Zhao Hanzhang and Wang Mi fought fiercely. Her long spear nimbly thrust toward his head. She stabbed seven or eight times in succession, and Wang Mi dodged them all. His saber was equally swift. With one slash, Zhao Hanzhang blocked horizontally with her spear. His horse deftly closed in, and a glint flashed in his eyes. In one passing movement, he reached out to grab at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang was mildly surprised but didn’t panic. After he caught her wrist, she simply leaned toward him with the momentum, using a skillful technique with her long spear to deflect the force from his blade. She then abandoned her spear, letting it fall to the ground, and grabbed Wang Mi with both hands to pull him down from his horse.

She was bound to fall from her horse anyway—might as well drag him down too.

The two tumbled from horseback, rolling twice on the ground. Wang Mi couldn’t understand how she could be so agile. As soon as they hit the ground, she attacked with her elbow. He felt his arm go numb and his chest ache. His grip on the saber loosened slightly. Zhao Hanzhang seized this opportunity to strike his waist and abdomen several times, instantly breaking free from his grasp. She even rolled outward to escape…

How could Wang Mi let her get away? His left hand still had strength and immediately lunged after her like a leopard…

Qiu Wu and the others noticed trouble the moment she fell from her horse and immediately charged toward her. The Xiongnu forces immediately blocked them, and both sides engaged in fierce combat about ten paces from where they fought.

Fu Tinghan realized they couldn’t break through and very decisively nocked an arrow…

Wang Mi sensed danger and quickly pulled back his hand while rolling to the side. Just as he rolled away, an arrow embedded itself where he had just been lying.

Zhao Hanzhang spun to her feet, rotating like a top to avoid an incoming slash. Following the blade upward, she used an elbow strike and grappling technique to seize the saber. With a horizontal slash and cut, she slit the opponent’s throat. Blood sprayed out, and even though she stood to the side, some splattered on her…

Without pausing, she killed two more charging Xiongnu soldiers. The rest were drawn away by Qiu Wu and the others, leaving only Wang Mi and Zhao Hanzhang in the center of the clearing.

Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyes to look at Wang Mi. After a moment of calm, she smiled slightly and said, “You come from a noble family. Your literary and martial accomplishments are both excellent. With your ancestral glory and your own abilities, you could have achieved great things in the Great Jin. I’m very curious—why did you become a traitor?”

Wang Mi gripped his great saber. He could still feel the pain under his ribs. Clearly, Zhao Hanzhang was different from ordinary women. He no longer dared to underestimate her. “The Jin state is unjust, the Emperor is incompetent, and the common people are suffering. I rebel against him for the sake of the people!”

Zhao Hanzhang laughed mockingly. “For the people? You pillage everywhere, kill and burn—are these for the people? How many ordinary people inside and outside Anling have died because of your plundering? How many cities in the Jizhou area have been destroyed by you?”

“Even the Jin state cannot contain you. Can Liu Yuan’s Han state truly control you? Wang Mi, what is your ultimate goal?”

A fierce glint flashed in Wang Mi’s eyes, and his killing intent surged. “You do have a sharp tongue indeed, but His Majesty trusts me completely. Your scheme to sow discord is misplaced!”

Zhao Hanzhang tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Is that so?”

Both moved simultaneously, charging at each other—

Wang Mi’s blade barely grazed past Zhao Hanzhang’s ear, cutting away a lock of hair. Her blade sliced through his armor. Their blades clashed, and after this exchange, both retreated to pause.

Wang Mi’s gaze fell on her blade as his lips curved slightly. “You’re going to lose.”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced indifferently at the chipped blade in her hand and tugged at her lips. “Although your sabers are garbage, I won’t necessarily lose.”

Just as Wang Mi was about to respond, Fu Tinghan and Qiu Wu had broken through the encirclement. Fu Tinghan grabbed the spear embedded in the ground and charged in Zhao Hanzhang’s direction, throwing it. “Hanzhang!”

Zhao Hanzhang turned her head, leaped into the air to catch it, and Wang Mi’s eyes glinted sharply. Disregarding honor, he immediately slashed toward her.

Zhao Hanzhang caught her long spear in mid-air and swept it downward with the momentum, blocking Wang Mi’s incoming blade. Then in mid-air, she kicked toward Wang Mi, striking his shoulder. Borrowing that force, she spun agilely in the air and landed steadily. Her spear shook once before she immediately engaged Wang Mi.

Fu Tinghan called out loudly, “Their forces are gathering to the east!”

Zhao Hanzhang fought while issuing orders. “Third and fourth squads, insert eastward, then attack westward to support General Liu!”

The messenger acknowledged and departed.

Fu Tinghan reined in his horse and drew his bow, nocking an arrow as he calmly aimed at Wang Mi. However, Wang Mi’s movements were too fast. He and Zhao Hanzhang traded blows in heated combat, their bodies frequently crossing paths. Fu Tinghan simply couldn’t get a clear shot. He instead aimed at those constantly trying to support Wang Mi.

Qiu Wu and the others wanted to rescue Zhao Hanzhang, and Wang Mi’s men naturally wanted to help Wang Mi. Both sides were locked in battle, each blocking the other from getting close.

Fu Tinghan felt this wasn’t working. After shooting two arrows and finding he couldn’t hit anyone, he simply focused his attention on Zhao Hanzhang.

Warfare was never just a matter between two generals. Right now their skills were evenly matched—Wang Mi couldn’t kill Zhao Hanzhang, and Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t defeat Wang Mi either. Further entanglement would only waste time.

Since one-on-one combat couldn’t determine a victor, the decision should come through command.

Fu Tinghan made an immediate decision. He kicked his horse forward and, taking advantage of when Wang Mi kicked Zhao Hanzhang back, forcing her to retreat repeatedly, whipped her horse’s hindquarters.

The horse, which had been standing still since its master fell, suddenly felt pain and charged straight toward Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang had been kicked in her spear shaft by Wang Mi, forcing her back several steps. Hearing the horse charging at her, she didn’t even glance sideways. Following the momentum, she retreated two more steps. When the horse ran before her, she leaped up and mounted it.

Zhao Hanzhang pulled the reins to turn, and with one thrust of her spear charged at Wang Mi. Under her assault, Wang Mi retreated repeatedly. In one moment of poor evasion, she pierced his arm.

His attendants saw this and immediately fought desperately against Qiu Wu and the others. They quickly tore open a gap, and one soldier galloped forward on horseback, quickly grabbing Wang Mi to pull him onto the horse.

Zhao Hanzhang showed no honor, continuing without pause to thrust at Wang Mi’s vital points.

Wang Mi twisted agilely on horseback while simultaneously yanking the guard in front of him. Zhao Hanzhang’s spear pierced straight into the guard’s chest.

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow. “Excellent technique, General Wang!”

Wang Mi had already seated himself on the horse, his expression unchanged. “Deputy General Zhao is generous with her instruction!”

Zhao Hanzhang heard the sounds of battle from the west and saw the assembled forces converging westward again. She knew they couldn’t drag this out any longer. So she temporarily abandoned Wang Mi, roaring loudly to give the order: “Men, follow me to support General Liu!”

She led her troops westward!

The third and fourth squads had followed orders to charge east, scattering the forces they’d just assembled. They nimbly moved to the western side, wanting to regroup. But then Zhao Hanzhang led her men charging over, completely breaking apart their formation.

Liu Ling was greatly worried when he saw this. He caught up with his guards crowding around Wang Mi. “General, what should we do?”

Wang Mi covered his right shoulder and said calmly, “The Jin army’s morale is high. Now is not the time for direct confrontation. We’ll withdraw!”

Wang Mi immediately organized the troops to abandon Anling and retreat outside.

It was called a retreat, but he withdrew in an orderly and unhurried manner. Seeing this, Fu Tinghan told Zhao Hanzhang, “He’s heading toward Chen County. He might want to give up Anling and take Chen County instead.”

Having just captured Anling, Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “I know. He wants to turn around and cut off our retreat.”

Qiu Wu, listening nearby, grew worried. “What do we do, Miss? We didn’t set up checkpoints along the way.”

“Even if we set up checkpoints, we couldn’t hold them. Leaving people behind would just be sending them to their deaths,” Zhao Hanzhang said unconcernedly. “Besides, we never planned to return anyway. Send word to Chen County—order them to hold firm and not venture out!”