Chapter 70: Chen the Invincible-The Ruthless Warlord of the Three Kingdoms: Cao Cao’s Trusted Son-in-Law(Whiter and whiter)

Clang!

As Chen Cong struck with all his might, the terrifying force radiated from the tip of the Winged Tiger Spear, battering the light boat on the sea like a raging storm. In the split second when Lu Bu’s tiger’s mouth split open from the impact, he instantly changed his grip to redirect the force, catching the spearhead with his right hand gripping the halberd, then supporting the halberd’s shaft with his left forearm to guide the force downward.

The screech of metal upon metal grated on the ears, sparks flying in a dazzling line.

As their horses passed each other—

“Kuro!” Chen Cong nudged his horse’s belly and tugged the reins. Absolute Shadow instantly understood, stamping hard with his forehooves, then, as soon as his hind hooves landed, whirled around and charged furiously.

Lu Bu, caught off guard, hadn’t spurred Red Hare, and thus Absolute Shadow overtook them from behind.

A cold gleam flashed as the Winged Tiger Spear rained down like a storm.

“Knave, how arrogant!” Lu Bu dared not be careless, leaning back and dragging his halberd like a club to parry the blows.

Two steeds raced neck and neck, the two generals entwined in combat as they thundered past, leaving the watchers atop the city walls stunned.

They fought all the way to the base of the wall, Absolute Shadow veering north, Red Hare south, their forms diverging for the first time.

After a brief silence, the war drums atop the city thundered, soldiers hoarsely shouting in unison,

“Mighty!”

Chen Cong shook his spear. White scars crisscrossed the Winged Tiger Spear, and the small blade of the left wing had even been chipped off.

That happened when the weapons clashed hard, the winged blade striking the joint groove of the Sky-Cutter Halberd and breaking.

‘Looks like I’ll have to keep Wu Xi tethered to my side. With this rate of weapon wear, I really can’t do without a dedicated blacksmith.’

Lu Bu fared much worse.

Bright red blood seeped through his palm, dripping from the halberd, a fine crack running along the shaft, glaring in the sunlight.

Chen Cong’s strength meant greater bursts of power and stamina.

Coupled with that terrifying might, it was enough to leave Lu Bu struggling to catch his breath.

Necessity breeds invention.

Lu Bu’s martial skill was unparalleled; he would not admit defeat. Spurring his horse for another round, his style abruptly changed.

The halberd now only touched the spear, circling rather than clashing, separating at a touch—light and nimble like a dragonfly skimming the water, or a swan treading snow.

Conversely, Chen Cong, wielding his agile spear, now resembled a thunder god brandishing a hammer—wilder, more violent, the whirling spear stirring up clouds of dust and flying gravel.

Zhang Fei craned his neck for a look, clicking his tongue in astonishment.

If anyone knew Lu Bu’s ferocity, it was him, but as for how fierce Chen Cong was, he could only guess.

“Second Brother, are these two using the wrong weapons? Seems to me Chen Cong should be wielding a halberd, and Lu Bu a spear.”

Guan Yu opened his phoenix eyes wide, stroked his beard, and sighed.

“I fear it is because Chen Zining is tremendously strong, and Lu Bu cannot match him head-on.”

“Hahaha, I said Chen Cong is the world’s number one. Yesterday you insisted Lu Bu was his equal.”

“If it is only brute strength that makes a hero, then wouldn’t all our years of martial training be a joke?”

Perspective shapes opinion.

Zhang Fei revered the virtuous, Guan Yu esteemed the gentry.

In this era, the ‘virtuous’ and the ‘gentry’ mostly referred to the great families.

Chen Cong was a descendant of Chen Ping and son-in-law to the Cao family of Qiao County; thus, Zhang Fei naturally favored him.

Though on opposing sides, Guan Yu admired more those who rose from the ranks, those who showed their mettle before the assembled lords—like Lu Bu.

Horses flying like the wind, black and red intertwined, the two steeds ran side by side once more.

Chen Cong, supporting himself with one hand, stood up on Absolute Shadow’s back, grasped the butt of his Winged Tiger Spear with both hands as if it were a blade, and, towering above, rained down wild, frenzied chops upon Lu Bu.

At this angle, Lu Bu had nowhere to redirect the force. He yanked the reins, veering off, then snatched up his bow and nocked an arrow.

Not that Lu Bu intended a sneak attack—Chen Cong was simply pressing too hard. Exhausted and unable to change tactics, he used the advantage of the bow to force distance between them, to catch his breath.

As Red Hare sped away, Lu Bu glanced back, drew his bow, and shouted, “Take this!”

Chen Cong shifted his stance, settling back onto the horse.

Seeing the arrow slicing through the air, he knocked it aside with his iron-banded bow, sending it spinning away.

Lu Bu paused in surprise, then tossed the bow aside and snatched up the halberd once more.

“Well done, boy! No wonder you carry an iron bow—that’s how you use it!”

Chen Cong leveled his spear and laughed, “Warm-up’s over, Fengxian! Get ready!”

Even a clay man has a temper.

Lu Bu had been on the defensive for so long, and now Chen Cong called that a warm-up?

But just as his old strength ebbed and new force surged, he spurred Red Hare and charged.

As their weapons clashed, Chen Cong’s lips curved in a cold smile, his aura suddenly shifting—restless and savage.

He ignored the halberd aiming for his chest, focusing his spear on Lu Bu’s lower abdomen.

A lightning-fast sweep—

“Life for a life?”

Lu Bu’s eyes nearly split in shock, hastily withdrawing the halberd, arching back over his horse, barely avoiding the mortal blow.

When they met again, Chen Cong’s face was devoid of all emotion—no trace of human expression remained.

He glanced indifferently at the halberd slashing toward him, thrusting his spear straight at Lu Bu’s armpit.

Lu Bu was horrified.

He had to press Red Hare flat to the ground to barely evade the spear.

Only then did he recall a terrifying fact.

He’d seen this savage, wild fighting style before!

Outside Guancheng, Chen Cong had endured a direct halberd strike to wound Red Hare. Unlike Zhang Fei’s suicidal tactics—Zhang Fei, less skilled and robust, gambled his life for injury, but Lu Bu could have easily finished him if he was willing to take a wound.

But Lu Bu remembered clearly—back then, Chen Cong wore no armor and rode no horse. Standing on foot, he’d withstood Lu Bu’s charging halberd and remained unbroken.

Now this fiend had both horse and armor. This was not a life-for-life gamble—

But trading wounds for lives!

Lu Bu seriously doubted Chen Cong was afraid of injury at all.

He even wondered if, once the Sky-Cutter Halberd pierced his armor, it could still cripple this opponent...

Chen Cong cared nothing for him. Casting aside all human emotion, only an insatiable thirst for victory remained.

Leaping from his speeding horse, he gripped his spear in both hands and struck down with all his might—leaving himself wide open.

But Chen Cong did not care, and Lu Bu dared not strike for real.

In a flash, Lu Bu gritted his teeth and set his halberd across his chest, taking Chen Cong’s furious blow head-on.

Clang!

The shattering crash of metal split the sky, drowning out the hundred drums on the walls.

The result of Chen Cong’s full-force strike was only one thing—

The terrifying power broke both divine weapons at once, the violent force smashing into the ground, sending a wave of wind and flying stones in all directions.

Red Hare could not bear the strain, blood oozing from its nostrils as it crashed to its knees.

Lu Bu was sent rolling seventeen or eighteen yards away, his purple-gold crown flying, his hundred-flower robe covered in dust. As he struggled to his feet, his palms were a bloodied, trembling mess, unable even to close around his weapon.

“Chen Zining...”

Lu Bu’s eyes widened in terror. He tried to speak, but only coughed up a mouthful of blood.

He now felt his organs ablaze, his limbs battered as if by hammers.

No matter how proud a warrior’s honor, it cannot withstand the crushing realization of defeat.

Even Lu Bu himself didn’t realize—unconsciously, he now called him “Chen Zining,” not thief, villain, or traitor...

Chen Cong, expressionless, tossed aside half a spear, drew his Tai’e sword and rested it on his shoulder.

With one movement, his heavy sleeve armor shattered and peeled away. His forearm and hand were lacerated in many places, blood running up his arm, soaking into his armor and dripping through the cracks.

All sounds, atop and below the city, faded to nothing.

People stared in awe at the tall, upright man.

Bloodthirsty, savage, violent!

At this moment, martial skill itself seemed almost irrelevant.

For all Lu Bu’s bravery, challengers would always rise to face him. But no one would dare provoke this near-demonic, world-devouring fiend.

After a long silence, Mi Heng suddenly popped up and shouted, “Chen the Invincible!”

Then, as if released from a spell, the soldiers raised their spears and roared until their voices broke:

“Chen the Invincible!”

Even the lords and generals joined in, raising their fists and shouting with all their might: “Chen the Invincible!”

Chen Cong grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, his blood-soaked armor making him look even more fearsome.

“Fengxian, why do you hesitate? Draw your sword and fight me again!”

Again?

Lu Bu’s smile was bitter.

He could stake his life—if Chen Cong hesitated, if he didn’t truly mean to risk everything.

But not when he knew Chen Cong was more willing to risk all than he was, not to hand his life over to the jaws of his foe.

“Chen Zining...”

Lu Bu caught his breath, suppressed the surge of blood, and after searching in vain for an excuse, turned to look at the drummer on the walls—Xu Chu—and bellowed, “You fat man, how many bouts have we fought?”

Xu Chu put down his drumsticks and boomed, “Ninety-two bouts. What, are you afraid of Chen Zining and going to blame your horse for being tired?”

Lu Bu: ...

If only he hadn’t asked—trust that fool to blurt out the truth.

Casting a glance at his exhausted Red Hare, Lu Bu finally conceded.

“I... have strained my arm. Another day, we’ll settle this.”

Just then, Absolute Shadow trotted up beside Chen Cong and licked his face.

The tingling sensation made Chen Cong’s shoulders twitch, and he laughed aloud.

His laughter grew louder, echoing until he bent double, until tears came, until he rolled on the ground clutching his belly.

“Ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha!”

In the distance, a few Flying Bear Riders arrived, carrying off Lu Bu and Red Hare.

From start to finish, Chen Cong simply kept laughing, not sparing Lu Bu a single glance.

Others thought he was just disdainful.

In truth, Chen Cong had one more thing to say in the past:

“If one day our roles are reversed, I’ll spare your life.”