Chapter 34: The Wager

As Liu Xie finished his last sentence, Hu Che'er’s expression darkened immediately. Without another word, he drew his sword and pressed it to Liu Xie's throat.

“You lying brat! If you dare utter one more word, believe me, I’ll kill you right here!”

Liu Xie had just said he would surrender. For a battle-hardened general, surrender was an unspeakable disgrace. Yet Liu Xie claimed he would do just that. Was this not a blatant insult?

Liu Xie glanced at him, a faint, contemptuous smile on his lips.
“What’s the matter, General Hu? You think it impossible?”
“Then let’s just wait and see.”
“Listen carefully. I know for certain that at the beginning of next year, Cao Cao will march his armies against you.”
“You will surrender, and moreover, you will rebel against Cao Cao afterward.”
“During your rebellion, several of Cao Cao’s most important people will die at your hands.”
“That includes Dian Wei and Cao Cao’s eldest son, Cao Ang.”
“As for the reason you rebel, it is because of Cao Cao himself.”
“That’s all I can say—the rest must remain a secret. Heaven’s will cannot be revealed.”

Liu Xie spoke as if he were some kind of sage who could predict fate. In truth, everything he said came from his knowledge of the Three Kingdoms era in the twenty-first century. As for why he didn’t reveal more—it was simply because he didn’t want the rest of it to come true.

“You impudent whelp! I’ll kill you right now!” Hu Che’er, enraged, raised his sword to strike Liu Xie.

But before he could react, Lin Xiao, with a swift and uncanny move, snatched the sword from his hand. Before Hu Che’er could recover, Liu Xie pressed the blade to his neck.

In the twenty-first century, Liu Xie had not only been a special forces soldier but also a martial artist. With his mastery of the Heavenly Sage Technique, he had been unstoppable in his previous life. Although he had yet to begin formal training in this world, many of the moves remained etched in his memory. Dealing with someone like Hu Che’er was child’s play.

“What do you want?” Hu Che’er stammered, glancing nervously at the sword pointed at him.

“Oh, General Hu, to tell the truth, I have no wish to be your enemy.”
“Let’s be frank—you want to kill me? Not likely.”
“Even a hundred of you would not be my match.”
“How about this? Let’s let facts speak for themselves.”

“There’s less than half a month before the New Year,” Liu Xie continued.
“Let’s wait for a month. If, within that time, Cao Cao does not send troops against your city of Wan, and Yuan Shu does not declare himself emperor, then I’ll kill myself before you to atone. How about that?”

Hu Che’er considered for a moment, then nodded.
“Fine. We’ll do as you say. But if Cao Cao doesn’t come, don’t blame me for what I’ll do to you.”

He was far from convinced. He did believe that Cao Cao might attack them, for as a seasoned general he could read the tides of war. But Liu Xie’s prediction of the exact timing—that he doubted. And as for Yuan Shu declaring himself emperor, that was utterly impossible in his eyes. So he had no fear in accepting Lin Xiao’s wager.

“But what if everything I say comes true?” Liu Xie pressed.

“If every word proves true, then anything you want in Wan City is yours for the asking. I’ll even speak on your behalf to General Zhang, ensuring you a life of comfort and plenty,” Hu Che’er replied, making a generous offer.

Liu Xie was unimpressed. If a life of ease was all he wanted, he never would have left the palace. Nowhere could compare with the imperial palace for luxury and abundance. But he had left for reasons far beyond mere comfort.

“Let’s do this: If Cao Cao does not attack and Yuan Shu does not claim the throne, I am yours to dispose of. But if I am right, you must promise to do three things for me—though I haven’t thought of them yet. Don’t worry, I won’t ask anything impossible or unreasonable,” Liu Xie said in a negotiating tone.

“Alright, I agree. If your predictions come true, I’ll grant you three requests—but only if Cao Cao attacks after the New Year and Yuan Shu proclaims himself emperor, as you said,” Hu Che’er answered readily.

With a smile, Liu Xie lowered the sword and tossed it aside.
“Very well. Then I’ll take my leave. We’ll settle this after the New Year. Of course, if you’re uneasy about letting me go, you may have someone watch me—see where I go and whom I meet.”

With that, Liu Xie strode out of the military camp, swaggering out of the garrison at Wan City. No one dared stop him.

Meanwhile, at the Liu household—

Upon hearing that Liu Xie was still alive, Liu Xunshan flew into a rage.
“How is he still alive? What happened? What on earth is going on? I sent Hu Che’er to kill him—how is he still breathing?”

He smashed several wine cups in his fury. Liu Xie had killed his son, and many of his servants had died at Liu Xie’s hands. He had called on the garrison only as a last resort. Yet unbelievably, Liu Xie was still alive. His anger burned all the hotter.

“Master, I saw General Hu go to his courtyard,” a servant reported nervously.
“And when he left, he took Liu Shiban with him.”

“Oh? That’s good, very good. General Hu is a ruthless man. If he’s taken Liu Shiban away, then the boy is finished,” Liu Xunshan said, his mood turning smug. In his mind, anyone taken by Hu Che’er was as good as dead.

But the servant hesitated, his expression cautious, as if unsure how to continue.

“Master, but… Liu Shiban is still fine. He was taken to the garrison, but after about half an hour… he came back.”

Liu Xunshan’s face fell instantly at these words, and his anger surged anew.

“What did you say?” He could hardly believe his ears.

“It’s true, Master. Liu Shiban has returned home,” the servant replied meekly.

Liu Xunshan was beside himself with rage.
“Damn it! What’s going on? Come, we’re going to the garrison.”

Seething with fury, he left the house, determined to get answers. If Liu Xie had already been captured, how could he have been released?

Meanwhile, Hu Che’er was also deeply troubled, wondering how he was going to explain all of this to the Liu family.