Traveling back in time to Liu Feng, starting with rescuing soldier Guan Yu.

Kou Zun lowered his voice and leaned closer: "Brother, judging from the formation, the forces inside the pass probably number more than 50,000. Please retreat quickly, or things may change."

Liu Feng did not answer.

He stared at the flags on the city wall for a long time, his gaze shifting from one flag to another, then from the flags to the density of the patrolling soldiers on the city wall, and then from the patrol density to the size of the campfires that were faintly visible inside the wall.

Then Liu Feng suddenly said, "The flags look new; the colors haven't faded, and there's no damage. They seem to have been made recently. The number of patrols on the city walls hasn't increased compared to half a month ago, and the campfires don't seem to be large enough to hold 50,000 people. Zirong, are you saying these reinforcements all entered the pass during the day?"

"Yes. It's always during the day, with the flags clearly displayed, as if afraid that others won't see them."

"What was the interval between the entry of the several reinforcements?"

Kou Zun recalled briefly: "The first and second groups were about two days apart, and the second and third groups were also about two days apart. Each time they entered the pass in the afternoon, and the routes were almost the same—they all came from the official road to the north."

Liu Feng's lips twitched slightly.

"The same soldiers."

Kou Zun was taken aback.

"Xiahou Shang only had one army. He had this army enter the pass during the day under different flags, and then sneak out at night. He would change the flag, change the unit number, and then enter the pass again with great fanfare the next day. More and more flags were planted, but the army was always the same army."

Liu Feng lowered his voice but spoke quickly, "This isn't reinforcement; it's a magic trick. A trick for Chengdu, a trick for the King of Hanzhong. Or perhaps, a trick for us. Why would Xiahou Shang put on this show?"

Just then, a dull creaking sound came from inside the heavy door.

The three of them simultaneously lowered their bodies. A group of people emerged from inside the pass—several hundred in number, a mix of cavalry and infantry, without any flags and with only a few torches, as if they were deliberately keeping their tracks low.

After leaving the pass, the group dispersed northward along the official road. The sounds of horses' hooves and footsteps were swallowed by the night, leaving only a blurry silhouette moving in the moonlight.

In stark contrast to their grand entrance into the city during the day, this procession moved with extreme caution, even bridles on their horses to prevent them from neighing.

Kou Zun's eyes widened suddenly.

"Brother! This group isn't carrying any flags! They're leaving the pass under cover of night!"

"I saw it."

Liu Feng's gaze followed the group of people, his pupils contracting to pinpoints in the moonlight. "They enter the pass during the day and leave at night. Tomorrow, they'll change their flag and swagger in again via the official road from the north. Xiahou Shang has mastered a clever deception!"

Kou Zun's voice trembled with excitement: "Brother, what should we do now? Now that we've seen that Xiahou is just bluffing, Nanxiang County is safe for the time being. We should retreat!"

Liu Feng shook his head.

"Xiahou Shang's feigned attack must have a reason. He already has a large army under his command, so why would he make us suspicious and afraid to approach?"

"What do you think, elder brother?"

"Stop this group, capture a few prisoners, and extract their confessions. That will confirm that Xiahou Shang is bluffing! We might even make some unexpected discoveries!"

Liu Feng stared intently at the group of people leaving the pass, his gaze sweeping from the front to the back of the group. He estimated the number of people, observed their equipment, and searched for the key figures in the group before slowly standing up.

Kou Zun was shocked and reached out to pull him.

Liu Feng strode out of the gully and climbed to the top of the slope. The moonlight clearly outlined his figure, a lone figure standing on the hilltop, his battle robe fluttering in the night wind.

"I am Liu Feng, Deputy Army General!"

The sound pierced the night, like a thunderclap striking the foot of Wuguan City. Before the words had even finished, Liu Feng had already taken the bow and arrow from his back, drawn the bowstring taut like a full moon, and shot the arrow like a shooting star, pinning the commander of the troops leaving the pass to the ground with a single arrow.

The firelight on the city wall flickered suddenly, and the sentries ran about shouting. Some leaned out of the crenellations to look down. A commotion arose from the group that had just left the pass; some reined in their horses, some drew their swords, and some shouted something in the darkness.

A moment later, dozens of riders broke away from the column, their hooves pounding the ground like a sudden downpour, charging towards Liu Feng. The leader, a man who appeared to be a captain, was an excellent rider; he spurred his horse and shouted, "Don't let Liu Feng escape! Whoever captures Liu Feng alive will be rewarded with a thousand pieces of gold!"

Guan Yinping suddenly drew her sword from the ditch. The blade scraped against the scabbard with a sharp metallic screech, and she was about to rush out when Kou Zun grabbed her and held her down tightly.

"Don't move!"

Kou Zun hissed, his grip almost burying her in the ground. "Your brother knows what he's doing!"

Liu Feng moved like a cheetah through the night, his personal guards already leading his horse to meet him. Liu Feng leaped onto his horse.

He turned his back to the pursuers, but did not rush to accelerate. He controlled the reins to keep his warhorse at a steady pace, neither too fast for the pursuers to give up, nor too slow for them to catch up.

His horse's hooves kicked up dust in the moonlight, his shadow flickering in and out of the open field. Dozens of Cao Cao's cavalrymen pursued relentlessly, the captain's sword already drawn in the moonlight, tip pointing forward, he shouted sharply: "Liu Feng! You've walked right into our trap, tonight you'll leave your head behind!"

Liu Feng suddenly turned his horse around.

He stopped fleeing. The warhorse suddenly turned at high speed, its front hooves off the ground, drawing a breathtaking arc in the moonlight.

He crouched low, almost pressed his body against the horse's neck, and spurred his horse straight at the pursuing Cao cavalry. He was alone against dozens of riders.

The moment the two armies clashed, Liu Feng suddenly pulled on the reins, his warhorse brushing past the captain's head—the captain's longsword missed its mark, the blade grazing half an inch from Liu Feng's shoulder, severing a strand of his battle robe that was being blown by the night wind.

At the same time, Liu Feng's spear had silently emerged from the right side of the horse's neck, its tip slanting upwards at a tricky angle, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole.

One shot. The spear tip pierced through the gap in the captain's rib armor, penetrating the flesh and reaching straight to his heart and lungs.

The captain grunted, his longsword slipped from his hand, and he was thrown from his horse, crashing heavily into the dust. He twitched a couple of times and then lay still. Dozens of riders behind him reined in their horses, their hooves carving deep furrows in the mud.

"I am Liu Feng, the eldest son of the King of Hanzhong and Deputy General! I personally beheaded Cao Ren!"

Liu Feng stood with his spear held high, the moonlight shining from behind him, obscuring his face in shadow, leaving only the blood on the tip of his spear gleaming with a cold red light under the moonlight.

None of the dozens of Cao soldiers dared to take a step forward.

Some recognized his voice, some heard it clearly for the first time, and some were completely stunned by the way he had just shot down the captain.

The silence lasted only three breaths before being shattered by a panicked scream—"It's Liu Feng! Liu Feng of Fancheng! Liu Feng who beheaded Cao Zhengnan!"

The shout was like a pebble thrown into water, and ripples of fear spread rapidly among the enemy cavalry. Some instinctively reined in their horses and retreated, while others, in a panic, raised their swords but did not know where to strike; the formation crumbled in an instant.

Liu Feng laughed loudly.

The laughter was particularly loud in the night wind, carrying a chillingly bold spirit.

"Now that you gentlemen know my name, why don't you surrender sooner!"

Before he finished speaking, he spurred his horse and charged into the enemy ranks once more. His spear flashed like a dragon entering the sea, thrusting left and right, each strike whistling through the air. Although Cao Cao's cavalry outnumbered him, he had already gained the upper hand, throwing them into disarray. Their swordplay faltered, and even their horses collided with each other in their panic. One cavalryman attempted a flank attack, but Liu Feng swung his spear shaft and struck his helmet. With a dull thud, the man fell from his horse without uttering a sound.

Another man, who looked like a squad leader, swung his knife at Liu Feng. Liu Feng dodged to the side, and the tip of his spear grazed the man's wrist, blood spurting out, and the long knife flew out of his hand.

In a short while, seven or eight of the dozens of pursuing riders had fallen. The rest finally broke down, let out a shout, turned their horses, and scattered in all directions.

Liu Feng did not pursue them. Instead, he brandished his spear and rode his horse, blocking the route of the fleeing soldiers like an iron gate.

Those who kneel and abandon their weapons will not be killed!

Seven or eight Cao army cavalrymen tumbled from their horses, throwing their swords to the ground and kneeling in the dust, hands clasped behind their heads. Liu Feng rode slowly past them, his gaze sweeping over each terrified face. Then he turned and shouted towards the earthen mound, "Zirong! Seize them!"

Kou Zun leaped up from behind the ditch, followed closely by several mounted guards who pounced on him like wolves and tigers, pinning down and binding the kneeling prisoners one by one.

Guan Yinping ran in the lead, sheathed her short sword, grabbed a struggling Cao army cavalryman by the back of the collar, and pressed him back to the ground.

Dust covered half her face, but she didn't wipe it off; she just looked up at Liu Feng.

Under the moonlight, Liu Feng stood not far in front of her on horseback, the tip of his spear touching the ground. A few fresh dark red spots splattered on his battle robe, but they were not his blood.

"Are you injured?" Guan Yinping asked in a low voice, as if afraid of being overheard.

"No." Liu Feng glanced down at her. "Why isn't there any blood on your knife?"

Guan Yinping glanced down at the short sword at her waist; the cloth strips wrapped around the hilt were clean. In the exchange just now, she hadn't even had a chance to draw her sword—not out of fear, but because it was too fast.

"Next time, I will definitely kill the enemy myself!" Guan Yinping bit her lower lip, a defiant light shining in her phoenix eyes. Liu Feng did not reply, but turned his horse around and rode towards the prisoners.