Chapter 267: The Brave General of the World

Wei Yan led nearly four thousand spirited veteran soldiers, following closely behind Guan Yu. As they arrived outside the city of Le Ling, illuminated by the torches on the city walls, Guan Yu could already see the panic among the soldiers on the ramparts.

Guan Yu rode forward, entering the range of enemy arrows, and shouted at the military officer standing at the city gate, "I am Guan Yu! Your commander, Zhang He, has been slain by me. Surrender now, or when the city falls, your death will be certain!"

Thud! An arrow struck the ground near Guan Yu's feet, followed by a rain of arrows aimed at him. However, Guan Yu merely swung his great sword, deflecting all the arrows effortlessly. Without a large contingent of elite archers, Guan Yu had no fear of being hit.

"Let me show you the difference in our strength!" Guan Yu's voice carried a hint of anger as he deflected the arrows. Suddenly, a green glow erupted from his body, and the blade of his Green Dragon Crescent Blade grew immensely. Guan Yu became a blur, charging at the city wall of Le Ling with the massive blade. With a thunderous crash, under the astonished gazes of both Yuan Shao's and Liu Bei's soldiers, Guan Yu's strike shattered the city wall.

"Attack the city!" Guan Yu roared. The stunned soldiers on both sides snapped back to reality. Liu Bei's troops, led by Wei Yan, surged forward, their morale sky-high as they shouted, "General's divine might!" Meanwhile, Yuan Shao's soldiers were already hearing the clattering of weapons hitting the ground.

Standing in the breach of the city wall, Guan Yu's face was slightly pale, and his breathing was uneven, but his eyes gleamed with a fierce light. The pent-up frustration in his chest had been completely unleashed with that single strike.

The wall had shattered—something that even Guan Yu himself found astonishing. It was probably the first and last time someone had ever cleaved through a city wall. It was akin to the legendary feat of Confucius' father, who had supposedly lifted a city gate by himself—something that could never be repeated.

"There is still room for improvement," Guan Yu thought as he sensed the emptiness in his body. His ultimate technique was being perfected—not three strikes, but one. Just one strike, an unparalleled strike, to finish his opponent. Any additional moves would be mere flaws.

Guan Yu ran his hand along his Green Dragon Crescent Blade. The steel blade seemed to come alive, its surface gleaming with a pale green light as his fingers traced its edge. As he gripped the hilt, a green flame-like aura appeared on the blade, with a dragon's tail coiling around the base and its head biting the tip.

At that moment, Guan Yu finally understood the significance of the two dragons on Lü Bu's halberd. They weren't just for show; they were the manifestation of the weapon's power. Now, as his own essence fused with the blade, his weapon had given birth to its own power—the Azure Dragon.

As Guan Yu caressed the sacred beast that had emerged from his blade, he believed it to be one of the four celestial beasts, far more powerful than the golden and fiery dragons of Lü Bu. Though it was still weak, with its scales not fully grown, a dragon was still a dragon. Guan Yu could feel the growing aura within himself, a sign of his rising strength and an elevation in his state of being.

In reality, the dragon wasn't a mythical creature but a product of Guan Yu's own imagination. The blade had absorbed Guan Yu's essence, and because he envisioned it as such, it became what he desired. The dragon was merely an extension of his power, and the awe it inspired was a reflection of his latent strength. But sometimes, such illusions were necessary...

For now, Guan Yu felt as if he had been possessed by the Azure Dragon, his power surging. His presence grew more imposing, so much so that enemy soldiers quaked in fear under his gaze, unable to move. This was the aura, the "威" (Wei), that he had long sought.

"Enter the city!" Guan Yu commanded as he slowly opened his eyes, sensing the cessation of battle noises around him. Wei Yan stood nearby, awaiting his orders.

As Guan Yu's gaze swept over him, Wei Yan felt a crushing weight, a sense of awe that surpassed even his respect for Huang Zhong. Seeing Guan Yu's immense power firsthand, Wei Yan's reverence for him deepened further.

"Yes, General!" Wei Yan replied in awe, bowing his head respectfully. He finally understood why everyone held Guan Yu in such high regard. This was the aura of a godlike figure. Seeing the breach in the wall, Wei Yan bowed deeply in reverence.

Guan Yu had no idea how much his actions had shocked the world. First, Zhang He had brought five thousand troops, not the three thousand counted by Guan Yu's scouts, which meant Guan Yu had single-handedly taken on an entire organized military unit, defeating it head-on. Then, he had single-handedly breached a city wall...

This was why Wei Yan held such awe for Guan Yu. Although Guan Yu might not have fully grasped the significance of his deeds, Wei Yan understood that Guan Yu had accomplished two unprecedented feats—something that demanded immense respect. In Wei Yan's eyes, while Huang Zhong might rival Guan Yu in strength, he lacked Guan Yu's imposing presence and aura.

However, Wei Yan still felt a tinge of regret that Guan Yu hadn't killed Zhang He. If he had, it would have been perfect—one man defeating five thousand elite troops and slaying their commander with a single strike. That would have been truly awe-inspiring!

Meanwhile, on the other side, Zhang He, with several broken ribs and a shattered arm, was finally reunited with Gao Lan, both of them wearing bitter expressions. In their current state, they knew that if Guan Yu wasn't a fool, he would surely lead an assault on Le Ling. With only a thousand soldiers left to defend the city and no capable commander, losing Le Ling seemed almost inevitable.

"Junyì, how are you holding up?" Gao Lan asked after hearing Zhang He's account of the previous day's events. He, too, was at a loss—who could have expected such audacity? A man charging into the enemy ranks alone, nearly killing Zhang He—how could anyone have foreseen that? This was beyond mere surprise; it was sheer madness.

"I'll survive," Zhang He replied with a bitter smile. "Guan Yun Chang is truly a courageous general of the world. It takes boldness, strength, and intelligence to succeed in such matters. We all underestimated him."

"But this..." Gao Lan looked at Zhang He's chest, where bone fragments protruded. This was far from just "surviving"—without proper care, he might not make it.

"Don't worry," Zhang He raised his one functional hand, summoning a dark inner energy. "By some stroke of luck, I broke through in the heat of battle. If not, I would have been slain by Guan Yu. When we return, the Lord will understand what we've been through. Let's hope we can avoid punishment."