Xia Chen quietly watched the sharp-witted Xu Xingchen, took a sip of wine, and said casually, “Are you saying that the current three-way standoff in the world will continue?”
“If I don’t intervene, the world will remain divided into three for the next fifty years. The three countries will balance each other. Although they all have ambitions to annex each other, they lack the absolute strength to eliminate the other two.”
Xu Xingchen said with utmost certainty.
“But why do I feel that perhaps in about five years, our Great Wu will experience a shocking change, and in ten years at most, the current world situation will change!”
Xia Chen smiled as he looked at Xu Xingchen, stating his own judgment.
Xu Xingchen’s gaze was profound. Hearing Xia Chen’s words, he instinctively wanted to refute him and explain his views in detail, along with his reasoning.
But he quickly stopped himself, his expression as calm as a still lake, without a ripple.
“I know you don’t believe it and are firm in your judgment. How about this, let’s make a small friendly wager. We’ll see in ten years. If my judgment on these two time points is correct, you will owe me something. As for what you owe, I will tell you then, but no matter what I ask for, you must give it to me!”
Xia Chen looked at Xu Xingchen, as if trying to provoke him.
“Do you dare to bet?”
Xu Xingchen looked at the elegant young man before him, his gaze deep. Xia Chen had pushed him to a desperate situation. He had originally thought that he would be welcomed by the Lantern Bearer Prison.
But he didn’t expect Xia Chen to say so much to him, and now, from Xia Chen’s words, it seemed he wasn’t planning to apprehend him. His desperate struggle had finally brought him a chance at survival.
“Alright, I’ll bet with you!”
Xu Xingchen’s thoughts had always been very clear. He couldn’t quite figure out what Xia Chen truly wanted to do. He had prepared for the worst, but he didn’t expect Xia Chen to want to make a bet with him and give him a way out. So, he would bet.
As for winning or losing, that would be his problem ten years from now. It had nothing to do with him now. Any troubles could be left for his future self to worry about.
What’s more, he firmly believed in his judgment: the world situation could remain stable for at least 30 years. He was very confident!
Xia Chen couldn’t help but smile when he heard Xu Xingchen’s words, his smile brilliant. He had set a trap, and now, this person had willingly stepped into it.
“I see you’re restless and probably have no appetite for this lunch, and you don’t look hungry either. In that case, you may leave!”
Xia Chen waved his hand, signaling that Xu Xingchen could go.
Xu Xingchen felt a surge of joy upon hearing this, but his face remained calm, displaying exceptional composure. He bowed respectfully to Xia Chen.
“Thank you, young master. I shall take my leave!”
Xu Xingchen finally relaxed completely, his mind no longer tense.
“Although this Xia Chen is as intelligent as a monster, he is still too young and lacks experience! I thought he was going to arrest me and throw me into the Lantern Bearer Prison, but I didn’t expect him to just let me leave. He must have been shaken by my analysis of the world’s major trends, and thus, for the sake of that ten-year wager, he let me off the hook.”
Xu Xingchen chuckled to himself. To Xia Chen, he was just a small fry. His words had stirred Xia Chen’s competitive spirit, making him want to make a bet!
Xu Xingchen quickly made this judgment in his mind.
Although his brain was working at high speed, Xu Xingchen maintained a calm smile on his face. After bowing, he prepared to turn and leave this troublesome place, but then, Xia Chen’s voice suddenly echoed in his ears again.
“Come to the Lantern Bearer Bureau tomorrow morning to report. I still need a scribe!”
Xu Xingchen froze, “Huh?”
He immediately wanted to refuse. What a joke? Go with Xia Chen to the Lantern Bearer Bureau to be a scribe?
He was a man who aspired to be Prime Minister!
Just as he was about to refuse, Xia Chen’s voice rang out again. This time, it was no longer gentle, but calm with a hint of coldness.
“Don’t think about escaping tonight or leaving the capital. No matter how fast you are, you can’t outrun the Lantern Bearers. I can find you anywhere, even at the ends of the earth.”
“I’ve noted down everything you said today. It’s utter nonsense. Our Great Wu is prosperous and peaceful, its people live in contentment, and His Majesty governs wisely. Yet you are here spouting such absurdities. Are you an enemy spy, specifically lurking in our capital to spread such rumors? And you were secretly following this official at noon today; surely you weren’t planning to assassinate him!”
Xia Chen glanced at the now somewhat pale Xu Xingchen and continued.
“And earlier you also said that you have been biding your time, waiting for the opportune moment, always seeking a wise lord to gain merit by assisting a rising power. Are you trying to rebel?”
Xia Chen’s final words were like an invisible sharp sword piercing Xu Xingchen’s heart, a fatal blow.
He broke out in a cold sweat, his face pale, his body chilling as if plunged into an ice cellar.
These were words that could kill. Xu Xingchen hadn’t expected the previously gentle, smiling Xia Chen to suddenly change his attitude and turn hostile.
“Do you know that these crimes are punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family?!”
Xia Chen’s words were incredibly cruel and cold. A strong killing intent enveloped Xu Xingchen. This was the killing intent he had honed in the strange small world within the system space when he received the sword intent inheritance.
Xu Xingchen felt as if he had fallen into the eighteenth layer of hell, and Xia Chen was a demon that had crawled out of hell. He looked at Xia Chen’s sinking eyes, which seemed to emit a strange light. In a trance, he saw a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood—a brutal battlefield, littered with shattered bodies…
Although Xu Xingchen considered himself the most talented person in the world, he had never experienced such a scene.
He was terrified.
It took him a while to recover. He steadied his mind, letting his brain start working, trying to calm himself and regain his composure. He said in a deep voice,
“Sir, you said earlier…”
“Did I? This official just came from the literary gathering today. As soon as I entered the restaurant, I noticed someone stealthily following me. They followed me all the way into the private room and even tried to approach me, attempting to assassinate me. I saw through it immediately. From then until now, this official has merely been questioning you. This official is utterly loyal to His Majesty!”
Xia Chen said with an upright expression, and even stood in the private room, cupping his hands and bowing towards the direction of the imperial palace.
Xu Xingchen watched, dumbfounded.
“I can testify that my young master was questioning you the entire time, and not only is your identity suspicious, but you also spoke many words of rebellion.”
Xia Qian, who had been standing at the door, also immediately chimed in, causing Xu Xingchen’s heart to sink completely.
Today, he finally understood what power was, what it meant to call a deer a horse, and what it meant to turn black into white!
Today, Xu Xingchen admitted defeat!
“You are a smart person. I believe you will make the correct choice and judgment. Tomorrow morning, I hope to see you at the Bureau, and not have to order people to pursue you!”
Xia Chen sat in his chair, took a sip of wine, and spoke calmly, expressionless. At this moment, his official prestige was as vast as divine power, awe-inspiring!
...
【Upon first meeting the Grand Ancestor, Xu Xingchen immediately felt His benevolence and admired His profound wisdom. He then knelt before the Grand Ancestor, expressing his willingness to serve Him. Even as a small scribe, he would have no complaints, seeking only to remain by the Grand Ancestor’s side to learn. The Grand Ancestor, seeing his sincere and firm demeanor, nodded and assented.
— Xia History, Volume 3, Biography of Xu Xingchen】
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