Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Immortal’s Disciple (Part One)

When it came to the art of currying favor, Xu Kang believed that even if he wasn’t the best in this era, he could surely place among the top three. To put it plainly, forging connections was much like courting a woman: remember three things—be bold, be meticulous, and develop a thick skin.

Although Xu Kang had been a game nerd in his previous life without much real-world experience, he possessed a wealth of theoretical knowledge. So now, as he put his skills to use, the results were nothing short of remarkable.

Thus, hardly had his words fallen when Lu Zhi, his face alight with delight, helped him up, his expression a mingling of gratitude and emotion.

“So you are indeed Bojie’s disciple! It’s no wonder that before my plea for help was even sent, you led troops to my aid. This kindness, I, Lu Ziguan, shall never forget!”

“Master Lu, you flatter me. Please don’t say such things, or you will disgrace your student!” Xu Kang quickly bowed to him once more.

“When my teacher was forced to seek refuge in Wu, I was but a child, unable to ease his burdens. Now that his dearest friend is in trouble, how could I stand idly by? Only by exhausting my family’s fortune and buying this official’s robe with the stench of copper was I able to lead troops to your rescue. Once the Yellow Turbans are vanquished, I shall cast off my office and serve at my teacher’s side, fulfilling my duty as a disciple!” As he finished, he clasped his hands toward the southern sky, his hands trembling slightly and his face radiant with sincerity.

As the saying goes, “Life is but a play, and all depends on one’s performance.” At this moment, though Xu Kang’s acting was a touch theatrical, his youthful face lent it an earnestness that moved the heart.

At least, both Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song were deeply touched.

No sooner had his words ended than Huangfu Song stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder.

“What of buying an official post? Are there so few in this court who do the same? But how many serve their country with such devotion as you? If all who bought office were like you, the Yellow Turbans would be of no consequence!”

“Yizhen speaks truly!” As Huangfu Song finished, Lu Zhi nodded in agreement and gently patted Xu Kang’s shoulder.

“The nation is in dire need of talent. Speak no more of resigning your post. If your teacher inquires, tell him Lu Zhi recommended you!”

“Thank you, Master Lu!” Xu Kang quickly clasped his hands in gratitude.

“Haha, you are too courteous!” Lu Zhi laughed and took Xu Kang’s hand. “You are young, nephew. Do you have a courtesy name?”

“I do!” Xu Kang nodded at once. “Before leaving for the campaign, my elders gave me the name Yide, meaning ‘to win people over with virtue!’”

But Lu Zhi shook his head, smiling. “That is not so.”

Seeing Xu Kang’s confusion, Lu Zhi waved his hand.

“Your family named you ‘Yide’ not to win others over with virtue, but to discipline yourself by virtue. Come, let me explain this to you.”

With that, he drew Xu Kang into the house, where he began to expound, quoting the classics, on the meaning of “Yide.” Xu Kang listened, utterly bewildered, feeling like an illiterate before such wisdom.

Noticing his dazed expression, Huangfu Song was greatly amused and ordered food and drink to be brought. The three of them sat together, eating and drinking.

It is well said that the dinner table is the best place to forge bonds. By the end of the meal, Xu Kang felt his relationship with Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song had grown much closer. Lu Zhi even began to recount stories of his friendship with Cai Yong.

As he spoke, something seemed to occur to him. He looked at Xu Kang in surprise.

“Yide, you said earlier that you were still a child when Bojie fled to Wu. Now that I think of it, Bojie did mention to me once that, when he returned home for his mother’s mourning, he took a child as his disciple, but that boy died of plague. Bojie mourned him deeply. Could it be that he remembered wrong?”

“Uh…”

Xu Kang was stunned. He hadn’t expected that Cai Yong truly had a disciple, and that boy had died. The worst part was—he’d told Lu Zhi this story!

Damn it, was he about to be exposed just like that?

No, he couldn’t let that happen. He had to find an explanation to save the situation—there had to be a way!

Driven by a powerful will to survive, Xu Kang’s mind raced, his face shifting through a range of expressions.

Lu Zhi, noticing, looked at him curiously. “Nephew, do you perhaps have some unspoken sorrow?”

“Unspoken sorrow… unspoken sorrow…” The phrase sparked a thought in Xu Kang’s mind. “I’ve got it!”

Having found a plausible explanation, he was relieved, but his face took on a look of bitter resignation as he sighed deeply to Lu Zhi.

“Alas… I had meant to keep this secret, but I never imagined my teacher would even mention such a small matter to you, Master Lu. I have no choice but to tell you the truth!”

He took a deep breath, his face growing solemn as he prepared to speak again.

“Master Lu, in fact, my teacher did not remember wrongly. Back then, I truly did die, but I was saved by a man of great power, and thus regained my life.”

“What?”

Both Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song were astonished.

“Returned from the dead? Is there such a miracle worker in this world? Brother Xu, are you not telling tall tales?”

“I would not dare!” Xu Kang bowed respectfully.

“You are both my teacher’s dearest friend and an esteemed general whom I admire. How could I deceive you? In truth, I have spent these years learning from this extraordinary man—otherwise, I would have gone to Wu long ago to serve my teacher.”

“So that’s how it is!” Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song nodded.

But their curiosity was piqued, and Lu Zhi asked again, “Since you have studied under such a remarkable man, surely you have learned skills beyond the ordinary. Might you tell us what you have learned?”

“Yes, yes!” Huangfu Song echoed, “Can you conjure something out of nothing?”

Seeing the two elders so full of childlike curiosity, Xu Kang couldn’t help but laugh, nodding as he did so.

“Haha, conjuring something from nothing is no trouble. I know your camp has been besieged by the Yellow Turbans and must be short on provisions. Let me produce some food for you, Master Lu!”

With that, he waved his hand and took out twenty thousand magical loaves of bread from his spatial pack, instantly piling them into a mountain on the ground.

The sweet scent wafted through the air, and Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song were utterly dumbfounded.

“This… this… this is truly a miracle!”