Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 506 Preparing to Recruit
"Zhuge Wolong?"

Xu Xuan put down the letter, his eyes somewhat unreadable.

Zao said that he had discovered a talent in the prison of Dongyang County, and also told about the talent's current situation, saying that he had been corrupted in prison and lost his former glory.

The idea of ​​someone being corrupted in prison sounds strange, but it's understandable given their circumstances.

He was knowledgeable in astronomy and geography, and proficient in a wide range of miscellaneous subjects, especially skilled in analytical and deductive methods.

That sounds quite tempting.

After all, he hadn't figured out anything about Zoroastrianism.

Xu Xuan kept wondering whether Ji Rui was cursed by a nature god, an ancestral god, or a totem.

The north is full of primitive things.

I didn't think of Zoroastrianism, which became famous in later generations, but judging from the timeline, this period was indeed the beginning of the sect's eastward expansion.

The ancestral graves flaming up—the Zoroastrianism has a lot to say.

The other party's knowledge in miscellaneous subjects is truly impressive.

Unexpectedly, Zhuge Wolong is now imprisoned in Yangzhou. Xu Xuan had always thought he was imprisoned in the north.

This person has a very famous name; he is truly a folk idol known to everyone, even the most humble peddlers and laborers.

His novels have novel and wonderful plots, which are interesting even to him.

Moreover, his life experience is quite legendary, involving connections to demons, monsters, and high-ranking officials.

Many professors in the academy had also dealt with him, but they always used him as a negative example.

There are three main reasons why he ended up in this predicament.

The first element is the name.

I don't know what the Zhuge family was thinking, insisting on associating their name with Zhuge Liang, as if they wanted to bear a great karmic burden.

Unfortunately, neither his family nor his own actions attracted great fortune, and thus he suffered a calamity.

Because this name actually didn't have a good ending.

The second aspect is a last wish.

It was also an obsession, the obsession with writing books that Zhuge Wolong's father had given him.

Writing a book is a monumental undertaking in this era, fraught with obstacles.

Establishing a legacy through words is the first of the three immortal achievements, and few people throughout history have been able to accomplish this, especially since it was also influenced by the political situation of a unified dynasty.

Therefore, almost all the difficulties in Zhuge Liang's life were arranged by his own father.

She is a prime example of someone who ruins their son's life.

The third was Emperor Jin.

It is well known that offending an emperor during the feudal dynasties was both incredibly easy and incredibly difficult, given that the Jin emperor had not attended court for decades.

Xu Xuan didn't mention it; he was a professional.

Others, like Zhuge Liang, who lacked professional skills, relied solely on their own bravery to display their talent in the palace examination, even managing to anger the Jin emperor out of his meditation room.

Then came the terrible backlash, and he was forced to wander the earth.

Such a person has no way out and no way forward. He has a wealth of talent but no place to use it. He can only write some mundane stories to make people laugh.

He really has a tough life.

If, at this moment, the leader of a mysterious organization were to quietly infiltrate the prison, appeal to their emotions and reason with them, and try to win them over with a sincere heart, they would surely be willing to die for the cause.

Xu revealed a smile that suggested he was the mastermind behind it all.

He then calmed down because he was hesitating about something.

That is, the three strange people gathered together to dig up the graves of the Ji family's ancestral home.

The three geniuses together could dominate the Jiangnan region: Ning Caichen for crowd control, Zao Tongxue for damage output, and Ji Rui for breaking through enemy lines.

Such a combination should have no problem breaking Zoroastrian evil practices. But is it really that simple?
The fire at the ancestral graves could not be extinguished, and according to Zhuge Wolong's speculation, it might have been caused by a local fire source.

The noise from igniting a subterranean fire must have been quite significant, so what kind of fire could be so inexhaustible?

Xu Xuan sensed that something was wrong.

Therefore, let's first inquire about the situation of the Prefect of Dongyang.

Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle. A small prison cannot hold such a capable person; only the prison in one's heart can truly imprison a person.

As for Sanqi, there's no need to worry too much. He might even receive a pleasant surprise.

This is a form of self-confidence.

Meanwhile, Sanqi arrived at the Ji family's ancestral home at breakneck speed.

"Hello, uncle."

At this moment, Ji's father managed to regain his composure and calmness to receive them, befitting a great merchant.

Even when they saw that it was two young people who came, they did not show the slightest disappointment, simply because these two classmates were no longer the same as before.

In terms of social status, he was actually lower, since the other party had Yu Gong and Shi Kuang standing behind him.

He then glanced at Ji Rui, feeling a pang of sadness.

My son, it is your father who has held you back.

If it weren't for that vile woman hiring someone to cast a spell, you would probably be a disciple of some important figure by now.

These past few days, while repenting at the ancestral graves, Ji's father had many thoughts in his mind. Whether it was from the smoke or something else, his somewhat cold heart softened a bit. Of course, he would never say these words to their faces.

Ning Caichen, who was traveling with him, could roughly hear some of the strong inner thoughts, and after a moment of surprise, he said nothing.

This is a matter between father and son, so he shouldn't say too much.

Moreover, Ji Rui thrived under Master Xu's tutelage, making rapid progress in his skills. Such an opportunity was truly exceptional.

After barely managing to eat, the three of them arrived at their ancestral burial ground.

The Ji family's ancestral tombs were renovated in a very luxurious manner, almost comparable in size to a medium-sized courtyard.

The scenery of the mountains and rocks, as well as the feng shui layout, are all very particular, and it's clear that a lot of money was spent on it.

At this moment, the place has been sealed off by Ji's trusted men, and even members of his own clan cannot get close.

The other members of the clan still believed that the smoke rising from the ancestral graves was a sign of protection for the clan, and since they could not see any fire, they were happily celebrating.

The three of them circled the ancestral grave once, and then circled it again.

They asked a few more questions, such as when the blue smoke started to appear and whether anyone had come near the area.

At this point, Ji's father was furious. Although his family had been forced to move away from their ancestral home, the ancestral graves had always been guarded by clan elders.

Every year, a considerable amount of money and resources were sent over, but when that fellow saw the smoke, he didn't report it and instead ran away.

Given the vigilance of unscrupulous businessmen, they naturally began sending people to investigate in the past few days.

They eventually discovered that twenty years ago, that guy had a close relationship with a foreign guest from the Western Regions, who would come every few years.

If that were all, it would only be 70% suspicious. The remaining 30% lies in the fact that the foreigner was holding books about the Central Plains and wandering around the ancestral graves in a mystical manner.

The other party came again before and after the ancestral graves started smoking. If this person isn't the culprit, then who is?

"The time was probably in the summer, a few days after the flood in Xin'an County."

The three of them exchanged a glance. It seemed that nothing major had happened in Jiangnan during that period, except for Master Xu recuperating from his injuries.

However, the direction of the source has been roughly identified.

Zao and Ning Caichen's perceptions are probably correct.

Finally, Ji Rui reluctantly asked his father to step outside for a moment, as it felt awkward to be stared at like that, and some things would be difficult to do.

Uncle Ji: This unfilial son!

(End of this chapter)