Three Kingdoms: Zhang Fei was sent flying by a single spear thrust, leaving Liu Bei stunned.

That's exactly what Xiahou Dun was waiting for.

He stood up abruptly, his armor clattering. He was already quite imposing, and standing there, he resembled an iron tower, exuding an aura of power and authority.

"I, Xiahou Yuanrang, have always held heroes in the highest esteem. Since you, brave warrior Zhang, possess such extraordinary strength, I am itching to test my skills. I wonder if you dare to accept the challenge?"

He spoke politely, but the words "dare or not" were full of hostility.

The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly became tense.

Cao Hong watched with schadenfreude. He couldn't defeat Zhang Ziqian, but Xiahou Dun was far superior. Xiahou Dun was the undisputed number one warrior among the younger generation of the Cao and Xiahou clans, with a fiery temper and unparalleled bravery. It would be good to teach this freak a lesson.

Xiahou Yuan was a little worried and tugged at his brother's sleeve, signaling him not to act rashly.

Cao Cao, holding his wine cup, watched with great interest, showing no intention of stopping him.

Zhang Ziqian frowned.

He glanced at the whole roasted lamb and pork knuckle that were still mostly left on the table.

"After we finish fighting, can we still eat?" he asked Cao Cao.

Cao Cao laughed heartily, "Of course! Whenever Ziqian wants to eat, it's available!"

"Alright then." Zhang Ziqian nodded and slowly stood up. "Let's finish this quickly, before the meat gets cold."

His words made Xiahou Dun's face turn red with anger.

What does "quick victory" even mean? Who are you looking down on?

"Good! Zhang Zhuangshi is indeed straightforward! Please!" Xiahou Dun laughed angrily and strode out of the tent.

Everyone followed and went outside, forming a circle in the open space outside the tent.

Xiahou Dun's personal guards had already brought his spear. It was an iron spear made of fine steel, thicker than an ordinary spear, and looked extremely heavy.

"Zhang Zhuangshi, where is your weapon?" Xiahou Dun stood with his spear held horizontally and asked in a deep voice.

Zhang Ziqian waved his hand: "There's no need to deal with you."

These words caused an uproar in the room.

That's insane!

Who is Xiahou Dun? He is a trusted general under Cao Cao! Zhang Ziqian actually said that he couldn't even use weapons to deal with him?

"You...you're asking for it!"

Xiahou Dun was completely enraged. Without another word, he stomped his feet on the ground and launched himself like a cannonball, his spear shooting straight at Zhang Ziqian's chest.

This shot, imbued with all his strength, carried a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the wind, its momentum unstoppable.

He wanted to use this shot to teach this arrogant fool what true battlefield martial arts are!

Faced with this devastating blow, Zhang Ziqian remained as lazy as ever.

He didn't even change his posture much.

Just as the tip of the gun was about to touch his clothes, he moved.

There was no dodging, no parrying.

He simply extended his right hand.

An ordinary hand met Xiahou Dun's powerful spear tip.

"He's gone mad!" Cao Hong exclaimed.

To take Xiahou Dun's full-force thrust with your bare hands? What's the difference between that and courting death?

A savage glint flashed in Xiahou Dun's eyes, and he increased the pressure in his hand. He could almost see the bloody scene of his spear piercing through his opponent's hand and chest.

However, what happened the next second completely overturned everyone's understanding.

clang!

A loud bang, like a heavy hammer striking a bronze bell, was heard.

Zhang Ziqian's right hand firmly grasped the tip of the spear that was thrusting at high speed.

That's right, he used all five fingers to grasp the tip of the gun.

The sharp blade couldn't even cut his skin.

Xiahou Dun felt as if his spear had struck an unshakeable ancient mountain, and the enormous recoil force surged wildly along the shaft.

He felt a sharp pain in his hand and his arms went numb. The force pushed him back seven or eight steps before he could barely regain his balance.

He looked down at his spear, the tip still held in the other's hand. He strained with all his might, his face turning purple, but he couldn't pull the spear back even an inch.

The spear seemed to have grown into the opponent's hand.

The entire room fell silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

Everyone gaped, their eyes wide open, as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

Catching a blade barehanded?

No, this wasn't catching a blade bare-handed. This was stopping a battering ram with bare hands!

"Not bad strength," Zhang Ziqian commented, his tone ambiguous, neither a compliment nor a sarcastic remark.

He gripped the tip of the gun with his five fingers and applied a little force.

Click...

A sickening metallic creaking sound rang out.

To everyone's utter astonishment, the steel spearhead was actually flattened by his fingers...

Then, he flicked his wrist.

Xiahou Dun could no longer hold onto the spear, and it slipped from his hand.

Zhang Ziqian caught the spear shaft, casually twirled it, and then tossed the heavy spear aside like a straw.

"Should we continue?" he asked, looking at the dumbfounded Xiahou Dun. "The meat's getting cold."

Xiahou Dun stood there, his mind blank.

He looked down at his still trembling hands, then at Zhang Ziqian, his lips quivering, unable to utter a single word.

Lost.

He lost even more miserably and completely than Cao Hong.

Cao Hong managed to exchange two moves, but Cao Hong didn't even finish one move before his weapon was destroyed by Cao Hong's bare hands.

This is not a difference in martial arts skills.

This is a crushing defeat on a matter of life level.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Cao Cao was the first to react, saying "Good!" three times in a row, clapping his hands and laughing, his laughter filled with surprise and pride.

He strode over to Zhang Ziqian and patted him affectionately on the shoulder: "Ziqian is truly a god descended from heaven! Having Ziqian is like Emperor Gaozu having Han Xin, or Emperor Guangwu having Yuntai!"

This evaluation is shockingly high.

Zhang Ziqian didn't seem to care much. He pointed to the main tent and asked, "Boss, can we go back for dinner now?"

"Yes! Of course!" Cao Cao grinned from ear to ear. "Come on, let's go back and continue drinking! Yuan Rang, you join us too! We've become friends through this little misunderstanding!"

Xiahou Dun, looking utterly dejected, was supported by Xiahou Yuan. He stared at Zhang Ziqian's retreating figure, his eyes now devoid of any resentment, filled only with deep awe and...fear.

He finally understood Cao Hong's feelings at that time.

To oppose such a monster is simply to invite humiliation.

Back in the main tent, the atmosphere became somewhat eerie.

No one dared to underestimate Zhang Ziqian anymore. Everyone looked at him with astonishment, as if they were looking at a superhuman being.

Zhang Ziqian didn't care about any of that; he sat down and continued to deal with the whole roasted lamb.

[System notification: Bond level with Xiahou Dun +10.]

Huh? We had a fight, and the bond level even increased?

Zhang Ziqian was a little surprised.

Xiahou Dun is a man of strong character who admires the strong. The absolute strength displayed by the host has instilled in him a sense of awe.

It turned out to be the case.

While gnawing on a lamb leg, Zhang Ziqian glanced at Xiahou Dun, who was sitting opposite him, still lost in thought.

It seems that in this era, having a strong fist is indeed the best way to socialize.

After finishing his meal, Zhang Ziqian returned to his tent, burping contentedly.

Cao Cao specially arranged a separate tent for him, which was lined with soft furs and had a brazier, making it warm and cozy.

This is how talented people are treated.

Zhang Ziqian lay down on the fur and groaned comfortably.

These past few days since I transmigrated here, I've finally been living a peaceful life.

There was food and drink, a place to sleep, and the boss seemed quite generous.

He wouldn't trade such a life for being an emperor.

As for fighting?

That's a different price.

Anyway, as long as Boss Cao has enough meat, it's not a bad thing to stretch your muscles occasionally.