Chapter 67: Borrowing Weapons, Three Heroes Battle Lü Bu

Today, there was neither the sound of war drums nor the sight of soldiers braving the cold.

After days of relentless campaigning, the generals were weary. Yuan Shao, ever pragmatic, hosted a banquet in his grand tent, claiming it was to wash away the dust of battle.

The strong liquor rekindled their spirits, and soon the warriors gathered in small groups, competing in drinking and boasting loudly.

Chen Cong, however, sat alone, cradling a bowl of chicken soup. Whoever came to toast him was met with a hearty gulp.

Having consumed too much sand and now more chicken soup, he found himself oddly nauseated.

In the midst of eating and drinking, Yuan Shu squeezed beside Chen Cong, nudging him conspiratorially.

Chen Cong, hands wrapped around his soup, glanced at him sideways. “What’s the deal? Got business?”

Yuan Shu snatched his chicken soup and set it aside, scolding, “Not even the most unscrupulous merchants in the provinces are as shrewd as you. The portrait is finished. Look at it, and afterwards call me father-in-law.”

Chen Cong groaned in agony, clutching his forehead.

Faced with Yuan Shu’s offered scroll, he dared not unfurl it.

At this moment,

He already thought Yuan Shu could rival Diao Chan in beauty; how could he possibly handle seeing a portrait of another beautiful woman?

“I’ll pass for now. Uh... Yuan Mi... er... Father-in-law, those women in your tent... have you, um, sent them away?”

Yuan Shu was about to respond when suddenly, the sound of drums thundered outside the city.

Chen Cong cursed his luck inwardly.

Immediately, a panicked soldier burst into the tent, dropping to his knees.

“Reporting—reporting to the alliance leader—outside the city, Lü Bu is challenging us!”

With Chen Cong present, Yuan Shao would not fear Lü Bu. Calmly, he said, “Lü Bu is just Lü Bu. What’s the panic?”

“Alliance leader, I dare not say. You’d better go see for yourself atop the city walls...”

Yuan Shao knocked over his wine cup, impatiently declaring, “Enough! To the walls!”

The lords and generals departed together, expecting yet another dramatic, blood-soaked spectacle.

Upon reaching the battlements,

They discovered Lü Bu alone on horseback beneath the city. Behind him, five hundred black-armored heavy cavalry stood in a line; another hundred and fifty paces back was Dong Zhuo’s command chariot, surrounded by over a thousand elite riders, shrouding the chariot’s presence.

Lü Bu did not call out names. Instead, he thrust his Sky Halberd into the ground, pointed to the head hanging from its shaft, and shouted toward Yuan Shao, “Yuan Benchu, look—whose head is this?”

Yuan Shao gazed out and abruptly his eyes widened. He staggered back, barely kept upright by Yan Liang and Wen Chou.

The head—soaked in lime, hollowed out, made into a chamber pot—was that of Grand Tutor Yuan Kui!

This man was not only Yuan Shao’s uncle but also his greatest support in outshining Yuan Shu.

Suddenly confronted with the sight, how could Yuan Shao not be shocked, not be enraged?

“Lü Bu, you mongrel! How dare you so humiliate me?”

Lü Bu waved his hand, and the Bear Riders behind him stepped forward to retrieve the head.

“Yuan Benchu, I am here. If anyone among your allied armies can defeat me, I will hand over the Grand Tutor’s head. If not—hmph!”

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Though his words were directed at Yuan Shao, Lü Bu’s eyes remained fixed on Chen Cong.

Having learned from bitter experience, after having been so thoroughly humiliated last time, Lü Bu did not openly challenge Chen Cong, lest it be seen as an invitation or guidance.

It was nauseating.

Far better to act fierce, using Yuan Shao’s position to force Chen Cong down from the walls.

“Whoever slays this villain, I will reward greatly!” Yuan Shao proclaimed.

Everyone turned in unison. They could not defeat Lü Bu, but there were those who could.

Yet,

Chen Cong remained where he was, feigning death.

That single boomerang throw in the past had brought an enraged tiger upon himself—today’s predicament struck him with an acute sense of discomfort...

Chen Cong was not afraid; with his extraordinary physique and the speed of the Absolute Shadow steed, even if Lü Bu bested him, killing him would be difficult.

But carrying the title of Number One Under Heaven, how could he be the first to step onto the field?

If word got out, people would think “Number One” was as common as cabbage.

After a moment’s silence, Yuan Shao raised the stakes: “A thousand gold pieces and enfeoffment as a marquis!”

“I’ll do it!”

Zhang Fei roared, leaping onto the parapet.

He had long been irked by Lü Bu’s arrogant, world-scornful demeanor. Now there was reward to be gained—just what he wanted!

“You three-named slave, stop your bluster! When I descend from the walls, I’ll chop off your head and use it as a chamber pot!”

Lü Bu scoffed and said nothing.

Yuan Shao’s face changed dramatically.

If some had not noticed, Zhang Fei’s use of “also” made clear to all that Yuan Kui’s head had been made into a chamber pot.

To the Yuan clan, this was the utmost disgrace!

Liu Bei hastily rebuked, “Yide, silence! No nonsense.”

He then bowed to Yuan Shao, “Alliance Leader, please do not take offense. My third brother is reckless by nature. Let Yide face Lü Bu—what say you?”

Yuan Shao, who prized his reputation above all, had been publicly shamed and was furious.

However,

With Chen Cong silent, he had to rely on Liu Bei and his brothers to drive Lü Bu back and recover the head, so he could only suppress his anger for now.

He replied blandly, “I leave it to you, Xuande.”

“Yide, you go first against Lü Bu. Second brother and I will support you.”

“Alright, big brother. Watch me.”

Zhang Fei went straight to Chen Cong, reaching out. “Let me use your spear.”

“Oh.”

The Tiger Wing Spear in hand, Zhang Fei found his arm weighed down. He could manage it, though.

But the weapon was nearly twice as heavy as his Snake Lance—far from easy to handle!

He spotted Xiahou Dun nearby, carrying an iron lance, and said politely, “Good man, lend me your iron lance.”

Xiahou Dun was reluctant, glanced at Chen Cong, but reluctantly handed it over.

After Zhang Fei, Guan Yu approached, eyeing the Flying Tiger Halberd on Chen Cong’s back, then turned to Xu Chu, “Friend, lend me your long blade.”

Xu Chu was silent. Even his rough temperament could not bring himself to speak harshly...

But!

Debts should be paid by their rightful owners—why should he and Xiahou Dun suffer for Chen Cong’s mischief?

It was only after his bodyguard prodded him that he handed over his iron great blade, most unwillingly.

The brothers familiarized themselves with their weapons and descended together.

After four days, the western gate of Hulao Pass opened for the first time.

The heavy gates scraped against the stones below, roaring like a wild beast.

Drums thundered atop the walls.

As the armored troops shouted in unison, Zhang Fei, mounted and ready, charged ahead.

Liu Bei and Guan Yu followed behind, advancing at a steady pace.

Lü Bu, his expression unchanged, gripped his halberd and stared at Zhang Fei. “Ignorant brute, you called me a three-named slave?”

“It was your Grandpa Zhang Fei who said it. What will you do?”

Lü Bu sneered, nudged Red Hare, and in the blink of an eye was before Zhang Fei, raising his halberd high and striking down.

Zhang Fei braced the iron lance on his shoulder, nudged his horse forward half a step, dodged the halberd’s small shaft, and met the blow head-on.

Halberd and lance collided, echoing with a deafening crash.

Red Hare spun swiftly, galloping two steps to shed the force.

But Zhang Fei, relying on his robust physique to endure the vertical strike, suffered greatly. He underestimated Red Hare’s strength and Lü Bu’s power.

In one exchange, his arm went numb, his insides churned.

As he passed Lü Bu’s horse, he felt a chill on his back.

Zhang Fei dared not turn his head, pressed close to his horse’s back to evade the sweeping strike, then forcibly pulled the reins, spinning his snow-white steed in place to avoid Lü Bu’s flying charge.

“Damn Lü Bu, what a swift halberd, what a fierce horse.”

“Wild fool, ignorant of your limits, all talk—just like certain villains atop the walls.”

“You talk too much—die!”

Zhang Fei caught his breath, steeled himself, and charged again. Though weaker in strength and skill, his courage was unmatched.

And Chen Cong?

He dared challenge the Number One Under Heaven—what was Lü Bu to him, after all?