Chapter 22: Xu Jie

  Yuan Wei raised his hand and pinched the slightly sore spot between his eyebrows, with a hint of worry that he couldn't hide in his eyes.

  This was the worry hidden deep in his heart, and even when facing Xu Zhi, he didn't know if he should speak out. Since his second brother Yuan Feng passed away a few years ago, the burden of the Yuan family had fallen on his shoulders. He is now the mainstay of the entire Yuan clan, and if he shows any hesitation or wavering, others will be in disarray.

  But this matter was too important, so he didn't dare to be negligent and had to come ask Xu Zhi.

  In doubt and indecision, he inquired of divination, and Xu Shi was that divine tortoise.

  Yuan Yi told Xu Shao about what Dong Zhuo and Lu Zhi saw and heard by the Yellow River, finally sighing: "Zijiang, do you think the Emperor is truly destined for greatness?"

  Xu Jia furrowed his brow, pondering for a long time before shaking his head: "Whether or not it's the true dragon fate, no one can tell until he steps across that threshold. If he doesn't step across that threshold, even if it's the true dragon fate, it won't be a match for Yuan Gong, let alone Ben Chu with the phoenix and roc fate."

  Yuan Yi let out a sigh of relief: "So, are Lu Zhi and Dong Zhuo telling lies?"

  "This is not the case." Xu Shao said: "Dong Zhuo, it's not enough to be worried about. The barbarians and brave people on the border, when they enter the capital, see the majesty of the imperial family, and it's hard to avoid being nervous. As for Lu Zhi...". Xu Shao smiled slightly: "I'm afraid he's a suspect. He is in a dilemma, since Dong Zhuo said there was a dragon, he would naturally be happy to see it happen."

  Yuan Wei smiled and nodded repeatedly: "After all, Zi Jiang's judgment of people is accurate, he is indeed a connoisseur."

  Xu Jue stood up: "Yuan Gong, arrange for me to see the emperor, I want to take another look at the emperor's fate, and see what the strange phenomenon of two days ago has brought us."

  ……

  "Your Majesty, take a rest for a while." King Yue said in a low voice: "Three feet of ice are not formed in one day. Cultivating the Tao and practicing martial arts are all the results of accumulation over time, it's impossible to achieve overnight."

  Liu Bian let out a light sigh and put down his stiff hands, his heart full of disappointment and despair. According to the dragon-shaped diagram and incantation, he stood for nearly half an hour, but apart from his whole body aching, his bones stiffening, and his legs trembling, there was no gain. Not even the slightest illusion that appeared when he woke up in the morning, let alone any Qi.

  The instructor was right, standing still looks easy but is actually very difficult. He only stood for the time it takes to eat a meal and his weak body couldn't hold up, he has been persisting until now, relying solely on a strong will to persevere. Once his will relaxes, his whole body collapses.

  Xu Jue this demon said is right, I don't have many days to live. Might as well seize the time to enjoy, also counts as not having come in vain.

  "Your Majesty!" King Yue was greatly shocked, and he hastily stepped forward to support Liu Bian, half-dragging and half-carrying him to sit down on a nearby rock. He then considerately helped Liu Bian massage and relax his muscles. While enduring the soreness in his muscles and joints, Liu Bian casually asked:

  "Is Wang Yue one of the many knights-errant in the capital?"

  "Many." Wang Yue carefully massaged Liu Bian's feet, lowering his head to reply: "The capital is a place of power and nobility; wandering heroes come here to attach themselves to the powerful, only then can they have a way out."

  "Then who do they all depend on?"

  Wang Yue hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty, the first... of course is the Yuan brothers. Yuan Shao's name is renowned throughout the land and is the object of admiration for all the wandering knights. Anyone can see that once Yuan Ti dies, the next head of the Yuan family will be Yuan Shao, even Yuan Shu cannot compare to him."

  "Yuan Shao's prestige is so high?" Liu Bian smiled with a bitter tone.

  "Yes, Yuan Shao succeeded Yuan Cheng. Yuan Cheng was the eldest son of Yuan Tang and had been a trusted aide to General-in-Chief Liang Ji in his heyday. As the saying goes, 'When things don't go smoothly, ask Wen Kai.' Although Yuan Cheng died early, he accumulated deep connections. These connections were naturally inherited by Yuan Shao. Moreover, Yuan Shao himself was also highly respected; he excelled in both literature and martial arts, and his name was known throughout the land. He formed alliances with people without regard to their social status, and everyone got what they wanted, which is why the world turned to him..."

  Wang Yue suddenly realized he had misspoken, and hastily stopped himself, feeling embarrassed and unsure of what to do. Liu Bian, however, thought of the tragic end of Yuan Shao in history and couldn't help but laugh: "Unifying the hearts of all under heaven? I'm afraid he's just a soy sauce maker."

  "Hit... soy sauce?"

  "Hmm..." Liu Bian rolled his eyes: "What I mean is that he might be all talk and no action, and in the end, we'll just be left with nothing but empty joy."

  "Oh." Wang Yue seemed to understand but also didn't dare ask more questions.

  Just then, someone came to report that Xun Yu had come to ask for an audience. Liu Bei was taken aback and thought to himself, "What is this guy coming here for? Is he here to predict my fortune again?" Fine, I'll let him take a look and see just how many more days I have left to live.

  "Let him in."

  ……

  Before long, Xu Jia walked in with a middle-aged official leading the way, taking small steps and bowing down before Liu Bian.

  Liu Bian was exhausted, like a dog, and wanted to lie on the ground with his tongue out, but in front of Xu Shao, he still had to maintain some dignity, lest he be looked down upon by Xu Shao. After all, Xu Shao was the most powerful fortune teller of this era, and his comment on Cao Cao was enough to leave a deep impression, not to mention that he had also accurately predicted his own life and death.

  If it can be said that Yuan Wei and the others are still human, then Xu Shao is half-demon, barely comparable to the great demon Zhuge Liang of later times.

  Although Liu Bian made every effort to put on a dignified appearance, in Xu Shao's eyes, his efforts were all in vain. His fatigue and tension, even the unease and anxiety hidden deep within him, were all clearly visible to Xu Shao.

  Xu Jia smiled as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. How could someone like this possibly have the destiny of a true dragon? If he really did, even without crossing that threshold, he wouldn't be such an idiot. Think about Yuan Shao, before he awakened to his phoenix and dragon destiny, he was already a dragon among men.

  Yuan Wei was too nervous. The cup was a snake's shadow, true and false were indistinguishable, and in the end it was just an empty framework supported by a clever trick.

  Xu Jia bowed respectfully to Liu Bian, with a dignified and solemn expression. He was stern but not overbearing. Liu Bian saw in him an aura similar to that of Yuan Wei, except that the latter's presence was oppressive, while Xu Jia's had a hint of elegance.

  "Xu Zijiang, can you see if I can revive the great Han?"

  "Your Majesty is in a position of power and authority, with the whole country looking up to you. Reviving the great Han dynasty should be a natural and effortless thing."

  Liu Bian caught the implication behind Xu Xiang's words: "That... what else is lacking in me?"

  "Your Majesty's heart is lacking a vast and heroic spirit."