Chapter 46

Chapter 680: With a small fishing rod and thin line (夫揭竿累), one cannot catch large fish (其於得大魚難) (1)

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Zhang Xi was bold and let a guest into her quarters without even checking who it was.

Given her situation, it was an act worthy of criticism, almost insane.

She was merely a concubine sent to Lu Bu.

Considering the relationship between Lu Bu and Huang Bosong, her head could be on the chopping block at any moment. In such chaotic times, who would dare to point fingers if Lu Bu were to cut the head of a concubine sent by the enemy?

Therefore, Zhang Xi had to be extremely cautious in her actions.

If it were known that she had let a stranger into her quarters, how could she avoid the consequences?

Xue Miao entered Zhang Xi's room silently. When Zhang Xi's gaze found him, he was slumped against the wall below the window.

"General Xue, how did you...?"

Zhang Xi was speechless when she saw Xue Miao's condition.

Indeed, Xue Miao looked disheveled, with unkempt hair and clothes that were little more than rags. His body appeared to be in poor condition, and the smell of blood mixed with sweat suggested he had been injured.

"I am sorry to show myself in such a state, Lady Zhang."

"Where is General Cao Qinglong? I heard he was captured."

"General Cao has been exiled to a distant place."

Xue Miao bit his lower lip and suppressed a groan.

"Your injuries seem severe..."

"This is nothing. I only sustained minor injuries while escaping from the prison."

Zhang Xi knew Xue Miao was putting on a brave front, but she did not show it.

"Search! He couldn't have gone far!"

From outside, the sound of soldiers moving confirmed to Zhang Xi that Xue Miao's words were true.

"Is anyone inside?"

Xiang Kai, one of Lu Bu's generals, called out to the pavilion. Zhang Xi opened the door and appeared before him.

"What's the commotion about?"

Zhang Xi asked with a displeased expression, facing Xiang Kai and a dozen or so soldiers. However, Xiang Kai did not answer her. Instead, he continued with his own questions.

"Has anyone hidden inside?"

"No such thing has happened."

Xiang Kai's eyes remained suspicious, not trusting Zhang Xi's words.

"Step aside. The soldiers will search the pavilion."

"Step aside yourself! Do you know where you are...?"

* * *

Zhang Xi's old habits resurfaced.

The habits from the days when she relied on Huang Bosong's influence to treat subordinates however she pleased.

But here, those habits did not work.

"Hmph! How ridiculous. A mere concubine daring to look down on others is laughable."

Feeling humiliated by Xiang Kai, Zhang Xi finally could not hold back and drew her sword.

With a lightning-fast draw, she lunged at Xiang Kai with a single strike.

But her opponent was Xiang Kai. The youngest among Lu Bu's generals, he handled all the tedious tasks. However, being the youngest did not mean he was the weakest.

With his ghostly sword skills, Zhang Xi could not even withstand a single exchange and was quickly subdued.

Xiang Kai's blood-stained sword had cut through her collar and was now touching her neck.

'I am to die so pointlessly...'

Zhang Xi thought her martial arts were quite formidable. She believed she could hold her own against a hundred soldiers, even if she could not become a general.

Yet, she lost to a short and unimpressive man in a single exchange.

"Ugh! How infuriating! To lose to a worthless scoundrel like you...!"

"Winning against a woman brings no joy. Step aside. If you don't... I will..."

Xiang Kai tried to intimidate Zhang Xi into stepping back. But he did not succeed.

Suddenly, her undergarments were exposed.

Her clothes had been torn by Xiang Kai's sword, and now they were slipping off.

Xiang Kai was flustered, unable to find a place to look. Zhang Xi, however, boldly continued, tearing her clothes further.

"Step aside yourself. If you don't, you will see the naked body of the woman your lord cherishes."

As Xiang Kai took a step back, Zhang Xi's one shoulder was revealed.

'What a coward.'

Seeing a bit of her undergarments, Xiang Kai's face turned as red as if it were about to burst.

Zhang Xi found his reaction endearing. She decided to tease him a bit more.

Tearing her clothes further to expose the curve of her chest, Xiang Kai could no longer hold his ground and turned away.

"I will not search this pavilion. Do not come to Lady Zhang's quarters today. Stay inside and keep the door locked quietly."

Xiang Kai said this and hurriedly left with his subordinates.

* * *

Zhang Xi entered the pavilion again with a triumphant expression. Inside, Xue Miao was standing with his sword, ready to leap out at any moment.

"The soldiers have retreated. General Xue, you can relax now."

"Thank you. Are you hurt? I will gladly accept the punishment for putting the lord's concubine in danger later."

"The blood on that man's sword is yours, isn't it?"

"Embarrassingly, yes. Even if I were in perfect condition, I could not guarantee victory against his sword skills."

Zhang Xi knew how formidable Xue Miao's sword skills were.

Huang Bosong had entrusted a regiment to Cao Qinglong not only because of his martial arts but also because of the bravery of his subordinates.

Xue Miao's martial arts were so exceptional that he could have easily become a general in the Guanxi army. Even he, who was so capable, could not confidently say he had the upper hand against Xiang Kai.

But Zhang Xi, who had also been defeated by Xiang Kai in a single exchange, understood how Xue Miao felt.

"If the opportunity arises, I would like to settle the score, but now is not the time."

"You're right. The most important thing now is to escape Zhongtian."

Xue Miao shook his head at Zhang Xi's words.

"I cannot do it alone. I and a few of General Cao's subordinates managed to rescue Lord Si during our escape."

"Si... Jian? You mean you rescued Lord Si Jian, Si Jian's brother?"

"We can only say we have truly rescued him if we can escape Zhongtian."

Zhang Xi bit her lip.

"I have no way to escape Zhongtian safely either."

"I don't expect you to do that much."

"Then how can I help you?"

"Just four days... four days of hiding will be enough."

Zhang Xi was curious why Xue Miao needed four days.

"Four days? What changes in four days?"

From Zhang Xi's perspective, even if Xue Miao had four days, it would not make much difference.

But Xue Miao would not have asked for four days without a reason.

"Lu Bu's army is preparing to march. They will likely set out in two or three days."

"If the army leaves Zhongtian, you plan to escape in the chaos?"

"I will use this method only if all other options fail. To leave quietly, it would be best to blend in with the soldiers marching out."

Zhang Xi thought Xue Miao's plan was feasible. But she had one concern.

"What if they don't march in two or three days?"

"Xue Miao, how much do you think the army can prepare in such a short time? They will definitely march within two or three days."

Experience is indeed the best teacher.

If Xue Miao had presented a logical argument like a strategist, Zhang Xi might have doubted him.

"Alright. I will try to buy some time. When it's quiet, bring Lord Si Jian here first."

* * *

From a distance, where Zhang Xi's pavilion was visible, Lu Bu was talking to Xiang Kai.

"Xiang Kai, what is all this blood?"

"The blood of a man named Xue Miao."

"Be more careful. If you kill a valuable hostage, what will it do to my face?"

Xiang Kai shrugged.

"Lord, even with a fine sword made by Master Jin, I didn't even get to swing it properly, and it ended up like this. If I had, Xue Miao would have lost at least a limb."

Lu Bu knew how exceptional a sword made by Master Jin was, so he did not press the matter further.

"You were arguing with that woman. What did she say?"

"She did learn some sword skills, but they were nothing special. I subdued her in one exchange."

"Zhang Xi must not be harmed. You need to persuade Xue Miao to write a letter to Huang Bosong."

"Don't worry. She's not hurt at all. Her clothes were just torn, revealing a bit of her skin."

Xiang Kai's face turned red as he recalled Zhang Xi's exposed skin. Lu Bu's intuition picked up on Xiang Kai's thoughts.

"Ah, so you have a thing for that woman?"

"N-no, that's not it."

Stammering, Xiang Kai felt Lu Bu's arm around his shoulder.

"Zhang Xi is not bad. She has a fair face, and her figure is solid, perhaps due to her sword training. Don't you think so?"

"..."

Xiang Kai neither confirmed nor denied it.

"Really? Xiang Kai, would you like me to help you with her?"

Xiang Kai was startled and waved his hands in refusal.

"N-no. The woman you cherish is your woman. How could I covet her?"

"Cherish... And I already have two. Two are enough. Why not have three?"

"Who do you think brings Zhang Xi to your quarters every night? Lord, I, Xiang Kai, deeply respect and follow you. I can give you my life, but please don't tease me like this."

Xiang Kai's words made Lu Bu's lips curl into a smile.

"She comes to my quarters every night, and she does sleep there. But I haven't taken her as my own. She is a spy sent by Huang Bosong. How could I play into his hands?"

Xiang Kai asked worriedly.

"Will you have to kill Zhang Xi after this is over?"

"Huang Bosong will not care about her if she doesn't bring me his head. Can't you see that by sending her here, he is discarding her? If she is to be discarded, there's no problem if you take her."

"Really?"

As Xiang Kai harbored hope, Lu Bu patted his back. Despite trying to be gentle, Xiang Kai almost vomited from the force.

"Sure, sure! I'll set the stage for you. Give it a good try."

"Is there any hope? I am short and not as handsome as you..."

"What's wrong with you? You are a general I value. You have an official position, even if it's a minor one, and you have enough wealth to live on. In these chaotic times, not having to worry about food is a great thing."

"Really, you think so?"

"Of course! But in return, I won't introduce you to the marriage prospects that Chao Xian has found."

Seeing Xiang Kai nod, Lu Bu instinctively knew he had captured Zhang Xi's heart.

'Mr. Guo said that to catch a big fish, you need a big bait. I used Si Jian as bait, and the catch is bigger than expected.'

"Lord, what should I do?"

"I know women well."

"Of course... I know how you live with Lady Chao..."

"Marriage is always like that. Live and see, live and see."

* * *