Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ma Chao gently handed the iron bow to the mountain dweller. The two took it with trembling hands, their faces filled with genuine admiration and a hint of awe as they exclaimed in unison, "General, you are truly a god!" Ma Chao smiled gently, patted the mountain dweller's shoulder, and then clapped his hands. He walked steadily to Shamoke and asked calmly, "Chief, the archery competition has concluded. What was the result?"

Shamoke was a man of generous and open mind. Seeing Ma Chao's prowess, he could not help but admire him and said frankly, "The Ma family leader is so skilled that we Shanyue people are truly ashamed of ourselves. In this archery competition, we are defeated with all our heart."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao smiled and said, "If that's the case, then there are other competition items. Let's continue."

At this moment, Shamoke understood and winked at the general beside him. Behind the general, Mu Jin came out with a big axe in hand, striding out with a heroic stride, and said in a voice as loud as a bell, "How about we have a competition in the art of fighting?"

Gan Ning, who was standing by, heard this and felt his blood boiling. He immediately clasped his fists and said, "Alright! In that case, I will fight you."

Ma Chao smiled and waved his hand, looking at Shamoke and said, "Chief, this one-on-one competition is quite slow. Why don't you send two more generals? I also have two generals here. Wouldn't it be better if we could all compete one on one?"

Shamoke had completely put aside his contempt for Ma Chao and the others by now. He secretly felt that these Han people were indeed quite capable, and he no longer had such a strong resistance to them. He immediately responded, "In that case, Muyin and Mutong, you two should also step out and compete with the generals under Chief Ma."

As soon as he finished speaking, Pan Feng and Wu Anguo exchanged a glance and volunteered to step forward. The men present were all mountain dwellers, and this competition wouldn't involve horseback combat. After exchanging names, the three generals quickly took up their positions and engaged in a fierce battle. Blades flashed, axes clashed, and the crowds engaged. For a moment, the square was filled with shouts of killing and the clash of weapons, creating a tense atmosphere.

At this time, the competition was in full swing. Ma Chao took advantage of this break to chat with Shamoke. Ma Chao asked curiously, "Hearing the leader addressing us like this, are these four generals brothers from the same mother?"

Shamoke smiled heartily and replied, "Indeed! These four are all capable men under my command, and they are indeed brothers. The eldest, Mu Jin, is immensely strong and skilled in wielding a battle axe, whose blows pack a terrifying punch. The second, Mu Yin, is agile and masters the use of his two swords to perfection, their movements impenetrable. The third, Mu Tong, is fierce and ruthless, wielding a sledgehammer, and each swing carries immense force. While the fourth, while relatively unremarkable in tactics, is exceptional in swordsmanship, his strikes are fierce and unpredictable."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao couldn't help but sigh, "Such a family of four heroes, each possessing unique skills, is truly amazing." After saying this, the two of them turned their gaze towards the fierce battle in the field, watching this wonderful competition intently.

In the field, six generals faced each other in pairs, and the strong smell of gunpowder seemed to ignite the air.

Mu Jin struck first, swinging his axe high with both hands. With a roar like a tiger, he slashed down at Gan Ning with the force of a mountain-splitting rock. The axe, accompanied by a whirring sound, resembled a flash of black lightning. Gan Ning's eyes were sharp, and his body, as nimble as a monkey, easily dodged the fierce blow. At the same time, his long sword, like a venomous snake emerging from a cave, aimed straight at Mu Jin's throat. Mu Jin reacted quickly, hastily withdrawing his axe to block the blow. A loud clang sounded, sparks flew, and the two men collided for the first time. The impact of the force shook the air around them.

Elsewhere, Mu Yin brandished his two swords, their blades flashing like two nimble silver dragons as they swiftly pounced upon Pan Feng. Pan Feng's expression remained composed, his axe wielding impenetrable and unstoppable, forcing Mu Yin's blades to rest with unparalleled strength. Every clash of weapons produced a crisp, deafening clatter that threatened to rupture an eardrum. Seizing the momentary opening, Pan Feng swung his axe across, sweeping Mu Yin's blades aside. Then, taking a lightning-fast step forward, the axe blade thrust with immense force into Mu Yin's chest. Mu Yin's expression paled, and he leaped back, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow.

Turning to Mu Tong and Wu Anguo, Mu Tong, clasping his hammer tightly in both hands, charged at Wu Anguo with all the force of a furious bull. Wu Anguo, undeterred, swung his hammer with all the force of a ferocious force, engaging Mu Tong in a fierce struggle. Each blow from Mu Tong's hammer carried the force of a mountain-splitting rock, sending dust and debris flying from the ground. Wu Anguo, with his nimble footwork and masterful hammer technique, deftly parried Mu Tong's attacks while waiting for an opportunity to strike back. Suddenly, Wu Anguo, seizing a gap in Mu Tong's attack, slammed his hammer down, striking Mu Tong squarely in the arm. The pain nearly dropped the hammer from Mu Tong's grasp, and his attack faltered.

After a long, fierce battle, Gan Ning, seizing a flaw in Mu Jin's attack, stabbed out with his longsword like a bolt of black lightning. Mu Jin was unable to dodge, being cut on the arm and his axe drooping limply. Pan Feng, taking advantage of Mu Yin's momentary retreat to catch his breath, unleashed his axe once again, striking Mu Yin's two blades with thunderous force. The immense force cracked Mu Yin's knuckles, and the blades fell to the ground with a clang. Wu Anguo, taking advantage of Mu Tong's injury and distraction, swung his sledgehammer high and slammed it into Mu Tong's grasp. With a resounding bang, Mu Tong lost his grip on the hammer, sending it flying and stumbling backwards from the immense force.

In the end, Gan Ning, Pan Feng, and Wu Anguo, relying on their superb martial arts and tenacious fighting spirit, successfully defeated Mu Jin, Mu Yin, and Mu Tong. There was a brief silence in the arena, followed by thunderous cheers.

The surrounding mountain dwellers seemed to be ignited with passion. Their shouts surged like a surging wave, each rising higher than the last, and their cheers were endless, seemingly shaking the entire world. These mountain dwellers were simple and honest by nature, and they always held a pure respect for the strong in their hearts. They would not hesitate to acknowledge the enemy's victory just because their own side lost in today's competition. At this moment, Gan Ning, Pan Feng, and Wu Anguo were surrounded by thunderous cheers, each face brimming with confidence and pride, and they were deeply enjoying the joy brought by this honor.

Meanwhile, the three Shanyue generals, Mujin, Muyin, and Mutong, freshly defeated, looked incredibly dejected as they trudged slowly and heavily before Shamoke. Shame washed over them, they fell to their knees in unison, their voices filled with regret and self-blame. "Chief, we are not as skilled as you, and we are utterly defeated in this match. Please punish us," they declared.

Shamoke looked at the crestfallen trio, his face devoid of any trace of anger or reproach. Instead, he displayed his usual bright smile. He then threw back his head and burst into laughter. His laughter was devoid of any bitterness or displeasure, instead filled with openness and heroism. He quickly approached the trio, placed his hands on their shoulders, and lifted each one to his feet. He spoke earnestly, "Victory and defeat are common in war. Occasional failure is nothing to be afraid of. You have followed me in battle for years and have been my indispensable right-hand men. How can you be so dejected and discouraged by this minor setback? If you do, you will only make a fool of yourself for these Han heroes." He then fixed the trio with a firm, powerful gaze, offering sincere words of encouragement. His words, like a warm spring breeze, dispelled the gloom from their hearts.

Then, Shamoke slowly turned and cast his gaze across at Gan Ning, Pan Feng, and Wu Anguo. He straightened his body and declared, "You three generals are highly skilled in martial arts. Today's competition was truly spectacular. We, the Shanyue people, have truly witnessed the extraordinary demeanor of the Han men. It is truly admirable! Your strength has earned the respect of me, Shamoke, and all of our Shanyue brothers present!" This recognition and praise fully demonstrated Shamoke's broad mind and heroic spirit.

Ma Chao smiled sincerely, and he praised Shamoke heartily, "Captain Shamoke, I must say that the generals under your command are truly unrivaled in bravery and strength. Take the previous competition, for example. Every move they made before the battle displayed their profound martial arts skills. Their attacks were like thunderbolts, their defenses like a fortress of steel. Such bravery and exquisite skills are truly admirable. This competition has broadened my horizons and made this trip well worthwhile."

After saying this, Ma Chao paused for a moment, then looked at Shamoke with a questioning look. He asked gently, "Captain Shamoke, after these few rounds of competition, what are your thoughts? Should we continue this competition?"

Upon hearing this, Shamoke's expression calmed. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze revealing a resoluteness and confidence. He spoke aloud, "While we are indeed inferior in archery duels, we, the Shanyue people, have roamed the mountains and forests for generations. Years of hunting in groups have enabled us to develop a unique formation. This formation embodies the wisdom of our Shanyue ancestors and the experience of countless actual battles. I am truly curious whether these well-trained personal guards behind you can also form a sophisticated formation to rival it. Therefore, I would like to propose that we use this formation in another competition. What do you think, General?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao spoke sincerely, "Chief Shamoke, whether it was the archery competition or the recent duel, our primary purpose was to exchange skills. We should have stopped it immediately and stopped it to avoid unnecessary harm. I have come here with the sincere intention of cooperating with you. I can even say that if this cooperation is achieved, we will form an alliance and become as close as family. If this competition really causes harm to either side, even if we don't express it outwardly, there will inevitably be resentment in our hearts, which will greatly undermine my original intention. I truly do not want to see such a situation. Moreover, all of you under your command are heroes and heroes, each of you is rare. How can I bear to let them suffer for no reason?"

Upon hearing this, Shamoke couldn't help but show a hint of resentment. After all, his side had already lost two battles in a row. Although he was a broad-minded person and didn't harbor jealousy, he still wanted to save some face. He frowned slightly and said, "So, we won't try again?" His words were filled with resentment.

Seeing this, Ma Chao smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, Chief. My personal guards do have their own unique formations. Although there are no horses here, if they had horses, they could form a cavalry and charge the enemy more flexibly on the battlefield. But even without horses, they have their own exquisite formations. Why not let them practice it? It will also entertain you, Chief. What do you think?"