Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Lu Zhi remained silent, his expression grave, as if he were experiencing a fierce inner struggle, a thousand thoughts swirling within him. Gongsun Zan, however, held a resolute gaze, showing no sign of retreat. He suddenly shouted, "This is the crucial moment for us to unite and defeat Dong Zhuo. How can we stall because of one man, Ma Chao? I will lead my White Horse Volunteers to stop Ma Chao. You all, continue to increase your forces and join the battle. We must destroy Dong Zhuo right here!"

As soon as Gongsun Zan finished speaking, without waiting for a response, he swung his spear without hesitation, clamped his legs under his horse's belly, and galloped away. He led his renowned White Horse Volunteers, charging towards Ma Chao like the wind. Lu Zhi, standing behind him, wanted to intervene, but when he looked up at the princes watching the battle formation, he swallowed the words back. After all, while his relationship with Ma Chao as master and disciple was immense, the grand event was all about slaying the traitor Dong Zhuo. Lu Zhi simply couldn't let personal feelings ruin such a righteous cause. Seeing Gongsun Zan's renewed attack to delay Ma Chao and his men, the other princes also sent in additional troops, determined to keep Dong Zhuo's army at Hangu Pass.

Gongsun Zan, leading his White Horse Volunteers, charged at Ma Chao like lightning. He suddenly pulled on the reins, his eyes wide open as he roared, "Junior Brother, you and I are from the same sect. How could I have imagined that we would be fighting for our lives today?"

Ma Chao tightly grasped his spear, a trace of struggle flashing across his face as he responded, "Brother, I don't really want to be like this, but what can I do..."

Gongsun Zan interrupted him sharply, "Junior brother, Master Lu Zhi is currently with the allied forces. Do you dare to go against his will and aid that wicked thief Dong Zhuo?"

Ma Chao's body trembled slightly, his eyes quickly scanning the direction of the coalition forces. He sighed deeply, "Brother, I'm well aware of Dong Zhuo's evil deeds. But he's been so kind to me. I simply can't bear to see him die here!"

Gongsun Zan's hair stood on end in anger, and he roared indignantly, "Junior Brother, you are truly foolish! Dong Zhuo is guilty of countless crimes and is hated by the entire world. You are so stubborn and stubborn. How can you be worthy of my careful instruction? How can you face the people of this world with such dignity?"

Ma Chao gritted his teeth and said resolutely, "Brother, I cannot repay this kindness. I will escort Dong Zhuo back and will reflect on my actions later. I only beg you to spare my life for now."

Gongsun Zan was furious, shaking his head repeatedly and shouting, "Junior Brother, you've made a mistake on top of a mistake! I will not let you succeed today. Repent and turn back from your mistakes. This is the right path!"

With that, Gongsun Zan could no longer hold back and thrust his spear at Ma Chao. Ma Chao had no choice but to meet his blow. While Gongsun Zan was a formidable opponent, he was no match for Ma Chao. Ma Chao, however, showed mercy, unwilling to inflict any harm. Ma Chao lightly tapped his spear, avoiding Gongsun Zan's vital points each time, neutralizing his attacks one by one.

Gongsun Zan's desperate delay gave the allied forces an opportunity to launch an even more intense pursuit of the Western Liang troops, who had bypassed Ma Chao's area of ​​responsibility. The Western Liang troops were in a precarious position, like a small boat in a raging storm, threatened to capsize at any moment. Seeing the Western Liang troops trapped in a life-or-death situation, Ma Chao was terrified, like an ant on a hot pan. His eyes flashed, and he feinted his spear. The move, seemingly sharp but ingenious, instantly bewildered Gongsun Zan. Then, with lightning speed, he cast aside Gongsun Zan and, without hesitation, rejoined the fierce battle against the allied forces, continuing his resolute and fierce resistance and relentless suppression.

Yuan Shu's generals, Ji Ling, Lei Bo, and Zhang Xun, led their ferocious, wolf-like troops, charging with overwhelming force. Their faces were grim, their intent blazing. Upon meeting Ma Chao, Ma Chao remained motionless, but his spear, like a dragon emerging from the sea, swung with lightning speed. With immense force and a piercing gust of wind, he ruthlessly swept Zhang Xun off his horse. Before Zhang Xun could even react, he fell heavily to the ground, sending up a cloud of dust. Seeing this, Lei Bo, filled with shock and anger, his heart aflame, rushed forward to rescue him. However, Ma Chao, like a ghost, evaded Lei Bo's fierce attack with ease. Then, with a backhanded strike, the tip of his spear, like a venomous snake, pierced Lei Bo's shoulder with unerring precision. Lei Bo felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, blood splattered everywhere, and with a scream, he fell from his horse.

General Ji Ling, watching his two companions instantly defeated, suddenly widened his eyes, seething with rage. With a roar, he swung his immensely heavy, three-pointed, double-edged sword and slashed frantically at Ma Chao. The wind whistled, the momentum intimidating. Ma Chao, unfazed, remained calm, engaging Ji Ling in a back-and-forth exchange of spear and sword, sparks flying. The two battled for twenty or thirty rounds, until Ji Ling's arms began to ache and he began to pant, while Ma Chao remained calm and composed. It was clear that Ji Ling was far inferior to Ma Chao and no match for him. However, Ma Chao, wary of his own strength, had no intention of harming their lives. He was solely focused on breaking up the chaotic battle and escorting Dong Zhuo's army safely through Hangu Pass.

Yuan Shao's generals Zhang He and Gao Lan, along with Cao Cao's Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan, saw Ma Chao charging forward like a god of war. Knowing his superior martial arts skills were difficult to defeat head-on, they felt a surge of fear. Consequently, they halted their charge, urging Le Jin, Li Dian, Ju Yi, and other generals to continue their pursuit. Without hesitation, the four generals, each brandishing their weapons, galloped towards Ma Chao, forming a tight encirclement. A fiercer battle was about to erupt.

Zhang He, Gao Lan, Xiahou Yuan, and Xiahou Dun, four generals, swarmed towards Ma Chao like wolves pouncing on their prey. The battlefield was thick with dust and the cries of killing reached the sky, leaving the heart clenched.

Zhang He clutched his spear, his eyes wide, the tip of his spear trembling violently as he thrust it at Ma Chao's chest with the swiftness of a venomous snake, the force of the spear fierce and devastating, as if to kill with one blow. Ma Chao's gaze fixed, a flicker of determination in his eyes, and he leaned back slightly, narrowly avoiding the attack by a hair's breadth. In that instant, his spear swept out like a dragon emerging from the sea, colliding heavily with Zhang He's spear, sending out a string of dazzling sparks. The sharp sound of metal clashing was particularly piercing in the noisy battlefield.

Gao Lan, unwilling to be outdone, brandished his long sword, teeth clenched, veins bulging on his forehead. Taking advantage of his horse's momentum, he slashed at Ma Chao's waist with overwhelming force, seemingly capable of severing everything. Ma Chao lightly gripped the horse's belly, and the horse, as if possessed of human nature, nimbly leaped forward, avoiding the vicious blow. Simultaneously, he backhanded a spear, the tip of the spear striking Gao Lan in the face like lightning. The speed startled Gao Lan, and he hastily retreated to defend himself, nearly falling from his horse in his panic.

Xiahou Yuan drew his bowstring to full length, his fingers loosening as a sharp arrow flew out with a whoosh, streaking through the air and aiming for Ma Chao's throat. The arrow's speed was unstoppable, its momentum carrying a deadly blow. Ma Chao tilted his head as the arrow grazed his cheek. The sharp wind stung his skin, causing a streak of hair to fall. With a furious roar, his eyes blazing, he charged at Xiahou Yuan, his momentum fierce, as if he were determined to devour him alive.

Xiahou Dun, longsword in hand, his face fierce and ferocious, roared as he charged towards Ma Chao. His roar was like thunder, the wind whistling from his sword swirled, and clouds of dust swirled. Each strike carried a tremendous force, as if to cleave Ma Chao and his horse in two. Ma Chao, fearless, engaged Xiahou Dun head-on. The two weapons clashed with a deafening clang, and the immense impact numbed both their arms.

The surrounding soldiers watched the fierce battle with trepidation, barely daring to breathe. The atmosphere on the battlefield was tense to the bone. However, Ma Chao, besieged by these four men, not only survived, but grew stronger with each attack. His spear skills grew sharper, his moves unpredictable and overwhelming, like a whirlwind of wind and rain. Each strike was charged with unstoppable momentum, forcing the four generals to struggle and struggle. Meanwhile, Dong Zhuo's army was about to retreat to Hangu Pass, but the coalition's reinforcements poured in like a surging tide, their offensive intensifying and becoming unstoppable. Despite their best efforts, the Xiliang soldiers were powerless to stop the coalition's overwhelming attack. They were on the verge of retreating back to the pass, but they were unable to do so. Every step forward felt like a heavy burden.

Zhang Liao and Gao Shun also turned ruthless, their eyes bloodshot and roaring in fury. Leading their Xianzhen Camp, they locked eyes with the coalition reinforcements, fighting for their lives like an impenetrable dam, leaving a narrow opening for Dong Zhuo's army to retreat. Xu Rong, even more fearless, commanded the Xiliang troops in a desperate counterattack, his eyes bloodshot and his face grim, hoping to allow Dong Zhuo's chariot to enter Hangu Pass smoothly.