Tang Xiaoyu was escorted by the guards to the dungeon. As soon as he entered, the stench rushed up to meet him. The dark, damp environment was lit only by a few oil lamps.
The corridor on both sides held the Qin country's generals and officials, who looked at Tang Xiaoyu being brought in with regretful expressions.
Tang Xiaoyu broke free of the guards' grip: "Let me go. I can walk by myself."
He portrayed the image of righteous dignity to the death perfectly.
The guards were puzzled. Just now he was calling them "big brother" left and right, and now he didn't recognize anyone. But looking around, they understood.
They came to a cell, opened the door, and kicked Tang Xiaoyu in: "Get the hell in there!"
Tang Xiaoyu fell flat on his face. He turned his head and snarled viciously: "I will never submit to you!"
The guards almost believed him, if not for his previous behavior.
But they still played along and said: "There's more waiting for you inside." They shut the door and left.
A group of people gathered around and asked: "Brother, how did you get caught?"
Tang Xiaoyu sat up straight and recounted exactly what had happened. Of course, he filtered out the part where he begged for mercy.
The crowd exclaimed: "You dared to mess with that person! You've got guts. He didn't kill you on the spot, that's your ancestors' blessings."
"Do you know Huo Yuanba?"
"We only know his surname is Huo. That guy is formidable! The hundred plus of us together couldn't harm him one bit. In the end we had to surrender!"
Tang Xiaoyu disdainfully said: "You were just scared out of your wits!"
The awkward group smiled without responding.
Tang Xiaoyu stood up arrogantly: "A hero can admit defeat, but cannot lose his courage. I disdain to associate with you."
Tang Xiaoyu wasn't exaggerating with his words. That was how he had acted, though he portrayed himself as very cowardly. His heart had never feared.
Having said that, he distanced himself from the others and sat down, no longer interacting with them.
He had no choice! The others' ranks were higher than his. He didn't want to be ordered around like a lackey, so he could only stand on moral high ground.
The others were very ashamed and didn't dare speak to him anymore.
Soon Tang Xiaoyu's snores echoed throughout the dark cell as he fell asleep.
The day of battle had kept his mind and body taut. Being captured afterwards had him on tenterhooks.
As his spirit and body relaxed, fatigue rushed in and he fell asleep.
In his dreams, roars and screams filled his brain.
As everyone prepared to rest, they heard Tang Xiaoyu yell: "Quick, kill that enemy general!"
"Fight back with me, don't let them surround us!"
"With an eighteen-year scar as big as a bowl on his head, he will become a great man again. Charge with me!"
His voice suddenly stopped and snores once again resounded in the cell.
From his few sentences, everyone could imagine how fierce the battle was, and how their side was surrounded.
Yet under such circumstances, they had still desperately tried to break through the encirclement.
As they reflected, Tang Xiaoyu spoke in his sleep again.
"Our homeland lies behind us. We have no path of retreat."
"Long live our homeland!"
The others were also moved. They cheered: "Long live!"
This frightened the guards outside. They hurriedly gathered men to come check that nothing was amiss before leaving.
The prisoners in distant cells heard the cheers and poked their heads out to look over.
In a cell detaining the city lord and officials, the city lord asked: "What happened over there?"
The others shook their heads, indicating they didn't know.
And so the night passed amidst Tang Xiaoyu muttering in his sleep.
Tang Xiaoyu opened his eyes on time. He got up and stretched, seeing others still asleep and not saying anything. He continued doing stretches.
Breakfast was impossible as captive criminals. Tang Xiaoyu could only rely on sleep to alleviate his hunger.
Many wanted to talk with Tang Xiaoyu, but his words from last night made them not dare approach him.
Finally, they endured until noon, when the guard soldiers poured in some leftover steamed buns.
A few picked the buns that looked better and brought them to Tang Xiaoyu: "Brother, whoever you're upset with, don't be upset with your stomach."
Tang Xiaoyu accepted the buns: "Thanks."
"What thanks between brothers."
Tang Xiaoyu nodded. Looking at the bun, he complained inwardly: 【Is this a bun? Not mentioning the taste, at least make yourself look passable! You say it's round but have a point. You say it's pointed but you're flat!】
He bit down. The taste needn't be said—it would ruin teeth for sure.
He wolfed it down in seconds, somewhat alleviating his hunger. With his stomach full he inevitably grew lustful!
Plus the dim lighting aggravated his irritation.
" Brothers, how many are detained here?" Tang Xiaoyu casually asked.
A middle-aged man awkwardly laughed. "Around four, five hundred? Mostly officials and generals."
"What about soldiers?"
"Oh, detained in the military camps inside the city."
Tang Xiaoyu understood. As long as the officers were controlled, the soldiers couldn't cause huge unrest.
Tang Xiaoyu continued asking: "They won't execute prisoners, right?"
"No, executing prisoners just saves a bit of food. Sending prisoners to work at sect mines brings the greatest profit."
Tang Xiaoyu patted his chest in relief. "Good good, at least life's safe for now."
The middle-aged man smiled bitterly. "Alas, working in the mines is no different than death. Just eking out a wretched existence for some time."
Tang Xiaoyu consoled: "There's hope while alive. As long as we don't give up, the day we gain freedom will come."
The prisoners' spirits lifted quite a bit after his motivational chicken soup.
As for Tang Xiaoyu himself, he didn't believe a word.
As Tang Xiaoyu was boasting to and entertaining everyone, Huo Yuanba came.
"Brother Tang, are you alright?"
Tang Xiaoyu stood up with a grave expression: "Do you think I can be alright now?"
"It doesn't seem so."
"Then why ask?"
Glancing at what Huo Yuanba held in his hands, Tang Xiaoyu sighed: "Alas, a hotheaded general ignorant of human relationships and the ways of the world will meet a terrible end."
Huo Yuanba suspiciously said: "Why should I bother currying others' favor?"
Tang Xiaoyu thought for a moment: "Yuanba, let me tell you another hotheaded general's story—Zhang Fei, Zhang Yide. You know him right?"
"I know, but together with Guan Yu they still couldn't beat Lu Bu!"
"I know, but are you as formidable as him? Do you know how he died?"
Huo Yuanba shook his head: "Don't know! You haven't told me."
"Then I'll tell you now."
"Go ahead."
He even ordered the soldiers beside him: "Go bring me a chair."
"Yes sir!"
Tang Xiaoyu related Zhang Fei's tale dramatically with additions.
Everyone listened with great interest.
Then he analyzed Zhang Fei's flaws at length.
"Yuanba, do you understand now?"
Huo Yuanba nodded: "I see, Brother Tang. You mean even if I'm unwilling, I still have to pretend on the surface."
Tang Xiaoyu slapped his forehead, but didn't contradict him: "You also have to control your emotions."
"I understand what to do now. I'll come see you if I get the chance, Brother Tang."
Tang Xiaoyu was angered till his liver hurt: "After so long, with such obvious meaning, you still don't see?"
Huo Yuanba smiled: "Brother Tang, control your emotions. I'll go back and have food sent to you."
Tang Xiaoyu took a deep breath: "Amitābha, Wuliang Tianzun, calm, stay calm. I'm not angry, not angry."
"Get lost!" Tang Xiaoyu suddenly roared.
His voice echoed throughout the dungeon.
"Will do!" Huo Yuanba slipped away nimbly.