Guo Si pointed to the scars on his body, asking Zhang Ji and Fan Chou about them one by one. This brought back memories of their glorious days and made them reflect on how things had soured between the four of them. Once, they were brothers who would take blows for each other on the battlefield. When had things changed?
"We are brothers, brothers who can take blows for each other!" Guo Si extended his hand to the other two. "Maybe in the past, because of various reasons and misunderstandings, we had ill thoughts, but those were just small issues that caused rifts between us. We all know each other's loyalty! We are still brothers!"
"Just say it, Ah Duo," Zhang Ji said, placing his hand on Guo Si's. "I admit I had other thoughts before, but since you're being upfront, I'm willing to trust you. No matter what you say this time, I'll believe you! We are brothers!"
"I feel the same. I trust you," Fan Chou added as he removed his armor. "I believe the comrades I protected with these scars won't stab me in the back. I trust you, I trust Old Zhang, and I trust Old Li too!" Saying this, Fan Chou let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders.
"Hahaha, now that's brotherhood!" Guo Si laughed heartily. "Zhi Ran has already figured out how to solve the grain problem. We won't have to worry about food anymore. If we think about it, the rift between us started because of the grain issue, didn't it?"
"Are you serious, Ah Duo?" Zhang Ji looked at Guo Si in disbelief. "Can Zhi Ran really solve this?"
Guo Si laughed so hard that tears nearly came out. "It's true! That's why I'm here. Zhi Ran asked me to tell you that all the mistakes were his. But I didn't want to say that because I know I've made mistakes too, so I couldn't bring myself to say it. I think you wouldn't want to hear it either!"
Fan Chou remained silent, knowing Li Jue well after decades of friendship. He understood that Li Jue, though small-minded, was deeply loyal. For Li Jue to say such a thing meant he was genuinely taking the blame upon himself.
"Old Zhang, stop overthinking it. Our Xiliang army can only dominate the world if we stand united. Even without Advisor Li, we are still the world's most elite force. Even if we are trapped in a desperate situation, the Xiliang army will remain undefeated!" Guo Si laughed wildly and began explaining the entire strategy to them.
"So it's that simple..." Zhang Ji sighed bitterly. If he had seen a way out before, he wouldn't have had his nephew bow to others. Zhang Ji now realized that as long as they had food, they could reassemble the strength of the old Xiliang army. Even if he died, with Li Jue and others supporting him, his nephew Zhang Xiu would be fine.
"Yes, some things are simple, but we just couldn't see them," Fan Chou sighed as well. "Without Advisor Li, we had the strength to dominate but didn't know how to use it. Now we've even caused internal strife. But forget it. The past is behind us. The Xiliang army must remain as united as it once was. Advisor Li left us a letter, telling us to stay united!"
"We'll encircle the Qiang soldiers. If they don't cooperate, we'll kill Han Sui and Ma Teng," Guo Si suggested with a grin. "Old Zhang, let your nephew lead the charge. We'll wipe out these troublemakers."
"Let's not kill Ma Teng. We need the Qiang people to help reopen the Zhengguo Canal and the Liufu Canal. If we kill Ma Teng, we'll have to fight the Qiang people in Fufeng and the Three Adjuncts, which isn't worth it," Zhang Ji, with a slightly broader vision than Li Jue, advised. He understood that while Ma Teng might be a problem, killing him would create more trouble.
"What a hassle!" Guo Si grumbled, clearly displeased.
"Let's follow Zhi Ran's plan. It's a good thing he thought of it quickly. If we had waited another year, even doing this might not have saved us..." Fan Chou shuddered, realizing that had they delayed any longer, even Guo Si's efforts might not have been enough to turn things around.
"Yes, we'll start with diplomacy, but if they don't listen, we'll kill them. Their influence among the Qiang people means nothing compared to food. I don't believe the Qiang won't submit for the sake of grain!" Guo Si was still keen on eliminating Ma Teng, showing his deep-seated animosity towards him for some unknown reason.
The next day, Zhang Xiu accompanied Sima Lang to Ma Teng's camp for negotiations. Zhang Xiu felt confident that no one would dare act against him, especially after his previous exploits had left Ma Teng's army in awe. He also wanted to ensure that if the negotiations fell through and Ma Teng or Han Sui tried anything, he could protect Sima Lang and ensure their safe departure.
"General Zhang, I've heard you single-handedly fought and defeated two internal qi masters," Sima Lang said with a smile as they rode, expressing admiration for Zhang Xiu's legendary feats.
"It's true!" Zhang Xiu replied with a proud smile, his tone slightly arrogant. After all, in the entire realm, only he and Lü Bu had the ability to simultaneously face and defeat two internal qi masters, which filled him with pride.
"With you by my side, I have no worries as we enter enemy territory," Sima Lang said with a smile. "If negotiations fail, I'll rely on you to protect me."
"Leave it to me. With me here, you'll be safe!" Zhang Xiu replied confidently. He wasn't underestimating the Xiliang generals; it was just that Ma Chao and Pang De, despite their natural talent, were still inexperienced. They weren't as strong as the newly advanced Sun Ce, and since they favored a fierce and aggressive fighting style, they were quickly overpowered by Zhang Xiu's speed and skill.
"Thank you, General," Sima Lang said with a smile, then continued chatting with Zhang Xiu about their experiences in Chang'an.
Sima Lang's smile made Zhang Xiu feel even more satisfied with their conversation. Since Sima Lang intended to build rapport with Zhang Xiu, the two got along quickly.
In the short thirty li to Ma Teng's camp, Zhang Xiu, nearly dragging a bewildered Sima Lang along, was already preparing to kneel in the dirt and burn incense to swear an oath of brotherhood.
"Stop right there!" A group of about a hundred Qiang soldiers charged forward and surrounded Sima Lang's party as they approached Ma Teng's camp. The lead guard shouted a warning.
"Go, tell Ma Teng that Zhang Bo Yuan is here to see him!" Zhang Xiu rode to the front, sneering at the guard. The sweat-drenched Qiang soldiers were so terrified that their armor was soaked through.
"Go now!" Zhang Xiu roared, his voice booming. The guards scrambled back to the camp, shouting, "The Spear King is here! The Spear King is here!"
"Hahaha!" Zhang Xiu laughed at their reaction.
"Bo Yuan, your reputation precedes you! Even the guards are this scared of you," Sima Lang said with a smile as he rode forward.
"Hahaha, I gave them a good beating once and took their command banner. Then, I'd beat them up every few days. After a while, they became like this," Zhang Xiu said, clearly pleased with himself.
"Zhang Bo Yuan, prepare to face my spear!" Just as Zhang Xiu was basking in his glory, a loud shout rang out. A young general, clad in golden armor, with a fair complexion, sharp eyes, and a strong physique, charged at him with a spear.
As Li Jue had said, Xiliang's grain stores were running low, but they had enough to last at least six more months. Meanwhile, Ma Teng's Qiang soldiers barely had a month's worth of food left.
With their situation so dire, Ma Teng and Han Sui were forced to consider retreating. However, with the Xiliang forces still holding firm, they feared that a large-scale retreat could turn into a full-scale rout, which could lead to their destruction.
Despite the danger, retreat was inevitable. Ma Teng and Han Sui had decided to pull back, and this decision had reached Ma Chao's ears. Proud and headstrong, Ma Chao couldn't accept the idea of retreating without having achieved anything, especially after suffering repeated defeats.
What angered Ma Chao even more was his inability to defeat Zhang Xiu. Despite his confidence in his natural talent, Ma Chao had failed to best Zhang Xiu, even when he and Pang De fought together.
At first, Ma Chao had attributed his losses to inexperience, but even after mastering his internal qi techniques, he still couldn't defeat Zhang Xiu. This fueled his rage.
Convinced that he could eventually win, Ma Chao was furious when his father decided to retreat. After a heated argument with Ma Teng, Ma Chao stormed out of the camp. While venting his frustration, he stumbled upon a small, curly-haired red horse that was struggling to stand. Feeling pity, Ma Chao helped the horse vomit up a stone, which seemed to revive it.
The curly-haired little red horse stubbornly followed Ma Chao, refusing to leave. Ma Chao, finding the horse comfortable to ride, felt his mood improve slightly and rode the horse back to camp. However, just as he arrived at the camp gates and encountered the current situation, Ma Chao's still lingering anger flared up, and he charged at Zhang Xiu.
"Ding!" As Zhang Xiu saw Ma Chao's attack coming, he swung his spear in an arc toward Ma Chao, producing a loud clash. Zhang Xiu, riding his horse, was forced back five steps, while Ma Chao, on his curly-haired little red horse, slid back three steps.
"Zhang Bo Yuan, prepare to die!" Ma Chao, seeing this, patted his horse's neck, laughing wildly as he charged forward with his spear.
Zhang Xiu frowned, eyeing the curly-haired red horse. He remembered that Ma Chao hadn't been riding this horse before.
"Ding!" Another loud clash echoed, but this time Zhang Xiu only swayed slightly, while Ma Chao felt a powerful force surge through him, numbing his hands.
Without hesitation, Ma Chao unleashed his golden internal energy, and his horse's fiery red internal energy surged as well, blending with Ma Chao's aura. Man and horse became enveloped in a golden-red glow.
"Ma Mengqi, I'm not interested in playing with you today," Zhang Xiu said, wary as he observed the golden-red energy flowing over both Ma Chao and his horse.
"Hmph, today we'll settle this!" Ma Chao ignored Zhang Xiu and spurred his horse, charging straight at him.
Zhang Xiu's expression darkened as he let his internal energy, a blend of red and blue, flow through him, merging into a purple hue. He then charged directly at Ma Chao. When the two met, a series of explosive sounds erupted as Zhang Xiu unleashed his energy, pulling the reins to send his horse flying through the air.
"Ungrateful fool!" Zhang Xiu sneered. He had no qualms about seriously injuring Ma Chao, knowing that any alliance they had would fall apart if Ma Chao died here. In his mind, once Guo Si arrived, their strength would surpass that of the Qiang forces. If necessary, they could simply crush them.
Zhang Xiu's spear spun into a near-perfect circle, while Ma Chao charged toward him, a streak of fire racing toward the purple light in the sky. The two clashed in the air, exchanging nearly a hundred blows in an instant, the explosive sounds in the sky never ceasing.
"Ma Chao, you seek death!" Zhang Xiu roared as a massive explosion sent a burst of purple energy blooming like fireworks, expanding like a chrysanthemum of golden threads before collapsing back in on itself. The continuous, deafening explosions sounded like the very air was being torn apart.
The two warriors separated again, and Zhang Xiu glanced at his horse's neck with a pained expression. His eyes blazed with fury—his horse had been bitten by Ma Chao's little red horse.
"Hahaha! Zhang Xiu, you're nothing special!" Ma Chao laughed as he panted heavily, not hiding his exhaustion, but his eyes sparkled with exhilaration.
Ma Chao had poured all his strength into that last move, yet he emerged unscathed, and so did his horse. Zhang Xiu's horse, on the other hand, was injured. That was enough for Ma Chao, and the long-pent-up frustration in his chest melted away in his laughter. He hadn't felt this good since he first encountered Zhang Xiu.
Zhang Xiu's eyes glinted with cold determination as he stopped wasting words. The purple energy around him retracted into his body, leaving only his spear glowing with purple light. His horse, a gift from his master Tong Yuan, had been with him for over a decade, and had reached the level of a novice internal energy beast. Yet, it had been bitten by Ma Chao's horse. It seemed Zhang Xiu's suspicions were correct.
Zhang Xiu pulled the reins and shot downward like a purple comet, thrusting his spear at Ma Chao. "Die!"
The attack was simple—no fancy moves, just a straightforward thrust. Ma Chao countered with his spear, but the moment the spears met, he felt an unstoppable force crash into him. His right arm, which held the spear, emitted a sharp crack, and before he could react, he was sent flying, his body turning into a golden streak of light.
"Boom!" A thunderous impact echoed as Ma Chao crashed into the ground, creating a deep crater that made Sima Lang's eyes widen in disbelief. Dust and dirt flew everywhere, but before Zhang Xiu could react, the little red horse darted into the cloud of debris like a streak of fire.
"Hmm." Zhang Xiu slowly descended, his horse landing gently on the ground as he stared at the dust cloud. Then he turned his gaze back to see Ma Teng, Han Sui, Pang De, and the eight Xiliang generals approaching with their elite cavalry.
"Zhang Bo Yuan, are you trying to start a battle with us?" Liang Xing shouted angrily when he saw the swirling dust. The eight generals had fully committed to Ma Teng and Han Sui, so they couldn't allow Ma Chao to be harmed.
"Hmph, who are you to challenge me? Someone earlier wanted me dead, but I wonder if he's still alive now," Zhang Xiu sneered.
Despite his words, Zhang Xiu knew that Ma Chao had only broken his right arm and a few ribs. If they had been on solid ground, Ma Chao would have died, but because they fought in the air, the power of Zhang Xiu's ultimate move, the "Seven Points of the Phoenix," was reduced by Ma Chao's evasive maneuvers. When Ma Chao crashed into the ground, his injuries were limited to a few broken bones.
"You!" Liang Xing was furious but hesitated to attack Zhang Xiu, knowing full well how dangerous he was.
"What are you 'you-ing' about? Apart from Ma Mengqi and Pang Lingming, the rest of you aren't even worth one of my hands!" Zhang Xiu taunted with a cold smile.
The eight Xiliang generals, known for their prowess, turned pale at his words. Yet, they dared not challenge him, knowing he spoke the truth.
Meanwhile, Ma Teng, though eager to check on his son, was held back by Pang De. Unlike the others, Pang De had a good grasp of internal energy and was confident in his assessment. Though the earlier clash was intense, the golden streak indicated that Ma Chao's internal energy was still intact. He was probably hurt, but not fatally.
As expected, the dust settled, revealing a battered Ma Chao climbing out of the crater. He leaned heavily on his spear, his right arm hanging limp, dripping blood. Yet, his eyes were not filled with fear of Zhang Xiu. Instead, they gleamed with excitement.
For the first time, Ma Chao truly understood Zhang Xiu's power. That final attack showed him Zhang Xiu's overwhelming strength. But rather than discourage him, it wiped away the last of his doubts. Zhang Xiu, though powerful, had limits. The goal was distant, the path arduous, but it was no longer shrouded in darkness. There was a way forward, and that was all he needed.
"Zhang Bo Yuan, I owe you for today. I, Ma Chao, will repay this debt in the future!" Ma Chao growled through gritted teeth, hauling himself onto his little red horse. He leveled his spear in a salute toward Zhang Xiu.
"Hmph! We'll see about that when the time comes!" Zhang Xiu sneered, turning away from Ma Chao. He then faced Ma Teng, who led his army, surrounded by clouds of energy. "General Ma, is this how you discipline your troops? As an envoy from Xiliang, I was attacked. Is this how you Qiang people treat your guests? No wonder they call you barbarians!"
Ma Teng's face flushed with anger and shame. Zhang Xiu's words struck a deep nerve. The general prided himself on his descent from the famous General Ma Yuan, which allowed him to claim Han heritage despite his Qiang blood. Nothing angered him more than being called a barbarian. Zhang Xiu's remark stung him deeply, and he found himself unable to retort.
"Please wait, General Zhang!" Ma Teng took a deep breath and gestured for his troops to part, making way for Zhang Xiu. "My son, Mengqi, was merely indulging his martial spirit. Please, come in. We have prepared a banquet for you. As an envoy, you are most welcome."
"Very well!" Zhang Xiu glanced at the thinned army formation, showing no fear. He patted his horse and rode in, with Sima Lang following behind, his face full of wry amusement.
Soon, they reached the main tent, where Ma Teng and Han Sui sat at the head of the table, while the eight Xiliang generals watched warily from the side. Zhang Xiu, unfazed, took his seat and said with a smile, "Relax, everyone. As long as no one provokes me, I won't cause any more trouble today. This here is the envoy of our army, Sima Bo Da from the Sima family of Henei. If you have anything to discuss, talk to him. I'm just here to protect him."
Sima Lang could only smile bitterly at Zhang Xiu's words, but he stepped forward, bowing to Ma Teng and Han Sui. "Sima Lang