Chapter 650: Zhao Ling'er
Chapter 650: Zhao Ling'er
September 25, 2017
Lu HaiKong did not resist the unexpected imperial edict, and for good reasons.
After all, regardless of the perspective, it was quite normal for Han Lingdi to summon him.
Lu HaiKong was already a governor, and with his outstanding military achievements, it was only natural for him to receive imperial rewards. Moreover, Lu HaiKong himself felt that it was necessary for him to make a trip to Luoyang.
He was no longer a mountain bandit hiding from the court in Qiangyin County, nor was he the magistrate of Qiangyin County. He had now become a power broker commanding tens of thousands of troops. There were people he should meet, and there were also people who should meet him.
Originally, Lu HaiKong had planned to settle matters in Handan and then travel to Yingchuan with Xi ZhiCai. However, with the arrival of the imperial edict, Lu HaiKong had to change his plans.
Xi ZhiCai, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind this matter much.
In fact, after taking the Supplement Restoration Pill and gradually recovering, he seemed to have stopped mentioning returning to Yingchuan.
Lu HaiKong understood that Xi ZhiCai's proposal to go to Yingchuan in his previous state of health was likely an attempt to arrange a strategist for Lu HaiKong before his death, or perhaps to find someone Lu HaiKong knew. Now that Xi ZhiCai's health had improved, there was no longer a need to rush.
It wasn't that Xi ZhiCai was worried about his position being affected by finding a strategist for Lu HaiKong. The relationship between them was no longer just that of ruler and subject; they were both teacher and student, as well as friends, bound by a deep connection.
Xi ZhiCai knew that in his current state, he might have the chance to find a strategist for Lu HaiKong, but now, it would probably be difficult.
Xi ZhiCai was well aware of his friends' personalities, and he often knew the answers before they even spoke. Therefore, unless it was absolutely necessary, he didn't want to go, but in the end, he decided to make the trip, albeit alone.
Lu HaiKong didn't oppose Xi ZhiCai's decision to go to Yingchuan alone, but he sent Wang Yue and a hundred-man team of mountain bandit bodyguards to accompany him.
Initially, Lu HaiKong had wanted to send either the Bloodbath Legion or the Black Wind Army with Xi ZhiCai, but Xi ZhiCai refused, saying it would attract too much attention. Lu HaiKong had no choice but to send a hundred-man team of mountain bandit bodyguards, but he did give Xi ZhiCai many life-saving artifacts.
On the second day after the imperial edict arrived, which was also the day Xi ZhiCai proposed to Lu HaiKong to go to Yingchuan, Xi ZhiCai set off for Yingchuan.
The next day, Lu HaiKong finally settled matters in Handan and handed over the task of retreating the troops to Bingzhou to Gao Shun and Wang Ti. Then, Lu HaiKong, along with Dian Wei and the Bloodbath Legion, departed for Luoyang.
Unexpectedly, on their way to Luoyang, they encountered Yue Qian Liu and her two companions.
Due to their previous cooperation and Yue Qian Liu's naturally friendly nature, she approached Lu HaiKong without hesitation, asking questions and chatting. They discovered that they were heading in the same direction, so they traveled together.
With a cavalry troop of a hundred people, it took them about ten days to travel from Handan to Luoyang. During this journey, Lu HaiKong got to know Yue Qian Liu and her companions quite well.
Among the three, Yue Qian Liu was undoubtedly a lively and natural airhead with well-developed motor skills but an unusual thought process. She often displayed a cute and clueless demeanor, and she had no resistance to adorable things.
Despite her small stature, this girl was very strong in combat, reportedly always charging at the frontlines to draw enemy fire for her teammates.
The third companion, Leng Ning, was a human air conditioner emitting cold air from head to toe. Surprisingly, despite her cold appearance, she had a warm and enthusiastic personality.
It was unclear if it was due to her cultivation method making her seem aloof, but men subconsciously avoided her. However, she warmly welcomed anyone who approached her with good intentions, often giving them the impression that she might like them. From a certain perspective, this girl was also naturally friendly, not much different from Yue Qian Liu.
Among the three, the most intriguing to Lu HaiKong was Zhao Ling'er, who was neither an airhead nor low in emotional intelligence, unlike Yue Qian Liu and Leng Ning.
This girl appeared gentle and quiet, with half-closed eyes that made her look like she hadn't fully woken up. She often wore a warm smile and spoke in a soft, sweet voice, as if her words were as sweet as sugar.
At first glance, she seemed gentle and kind, but after about ten days of getting to know her, Lu HaiKong was certain that she was not as simple as she appeared.
Occasionally, Lu HaiKong would catch a glimpse of Zhao Ling'er's mischievous side, which made him feel like she was breaking the fourth wall. She often played with those around her, including Yue Qian Liu and Leng Ning, in a subtle and clever way. Her methods were so ingenious that even if someone realized they were being played, they wouldn't suspect her. It took Lu HaiKong over ten days of observation to uncover her little schemes.
Although this girl had a slightly malicious side, it was evident that she held Yue Qian Liu and Leng Ning in high regard. Perhaps it was because of this mischievous side that these two natural-born individuals could grow and thrive in this mysterious and complex world.
There was one more thing that Lu HaiKong was slightly concerned about. His mount, Little Lu Zi, seemed to have a natural affinity for Zhao Ling'er. Without any particular reason, it often liked to get close to her. Initially, Zhao Ling'er showed some resistance towards Little Lu Zi, but after unexpectedly learning its name from Lu HaiKong, she started to warm up to it.
This situation left Lu HaiKong puzzled, but he didn't think too much of it. After all, despite the similarity in their names, Zhao Ling'er and Zhao Yue'er were vastly different in appearance and personality, making it difficult for Lu HaiKong to associate them. He also didn't believe that Zhao Ling'er was the reincarnation of Zhao Yue'er.
However, after discovering this, Lu HaiKong developed a special fondness for Zhao Ling'er.
Thanks to these girls, Lu HaiKong's journey from Handan to Luoyang was quite fulfilling. Through them, he learned about many things that he, as a lord and an outsider, had never experienced.
These three girls seemed to have been to many places, including Bing Province, You Province, Ji Province, Liang Province, and even the capital of the Silizhou Province. Unfortunately, their impressions of these places mainly revolved around the delicious snacks and challenging dungeons.
So, even though Yue Qian Liu shared her experiences with Lu HaiKong without reservation, he could only listen to them as travelogues, finding it difficult to extract any useful information for his current situation.
Speaking of which, Lu HaiKong sometimes felt like he had become a boring workaholic. He constantly viewed things from the perspective of a lord, considering the future of his territory in every action and word. Even when chatting with these girls, he was always on the lookout for information that could benefit his territory.
This state of mind, while occasionally dull, was a necessity for a power broker, especially for someone in Lu HaiKong's position.
In the year 1619, a book was published that was perfect in every way!
After all, his rise to prominence had been too rapid, and he needed to adapt to certain things in this manner, whether it was good or bad. At least this approach helped him quickly adjust to his new position.
Lu HaiKong, accompanied by the three girls, traveled from Handan to Luoyang, a journey that took them twelve days. It wasn't until the thirteenth day that they finally approached the outskirts of Luoyang.
"We're less than forty li away from Luoyang. Let's part ways here!" Lu HaiKong found a relatively suitable spot for them to stop, still forty li away from the city.
"Why? Aren't we going in together?" Yue Qian Liu was puzzled by this situation.
"It's a bit inconvenient!" Lu HaiKong didn't offer any further explanation. He knew that these girls might not understand, but they would comply.
As expected, after Lu HaiKong's response, Yue Qian Liu and Leng Ning both looked at him with an expression that said, 'We don't understand, but if you're asking us to leave, we'll go.' Only Zhao Ling'er maintained her charming smile.
"Bear Cat Boss, we're leaving first. We'll come find you again after we find our big sister," Yue Qian Liu waved goodbye to Lu HaiKong before leaving.
"Forget about Luoyang, but you're always welcome in Bing Province," Lu HaiKong smiled and replied.
"Okay, I understand!"
With a crisp response, the three charming figures disappeared from Lu HaiKong's sight.
After they left, Lu HaiKong's troops, the Bloodbath Legion, began to rest. He was well aware that many people were watching him, both those with good intentions and those with ill will. Therefore, he needed to make a strong impression upon entering Luoyang.
It took half an hour to get the Bloodbath Legion out of their usual routine and into peak condition. Then, Lu HaiKong and his troops set off for Luoyang.
Today, Lu HaiKong was going to show the people of Luoyang the battle-hardened troop he had forged through blood and fire.
He, Lu HaiKong, had arrived!
(End of Chapter)
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