Chapter Thirty-One: Confrontation in the Cage

  Under the night sky of May in the Great Han Dynasty, the moon is bright and the stars are sparse, the temperature is pleasant, the warm breeze is gentle, and the beauty is by my side. It's really a great day for reciting poetry and composing essays under the flowers and the moon.

  Qin Xu's room, the talented woman Cai Wenji's gentle warmth and the little maid Lyu Linggui's fiery personality complement each other perfectly. To be able to live with these two extraordinary women in the same room is an encounter that many people dream of.

  Ke Qin Xu now feels like he's fallen into an icy cave, a chill rising from the base of his spine, straight up along his backbone to the tip of his hair.

  Just accidentally made a joke about Cai Yan, and it was enough to bring out a self-proclaimed guardian of flowers, Lü Lingji. But because of Lü Lingji's matter, Qin Xu's unintentional words brought out Lü Bu again?

  Are you guys here to gang up on me? One by one, and another one, so rhythmic?

  "My lord! Qin Xu has misspoken! Please, my lord, punish him!"

  A good man doesn't take a loss in front of his eyes, it's better to admit his mistake and get a lenient treatment. Can anyone scold Lü Bu casually? Moreover, it was said in front of his daughter, and his whole family heard it clearly! It's better to use words to block Lü Bu's options first, otherwise this big brother might lose his temper and chop Qin Xu into pieces.

  Lü Bu's face turned iron-green with rage and he didn't say a word, but instead glared furiously at Qin Xu who was hanging his head in shame.

  It was Yan Shi, standing behind Lü Bu, who had an expressionless face, holding a food box and placing it on the dining table in Qin Xu's room. Only occasionally would the corners of her mouth twitch, revealing the laughter she was trying to suppress.

  "You also know fear? Where is your courage to kill?" Lü Bu saw that Qin Xu had a good attitude in admitting his guilt, and his tone was slightly softer, saying: "You don't have to pretend like this, today I won't punish you, nor will I kill you."

  "Thank you, sir!" Qin Xu hastily said, fearing that Lü Bu might change his mind.

  "Haha!" Before Lü Bu could react, Lü Lingqi couldn't help but burst out laughing at Qin Xu's timely and witty remark.

  Lü Bu was furious at this moment, and Lü Lingji really worried about Qin Xu.

  As Lü Bu's only daughter, how could she not know about Lü Bu's explosive temper, which was notorious for being unpredictable and uncontrollable. Moreover, in her impression, there had never been anyone who dared to trifle with Lü Bu when he was angry, let alone someone like Qin Xu who would still try to scheme against Lü Bu at this time and leave a way out for himself.

  "Hum!" Lü Bu let out a furious hum, his tiger eyes staring at his daughter, completely lacking in discipline!

  "Hmph!" But unexpectedly, Lü Lingqi didn't back down either, staring with wide eyes, letting out a delicate snort, and fearlessly looking back, not retreating in the slightest due to Lü Bu's anger.

  "Ling'er, stop being naughty! Listen to your father!"

  "I won't! Father wants to sell me out, I won't listen to him!"

  "Don't talk nonsense! Your father loves you so much..." Yan Shi saw that Lü Bu was somewhat embarrassed by his daughter's words, and hastily pulled Lü Lingqi into her arms, softly comforting her.

  With the interruption of Lü Linggui, Lü Bu's angry expression lessened somewhat, and he coldly said to Qin Xu: "You little scoundrel, your mouth is so reckless, you will surely suffer for it in the future. It's just as well that your body hasn't recovered yet, don't leave this house for the next few days."

  Is this being locked up? Qin Xu thought gloomily.

  "As for Ling'er's matter, you don't need to intervene either." Lü Bu hesitated for a moment and continued, "The Yuan family has had four generations of three dukes, with disciples and former officials all over the world. Yuan Benchu is also the current head of the family, can be considered a contemporary hero, and allying with him will be beneficial to our army without any harm. You don't need to say more about this matter."

  What?

  Upon hearing Lü Bu's words, Qin Xu's anger also rose. His brothers had painstakingly considered his future to avoid "repeating the same mistakes", and of course, they were also thinking of their own lives, using all their thoughts to help him conserve military strength and plan for the future. How could he be so anxious to jump onto Yuan Shao's ship? Wasn't he afraid that the inertia of history would once again throw him back onto his original path?

  But how can this be said to Lü Bu?

  Are you going to tell Lü Bu that Yuan Shao is not a good person and has no tolerance for others, and that he will only be used as a knife by Yuan Shao until he is discarded? And then you'll end up like in history, defeated and fleeing, and die on the White Gate Tower a few years later?

  Qin Xu dares to say, will Lü Bu believe it?

  Lü Bu saw that Qin Xu did not express any objection to the punishment, nodded in satisfaction, exchanged a glance with Yan Shi, and was about to drag Lü Lingqi out with a face full of resentment.

  What to do? Just made up my mind to follow Lü Bu, only to see Lü Boss's future completely destroyed, Xiao Yatou fell into the fire pit, and then count the days waiting for the White Gate Tower to come and chop off my own head?

  No way, absolutely not!

  "My lord! I take back what I just said. It seems you really are going mad!" Lü Bu had just reached the door when he heard Qin Xu's cold words.

  "Qin Xu! How dare you speak nonsense again! Do you think I, Lü Bu, don't dare to kill you?" Lü Bu's face was filled with shock and anger, his sharp eyes staring fiercely at Qin Xu, as if his boundless rage was about to engulf him. Even Yan Shi looked at Qin Xu with a terrified expression, her face incredulous.

  Lü Bu's anger, how could Qin Xu, who was just a small director in his previous life, contend with it? Qin Xu only felt that he was in a precarious situation, being stared at by a fierce tiger, and his legs were trembling uncontrollably.

  Can't be soft, Lv Bu's temper Qin Xu has figured it out, absolutely belongs to the stubborn donkey type, going along with it won't work, hitting it will make it retreat; if you don't take drastic measures, today is definitely not going to pass this test.

  "I'll take the path of death, sooner or later. Qin Xu's life is at stake here, please proceed, my lord!" Qin Xu gritted his teeth and forced out each word from between his teeth.

  "Qin Xu!" From the moment Qin Xu opened his mouth, Lyu Linggui's eyes were shrouded in mist. In Lyu Linggui's heart, if it weren't for Cai Yan bringing herself to find Qin Xu for help, Qin Xu actually didn't need to get involved in this muddy water. Now that Qin Xu had provoked Lu Bu into true anger, that was really going to cost him his life!

  In desperation, Lü Lingqi could only think of Qin Xu's life first and said to Lü Bu with a crying tone, "Father, don't kill Qin Xu, I'll marry him! Isn't marrying him enough?"

  "Hmph! Shut up!" Lü Bu's gloomy face was frosty, ignoring his daughter's plea. Instead, he asked Qin Xu: "You say surrendering to Yuan is a path to death?"

  "Not bad!" Qin Xu replied.

  Lü Lingxue was blocked by Yan Shi, Qin Xu was indeed somewhat moved. Although this girl usually doesn't get along with me, at the critical moment, she is indeed reliable. Just because of Lü Lingxue's words just now, Yuan Shao cannot be allowed to succeed.

  "Yuan Gong has taken over the north of the Yellow River, with a strong army and robust horses. He has just defeated Gongsun and is ambitious to take control of the north to save the world. How can you, a young child, speak of him in this way?" Lü Bu asked in a low voice: "Furthermore, I am allied with him, not relying on him for shelter. I have my own strategy for self-preservation, what's wrong with that?"

  It seems that Lü Bu still has a good impression of Yuan Shao. At this time, Yuan Shao is not yet the master of Hebei eight years later. Due to the accumulation of great fame in the campaign against Dong Zhuo and his family background as a fourth-generation high-ranking official, many talented heroes are vying to join him, which is exactly when Yuan Shao can take advantage of the situation to develop. Some styles that will be criticized by future generations have also been well hidden by Yuan Shao and are unknown to the world. Even if Qin Xu speaks out, Lü Bu may not believe it, and can only take a different path.

  "Yuan Shao is not a good person, and his character is not great either!" Qin Xu said disdainfully, "Still claiming to save the world with the support of Hebei? This must be what Yuan Shao's lobbyists say?"

  "This..."

  "Did he say that Gongsun Zan's strength is still there, and the Black Mountain bandits are eyeing us covetously? Is he afraid that his military strength is insufficient to fight on two fronts, so he pulled us in to be cannon fodder?" Yuan Shao was still performing perfectly this year, Qin Xu had no choice but to think of other ways to thoroughly discredit Old Yuan.

  "Hmph! You insignificant thief, it's just right to try out my Heaven Halberd's might. What is there for me, Lü Bu, to fear?" Lü Bu said nonchalantly. "And what about after you've been defeated?" Qin Xu suddenly asked.

  "It's just that nature is with General Yuan..." Lü Bu continued along Qin Xu's words, but found himself unable to say anything more.

  "Share Hebei with Yuan Shao?" A sneer appeared on Qin Xu's face, saying: "Can one allow others to snore beside their bed?!"

  "Ah...!!" Lü Bu's eyes flashed, and he took a deep breath.

  Seeing that the timing was about right, Qin Xu secretly took a deep breath and spoke boldly: "Your Excellency's bravery is unmatched in the world. Even if you don't have the ambition of a hero, and instead rely on Old Yuan, dedicating yourself to serving him, do you think Yuan Shao can tolerate someone with achievements surpassing his own? The heroic spirit of the Marquis of Huaiyin has not yet dispersed!"

  Lü Bu seemed to be moved by Qin Xu's words, closing his eyes in contemplation without speaking. Lü Lingqi, who had struggled free from Yan Shi's embrace, looked at Qin Xu with a surprised expression, not expecting that Qin Xu could move Lü Bu so deeply. Even Cai Yan gazed at Qin Xu with a dazed and confused look, but suddenly her eyes snapped into focus, as if she had made up her mind about something. She walked over to Qin Xu's side and said: "If Ling'er were to marry him, General Lü and Yuan Benchu would become in-laws, wouldn't Yuan Shao be afraid of being ridiculed by the whole world if he really did such a thing?"

  "Yan sister! What's wrong?" Lü Linggui saw that Lü Bu was about to be moved by Qin Xu, but Cai Yan suddenly spoke out, as if refuting Qin Xu, and her small face showed a look of anxiety.

  It's really sleepy, someone sent a pillow, and those who didn't flatter were just poor at persuasion. With Cai Yan's ambiguous words to Yuan Shao, Qin Xu gave Lv Linggui a reassuring glance, and smiled: "The relationship between the two families is good. Wen Hou has only one daughter, still in Yuan Shao's hands, it's really something that can make Yuan Shao feel at ease."

  "Hum! You don't need to provoke me! A great man can't sell his daughter for fame?! Lu Bu angrily said: "Yuan Shao's heart is so sinister! Almost ruined my beloved daughter's life! Unfilial indeed! I'll go and behead Yuan Shao right now!"

  Success!

  Now Lü Bu is not the same as the one who was forced by Cao Cao and Liu Bei, had to carry his daughter on his back to seek help from Yuan Shu, a fallen hero. Dare to touch Lü Bu's tiger whiskers, purely seeking death.

  "My lord, wait! Yuan Shao's envoy says that we cannot kill him!" Qin Xu hastily said.

  Qin Xu couldn't even imagine how many people would be overjoyed if Lü Bu and Yuan Shao were to start a war at this time. At the very least, Cao Cao would definitely strongly support Lü Bu's idea.

  "You little brat, what are you getting at? Don't learn from those hypocritical scholars who twist and turn without speaking the truth. Not like my...the style of our Qin family!" Lü Bu said angrily.

  What's that? What is it? Qin Xun's sensitive ears picked up on something in Lü Bu's words, as if he had finally found some information he had been searching for a long time. In the end, although Lü Bu was cautious, at least it could be confirmed that the owner of this body and Lü Bu were absolutely not in an ordinary relationship.

  However, Qin Xu temporarily didn't have the heart to pay attention to these matters. He took advantage of this opportunity to paint a big picture for Lü Bu, fearing that if he didn't, Lü Bu would soon come up with other ideas. He busily asked Lü Bu: "May I ask about your ambitions, my lord?"

  It seems like every great strategist uses good tactics when Qin Xu is around.

  "What's all the fuss about?" Lü Bu also seemed to feel that he had misspoken earlier, and said in a bad temper: "It's just a matter of whether or not to form an alliance with Yuan Shao, but you've managed to come up with so many excuses. I say we should unify the whole country, do you have any ideas?"

  So soon you've been waiting for this sentence?

  The surprise came too quickly, leaving Qin Xu temporarily unadapted.

  Although he knew Lü Bu was just talking big, Qin Xu still pretended to be profound and said, "What's so difficult about that?"