NOVPUBIn the unending cheers of the people of Fenggao, Sima Yi and Sima Lang left Fenggao. Originally, only Sima Yi was to leave, but Sima Lang, worried for his brother’s solitary travel, decided to accompany him. They exited the city gates and, without a particular destination in mind, let their horses lead them in a random direction.
Sima Yi hadn’t traveled far when he heard a familiar shout from outside the carriage, and he paused slightly, "Brother, stop the carriage. My teacher has come."
"Your teacher? Duke Hu?" Sima Lang was taken aback and hastily brought the carriage to a halt, and soon a Confucian Scholar rode up on a horse.
As Hu Zhao came into view, before Sima Yi could pay his respects, Sima Lang took the lead and greeted Hu Zhao with a bow, then glared at his younger brother, watching as Sima Yi glared back at Hu Zhao.
"Ha, never mind that, Zhongda, well done, you’re much less arrogant than before," Hu Zhao said cheerily, "Are you wondering why I’m at Mount Tai too? Hahaha, while the Chen Family was sweeping through Yuzhou, your teacher was a guest in Runan, and I ended up being sent to Fenggao."
Hu Zhao didn’t care whether Sima Yi was listening and continued to speak for himself, "Your teacher was extremely frustrated at the time. After all, I am a great Confucian Scholar, and to be captured just like that... But after coming to this Fenggao, I found it’s a nice place, far better than that little hill I used to stay on."
"You came to Fenggao on your own, didn’t you? And you even deliberately hitched a ride with Chen Zichuan to save trouble," Sima Yi said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, knowing full well how shrewd his teacher could be.
"You can’t say that, it was really dangerous back then. But, tsk tsk tsk, having stayed in Fenggao for a few months, I have to admit that Liu Xuande is impressive. Not to mention anything else, his temperament, spirit, and virtue are all commendable. How about it, following your teacher to serve under Liu Xuande?" Hu Zhao laughed heartily, though calling someone roughly the same age as Liu Bei a ’youngster’ seemed thoroughly inappropriate.
"Kongming, I ask you as a friend, is Liu Xuande a good fit for me?" Sima Yi asked Hu Zhao calmly.
"Not a good fit," Hu Zhao immediately dismissed the suggestion he had just made.
"Then why do you recommend me to go to him?"
"I was moved by Liu Xuande’s ideals. Simply having successfully enlightened Luhun Mountain, I was already quite self-satisfied, but he aspires to enlighten the whole world’s people, a truly mighty lord," Hu Zhao solemnly said, his eyes clearly showing a touch of emotion.
"If that’s the case, why does teacher wish to leave?" Sima Yi asked Hu Zhao blandly, paying him a respectful bow before speaking.
"Because it can’t be done. I passed on all I know to you because you and I are alike in our realism. What can’t be done, simply can’t be done. We do not covet the impossible; we strive to do what we can. Sometimes, overly grand dreams can burden oneself, especially in these chaotic times," Hu Zhao stated earnestly. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
"Boda, leave by yourself. I will take Zhongda with me to wander the world. His nature is now mature enough to carry on my mantle," said Hu Zhao, glancing sharply at Sima Lang; despite Sima Lang’s respect for Hu Zhao, the latter was always blunt with him.
"Zhongda, don’t trouble Duke Hu afterward," said Sima Lang without further ado, admonishing his younger brother with a couple of sentences before he turned and rode away, leaving the carriage for Hu Zhao and his disciple.
After Sima Lang left, Sima Yi sat casually beside Hu Zhao on the ground, "Teacher, I’ve awakened my Spiritual Talent."
"Oh, truly a Zhongda." Hu Zhao said flatly, though extremely satisfied at heart. He himself had only awakened at the age of seventeen or eighteen.
"I met a lad who shares your styled name, just twelve and already possessing Spiritual Talent, with a Spiritual Capacity equal to that of my brother. This world indeed has its geniuses," Sima Yi said to Hu Zhao in an even tone.
"The world is vast and filled with wonders; having one or two freaks is quite normal," Hu Zhao said after a long silence. "It seems I still lack experience. Come along, Zhongda. Your teacher will take you to see the world within one to three years, teach you the last of what you must learn, and afterwards, the path will be yours to walk."
Watching Hu Zhao casually patting his Confucian Robe, Sima Yi got up, casually slapped the side of the carriage, and arbitrarily picked a direction, ready to whip the horses and move out.
"[Zhuge Liang, we shall meet again. You’ll likely stay in Fenggao, it seems. Fate has decreed that we are bound to confront each other once more, and when that time comes, I will not suffer a crushing defeat like before.]" Sima Yi sat in the carriage, recalling Zhuge Liang’s calm demeanor in his mind.
Meanwhile, traveling westward not but fifty li, Sima Lang encountered two carriages surrounded by a hundred or so soldiers, led by a robust man on horseback. Though no banners were displayed, Sima Lang already guessed whose convoy this was.
But before Sima Lang could make way, he heard a voice from the second carriage call out, "Boda, long time no see!"
"Elai, stop the carriage, stop the carriage," Chen Qun shouted toward Dian Wei’s position, and quickly the entire troupe came to a halt.
"Hey, Changwen, long time no see. You’re here for your clan brother’s wedding celebration, aren’t you? I have to say, you’re quite the sly one. Had I not confirmed with the Head of the Fan Family, I wouldn’t have known that Chen Zichuan was also from the Chen Family. I ended up leaving my family’s heirloom jade pendant as a gift when I departed," Sima Lang said with a smile, greeting Chen Qun before starting to complain, clearly showing their close acquaintance.
"It’s a long story," Chen Qun said with a wry smile. "Boda, this is Strategist Xi Zhong, Xi Zhicai, serving under my lord, Lord Cao."
"Are you the Xi Zhicai who stabilized Yanzhou and defeated Yuan Shu in Nanyang? Smia Lang of Henei has met Strategist Xi," Sima Lang said, taking a good look at the slightly sickly and thin Xi Zhong and greeted him with a cupped fist salute.
"There’s no need for formalities, no need at all. Since you are a friend of Changwen, let’s address each other by our styled names," Xi Zhicai said, his beard trembling as he stroked it.
Chen Qun visibly hesitated; Xi Zhicai, who was usually so blunt with others, was unexpectedly giving him so much face. Could there be some ulterior motive?
Chen Qun glanced surreptitiously at Xi Zhicai, but he did not stop Sima Lang, curious to see what the enigmatic Xi Zhicai was up to.
Xi Zhicai had already decided not to let Sima Lang leave. A character with Spiritual Talent, although unaware of the exact nature of the talent, was assuredly a Sage!
Xi Zhicai’s words greatly pleased Sima Lang, and with his good friend Chen Qun by his side, it wasn’t long before he was coaxed onto the carriage. The group began their journey toward Fenggao City. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com).
