At first, Xiang An had not taken Fan Kuai seriously. Having roamed the Central Plains for years, he had rarely met an equal aside from Xiang Yu. Especially after Xiang Liang died at Dingtao and his original strength returned, virtually no general had ever lasted more than ten exchanges against him.
But now, although he was not riding Surging Wave Gallop or wielding his great spear, leaving him unable to fully display his strength, this Fan Kuai...
Every exchange had been perilous, yet Fan Kuai had truly withstood Xiang An's relentless, heavy chops and thrusts. By now, he had held out for a full thirty exchanges.
A stabbing pain came from Xiang An's chest. He could not help frowning, squeezing his eyes shut as his movements slowed for an instant.
"An opening!" Fan Kuai immediately seized the opportunity. He pulled back and lunged forward, his longsword shooting straight for Xiang An's chest.
Xiang An drew back his sword and blocked it before his chest, parrying Fan Kuai's strike. Yet when Fan Kuai's blow failed to land, he immediately retreated at speed, seized the last fine horse, drove back several Chu soldiers trying to surround him, and followed Liu Ji and Zhang Liang's tracks as he fled west.
"Tch." A thin sheen of sweat appeared on Xiang An's forehead.
He pressed a hand to his chest. Without armor covering him now, the brown fabric there could clearly be seen darkening, blood already seeping through his clothes.
"I told you, if you were injured, you shouldn't exert yourself so fiercely." Xiang Yu came up from behind Xiang An as he spoke.
"Big Brother." Xiang An forced himself upright, his expression somewhat pained.
Since the Battle of Julu, Xiang An had not rested. Xiang Yu had not rested either, but Xiang Yu had