Three Kingdoms: Start by marrying Cai Yan, then vie for supremacy.

Suddenly, thousands of elite armored soldiers and warriors surged into the hall, surrounding Yuan Shao's troops. Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu instantly turned ashen-faced.

Sun Jian leisurely sheathed his sword and straightened his armor, then sneered, "Does Alliance Leader Yuan still believe that I, Sun, am secretly possessing the Imperial Seal?"

Looking at the dense mass of powerful bows and crossbows surrounding the perimeter, Yuan Shao hurriedly forced a smile and said, "Absolutely not!"

"Is Sun a man like Dong Zhuo? Is he considered a traitor?" Sun Jian pressed further.

"How dare I! Brother Wentai's military exploits as a vanguard in the campaign against the rebels are renowned, who doesn't know them?" Yuan Shao waved his hands repeatedly, cold sweat already beading on his forehead.

Sun Jian sneered, thinking to himself that this leader of the alliance, whose family had held high office for four generations, was nothing special.

Was Yuan Shao so cowardly?

It's really tasteless!

Jiangdong Tiger originally thought he would encounter a life-or-death struggle, but who knew it would end so anticlimactically.

Seeing the situation had deteriorated, Sun Wentai decided to return to Changsha immediately. He stood with his hand on his sword and said loudly to the Yuan brothers, "My old illness has relapsed, and I need to return home to recuperate. Seeing that you gentlemen no longer have the will to punish the rebels, may I take my leave?"

The nobles in the hall secretly thought to themselves: This "old wound" has flared up with surprising vigor.

"Please go ahead, General." Yuan Shao forced a smile and replied, wishing he could send this troublesome figure away immediately. However, the hatred in his heart was already spreading like wildfire—both because of the matter of the Imperial Seal and because Sun Jian had publicly humiliated him as the leader of the alliance.

Yuan Gonglu valued his reputation highly, which may be related to his status as an illegitimate child.

Sun Jian, however, was in no hurry to leave. Instead, he looked at Lu Ziyi and Cao Mengde and asked, "Would you two like to come along?" He greatly respected these two heroes who were truly dedicated to punishing the traitor, and he also wanted to cause Yuan Shao some more trouble. Since they had already broken off relations, why not give him one last kick?

Cao Mengde, feeling as if granted a pardon, cupped his hands and said, "Many thanks to Brother Wentai for his kindness. And allow me to speak from the bottom of my heart: Since the allied forces began their campaign against the rebels, I have always been at the forefront of every battle; after the capture of Sishui Pass, it was only Wu Hou and I who led two thousand cavalry to pursue the rebel Dong Zhuo. If it weren't for Ziyi's assistance, I would have almost fallen victim to Lü Bu's treachery!"

All because of Wu Hou, Dong Zhuo's plan to move the capital failed to succeed.

This was all due to the efforts of Lord Wu alone!

At the beginning of the alliance, it was agreed that those who contributed more should receive a larger share of the spoils. The Lord of Wu's spoils were all earned through his military achievements. I ask you, fellow lords, what right do you have to presume to share the spoils?

Even worse, they even wanted to take the warhorses that Lord Wu obtained when he defeated Hua Xiong. How could you say such heinous things?

Upon hearing this, all the feudal lords looked ashamed and dared not meet Cao Cao and Lu Feng's mocking gazes.

Upon hearing the last sentence, Yuan Shao's face suddenly darkened, and he glared angrily at Cao Cao. For those "heartless" words had come directly from Cao Cao's mouth.

He merely wanted to make Lu Feng spend some money—hadn't Lu Feng already robbed him of enough supplies before, these future enemies?

"Therefore," Cao Cao concluded sternly, "I have only one thing to say: you gentlemen are all mediocre and unworthy of my attention!"

"You!" Upon hearing the words "illegitimate son," Yuan Shao was struck as if in a painful spot, his face turning pale with rage. Cao Cao, seeing this, suddenly realized—this "brat" did not mean he was born out of wedlock, but given the current situation, there was no need for further argument.

After Cao Cao finished speaking, Lu Feng stepped forward with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the assembled lords like lightning, making them all feel uneasy. Yuan Shao suddenly felt a pang of fear, regretting his petty tricks. Only then did he realize: Could this young man's martial arts talent surpass even Zhao Yun's? Once this thought arose, it was impossible to suppress it.

Lu Feng suddenly chuckled, his tone playful: "Today is quite interesting! I originally thought this Feast at Hongmen was specifically set up for Brother Wentai, and I was just accompanying Brother Mengde to join in the fun."

He abruptly changed the subject, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Unexpectedly, I've become the main character at this gathering!"

As he spoke, he gave Yuan Shao a thumbs-up, his tone laced with sarcasm: "As expected of Alliance Leader Yuan, hailed from a prestigious family, such shameless methods are truly an eye-opener!"

"From the very beginning, when he instigated He Jin to bring Dong Zhuo into the capital, he already harbored malicious intentions."

"Afterwards, they even murdered He Jin and pinned the blame on Zhang Rang and others. This tactic of using someone else to do their dirty work was indeed brilliant."

"How dare you try the same old trick again?"

"I'd like to ask you, who gave you the audacity?"

Before he finished speaking, an overwhelming aura suddenly erupted.

A chilling aura swept through the main hall, and the temperature plummeted.

All the lords present felt a chill to the bone, and their limbs stiffened.

Yuan Shao was the first to be hit, staggering backward and falling into a chair, his face ashen: "You..."

What terrified him was not only the terrifying pressure.

Even more so, there is that buried secret—the truth behind He Jin's death. Those who knew about it should have been silenced!

"Could it be Mengde...?"

Yuan Shao stared intently at Cao Cao.

But the other party was equally shocked, his gaze shifting between Lu Feng and Yuan Shao.

Seeing Cao Cao's reaction, Yuan Shao was greatly shocked.

This proves that Lu Feng has other intelligence sources.

"Could it be that someone I know...?"

Thinking of this, cold sweat had soaked through his back.

"What terrifying pressure! Just what realm has Lu Feng cultivated to? Even General Zhao Yun's aura is no match for his, could it be..."

All the feudal lords present were terrified.

The eyes of generals such as Sun Jian, Huang Gai, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Liu Bei widened in shock, their faces showing horror.

Only then did they realize that they had never truly seen through the Wu Marquis's strength!

"Such momentum is beyond the reach of ordinary grandmasters!" Guan Yu's phoenix eyes gleamed.

The legendary realm of supreme martial saint?

Is there truly anyone in this world who can reach it?

In an instant, the bearded man's fingertips trembled slightly with excitement.

Lu Feng surveyed the panicked expressions of the crowd and said calmly to Yuan Shao, "Think it over carefully, my lord."

After speaking, his terrifying aura vanished instantly, and he returned to his gentle and refined demeanor, as if the overwhelming pressure from before had never existed.

"Mengde, Wentai, come with me."

Lu Feng lightly patted Cao Cao and Sun Jian on the shoulders, then turned and walked away. Soldiers along the way dispersed like a surging tide, none daring to block his path. Zhao Yun followed closely behind, giving Yuan Shao a cold glance before departing.

Once everyone had disappeared, the lords in the hall breathed a sigh of relief. Liu Dai, who had been the most vocal earlier, was already drenched in sweat—his Yanzhou bordered Qingzhou, and his mind was filled with the terrifying image of Lu Feng settling scores later.

"Bang!"

Coming to his senses, Yuan Shao slammed his fist on the table, his palm turning red but feeling no pain. His face ashen, he roared, "Lu Feng, you brat! Sun Wentai, you scoundrel!"

The feudal lords remained outwardly silent, but inwardly they were filled with sarcasm.

What's the point of making such a fuss only after everyone else has left?

Moreover, everyone heard Lu Feng's accusations with their own ears—

Dong Zhuo's entry into the capital was originally Yuan Shao's doing, as was He Jin's death.

Given Lu Feng's status and position, there is absolutely no way he could deceive everyone on such an important matter.

Moreover, why didn't Yuan Shao defend himself at the time?

Is it because of a guilty conscience or fear?

Or is what they said true?

At this moment, Yuan Shao still had over a thousand elite troops stationed there, and in his rage, naturally no one dared to provoke him.

If you anger this leader, you might lose your life and no one would dare to voice their grievances.

"Second brother! Third brother! We should set off!"

Liu Bei got up, called his two sworn brothers over, and made as if to leave.

"Is Xuande also going to abandon the alliance and leave?"

Upon seeing this, Yuan Shao panicked—he had spent a fortune seeking advice from Xu You to recruit the Three Heroes of the Peach Garden, especially Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. If he let them leave, wouldn't all his efforts be in vain?

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei turned around, cupped his hands in greeting to Yuan Shao and the other lords present, and said, "Seeing that you gentlemen no longer intend to punish the traitor, I should naturally take my leave."

"Actually, I wanted to leave earlier, but I didn't dare to go with Lord Wu because of his imposing presence. Now that Alliance Leader Yuan has asked me to stay, I would like to ask you all for your advice—"

Yuan Shao forced a smile: "Speak freely!"

Liu Bei solemnly questioned, "Since our alliance, my two brothers have achieved numerous military exploits, yet we have consistently suffered mistreatment, and our food supplies have never been sufficient!"

"These are secondary!"

"Now that the Emperor has been kidnapped by the traitor Dong Zhuo and taken to Chang'an, you all dare to hold a banquet here to celebrate your victory?"

"Ridiculous! What merit is there to celebrate?"

"What was the purpose of this alliance in the first place? It was to eliminate the traitors! It was to restore the Han Dynasty!"

"Which one has been achieved now?"

These questions turned Yuan Shao and the others' faces ashen—yet another outspoken troublemaker!

Is this never going to end?

If we can't touch Lu Feng, Cao Cao, and Sun Jian, how can we not even do anything to Liu Bei?

Someone was about to shout and curse.

"Um?"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, standing behind Liu Bei, noticed the commotion and immediately stepped forward to protect their elder brother. Leaning on their weapons, the two coldly surveyed the heads of the assembled lords, as if weighing where it would be most convenient to strike.

That gaze sent chills down everyone's spines.

They were suddenly jolted awake—while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were not as skilled as Zhao Yun and Lü Bu, they were still top-tier martial arts masters of their time! Even the seemingly weak Liu Bei possessed the strength of a peak second-rate fighter.

This is not something they can easily control.

Even if Yuan Shao mobilizes troops to besiege them, the enemy may still be able to break through the encirclement.

So everyone shut their mouths and fell silent.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

Liu Bei, standing in the palace, continued coldly, "What is there for you to celebrate? Dong Zhuo fled west with the emperor in his arms, and even the capital city of Luoyang was reduced to ashes!"

"I have one last question for you all—have you come here to punish the traitors and uphold the Han dynasty, or are you using the pretext of eliminating the rebels to usurp the Han throne?"

Having said that, he ignored the livid faces of Yuan Shao and the others, and led Guan Yu and Zhang Fei straight out of the hall.

"We will also take our leave now!"

Seeing Yuan Shao's gloomy expression, the other warlords feared being angered and all rose to take their leave.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Before long, a loud crash of objects being smashed echoed from inside the hall.

"Lu Feng! Cao Cao! Sun Jian! Liu Bei! I, Yuan Shao, will never share the same sky with you!"

"Damn it! They all deserve to die!!"

Yuan Shu, who hadn't gone far outside the palace, heard Yuan Shao's roar and clicked his tongue in gloating: "Yuan Benchu, this time you're truly ruined. Serves you right!"

# **Farewell in the East of Luoyang City**

## **Farewell Conversation between Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Lu Feng**

At Shili Pavilion, east of Luoyang, Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Lu Feng gathered.

"What are your plans for the future?" Cao Cao asked, looking at Sun Jian and Lu Feng.

"Naturally, we should return to Qingzhou to gather strength and prepare for battle! The real struggle for supremacy in this chaotic world is about to begin!" Lu Feng said without any hesitation.

At this moment, he no longer needed to conceal his ambition, for everyone present was well aware of it. Once the news from Qingzhou spread, the world would understand his scheme.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao and Sun Jian looked at him with slight surprise, secretly admiring his frankness. After all, there weren't many people who dared to be so open.

At this moment, Cao Cao and Sun Jian did not dare to be so direct, simply because their strength was not yet sufficient to support such confidence.

"Where is Brother Wentai?" Cao Cao turned to ask Sun Jian.

Sun Jian laughed and said, "As for me, I'll naturally return to Jiangdong to recuperate!"

Cao Cao and Lu Feng, being men of great stature, naturally understood the hidden meaning in his words. Cao Cao pondered for a moment, then simply asked, "Yuan Gonglu claims that Brother Wentai has obtained the Imperial Seal of the State. Is this true?"

"Um?"

Sun Jian and Huang Gai behind him suddenly changed color, their eyes fixed on Cao Cao with vigilance and coldness.

Sun Jian retorted in a deep voice, "What? Is Mengde also interested in the Imperial Seal of the State?"

Seeing this, Cao Cao waved his hand dismissively, "Brother Wentai, you misunderstand! In my eyes, that's nothing but a useless stone. What use would I have for it?"

"I only dare to speak frankly because I respect Brother Wentai as a hero—if you truly obtain the Imperial Seal, you should relinquish it! This object is not a blessing, but rather a source of disaster!"

Sun Jian sensed the sincerity in his words, his expression softened slightly, and he nodded and smiled, "Brother Mengde's advice is etched in my memory! It's a pity... I have indeed never seen the Imperial Seal!"

"Haha! It's even better that we haven't seen it yet!" Cao Cao laughed loudly and stopped asking questions.

At this moment, Lu Feng gazed intently at Sun Jian and solemnly said, "Brother Wentai! We fought side by side, sharing life and death! I, Lu Feng, will always remember this friendship!"

He paused briefly, then added, "I know this is unpleasant to hear, but as a close friend, I have to be frank with you!"

Sun Jian's expression hardened; he had already understood Lu Feng's meaning, yet he still replied magnanimously, "Why should we hold back between us? Speak freely!"

Lu Feng clasped his hands and said loudly, "I agree with Brother Mengde! This jade seal is truly a cursed object, worthless! If it truly brings disaster upon us, I hope you will act decisively and not lose sight of the bigger picture!" He then clasped his hands again and said, "Take care!"

Sun Jian's eyes shone brightly, and he solemnly returned the greeting: "Take care!" Then he led Huang Gai and other generals away.

After Sun Jian had gone some distance, Cao Cao turned to Lu Feng and asked, "Ziyi, do you think Wentai will heed our advice?"

Lu Feng sighed softly, "Obviously not."