Chapter 12

Tuniu'er scratched his head and walked away with a bewildered look. From his expression, it seemed he thought Liang Xiao's injuries weren't fully healed, and his mind wasn't clear.

Liang Xiao ignored him and continued practicing drawing the bow. He didn't take the matter of a fight between children seriously at all.

Before long, it was dinnertime. Liang Xiao brought the prisoners' dinner to the east wing. To supplement their nutrition, he had specially ended his practice half an hour early, rushed to the outskirts of the city to catch several fat and large carp, and cooked a pot of fragrant and rich fish soup. He originally wanted his mother to make a braised carp, but seeing the pots at home, he gave up.

In the Han Dynasty, the pots, also called "fu," were very deep, suitable for boiling but not for stir-frying. Cooking fish soup was fine, but braising fish was not possible as the fish couldn't lie flat. The Han Dynasty had various sauces, but no soy sauce, which was only suitable for dipping. Although Liang Xiao was not very accustomed to it, he had no intention of inventing these small things and could only adapt to the local customs, making do with what he had. He would enjoy better things when he had the money and leisure time.

The prisoner sat upright at the table, watching Liang Xiao set the dishes. Just as Liang Xiao was about to leave, the prisoner called him back.

"Wait, I have something to say to you."

"Sure." Liang Xiao responded, sitting down and listening attentively.

The prisoner, however, said nothing more, picked up the bowl, and slowly began to eat. He had a sense of ceremony when eating, every movement as if it had been strictly trained, precise and meticulous. It didn't feel like he was eating a simple meal but rather enjoying a grand feast, and it seemed he was dining with the most honored guest.

Seeing that he was not speaking, Liang Xiao took the initiative. "I wonder, Mr. Huan..."

"Do not talk while eating." The prisoner interrupted Liang Xiao, giving him a glance. "Didn't your mother teach you that?"

Liang Xiao's face twitched, feeling both embarrassed and angry. Was it necessary to be so strict over a simple remark?

The prisoner ignored him, ate slowly, and finished every grain of rice in the bowl, drank the fish soup clean, and even licked every bone until there was not a trace of fish meat left. He neatly placed the bones on the tray, washed his hands, and moved to the side before straightening up and bowing to Liang Xiao.

"The food and soup are delicious. Please allow me to express my gratitude to your mother. I will speak with you when I return."

Liang Xiao was stunned. The prisoner's behavior today was a bit strange, making him feel uneasy.

The prisoner ignored him, got up, and went to the kitchen. Liang Xiao hurriedly followed and saw the prisoner bowing at the kitchen door. He then saw his mother, Liang Miao, wiping her hands on her apron and returning the bow formally. They exchanged pleasantries several times before the prisoner retreated.

Liang Xiao was puzzled but did not dare to be careless, feeling inexplicably restrained.

The prisoner returned to the room, gestured for Liang Xiao to sit opposite him, cleared his throat, and said, "I heard you are going to duel with someone?"

Liang Xiao nodded and countered, "Is that why Mr. Huan is here?"

"Shameless boy!" The prisoner's face darkened, and he sternly rebuked, "When an elder asks a question, you should answer directly. How can you ask a question in return?"

Liang Xiao was extremely embarrassed, his face turning red, and he bowed. Although he didn't understand what the prisoner was doing, his solemnity suggested he wasn't being frivolous.

"Mr. Huan, it is true," he replied.

"Are you not taking it seriously?"

"It's just a child's play, not worth mentioning."

"Then, do you know who your opponent is? Do you know what martial arts he excels in? Do you know the specific terrain of the duel? Can you be sure he will abide by the agreed rules and face you one-on-one? Is it a fight to the death or just a test of skill?"

Liang Xiao was stunned, not knowing how to respond.

"Your parents are still alive, and you should not travel far without a reason. Although you don't have a father, you have a mother. Have you informed her of this matter of life and death?"

Liang Xiao's face changed. Was it really a matter of life and death? Would Hu Lai really fight to the death?

"From your reaction, it seems you know nothing." The prisoner shook his head, disappointed. "I thought you had some intelligence, but now it seems you lack even the courage of a common man. No matter how well you practice archery, you will still end up as a useless person. I don't care, but it's a pity for your mother, who has placed all her hopes on you, not knowing that you will never amount to anything. Women are women, and their understanding is always inferior."

Hearing the prisoner belittle his mother, Liang Miao, Liang Xiao could no longer hold back. He stood up and said loudly, "Mr. Huan, why be so harsh? Although my mother and I may not be very wise, we know that a wise man does not put himself in danger. Mr. Huan, with your high wisdom, how did you end up in prison and dependent on others? In such a state, you still speak so arrogantly. Don't you find it ridiculous?"

The prisoner looked at Liang Xiao calmly and laughed instead of getting angry.

"I was wrong earlier. Although you are foolish, you have some courage and at least a sense of filial piety, knowing how to protect your mother. However, you only understand small matters and not the greater principles. If you die on Jinguishan Mountain tomorrow, how will you protect her?"

Liang Xiao was speechless, staring at the prisoner for a long time without saying a word.

"Do you think I am being too harsh?"

Liang Xiao blinked and nodded. "Yes."

"Perhaps. This time, I might have overreacted. But have you considered that, apart from military achievements, you have no other way to rise. The battlefield is dangerous, and even with utmost caution, you cannot guarantee your safety. If you approach a fight with a careless attitude, how can you ensure your survival?"

Liang Xiao blinked and countered, "This isn't the battlefield..."

"Since you are determined to rise through military achievements, you should start now by cultivating a cautious attitude, treating every conflict as a matter of life and death. Otherwise, what you consider a trivial duel might become your last battle."

Liang Xiao took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He understood the prisoner's point. Hu Lai might not be scary, but underestimating the enemy was very dangerous. For someone who could only rise through military achievements, underestimating the enemy was a path to death. Any mistake could cost him his life.

"Thank you, Mr. Huan." Liang Xiao's anger subsided, and he respectfully bowed deeply to the prisoner. "I humbly request your guidance."

"In a battle between two armies, the one who plans more will win." The prisoner accepted Liang Xiao's bow calmly. "Knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory. At this point, you should try to understand your opponent's true intentions to address the problem effectively."

"But... how can I find out his intentions?" Liang Xiao scratched his head. "I'm not very familiar with him, and now we are enemies. He won't tell me what he wants, will he?"

The prisoner smiled slightly. "To know the enemy, nothing is better than using spies."

Liang Xiao was taken aback. To deal with Hu Lai, using spies seemed a bit excessive, didn't it?

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On Monday, I request recommendations and collections!

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