292. Zhang Ji's Decision

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Lie Fan uses the halberd in his hand and does a sweeping attack from the right, which collides with Zhao Yun's spear causing a loud sound of metal collision, Zhao Yun is taken back by surprise because his master told him when he teaches him this skill that only people with overwhelming power and completely mastered his skill over Zhao Yun could stop Zhqo Yun's attack, and today he finally meet the person described by his master which was Lie Fan.

Zhao Yun, recovering from the initial surprise, swiftly retracted his spear, launching a counterattack with a sweeping motion. However, Lie Fan, with masterful control of his halberd, deflected Zhao Yun's strike with the handle.

Then In a seamless display of his prowess, Lie Fan redirected Zhao Yun's spear in another direction away from him, showing Zhao Yun his prowess and skill over his halberd.

Seizing the opportunity, Lie Fan raised his halberd, a fluid motion that culminated in a powerful downward slash. The air resonated with the sound of the cutting edge, as Zhao Yun skillfully evaded the attack, and used his spear to stab Lie Fan's torso.

Lie Fan who saw this immediately moved his body where Zhao Yun's spear passed through between his torso and arm, then he moved forward and clamped Zhao Yun's spear handle between his body and his arm.

Seizing an opening he saw, Zhao Yun swiftly maneuvered, utilizing his spear as a leverage point. With a calculated kick targeting Lie Fan's torso, where he caught Lie Fan off guard.

The impact jolted off the kick and pushed Lie Fan backward, momentarily disrupting his balance. As Lie Fan staggered, the release of tension allowed Zhao Yun to free his spear.

Without hesitation, he redirected his focus, targeting Lie Fan's arm with a precise and swift thrust. Lie Fan, recovering from the initial strike, deftly evaded the incoming thrust, where he then used his halberd handle to make a sweeping motion targeting Zhao Yun's leg.

The halberd handle cut through the air, a swift calculated sweeping motion targeting Zhao Yun's leg. Zhao Yun managed to evade the strike, and in return, he struck Lie Fan's head with a stabbing motion using his spear.

The mock duel continued, the clash of Lie Fan's halberd and Zhao Yun's spear creating a mesmerizing spectacle in the training ground. As the exchange intensified, Lie Fan and Zhao Yun showcased not only their martial prowess but also their ability to adapt and strategize in the heat of battle.

Meanwhile, Lu Lingqi, who stood on the sidelines alongside Jia Xu, her eyes fixated on the unfolding spectacle. The dance of the halberd and the spear alongside the ebb and flow of the duel fascinated her.

Lie Fan's movements, in particular, resonated with her, reminding her of the martial skill her father, Lu Bu, possessed, especially Lie Fan's mastery in handling his halberd which was very similar to Lu Bu.

With each calculated strike and evasive maneuver, Lu Lingqi found herself drawn deeper into the rhythm of the duel. Lie Fan's martial finesse left an indelible impression, sparking a sense of familiarity that resonated with the legendary prowess of her father.

After some time passed by, Lie Fan and Zhao Yun continued their duel which already passed 200 bouts at this time Lie Fan felt it was enough and the two of them could stop now, especially since Zhao Yun's stats and experiencing it himself already satisfied him.

• Zhao Yun

STR: 915 VIT: 120 AGI: 100 INT: 77

Zhao Yun hearing that Lie Fan said it was time for them to stop, lowered his spear creating a situation where The two warriors stood poised, with a silent acknowledgment passing between them.

Zhao Yun, humbled by the encounter, recognized the depth of Lie Fan's martial skill and a feeling of closeness began to be felt by him toward Lie Fan, he sees Lie Fan now truly as his junior apprentice.

Seeing that Lie Fan and Zhao Yun had finished their duel, all the people in the training ground let out a loud cheer to thank Lie Fan and ZHAO yin for the beautiful spectacle they had just seen.

Lie Fan and Zhao Yun put their weapon on the weapon rack, where they were approached by Lu Lingqi, Jia Xu, Zhang Liao, and Ji Ling, who praised both Lie Fam and Zhao Yun in turn, where Zhang Liao and Ji Ling both asked Zhao Yun to have a mock fuel with them sometime.

Zhao Yun was happy that he was being recognized by people outside of Gongsun Zan and his circle, he truly felt welcomed here in Xiapi. Lie Fan seeing that it was already lunchtime, brought everyone alongside him toward the Serenity Inn to enjoy the lavish cuisine there.

At the Serenity Inn, everyone enjoyed the dishes that were served to them, especially Zhao Yun who tasted the dishes for the first time.

Lie Fan could see that Zhao Yun began to feel welcomed and asked him if he wanted to stay at Xiapi longer now since he already knew about Liu Bei's try face and had nowhere else to go.

Zhao Yun stopped eating the dishes before he heard Lie Fan's question, he contemplated by himself for a while before letting out a sigh and agreeing to stay at Xiapi if Lie Fan didn't feel burdened to have him and his 5,000 brothers.

Lie Fan lets out aloud laugh and says that of course he doesn't feel burdened, it's the opposite of that and he was happy to have Zhao Yun here in Xiapi, and so with that the lunch passed by in a happy atmosphere.

After lunch, Zhao Yun then was invited to stay in Lie Clan's Estate guest room by Lie Fan, Zhao Yun was honored but didn't want to accept but under Lie Fan's appeal over and over again, he finally agreed.

Lie Fan feels happy that he at least managed to have Zhao Yun stay at Xiapi, he could see that Zhao Yun began to have a good impression of him, and he planned to raise that all through the roof before he invited Zhao Yun to serve him.

The day passed by bapoiky for Lie Fan, but not for Zhang Ji who was attacked by Cao Cao in Hongnong, he thought that his receiving reinforcement from Zhang Yang would stop Cao Cao from attacking him.

It turns out it was only his own delusion, Cao Cao not only did not attack him but increased his preparation which caused him to receive a very strategic attack, one that he could keep up with.

In the original timeline, Zhang Ji had the help of Jia Xu to fend off Cao Cao for a while, but now since Jia Xu has joined Lie Fan, Zhang Ji was without an advisor and it can be seen that without Jia Xu, Zhang Ji would not last long in Hongnong.

Zhang Ji's Xiliang Cavalry couldn't show its potential in a siege battle, which was a trump card he was always proud of but now it was useless, his nephew Zhang Xiu and his strongest general Hu Che'er were also slowly pushed back by Cao Cao's generals and soldiers.

Zhang Ji could see that with each time passing by, he was slowly losing this battle even with Zhang Yang's reinforcement helping him to fend off Cao Cao, he now realized the importance of having an advisor but it was too late, as he always believes that having a strong military is good enough.

At this time in the main hall of Hongnong's Governor Castle, Zhang Ji was holding an emergency war meeting with all of his retainers attending this meeting, to discuss possible ways for them to fend off Cao Cao.

Zhang Ji: "Everyone do you have any way for us to push back Cao Cao?! Any way can be done as long as it is logical and doesn't put much harm to our overall situation!"

General A: " I'm sorry My Lord but I have no plan that could fend off Cao Cao, his advisor's strategy was too abstract and too hard to read the flow they were using, I only can suggest fit us to hold as long as possible and rely on our supply, making in an attrition battle."

Zhang Xiu: "Are you stupid?! An attrition battle?! Cao Cao had a large domain that could sustain him for a long time ago and the supply line was very safe and secure, you wanted to make it an attrition battle with him?! Stupid idea!"

General B: "Then how about we ask for help from Li Jue? I think Li Jue will definitely accept our request for help considering his last relationship with My Lord!"

Zhang Ji: "He would never accept after what I did separating from him and creating our own force, General Hu do you have any plan you can give to all of us here?"

Hu Che'er: "I'm sorry My Lord, my brain muscle is not as good as my arm and leg muscles, if you ask me I can only give a simple idea that will be crushed by Cao Cao's advisors."

Zhang Ji sighed after hearing what Hu Che'er said and lamented his defeat that would come soon, at his time suddenly from outside the hall a man entered and presented Zhang Ji with a letter, saying that it was given to him by someone who was sent by Cao Cao.

Hearing that it was from Cao Cao, Zhang Ji takes the letter and reads He was surprised by the content of the letter, as it asked him to surrender and he would be given autonomous control over Hongnong and still lead his army.

In return, he pledged his allegiance to him and also killed Yang Feng for him, if that was achieved everything he just promised would be done and there's no need for further bloodshed.

After finishing reading the letter, Zhang Ji was silent for a while which prompted Zhang Xiu to ask him about the content of the letter, where Zhang Ji then told everyone in the hall its content.

After hearing what Zhang Ji said, the hall immediately exploded with some led by Zhang Xiu suggesting that Zhang Ji should agree while some led by Hu Che'er suggested that Zhang Ji should not agree since it was an insult to him.

Zhang Ji feeling was conflicted, but thinking of the continuity of his clan and also his master Tong Yuan's legacy, he finally decided to surrender and announced his decision, Zhang Xiu and his group rejoiced while Hu Che'er and his group were disappointed, but Zhang Ji doesn't care about this as he appointed Zhang Xiu and Hu Che'er to work together and kill Yang Feng the condition requested by Cao Cao to him for him to have an autonomous control over Hongnong.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 28 (195 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 2,462,000

Renown: 725

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,071,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 936 (+20)

VIT: 598 (+20)

AGI: 583 (+10)

INT: 587

CHR: 93

WIS: 509

WILL: 397

ATR Points: 0