Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

A group of people hurried over. Ma Teng was still furious at this time. He shouted at Ma Chao angrily: "My Ma family is in this situation today because of the continuous hard work of our ancestors. I am really saddened that you said such words today!" Ma Teng was full of anger and disappointment at this time. He really couldn't believe that Ma Chao would be so disobedient to him. How could the family business he had worked so hard to build be destroyed because of his children's personal love.

If Ma Chao and his companions had not quickly persuaded Ma Teng to calm down and stop him from speaking, Ma Teng would have continued. Ma Teng's chest heaved violently. Ma Chao knelt before him and said stubbornly, "Father, I have no intention of disobeying you, but this is indeed what I feel." Ma Chao's heart was filled with entanglement and pain. He did not want to go against his father's wishes, but he could not give up his feelings for Wan'er. He did not know what to do.

Dong Bai and Lu Wan were about to support Ma Chao, one on each side. Madam Ma didn't know how to dissuade the furious father and son. Madam Lu was relatively calm, having seen a lot of things. She scolded Ma Chao, "Chao'er, stop talking." Then she said to Ma Teng, "Brother Shi, please stop arguing. Don't argue for now. Calm down. Any problem can always be solved. If you two continue to quarrel today and word gets out, Chao'er's reputation will be ruined!"

Everyone's hearts tightened instantly. Yes, they couldn't argue about this any longer. What would they do if they continued? The Han Dynasty was a society that valued filial piety. The ethos had always been that if the ruler wanted his subjects to die, the subjects had to be loyal, and if the father wanted his son to die, he would be unfilial if he didn't. If this got out, Ma Chao's reputation would be ruined. Everyone finally calmed down a bit. Ma Teng angrily said, "Rebellious son, get out of here! I don't want to see you right now!" Mrs. Ma only hoped that the conflict would be resolved quickly, and she waved at Ma Chao to leave.

Ma Chao calmed down at this time, stood up and apologized to everyone: "I was indeed emotional today, and was a little dominated by emotions, clouding my rationality and being too extreme." Then he said to the two women: "Don't be sad because of my situation today. Do not do anything sad. I will definitely think of a way to have the best of both worlds. I won't. I, Ma Chao, am not a heartless and ungrateful person, but before I come up with a solution, don't make any mistakes." Ma Teng said angrily, "Get out, don't let me see you again." Ma Chao was full of regret. He knew that he was too impulsive just now, and secretly vowed to find a solution.

Ma Chao said to the crowd, "Just be good, I'll definitely find a solution. Give me some time, and I'll definitely do it." With that, Ma Chao bowed and took his leave, turning and striding away. Everyone tried to comfort Ma Teng. The two women didn't want to embarrass Ma Chao any further, and Dong Bai temporarily gave up the idea of ​​returning to Longyou. The two women even began to comfort each other.

Madam Ma tried to calm Ma Teng down, thinking that father and son shouldn't be so confrontational. Why couldn't they just discuss things properly? Why did they have to argue so much? She complained to Ma Teng, then sighed helplessly at the still furious Ma Teng.

Mrs. Lu gently comforted Lu Wan and Dong Bai, constantly telling them not to be too extreme and that everything was decided by their parents, who would definitely handle it properly and give them a satisfactory result.

At this moment, the doorman came to report that Ma Chao had left home angrily on horseback, carrying a gun. Mrs. Ma quickly waved her hand, signaling the doorman to leave, saying that nothing had happened.

However, by nightfall, there was still no sign of Ma Chao's return, and everyone began to panic. When they learned that the guard at the city gate reported that Ma Chao had left the city alone on horseback, carrying a spear, everyone became even more anxious.

Mrs. Ma kept complaining to Ma Teng. Ma Teng was already angry about the quarrel with Ma Chao, and after being blamed and scolded by his wife for a long time, he felt resentful and said stubbornly: "With the martial arts of this rebellious son, how could he be in danger?" Although he said this, he was still a little worried, so he quickly ordered Pang De, Xu Huang and others to lead the troops to look for him.

Ma Chao, angry after arguing with his father, rode away from Wuwei County. He was consumed by regret, regretting his confrontation with his father, yet he struggled with how to handle the situation. Unable to shake off his frustration, he simply rode forward until darkness fell, and the horse gradually slowed. He rode aimlessly, completely distraught and unsure of what to do. He continued on his journey in a daze. For two days, Ma Chao's distance gradually grew. He would hunt for food when hungry and seek water from streams when thirsty, continuing his journey in this manner. By the time Ma Chao began to gather his thoughts, he realized he was almost out of the territory of Xiliang and had reached the border of Jincheng County, nearing the end of the line. As he neared the territory of Xiqiang, Ma Chao figured that since he was there, it would be a good opportunity to visit his brother, Cheliji. He gathered his thoughts and headed for Xiqiang.

Meanwhile, Xu Huang and Pang De led light cavalry in search of Ma Chao, but Ma Chao had galloped out of the city, and without a clear destination, they were left searching blindly. Furthermore, Ma Chao's horse, Wang Jiguang, was a rare gem, making it impossible for their horses to catch up. By the next morning, Ma Chao's whereabouts were still unsuccessful, so they returned to report, leaving their family deeply concerned. Ma Teng, however, was forced to seek advice from Xun Yu, who understood their emotional entanglement and shared his own concerns about the young man's emotional struggles. However, Xun Yu advised against publicizing the matter, stating that Ma Chao's abilities were sufficient and that they would return naturally once his mood calmed. Xun Yu's message was that a frantic search would cause panic throughout Xiliang, a region that had finally flourished and needed no disruption. The group suppressed their anxiety and carried on as usual.

Ma Chao set foot alone in the land of the Western Qiang, and the vast, boundless grasslands immediately unfolded before his eyes. The sky above was clear and serene, like a shimmering gem. The grazing Qiang people moved about leisurely, seemingly at one with the natural world. The women, carrying their babies on their backs, wore gentle, kind smiles that filled the heart with warmth. The affectionate and beautiful Qiang women, like delicate, alluring flowers, blossomed magnificently across the grasslands. Herds of cattle and sheep leisurely grazed the fresh, green grass across the vast expanse. Everything he saw was serene and beautiful, like a moving painting.

As they journeyed, people curiously eyed the somewhat solitary Han youth. However, there was no fear or apprehension. Instead, they greeted him with genuine, friendly smiles. Although Western Qiang had just experienced Tuyuli's rebellion the previous year, under the capable leadership of the new Qiang King, Cheliji, the rebellion had been thoroughly quelled, successfully unifying the entire Western Qiang. While still somewhat impoverished, with some still struggling to recover from the effects of war, the Western Qiang territory was beginning to radiate a vibrant vitality. Whether in the distinctive Qiang architecture or the bustling Qiang markets, young men and women, clad in distinctive ethnic attire, happily browsed, selecting items of their choice. Even in tribes large and small, caravans from Western Liang could be seen passing through. Overall, now free from the constant harassment of war, Western Liang caravans once again arrived to trade and bring essential goods to the region. Today, under the outstanding leadership of Cheliji, the lives of the people of Xiqiang are undergoing subtle changes.

Gradually, Ma Chao was captivated by this world, and his initially heavy mood began to ease somewhat. He wasn't in a rush, simply wandering and stopping. The violent emotions accumulated over the past year of misfortunes and constant battles gradually dissipated. When he encountered a bonfire party for a major sacrificial offering, the blazing flames illuminated the night sky, and a joyful atmosphere permeated the air. Ma Chao was inspired to join in, dancing and singing with the Qiang people, soaking up the warm and simple atmosphere. However, when one looked closely at Ma Chao, one could see a lingering melancholy in his gaze, as if lost in his own thoughts. His handsome features, illuminated by the firelight, seemed even more mysterious and stern.