Chapter 791: On the Road
Chapter 791: On the Road
September 25, 2017
The sneak attack from Cai Yong's guard captain was incredibly skillful and stealthy, far beyond the capabilities of someone with a strength level of 60 or 70. If one wasn't paying attention, even those with a strength level above 90 might fall victim to it.
Unfortunately for him, his opponent was Lu HaiKong.
Before the guard captain could get close, Lu HaiKong had already sensed something amiss. As the captain lunged forward with his strike, Lu HaiKong reacted swiftly.
Lu HaiKong raised his hand and with a flash of purple light, he blasted the captain from a distance, instantly unleashing a terrifying burst of internal force that sent him flying.
Lu HaiKong's men also reacted quickly, rushing forward to capture the guard captain. However, by the time they reached him, the captain had already died from the attack.
Lu HaiKong furrowed his brows at this sight. He knew the strength of his own strike, and while it was powerful, it shouldn't have been fatal. The captain's darkened complexion indicated that he had taken poison and ended his own life rather than face defeat.
Lu HaiKong paused for a moment, signaling to Zhao Er and the others to carefully examine the body. Then, he turned to comfort Cai Yong.
Although the sudden change didn't scare the old man into drawing his sword for a fight, it did leave him bewildered. He couldn't understand why his guard captain would suddenly attempt to assassinate Lu HaiKong.
In this regard, although Lu HaiKong had his suspicions, he didn't offer any explanations. He was well aware that the old man was likely just a pawn being manipulated by others. Lu HaiKong simply offered some reassurance to the old man and then invited them to travel together.
Despite knowing that this old man was a crucial part of the assassination plot against him, Lu HaiKong didn't hesitate to invite him along.
On one hand, it was a case of the skilled being fearless. On the other hand, Lu HaiKong truly valued this old man.
If possible, Lu HaiKong genuinely wanted to bring this old man to Bingzhou to teach at his school.
Lu HaiKong's forces had the [Talent Academy], but recently, it had encountered significant issues with student recruitment. This wasn't due to any interference or sabotage; it was purely Lu HaiKong's personal problem.
The [Talent Academy] under Lu HaiKong's command wasn't an institution for basic education; it was a training facility. Therefore, it had specific requirements for its recruits, including age and a certain level of foundational knowledge. Students needed to be literate; otherwise, the [Talent Academy] didn't have the resources to start their education from scratch.
However, literacy was already low among Lu HaiKong's forces, with most of his literate members coming from the Fire Brigade or the Yan Huang Mountain Fortress, or they were indigenous NPCs from humble backgrounds.
After operating for over a year, the [Talent Academy] had exhausted its reserve of talent, and student shortage became an issue.
Although Lu HaiKong was currently working on promoting basic education, this aspect was also under the [Talent Academy]'s responsibility. However, they lacked a capable leader, so Lu HaiKong wanted to bring this old man over.
Additionally, this old man had a certain reputation and had mentored several excellent disciples. Lu HaiKong hoped that by bringing him over, he might also be able to convince some of his historical scholars to join.
Apart from this, Lu HaiKong also wanted to see if the assassin had any backup.
Cai Yong was currently with Lu HaiKong, so if the assassin had any accomplices, they would likely be among this group. Instead of letting them escape and hide again, Lu HaiKong preferred to keep them under his watch. He didn't believe that he couldn't handle this small group.
However, to Lu HaiKong's surprise, despite increasing vigilance over Cai Yong's entire group, he couldn't detect any flaws or abnormalities among them.
During this time, Lu HaiKong even used Heaven's Eye Technique to observe them but still found nothing unusual. It seemed like all of them were innocent.
Yet, Lu HaiKong's subconscious insisted that the enemy had backup. In this situation, Lu HaiKong trusted his instincts.
Although he didn't sense anything unusual among them, he maintained his vigilance. However, during this period, Lu HaiKong frequently visited Cai Yong.
Influenced by Xi ZhiCai, Lu HaiKong, although not particularly fond of it, had studied many Confucian classics. At this moment, to get closer to the old man, Lu HaiKong deliberately assumed a studious posture and sought guidance from Cai Yong.
Cai Yong showed great patience in response. He answered all of Lu HaiKong's questions.
It seemed that after being rescued by Lu HaiKong, the old man's impression of him had improved significantly. As a result, Lu HaiKong easily used this as an opportunity to become acquainted with Cai Yong within a few days.
After becoming acquainted, their conversations expanded beyond the confines of Confucian classics. They discussed a wide range of topics, from current affairs to politics, and even delved into Lu HaiKong's war experiences.
During their interactions, Lu HaiKong realized that this old man, while somewhat stubborn, was not dogmatic about matters he didn't understand. Instead, he was open-minded and eager to learn.
Lu HaiKong also discovered that the old man had surprising insights into civil affairs and was quite down-to-earth for a scholar.
In Cai Yong's eyes, Lu HaiKong's image began to change.
Lu HaiKong was no longer just a bloodthirsty bandit or a cunning warlord skilled in the art of power.
The Lu HaiKong who appeared before Cai Yong was a handsome and outgoing youth, as well as a gentle soul who cared for the common people.
Cai Yong saw both the sharp and gentle sides of Lu HaiKong, and his personality became more multifaceted. As a result, their mutual liking increased significantly. During their casual chats, Cai Yong would even play the guqin for Lu HaiKong.
Lu HaiKong wasn't particularly interested in listening to the guqin, as he had no inclination or refined taste for it.
However, after Cai Yong finished playing, Lu HaiKong was immediately captivated by his music.
Cai Yong was highly skilled in playing the guqin. The songs he played had different effects depending on their style. Some songs, with a style resembling the Golden Saber and Swift Horse, could make one's blood boil and temporarily boost their strength. Others were calming and soothing. As Lu HaiKong listened to Cai Yong's music, he found himself wanting to learn to play the guqin.
When Lu HaiKong expressed this desire, it was initially just a passing thought. However, to his surprise, Cai Yong took it seriously. Not only did he prepare a guqin for Lu HaiKong, but he also arranged for a teacher.
In the 16th year of the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, Cai Yong arranged for his daughter, Cai Wenji, to be Lu HaiKong's teacher.
In recent days, Lu HaiKong not only became close to Cai Yong but also had frequent interactions with his daughter, Cai Wenji, a young girl.
Initially, this young girl was shy, hiding behind Cai Yong and reluctant to come out. Eventually, she became more comfortable and familiar.
Lu HaiKong had a soft spot for this young girl, similar to the affection he had for Nan Nan. Especially after experiencing the kind of treatment Nan Nan received, Lu HaiKong felt even more endeared to Cai Wenji, a quiet and gentle young girl.
Due to his experience with Nan Nan and Wen Wen, Lu HaiKong was quite adept at interacting with young girls like Cai Wenji. He quickly became close to her.
When Lu HaiKong mentioned practicing the guqin, this young girl, Cai Wenji, volunteered to be his teacher.
Lu HaiKong's initial interest in learning the guqin was fleeting, and he didn't mind having such a young teacher. However, he was surprised to find that Cai Wenji was not only skilled but also taught him in a disciplined manner, just like Cai Yong.
Seeing the young girl's serious demeanor, Lu HaiKong felt compelled to take it seriously. Initially, he thought he lacked talent in this area and had little literary inclination.
To his surprise, Lu HaiKong discovered that he had some talent in this field. At least in terms of finger dexterity, his talent was formidable, even surpassing Cai Wenji.
With his extensive martial arts experience as a foundation, any song he heard, he could play. The tone and sound were almost identical, but Lu HaiKong's playing lacked the unique aura and effect that Cai Yong's playing possessed.
After a few songs, Lu HaiKong successfully unlocked the skill of playing the guqin, albeit at a beginner level. If he could reach an advanced or master level, perhaps he could play with the same aura and effect as Cai Yong.
Lu HaiKong's journey, accompanied by Cai Yong's conversations and music, proceeded smoothly without any disturbances.
It seemed that the assassination attempts were a distant memory, but as they approached Luoyang, Lu HaiKong sensed an impending danger.
The night before entering Luoyang, a black pigeon flew out from Lu HaiKong's legion. It headed towards a valley located a hundred li outside the city.
In the valley stood a makeshift altar, three meters tall. On the altar was a table with an incense burner, a bloody pig's head, and a small scarecrow. On the scarecrow were the three characters, "Lu HaiKong."
(End)
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