Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 745: The City Gate is Blocked and Life Hangs on a Thread

Guan Yu's face was pale, and Xu Huang was also full of anger. He gripped the weapon tightly in his hand, took a step forward, and shouted: "Guan Yunchang, I always respect you as a hero who values ​​friendship and loyalty, but today you did such a thing and completely disregarded the brotherhood. From now on, we will only be enemies, and there will be no brothers anymore!" After that, he held the weapon horizontally, and the soldiers behind him also took an attacking posture, with morale high.

Zhang Fei, originally half drunk, was now stirred by the tense atmosphere. He instantly became reckless and brandished his Zhangba Snake Spear, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Brother, don't waste your breath on them! If they want to break in, they should first ask this spear in my hand if it agrees!"

After saying that, he brandished the Zhangba Snake Spear and rushed forward regardless of anything, causing a gust of whistling wind and was unstoppable.

When Xu Huang and Gan Ning saw Zhang Fei charging forward, they looked at each other with a determination in their eyes. At the same time, they shouted loudly, swung their weapons, and followed Zhang Fei's footsteps without hesitation, rushing towards the opposing camp to fight.

Guan Yu was horrified by Zhang Fei's recklessness, fearing that Zhang Fei might be in danger. With a long sigh, he raised his Azure Dragon Crescent Blade high and shouted, "Brothers, meet us!" With this command, soldiers from both sides surged forward like a tide, and a thrilling battle erupted.

On the battlefield, the cries of slaughter were deafening, shattering the very fabric of the world. The flashes of swords and sabers were as dense as a torrential downpour. Soldiers fought fearlessly, some pierced through the chest by blades, blood gushing out, yet they still wielded their weapons with all their might. Others, felled to the ground, clung to their enemies' legs with their last remaining strength, dying together. The clatter of horses' hooves, the clashing of weapons, and the cries of agony mingled in a brutal symphony of death. The air was thick with the pungent smell of blood, nearly nauseating. The ground was slick with blood and mud, where the tracks of soldiers' feet and horses' hooves intertwined, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.

Guan Yu wielded his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, his blade ablaze with energy, leaving a bloody mess wherever he went. Zhang Liao, his broadsword like a dragon, charged left and right through the enemy lines, unstoppable. Zhang Fei, even more furious, flew his Zhangba Snake Spear up and down, its tip flashing with cold light. In a moment, a stream of enemies fell around him. The two sides were locked in a fierce, inextricable fight, with each moment another fell, and each moment fresh blood splattered.

Ma Chao's Xiliang cavalry were exceptionally strong. Riding swift warhorses and wielding sharp blades, they charged like a black tide, unstoppable, raising clouds of dust wherever they went. However, Liu Bei's soldiers were equally battle-hardened, having weathered countless tough battles and possessing a wealth of combat experience.

Guan Yu, clutching his Green Dragon Crescent Blade and his Red Hare neighing constantly, galloped majestically across the battlefield. His swordplay was powerful and sweeping, each swing carrying immense force, the gleam of his blade awe-inspiring. Not to be outdone, Zhang Fei's Zhangba Snake Spear wielded like a swift, venomous snake, his strikes swift and deadly. On the battlefield, his roar resonated like thunder, intimidating the enemy's morale.

In contrast, while Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Gan Ning were also valiant and skilled fighters, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, with their superior martial arts and imposing presence, subtly outmatched them. Zhang Liao, with his broadsword, flailed, attempting to break through Guan Yu's defenses, but was always deftly countered by Guan Yu; Xu Huang, wielding his axe, launched fierce attacks, but faced with Zhang Fei's fierceness, he could only barely parry. Gan Ning, wielding his broadsword, nimbly weaved through the enemy lines, but struggled to gain an advantage against the pincer attack of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

The battle reached a stalemate, with both sides lashing out, neither side yielding. The battlefield was filled with deafening cries of battle, the clashing of weapons incessant. Soldiers fought bravely, staining the ground red with blood, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. The fallen piled up in layers, only to be replaced by new soldiers. The fighting continued without a moment's hesitation, and the air was thick with the stench of blood, suffocating.

Inside the city, Ma Chao was haunted by Zhao Yun, Wang Yue, and Lü Bu, relentlessly pursuing him. Ahead, a dense swarm of soldiers blocked his path, their spears flashing like a forest. Ma Chao charged left and right, his golden, tiger-headed spear wielding impenetrable fire, its tassel stained with blood. Every strike was met with screams of pain. But the enemy's onslaught was too fierce, and even Ma Chao, with his unmatched courage, found the battle incredibly difficult.

Finally reaching the city gate, with a glimmer of hope for escape, Zhao Yun was hot on his heels. Ma Chao's guards, their eyes blazing with blood, roared and lunged at Zhao Yun. They bravely withstood Zhao Yun's attack with their flesh and blood. These guards quickly formed into a trap formation, coordinating with one another. Shieldmen held the line, spearmen thrusting through the gaps. Even as men fell, blood flowed like rivers, they fought on, their iron will holding up Zhao Yun.

Covered by his personal guards, Ma Chao and his men finally sighted the south gate of Chang'an. Li Tong, distraught, furiously hacked at the approaching enemies while shouting at the top of his lungs, "Brothers, I am Li Tong! Brother Zhang Dun, open the gates! I am Li Tong!" Zhang Dun was a fellow townsman, and the two had joined the army together, forming a close friendship. Zhang Dun, perplexed by the sudden order to close the gates, saw the commotion in Chang'an and Li Tong's desperate struggle to break free. He quickly sought to free Li Tong. However, the throbbing valve of Chang'an had been lowered, and raising it proved daunting. The massive valve threatened to sever any hope of survival. Zhang Dun, ignoring the soldiers' surprised glances, anxiously ordered the valve to be raised. Several soldiers hurriedly cranked the capstan, the rope tightening as the valve slowly swung with a dull thud, each inch of lift feeling like an eternity.

Wang Yue, watching the Thousand-Jin Valve being lifted bit by bit from afar, cried out inwardly, feeling extremely anxious. Lü Bu, sensing the dire situation, suddenly shouted, "Mr. Wang Yue, rush to the top of the city wall and control the Thousand-Jin Valve. Don't let it lift and let Ma Chao escape!" Wang Yue, a true hero, reacted with remarkable speed. He tapped his toes and sprinted towards the city wall as light as a swallow, his figure moving with the swiftness of a ghost.

Ma Chao was now surrounded by only Wu Anguo, Dian Wei, and Li Tong. They fought bloody battles all the way, nearing the city gate. Zhang Dun and his men desperately wrestled the Thousand-Jin Valve, barely raising it a meter. At this critical moment, Lü Bu charged from behind, his hooves thundering, sending soldiers fleeing in all directions. Wang Yue, meanwhile, had already scaled the city walls, his sword flashing with a cold gleam as he slashed fiercely at Zhang Dun's personal guards, drawing screams of pain.

Zhang Dun, however, seemed oblivious. His eyes were bloodshot as he gripped the Thousand-Jin Valve with a fierce grip, veins bulging in his hands as if he were pouring all his strength into it. Seeing that Ma Chao and his companions had already entered the city wall, but Lü Bu was now blocked by the soldiers ahead, unable to advance, Lü Bu drew his bow, aimed an arrow, and fired at Ma Chao. Lü Bu's arm strength was astonishing, and his archery was even more extraordinary. With the force of a gust of wind, the arrow pierced Ma Chao's defenses and pierced the back of his left arm. The arrowhead protruded from the flesh of his chest, instantly staining Ma Chao's clothes red with blood. Then, Lü Bu unleashed a flurry of arrows, unleashing three more in a split second. Ma Chao, already weakened by the blows, was nearly fainted by the sudden pain. Two more long arrows pierced his left chest, and he was on the verge of collapse.

Li Tong watched Ma Chao, wounded by an arrow, teetering on the brink of death, and Lü Bu approaching in a flash. He knew that if he didn't stop them, they would all die. Without time to dwell, he gritted his teeth, steeled his resolve, and abruptly turned around, spear in hand, ready to fight Lü Bu. His eyes held no trace of retreat or fear, only a resolute determination to face death.

Seeing Li Tong's obstruction, Lü Bu curled his lips into a sneer of contempt. He casually swung his Fang Tian Hua Ji, unleashing a gust of wind. The two men instantly engaged in a clash, but the disparity in strength was too great for Li Tong to be Lü Bu's match. Lü Bu's attack was like a raging storm, each move deadly. In just a few moves, he had Li Tong cornered. Lü Bu roared, and with a mighty force, he swung his sword with a fierce force. A flash of cold light flashed, and the sword slashed through Li Tong's chest with unerring precision.

Li Tong had no time to dodge. He felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, as if it had been torn apart. He was flung forward by the immense force and fell heavily to the ground. Blood gushed out from his abdomen like a fountain, instantly staining the ground beneath him red. Li Tong lay motionless on the ground with his eyes closed, his life or death unknown, leaving only a dead silence and bloodshed.

Zhang Dun's mind was completely focused on the Thousand-Jin Valve, intent on saving Li Tong and the others. A glimpse of Li Tong's horrific appearance from the corner of his eye sent something tumbling through his chest, and a mournful cry erupted from his throat: "Brother!" This moment of distraction proved a fatal flaw. Like the night's grim reaper, Wang Yue dispatched the surrounding soldiers and instantly advanced. His sword, shrouded in cold murderous intent, flashed with a gleam of cold light as it plunged unimpeded into Zhang Dun's chest. Zhang Dun's eyes widened, a mixture of disbelief and excruciating pain etched across his face. Blood gushed from his mouth, and his body, like a puppet with its strings cut, fell backwards. The capstan handle he had been holding snapped loose. Without its human power, the capstan lost control, and the Thousand-Jin Valve creaked with a terrifying sound as it plummeted downward at breakneck speed.

Ma Chao's face was as pale as gold paper, slumped unconscious on his horse's back, only a faint breath hinting at his presence. Dian Wei and Wu Anguo, one on each side, stood guard, their faces etched with anxiety, sweat and blood streaming down their cheeks. The Thousand-Jin Valve was about to fall, severing their path to safety. Lü Bu, like a ferocious wolf, galloped behind them, his hooves clattering like a raging wolf, the earth trembling with the sound of his hooves. Dian Wei's heart was pounding, his heart pounding. With a furious roar, his muscles tensed like a taut bowstring, unleashing all his might and hurling the Crane Bronze Furnace with all his might. With a resounding clang, the Crane Bronze Furnace slammed heavily onto the path of the Thousand-Jin Valve, barely halting its downward trajectory. However, the Thousand-Jin Valve was too low for the BMW Aurora, carrying the unconscious Ma Chao, to pass.

Lü Bu drew closer, the dust kicked up by his horse's hooves clearly visible. Dian Wei gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with determination. He disregarded life and death, standing barehanded at the entrance of the passage, like a towering mountain, attempting to block Lü Bu's advance with his flesh and blood. He gazed at the unconscious Ma Chao, overcome with grief, his eyes welling with tears. He raised his head and cried out to the heavens, "Little pretty boy! Today, Dian Wei repays your kindness with his own death!" His voice was mournful, filled with endless reluctance and determination.