"Usually, when I mess up, there's no stopping the losses," Chen Xi muttered, causing Zhuge Liang to fume, instantly halting the praise he had intended for Chen Xi.
"What are you laughing at!" Zhuge Liang snapped at Lu Xun, who was giggling to himself. "Have you learned accounting yet?"
"Hmph, you're underestimating me. Not only have I mastered accounting, but I've also learned ciphers, adapting to different situations, and the mathematical methods you taught me. I've even studied the Bagua, Qi Men Dun Jia, and formations," Lu Xun boasted, puffing out his chest proudly.
Although Lu Xun had found it overwhelming at times, he couldn't deny that he was quick to grasp concepts. Zhuge Liang had only taught him the basics, but Lu Xun, driven by the pressure of Zhuge Liang's high standards, had studied diligently. Thanks to his near-equal intellect, he had now mastered everything.
"You've learned it all?" Zhuge Liang asked skeptically, though he didn't show it, maintaining a composed demeanor. "That's good. I won't test you, then. I'll give you some new materials later; study them on your own, and ask me if you have any questions."
Lu Xun, who had been brimming with pride moments before, suddenly felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. He had hoped to see a look of surprise on Zhuge Liang's face, maybe even disbelief, prompting a test of his knowledge. Instead, Zhuge Liang's nonchalant attitude made Lu Xun feel like he was standing before an insurmountable mountain. It dawned on him that the pace at which he had learned was nothing extraordinary to Zhuge Liang. How long did it take Zhuge Liang to learn all this?
"Wow, Bo Yan, you're amazing!" Chen Xi exclaimed, genuinely impressed by Lu Xun's long list of accomplishments.
"It's nothing," Lu Xun muttered, waving off the praise with a deflated expression. Chen Xi's compliment barely registered with him.
"But come to think of it, Kongming didn't seem to study any of these basics when he started," Chen Xi recalled, thinking back to when he first taught Zhuge Liang. He had just handed him a pile of books and told him to figure it out. Much like learning in school, if you don't get it in elementary, you'll understand it later in university.
"I didn't learn the basics. I remember the initial material was too advanced for me to understand, but eventually, I got it. I started with the difficult stuff first," Zhuge Liang said, glancing at Chen Xi. He still felt a bit irritated whenever he thought about the textbooks Chen Xi had given him back then.
"Oh, well, as long as you get the gist of it," Chen Xi said casually, completely oblivious to the impact his words had on Lu Xun, who now felt even more disheartened. It seemed that all his hard work had been for nothing. "Ah, keep at it. Let's get on the carriage and head back to Taishan. Once we reach Fenggao, you'll see what true prosperity looks like. I put a lot of effort into building that city," Chen Xi added, noticing that Xun Yan had already arranged the carriages and guards. He patted the dejected Lu Xun on the shoulder.
"Sure, I'll keep that in mind, Master," Lu Xun replied weakly. After a moment, as Chen Xi boarded the carriage, he asked hesitantly, "Master, how can I surpass that guy?"
"You want to surpass him? You two aren't the same type. How can you surpass him? If you use your weaknesses to compete with his strengths, you'll never win. But if you play to your own strengths, you might not overshadow him, but you can at least stand on equal footing," Chen Xi said, patting Lu Xun. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. He's not a normal person. Don't compete with him in areas you're not good at."
"Oh," Lu Xun nodded, feeling somewhat disappointed but also relieved. "Master, do you have any quick ways I can at least give him a run for his money? That guy is so annoying," Lu Xun whispered to Chen Xi, glancing at Zhuge Liang, who had already climbed into the carriage.
"Let me think..." Chen Xi chuckled. Lu Xun was somewhat proud, while Zhuge Liang had a more aloof personality. Since Zhuge Liang currently outclassed Lu Xun in every way, it was understandable that Lu Xun felt frustrated. The fact that Lu Xun confided in Chen Xi showed that he truly regarded him as a master.
"Oh, when we get to Taishan, I'll introduce you to someone who can teach you for a while. You might not be able to surpass Kongming, but you'll at least have a few chances to get the better of him. How about that?" Chen Xi suggested, after some thought. After all, he couldn't afford to let his apprentice be overshadowed.
"There's such a person? Thank you, Master!" Lu Xun's face lit up with joy.
"Yes, you can also learn military strategy from him. In that area, he might even be better than Kongming. At least in terms of cunning schemes and tricks, he excels," Chen Xi reassured him. It seemed that Fazheng's personality had become more lively after being repeatedly outwitted by Guo Jia, making him more flexible and creative.
"That's great! I love military strategy!" Lu Xun exclaimed, his mood brightening instantly. "Who is he?"
"Zichuan, you're planning to have him study under Fazheng?" Zhuge Liang suddenly poked his head out of the carriage, causing Lu Xun to retreat in surprise.
"Oh, Bo Yan seems a bit wary of you," Chen Xi remarked, nodding at Zhuge Liang. "Fazheng's personality is more compatible with his. Plus, Fazheng won't be staying in Beihai for long, so it'll be good to give him something to do."
"Alright," Zhuge Liang agreed, retreating into the carriage. As he did, he glanced at Lu Xun, who suddenly felt as if Zhuge Liang's gaze held a hint of pity. This puzzled Lu Xun—was there something he didn't know?
"When we get back, I'll take you to pay your respects to Madam Cai, and then you'll have access to the Eastern Archives," Chen Xi said as he climbed into the carriage, pulling Lu Xun up with him. He couldn't help but think of how young Cai Yan had been burdened with memorizing the entire collection of the Eastern Archives, leaving her with a childhood shadowed by responsibility.
"Thank you, Master," Lu Xun replied, feeling much better now that he had seemingly escaped Zhuge Liang's shadow. He was thrilled with Chen Xi's plans, his tone much more spirited. However, he failed to notice Zhuge Liang's sympathetic expression. Poor Lu Xun—at only twelve years old, could he handle what was coming?
"When we get back, come to see me. I'll give you a military strategy book and another on psychology," Zhuge Liang said, patting the now-enthusiastic Lu Xun. He didn't want to dampen Lu Xun's spirits too much, allowing him to enjoy the ride before facing whatever awaited him under Fazheng's tutelage.
Meanwhile, Chen Xi opened the letter from Guo Jia. It was filled with six-line hexagrams and centered on the Bagua diagram. The entire sheet was cut into a perfect square, making it impossible to tell where it began or ended. In one corner, only the phrase "Gen over Kan" indicated the fourth hexagram.
As Chen Xi slowly began to decipher the complex code, he silently cursed Guo Jia for making things so convoluted.