My Three Kingdoms is not right

Liu Xun looked up and saw a simple barricade set up in front of the bridge, with two wooden sheds next to it and a dirty flag hanging on the flagpole.

People waiting to cross the border lined up in a long queue in front of the gate, while the guards, all pale and emaciated, demanded taxes from each of them with fierce expressions.

These past few days, Liu Xun and his companions had become quite adept at passing through checkpoints. With a slight spur of their horses, the three of them skipped the queue and rode straight ahead.

Before the guards could come forward to inquire, Xu Huang spoke first, demanding:

"Whose men are you? Call your leader out and speak!"

These low-ranking soldiers were masters of judging people by their appearance. Although the three men before them were travel-worn, the quality of their clothes, the appearance of their mounts, and their overall demeanor clearly indicated that they were not ordinary merchants. Not daring to be negligent, they quickly turned around to call for reinforcements.

Before long, a man dressed as a corporal rushed over, his hat askew on his forehead, and he straightened it as he ran.

Upon reaching the horse, he looked up with a fawning smile and said, "We are local soldiers, under the command of Chancellor Chen Gui. May I ask where you esteemed guests are headed?"

Zhao Yun looked down at her and said, "My master went to Guangling to purchase goods; this is the official document."

The sergeant took the document with both hands and carefully compared it with the official seal—the document was of course genuine, bought by Xu Du's spies with real money from the bank, and there were no flaws in its format or seal.

After verifying the information, he respectfully returned the documents with both hands, then turned and waved to his subordinates: "What are you standing there for? Open the switch and let it through!"

The soldiers quickly moved the barricades aside. Liu Xun was about to urge his horse forward when suddenly, the thunderous sound of a large troop of horses came from afar.

The sergeant's face immediately changed, and he muttered a curse under his breath.

Zhao Yun looked at Liu Xun. Liu Xun shook his head slightly.

Their movements remained undetected, and they made no mistakes along the way. They shouldn't be after me.

As they spoke, the group of more than ten riders had already arrived at the pass.

"Everyone stand still! Hand over half of your valuables; anyone who keeps half will be executed!"

The cavalrymen rode around the group, surrounding them in the center.

A soldier tried to step forward to explain, but the squad leader pulled him back.

The leading cavalry captain, clad in two layers of armor, with a round face and broad ears, reined in his horse before the pass. His gaze swept across the area and landed on Liu Xun and his two companions.

"Hey, this horse is pretty good."

Zhao Yun calmly stepped in front of Liu Xun: "My master is the manager of the Mi family of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He is on his way to Guangling and already has the necessary travel documents."

The captain waved his hand and sneered, "We are ordered to collect provisions for the army. We do not recognize official documents, but only the general's orders."

Liu Xun knew that the General Hou she was referring to was Hou Cheng, who served under Lü Bu.

This man was in charge of the army and logistics. His troops were undisciplined and their discipline was extremely poor. They often looted grain and fodder from all directions.

The fact that Lü Bu allowed her to plunder the people in his territory shows that she was clearly the fiercest warrior in the world, yet she suffered repeated defeats and fell to such a state.

It was only a day's journey from here to Guangling. Liu Xun, not wanting to cause trouble, nodded to Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun took out a silver ingot from his package and tossed it over.

The captain reached out and took it, weighed it in his hand, and nodded in satisfaction. He raised his hand to let them pass, but his gaze was inexplicably drawn to Liu Xun on horseback.

She swallowed hard, her laughter tinged with a hint of flirtation: "Your shopkeeper certainly has a good figure. Take off your hat and let me have a look."

Zhao Yun's eyes turned cold: "Insolence! Even if Hou Cheng himself came, he wouldn't dare to be so rude in front of my master."

Xu Huang, who was standing to the side, had already stepped in front of Liu Xun and placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

To everyone's surprise, this captain was a veteran of Xiliang, hot-tempered, crude, and habitually arrogant. Far from being intimidated, he was instead provoked into a ferocious rage: "You're asking for it, aren't you? Sisters, go get them!"

Liu Xun sighed inwardly.

I thought I could settle things peacefully, but the way things are these days, even if you back down, others might not let you off the hook.

He drew his long sword from his dagger and charged forward on his horse.

Of course, just like the previous times, Zhao Yun flashed by in a white shadow and got ahead of him.

No one saw how she drew her sword; a flash of cold light appeared like a thunderclap, heading straight for the captain's throat!

The captain, a seasoned veteran, instinctively leaned back to avoid the attack. His sword grazed her neck, drawing a bead of blood. She was filled with shock and rage, and was about to retaliate—

Another blade flashed.

Xu Huang had already leaped forward on his horse without anyone noticing, and his ring-pommel sword slashed diagonally upwards with great force!

A head flew high into the air, and blood splattered onto the dust.

Liu Xun felt somewhat helpless.

What should I do if my teammates keep stealing kills? I need help urgently.

"Kill them!!"

The cavalrymen only then realized what was happening and, in a panic, drew their swords to fight.

But they were facing two of the most outstanding warriors of their time.

Even though Zhao Yun and Xu Huang disguised themselves as merchant guards and did not carry their usual long weapons, they were still no match for these Xiliang cavalry.

Zhao Yun's sword flashed, fast and accurate; with each thrust, a man fell from his horse.

Xu Huang's broadsword was the complete opposite.

Accustomed to wielding a large axe, she held the steel knife as if it were weightless. Each chop, hack, sweep, and smash carried an overwhelming force.

Even though the opposing cavalrymen weren't cut in half with a single blow, they were still smashed off their horses.

Liu Xun was not idle either.

He sidestepped a cavalryman who was sneaking in from the right, and with a backhand slash, he cut the man's throat open.

Level 7 white blade, masterful skill.

Dealing with these henchmen is no more difficult than chopping vegetables.

In just one encounter, half of the cavalrymen still on horseback were gone.

The remaining cavalrymen were both shocked and furious, losing all will to fight. They turned their horses around, whipped them, and fled.

"No need to chase them," Liu Xun called out to the two generals.

This is the problem with dealing with cavalry: it's so easy for them to escape if they want to.

Although the three of them were highly skilled in martial arts, they simply couldn't chase down eight enemies on horseback who were determined to escape.

It took only a few dozen breaths in total.

The area in front of the pass was littered with corpses, and the stench of blood permeated the air, causing the warhorses to snort restlessly.

Behind the wooden shed, the corporal was already terrified, his face ashen, his legs weak, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Honorable sir, spare our lives! Those people from Xiliang routinely plunder the villages and slaughter innocent people; we hate them to the core!" She knelt and kowtowed, begging for mercy. "I didn't see anything! Please, sir, spare our lives!"

Liu Xun ignored her and waved his hand: "Let's go!"

Now that the operation has begun, the news will spread quickly. The sooner we leave Lü Bu's territory, the safer we will be.

But the three of them weren't too worried.

This place is only half a day's journey from Guangling. Even if Lü Bu's army received the warning, they would not have time to mobilize troops to stop them.

Moreover, they were riding the magnificent warhorses specially sent by Cao Cao, which was enough to allow them to leave before Lü Bu could react.

However, after running less than five miles, they saw a large army blocking their way.