Chapter 508 (1/2)

“Pang Tong escaped?” Liu Mang uttered as he looked at the generals kneeling in front of him.

“Yes, Milord! We are incompetent and allowed Pang Tong to escape.” Guan Hai replied with shame and frustration.

“How could that be? Wasn’t Zhou Cang with you?” Liu Mang frowned. Liu Mang had considered Zhang Fei’s injury which was why he dispatched Zhou Cang to go with Guan Hai. The two of them should be more than Zhang Fei could handle.

“This general is incompetent.” Guan Hai did not bother with an explanation and continued to blame himself.

“Milord, do not blame Brother Guan. That Zhang Fei is too strong!” Zhou Cang said to Liu Mang.

“Too strong?” Liu Mang had personally experienced Zhang Fei’s strength. Based on Zhang Fei’s strength, Guan Hai and Zhou Cang should have been enough. Yet, both of them return injured. This can only mean that Zhang Fei had made a breakthrough.

“Guan Hai. Stand up and speak.” Liu Mang ordered. Guan Hai reported to Liu Mang the moment he returned. He did not even bother treating his own wounds. As Guan Hai was one of Liu Mang’s fighting pieces, Liu Mang would not allow Guan Hai to harm himself any further even if he was unsatisfied with Guan Hai.

“Yes.” Guan Hai replied and tried to stand but staggered as though he was drunk.

“Brother Guan, be careful!” Zhou Cang tried to support Guan Hai but he was too slow as he was also injured. In the end, Liu Mang was the one that supported Guan Hai. If Liu Mang had not helped Guan Hai, the man would end up falling down and injuring himself on the stone floor.

“Thank you Milord.” Guan Hai thanked Liu Mang and struggled to stand without aid.

“There is no need to thank me.” When Liu Mang supported Guan Hai, he saw all the severe injuries. All those injuries were caused by the Serpent Spear. Guan Hai had also turned pale from the blood loss.

Liu Mang then had the servants prepare a room and call over the best doctor in Xiangyang for Guan Hai.

“Milord. There is no need. This rough person is unimportant.” Guan Hai protested.

“What do you mean unimportant? If you keep going on like this, you will be dead!” Liu Mang felt hurt looking at Guan Hai’s severely injured body. “What are you servants still standing there for? Go!” Liu Mang shouted. He would really cry if one of his generals die at Jingzhou.

“Yes!” Three servants replied and quickly moved to support Guan Hai as the man was about a hundred kilograms.

“Milord! I…” Guan Hai wanted to say something but was immediately stopped by Liu Mang.

“If you still have things to say, wait until your injuries heal! Your injuries are more important!”

Hearing this, Guan Hai no longer remained stubborn. He understood his own condition the most. The last time he was this badly injured was after he fought Guan Yu. Although he did not die, such good luck would not follow him forever. If he did not get himself treated, he had a high chance of dying. And if he somehow survived, he may become crippled instead.

Once Guan Hai was taken away, Liu Mang turned back to Zhou Cang. “Zhou Cang. Explain to me what happened.” Although Zhou Cang was also quite badly injured, his injuries was not as severe. Zhou Cang’s movements would simply be hindered for half a month.

“Yes.” Zhou Cang nodded and then tried to explain what happened to Liu Mang.

His explanation helped Liu Mang confirm that Zhang Fei has indeed made a breakthrough. Zhang Fei was now on the same level as Huang Zhong and Lu Bu. He has advanced from the Refinement stage to Peak Refinement stage. It was a stage where one needed at least three warriors from Refinement stage to have a chance at killing them. It was like how an entire army was needed to stop Lu Bu.

Liu Mang initially thought this was bullshit, otherwise Lu Bu would not have lost his Sky Piercer and his Red Hare. However, when he saw the Wolf Cavalry, he realized that the Wolf Cavalry was actually holding back Lu Bu. That was why Lu Bu handed over the cavalry to Zhang Liao.

Now Zhang Fei had reached this stage. If Liu Mang wanted to kill Zhang Fei, the cost would be too big.

“This Yan person (yanren) Zhang Fei had truly become a castrate (yanren)” Liu Mang shook his head as he laughed bitterly. Zhang Fei who had been tortured by Huang She ended up becoming a castrate. That was how he made a breakthrough.

Zhang Fei was vigorous and powerful. His overwhelming strength allowed him to wield his Serpent Spear. He was strong enough to send Liu Mang flying. That strength placed him amongst the heroes of the Three Kingdoms era. However, that strength also inhibited Zhang Fei’s progress. This is because Zhang Fei could no longer become stronger physically.

Now that Zhang Fei was castrated, he was less vigorous and more feminine. As a result, his Serpent Spear became more precise. Rather than hacking down his enemies with overwhelming strength, Zhang Fei was now able to fight and kill in a more skillful manner. His strength and precision now helped him make a breakthrough.1

This was why Guan Hai and Zhou Cang were defeated. If Zhou Cang had not been there or if Zhang Fei did not rush back to ensure Pang Tong’s safety, Guan Hai would be dead.

“Pang Tong Pang Shiyuan! You managed to escape again!” Liu Mang thought ruthlessly. Not only did Pang Tong managed to escape. Liu Bei even obtained another general at Peak Refinement stage. Liu Mang’s plan to have Pang Tong killed was already a failure. At their next encounter, Liu Mang would need to pay a hefty fine for Pang Tong’s head.

“Zhou Cang. You should go and rest as well.” Liu Mang said to Zhou Cang and waved him off. He wanted Zhou Cang to get his injuries treated before Zhou Cang got an infection.

“Milord. You do not blame Brother Guan anymore?” Zhou Cang asked again.

“I don’t!” Liu Mang replied. It was not Guan Hai’s fault that Zhang Fei became so much stronger. Even Liu Mang did not expect Zhang Fei to become stronger like this.

Liu Mang then thought of a feminine Zhang Fei and felt disgusted. If such nauseating feeling could kill, Zhang Fei would be the world’s greatest killer.2

“Then I am relieved.” Zhou Cang said and then left. On his way out he passed by Zang Ba without greeting him as the two weren’t very well acquainted with each other.

“Little Lord. Guan Hai and Zhou Cang have returned? Did they kill Pang Tong?” Zang Ba stepped forward and asked Liu Mang. Pang Tong had harmed the Lu Bu’s Army so much that Pang Tong’s death was in their best interest.

“They did come back but Pang Tong escaped.” Liu Mang replied as he shook his head helplessly.

“He escaped?” Zang Ba was not an idiot. He managed to put the pieces together when he noticed Zhou Cang’s injuries.

“Yes. Guan Hai and Zhou Cang are injured. Pang Tong escaped.” Liu Mang replied.

“Did they come across an ambush?”

“No, they came across Zhang Fei.”