Chapter 24: Caught After Relieving Oneself

“Wang Xian, you bastard!” Liu Xuanba’s eyes blazed with fury as he watched his subordinate being struck, glaring fiercely at Wang Xian.

But Wang Xian paid no heed to Liu Xuanba’s rage. After casually stretching his body, he spoke in a deep voice, “Lord Liu, your men don’t understand proper conduct. I’m merely disciplining them on your behalf.”

He finished with an even brighter smile, recalling their earlier verbal sparring and thinking it was rather unwise. That lash felt thoroughly satisfying, as if he’d struck Liu Xuanba’s face directly. With just a few tricks, he could leave Liu Xuanba utterly helpless, forced to swallow his humiliation. Clearly, Wang Xian thought, he should cultivate more clever subordinates in the future; today his men’s method was simply flawless.

I’ll drive you to ruin, you bastard, Wang Xian thought smugly. If Liu Xuanba lost his temper and struck back, it would play right into his hands. Then he could order his men to retaliate and thoroughly teach Liu Xuanba a lesson.

…

On the other side, as Liu Xuanba was about to curse again, he was restrained by Wang Xiu, who knew this was no time for rashness. Wang Xiu straightened his sleeves and saluted Wang Xian in the distance. “Captain Wang, I am Wang Xiu, serving as staff officer to my master.”

Wang Xiu formally stepped forward and introduced himself. With Wei Wuji absent, Wang Xiu wasn’t confident he could force back the aggressive Captain Wang. All he could do was try his utmost to steady the situation and protect his side’s dignity.

“Oh! So you’re Staff Officer Wang. I am Wang Xian, at your service!” Wang Xian greeted Wang Xiu without malice, observing proper etiquette. After all, Wang Xiu’s position as a staff officer commanded respect; Wang Xian dared not overstep.

“Please, Captain Wang, there’s no need for such formality,” Wang Xiu hurriedly replied. “But may I ask, why are you targeting us? Have I offended you in some way?”

Wang Xian shook his head. “Our lord’s strict orders—I am simply following them, General. Please do not take offense.”

He spoke the truth; Wei Marquis had indeed ordered the central army to closely monitor the camp’s surroundings. Wang Xiu and his companions were genuinely suspicious; if Wang Xian hadn’t recognized Liu Xuanba, he might have launched an attack and wiped them out.

“Since you know Captain Liu, you must realize we are soldiers of Great Wei. Why quarrel with your own brothers?” Wang Xiu pressed.

Wang Xian was not at a loss for words and repeated, “I am merely following orders, General. Forgive me!”

Hmph! Keep up your arrogance! Wang Xian sneered inwardly. As long as he clung to the Marquis’s orders, he was invincible. These battered remnants posed no threat.

Seeing Wang Xiu and his men at a loss, Wang Xian’s smugness grew. He was not a magnanimous man, always exacting revenge for the slightest slight. Since these people sided with Liu Xuanba, he would show no mercy.

“Hurry up and lay down your weapons for inspection!” barked the military officials beside Wang Xian, clearly eager to curry favor.

Infuriated by their stubborn attitude, Wang Xiu retorted, “Captain Wang, do you really not care for any courtesy?”

Wang Xian’s expression hardened as he replied coldly, “I am under orders to root out traitors, Staff Officer Wang. Do not bring trouble upon yourself!”

“You suspect us of treachery—do you mean even the noble son of Great Wei is a traitor?” Liu Xuanba couldn’t hold back and invoked Wei Wuji’s name.

“The noble son? Where is he?” Wang Xian scoffed. If you’re going to try to intimidate me, at least produce someone credible. Even a general would suffice.

Wang Xian’s question left Liu Xuanba speechless; he couldn’t very well say, “The noble son is relieving himself.”

Seeing Liu Xuanba tongue-tied, Wang Xian’s laughter grew even bolder. He thought, “Liu, you’d best accept the inspection. Today, you’re destined to suffer.”

Wang Xian ordered, “Men, search them one by one. If anyone resists, beat them!”

He didn’t say “kill them on the spot” for resisting; he just wanted to humiliate Liu Xuanba, not escalate matters to the point of no return, lest he bring trouble upon himself.

As the Wei soldiers approached, both Wang Xian and Liu Xuanba felt at a loss; neither had ever faced such a situation. If their opponents were Chen soldiers, they would not hesitate to kill them—but these were Wei soldiers.

Wang Xiu, wishing to avoid trouble and acknowledging the legitimacy of the search, signaled his men not to act rashly. Liu Xuanba followed suit, realizing resistance would only endanger everyone.

“Forgive us!” The Wei cavalry, tasked with searching their ragged comrades, saluted politely. They too disliked this duty, but orders from above left them no choice.

…

Elsewhere, in the thicket.

After finishing his business, Wei Wuji took his time, then donned his armor once again, feeling thoroughly content.

“How comfortable!” Wei Wuji exclaimed. Emerging from the grass, he quickly summoned Zheng Dali and the others—it was time to move on.

“We should be close to the main camp now. Wang Xiu and the others are probably almost there. Let’s hurry ahead; perhaps we can catch up with them!” Wei Wuji mounted his horse and addressed his men.

“Noble Son, will there be good food tonight?” a soldier joked, savoring the rare relaxed atmosphere.

“Tonight, everyone can feast on beef and mutton!” Wei Wuji promised grandly.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Hooves thundered, and Wei Wuji’s party sped forward.

…

Meanwhile, Wang Xian dismounted and approached Liu Xuanba, teasing, “Old Liu, who would’ve thought you’d end up like this!”

“Bah!” Liu Xuanba spat angrily, glaring daggers at Wang Xian.

Panting with rage, Liu Xuanba cursed, “Wang, don’t be smug. When the noble son arrives, you’ll regret it.”

Wang Xian was puzzled—did Liu Xuanba truly have the noble son backing him? But he reasoned that if Liu Xuanba had such luck, he’d have been promoted long ago.

“Report!” Another cavalryman rode up. “General, our men caught dozens more behind us.”

He hesitated, “Those people... are dressed much like them, probably more fleeing soldiers.”

“Oh?” That was unusual. Were there more survivors, or was Liu Xuanba really aiding Chen infiltrators?

“Bring them here!” Wang Xian ordered coldly.

Not long after, the fugitives caught by Wang Xian’s men arrived—Wei Wuji himself, barely recovered from his relief, was among them.

Behind him, dozens of his guards, including Zheng Dali, were escorted by the cavalry.

“Who are you? Why are you here? Why did you tie up my men?” Wei Wuji appeared and fired three questions at Wang Xian.

“And who are you?” Wang Xian retorted with a laugh, irritated at being questioned by this stranger.

“Why do you care who I am?” Wei Wuji shot back, annoyed that a mere captain dared detain and interrogate him.

Turning to Wang Xiu, Wei Wuji demanded, “What’s going on?”

“This general insists we are defeated soldiers, suspects us of harboring traitors, and demands we lay down our arms for inspection...” Wang Xiu briefly explained, secretly relieved at Wei Wuji’s arrival.

“Noble Son, you must stand up for us!” a military official pleaded, lamenting their sorry state despite being war heroes.

“Noble Son? Is this the noble son you speak of?” Wang Xian eyed Wei Wuji with suspicion. Was Liu Xuanba out of his mind? He knew the noble sons of Great Wei, and none resembled this man.

“Kid, if you’re the noble son, I’ll let you use my head as a football!” Wang Xian laughed loudly.

“Men, continue searching—start with him!” Wang Xian ordered, pointing at Wei Wuji.

Wei Wuji was puzzled—did he really look so unworthy of being called the noble son? Was it possible no one believed him?

“But are you certain you want to lay hands on me?”