"When the opportunity arises, I'll be there. I hope by then, you haven't fallen to someone else's hand," Zhao Yun said calmly, though his words carried a deeper meaning.
After their open-hearted battle, even Zhao Yun couldn't help but caution Lü Bu. Such a formidable warrior, if he were to fall victim to some scheme, it would indeed be a great loss.
"Hahaha, you needn't worry about that. How could Lü Bu, who has roamed the world undefeated, possibly die at the hands of others?" Lü Bu laughed heartily. "I will wait for you. I will stand at the peak of martial arts, waiting for your arrival. My instincts tell me that you and I will clash again, and next time, it will be a true battle at the summit!"
"Thank you for your kind words." Zhao Yun was taken aback, and for a fleeting moment, he had a vision of the icy snowfields of the northern plains, where the two would meet again in combat. This brief illusion vanished quickly, but Zhao Yun was certain it was not just his imagination.
"I'll take my leave now. General Guan will be your next opponent, and this time, there will be a surprise." Zhao Yun offered Lü Bu a respectful bow before dissipating his inner energy and descending from the sky.
Lü Bu opened his mouth, wanting to call out to Zhao Yun, knowing that Zhao Yun had more strength hidden within him, but the other had chosen not to use it.
Guan Yu, watching Lü Bu in the sky, could hear their exchange clearly. At this moment, he felt something strange about Lü Bu—the heroic figure in the sky, could that really be Lü Bu?
After landing, Zhao Yun loosely grasped the Yitian Sword with his left hand and let out a sigh. His spear technique had indeed reached its peak, but his swordsmanship was no less formidable. Compared to the intricate and mysterious "Seven Serpentine Strikes," the dual mastery of spear and sword was his greatest strength. However, until now, he had never possessed a sword worthy of fully unleashing his skill.
Gazing up at Lü Bu in the sky, Zhao Yun resolved that this time would be different. However, he had no way of knowing that after this battle, it would be a very long time before he would see Lü Bu again.
"Strategist, does he have any hope of survival?" Zhao Yun finally couldn't help but ask Chen Xi, their voices inaudible to anyone else.
"None... but then again, the heavens are unpredictable. Perhaps there is hope. Who knows? At least for now, I see no way. His heart is too wild. Other than Diao Chan, I don't know who else could tame his heart. Such a person might be moved temporarily by a moment of heroism, or might perform acts worthy of a hero out of loneliness, but his heart is too untamed..." Chen Xi did not speak aloud, but his words reached Zhao Yun's ears without missing a syllable.
"So that's it, a heart too wild," Zhao Yun sighed deeply, understanding Chen Xi's concerns. "Yes, his current bravery and heroism don't guarantee he won't revert to his old ways. The human heart needs a tether, whether it's emotions or morals. Only by restraining one's desires can one truly be called human."
"Indeed, the human heart must have a tether," Chen Xi responded without shifting his gaze from Lü Bu in the sky. "But I am curious—what has made him so heroic now?"
As Zhao Yun and Chen Xi conversed, Guan Yu and Lü Bu had already begun their duel. Guan Yu was strong, but compared to Zhao Yun's brilliance, he fell short. Each of Guan Yu's powerful strikes was unable to wound Lü Bu.
"Guan Yunchang, your strikes are powerful, but they don't last long. You have an excellent grasp of your energy, and every strike is unleashed at the peak of your spirit, which makes them immensely powerful. However, this also means that once your morale and fighting spirit stop rising, each of your strikes will only grow weaker!" Lü Bu remarked as he struck Guan Yu away with his halberd, not injuring him in the slightest. In this moment, Lü Bu truly carried the demeanor of a grandmaster.
Guan Yu remained calm, as his technique was inherently like this. His goal was always to finish the battle within ten strikes, or at least inflict a serious injury on his opponent. Even if his strength waned afterward, it would be difficult for the opponent to defeat him.
"Take my final strike, Wen Hou!" For the first time, Guan Yu addressed Lü Bu with respect. While he had always acknowledged Lü Bu's strength, he had never before called him by his honorific title. This time was different.
"Good! I, too, want to see what surprise Zhao Zilong mentioned." Lü Bu laughed, speaking to Guan Yu without the arrogance and disdain he once held.
Guan Yu whistled, and a streak of fire shot across the sky, its distinct form causing Lü Bu to pause. Unconsciously, Lü Bu also whistled, and the moment his steed, Red Hare, saw the curly-maned Red Hare, it felt an urge to charge forward. However, intimidated by Lü Bu, it hesitated. Now, at Lü Bu's command, Red Hare bolted forward.
"Red Hare?" Lü Bu clicked his tongue in amazement at Guan Yu.
"I have one strike I would like you to evaluate, Wen Hou!" Guan Yu shouted as the green-blue energy surrounding him merged with the fiery red light of his steed, intensifying until a greenish-red blaze engulfed him. His momentum surged, surpassing one peak after another until it even overshadowed Lü Bu's.
With Guan Yu's energy fully infused, everyone present could hear the dragon-like roars emanating from his Green Dragon Crescent Blade. Riding his Red Hare, Guan Yu coldly yet confidently declared, "Take my Green Dragon Crescent Slash!"
With a mighty roar, Guan Yu's Red Hare became a streak of fire, charging directly at Lü Bu.
As Guan Yu swung his blade, the sky suddenly darkened. It was as if a crescent moon glowed faintly as it cut through the sky, accompanied by a thunderous roar. The ground shook violently, and when the strike missed, it left a gaping trench several hundred meters long.
When the dust settled, both Lü Bu and Guan Yu were still mounted, hovering in the sky.
"Why did your strike miss?" Lü Bu asked, his expression momentarily conflicted before regaining composure.
"I'm not as strong as you, but I have my principles. My pride wouldn't allow me to use such a method to kill a stronger opponent!" Guan Yu replied, his breathing heavy but his tone cold and aloof. He rarely explained himself, but seeing Lü Bu's internal struggle and his eventual admission, he decided to offer an explanation.
"Principles, huh?" Lü Bu muttered to himself before regaining his composure. "You had the chance to kill me just now. I was careless—I wouldn't have been able to dodge that strike."
"..." Guan Yu's eyes widened slightly, surprised that someone like Lü Bu would admit such a thing rather than become enraged.
"But you'll never get that chance again," Lü Bu continued, his tone shifting. "You threw away your only opportunity to become unbeatable."
"Next time, I'll be stronger. My blade will be faster and more powerful," Guan Yu replied, locking eyes with Lü Bu. He could sense Lü Bu's acknowledgment.
"Moreover, I will claim the title of the strongest under heaven myself. Don't die before then!" Guan Yu declared, the impact of Lü Bu's words resonating deeply within him.