Another chaotic battle followed. Liu Gui, the defender of Luo Castle, charged out to intercept Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, and the others. Liu Bei and Guan Yu led the main force to their aid, trying to get them back to their camp, but Zhang Ren came up a side path with his victorious troops, and another fight broke out.
Liu Bei's Army had been ambushed, and its morale was low. It could not have held out if Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and the other powerful Lord Tier warriors had not personally covered the retreat and scattered the pursuers. Only then did Liu Bei return safely to camp.
Liu Bei had not even caught his breath when he saw three arrows lodged in Pang Tong. Tears streamed down his face as he urgently ordered the physicians to treat him.
Pang Tong coughed. "My lord, there's no need to make things difficult for the physicians. What happened today was fated... This is retribution for using the Prayer and Exorcism Art to serve my own ends and harm others."
"Why do you say that, Counselor?" Liu Bei asked, puzzled. He waved the attendants away.
"My lord, do you know how Ma Teng of Western Liang died?" Pang Tong asked.
"There's no settled answer," Liu Bei said. "Some say Zhang Lu of Hanzhong did it, others Yuan Xi of Hebei. They say Ma Teng was killed by a Daoist curse."
Pang Tong shook his head. "I did it."
Liu Bei stared at him. "Why would you do such a thing?"
Pang Tong sighed.
"My lord, I came at Kongming's invitation to assist you. I had hoped to help you rise amid the chaos and set the realm to rights. But events moved too quickly. Before we had even secured a foothold in