Second Chance Chapter 2155

When Xue Tao opened his eyes again, he saw a circle of faces looking down at him from above.
Among the faces were Lord Hui Wang Zhi, Mao Haifeng, Da You Zhengchuan, and many of his old friends…
Seeing so many faces looming overhead, Xue Tao instinctively recoiled, banging his head on the ground with a thud, his vision darkening, nearly fainting again.
This collision wasn’t entirely bad, as the sharp pain brought his memories flooding back like a tide. He remembered!
He had just suffered an unprecedented, crushing defeat, and overwhelmed by shame and anger, he had fainted from a rush of fury.
Now he was awake.
But how he wished he had never woken up, for if he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have to face…
“Uncle Xue’s awake! Uncle Xue, you’ve finally been roused. If you hadn’t woken up, your nephew would’ve had to boldly give you a couple of slaps.”
Among the circle of faces, Mao Haifeng’s face lit up upon seeing him awake, grinning as he spoke in a tone that seemed delighted but carried three parts disappointment and seven parts mockery.
That bastard must be disappointed he didn’t get the chance to openly slap me a couple of times.
And that mocking, gloating smile on your face, could you tone it down a bit? Your back teeth are showing!
Seeing the mockery on Mao Haifeng’s face, Xue Tao felt another surge of blood rise to his throat, but to avoid being laughed at by Mao Haifeng and the others, he forcibly swallowed it back, the metallic taste nearly making him retch.
“Uncle Xue, what’s the big deal? It’s just nearly getting your entire army wiped out. Why’d you spit blood and faint over it?”
Mao Haifeng’s voice rang in Xue Tao’s ears again.
Damn it!
The blood he had just swallowed surged back up. Xue Tao hurriedly covered his mouth, forcing it back down, swallowing hard despite the metallic taste, determined not to let Mao Haifeng’s mocking words make him spit blood.
“Uncle Xue, what’s wrong? Why’s your face so red? You’re not going to spit blood again, are you?” Mao Haifeng exclaimed with exaggerated concern.
Cough.
Pfft.
This time, Xue Tao couldn’t hold it back. With a cough, a gush of blood sprayed out.
The circle of people overhead, prepared by Mao Haifeng’s comment about spitting blood again, had already stepped back in time, avoiding being splattered by Xue Tao’s blood on their bodies or clothes.
“Uncle Xue, are you alright?” Mao Haifeng’s insincere concern was the first to reach Xue Tao’s ears.
I was nearly shamed to death, and now you, you bastard, are about to anger me to death! You tell me if I’m alright!
Even a strong man couldn’t withstand spitting two mouthfuls of blood like that!
Xue Tao wanted to speak, but there was blood froth in his throat, and opening his mouth triggered a violent coughing fit.
“Alright, Haifeng, step back. Everyone, don’t crowd around. Call the doctor back to check on Old Xue again.”
Wang Zhi waved his hand, motioning for Mao Haifeng to step back and for the crowd to disperse, ordering someone to fetch the doctor who had just left.
Soon, a shabbily dressed old man was half-dragged, half-pushed over by two pirates. He was a doctor they had kidnapped.
He was a renowned doctor from a small coastal town in Ningbo, known even in the city as Old Yang, the Miracle Doctor. Wang Zhi had ordered him kidnapped to treat the pirates, and to control him, they had also abducted his wife, children, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and entire family.
If Doctor Yang dared to tamper with treatments or slack off, his family would suffer.
Doctor Yang checked Xue Tao’s pulse, asked him to open his mouth, and after a brief examination, stood and bowed to Wang Zhi. “This humble old man greets the Great King. General Xue has suffered from a rush of anger to the heart, causing blood to surge. It’s not serious, three doses of herbal medicine should show results, but for the next three months at least, General Xue must rest quietly to recover.”
“Oh dear, Uncle Xue needs to rest for three months. What about the soldiers under your command? Uncle Xue is one of my adoptive father’s trusted generals, and he can’t be without protection. What should we do?”
Mao Haifeng said with exaggerated concern.
That old bastard always coveted my fleet. Now you’re down for three months, you can’t just occupy the latrine without shitting, can you? You’re one of the Great King’s trusted generals, true, but there are three others like you.
If you’re resting and can’t lead troops, let someone else take charge of your soldiers. Whether they’re divided among the other three trusted generals or a new one is promoted, you can’t just lie in bed and keep command, can you?
Heh, you coveted my fleet, and now you can’t even keep your own soldiers.
Once you’re done resting, you’ll be a commander with no troops.
Handing over your soldiers is easy, but getting them back? That’ll be tough.
Hearing Mao Haifeng’s words, Xue Tao nearly couldn’t hold back another spurt of blood. Thankfully, Doctor Yang quickly pressed an acupuncture point, calming the surging blood and preventing another outburst.
“Old Xue, focus on resting. Don’t worry about other matters for now,” Wang Zhi said calmly.
At these words, Xue Tao struggled to get up from the ground. Wang Zhi’s meaning was clear: rest and recover, don’t worry about leading troops, a polite way of saying he was being relieved of duty.
If he lost his position, even if he recovered, what face would he have left among the pirates?
Others commanded fleets or thousands of troops, but he, a veteran who started with Wang Zhi, would be reduced to a common soldier. He’d rather die now than be mocked.
“Great King, this guilty general has no face to meet you. Today’s battle has brought shame to you…”
Xue Tao’s face flushed red.
“Victory and defeat are common in warfare. Start anew,” Wang Zhi said, helping him up and gesturing behind him. “Bring a chair, let Old Xue sit and speak.”
“Thank you, Great King! For today’s defeat, this guilty general deserves death and wishes to slit my throat to atone. Rest? I don’t want to rest. I wish to charge into battle for the Great King with this body. If I die on the battlefield, it would fulfil my wish. I should already be dead, but if I can serve the Great King with my last efforts before death, I’ll die without regrets, smiling in the grave. Please, Great King, give this guilty general a chance to atone through service. I’ll give my all, even if it means being ground to dust.” Xue Tao sat up, his face red, swearing earnestly with a mix of shame and determination.
“There’s no rush to serve me. Recover properly, and once you’re well, I’ll have heavier responsibilities for you,” Wang Zhi said, patting his shoulder.
“Great King, this guilty general swears to serve you to the death, through fire and blades, without hesitation…” Xue Tao, moved to tears, wept profusely.
The Great King means that once I recover, he’ll entrust me with important tasks again.