Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 536 Special Recruitment Methods

When Xuan makes a statement, it is usually followed by outrageous remarks.

This time was no exception; Xu Xuan had gathered his strength and was ready to unleash his ultimate attack.

Zhuge Wolong was already prepared and would ignore whatever the young man said.

The art of persuasion is nothing more than the art of maneuvering, the art of seduction, and the art of deduction, all of which I happen to be proficient in.

Once the heart is broken and death is extinguished, the closed heart becomes impenetrable.

Just as Zhu Fan said, so-called resentment only harms oneself and others.

As for hiding his identity and escaping into the shadows, that's out of the question. He was arrested and imprisoned for writing biographies, which raised suspicions of treason. How much less could he actually become someone's advisor?

The last sanctuary of Dongyang County was destroyed by fate. At this moment, Zhuge Wolong's body was still alive, but his spirit was dead.

My heart is like ashes, my body like an unmoored boat.

This phrase perfectly describes the old man's condition.

Xu Xuan didn't think so. Based on his experiences in the underworld and the case of his own Little Western Paradise, he believed that even the dead had to work.

Furthermore, his methods were not merely simple maneuvering, but extremely powerful maneuvering.

It possesses the power to grip the audience, deliver a wake-up call, and bring the dead back to life.

Just thinking about what I'm going to say next makes me want to laugh. I'm such a genius.

The Father suppressed a smile and spoke as solemnly as possible:
"Sir, is it really impossible to change this name?"

Silence, silence is the prison tonight.

Zhuge Wolong never expected the opponent's outrageous remarks to be so extreme!

My heart is truly dead. Then, I sat up abruptly in my deathbed, as a cold wind and rain blew in through the window.

That bastard dared to insult me!

As the saying goes, a true man does not change his name or surname.

Generally speaking, even if the name given by the parents is unlucky for their son, it cannot be easily changed or altered.

In this day and age, there are only three special circumstances that can be changed.

One is the expression of aspirations and emotions by contemporary outstanding individuals.

Sima Xiangru's original name was "Dog Son," but he changed it to express his admiration for the Warring States period minister Lin Xiangru's character and talent.

Jin Shengtan's original name was Cai, and his courtesy name was Ruocai. After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, he changed his name to Renrui, and his courtesy name was Shengtan, in order to express his criticism of the new dynasty and his nostalgia for his homeland.

The name Zhuge Wolong itself already expresses his ambition, and there is no way to change it.

The second type is taboo and auspiciousness.

In ancient times, people often changed their names to avoid using the names of emperors or elders.

After all, each emperor had different taboo words. For example, the Tang Dynasty royal family's surname was Li, so many words containing the homonym or related meaning of "Li" became taboo, and some people's names were changed as a result.

Especially during the Qing Dynasty, if you wanted your child to be reborn, you could name them "Qingming" (meaning "clear and bright"), and the whole family might just end up playing a game of Candy Crush.

The third is a symbol of status.

Those in a superior position bestow new names upon those in a subordinate position.

Zhu Wen was given the name "Quanzhong" by Emperor Xizong of Tang for his meritorious service in suppressing Huang Chao's army, in recognition of his loyalty and achievements.

Zheng Chenggong's original name was Sen, also known as Fusong, and his courtesy name was Mingyan. He was granted the Ming Dynasty's imperial surname "Zhu" by Emperor Longwu, and was also known as "Zheng Yanping" because Emperor Yongli bestowed upon him the title of Prince of Yanping.

However, Xu Xuan was neither in a superior position nor could he change other people's aspirations.

None of the three are correct.

So, forcing someone to change their name so directly is an extreme form of humiliation, basically equivalent to insulting their family members, and a very vulgar one at that.

Zhuge Wolong was so angry that he didn't know what to say, and his old face gradually turned red.

I wanted to jump up and punch that bastard.

Seeing this, Xu nodded in satisfaction. "Look, look, isn't this full of energy?"

Of course you can't say that out loud.

"Ahem, this junior possesses a unique skill: the ability to predict good or bad fortune by observing the qi (vital energy)."

"This name is indeed somewhat of a hindrance."

"And haven't you really thought about it yourself?"

Zhuge Wolong's flushed face was almost dripping with blood, and his blood rushed to his head as if he had suffered a stroke.

The last sentence is quite right.

He also had some extraordinary encounters in his youth, and he was very skilled at observing and judging people.

When observing qi, one can discern the qi of a great general, the qi of a minor general, the qi of a departing general, the qi of an approaching general, and the qi of defeat. Those who can understand these can foresee success, failure, fortune, and misfortune.

Without this ability, how could one fool so many guests?

Even the three Qi who came with the Fu sisters were seen through by him, which is quite remarkable.

So he had actually considered changing his name.

I was just too arrogant when I was young, and I thought I could handle it. Besides, changing my name would make me lose face.

In middle age, I was badly hit by the world, and just as I had this idea, I got caught up in the power struggles of big shots.

Now that he's dying, it's even less likely he'll change.

"So that I can go to the underworld with dignity and face my ancestors."

Although the old man was rather afraid of death, his tone remained very firm, insisting that he absolutely could not be swayed by the young man's rhetoric. Of course, this ancestor was not Zhuge Liang; if it were the real Marquis of Wu, he wouldn't dare to speak like that.

There are three main origins and sources of the surname Zhuge, all of which are derived from other surnames.

During the uprising led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang at the end of the Qin Dynasty, a general named Ge Ying repeatedly made military achievements, but was killed by Chen Sheng after listening to slander. Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty enfeoffed Ge Ying's grandson as the Marquis of Zhuxian, and his descendants then took Zhuge as their surname, becoming the Zhuge clan.

The man who added the halo of wisdom to the name of Zhuge was a descendant of Ge Ying.

The Zhuge Wolong in front of us, who is not doing well, is a descendant of the Xiong clan in the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period.

There was a compound surname Zhan Ge, which was later changed to Zhuge.

I guess I rode the wave of popularity, and it's pretty impressive to talk about it.

It was precisely because of their different lineage that Wolong's father was able to circumvent taboos and the law by giving his son such a name.

The Zhuge family of Langya were also very displeased with this "Sleeping Dragon." Not only did he try to ride on the coattails of Zhuge Liang's popularity, but he also dared to force his way into Zhuge Liang's name, which was truly going too far.

The wasted years have also involved some effort.

Faced with the old man's "what's the use of trying" attitude, Xu Xuan said, "You're wrong about that."

Zhuge Liang was shocked. "You little brat, you've come here today specifically to oppose me, haven't you?"

"Am I not even allowed to die if I want to?"

Mr. Xu clicked his tongue twice, his eyes scanning the old man up and down, making him feel uneasy. Could there be some hidden secret here?
"Sir, you are mistaken. Death is only the beginning."

“You have no merits, no great achievements, no incense offerings, and no descendants to worship you. You are neither a reincarnation of a deity nor a person of great virtue or vice. Your death may not be a good thing, and your ancestors may not want to see you.”

That's a very realistic statement.

Even in the underworld, there are different classes. Someone like Zhuge Wolong, who was nothing in life, will not have a good time in the underworld.

Since he was afraid of death, Judge Xu Xuan focused on recounting his experiences in the underworld.

This means you've made many mistakes in your life, and you'll have to go through the eighteen levels of hell several times before you go down to the afterlife.

For example, one has to stay in the first level of the Tongue-Pulling Hell for a period of time.

Those who, while alive, sow discord, slander and harm others, are glib-tongued, use clever words to argue, and lie and deceive, will be cast into the Tongue-Pulling Hell after death. Demons will pry open their mouths, clamp their tongues with iron pincers, and pull them out—not all at once, but slowly, elongated.
The thirteenth level of the Blood Pool Hell is also included.

Those who disrespect others, are unfilial to their parents, are dishonest, or follow crooked paths will be thrown into the Blood Pool Hell after death and suffer in the blood pool.

"It is precisely this: loneliness and turmoil, all are the result of the thousands of deeds committed in life, which will bring them to suffer the consequences after death."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Wolong immediately panicked. Was it true or false?

There was too much information. He knew about gods and monsters, but he had little contact with the underworld.

Normally, people only encounter this once in their lifetime.

Looking back now, he certainly didn't accomplish anything significant in his life, but he was talented and capable, and often made mistakes in trivial matters.

this.
"Why would I lie to you about something like this? I know the underworld very well."

Xu Xuan answered with great confidence, as no living person knew more about hell than him.

The old man's emotions fluctuated wildly, including doubt, fear, and anger.

Pointing at Xu Xuan, he said, "Just who are you?!"

Good question!
The scholar transformed instantly, his demeanor becoming lofty and sacred.

"I am Xu Xuan, Xu Hanwen, instructor of Chongqi, head of Baoan Hall, a practitioner of the Pure Land School in the human realm, abbot of Jinshan Temple, and a successor of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva of Youming Beiyin Mountain."

He has revealed all his publicly known identities, truly embodying the righteous path! A good person among good people!
Let's be direct. This year is tight on time and the task is heavy. I've already passed three interviews, so I can extend an invitation.

"Old sir, since you can't use your skills in the mortal world, why not come to the cultivation world to help me subdue demons and see some new scenery?"

Backed by Chongqi Academy, one of the cultural centers of Jiangnan, and the prestigious Pure Land School, the foremost sect of Buddhism, these two names alone are the best brand name.

Just like the phrase "descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan," it can increase initial charm and make people believe it.

However, the identity of Duke Xuande was somewhat remote, belonging to a branch of the Marquisate of Linyi in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

The Holy Father is a strong contender for the next abbot of the Pure Land School and a candidate for the next headmaster of Chongqi Academy.

How can these be the same?
Despite having so many prestigious titles, the Holy Father still cautiously used the unique human resources recruitment scheme of Baoan Church.

Liu Bei's three visits to Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage to persuade him to join his cause demonstrated his sincerity, benevolence, and aspirations.

The methods Xu Shengfu used to persuade the old man to come out of prison after visiting him three times were somewhat unorthodox.

First, he was startled, as the suggestion of changing his name disturbed his peace of mind.

Then, he used fear to break down their defenses by revealing the truth about the underworld.

Ultimately, it's a lie. It's an invitation!

What's the point of talking about dividing the world into three kingdoms, about saving the nation, about life's aspirations, about leaving a mark on history, about wealth and glory?

Over the years, countless people have probably told the old man that while the Holy Father may have a grander vision and loftier ideals, human beings have their own limitations.

The old man was getting on in years; he had seen and heard far too much.

A wise person who is unwilling to awaken is no different from someone who is pretending to be asleep.

Therefore, unlike young people who are easily fooled, they can only take unconventional approaches.

Since worldly affairs have already disheartened Zhuge Wolong, he should first concern himself with matters outside of the human realm.

Don't demand perfection; give the other party a way out and let them figure things out first.

As for what happens next, it depends on whether Baoantang can warm that heart.

Being locked up in prison for many years, without seeing the people outside or the sunlight, would drive even a normal person crazy.

(End of this chapter)