Chapter 5: The Fierce General of Old, the Demonic Dian Wei

Cao Peng dashed madly along the road, finally catching up to Dian Wei.

He hoped that Dian Wei might temporarily call off the mission.

But, as expected, he was flatly refused.

“Little General, I am only carrying out orders—please don’t make things difficult for me,” Dian Wei said. “Since our lord has already given the command, in my opinion, Little General, there’s no need for you to concern yourself with this. You’d best go back to sleep.”

Dian Wei’s face was stern, his voice muffled and unyielding.

Hearing this, Cao Peng was so angry he nearly cursed aloud.

It wasn’t that he wanted to meddle, but considering the circumstances, if he didn’t intervene and let them act recklessly, this blockheaded brute and every single one of the soldiers would end up dead.

More importantly, he himself would be dragged down with them.

“General Dian, I know you’re a reasonable man—you heard what I said just now. Our lord is drunk and can’t see the real problem here. Why not wait to detain Lady Zou until he sobers up and can make a clear decision?”

Dian Wei found some logic in Cao Peng’s words, but he still refused, his tone rigid as iron: “A general’s duty is to obey orders, nothing more. Tonight, I will take Lady Zou away no matter what. Please step aside, Little General.”

Cao Peng hadn’t expected this wooden-headed man to be so utterly unyielding. Rage welled up inside him.

“Very well, since you have your code of conduct, I’ll say no more. But if you intend to pass, you’ll have to step over my dead body!”

Cao Peng, though the nephew of Cao Cao and permitted to accompany him, held no actual rank in the army. Without Cao Cao’s command, he couldn’t order even a single soldier, let alone Dian Wei.

His original plan was to rely on persuasion, to convince Dian Wei to delay carrying out the order until Cao Cao sobered up, hoping for a chance to turn things around.

But now, having exhausted all words and seeing Dian Wei unmoved, he had no choice but to block his way.

The reason for his harsh words was the hope that Dian Wei would respect his identity and back down, at least until Cao Cao was sober.

By then, even if Cao Cao blamed him, he could reason with his uncle, laying out all the pros and cons. He believed Cao Cao would understand—after all, the old man was no fool.

With life and death hanging in the balance, Cao Peng had no other way out but to gamble.

Dian Wei looked at him, his expression as hard as ever.

“If that’s your wish, then forgive me.”

No sooner had the words left his lips than a force like a primordial beast erupted from him.

The sheer presence made Cao Peng’s heart pound wildly.

Standing across from Dian Wei as an opponent was an utterly terrifying experience.

This wild beast’s muscles bulged as if about to burst his armor, and his immense size didn’t slow him in the slightest.

A fierce gust rushed at Cao Peng, stinging his face.

In a flash, Dian Wei was upon him, his massive hand reaching out like a crashing wave.

Suppressing his terror, Cao Peng dodged sideways at the last moment, barely evading Dian Wei’s attack.

“Not bad,” Dian Wei’s eyes briefly glinted with approval.

Cao Peng managed a wry smile. That single dodge had taken all his strength, and it was only thanks to his considerably improved body since coming to this world.

If warriors were graded, then perhaps he was barely at the second-rate level now.

But Dian Wei, this savage beast, was beyond first-rate.

Facing Dian Wei, Cao Peng never had any chance—not even the smallest opening.

Dian Wei’s second move came swiftly, his hand crashing down toward Cao Peng’s head.

Before Cao Peng could react, he was seized and lifted clean off the ground.

Blood surged within him as he was hurled violently through the air.

With a heavy thud, he crashed to the earth, his bones feeling as if they were about to shatter.

“Little General, take care of yourself. Next time, I won’t be so gentle,” Dian Wei said, then led the soldiers away at a brisk pace.

As they departed, Hu Che’er cast a gloating look in Cao Peng’s direction.

No doubt, seeing the one who had scolded him so wretched looked deeply satisfying to him.

Watching Dian Wei’s departing figure, Cao Peng’s heart was filled with lingering fear.

He realized that Dian Wei had shown mercy—otherwise, he would have been seriously injured, not just left eating dirt.

Such a vast gulf in strength meant that he could never hope to match Dian Wei by force.

With that beast-like power, Dian Wei could tear him in two with ease.

If this was the might of Dian Wei, what about Lu Bu, rumored to possess the strength of a demon god? Or Zhao Zilong of Changshan, who could charge through an army as if it were no one at all?

Such a magnificent and turbulent era filled Cao Peng’s heart with endless imagination.

But there was no time for daydreaming; life and death matters still needed to be resolved.

Having failed to stop Dian Wei, he had only one option left…