The opposing cavalry deployed their formation, and Liu Bei and his two sworn brothers stood in front of it, their intentions unknown.
Zhang Chen waved his hand, signaling his soldiers to stop and protect the carriage, while he spurred his horse forward. Simultaneously, he activated his "Insight Eye" and scanned the three individuals.
【Name: Liu Bei】
【Possesses Traits: Zhaolie Benevolence (Red), Emperor Zhaolie of Han (Red), Peerless Swordsmanship (Red), Peak Horsemanship (Gold), Descendant of Han Empress (Gold), Three Heroes of the Peach Garden (Gold)】
【Zhaolie Benevolence (Red)】: You possess benevolence and rule the world with righteousness, deeply loved by the people. (Public support and public order under your rule are greatly increased).
【Emperor Zhaolie of Han (Red)】: You established Shu Han and created an imperial legacy! (Takes effect after establishing Shu Han, greatly increasing prestige and troop morale).
【Peerless Swordsmanship (Red)】: Your swordsmanship is exceptional, peerless in this era! Unfortunately, the sword is not a weapon suitable for the battlefield. When fighting against long weapons, your skill level automatically drops by two tiers. (Swordsmanship power is greatly increased, possesses exclusive swordsmanship "Ruthless Sword").
【Three Heroes of the Peach Garden (Gold)】: You, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, pledging to live and die together, your righteousness passed down through the ages! There is a deep bond between you, allowing for different attribute increases. (The three brothers will never abandon each other. When all three are present, your strategy and prestige are increased).
Zhang Chen was secretly surprised.
【Name: Guan Yu】
【Possesses Traits: Righteousness Reaching the Heavens (Red), Peerless Swordsmanship (Red), Peerless Horsemanship (Red), Three Heroes of the Peach Garden (Gold), Heavenly Strength (Gold), Arrogant (Purple)】
【Righteousness Reaching the Heavens (Red)】: You value feelings and righteousness greatly, and your resolve will not change no matter the circumstances. (Will never betray, and your soldiers are the same. Even if fighting down to the last man, they will never surrender, and troop morale will never decrease.)
【Peerless Swordsmanship (Red)】: Your blade skill has reached a state of perfection, unique in the world. (Blade skill power is greatly increased, possesses exclusive blade skill "Spring and Autumn Blade Skill").
【Three Heroes of the Peach Garden (Gold)】: You, Liu Bei, and Zhang Fei, swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, pledging to live and die together, your righteousness passed down through the ages! There is a deep bond between you, allowing for different attribute increases. (The three brothers will never abandon each other. When all three are present, your attack and prestige are increased).
【Arrogant (Purple)】: You are arrogant, viewing enemies as grass and rats. This arrogance comes from your strength and confidence, but it also makes you prone to underestimating the enemy.
Zhang Chen couldn't help but take a sharp breath.
【Name: Zhang Fei】
【Possesses Traits: Loyal and Righteous (Red), Peerless Spear Skill (Red), Peak Horsemanship (Gold), Three Heroes of the Peach Garden (Gold), Heavenly Strength (Gold), Proficient in Calligraphy and Painting (Purple), Drunkenly Whipping Soldiers (White)】
【Loyal and Righteous (Red)】: You are utterly loyal and value feelings and righteousness greatly. (Will never betray. When in danger, attack and defense are greatly increased).
【Peerless Spear Skill (Red)】: Your spear skill has reached a state of perfection, unique in the world. (Spear skill power is greatly increased, possesses exclusive spear skill "Eighteen Single-Handed Spears").
【Three Heroes of the Peach Garden (Gold)】: You, Liu Bei, and Guan Yu, swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, pledging to live and die together, your righteousness passed down through the ages! There is a deep bond between you, allowing for different attribute increases. (The three brothers will never abandon each other. When all three are present, your defense and prestige are increased).
【Proficient in Calligraphy and Painting (Purple)】: Besides being skilled in warfare, you are also proficient in calligraphy and painting, with great accomplishments in both.
【Drunkenly Whipping Soldiers (White)】: You like to whip soldiers after getting drunk; this is a path to disaster!
Zhang Chen's hands were slightly trembling.
These three people standing there, like three gods of slaughter, made Zhang Chen shudder.
He knew their appearance here was no coincidence, and he seemed to already sense a chilling killing intent.
These three are definitely not here with good intentions!
Zhang Chen forced himself to be calm, spurred his horse forward, bowed, and pretended not to recognize them, saying, "Who are you three? Why are you blocking my path?"
Guan Yu remained silent, Zhang Fei's eyes widened in anger, while Liu Bei spurred his horse forward a few steps and said, "May I ask, are you General Pingbei, Governor of Ji Province, Zhang Chen, Zhang Zifan?"
Zhang Chen was slightly startled and said, "That is indeed me. Who are you gentlemen? Why are you stopping me?"
Liu Bei cupped his hands and calmly said, "I am Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande, currently serving as Magistrate of Pingyuan. These two are my sworn brothers, Guan Yu, courtesy name Guan Yunchang, and Zhang Fei, courtesy name Zhang Yi De!"
"So it is Lord Liu, a pleasure to meet you." Zhang Chen cupped his hands and said, "Lord Liu, you are not in Pingyuan, why have you come here?"
Liu Bei slightly raised his eyes, pointed his sword at Zhang Chen with one hand, and said coldly, "I have come specifically to take your life!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen's heart suddenly trembled.
He had anticipated that their intentions were not good, but he hadn't expected the other party to demand his life the moment they spoke.
He had no past grievances or recent animosity with Liu Bei, so why would he make a killing move?
Zhang Chen's expression suddenly changed, and he said, "Lord Liu, what is the meaning of this?"
Liu Bei's eyes revealed killing intent, and he said coldly, "For the Han Dynasty's empire, you must die today!"
As Liu Bei spoke, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei also spurred their horses forward to catch up.
A fierce battle was imminent!
Looking at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Zhang Chen's heart almost leaped out of his throat.
In ancient times, there was "Three Heroes Battling Lü Bü", but unexpectedly today it was "Three Heroes Battling Zhang Chen". However, he was not Lü Bü, lacking that peerless bravery. Let alone the three heroes, even just one of Guan Yu or Zhang Fei could easily cut him down from his horse in minutes!
What to do? What to do?
Zhang Chen was extremely anxious.
"Sir, do you have any last words?" Liu Bei said coldly.
Zhang Chen tightly gripped the Xuan Tie Si Leng Qiang in his hand and said, "Liu Bei, I have no past grievances or recent animosity with you, why exactly do you want to take my life?"
Liu Bei sighed softly and said, "If you must blame someone, blame yourself for harboring disloyal intentions and coveting the position of Prefect!"
Coveting the Prefect?!
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen suddenly realized, "So, it was that old thief Liu Yan who sent you! He hates that I got the position of Governor of Ji Province, so he sent you to kill me. He must have told you that if someone not of the Liu surname obtains the position of Prefect, great chaos will surely arise in the future?"
"Since you know, you should not have usurped this position!"
"Nonsense!" Zhang Chen roared angrily, "My loyalty to the Great Han is witnessed by heaven and earth! That Liu Yan measures a gentleman's heart with his own petty mind; he will surely be ridiculed by the world! And you, Liu Bei, you claim to be benevolent and righteous, yet today you act without regard for right or wrong, rashly mobilizing troops without justification. It seems you are nothing but a hypocrite!"
"How dare you! How dare you insult my Boss!" Zhang Fei instantly flew into a rage upon hearing this, "Little thief, take a spear thrust from your Grandpa Zhang Fei!"
After saying this, Zhang Fei spurred his horse forward and charged directly at Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen was greatly startled, and quickly held the Xuan Tie Si Leng Qiang in his hand horizontally. With a "clang", he blocked Zhang Fei's eighteen-foot serpent spear!
With this exchange, Zhang Fei couldn't help but show a look of shock.
He clearly felt a numbness in his hand, and this young man before him actually possessed such strength.
This couldn't help but make him feel a bit of admiration.
Zhang Chen possessed the trait 【Heavenly Strength】 and was not inferior to Zhang Fei in terms of strength, but his spear skill was a tier lower than Zhang Fei's. If the battle dragged on, he would eventually lose.
Moreover, there were still Liu Bei and Guan Yu on the side.
However, Liu Bei and Guan Yu were standing in their original positions at this moment, not advancing.
Today's matter was not something they truly wanted to do, especially Guan Yu, who always valued righteousness. But ambushing and killing Zhang Chen here today was inherently an unrighteous act. At this moment, he was even less likely to use superior numbers to bully the fewer.
But even so, Zhang Chen still did not dare to be careless. Before long, he had already exchanged more than thirty blows with Zhang Fei.
Guan Yu, who was on the side, stroked his long beard, a hint of approval showing in his eyes.
"Wait!" Zhang Chen thrust his spear again, forcefully blocking Zhang Fei's long spear, and shouted loudly, "Liu Bei, you claim to be benevolent and righteous, can you agree to one request of mine today?"