Chapter 251: First Encounter
Chapter 251: First Encounter
September 25, 2017
What is a pleasant surprise? It's when you get slightly more than what you expected, and that's precisely what it is.
When such a high-caliber talent chose him, Lu Hai Kong was not only surprised but also a little overwhelmed.
Although Dian Wei was also a top-tier general, he was a simple-minded fellow who called Lu Hai Kong his second uncle upon their first meeting. This left Lu Hai Kong both delighted and a bit dazed. It was only after spending more time together that their relationship gradually evolved from the initially system-assigned familial connection to a truly close one, and eventually, Dian Wei himself pledged his loyalty.
The unexpected acquisition of the simple-minded Dian Wei was almost a fluke, and recruiting a top-tier scholar-official would undoubtedly be far more challenging.
While waiting for Xi Zhi Cai to return, Lu Hai Kong had been contemplating how he should approach and communicate with him. This state of mind had been rare for Lu Hai Kong since he cultivated the Mountain Splitting Axe.
Unfortunately, Wang Jun learned of Lu Hai Kong's return almost immediately. Before long, Xi Zhi Cai arrived with Wang Jun, and the two met for the first time in the Assembly Hall.
Before meeting Xi Zhi Cai, Lu Hai Kong had many thoughts and considerations, causing him some anxiety. However, upon seeing Xi Zhi Cai, Lu Hai Kong surprisingly calmed down. After all, Lu Hai Kong's temperament had been tempered by the Mountain Splitting Axe, and at crucial moments, he was undoubtedly more reliable than anyone else.
Xi Zhi Cai was slightly younger than Lu Hai Kong had anticipated, probably in his early twenties. It was already Spring Arrival, and the weather had improved significantly, becoming much warmer. However, he appeared somewhat pale, with a few more layers of clothing than Wang Jun.
This image differed slightly from Lu Hai Kong's expectations of a top-tier scholar-official, but as soon as he entered, his eyes and demeanor caught Lu Hai Kong's attention.
Xi Zhi Cai's demeanor was gentle, and his eyes held a serene air as if he could see through everything at a glance. Yet, this gaze wasn't sharp but rather carried a gentle quality.
Standing before Lu Hai Kong, this young man genuinely earned his goodwill.
In contrast, the guard accompanying Xi Zhi Cai seemed displeased by Lu Hai Kong's gaze. To be honest, he still didn't understand why, with his master's exceptional talent, he couldn't be valued wherever he went. Why insist on coming to a place like this, a mountain bandit stronghold?
Moreover, the stronghold was even more unreliable. Their young master, a talented individual, had arrived, yet no one personally welcomed him. They merely had a subordinate greet him casually, which further infuriated the guard.
Thus, when he saw Lu Hai Kong, his eyes were filled with resentment.
However, he hadn't expected that his young master and the stronghold leader would have such a pleasant conversation.
The stronghold leader, of course, didn't realize this. Although Lu Hai Kong and Xi Zhi Cai seemed to be chatting amicably, they were, in fact, merely making small talk, subconsciously avoiding certain questions.
For instance, they avoided topics like why Xi Zhi Cai would come to a mountain bandit stronghold or what Lu Hai Kong's intentions were with such a large stronghold. They conversed casually; Xi Zhi Cai shared his experiences from his journey north, while Lu Hai Kong discussed the exotic charm of the grasslands.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the first meeting between the two came to an end.
Both parties seemed satisfied with the encounter, especially Lu Hai Kong, who was genuinely pleased.
Xi Zhi Cai's personality was quite compatible with Lu Hai Kong's appetite; he was gentle, reasonable, and knew when to advance and retreat. This first meeting left a good impression on Lu Hai Kong.
However, Lu Hai Kong also frowned slightly, as someone like Xi Zhi Cai, who had come to the stronghold due to the Summoning of Talents, would not be easy to retain. Moreover, what made it even more challenging was that such individuals usually had a few bottom lines they adhered to, but beyond that, they seemed indifferent to everything else. It was hard to grasp what they valued, making it difficult to cater to their needs and even more challenging to keep such talent.
When Lu Hai Kong mentioned keeping Xi Zhi Cai, he didn't mean having him stay in the stronghold to work but rather wanted Xi Zhi Cai to pledge his loyalty, which was the real difficulty.
This top-tier talent usually came with beneficial attributes for the territory, such as Wang Jun's Abundant Harvest. Lu Hai Kong, of course, wouldn't let this opportunity pass.
As Lu Hai Kong pondered over Xi Zhi Cai with his head down, Xi Zhi Cai was also thinking about Lu Hai Kong on the other side.
If judged by Xi Zhi Cai's standards, Lu Hai Kong didn't even qualify as a wise lord. After just half an hour of conversation, Xi Zhi Cai had already seen Lu Hai Kong's greatest strengths—tenacity and self-confidence—but if not kept in check, these traits could easily turn into stubbornness and arrogance.
Besides this, Lu Hai Kong also had several character flaws, such as impulsiveness and erratic thinking. Still, Xi Zhi Cai had to admit that Lu Hai Kong indeed possessed an infectious personality, and this man had his charm.
More importantly, Xi Zhi Cai hadn't come to the stronghold because he had chosen Lu Hai Kong. For Xi Zhi Cai, even if Lu Hai Kong lacked ambition, he wouldn't leave the stronghold in a short time. Compared to his initial low expectations, the person he met now was undoubtedly much better.
Seeing the gentle smile gradually appearing on his young master's face, Ah Fu's initial resentment slowly dissipated. For him, as long as his young master was happy, that was all that mattered.
On the other side, in the Hall of Gathering Heroes.
Almost as soon as Xi Zhi Cai left, Lu Hai Kong immediately ordered the stronghold to collect various health-enhancing medicines and instructed the clinic to closely monitor Xi Zhi Cai's health, ensuring he didn't overexert himself.
This order was partly because Xi Zhi Cai's appearance was concerning; he was too frail, his complexion always pale, and his walking pace steady but slow. Despite being in his twenties, he gave off a feeling of being in the twilight years.
Another reason was that Lu Hai Kong vaguely remembered Xi Zhi Cai was a short-lived person, just like Guo Jia in the Three Kingdoms. They were both brilliant talents but had the shortest lifespans, and Xi Zhi Cai's situation was even more lamentable than Guo Jia's.
Guo Jia at least had the chance to showcase his talents before passing away, but Xi Zhi Cai hadn't even had the opportunity to make a name for himself or fulfill his ambitions before his life was cut short. Lu Hai Kong couldn't help but sigh, "Heaven Jealous of Talent."
As Lu Hai Kong gave the order, he suddenly remembered that he had a bottle of medicine and hurriedly retrieved it...
(End of Chapter)
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