Cao Cao’s forces had been repeatedly ambushed, and his fifty thousand troops were now scattered and fleeing in disarray.

Just as Jia Xu had predicted, Guo Jia, Li You, and Liu Ye had each, without any prior intelligence, seized the perfect moments to launch their ambushes, nearly causing the complete collapse of Cao Cao’s army each time.

However, Jia Xu hadn’t accounted for Cheng Yu’s spiritual talent—one that bolstered resilience, endurance, and adaptability. Under the influence of Cheng Yu's talent, although repeatedly ambushed, Cao Cao’s forces managed to maintain some semblance of order.

After Tai Shici and Gan Ning were held off by the Xiahou brothers, Cao Cao, along with Xun You and Cheng Yu, fought their way desperately toward Pengcheng.

"My lord, it seems that returning to Yanzhou may no longer be feasible," Xun You said calmly, his mind clearer than ever despite the exhaustion of his troops. The relentless pressure seemed to have sharpened his focus rather than cloud it.

"It cannot end like this! My grand ambitions are yet unfulfilled—I refuse to perish here! I will lead us out of this," Cao Cao declared, his determination unwavering despite the dire situation.

Little did Cao Cao know that if not for his spiritual transformation after slaying Cao Bao, the relentless blows he had suffered might have already broken him. If not for his unyielding heart, he might have succumbed to despair like so many before him.

Cheng Yu, initially stunned, found clarity upon seeing the resolve in Cao Cao's eyes.

"My lord, this is a trap known as the ‘Ten Sided Ambush.’ We’ve already missed our chance to escape. This strategy was designed to bury us here—there’s no escape through the rivers as we thought," Xun You explained bitterly, unwilling to give up that last sliver of hope.

"Haha! Then we’ll fight our way out! Even if the path is filled with thorns, I, Cao Mengde, will carve my way through!" Cao Cao laughed boldly, displaying a newfound sense of power despite his disheveled appearance.

"It won’t be easy," Cheng Yu warned. "The final ambush will likely be led by Liu Bei’s strongest general and tactician, commanding his most powerful troops. We’re exhausted and outnumbered. If we can’t break through in one strike, death is the only outcome!" Cheng Yu glanced at Xun You, and the two shared a knowing look.

"My lord! I have a plan that can get us out of this!" Xun You said, nodding at Cheng Yu before addressing Cao Cao.

"Speak, Gongda!" Cao Cao turned to him.

Thud! Cheng Yu struck the back of Cao Cao’s head, knocking him out cold.

"Cheng Yu, what are you doing?!" Cao Cao’s bodyguard, Qin Shao, roared as he lunged at Cheng Yu, followed closely by Cao Hong and Cao Chun.

"There is no other way to save our lord!" Cheng Yu replied tersely.

Qin Shao paused, then quickly understood. Without hesitation, he stripped Cao Cao of his golden armor, took up his Yitian Sword, and mounted Cao Cao’s famous horse, Zhaohuang Feidian. "I entrust our lord’s safety to you both."

Cao Hong and Cao Chun were momentarily stunned but soon realized what was happening. They saluted Cheng Yu and Xun You. "Our brother is in your hands."

"No more words. Success or failure depends on Bainan," Xun You said curtly. "If I’m not mistaken, the final ambush will be led by Guan Yun. The strategist behind this plan is meticulous and will likely want to personally ensure Cao Cao’s death. Among Liu Bei’s forces, only a few people can recognize our lord, and of them, only Guan Yun knows him well enough to be certain."

"Zilian, Zihe, we’re not done yet! We’ll split the troops in two—one to hold the enemy while the other flees to Yu Province. We’ll fight with all we’ve got, to buy time for Bainan and draw the enemy’s attention away!" Cheng Yu said solemnly. "We have less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before Liu Bei’s forces catch up. Let’s gamble everything!"

"At your command, Strategist!" Cao Hong immediately agreed, with no hesitation despite the dire situation.

"Then let’s turn back and fight! The more fiercely we resist, the more pressure we put on the enemy, and the more time Bainan will have. The longer the ambushers focus on Bainan, the greater the chance our lord will escape alive!" Xun You urged. "Prepare to meet the enemy!"

"Then I will lead the charge!" Cao Hong shouted as he mounted his horse. With a final roar, he led his troops back into the fray, determined to hold off the pursuing army.

Facing Chen Dao, who had led the pursuit, Cao Hong swung his blade with reckless abandon, fueled by desperation. His raw force drove back the attackers momentarily, but soon enough, reinforcements led by Wei Yan joined the fray, overwhelming Cao Hong’s forces.

"Get out of my way!" Xiahou Dun, bloodied and enraged, crashed into the battlefield, rescuing Cao Hong just as he was about to be overwhelmed. Behind him, Gan Ning and a handful of troops pursued relentlessly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com