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Chapter 1099: Come, Fight!
🕑 Added 2024-11-23 12:00:30 +0000 UTCLü Bu hesitated for a moment but quickly resumed his long strides forward, as if he hadn’t heard Gao Shun’s words.
"Gongzheng..." Zhang Liao looked at Gao Shun and opened his mouth to speak.
"I am the leader of the Camp of the Elite. Wen Yuan, just focus on protecting the madam," Gao Shun said quietly.
"Would you still be you if you did that?" Zhang Liao remained silent for a while before finally speaking.
"My ambitions have already been fulfilled. I no longer fear death, so what is there to regret?" Gao Shun, always serious, showed a rare bright smile.
"If..." Zhang Liao started but ultimately gave up. "I’ll go with you."
"Stay with your wife and children," Gao Shun patted Zhang Liao’s shoulder before chasing after Lü Bu’s disappearing figure.
Standing on the walls of Jiuyuan City, Lü Bu leaned on his Sky Piercer halberd, gazing coldly at the vast army below, its banners stretching for miles. His face was calm as he rested the halberd on his shoulder, though his eyes brimmed with a chilling intent to kill.
【Heh, such hatred and anger, and you think you can control me?】 Lü Bu stared down at the enemy forces, placing a foot on the battlements. His killing intent was overwhelming, yet he remained crystal clear in his thoughts.
"Lü Bu! In light of your past merits, we only ask for an explanation today!" Xiahou Yuan, following Cao Ren’s orders, rode forward and called out to Lü Bu.
Lü Bu glanced at Xiahou Yuan, his gaze so cold that Xiahou Yuan felt as if a bitter winter wind had slashed across him.
"Since when did I, Lü Bu, ever need to answer to anyone?" Lü Bu’s voice began in a murmur, but the final words boomed like thunder.
"And those I’ve killed were nothing but Qiang and Hu tribesmen. If they dared encroach upon my defense zone, why shouldn’t I kill them? Even if I saw them elsewhere, I’d kill them all the same!" Lü Bu sneered.
Before Ma Teng or Xiahou Yuan could voice their indignation, Lü Bu continued, "Killing those Hu is just an excuse. Even if I hadn’t, would today’s events still not have happened?"
Xiahou Yuan, not skilled in debating, couldn’t refute. After all, with the Hu subdued, Lü Bu would naturally be the next target, so he had no answer for Lü Bu's question.
"If that’s the case, why waste more words!" Lü Bu’s mocking laughter echoed in all directions.
"We can still sit down and talk," Cao Ren suddenly shouted. "You’re surrounded here in Jiuyuan, and there’s no escape. But given your achievements, all you need to do is admit a small mistake, and everything will be forgiven. We’ll offer compensation to the Qiang since, after all, they did intrude into your defense zone. That’s partly our fault."
"There’s nothing to discuss. Do you really think surrounding the city was your doing?" Lü Bu scoffed. "If I hadn’t ordered my men not to resist, do you think you could have gotten this far? Gongtai wanted to fight you, but I forbade him."
"Lü Fengxian, don’t be shameless! Jiuyuan is already surrounded. Show us what else you’ve got! Don’t refuse a peaceful resolution only to beg for a harsher one later!" Xiahou Dun, enraged by Lü Bu’s arrogance, rode forward and shouted in anger.
Lü Bu smirked coldly and slowly raised his Sky Piercer halberd. A suffocating pressure spread across the surrounding area for miles.
"Refuse a peaceful resolution?" Lü Bu turned his head slightly, his eyes gleaming with icy killing intent. Being surrounded by supposed allies, as a hero who had defeated the Hu, the thousand-year-old resentment from the faith within him had completely overshadowed his desire to protect the nation.
"Xiahou Yuanrang, do you know?" Lü Bu’s voice suddenly became soft, masking all traces of his murderous intent. "Here, numbers mean nothing to me."
With that, Lü Bu attacked. A nearly invisible blade of energy tore through the clouds, cleaving through the Ma Teng army’s formations, instantly killing a thousand Qiang and Hu riders.
"Because I possess the power to break armies on my own!" Lü Bu leaped into the air, swinging his halberd down with immense force.
Chaos erupted below. The Hu troops screamed in terror, and the elite warriors of Cao’s army immediately leaped into action, finally realizing the true might of their opponent.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Five consecutive loud clangs rang out as Lü Bu was forced back. Zhang Xiu, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Pang De, and Xu Huang stood below, their faces filled with solemn determination as they looked up at the fearsome Lü Bu hovering in the sky.
"Come, fight me! If you don’t want to see all your elite soldiers slaughtered, you’ll have to risk your lives to stop me. Otherwise, none of you will leave here alive!" Lü Bu floated in the air, his hair dancing without wind. Below, the five generals watched him with intense focus.
At this point, Zhang Xiu and the others didn’t have time to ponder how Lü Bu had managed to kill so many men in one strike. They knew they had to stop him, as he had said—numbers meant nothing to him!
Xiahou Yuan tightened his grip on his spear, knowing he could no longer waste time blaming his cousin’s rash words. Xiahou Dun, too, realized the gravity of the situation. He had stirred up trouble, but now, there was no turning back.
"All troops, retreat! Leave this to us!" Xiahou Yuan suddenly shouted, knowing that only he could give such an order.
As Xiahou Yuan roared, Zhang Xiu and the other four attacked Lü Bu in unison. They were facing the strongest opponent they had ever encountered—Lü Bu, the undisputed number one under heaven.
Meanwhile, just after Ma Chao had fled from the Xianbei royal court, his mission was nearly complete. However, with hopes of claiming more merit and rewards, Ma Chao hurried back.
In Ma Chao’s mind, the battle was as good as won. With the Xianbei trapped within a strategic encirclement, victory was guaranteed. He thought that by rushing back, he could still claim more achievements.
So, Ma Chao charged ahead, unaware that he was about to crash headlong into the retreating Xianbei army. It was snowing lightly, and seeing their chaotic banners, Ma Chao mistook them for fleeing troops and charged in.
Ma Chao was an excellent cavalry leader and a fierce warrior. With no idea that he was facing the twenty thousand retreating Xianbei, he treated them as a fleeing enemy. His Qiang and Hu troops, following his lead, thought the same.
Thus, when Ma Chao shouted to charge, his forces charged in with high morale. Coincidentally, the Xianbei troops were those who had previously attempted to raid the rear lines but had been heavily beaten back. They were already demoralized, their spirits shattered.
Ke Bineng, to his credit, hadn’t abandoned them but had instead executed the cowardly leaders while allowing the surviving warriors to flee at the front. He and Mohuotuo stayed behind to hold off the pursuing Cao forces and Qiang.
The already defeated Xianbei soldiers completely collapsed when Ma Chao and his personal guard descended upon them, hacking them down as they fled.
With the enemy in full retreat, Ma Chao pursued relentlessly, driving his forces deeper into the Xianbei army. Eventually, he realized that something had gone terribly wrong with the overall strategy. But by then, he had no choice—he was already committed. With a resolute heart, Ma Chao charged straight for the Xianbei main banner!
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