Cao Zhang raised his weapon and said with a hint of mockery, "General Guan actually recognizes this thing? Were you frightened when you saw this weapon back then? Once Lu Bu died, you treated everyone you met like marked heads waiting to be sold—arrogant beyond all bounds."
Guan Yu narrowed his eyes and stroked his beard, replying coldly, "I hear Cao Mengde's Yellow-Bearded Son is quite skilled. So it turns out you rely on the Square Sky Painted Halberd? This is the first I've heard of skill needing to lean on an external object. When has Guan ever feared that Lu Bu?"
Cao Zhang had long prepared a retort for Guan Yu's mockery. "Hah? You don't rely on external objects? I fear that Red Hare helped you no small amount in all your exploits of slaying generals and enemies. Why don't you dare ride it now? Did it die of old age? Eh?"
As Cao Zhang reached the end of his words, he suddenly noticed the young general behind and to Guan Yu's left. The horse he rode bore a striking resemblance to the Red Hare of old.
"Ha ha ha!" Guan Yu suddenly threw back his head and laughed.
"Red-faced bastard, what are you laughing at?" Cao Zhang shouted in confusion.
Guan Yu gave a disdainful sneer. "Guan was thinking of Hua Xiong. That man looked rather like you, and his mouth was equally full of words. Could it be that you too have Qiang barbarian blood? Back then, Guan was merely a mounted archer; riding an ordinary horse, I still slew my enemies."
"Enough nonsense! You boast that you are invincible beneath heaven. Do you dare leave the lines and duel me?" Left speechless by Guan Yu's rebuke, Cao Zhang could only point his Square Sky Painted Halberd