Chapter 181

Guan Yu finally admitted that he had been too greedy when he saw the scene of the fortress collapsing and even allowing Zhao Ru to enter. It was overambition. Intoxicated by the fragrance of the beautiful flowers of Luoyang, he had come here without realizing it was a trap.

Upon arriving in Luoyang, he should have been satisfied with reviving the forgotten name of the Han Dynasty among the people. If only he had known to be content and retreated earlier, he might have successfully escaped to Sili Province with the help of Guanzhong.

Regret comes late, and that’s why it’s called regret. Guan Yu felt a complex mix of emotions as he watched the Wei army closing in from all sides.

Along with self-reproach for bringing soldiers to this dire situation, the regret that if only the fortress had held out a little longer, he could have truly captured Luoyang weighed heavily on Guan Yu’s steps.

“This is something I must resolve with my own hands.”

What filled Guan Yu’s heart now was not the ambition to capture Luoyang and welcome Liu Bei, nor the regret of a belated judgment, but a desperate sense of responsibility.

Guan Yu urged his soldiers to quickly establish a defensive formation. Before the enemy could complete their encirclement, Guan Yu successfully set up a defensive stance and entrusted the operation of the formation to Guan Ping and Zhao Ru.

Instead, Guan Yu observed the Wei army closing in from all directions with the few cavalrymen he had left at the center of the formation.

Not the western gate where Guan Yu had been focusing his attacks, but the northern gate through which Xiahou Shang emerged, and Guanqiu Jian, who rushed from the west, broke through Zhao Ru’s defenses and occupied the south, Sima Yi.

Sima Yi’s army, in a desperate situation, not only had the most troops but was also blocked by the Luoshui River, making a proper retreat impossible.

If they tried to go north, Xiahou Shang’s formation was no ordinary one. They weren’t actively trying to annihilate Guan Yu’s army but were steadfastly forming a stubborn defensive line as part of the encirclement.

“Then the only option is the west.”

On the other hand, Guanqiu Jian was recklessly aggressive, unlike Xiahou Shang. Perhaps it was to avenge his father, or maybe he was burning with vengeance after hearing that his brother had been killed by Guan Yu.

Although it didn’t matter to Guan Yu, Guanqiu Jian’s aggressive demeanor was something to consider.

“The north has the fewest numbers, but the west is the weakest.”

The direction was decided.

Guan Yu tore his battle robe and made a rope out of it. He then tightly tied his left hand, which lacked strength, and his spear.

Over the years, his body had aged, and his skills had rusted. But his spirit, which kept his body upright and his mind clear, had only deepened.

It’s not over until it’s over. Never give up. As long as he breathes, Guan Yu does not stop.

“I will open the path! I will lead the way. Trust me and follow!”

No matter how much he had weakened with age compared to his youth, that was only by Guan Yu’s standards.

Compared to others, Guan Yu’s strength was still monstrous.

A man with a strong will becomes firmer in adversity and more vigorous in old age.

Like Yan Po, like Ma Yuan.

So did Guan Yu.

Crack! Boom!

The Wei army’s formation crumbled. The soldiers of Guanqiu Jian, whom Guan Yu began to attack, were swept away like fallen leaves before him.

One of the two unparalleled warriors in the world.

A martial prowess worthy of his fame transcended time and descended upon the present.

Like a tiger descending from the mountain scattering a pack of hunting dogs, Guan Yu cut down all who stood in his way. The sight even drew admiration from Sima Yi, who was watching from afar.

But that was it.

Although he still had explosive power to unleash momentarily, Guan Yu’s body no longer had the stamina to sustain that strength.

It wasn’t just due to age. Although he was nearing sixty, Guan Yu’s strength and stamina, honed through relentless training, still far surpassed the average young man. The fatigue and stamina consumption of his right arm had been significant as he compensated for the lack of strength in his left arm.

If it weren’t for the stirrups made by Zhang Lan, he wouldn’t have been able to display even this much prowess.

Effectively wielding a spear with one arm, his eyes took in the battlefield, observing the ever-changing situation in real-time.

Confirming that Zhao Ru and Guan Ping were shrinking the formation and transforming it into a sharp wedge heading west, Guan Yu summoned his strength.

Not yet. Guan Yu still had things he must do. There was too much he had shouldered to stop here.

If his stamina was lacking, he would use his willpower. If even his willpower was exhausted, he would burn his soul.

Guan Yu’s charge continued. Physical limits could not stop Guan Yu. Not even Guan Yu himself.

His actions—wielding his spear, driving his horse, urging his soldiers—all flowed like water, happening before he could even think.

Guan Yu’s spirit had already reached a certain realm.

A state of selflessness. A running ecstasy.

A phenomenon similar to a runner’s high, experienced by marathoners testing human limits in long-distance running, was happening to Guan Yu.

Beyond the critical point, the brain produces narcotic substances, making one continue running even as ligaments tear.

His left arm, which had been immobile, began to move, and his body, which had felt like it weighed a thousand pounds, gradually regained its lightness.

Even if it meant using the future as fuel to draw out immediate strength, Guan Yu was satisfied.

One day. Just one day. If he could move in today’s battle to break through the encirclement, it didn’t matter if he never held a spear again.

The fact that Guanqiu Jian had been called from Hangu Pass was proof that Wei had been pushed to its limits.

With Guanqiu Jian’s troops gone, Hangu Pass would fail to fulfill its role and let Guan Yu pass. Although Zhao Jin was in Hongnong, by then, Zhang Fei or Pang Tong would surely notice something was wrong. They would find a way.

But even Guan Yu’s relentless steps were halted. At the same time, his spear, which had been swirling as if to cut the sky, was blocked.

“Guan Yu!!”

Unlike the soldiers frozen in fear, Guanqiu Jian, filled with intense vengeance, faced Guan Yu squarely. He pressed his spear against Guan Yu’s and roared like a wounded beast.

The hatred of Guanqiu Jian, who had lost his father and brother, did not diminish even before the formidable Guan Yu. The moment Guanqiu Jian saw Guan Yu, he had already half lost his reason.

Commanding his troops from a distance, Guanqiu Jian had rushed forward on his horse as soon as he saw Guan Yu.

Guanqiu Jian, seeking to kill Guan Yu and avenge his family.

Guan Yu, trying to defeat Guanqiu Jian and escape the encirclement.

The two spears clashed fiercely.

Guan Yu’s spear, though slower than Guanqiu Jian’s, was fast enough to block the attacks. And though his strength had weakened, his technique had improved, allowing him to fluidly switch between offense and defense, putting Guanqiu Jian on the defensive.

After just a few exchanges, Guanqiu Jian began to falter, and Guan Yu pressed on relentlessly. He had no time to spare.

Guan Yu’s body was in a state where it could stop at any moment, and his army, surrounded on all sides, was an unknown as to how long they could withstand the enemy’s attacks.

The desperation-driven strength struck Guanqiu Jian’s spear hard. Unable to withstand the impact, Guanqiu Jian staggered back.

At this point, he should have felt the gap in their abilities and retreated, but Guanqiu Jian had something more important than his own life.

“Even if I die, I will take you with me!!”

Guanqiu Jian thrust his spear at Guan Yu, ignoring the fact that Guan Yu’s spear was piercing his heart. But Guan Yu sneered.

‘Brat. Do you think I would fall for an attack driven by emotion?’

Guan Yu twisted his spear slightly and turned his body to evade Guanqiu Jian’s thrust.

But in focusing too much on Guanqiu Jian, Guan Yu momentarily forgot to pay attention to his surroundings.

“Ugh!”

An arrow flew and embedded itself in Guan Yu’s side. A blind arrow? Instinctively, Guan Yu turned his head toward the direction the arrow had come from. And he realized the arrow hadn’t hit him by chance.

From the northern Wei army, which had closed in unnoticed, a general was seen holding a bow, aiming at him.

“Xiahou Shang…!”

Gritting his teeth, Guan Yu grabbed the shaft of Guanqiu Jian’s spear that had pierced his shoulder.

Crack!

Whether it was the superhuman strength of a man facing death, the shaft of the spear broke under his grip. Pulling out the spearhead or arrowhead embedded in his body would cause severe bleeding, making it impossible to maintain consciousness.

Knowing this, Guan Yu left the blades in and only broke the shafts of the spear and arrow. Immediately after, he used the corpse of Guanqiu Jian, whose heart had been pierced by his spear, to block the next incoming arrow.

Thud!

The sound of the arrow embedding itself in Guanqiu Jian was accompanied by the horrified gasps of the Han soldiers seeing Guan Yu’s wounds.

Guan Yu’s wounds were noticed not only by the soldiers following him but also by Sima Yi, who was watching the situation. This was the moment Sima Yi muttered that it was over.

But Guan Yu still did not give up.

Although the momentum of the breakthrough had been greatly lost, Guan Yu was still breathing. It wasn’t over until he died.

“Don’t stop! Keep breaking through!!”

That was the last of Guan Yu’s strength. He could no longer lead from the front. His son took the lead in his father’s place, and his officers commanded the troops for their general.

In a situation where even driving his horse required all his concentration, the only thing allowed to Guan Yu was a single thought.

‘Zhao Yun, Man Chong, Xu Huang, Zhu Ling… they all failed. Next was Wen Yuan. Yet, I survived… Sima Yi, Zhang Pei, Guanqiu Jian, Xiahou Shang… I cannot give my life to such men…’

His thoughts fragmented.

Even in Guan Yu’s mind, which knew no surrender, the faint thought that this was the end began to rise.

“Truly……”

Just as that thought was about to escape his disoriented mind.

A miracle occurred.

“General! Reinforcements have arrived! Commander Wei has brought reinforcements!”

“Commander Wei? Lan has come…?”

Guan Yu, barely holding onto his horse as if he might collapse at any moment, turned his head.

‘Am I hallucinating…? Am I seeing a vision before death?’

But Guan Yu saw it.

Behind Sima Yi.

The figure of a phoenix spreading its giant wings and descending to the earth.

The sight of Han cavalry rushing to their rescue.