Yi De POV

I was swept away and separated from big brother and second sister by the wave of troops that charged down the hills. The difference in numbers was too great and the troops I had left were not even 1,000. Even though this was a situation where I couldn’t even ensure my own safety, searching for big brother was my top priority.

If big brother died, what meaning would there be to my life?

“Big brother! Big brother, where are you?” I yelled out as I ran through the encampment, which was by now filled with the Cao army troops, and jumped and stretched, hoping to catch a glimpse of big brother.

d.a.m.n it, being short sucks at times like these.

But I kept at it, hoping to find something somehow.

And just as I was poking my head up, a large axe swung down toward my neck without any warning.

Kuh! When did someone come over?

I frantically withdrew my head and swung my Serpent Spear to the side and managed to deflect the large axe away with the blade of my Serpent Spear.

“Who goes there, who dares challenge I, Zhang Fei Zhang Yi De?” I called out as I raised my head. My a.s.sailant wore a s.h.i.+ny silver-grey plate that reflected the light from the torches. It shone on her deep eyes that looked like they belonged to a lone wolf in a snowy mountain. I sized her up, and could immediately tell she wasn’t any ordinary soldier from her gear and the attack just now, “Looks like you aren’t just anyone huh.”

If I could, I would prefer not to clash with her here. But if I were to divert my attention away from her at all, my head would instantly separate from my neck.

And so, I have no choice but to deal with her first.

“Since you named yourself, I have no reason not to.” She said in a cold voice as she raised her axe and pointed it at me, “I am Major-General Xu Huang, and I hereby challenge you to a duel!”

The moment she finished, she charged at me and smashed her axe at my right with a twirl of her slender arms.

So she’s just a second-in-command?

“Don’t underestimate me!! I, Yi De, am not someone a mere second-in-command can handle.” I did not try and dodge, and swung my Serpent Spear instead. Along with a loud crash, our weapons met head-on and we put even more strength into it but neither was able to knock away the other.

“Ya!!!!!!!” I saw that I had a slight upperhand and put in everything I had and deflected her weapon away before stabbing at her head.

Heh!

She dodged my stab, and backed away and corrected her stance before sending waves of heavy slashes at me. Though the large axe seemed c.u.mbersome, I could find no opening between each move and was forced to retreat.

Now I can only try and find a chance–

As I thought so, a long spear suddenly appeared in my eyes and I hurriedly bent back as the spear missed my neck by a hair’s breadth.

“40 marks, that’s all that dodge of yours was worth.” Before I could recover from my shock, the one with the spear at the side said.

“Yue Jin?! … Ah, or is it Li Dian?”

“It’s Yue Jin of course. Man Cheng would never dress as casually as I do.” Yue Jin raised her spear and flicked her hair, “And Man Cheng doesn’t braid her hair either.”

d.a.m.n it, now I have to deal with one more? I’m not in the right frame of mind and I now have to deal with attacks from 2 people.

… This is a little troublesome.

Kuh, no choice.

Haa! I yelled out and the 2 immediately got into a guarding stance. I charged over and swung a feint at them. They had lowered their guard as they had a numerical advantage which increased their susceptibility to my feint which confused them.

A chance!

“Everyone!!! Follow my charge!” I turned my horse and brought the several dozen cavalry left with me and charged through the surround led by Yue Jin and Xu Huang.

After a long, hard slog, we finally broke through Cao Cao’s surround completely. But we only realised we were lost after we broke through and didn’t know which direction we should head in.

“Do any of you know where my big brother is?!” I turned and yelled between pants.

Naturally, no one had a reply.

Kuh, what do I do now?

Where is big brother?!

“Everyone, ready your weapons and follow my charge.” I turned the horse again and got ready to charge back in. I turned my head and saw that no one was following my lead, “What are you all…”

“Lord Zhang Fei, it took all we had to break out. The troops are exhausted to point of death, how are we supposed to charge in again?” A 300-man general said in exasperation, “And Cao Cao’s surround is so expansive, how are we supposed to find Lord Liu Bei in the chaos?”

I stood rooted to the spot, and did not know how to reply him.

… Un…

“Hai!!” I spat out a sigh and stuck my Serpent Spear into the ground in helpless frustration.