that this was caused by a person¡¯s spell since all Chen Xi did was simply guide and start it.


    ¡°What a storm!¡± Chen Lan said in surprise.


    ¡°Yes, what a storm.¡± Chen Xi sighed in satisfaction. He had already mastered the spells recorded on the scrolls. As for the arrays and formations, he still hadn¡¯t understood their inner workings. As for the so-called Occult Magic, he didn¡¯t learn any of them.


    To be honest, Chen Xi was quite covetous of the Occult Magic. Since in this world, it was all thanks to Zhang Jiao¡¯s master of the Yellow Turban Occult Magic that he could create the invincible Yellow Turban Champions from several hundred thousand Yellow Turban rebels that had neither organization nor discipline. The only reason that they lost was that Zhang Jiao died. Otherwise, it would still be a difficult bet on who would win and who would lose.


    From what Chen Xi knew, Zhang Jiao had an Occultic Magic that could greatly increase a person¡¯s combat capabilities, and he could buff thousands of them at one go. And then these few thousand Yellow Turban Champions would be enough to beat the Great Han Dynasty¡¯s so-called elites into a pulp. It was a clear testament to this technique¡¯s lethality. If it was used as an Ace, it could easily turn the tide of war at an opportune time.


    As for arrays and formations, Chen Xi was going to forget about it for now. Since he had never heard about whose array secured victory against an army with superior numbers. However, he did read from the books that true arrays and formations could turn the tide of a battle. However, it was also true that he had never seen it. Chen Xi would make his own judgment on this once he met it.


    However, he could not guarantee if he would meet someone that was willing to teach him. There were many things in this era that would only be passed down to one¡¯s core disciples. As for those who were not from the sect, it would entirely depend on luck. Since it wasn¡¯t easy for them to summarize their experiences, it was their right to choose who to pass them down to. However, these were all too far into the future for Chen Xi. All he needed to do now was to wait! Wait for one event to happen.


    After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, it would be Dong Zhuo entering Luoyang. And then, it would be the Eighteen Regional Warlords¡¯ Campaign against Dong Zhuo. But before that would come to be, there was another important event. That was the Essay of Calling to Arms against Dong Zhuo. There was a great difference between an official Essay being brought out by Cao Cao after his failed assassination of Dong Zhuo, and a false Essay being Cao Cao¡¯s own creation.


    While both had the same content, but the devil was in the details. It could be said to decide many things after that.

 Chapter 3 - Before Leaving

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Chen Xi looked at the surprised Chen Lan and shrugged. He didn¡¯t have much thought about social hierarchies. And there was nothing much to say about teaching Chen Lan how he trained his psionic abilities. He was simply treating it as a way to kill time since he was quite bored anyway. He had learned what he should have learned, so he was simply treating it as revision as he taught it to others.


    ¡°Thank you, Young Master,¡± Chen Lan was getting excited.


    In the next few months, Chen Lan then started to learn from Chen Xi. Other than awakening her Psionic potential, she also read books and learned to write. As one was willing to learn, one was willing to teach, and the subject matter was quite simple, Chen Lan had quickly begun to master the basics. At least, she could read on her own.


    Looking at the warrant on the wall, Chen Xi sighed.


    It was time.


    ¡®According to certain views of time and space, this should be possible. But no matter which view I am subscribing to, at least I can stand on my own two feet,¡¯ Chen Xi thought to himself as he looked at the Cao Mengde, who was on the warrant.


    ¡°Let us go, Uncle Chen. To the Fan Residence,¡± Chen Xi said to his butler behind him.


    After he said that, Butler Meng¡¯s face soured. However, he still nodded. Chen Xi¡¯s body had recovered, and the fallen Chen clan once again had a ray of hope. Then, the arranged marriage between him and Fan clan should be put on the schedule.


    Chen Xi knew about the marriage as well. It had been arranged when he was very young. After Chen Xi¡¯s father had passed away, the Fan clan had also sent someone to arrange for a marriage between him and Fan clan¡¯s second eldest daughter to carry on the Chen clan¡¯s legacy. However, Chen Xi had refused by using the need to observe mourning as an excuse.


    Afterward, Chen Xi had fallen sick and the Fan clan had slowly gone out of sight. They hadn¡¯t visited for a very, very long time. But Chen Xi understood. The Fan clan wouldn¡¯t mind keeping their promise if Chen Xi was in a healthy state. But if Chen Xi was getting sicker and sicker, the Fan family probably wouldn¡¯t want to marry their daughter to him.


    If he stood from the Fan clan¡¯s point of view, they had done everything they should for Chen Xi. They didn¡¯t refuse the arranged marriage as soon as the Chen clan began to fall. Not only that but they also even wanted to keep their promise when Chen Xi was still healthy. The only reason that they no longer came after Chen Xi was sick, was that most likely they didn¡¯t want to marry their daughter to someone that might die at any time.


    However, this was unforgivable to Butler Chen. Although they couldn¡¯t follow the full tradition, the two masters of the respective clans had already agreed and arranged to give Fan clan¡¯s second eldest daughter, who was two years younger than Chen Xi, her hand in marriage when he reached sixteen years old. Now that the master had passed away and that the young master was already seventeen years old, why did the Fan clan refuse to mention this at all?


    ¡°Young Master Chen!¡± When the servants of the Fan clan saw Chen Xi, they were at first stunned. Then, they bowed and went in to inform.


    ¡°I am here to look for Uncle Fan,¡± Chen Xi spoke calmly. By his estimation, the Fan clan basically wouldn¡¯t back out from the marriage. Just because they didn¡¯t mention the marriage when he was sick meant little. Their good faith was shown when they were willing to go through with the marriage after Chen Xi¡¯s father passed away.


    ¡°Young Master Chen, this way, please. The master is waiting in the great hall,¡± Very quickly, the butler from the Fan clan ran over.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Chen Xi nodded. He was having a headache. If she didn¡¯t want to marry him, that would be best. But it seemed like the Fan clan didn¡¯t want to back out from the marriage at all.


    ¡°Xi, come! Sit here! I have been worried about your physical condition lately. If something happened to you, I could not bear to explain to the Chen clan,¡± Fan Jian¡¯s father sat on the main seat with a smile of joy.


    Originally, Fan Liang wanted to send his daughter to take care of Chen Xi when he was still in mourning. As for the observation of mourning, it would be all for nothing if there was no one left to inherit the Chen clan.


    Chen Xi rejected Fan Liang¡¯s proposal, however, and he was drowned in sorrow to the point that he fell sick and couldn¡¯t recover. Fan Liang was completely stupefied by the turn of events. He was completely confused about what to do and was stuck between giving priority to his daughter¡¯s happiness and his promise to his good friend. In the end, he had no choice but to observe it quietly. As for his daughter¡¯s marriage, he agreed to Chen Xi¡¯s proposal and he would delay it for three years.


    If Chen Xi was still sick after three years, Fan Liang would be out of options. As long as Chen Xi was willing, he would have to marry off her daughter despite his unwillingness.


    Luckily, he had received news that Chen Xi had recovered half a year ago. It was extremely good news for him and he no longer had to worry about it. But after so many delays, Fan Liang didn¡¯t have the dignity to talk about it again. So he was waiting for Chen Xi to come over and talk about it. Then, all he needed to do was to double the dowry, since what he did wasn¡¯t quite sincere.


    ¡°Go, tell Fan Jian to come over,¡± Fan Liang said to his butler.


    ¡°Uncle, no need to call Little Jian over. I am here to say my farewell to you. I want to explore the known world. After my illness, I have begun to understand many things. It would be so tragic if a person did not know the world beyond where he lived. I wish to go out and see the world,¡± Chen Xi said politely.


    Fan Liang was stunned, then said to him after a slight hesitation, ¡°Xi, I know that what I did was insincere. But I hope that you would reconsider. The world is not safe. Your father had asked me to take care of you before he passed away. If something were to happen to you, I will not be able to explain it to your father.¡±


    ¡°Worry not, uncle. While I am not that talented, I do have some ways to protect myself,¡± he said as his Psionic energy slightly shaken.


    ¡°It seems that I cannot stop you then,¡± Fan Liang sighed as he looked at Chen Xi, and there was satisfaction in his eyes. ¡°If you wish to leave, that is fine. However, you must complete the marriage. Fan Jian is no longer young, you know?¡±


    Chen Xi was speechless as he slightly curled his lips, and thought to himself, ¡®Even if you give her hand in marriage to me, I wouldn¡¯t dare touch me! She is two years younger than me, alright? Asking me to marry a fifteen-year-old loli¡­¡¯


    However, Chen Xi knew that fifteen years old was already considered quite old in the Han Dynasty. And he remembered that they even had to pay double the taxes. Of course, they no longer had to pay that doubled taxes if they married¡­


    ¡°Uncle, we can forge the marriage agreement first. Once I have returned from my studies, we can complete the marriage. How does that sound?¡± Chen Xi said. He knew that he couldn¡¯t evade that little girl that kept calling him big brother when they were younger. If he were to refuse the marriage, the Fan clan would certainly become his enemy. Not to mention that the marriage wouldn¡¯t affect him much anyways.


    Alright. The marriage agreement in this era was just writing down his birthday. After that, it was considered complete. Originally, their birthdays were already matched. And now, it was only Chen Xi writing one for himself so that it would become legally binding.


    After he had done everything, Chen Xi then took a ride on a caravan and headed West where the righteous man Cao Cao was calling for soldiers to join his banner. It was obvious that Chen Xi was only trying to hitchhike since the army was probably safer at this age. As for whether he would meet up with Liu Bei in this version of history, he could not say.