Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The Shanyue people, long ensconced in the mountains and forests, lived like a secluded paradise, completely cut off from news. All they could see was the rapid rise of Sun Ce's power, which was right before their eyes. Sun Ce was a man of extraordinary bravery, leading his troops in battle with unstoppable force. His image of a dashing figure and invincible victories left a deep impression on the Shanyue people.

However, they knew very little about Ma Chao, far away in the northwest. While they occasionally heard snippets of information about the Xiliang Ma family from traveling merchants, these rumors were often exaggerated and lost some of their authenticity. Furthermore, during these chaotic times of war and unrest, the unrest made information transmission difficult. How many people could truly and accurately convey news from the far northwest?

The Shanyue people lived deep within the mountains, where the terrain was rugged and transportation was extremely difficult. Few merchants were willing to make the trek. Consequently, their access to information about the outside world was extremely limited. Therefore, the Shanyue knew almost nothing about Ma Chao's existence.

Comparing Sun Ce and Ma Chao, Sun Ce's current position is comparable to that of a prefect. While he has already made his mark, displaying exceptional strength and potential, Ma Chao, in reality, is the governor of Liang Province, overseeing a vaster region and possessing far greater influence. In some ways, Ma Chao's influence even surpasses that of a governor. While Sun Ce has only just begun to assert himself in Jiangdong, Ma Chao has already established a powerful presence in the northwest, establishing himself as a formidable force to be reckoned with.

But unfortunately, the extreme lack of information made the brother and sister in Shanyue still hesitant when faced with the choices made by various forces. They repeatedly weighed the pros and cons, not knowing what to do.

To Shamoke's knowledge, the fact that Ma Chao and Gan Ning were so familiar and coexisted was incomprehensible to him. Gan Ning had once been a bandit on the Yangtze River. Shamoke reasoned that Ma Chao's close association with Gan Ning meant his strength was comparable to that of the bandits who roamed the river. Sun Ce, on the other hand, had already demonstrated the formidable power to establish his own empire. He had established a strong foundation by expanding his territory in Jiangdong, and Jiangdong bordered the Shanyue. This geographical proximity gave Shamoke a more direct understanding of Sun Ce's power. Even though the Shanyue and Sun Ce were currently at war, Shamoke felt that if a warlord were to be chosen for peace talks, Sun Ce would undoubtedly be a candidate worth considering.

Granted, Shamoke acknowledged Ma Chao's exceptional martial prowess and had heard of his distinguished character. However, the vast distance separating Ma Chao's Ma clan from the Shanyue in the northwest made effective support and cooperation difficult. As the saying goes, "distant water cannot quench near thirst," Shamoke, deep down, preferred Sun Ce, even as the two sides were locked in a tense war.

But Sariel was completely different. She had never before witnessed a Han hero. The tribe's descriptions of Sun Ce had planted a glimmer of hope in her for a hero. But everything changed when she actually witnessed Ma Chao. Ma Chao's striking appearance and unparalleled bravery captivated Sariel, instantly stirring her heart.

Upon hearing that her brother Shamoko favored Sun Ce, Sally's eyebrows immediately rose, and she retorted eagerly, "Brother, you're completely mistaken! Ma Chao is absolutely not what you think. I saw him perform the continuous arrow technique with my own eyes. The arrows were like meteors chasing the moon, impenetrable and precise. Then, he wielded his sword, its blade flashing and gleaming with a chilling light. His swordplay was truly terrifying. Such heroes are rare in the world. He is kind and generous, and is definitely not of the same ilk as Gan Ning. Although the Ma family in the northwest is far from our Shanyue, in these turbulent times, it's rare to meet such a hero. If we can befriend Ma Chao, he will certainly treat us well. On the other hand, Sun Ce, although he controls Jiangdong and appears powerful, he has repeatedly used military force against our Shanyue. How could he truly be willing to negotiate with us?"

Shamoke's statement stemmed from a genuine lack of understanding of Ma Chao and a desire to test Sally's feelings. Seeing that Sally, despite their first meeting, had already fallen in love with Ma Chao, he couldn't help but laugh. Then, gently patting his sister on the shoulder, he said, "Why are you so anxious, Sally? You're my own sister. How could I sacrifice your happiness for so-called self-interest? We Shanyue people have always roamed freely among the mountains. With our tribe's strength alone, we have enough influence throughout the Shanyue. There's no need to trade your happiness for power."

His eyes were soft and doting. "Don't worry, sister. Since you like this Han hero, it doesn't matter. Given the strength of our Shanyue tribe, even though the Ma family has been a military family for generations, they will surely accept you. What's more, they have taken the initiative to seek peace with us. So, this matter is a sure thing, and it will definitely satisfy you."

These words made Sally's cheeks blush and she felt very shy.

Ma Chao's sword moves flowed like flowing water, a seamless process that left everyone present reeling from the awe of the sharp sword power. The entire Shanyue camp was initially silent, then erupted in a wave of exclamations and discussion. The soldiers whispered among themselves, praising Ma Chao's skills with endless admiration and awe. Some generals wore thoughtful expressions, evidently secretly pondering the subtleties of Ma Chao's technique. And Sally's eyes sparkled, her gaze on Ma Chao growing even more intense.

Ma Chao, amidst the crowd, truly gleamed with admiration and adoration. The Shanyue women, each with their beautiful eyes, gazed upon him with undisguised affection. Truth be told, if it hadn't been for Sally's graceful, intimate gesture of personally feeding Ma Chao wine at the banquet, the Shanyue women would have understood, knowing she had taken a liking to this Han hero. Without that moment, these passionate Shanyue women would have been unable to contain themselves and would have confessed their love to Ma Chao.

Amidst this sea of ​​gazes, Ma Chao swiftly approached Shamoke and the others. He sheathed his sword with a deft movement, then bowed and humbly said, "Chief Shamoke, I'm sorry for the poor performance." Shamoke's smile widened upon hearing this. He casually fiddled with the wine jug beside him and deftly filled Ma Chao's glass. He then offered it to Ma Chao with a broad smile, praising him and saying, "General Ma Chao's swordsmanship is truly exquisite. I've fought on this battlefield for a long time and have seen many masters, but never have I witnessed such superb swordsmanship. In my opinion, there are few in this world who can rival the general in swordsmanship."

Ma Chao looked cheerful. He took the wine glass without hesitation. With a wave of his arm, the wine poured into his throat like a stream and he drank it all in an instant. Then, he handed the wine bowl to the attendant beside him with a smile on his face, and talked freely: "If we only talk about swordsmanship, in the prosperous city of Chang'an, the leader of the emperor's close guards, Wang Yue, is far better at swordsmanship than me. I, Ma Chao, am not exaggerating about this. My Ma family has lived in the northwest for generations. As a descendant of a general, I have been with war horses since I was a child. Over the years, the relationship between man and horse has long been very tacit. Therefore, if we talk about galloping across the vast world, "Looking at the world, I, Ma Chao, believe that there are few who can truly rival me in terms of wielding a whip and wielding a spear. These words may sound arrogant to others, but with the spear in my hand, which has been baptized by countless battles, I do have some confidence in such boasting. However, if the competition is limited to close combat swordplay, I, Ma Chao, know the consequences and would not dare to speak so arrogantly."

Upon hearing this, Shamoke raised his head and laughed heartily, "Ah, General Ma Chao, it seems I, a man of few years living in the mountains and with limited knowledge, have underestimated the heroes of this world. I didn't realize..."

Upon seeing this, Ma Chao hurriedly said, "Chief, please feel free to speak." Shamoke narrowed his eyes slightly, thought for a moment, and spoke with consideration: "General Ma Chao is so brave and unparalleled. He is truly a leader among young talents. I wonder if the general is married now?" When Sally heard this, her cheeks suddenly turned red, like the gorgeous sunset in the sky.

Ma Chao responded frankly: "I am not married yet, but..." However, as soon as the word "but" came out, Sally became shy and hurriedly reached out to grab her brother's arm, saying coquettishly: "Brother, what are you talking about!" She looked extremely shy, like a flower in bud about to bloom.

Seeing this, Shamoke couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Okay, okay, it's good that you are not married yet." After that, he interrupted Ma Chao's words, and greeted him enthusiastically: "Come on, let's continue drinking!" Then, he raised his voice and shouted to his men: "Don't be idle, gather around the campfire, sing and dance! Let's get drunk today!" After that, he pulled Ma Chao over and was about to go back.

It turned out that because they had just come out to talk, the food and drinks had already been laid out outside. Now, the two returned to their seats, and after sitting down again, everyone began to drink heartily again. The sounds of laughter, singing and dancing intertwined and echoed in the night sky.

The passionate Shanyue women had witnessed not only Ma Chao's invincible bravery but also Gan Ning's heroic valor. Unfortunately, Ma Chao had already been chosen by Sally, leaving the Shanyue women to dodge the temptation. However, Gan Ning's fearless spirit and generous and open-minded personality also captivated them, and they were even more captivated by the openness he displayed with Ma Chao's personal guards. With blushing faces and shy yet warm smiles, they approached Gan Ning to invite him to dance.

Amidst this bustling scene, only Pan Feng and Wu Anguo stood motionless, like two immovable mountains. Pan Feng's face was solemn, his eyes revealing the sternness of a seasoned warrior; Wu Anguo's expression was calm, as if the surrounding clamor had nothing to do with him.

Lu Su, the gentle and refined counselor who usually maintained a composed demeanor, was also swept up in the Shanyue women's enthusiasm and drawn into the bonfire dance. Gan Ning, even more so, embraced the crowd, laughing and joining in the fun, dancing joyfully alongside the Shanyue women. Their figures, illuminated by the bonfire, appeared particularly cheerful and free-spirited.