Although the exchange seemed to last for quite some time, only a moment had passed on the field.
Soon,
Lu Bu, having changed to a warhorse, rode forward, his Fangtian Huaji pointed at Ye Feng from a distance.
"Villain, next year on this day will be your death anniversary!"
"Heh~!"
Facing Lu Bu's provocation, Ye Feng’s lips curled, and he let out a cryptic "heh."
"Insolent!"
Though Lu Bu didn't understand Ye Feng’s chuckle, a surge of anger erupted within him, and he roared.
"Villain, take my halberd!"
With that, Lu Bu spurred his horse, and the magnificent steed beneath him leaped forward.
"Well met!"
Seeing Lu Bu charging towards him, Ye Feng's expression turned serious, the initial ease gone.
After all,
martial prowess was merely a general indicator, not a guarantee of victory.
History was not without instances of great generals being slain by ordinary soldiers.
While many such events involved other factors, Ye Feng would not underestimate Lu Bu because of it.
Therefore,
facing Lu Bu's furious strike, Ye Feng chose… to meet it head-on!
"Clang~!"
Following the sharp clang of metal against metal, everyone on the field froze.
"He... he caught it?"
As the horses passed each other, Lu Bu felt a numbing sensation in his arm, utterly bewildered.
How could he have caught it?
Hadn't everyone said that Governor Ye was weak and not at all like a general?
Then, what was *he*?
If Ye Feng wasn't considered a general, then what was he, who had his full-strength attack easily parried by Ye Feng?
"How can this be?"
Unlike the bewildered Lu Bu, Yuan Shao and Old Cao were on the verge of madness.
"How could this happen?!"
"He caught it?"
"The general who could trounce the entire Han army camp was stopped by that fellow?"
"How could this be?!"
"..."
Sensing the breakdown of his two brothers, Liu Bei felt a surge of satisfaction.
Don't believe it?
Keep not believing it!
They all said this guy could easily defeat their trio, yet you insisted otherwise!
And claimed that your own martial skill was trash, and that of your brothers would be the same?
Absolutely infuriating!
If only his two younger brothers were present, then it would be… it would be…
Fine!
Even if his two brothers came, the three of them together wouldn't be a match for Ye Feng.
Thinking this,
Liu Bei, who had momentarily felt elated, let out a sigh of resignation.
Never mind!
Lu Bu was, after all, on their side. It wasn't appropriate to gloat.
Unfortunately,
even though Liu Bei had restrained himself, Old Cao noticed.
With a little thought,
instantly,
Old Cao, who hadn't particularly favored Liu Bei before, sidled up to him.
"Brother Xuande, you said before that you had two other brothers, didn't you?"
"???"
Liu Bei was asked somewhat unexpectedly, but he nodded affirmatively.
"Yes!"
"Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and I are sworn brothers who pledged our oaths in the peach garden!"
"Really?"
Seeing Liu Bei nod in confirmation, Old Cao said with anticipation:
"Brother Xuande, the Han dynasty is in need of talent everywhere. Why don't you call them over?"
"Ah?"
"This..."
Facing Old Cao's expectant gaze, Liu Bei almost ground his teeth to dust.
"They, they were already recruited by that villain Ye!"
"Hmm?"
Hearing Liu Bei's words, before Old Cao could respond, Yuan Shao couldn't help himself.
"Brother Xuande, aren't you three brothers? Why didn't that villain Ye take you?"
"Was he not interested?"
"???!!!"
Hearing Yuan Shao's almost blunt question, Liu Bei's face flushed instantly.
Brother!
Why are you like this?
Although this might very well be the truth, the truth often hurt, didn't it?
Even for the thick-skinned Liu Bei, he felt utterly humiliated.
Yes!
Three brothers!
Two of them were recruited, and only he, the eldest brother, was left wandering.
Where was he supposed to find solace for this?
Fortunately,
perhaps sensing Liu Bei's awkwardness, the dazed Lu Bu finally snapped out of it.
He was unconvinced!
Much like Guan Yu's initial thought, Lu Bu believed Ye Feng possessed innate strength.
While his own strength wasn't bad, how could it compare to someone with divine might?
Thus,
after some self-consolation, Lu Bu's fighting spirit reignited.
"Villain!"
"Don't be arrogant!"
Sensing Ye Feng's half-smile, Lu Bu gritted his teeth fiercely.
"Take another strike from me!"
"This time, I will surely show you what true, true..."
Before Lu Bu could finish his words, Ye Feng, who had arrived earlier, was already in front of him.
Raising his hand,
the Overlord Halberd, as black as if dyed with ink, accurately found Lu Bu's Fangtian Huaji.
"Clang~!"
Another piercing clang echoed, and Lu Bu was once again plunged into a stupor.
What?
How did he find it?
I, I hadn't even made my move yet, how did he predict my attack trajectory?
This is unscientific!
When my master taught me the halberd techniques, he said no one else in the world knew them!
How did this guy know them?
"What?"
Seeing Lu Bu's stunned expression, Ye Feng, who had turned his horse around, chuckled and asked,
"Lu Fengxian, what do you think of this Overlord Halberd technique? Is it as sharp as when you use it?"
"You, you..."
Startled by Ye Feng's voice, Lu Bu hesitated for a moment before asking,
"Governor Ye, how did you learn my sect's halberd technique?"
"Sect?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Feng nodded thoughtfully and asked in return,
"You still haven't told me, how does my use of the Overlord Halberd compare to yours?"
"..."
Lu Bu's voice faltered. After considerable deliberation, he reluctantly nodded,
"Governor Ye, your use of this halberd technique is stronger, but how do you know my sect's..."
"Are you the only one with a sect?"
Before Lu Bu could finish, Ye Feng chuckled and said pointedly,
"Your sect claims this halberd technique was passed down, but it was personally created by my ancestor!"
"Wh-what?!"
As Ye Feng's words fell, the already astonished Lu Bu almost jumped up in shock.
The Overlord Halberd was created by his ancestor?
Then, then was he...?
Impossible!
This is absolutely impossible!
Lu Bu shook his head instinctively, his tone filled with disbelief.
"My master once told me that the Overlord had no descendants left!"
"Heh..."
Ye Feng chuckled again, nonchalantly, thinking he himself didn't know if there were descendants.
However,
recalling the system's prompt that Lu Bu also practiced the Overlord Halberd technique but not the Overlord Heart Method, Ye Feng tested him with a smile.
As expected!
Faced with another inheritor of the Overlord Halberd technique, Lu Bu indeed became somewhat flustered.
But admitting that he was a descendant of the Overlord didn't seem easy.
Therefore,
faced with Lu Bu's somewhat agitated retort, Ye Feng said calmly,
"If you all knew, how could it still be passed down?"
"This, this..."
Lu Bu, who wasn't very clever to begin with, was led into a trap by Ye Feng.
Yes!
If there wasn't a traitor, how could the Overlord have lost?
But was he truly a descendant of the Overlord?
If it were true...
Seeing Lu Bu's conflicted expression, Ye Feng grew impatient.
"Lu Fengxian, are we still fighting or not? If not, this governor will be returning!"
"Ah?"
Hearing Ye Feng, Lu Bu snapped back to attention and waved his hands repeatedly,
"Not fighting, not fighting..."
"Huh?!"
Hearing that Lu Bu wouldn't fight, Ye Feng hadn't even spoken before the three onlookers grew restless.
What's going on?
The three of us brothers came all this way, and you two are done in just a couple of exchanges?
Are you guys putting on a show?
Even if you are acting, could you at least be more serious?
You're even building a relationship on stage now?
Do you really think, do you really think...
Yuan Shao, who had intended to utter some threatening words, could only sigh in resignation.
Forget it!
Even if their more than ten thousand men charged, they probably couldn't keep those two thousand cavalry.
But if I can't keep the two thousand cavalry, I still can't do anything about you, Lu Fengxian?
Riding a good horse, with good soldiers, and then you two put on a show for me in a couple of exchanges?
Are you looking for death?
Don't think you can defeat all the government troops; I, I... I don't seem to have any way to deal with you either?
Glancing at the three thousand wolf riders behind Lu Bu, Yuan Shao's heart grew even heavier.
How infuriating! What to do?!
He was standing before two mortal enemies, yet he could only pretend not to see them?
Even,
to avoid drawing their attention, he didn't dare to say a harsh word?
Indeed!
Only with strong troops and powerful horses does one have the confidence to speak. What use are these rabble?
Glancing at the retreating county soldiers far behind, Yuan Shao felt a flame of ambition burning within him.
He wanted to become stronger!
He wanted a world where no one dared to ignore him like these two individuals before him.
He wanted...
Just as Yuan Shao was contemplating how to regain his footing, Liu Bei beside him stepped in first.
"Lu Fengxian, didn't you say you were the number one under heaven? Are you even capable?"
Looking at Lu Bu, who had stolen his warhorse yet did nothing,
and recalling his coldness towards him these past few days... Liu Bei's old and new grudges boiled over.
Therefore,
before Lu Bu could say anything to refute, Liu Bei continued,
"Back then, you were the one clamoring to eliminate that villain Ye and restore peace to the Han dynasty!"
"Why are you afraid to move now?"
"If I were..."
"Hmm?"
Lu Bu, already in a state of turmoil, rode his horse forward, holding his Fangtian Huaji to Liu Bei's neck.
"If you were what? What do you want to say? Do you have the right to say anything to this general?"
"I, I..."
Sensing the overwhelming aura of death, Liu Bei's legs instantly went weak.
Though it wasn't apparent from his seated position, the cold sweat on his forehead said it all.
But he remained silent!
It wasn't that he was tough,
but that his fear had reached its apex, rendering him speechless.
"Hmph~!"
"Trash!"
Lu Bu, who had only acted out of momentary impulse, now regretted it.
After all,
Liu Bei was a disciple of the great Lu Zhi; he had now thoroughly offended him.
And looking at the unfriendly glances from Yuan Shao and Old Cao beside him...
Damn it!
Since this side cannot accommodate me, then don't blame me, Lu Bu, for being unrighteous!