Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 836: Call off the troops and underestimate the opponent!

While the southern border troops defending the city also had to endure the rain, and the slippery walls posed a risk to their movement, the heavy downpour magnified the defenders' advantage, relying on the sturdy walls, compared to the numerous obstacles the attackers had to overcome. The towering walls of Yangping Pass, like a silent behemoth in the rain, only added to their precariousness.

At this moment, in the mud-covered open space in front of the pass, the two figures finally separated in the heavy rain and temporarily stopped their thrilling fight.

Gao Yao leaned on his long sword, his chest heaving violently, the white breath from his mouth instantly dissipating in the icy rain. The cold rain continued to flow down his resolute cheeks, past his tightly pursed lips, and dripped onto his already soaked armor. He felt a wave of fatigue, his muscles trembling and sore from the long and extreme confrontation. However, deep in his eyes, a calm fire still burned.

He still had strength to spare! His hidden secret technique, capable of instantly unleashing his full potential, had yet to be deployed. Even so, Gao Yao's inner shock was no less than his physical exhaustion. Xiang Yu! This nemesis's strength, speed, and skill had vastly improved since their last encounter! His fighting style, as ferocious as a raging wave yet as precise as a cheetah, sent shivers through his arms with every block. This terrifying rate of improvement even gave Gao Yao a sliver of self-doubt: Had he truly neglected his martial arts skills over the years amidst the rigors of government and political maneuvering?

Not far away, Xiang Yu, the Overlord of Western Chu, also leaned on his mighty Overlord Halberd, panting heavily. Rain clung to his lion-like beard and hair, mixing with sweat and mud. His signature double pupils stared intently at Gao Yao, filled with disbelief and a hint of... frustration!

Ever since his last defeat at the hands of Gao Yao, this humiliation had gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake. He trained relentlessly, honing his skills with blood and sweat, seeking breakthroughs in every life-or-death struggle. He firmly believed that the next time he saw Gao Yao, he would avenge his previous humiliation and crush him with sheer force! However… reality dealt him a heavy blow! He gave his all, unleashing every last bit of his killer moves honed over the years, his ferocious attacks like a raging storm, yet still failed to break Gao Yao's defenses!

Not only did the opponent take it, he even seemed to handle it with ease! How was this possible?! Gao Yao... this opponent he once had to look down upon, had actually, in these turbulent times, refined his martial arts to such a terrifying degree? The siege was prolonged and unconquerable! For Xiang Yu, who believed in "strength to pull mountains and courage to conquer the world," this was a huge blow, a chilling blow to his heart, colder than rain.

Xiang Yu was no reckless man. He knew it was unwise to continue the duel with Gao Yao at this point. While a duel would boost his own morale and undermine the enemy's confidence, it would also consume precious siege time and the commander's energy. His decision to fight, driven not only by a burning desire to fight and avenge his humiliation, but also by a cold judgment: the Yangping Pass garrison was severely undermanned! The previous exploratory attack had already proven this. Gao Yao's willingness to challenge the general further convinced Xiang Yu that the southern border troops were insecure. Their forces were stretched thin, and they dared not venture out of the city for a field battle. They could only rely on their commander's personal prowess to stall for time and intimidate the Chu army. The duel became Gao Yao's desperate stalling tactic.

Of course, deep within Xiang Yu's heart, the pride and selfishness of a king also burned. He longed to defeat Gao Yao squarely before the eyes of the crowd, to use his head and blood to wash away the shadows of the past and re-establish his reputation as "invincible"! By defeating Gao Yao, he would regain the absolute confidence that had allowed him to look down upon the world!

Reality is cruel. This all-out confrontation made both sides clearly realize that they had overestimated themselves and seriously underestimated each other! The enemy before them was even stronger and more difficult to deal with than they remembered!

At this moment, "Dang-dang-dang!" Through the layers of rain, the clear and dull sound of the retreating gongs rang out from behind the Chu army. The sound seemed a little muffled in the rain, but it carried an unquestionable command.

Almost at the same moment, the horn of the Southern Border Army's retreat was sounded on the wall, long and with a sense of relief.

The two men, in the midst of a fierce battle, froze simultaneously. Though Xiang Yu's will to fight remained steadfast, a flicker of unwillingness flickered in his eyes, and Gao Yao held his weapon tightly, they both understood: this peak confrontation in the rain could no longer continue.

The mud restricted their progress, the rain obscured their vision, and the slippery conditions increased the risk. More importantly, with neither side finding it difficult to completely overwhelm the other, continuing the battle would be a waste of energy and prone to uncontrollable errors due to the harsh conditions. Forcing another battle when the weather wasn't favorable was unwise. Attacking the city? In such torrential rain and mud, it was a pipe dream.

The two of them slowly stopped almost at the same time, their heavy breathing clearly audible over the sound of the rain.

Xiang Yu stood up abruptly, rain running down his angular face. His eyes were like lightning, piercing through the rain and fixed on Gao Yao. His voice was cold, filled with suppressed anger and resentment, and it boomed like thunder:

"Gao Yao! You're lucky today! If it weren't for that wicked God..." He paused, as if realizing that making excuses would damage his reputation, and sternly said, "Tomorrow! When the rain stops and the clouds disperse, I will take your head! Let's fight again!"

Before he finished speaking, Xiang Yu stamped his foot violently, splashing a large amount of mud. He turned around without looking back, treading through the deep mud and striding towards the Chu army. His tall and majestic figure appeared unusually lonely and proud in the rain, but also carried a hint of indescribable heaviness.

Gao Yao stood still, letting the rain wash over him. He didn't respond to Xiang Yu's harsh words, but silently watched the figure gradually blur in the rain. His eyes were deep and calm, as if he had already seen through everything.

Because he knew that the battle that Xiang Yu mentioned would probably never happen again.

Xiang Yu was no fool. After today's battle, he had already realized that he couldn't defeat Gao Yao quickly in a duel of generals. Continuing the fight would only waste precious opportunities, playing into Gao Yao's hands as he stalled for time and waited for reinforcements.

After the rain stopped, perhaps even as it abated, Xiang Yu would inevitably have only one choice: abandon the pointless battle and launch a full-scale assault on Yangping Pass! He would use the Chu army's bloody torrent to assault this crumbling pass in the most direct and brutal way possible. This was the inevitable choice that suited Xiang Yu's character and the current situation.

Gao Yao saw it clearly. This peak showdown in the rain was both the end of an old feud and the beginning of a new one. The real test would come after the rain stopped.