Outside the door, Cao Cao and He Xian suddenly heard this roar. They couldn't help but exchange a glance, seeing tension and deep concern mirrored in each other's eyes.
However, this was precisely when the quick wit of the cunning hero of the chaotic era shone through. While He Xian was still unsure how to respond, Cao Cao, not waiting for the guards by the door to announce them, preemptively shouted loudly,'Sikong, your Subordinate, following orders, has brought the son of the Former Grand General, He Xians courtesy name!'
This voice carried into the hall, instantly causing a flurry of chaotic clamor within, followed immediately by a heart-palpitating silence.
After a short while, two rows of armored halberdiers finally marched out from the hall. When they reached He Xian, the leading soldier coldly barked, 'By the Sikong's order, He Xian has deliberately plotted to harm his colleague and is a convict bearing guilt. He is to enter the hall with blades pressed against his body!'
'blades pressed against the body' was a unique ceremonial protocol of feudal dynasties, typically used for those entering the palace without summons or ministers seeking an audience with the emperor late at night. Its purpose, naturally, was for the emperor to ensure his own safety. However, as it evolved, this method gradually came to be used to intimidate and humiliate someone.
At this moment, He Xian had to admit that these ancient feudal practices they came up with were damn effective!
At the leading soldier's barked command, He Xian was immediately surrounded by four men. The sound of blades being drawn was short and decisive, and four gleaming cold edges were instantly placed against his neck from both sides.
The other halberdiers also stopped merely holding their weapons aloft and instead pointed their halberd blades directly at He Xian. Seeing the cold, fierce expressions on these soldiers' faces, He Xian's mind buzzed instantly, feeling like he was about to piss himself in fright!
In his previous life, watching such clichéd scenes in movies or TV dramas, He Xian would have scoffed in disdain. Knowing the plot in advance, he understood that the person with blades at their throat definitely wouldn't die—after all, if someone really wanted to kill a person, there were far simpler methods.
But when it was truly his own turn, he gained a newfound, profound respect for those fierce warriors in history who remained calm and composed even with blades pressed against them.
Because he knew the expressions on these soldiers' faces weren't put on deliberately. These elite warriors who had chopped countless heads on the battlefield had already ignited their bloodlust the moment they drew their blades and raised their halberds. Their eager eyes clearly indicated that if He Xian made even the slightest unusual move, they would be more than happy and swift to slice him to pieces!
Moreover, his current situation wasn't one where Dong Zhuo simply wouldn't kill him. In fact, Dong Zhuo's actions here showed he already harbored an intense desire to kill He Xian! At this moment, he was completely like someone dancing on a tightrope over a cliff.
At this moment, fine beads of cold sweat suddenly broke out on He Xian's forehead, and his calves began to tremble involuntarily. He even felt he had forgotten how to walk.
Yet, reason kept relentlessly telling him: Absolutely cannot show fear! At a time like this, the more fear you show, the more flustered you become, and the more flustered you are, the more mistakes you'll make. And one mistake means dying even faster!
And so, at this moment, He Xian could only silently close his eyes and hypnotize himself: 'This is filming, filming, filming, a scene...'
It must be said, the effect of self-deception can be quite remarkable sometimes. Anyway, when He Xian took a deep breath and opened his eyes, he suddenly felt the soldiers weren't nearly as fierce as before and even seemed somewhat endearing: Hmm, these extras' acting skills are really high; their expressions are all spot-on...
So much so that Cao Cao, who was currently disarming his weapons nearby, even saw a slight upward curve at the corner of He Xian's mouth. This sight immediately caused Cao Cao's movements to pause for a moment, and a look of astonishment mixed with approval flashed again in his eyes.
And after this moment, He Xian's expression truly relaxed. Because with Cao Cao's action, He Xian heard that cold, metallic sound again: Gained admiration from Cao Cao, an important figure of the Late Han and Three Kingdoms period. Prestige points increased by 400. Total prestige points: 500.
Indeed, the most lethal kind of showing off is the unintentional one.
However, the leading soldier's attitude towards He Xian didn't improve because of his composure. On the contrary, he glared fiercely at his useless Subordinates. Then, he said coldly to He Xian, 'Young Master, please enter the hall.'
Upon entering the Sikong Residence, He Xian once again felt an overwhelming aura of authority and intimidation, created by the solemn layout of the residence. Han and Tang dynasty palaces were often built with rammed earth structures, grand and majestic, making one keenly feel their own insignificance. Coupled with two rows of spear-holding guards standing solemnly and majesty, the cold glint of weapons on their racks added to the Severe atmosphere.
However, having survived the previous ordeal, He Xian was somewhat numb to this now. In his view, he simply felt the movie investors were really willing to spend money, even creating such a meticulously detailed set.
Subsequently, surrounded by armed and armored soldiers, He Xian calmly and composedly looked directly towards the head of the hall, swiftly scanning his surroundings with his peripheral vision.
There were about a dozen or so people in the hall. Seated at the very head was a burly man, roughly in his forties or fifties. This man had the build of a tiger, wore a Jinxian crown, and was dressed quite lavishly. However, his square face bore coarse, fleshy features, with thick, downturned eyebrows, a prominent nose, a wide mouth, and a wild, unruly beard. His narrow eyes, when opening and closing, occasionally shot forth a crude, fierce aura of power and murderous look.
Such a person immediately instilled a sense of fear, making one feel he was not someone easy to deal with.
This man was precisely the scourge of the chaotic era: Dong Zhuo.
As for the others in the hall, He Xian didn't have time to examine them carefully. The only one he noticed was Dong Huang standing below the dais, staring at him with a smug, delusional, and venomous expression. That kind of gaze reminded one of a snake intent on your demise.
'He Xian, son of the Former Grand General, pays his respects to the Lord Sikong.' He Xian had no time to bother with Dong Huang now. He first bowed respectfully to Dong Zhuo at the head of the hall, his voice neither subservient nor arrogant.
Dong Zhuo at the head remained silent, not speaking. The hall was terrifyingly quiet.
After all, He Xian's current appearance—face smeared with blood, hair disheveled—was in no way appropriate for an audience with one of the three ducal ministers. At the very least, this demeanor could be considered He Xian's lack of propriety; taken more seriously, it could be interpreted as him intentionally insulting Dong Zhuo. Being dragged out and beheaded by Dong Zhuo was a real possibility!
For the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Dong Zhuo didn't speak, his expression sinister. Clearly, this frontier military man also understood He Xian's deliberate intent. At this moment, he was actually secretly suppressing the killing intent in his heart.
The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly Severe and heavy at this moment.
As time passed, He Xian felt more and more the killing intent emanating from the head of the hall and his surroundings. Within that Naked murderous intent lay mockery, disdain, and an urgent desire to eliminate him quickly. The killing intent slowly thickened, enveloping He Xian, almost suffocating him.
However, since he had spoken and bowed, He Xian had been gritting his teeth and enduring stubbornly. He neither opened his mouth to apologize to Dong Zhuo nor offered excuses. He just He tried his best to maintain a calm expression., resisting this killing intent.
This was Dong Zhuo and his faction's assessment of him. It could also be said to be a contest of willpower between himself and Dong Zhuo. The outcome of this contest would determine his future standing in Dong Zhuo's eyes.
Of course, losing the contest could also mean He Xian's blood staining the floor on the spot. So, this was a life-and-death struggle in silence. Only a truly fierce warrior could gamble their way through this trial.
That's right, at this moment, He Xian was gambling. He was betting on Dong Zhuo's temperament, preferences, and this fat man's political broad-mindedness.
However, at the final moment, He Xian clearly sensed Dong Zhuo's heaving chest becoming more rapid, the restrained killing intent unable to be contained any longer, ready to erupt. Just then, Cao Cao, seeing the situation, gritted his teeth and ventured to speak: 'The Sikong's order was to bring He Xians courtesy name swiftly to the residence. Therefore, He Xians courtesy name had no time to wash up. We hope the Sikong will understand.'
'Hmph!' Dong Zhuo snorted contemptuously through his nose, clearly expressing his annoyance at Cao Cao's meddling.
However, because of Cao Cao's explanation, Dong Zhuo also vented some of the anger in his heart. He opened his mouth to ask, 'He Xian, do you perhaps harbor resentment towards this old man?'
This question was still icy cold, filled with killing intent, fully displaying the arrogant and domineering style of Dong Zhuo, this frontier military man!
However, at this moment, He Xian secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart: After all, someone willing to waste words on you gives you a chance to explain yourself...