Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The group reached the mountainside, where they saw a patchwork of pavilions and terraces, a place once frequented by the prominent figures of Chang'an. Ma Teng had already arranged for the area to be cleaned to a pristine state. Before Ma Teng could make his next arrangements, the group had already gathered in groups of three or four to chat.

At that moment, Dong Bai, dressed in a sharp suit, led two veiled women—Lu Wan and Cai Wenji—as they glided gracefully toward Cao Ang's location. Lu Wan had come to personally thank Cao Ang for his protection of the Lu family during the civil unrest in Chang'an; Cai Wenji had come because her father, Cai Yong, and Cao Ang's father, Cao Cao, were old acquaintances, having known Cao Ang since their time in Luoyang. However, their current status made it difficult for them to meet with a man without hesitation. Dong Bai, sensing their intentions, volunteered to lead them. Born a military commander and known as Ma Chao's wife, Dong Bai acted with a straightforward and generous demeanor, devoid of the timidity of a younger woman.

Cao Ang saw the three women approaching from afar and quickly stopped talking to his uncle Cao Hong. He straightened his expression, straightened his clothes, took two quick steps forward, and said with a bow, "Ah, three ladies, I am sorry for not welcoming you. I hope you will forgive me."

Dong Bai smiled slightly and said calmly, "Mr. Cao is the son of Lord Cao, and he is of noble status. Since Brother Chao is not here today, I should naturally come to meet him on his behalf."

Soon after, Lu Wan and Cai Wenji also began to reminisce with Cao Ang. Lu Wan softly said, "Mr. Cao, I will never forget your kindness that day. I've come here today to express my gratitude once again." Cao Ang quickly waved his hand and said, "Miss Lu, you're too polite. You've already thanked me for what happened that day. It's really not worth mentioning. How could Cao Ang stand idly by when my sister is in trouble?"

At this moment, Cai Wenji's gentle voice reached Cao Ang, "Brother Ang, I never thought you'd grown into such a dignified man." Cao Ang couldn't help but recall the time when he played behind Cai Wenji as a child, and he sighed, "Yes, sister. When I heard about your great change, my heart was broken. Now that I see you in Xiliang, with the King of Liang, you've found a good home, and I'm overjoyed."

Dong Bai watched them reminisce, a faint smile on her face, yet her mind was occupied with the interplay of the various parties and the current situation. She knew that while today's meeting might seem like a simple gathering of old friends, in this complex situation, every word and every action might hold a deeper meaning. And Cao Ang, while reminiscing with his two old acquaintances, was constantly reminded of his own surroundings, his words brimming with old friendship while remaining measured.

The people around them continued to chat, occasionally casting curious glances, only to be quickly drawn back to the conversation. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a golden veil over the gathering, making the moment both warm and subtly tense.

As the conversation continued, Cao Ang pondered. This trip to Beishan had already carried the heavy responsibility of forming an alliance, and what impact would today's encounter with the three women have on the situation? He didn't know, but he knew he had to be cautious in his words and actions and not let a momentary emotion ruin the important matter.

Cai Wenji nodded slightly, a trace of emotion flashing in her eyes: "After all the twists and turns over the years, fortunately I can now settle down in Xiliang. But thinking back to the past, it is still vivid in my mind."

Cao Ang said seriously, "I'm very lucky that my sister is safe. If you have any difficulties in the future, just let me know. I will definitely not refuse to help if I can."

Lu Wan nodded and said, "Yes, Sister Wenji is blessed by heaven to have such a happy ending. I hope everyone will be blessed with good fortune in the future."

Dong Bai smiled and said, "Alright, alright, it's a rare occasion for us to get together today, so let's not talk about these heavy topics. The scenery of Beishan is so beautiful, and there will be many interesting activities later."

When everyone heard this, they all nodded slightly, and the atmosphere became a little more relaxed.

By then, a banquet had already been set up in an orderly fashion. Ma Teng stood up and waved his hand, and everyone stopped talking. Ma Teng glanced at the crowd and said loudly, "It's a rare occasion to have all the civil and military officials gathered together today, and you have the leisure time. Let's drink to our heart's content. Besides, Master Cao is here too, which makes the atmosphere even more lively." He smiled and pointed at Cao Ang.

Cao Ang hurriedly walked towards Ma Teng respectfully, clasped his fists and said, "You are all heroes. I wonder which general would be willing to be the first to demonstrate his skills so that we can feast our eyes."

As soon as the words fell, Du Xiong and Gao Ming stepped out. Holding long swords, they moved with agility, their swords dancing and flashing with cold light. Their powerful sword techniques drew cheers from the crowd.

Zhang Yan, the renowned "Flying Swallow," possessed extraordinary agility, unparalleled swordsmanship, and exceptional horsemanship. He confidently stepped forward and unleashed his unique skills. His movements were lightning-fast, his sword swiftly moving with him. Every move exuded a fierce and domineering aura, captivating the crowd, who cheered enthusiastically.

Seeing this, Ma Teng's smile widened. He said, "Since you are all so excited, let's test our archery skills. I'll have someone bring out a brocade robe, and the winner will get it."

Upon hearing this, everyone was eager to try. Zhang Yan, Du Xiong, Gao Ming, and others prepared to show off their skills. Just then, Wei Yan strode over. Zhang Yan's archery skills were clearly superior, with Du Xiong and Gao Ming slightly behind. Seeing this, Wei Yan also became interested and shouted, "Let me do it!" However, after the competition, Wei Yan, despite his extraordinary archery skills, was still inferior to Zhang Yan's.

Zhang Yan happily accepted the brocade robe, his face brimming with pride. Wei Yan, however, refused to resign himself to this, and declared, "My lord, I am indeed inferior to General Zhang Yan in archery. But when it comes to charging into battle, I have always admired only the Prince of Liang. As for the others, I think I can challenge them."

Upon hearing this, Ma Teng couldn't help but applaud. "General Wei Yan, what a quick remark! It just so happens that Chao'er sent over a batch of fine horses a few days ago. Let's select the best ones. If anyone can challenge General Wei Yan to a duel, the winner will be rewarded with a BMW."

Upon hearing this, everyone rubbed their hands in anticipation, a fierce battle about to begin again, and a heated and tense competitive atmosphere permeated the entire Beishan Mountain. Everyone at the banquet was eagerly anticipating the next exciting competition, while Cao Ang watched with great interest from the sidelines.

Ma Teng smiled and turned to Cao Ang, saying, "Since we're going to have a sparring match, my dear nephew, the general behind you looks quite impressive to me. Why not have him spar with General Wei Yan? That would be a great opportunity for us to broaden our horizons."

The horse that was brought over was truly magnificent. Cao Hong, standing by, had already been dazzled, eager to try it out. Seeing this, Cao Ang immediately said, "Since Uncle Ma is so interested, I will go up in the battle and have a sparring match with General Wei, which will also help Uncle Ma to cheer him up."

At that moment, Wei Yan looked around, feeling unmatched. Seeing Cao Hong enter the fray, his fighting spirit soared. The two quickly took up their stances and instantly engaged in a battle. Blades flashed and clashed, and forty or fifty rounds were exchanged. While Cao Hong's martial arts were considerable, Wei Yan's strength was superior, and Cao Hong gradually lost ground. However, the two sides were now discussing an alliance, and they tacitly agreed to keep their distance, avoiding any heated arguments.

Finally, Cao Hong was defeated. He stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said, "Hong, I am sorry for your incompetence."

Seeing this, Ma Teng smiled and stood up, saying, "Ah, General Cao Hong is truly a rare and brave general! This BMW is a gift to General Wei Yan." He then instructed his men, "Each of you should bring a few more BMWs to give to the other generals. At this grand event, there's no need to worry too much about winning or losing; let's just have a good time."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the arena instantly heated up. Everyone was in high spirits, deeply impressed by Ma Teng's generosity. Guo Jia, observing Ma Teng's demeanor, thought to himself: These top-grade war horses are the best horses picked from a hundred miles away, and yet Ma Teng is so generous, giving them away without hesitation. This shows that Xiliang, occupying the northwestern horse-breeding area, is indeed not short of excellent horses. Xiliang's heritage is truly not to be underestimated.

As Guo Jia thought about it, a hint of sourness rose in his heart. He thought to himself, if Cao Gong had so many famous horses, relying on the power of these powerful war horses, why would he be afraid of Yuan Shao who was entrenched in Hebei?

At this moment, Ma Yunlu walked briskly to Cao Ang's side, his lips curled up slightly, and he said with a hint of playfulness and provocation: "What? Don't you claim to have some courage? Why don't you go forward and compete with General Wei?"

Cao Ang clapped his hands helplessly and replied with a wry smile, "Miss Yunlu, please stop teasing me. General Wei Yan has fought on the battlefield for a long time and is a seasoned veteran. Although I am somewhat confident in my own prowess, I am far inferior to General Wei. I will not go and embarrass myself in front of everyone."

Ma Yunlu snorted lightly and said disapprovingly: "Huh, you were bragging about yourself just now, and now you're scared?"

At this moment, Ma Teng raised his voice and spoke again, "Everyone, the previous competition has come to an end. I know very well that young people will definitely not be able to play with us older people. There are many wild beasts in the depths of the North Mountain. You can go hunting on your own. In the end, whoever kills more prey will be judged. At that time, I will give you a BMW and a set of armor as a reward."

When everyone heard this, they immediately cheered loudly, and all bowed their hands to accept the order. They were all eager to try and couldn't wait to set off.

Ma Yunlu's eyes sparkled with excitement. She turned to look at Cao Ang and said, "How about it? Master Cao, would you like to compete with me to see who can hunt more prey?"

Cao Ang had already been squeezed by Ma Yunlu, and he was holding back his anger. At this moment, he was looking for an opportunity to show off his skills. Upon hearing this, he said without hesitation: "Why not? It is Cao Ang's honor to compete in hunting with Miss Yunlu." After that, the two of them joined the hunting team with everyone else.

At this hour, sunlight filtered through the dense foliage of Beishan Mountain, casting patches of golden light. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves through the forest, as if playing a prelude to the impending hunting feast. The group split into small groups and headed deeper into Beishan Mountain, their faces brimming with excitement and anticipation. Cao Ang and Ma Yunlu walked side by side, their relationship tinged with competition, yet also with a subtle, unspoken understanding.