The opponent, without a shred of gentlemanly courtesy, raised his blade and slashed at her. Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t foolish enough to sit there and let him strike. With a kick to her horse’s belly, she bounded forward two steps to dodge. He pursued from behind, raising his blade to slash…

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t look back. Hearing the sound of air being split, she leaned forward while simultaneously slowing her horse. Qiuwu hadn’t expected the young lady to be so bold as to slow down in such circumstances.

But she narrowly avoided it. The blade passed over where her neck had been, and almost the instant the blade passed, she straightened up. As his horse crossed paths with hers, her sword thrust straight forward. Having just slashed into empty air, he couldn’t withdraw his blade to block in time. After crossing paths, he looked down at his belly, reached out to touch it, and felt blood all over his hand.

This entire sequence of actions seemed lengthy but took only three or four breaths. By the time everyone blinked twice, they’d already stopped.

It appeared Liu Wu had suffered the loss.

Liu Wu cursed, “What bear of a granny! Take this!”

Having cursed, he raised his blade and charged at Zhao Hanzhang again. Zhao Hanzhang had already observed his techniques and could guess his next moves. Unafraid, she charged toward him as well. She was agile, her sword strikes extremely fast, and her dodges equally swift. Liu Wu’s strength couldn’t find purchase against her.

The two circled the field several times, exchanging over twenty moves. Liu Wu couldn’t even touch her, and both armies could see Zhao Hanzhang still had energy to spare.

Not to mention the Xiongnu army—even the Jin army was surprised. Magistrate Zhang couldn’t help but look back at Qiuwu and Ji Ping.

Seeing them sitting steadily on their horses, he lowered his eyes in thought. When he looked at Zhao Hanzhang again, Magistrate Zhang’s expression was much more serious.

And just as he regained focus, Zhao Hanzhang found an opening, finally drawing out his weakness. Her sword thrust straight at his right shoulder. The sword tip had just touched his right shoulder armor when Liu Wu’s expression changed. His body leaned back as he hurriedly withdrew his blade to defend. With this withdrawal, his guard opened wide. Zhao Hanzhang’s sword turned from a thrust to a sweep, the tip swinging left in a vicious slash. The man on horseback suddenly widened his eyes, his body stiffening.

Zhao Hanzhang crossed paths with him, reined in her horse, and looked back at him. Liu Wu raised his hand to cover his throat. His eyes bulged wide as red blood began gurgling from between his fingers. He looked at Zhao Hanzhang in disbelief, wanting to say something but unable to say anything before his eyes rolled back. He fell from his horse, landing directly on the ground.

His throat had been cut!

Both armies hadn’t expected this development. For a moment there was silence. Then the Jin army erupted in sky-shaking cheers, the drums beating anew. The Xiongnu army stared silently at Zhao Hanzhang, their eyes practically wanting to tear her apart.

But Zhao Hanzhang didn’t retreat. Instead, she pointed her sword at Liu Jing. “Liu Jing, do you dare come forward and fight me?”

Liu Jing’s gaze bore into Zhao Hanzhang heavily. “You’re quite bold. Since you seek death, I’ll grant your wish.”

Having spoken, he drew his great blade and charged at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled faintly and kicked her horse’s belly to meet him.

Magistrate Zhang felt somewhat anxious. He thought that with morale running high, they could launch a full charge without needing to continue champion duels with the Xiongnu army. But seeing the two had already engaged, he could only restrain himself.

He only hoped Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t lose, or at least not lose too badly.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t lose. She even fought Liu Jing back and forth with great enjoyment, evenly matched in skill. This kind of fighting was satisfying—not as easy as defeating Liu Wu, nor as difficult as facing Shi Le.

Zhao Hanzhang loved this feeling. The more she fought, the more excited she became, and her strikes grew faster and faster. Liu Jing soon shifted from offense to defense, forced to strike first to block her attacks.

Not only did the Jin army see that Zhao Hanzhang had the upper hand, but the Xiongnu army noticed as well. Liu Jing’s deputy stepped forward two paces, ready to rescue Liu Jing at any moment.

Finally, Zhao Hanzhang’s sword flicked upward swiftly. Liu Jing’s wrist bled as his blade fell to the ground. She thrust her sword forward. Liu Jing rolled off his horse to dodge…

The moment he dismounted, his deputy led men charging forward to rescue him.

Magistrate Zhang had been waiting for exactly this moment. He immediately ordered the drums beaten to launch the attack.

At this time, the Jin army’s morale was at its peak. As the drums sounded, the center army immediately entered the battlefield.

Seeing this, the Xiongnu army also howled and charged forward.

Qiuwu and Ji Ping were first to rush out, racing straight toward Zhao Hanzhang.

At that moment, Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes held only Liu Jing. The instant he dismounted, she pursued her advantage, kicking her horse’s belly to charge forward and take his head. Liu Jing rolled agilely on the ground, pushed off with his feet to slide under his horse’s belly, barely passing through. Just as he reached the other side, he quickly grabbed his horse’s neck and tried to mount…

Zhao Hanzhang turned and thrust at him. Liu Jing couldn’t mount and had to drop down again.

At that moment, Liu Jing’s deputy arrived, slashing directly at Zhao Hanzhang. Zhao Hanzhang simply thrust her sword into the horse.

The horse, startled, screamed and violently threw off Liu Jing, who was hanging in midair, before galloping away in panic.

Zhao Hanzhang turned to block the deputy’s blade. In moments, she was surrounded.

Zhao Hanzhang killed one man with her sword, broke through the encirclement, and fled outward. Just then, Qiuwu and Ji Ping arrived with their men, engaging Liu Jing’s deputy…

The two armies collided, instantly becoming embroiled in chaotic battle.

After breaking out of the encirclement, Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyes to look. She quickly found Liu Jing, who had mingled into the Xiongnu army.

He had taken a horse from a low-ranking soldier. After mounting, he raised his arm and called out, boosting morale.

Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her sword, took down the bow and arrows hanging on her horse, aimed at him, drew the bow to full draw, and released…

Liu Jing was in the middle of directing the charge when his heart tightened. He turned back just in time to face an incoming arrow. He reacted swiftly, tilting his head. The arrow grazed past his cheek and struck a guard behind him directly.

Liu Jing and Zhao Hanzhang locked eyes across the chaotic battlefield. In that moment, his heart felt cold. He realized this person must not be allowed to live. If she survived, she would become a great enemy to their Xiongnu.

So Liu Jing grabbed a blade and charged toward Zhao Hanzhang again.

Zhao Hanzhang also charged at him. Though they were far apart with the melee between them, they simply fought their way through.

Qiuwu never forgot to protect the young lady. After killing Liu Jing’s deputy, he spurred his horse back to find Zhao Hanzhang. Seeing her fighting her way forward, going deeper into the enemy army, he quickly shouted, “Young lady, don’t penetrate too deeply alone!”

Zhao Hanzhang came to her senses, only then realizing she’d gradually fought her way to the very front.

Seeing Liu Jing not far away, their eyes met. In that instant, both thought: to hell with it, kill him first.

Liu Jing viewed Zhao Hanzhang as a great threat and wanted to eliminate her immediately. Zhao Hanzhang also wanted to kill him—this man was famously cruel in historical records, capable of pushing ten thousand people into the Yellow River to drown.

Since there was now an opportunity to kill him, why let him live?

Zhao Hanzhang and Liu Jing’s eyes met. Both knew the other wanted the other’s head. Thus reaching an understanding, they abandoned those around them and charged directly at each other.