Chapter 8: Training in a New Place

As soon as Liu Xie stepped out, he saw Cao Cao striding over, one hand resting on the sword at his waist.

“Master Cao, what are you doing?” Liu Xie asked, feigning confusion.

Cao Cao’s expression was dark. “Your Majesty, didn’t you just say there were assassins in the palace?”

“I suspect the assassin is still within the palace.”

“Cao Hong, take men and search thoroughly—leave no corner unchecked!”

Cao Cao paid no heed to how Liu Xie, the emperor, might react. Without delay, he directed his men to begin searching the palace.

Every palace maid and eunuch was brought out one by one, each closely inspected by Cao Cao. Finally, every room in the palace was meticulously searched.

“My lord, we've searched everywhere—nothing unusual found,” Cao Hong reported loudly.

“Master Cao, perhaps you’re being overly nervous. There’s hardly an assassin here,” Liu Xie said with ill humor, casting him a sideways glance. “If I were an assassin, I certainly wouldn’t linger here—that’d be foolish.”

Cao Cao felt stifled; his hand gripped the sword ever tighter. He truly wished he could kill this emperor. But he could not. He still relied on holding Liu Xie hostage to command the lords of the realm. Liu Xie knew this well, and so regarded Cao Cao with even greater disdain.

“Are you certain every place has been searched?” Cao Cao asked his men.

“Uh, except the wine cellar.”

“But the wine cellar isn’t large, I doubt—”

“Doubt what? Search it,” Cao Cao interrupted, unconcerned, leading his men toward the wine cellar.

“Your Majesty—!” A eunuch hurried over, nervous, looking to Liu Xie.

Liu Xie raised a hand to cut him off, signaling calm. “Act normal. The wine cellar is fine,” he said confidently and calmly.

Liu Xie followed them. Soon, they arrived at the palace wine cellar.

Cao Hong threw open the cellar door and rushed in with his men.

“My lord, nothing here!” Cao Hong’s voice echoed from inside.

Then, Cao Cao and Liu Xie descended into the cellar.

As always, the wine cellar was filled with imperial wine; the aroma of spirits permeated the air.

“Master Cao, what exactly are you searching for? How could there possibly be an assassin here?” Liu Xie asked, still pretending not to understand.

Cao Cao glanced around the wine cellar, took a deep breath, and sneered before leaving. From his entrance to his departure, he had not once bowed to Liu Xie. Instead, he kept a stern face throughout. Clearly, he disliked Liu Xie intensely, but could do nothing.

After Cao Cao and his men had completely left, a pile of wine in the cellar’s corner began to shift. At last, a staircase leading downward appeared.

“How is it, Your Majesty? Has the traitor Cao gone?” someone asked cautiously.

Liu Xie glanced upward and nodded. When they first dug out this underground space, it was precisely for such an eventuality—they had prepared well. And indeed, it had proven useful.

“Seems you’ll need to find a new place to train,” Liu Xie mused. “This can’t go on.”

“Your Majesty, everyone’s skills have greatly improved lately. Shouldn’t we do something?” the man said, rather excited.

But Liu Xie shook his head gently. “No rush. It’s not yet time. Your skills are not quite ready for tasks.”

Though the twenty men had confidence in their abilities, Liu Xie knew they had far to go.

“Come, let’s go hunting,” he said, leaving the cellar.

Soon, more than twenty swift horses thundered out of the palace. Yet, they had barely ridden far before a group of soldiers blocked their path.

“Your Majesty, where are you heading?” the leader asked, expressionless.

“Hmph, must I announce my whereabouts to you?” Liu Xie chided coldly.

“The humble officer dares not; it’s just that bandits have been rampant lately, and it’s unsafe for you outside. Better stay in the palace.”

“Bandits?” Liu Xie scoffed. “What use are you, then? Do you just let bandits run wild?”

“Get out of my way, or I’ll have your heads!” With that, Liu Xie rode forward.

Yet the soldiers did not budge, standing firmly in his path.

Without another word, Liu Xie dismounted, strode to the lead soldier, and in a flash drew the man’s saber and pressed it into his hands.

“Here, either you kill me today, or move aside. Otherwise, I’ll cut you all down myself.”

The soldier was terrified, dropping to his knees, trembling all over.

“Your Majesty, it’s a misunderstanding—a misunderstanding!” he stammered. Even Cao Cao dared not lay a hand on Liu Xie; how could he risk it?

“Hmph, out of my way!” Liu Xie barked, mounting his horse and charging out with his companions.

News of this incident quickly reached Cao Cao.

“That brat dares such insolence!” Cao Cao fumed. “Gather the troops and follow me!”

Hearing that Liu Xie had left the palace, Cao Cao was enraged and led his soldiers in pursuit.

Amid the wild hills near Xuchang, Liu Xie had brought his twenty companions. He scanned the surroundings and, seeing no sign of Cao Cao’s men, breathed a sigh of relief.

“Listen well. From now on, you’ll train here. You have neither food nor water. Your task is simple: survive for a month. After a month, enter the city to buy food—someone will give you money then. Of course, if Cao Cao finds you, there’s nothing more to be done.”

“Yes!” the twenty men replied in unison.

Soon, the twenty vanished into the wilderness.

Not long after, another twenty dressed identically arrived, mounting the horses left behind. They clustered around Liu Xie.

He glanced at them. “From now on, you’ll follow me back to the palace. No accidents. In a month, you may leave.”

Liu Xie gave his instructions softly, and the men nodded firmly.

Just then, the clatter of horses echoed from afar—Cao Cao arrived, leading hundreds of armored soldiers.

“Your Majesty, do you not realize how dangerous it is outside? I think you’d better return to the palace,” Cao Cao said, face grim.

“Master Cao, what are you saying? I’ve been cooped up in the palace, so I came out to hunt and relax. Unless, Master Cao, you wish to imprison me in the palace? That’s hardly appropriate! Why not lock me in the city jail? Then I’d truly have nowhere to go.”

“Yes, that’s the way! Let’s go, I’ll head to the jail with you now,” Liu Xie said, growing more energetic as he spoke.

With that, he rode straight toward the Xuchang prison.