Mythical Three Kingdoms

Very quickly, Yuan Shao’s Army, which had encircled Liu Bei from the rear, was dispersed by Zhang Yan leading a large troop force. Subsequently, Zhang Yan followed the orders in Lub Su’s letter, dividing the Black Mountain Army into ten units to conduct continuous harassment of Yuan Shao’s Army on the periphery, aiming not to kill but to disrupt their senses and cause misjudgments.

Meanwhile, Liu Bei’s Vanguard had already consecutively pierced through Tian Feng’s defensive lines, but the repeated breaches of these lines had left peerless valiant generals like Guan Yu, Gan Ning, and Xuu Chu exhausted, their originally unstoppable momentum gradually eroding away.

Upon breaking through the tenth defensive line, Liu Bei’s Vanguard finally became entangled in a stalemate with Yuan Shao’s Army under Tian Feng’s expectant gaze.

Almost in that instant, Liu Bei’s Army, which had been surging to peak momentum, suddenly plummeted, while Yuan Shao’s Army, whose morale had hit rock bottom, started to recover as the Vanguard Death Squad and the Left and Right Wings initiated a counterattack!

”Buzz, buzz, buzz~” A thunderous vibration from bowstrings resounded, and nearly a hundred soldiers from Liu Bei’s Vanguard fell at once. Clad in bright red armor and adorned with fiery red crests, the Vanguard Death Squad charged directly out from their defensive positions.

”Kill Guan Yu first!” Juo Yi drew his sword, pointed it at Guan Yu, and roared with bloodshot eyes. Instantly, the Vanguard erupted into furious battle cries, pushing Liu Bei’s Army back with relentless determination.

At the same time, Wen Chou and Lyu Kuang, who had long been unable to suppress their anger and pain, led their troops in striking from the flanks, seemingly intent on slicing Liu Bei into three pieces. With fearless resolve and relentless counterattacks, they further suppressed Liu Bei’s Army, pushing them into a dire situation.

The Vanguard’s frenzied counterattacks instantly reignited the demoralized Yuan Shao troops’ morale. As Juo Yi reversed Liu Bei’s Army’s battle lines, Yuan Shao’s soldiers surged with renewed fervor. Though Hebei’s battle flag had not fallen, Yann Liang had already perished, yet Juo Yi still stood tall!

”Slay!” Juo Yi’s casual swings of his longsword carried destruction akin to Guan Yu’s strength, clearing vast spaces in moments.

”Hmph!” Guan Yu sneered coldly. Though apprehension flashed in his eyes, he knew someone had to confront Juo Yi.

”Clang!” Before Guan Yu could act, Gan Ning’s Horizontal River Iron Chain sent three Vanguard flying, then with a casual flick, it directly thrust toward Juo Yi.

”General Guan, commanding troops is not my forte; I leave it to you,” Gan Ning said, clasping his fists from afar. Without waiting for Guan Yu’s response, he urged his horse and charged toward Juo Yi. In the midst of advancing, his peripheral vision caught the three Vanguard he had knocked down earlier already regaining their footing.

Guan Yu glanced at Gan Ning charging ahead but said nothing more. He immediately mobilized his soldiers to attack with all their might. Even though the opponents were Vanguard Death Squad, Guan Yu had no choice but to press forward.

”Gan Ning?” Juo Yi said coldly before charging at Gan Ning with the intent to slay him on the spot.

Gan Ning twirled his Horizontal River Iron Chain from afar, its spearhead thrusting toward Juo Yi with eerie precision. He knew engaging Juo Yi directly in such circumstances was unwise, and thus avoided close confrontation altogether.

”Splat!” As Juo Yi slashed through Gan Ning’s Horizontal River Iron Chain, a quick twist forced him to dodge simultaneously, but not before a bloodline was etched across his cheek.

In fury, Juo Yi immediately activated his Military Spirit to enhance himself, swinging his sword at Gan Ning. However, the fallen Horizontal River Iron Chain conveniently looped and parried his strike, nearly entangling Juo Yi in the process.

Meanwhile, as Juo Yi activated his Military Spirit, Liu Bei’s Army launched a counterattack that slew over ten Vanguard.

”You may have brute force and speed, but your techniques leave much to be desired. If we went head-to-head, there might be something interesting to see!” Gan Ning sneered, casually flicking his Horizontal River Iron Chain, and looked at Juo Yi with arrogance.

Gan Ning was well aware that what he was doing now was akin to dancing on the edge of a blade. Even though Juo Yi’s Military Spirit enhancement made him nothing more than a weak Inner Qi Manifestation warrior, his raw strength overwhelmed Cloud Qi suppression. This was precisely why Gan Ning chose to confront Juo Yi instead of Guan Yu taking the fight.

Of course, if Juo Yi significantly enhanced himself with Military Spirit, even Gan Ning, possessing Inner Qi, might not easily best him. Still, Gan Ning’s decision to engage hinged on calculated risk—he loved adventure but not recklessness. Juo Yi’s activation of Military Spirit would inevitably impact the Vanguard, and once the Vanguard collapsed, even Juo Yi with unparalleled might could not overturn the tide.

”Damn it!” Juo Yi roared as his strike was deflected by Gan Ning’s manipulation, only to notice that the transfer of Military Spirit power had led to over ten of his Vanguard soldiers dying in the fray.

”Swish!” Though standing tens of meters away, Gan Ning wielded his Horizontal River Iron Chain with expert precision, rendering Juo Yi completely unable to approach him.

[I can’t drag this out any longer. I must crush Liu Bei’s Army first!] Juo Yi slashed through the Horizontal River Iron Chain, ducked under its twisted follow-up strike, and retreated beyond Gan Ning’s combat range.

Originally, Juo Yi had believed that while targeting Liu Bei himself, his Vanguard soldiers would naturally overwhelm the enemy troops. However, the unfolding reality forced him to reconsider—the longer he delayed, the more unforeseen complications arose!

Though ferocious, the Vanguard faced Liu Bei’s elite troops who were no easy prey. Enduring severe casualties, Liu Bei’s Tiger Guard stubbornly resisted the Vanguard’s breakthroughs. Following this, over a hundred carefully selected Qi Refining to Gang brave warriors from Liu Bei’s Army charged forth to engage in brutal combat.

Yet even so, Liu Bei’s Army gained no substantial advantage. Over a hundred brave warriors managed to kill only around three hundred Vanguard, losing more than half of their own in the process—a testament to the Vanguard’s ferocity.

As Juo Yi retreated, Gan Ning briefly considered intercepting him but ultimately abandoned the thought, knowing such recklessness was akin to self-destruction. Limited by restricted Inner Qi, he could only stall for time against Juo Yi, but engaging in a life-or-death clash would be suicide.

Seeing Juo Yi regroup and leading the Vanguard to assault Liu Bei’s defensive lines, while Tian Feng maneuvered Yuan Shao’s Rear Army for a counterstrike, Gan Ning decisively withdrew to his unit, focusing on blocking Yuan Shao’s Left Wing attacking his right flank.

”Gan Lan, I’m entrusting the flanking defense to you. Do whatever it takes to hold off their assault. Until our army breaks through Yuan Shao’s forces, do not allow the Central Army to be severed!” Gan Ning issued a grim order to his deputy.

”Before I die, I will not let the flank fall,” Gan Lan replied with a calm resolve, leading three thousand soldiers to charge directly toward the right flank.

[Jia Wenhe, if reinforcements don’t arrive, I’ll fight you to the end!] Gan Ning cursed furiously in his heart. He had already discerned the grim situation. If Liu Bei’s Vanguard failed to pierce Yuan Shao’s Rear Army, it was only a matter of time before the entire army became encircled! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please support it at Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)