Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Shamoke stared at Ma Chao like a hawk. Seeing that Ma Chao hadn't replied, he couldn't help but let out a burst of unbridled laughter, his tone filled with contempt and provocation. "Hmph, what's going on? The Han people who usually flaunt their might in Han territory are now so frightened by this scene that they dare not move a muscle. Were all those big promises you made earlier just empty words that were blown away by the wind? I see, you're nothing but a bunch of cowards!"

Ma Chao remained composed, his face untouched by Shamoke's mockery. He calmly explained, his voice steady and powerful, as if carrying a reassuring force: "Chief, I, Ma Chao, am by no means a coward. However, you should understand that such simple tests of courage are of no practical use in our joint struggle against the Wu Commandery. We have come here with great difficulty, full of sincerity and practical strategies, solely to help our Shanyue brothers escape their current predicament, not to compete in some so-called test of courage."

However, Shamoke was completely unmoved. He snorted disdainfully, his lips curled up in a mocking arc. "Stop trying to argue with me. All you're saying is just an excuse for yourself. Don't think you can get away with it by making up these high-sounding words."

At that moment, Pan Feng and Wu Anguo, standing behind Shamoke, witnessed Ma Chao's humiliation. Their loyalty was instantly ignited, and they surged with an uncontrollable sense of injustice. Gan Ning, equally displeased with seeing his lord mocked, seethed with rage. The two glanced at each other, their eyes etched with determination and tacit understanding, unspoken.

Pan Fengwu and Anguo strode forward, knelt on one knee, and, with their fists clasped, asked Ma Chao for instructions. Their voices were loud and firm: "Chief! I am willing to accept this test on your behalf. We must show this Shanyue leader our courage and strength. We must not let him look down on us like this!"

Gan Ning also hurried forward, his expression resolute, and said with a bow, "Chief Shamoke, we are by no means cowards. Since you wish to test our courage, we accept your challenge. We have enough strength and courage to fight shoulder to shoulder with our Shanyue brothers, and we will not tolerate your contempt!"

When Shamoke heard that Pan Feng, Wu Anguo and Gan Ning wanted to fight, his eyes suddenly lit up with strong interest. He looked at them with burning eyes and said repeatedly: "Okay, okay, since you are so enthusiastic, then come! I want to take a closer look at what the heroes you Han people are talking about look like." There was an expectation for the unknown challenge, but also a hint of imperceptible contempt in his tone, as if he was sure that they would make a fool of themselves in the upcoming test.

At this tense moment, Ma Chao suddenly dissuaded him loudly, "Wait a moment!" It turned out that when Shamoke proposed the test, Lu Su had quietly approached Ma Chao and whispered, "My lord, when it comes to climbing the Knife Mountain, the Shanyue people have lived in the mountains for a long time and climbed every day. They have thick calluses on their feet, and they have skills in climbing the knives. They can avoid injuries by climbing steadily and slowly; on the charcoal road, they are fast and have thick calluses, so it will not be a problem for a short time; as for the oil pan, I'm afraid it has been diluted with something, so it looks boiling hot, but it is not that scary." Ma Chao knew what was going on, so he spoke out to stop him.

Ma Chao looked calmly at Shamoke, and spoke slowly, each word clearly, "Chief Shamoke, these tactics you've employed might work to fool those ignorant villagers who haven't experienced the world, but why use them on us, who have weathered countless battles and have long disregarded life and death? A scar on our heads is only the size of a bowl, and when it comes to matters of life and death, how could we have ever been afraid? However, these little tricks of yours are far too simple in my eyes. I already know the ins and outs of them."

As Ma Chao spoke, he took steady steps, calmly pointing his finger at the knife mountain and the Shanyue people walking on the flaming coals, and began to analyze them methodically. "You see, they've been Shanyue people for generations, living in these vast mountains for a long time. The daily climbing, walking, and hard labor have inevitably created thick calluses on their feet. While climbing the knife mountain may seem like a dangerous ordeal, as long as you master certain techniques and maintain a steady and slow ascent, you can skillfully avoid the sharp blades and avoid injury. As for this flaming coal road, as long as you walk quickly enough, and with the thick callouses on your feet acting as a natural protection, you won't suffer too much damage in a short time. And this so-called sea of ​​fire you carefully arranged, I think it's probably secretly mixed with other substances. The appearance of billowing smoke and boiling oil creates an extremely dangerous illusion, but in reality, I don't think it's actually that hot."

Hearing Ma Chao's insightful analysis, Shamoke's expression changed slightly. His once confident expression froze, and a flicker of embarrassment and surprise flashed across his eyes. He had never imagined that Ma Chao could see through the secret behind his carefully designed test.

However, Ma Chao didn't give him time to react. As soon as he finished speaking, he strode directly towards the frying pan. His expression was calm, as if he were standing before a tranquil lake rather than a simmering pot of oil. Ma Chao casually pulled an object from his pocket and, without even glancing, tossed it into the frying pan. Then, without the slightest hesitation, he quickly rolled up his sleeves and plunged his hand inside.

This sudden action left Ma Chao's brothers stunned, as if time had frozen in that moment. Their eyes widened, their mouths dropped open, their faces filled with disbelief. A moment later, they all cried out in unison, their nerves surging like a surging tide, their hearts pounding in their throats, their nerves threatening to burst. Their eyes were fixed on Ma Chao's arm, not daring to breathe, as if even the slightest breath would disturb the tense atmosphere and put Ma Chao in danger.

Ma Chao, however, remained calm, as if he felt no pain at all, and steadily retrieved the object he had thrown into the frying pan with his bare hands. As he slowly withdrew his arm, everyone realized that, although his arm was slightly red, it wasn't seriously damaged.

Seeing his tricks were discovered, Shamoke was immediately enraged, his face flushing and then pale. He still insisted, "Humph! You are just talking nonsense and making excuses here because you don't have the courage to try! You talk as if you really see through everything, but in fact, it's just a coward's excuse!"

Ma Chao remained calm, smiled noncommittally, and said, "Chief Shamoke, if you simply want to test our courage, why not openly challenge us here in the square in archery, swordplay, or even wrestling? Why resort to such elaborate tactics that only fuel suspicion and misunderstanding?"

Shamoke stared intently at Ma Chao, his heart simmering with rage, wishing he could devour him alive. Ma Chao's calm demeanor glared at him. Shamoke gnashed his teeth and said, "Well, well, well! You little pretty boy, you're so good at talking! Since you're so confident, then as you wish, let's have a duel! I want to see what real skills you have besides your verbal skills!" With that, he tossed his sleeves, his eyes filled with fierceness and determination.

As the two sides drew up their positions, ready to begin the duel in the square, word spread like wildfire. The surrounding civilians, previously busy with their own tasks, dropped their tasks and gathered around the edge of the square. Their eyes gleamed with curiosity and excitement, and they whispered to each other, discussing the situation.

While there were certain hierarchical divisions within the Shanyue people, it was clear from this scene that Shamoke treated his subjects well. The people looked at Shamoke with no fear, but rather with love and respect. They gathered together without a trace of panic, like an audience waiting to enjoy a wonderful performance, in perfect order.

Ma Chao keenly sensed this. He calmly glanced around, taking it all in. He nodded silently. At first glance, Shamoke appeared fierce and his demeanor unyielding. However, judging by his harmonious interactions with the people and their genuine affection for him, Ma Chao concluded that he wasn't a ruthless, unscrupulous individual with no regard for the lives of his subjects. This gave Ma Chao even more confidence in their future collaboration.

Everyone quickly set up arrow embrasures in the distance. The Shanyue, long resident of the mountains and forests, were adept at running and darting, making close combat and archery their forte. With the embrasures in place, Shamoke, a provocative smile on his face, invited Ma Chao and the others: "Since you call yourselves the Jinfan Army, and this young man is from the Ma family in the northwest, you must all be skilled in archery. How about we start with a duel?" With that, Shamoke waved his hand, and a general immediately emerged from the ranks.

Shamoke introduced: "My general Mu Tie is a well-known sharpshooter in the tribe. He never misses his target. You may want to compete with him." Mu Tie walked to the center of the venue with his head held high, looking confident. He first pulled out a feather arrow from the quiver, put it on the string, and drew the bow like a full moon, but was not in a hurry to shoot. He turned his body slightly, his eyes scanning the surroundings like an eagle, and then turned around abruptly, shooting three arrows at the arrow nest in the distance. The three arrows drew three sharp arcs in the air, and with three "whoosh" sounds, they hit the bull's eye accurately, with the tail of the arrow still trembling slightly. Mu Tie looked very proud, and glanced at Ma Chao and others, as if declaring victory.

Mu Tie's smug expression, coupled with the thunderous cheers of the surrounding Shanyue tribesmen, instantly filled the entire square. However, Ma Chao and the others remained remarkably calm. Even the guards behind them showed no sign of surprise, as if the scene before them was commonplace.

This situation really annoyed Mu Tie. He yelled angrily, "What's wrong with you guys? Why are you dithering? Who's going to fight? Who's going to compete with me?"

Ma Chao, however, looked leisurely and unhurried, and said with a smile: "General Mu Tie, since that's the case, it's up to you. Just pick someone at random, and we will let him fight you." His calm and composed attitude, as if he was sure of victory, made Mu Tie very angry.