Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Ma Chao made the first move.

Perhaps intending to kill Yan Xing quickly, he spurred his horse forward like an arrow released from a bow.

Yan Xing also slowly spurred his horse forward, heading towards Ma Chao's direction.

The two had completely different movements and attire, and their personalities and habits were obviously very different.

Both men wielded spears, but Ma Chao's spear was a broad-bladed spear with a thick, leaf-like tip and sharp edges on both sides, a weapon designed to inflict larger wounds.

Yan Xing's spear has a sharp, slender blade and a narrow leaf blade, primarily designed for piercing and armor-piercing, making it look like an elongated javelin.

Ma Chao rode a Ferghana horse, which must have come from the Western Regions. Its coat was quite magnificent, shimmering like silver brocade.

His silver armor and spear gleamed, and a red tassel fluttered on his head, dazzling the sun. He was flamboyant and fierce, truly awe-inspiring.

Yan Xing's variegated horse was actually a rare good horse, running extremely smoothly. However, its coat color was indeed unattractive, and coupled with Yan Xing's unremarkable gray attire, it appeared quite low-key overall.

The two men charged at each other on horseback, their spears thrusting out almost simultaneously, both aiming for the same spot in each other's chests.

The spears clashed, producing a piercing hum, before scattering.

After passing the horse, Yan Xing swayed and handed the spear shaft to his left hand, while his right hand swung it twice.

His hand was numb from the shock.

Ma Chao, on the other hand, appeared calm and composed.

Clearly, Ma Chao's strength and horsemanship surpassed Yan Xing's, and his Akhal-Teke horse also had greater explosive power.

However, when Ma Chao looked back, his expression was equally solemn.

Yan Xing appeared to be at a disadvantage, but his spear was extremely fast and unpretentious, a killing technique honed on the battlefield. If Ma Chao hadn't intercepted Yan Xing's spear, he might have been the first to be struck.

Seeing Yan Xing loosening his wrists, Ma Chao immediately turned his horse around and charged again.

Yan Xing turned around a little too slowly, and by the time he managed to turn his horse around, Ma Chao was already in front of him.

But Yan Xing turned around and thrust his spear at Ma Chao's groin, the spear tip like a venomous snake's tongue, aimed directly at the neck of Ma Chao's warhorse.

The slow turn wasn't actually slow; it was intentional, a way to conceal the hand movements.

The Ferghana horse looked incredibly precious, and Ma Chao was naturally unwilling to lose it. He quickly reined in his horse to slow down, and forcibly withdrew the spear he had already thrown, barely managing to block Yan Xing's attack.

The warhorses slowed down, and the two men circled and fought fiercely.

This is a more advantageous approach for Yan Xing, because in this way, Ma Chao's Ferghana horse cannot exert its explosive power and speed, while Yan Xing's variegated horse appears more stable and agile.

Yan Xing's technique was also very fast. He thrust his spear several times, with most of his moves aimed at the Ferghana horse, but he also occasionally took a surprise attack on Ma Chao.

To protect his warhorse, Ma Chao was forced into a precarious situation, facing numerous dangers.

After several exchanges, Ma Chao was finally forced to reveal his ferocity.

"Go to hell!"

Ma Chao stopped blocking Yan Xing's spear aimed at his horse, and instead spurred his horse forward, thrusting the spear straight at Yan Xing's heart with one hand.

This thrust, imbued with the full force of his body, produced a sharp and piercing sound as the spear tip tore through the air.

Yan Xing turned to the side, using his left hand to hook and protect his chest, while his right hand gripped the spear and thrust it with all his might towards Ma Chao's neck!
"Clang... Click!"

Two loud bangs.

First came the sound of metal clashing, followed by the crisp sound of a wooden pole breaking.

Ma Chao's spear was blocked by Yan Xing's hook, the spear blade collided with the hook and slid to the side.

But Yan Xing's expression changed drastically.

Because Yan Xing's right hand thrust the spear at Ma Chao, the first half of it, along with the spearhead, spun out and stuck into the mud.

In Yan Xing's hand, only a broken stick remained.

The moment Ma Chao thrust out his spear, he had already drawn a sword. Yan Xing's spear shaft was severed in two by Ma Chao's sword!
This was Ma Chao's true signature move; the speed at which he drew his sword was unparalleled in the world. Even Zhao Yun, who was watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes and exclaimed, "Such fast swordsmanship..."

Time seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Hahaha... Your spear is broken, how can you kill me now?"

Ma Chao, sword in one hand and spear in the other, charged at Yan Xing once more: "Prepare to die!"

But Yan Xing did not retreat but advanced.

Just as Ma Chao made his move, Yan Xing suddenly leaped off his horse and pounced towards Ma Chao's side like a bird.

He gripped the broken spear in his right hand and thrust the broken part of the spear shaft fiercely towards Ma Chao's neck!
Ma Chao didn't expect Yan Xing to pull this stunt. He had already thrown his spear, but it missed its mark.

Yan Xing did not rush directly towards Ma Chao, but instead rushed to Ma Chao's side, about seven feet away.

While he was still in the air, the broken end of the spear shaft had already precisely pierced the gap between Ma Chao's neck guard and armor.

Then, Yan Xing fell heavily to the ground with a dull thud.

This isn't some kind of technique; it's just the backlash of a dying beast.

The broken spear drew a cloud of blood from Ma Chao's neck.

Ma Chao groaned, his eyes filled with horror. He clutched his neck with his left hand, and blood gushed from between his fingers.

The sudden attack left him somewhat dazed, but his survival instinct made him grip the horse's belly tightly, and the warhorse galloped away.

"Who says I can't kill you without a spear?"

Yan Xing got up from the ground, his chest heaving violently. The broken spear was still dripping blood. Even after falling to the ground, Yan Xing still gripped the spear shaft tightly.

The Akhal-Teke horse turned and charged back to its own lines, with Ma Chao lying on its back, blood splattering all the way.

He glanced back—Yan Xing was still standing there, his broken spear hanging low, and he did not pursue him further.

It's not that I don't want to chase, it's that I really can't catch up.

The Ferghana horse was indeed fast, and in a short while it carried Ma Chao back to the camp.

The Qiang and Di soldiers watching from both sides remained completely silent.

Ma Chao... he actually lost?!

Anything can happen on the battlefield; victory isn't solely determined by martial prowess.

Ma Chao's physical strength, horsemanship, swordsmanship, and even his horse and equipment were all superior to Yan Xing's, but he still couldn't have the last laugh.

If he escapes, he'll lose his reputation for divine protection.

The Qiang and Di peoples have a deep faith in the gods, but the gods' favorites cannot retreat on the battlefield!
"All troops, charge!!"

Zhao Yun gave the order without delay, and the soldiers around him finally reacted, bursting into a tsunami-like roar.

Pang De charged forward frantically, attempting to escort the wounded Ma Chao back to camp, but his formation was already in disarray.

Zhao Yun led his troops forward, charging forward with his men in successive attacks. Ma Chao's Qiang and Di tribesmen were panicked and unable to resist, suffering repeated defeats.

With morale low and Ma Chao's neck injury critical, Pang De dared not resist Zhao Yun any longer and could only retreat quickly.

At this time, the reinforcements sent by Liu Yan had just arrived in Xiaohuaili.

Pang De's troops are retreating rapidly, and Ma Chao's Qiang soldiers are in disarray under Zhao Yun's attack.

When Sun Zhao, the Western Rong Commandant, arrived at the battlefield with 5,000 old soldiers, he was immediately thrown into chaos by the fleeing troops before he could even figure out what was going on.

Zhao Yun and Yan Xing led their troops in a fierce charge, and Sun Zhao's troops unfortunately became the rearguard.

The once formidable old soldiers were utterly routed in a single charge. (End of Chapter)