"Puff!"
Zilong thrust his spear, ending yet another life.
He'd lost count of how many Cao soldiers had fallen to his spear.
Corpses piled around him, blood running like a river.
For a moment, even the Cao army was stunned by the slaughter. Fear kept them from advancing.
A temporary respite.
"Waaah—"
Behind him, a baby's cry suddenly pierced the air.
It was Liu Shan—the one who would later prove... less than helpful.
As for whether Liu Shan was really Liu Bei's biological son?
Zilong didn't care. He believed he was.
"Young Master, do not fear. Today, I, Zilong, shall lead you out of this siege!" he declared, as much to the infant as to steel his own resolve.
Just then, a calm voice echoed from behind.
"General Zilong, it's best not to think of escaping. My lord values you greatly. Why not surrender peacefully and save us both the trouble?"
Zilong spun around.
A young general stood behind him, holding a machete and smiling as if they were old friends.
Zilong didn't answer. He simply snorted and lunged with his spear.
Whoosh!
The weapon sliced through the air, aimed straight for the young man's heart—a killing blow.
Zilong had only used thirty percent of his strength. After all, the opponent didn't look especially dangerous. Too young. Too casual.
But the next moment—
Clang!
The spear stopped mid-air.
The young man had caught it. Barehanded.
"General Zilong," he said with a light chuckle, "you seem tired. That strike was pretty weak."
"!!!"
Zilong's eyes widened.
His speed was second to none. No one he had fought could match it.
Yet this man… had intercepted the thrust with ease?
That meant only one thing—this young general was faster than him!
"Let go!" Zilong barked, twisting the spear with all his might.
But the tip didn't budge.
"You really are exhausted," the man said, still holding the spear. "Why not come meet my lord, take a rest, and we can talk it over?"
He smiled warmly, almost mockingly.
The man was Fenric.
Zilong, handsome and proud, had never envied another man's appearance. But somehow, Fenric's presence carried more than looks—it was power incarnate.
Still, Fenric bore no hatred for Zilong. Anyone who knew the Romance of the Three Kingdoms recognized the name "Changshan Zhao Zilong" as a symbol of loyalty, courage, and valor.
Were they not enemies on the battlefield, Fenric might've offered him a drink instead.
But today, they stood on opposite sides. And Fenric wasn't about to let his admiration cloud his judgment.
He had caught this "dragon," and he wasn't letting go.
With a grin, Fenric let go of the machete in his right hand, formed a tight fist, and slammed it against the spear's shaft.
BOOM—!
The air itself exploded.
A shockwave echoed across the battlefield.
Zilong felt a thunderous force travel up the weapon toward him.
His face changed. Without hesitation, he released the spear.
CRACK!
The spear bent in Fenric's fist.
This wasn't just any weapon—it was the legendary Gentleman Silver Spear, forged from pure metal and famed for its durability.
Now bent.
By a punch.
The sight was unreal.
Zilong was stunned. Then, he turned and fled.
That young man—he wasn't human. He was a devil!
But Liu Shan was still with him. Zilong had to ensure the young master's safety.
He leapt onto his horse and galloped off, the wind screaming past him.
Even without his spear, Zilong still had his saber. And no one could stand before it.
"General Zilong," came Fenric's voice from behind, "you're leaving without dinner?"
Zilong risked a glance back—and nearly fell off his horse.
Fenric was running.
With just his legs.
And catching up.
Zilong's horse was a snow-white steed without a single blemish—clearly no ordinary mount.
It was the Nightshine Jade Lion, capable of galloping a thousand miles a day. The pride of the Western Regions and the Dawan Kingdom.
No man—let alone on foot—should be able to match its speed.
But Fenric was.
Each of his steps left a small crater in the ground, propelling him forward like a launched arrow.
A humanoid monster!
Truthfully, with Fenric's current level of explosive power and agility, his sprint was comparable to a car on a highway.
Then—
Zilong felt danger.
A chill ran down his spine.
A fatal instinct.
He clutched Liu Shan tightly and rolled off the saddle just as—
CRACK!
The Nightshine Jade Lion let out a sorrowful cry and collapsed.
Fenric had kicked it in the head.
And the skull exploded.
Had Zilong not jumped, that kick would've struck his back.
Terror and grief gripped him.
He never imagined such a monster existed among Cao's forces.
No—this wasn't a man anymore.
This was a beast!
There was no escape.
He glanced at the lifeless form of his beloved horse.
And at Liu Shan.
If they were captured…
What fate awaited his young master?
What sorrow would this bring to his lord?
As Zilong was gripped by despair, that calm, cold voice returned.
"Apologies, General Zilong. I didn't mean to kill your horse."
Fenric approached with casual steps, as if they were discussing the weather.
"General, you can't escape. I suggest you surrender. Spare yourself further pain."
Zilong looked up, breathing heavily.
"…May I ask the general's name?" he said quietly.
He needed to know.
Who was this demon that bested him?
They said Lü Bu was the mightiest warrior of the era.
But how would he compare to the man before him?
Fenric simply smiled.