Chapter 23

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Protagonist:

Xuan Ge

Inside Shen Ce Fu, afternoon light streamed through the exquisite lattice windows, casting slowly moving patches of light on the floor.

The air was filled with a faint scent of ink and sandalwood, so quiet that only the rustle of turning pages and the faint sound of a brush tip gliding across paper could be heard.

Jing Yuan sat upright behind the wide zitan wood general's desk, his head slightly bowed, seemingly fully focused on a memorial regarding the quarterly maintenance of the Xing Cha Hang Dao.

His posture as he held the brush was steady, his annotations flowing and powerful, truly the image of a commander diligent in state affairs.

However, if anyone observed closely, they would notice that his half-narrowed golden eyes would, without realizing it, every so often, quietly slide toward the rest area to the side of the study.

There, Xuan Ge sat sprawled comfortably on a soft couch, and piled mountain-high on the low table before him were not snacks, but a thick stack of archive materials stored via Jade Omen and displayed as light curtains.

Pale blue light reflected on his focused side profile, and those golden eyes that usually held teasing were now scanning lines of information at an astonishing speed, his fingertips occasionally swiping, pausing, and marking on the light curtain.

What he was looking at were detailed resumes and evaluation summaries of some mid-to-high ranking officials and technical talents of the Luofu Xian Zhou over the past century.

Jing Yuan felt his back teeth go a bit sour.

He knew one of Xuan Ge's purposes for coming to Luofu was to "take a look," but witnessing firsthand the other so efficiently and so clearly "browsing his own talent pool"...

That feeling was like his own cabbage hadn't finished growing, yet a pig was squatting nearby drooling....

Under his management, Luofu Xian Zhou was stable overall, and all departments operated as usual.

But Jing Yuan knew better than anyone that beneath this stability lay a balance as precarious as walking on thin ice.

Top-tier talents who could truly stand alone, with courage and foresight, capable of great responsibility, especially young heroes who could take on future burdens, were always Luofu's soft spot.

He was like a calculating gardener, striving to maintain the garden's prosperity, yet deeply knowing that the few pillars most needed grew slowly and with difficulty.

He had advised, hinted indirectly, but knew in his heart that unless Xuan Ge himself felt this land of Luofu was truly "barren."

Otherwise, this fellow would absolutely not easily give up the idea of "poaching."

Persuasion simply wouldn't work.

Just as Jing Yuan's inner drama was rich and he was calculating how to respond, Xuan Ge, while browsing the materials, suddenly spoke without raising his head.

His voice carried a kind of surprise and teasing as if he had discovered some cosmic truth:

"Jing Yuan, I say... you wouldn't be some ancient powerhouse reincarnated, would you?"

"Hmm?" Jing Yuan's brush paused, and he raised his head in surprise, fully directing his gaze toward Xuan Ge.

He suspected he had developed auditory hallucinations from reviewing official documents.

Xuan Ge's gaze remained on a certain line of a certain file on the light curtain, merely freeing one hand to make a slow and powerful downward pressing motion in the air, as if suppressing something invisible.

"Jing Yuan Great Emperor~" his tone was determined, even carrying a hint of admiration.

"The kind who specifically suppresses the human race's fortune, avoiding too many geniuses appearing out of nowhere and disturbing the balance of the world."

"Tsk tsk, look at this data—talents for maintaining the status quo are everywhere, the doctrine of mediocrity prevails, while seedlings who are ambitious and daring... are rare indeed."

Jing Yuan: "..........."

His hand holding the brush froze, and the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Good fellow, unable to poach top talents, and instead blaming him Jing Yuan for "suppressing fortune"?

This skill of turning the tables and making unreasonable demands was truly improving by the day!

"Hah, hah." Jing Yuan gave two dry laughs and glanced at him displeasedly.

Jing Yuan placed his brush back into the brush holder, decided to temporarily set aside the general's airs, and have a good "chat" with this bastard.

"I suppress the human race's fortune?"

Jing Yuan lifted the tea at just the right temperature beside him, took a slow sip to moisten his throat choked by Xuan Ge's twisted logic, then raised his eyes, his smile once again becoming lazy and sharp.

"Then by that logic, General Xuan Ge, wouldn't you be the 'Fruit-Stealing Heavenly Venerable' who specializes in 'stealing the spiritual fruits of heaven and earth'?"

"Wherever there's something good, you drill in; seeing a ripe fruit, you want to uproot it branch and leaf alike, isn't that right?"

"Fruit-Stealing Heavenly Venerable?" Xuan Ge finally moved his gaze away from the light curtain, raised an eyebrow, and looked at Jing Yuan.

He understood—Jing Yuan was using a more elegant way to compare his habit of poaching people everywhere to stealing fruit.

Not only was he not angry, he instead grinned: "This title... sounds quite impressive. Thank you, General Shen Ce, for bestowing the name."

Jing Yuan was choked again by his thick-skinned reaction, and just as he wanted to "retort" a few more lines, he saw Xuan Ge suddenly go "oh ho."

Xuan Ge's eyes clearly lit up, his fingers quickly operated a few times on the light curtain, calling up several related files, and he looked at them with great interest.

The string in Jing Yuan's heart "twanged" tight.

Jing Yuan lifted his teacup without changing expression, took another sip, using this to cover up his momentary tension and probing gaze.

But his attention was no longer on the tea at all, entirely focused on Xuan Ge's side.

Only to see Xuan Ge individually mark and display side-by-side the cursors of those several files, looking while stroking his chin, muttering to himself at a volume only he could hear clearly:

"Hmm? This one is interesting... buy one get two? Hey, there's a buy one get one over here? Jing Yuan, Jing Yuan, you still say you're not Jing Yuan Great Emperor? These talents are all clustering together hiding..."

"Jing Yuan, oh Jing Yuan, you still say you're not the Great Emperor Jing Yuan? This talent is all clustering together, forming a regiment and hiding away....."

"Buy one get one"?

These words struck Jing Yuan's heart like small hammers.

Several names and relationship networks flashed quickly through his mind, and combined with the approximate range of files Xuan Ge was browsing, a not-so-good guess surfaced in his heart.

Several names and relationship networks flashed rapidly through his mind, and combined with the general scope Xuan Ge had flipped through, a rather ominous guess rose in his heart.

He couldn't sit still anymore.

Jing Yuan put down his teacup, stood up, his steps appearing composed but actually a bit faster than usual, walked to the soft couch beside Xuan Ge, leaned slightly forward, and cast his gaze toward those several highlighted files.

Jing Yuan put down his teacup, rose, and walked with steps that appeared composed but were actually a bit faster than usual to the soft couch beside Xuan Ge, leaning slightly forward, his gaze falling on the several highlighted documents.

He took one look, and his heart went "thump"—just as he'd thought!

The light screen clearly displayed:

Yu Kong, Yu Kong's comrade-in-arms and sister Cai Yi, and Cai Yi's husband Guang Yuan.

Dan Shu, and her close friend Yu Fei.

Jing Yuan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. One of the situations he'd feared most had appeared.

Xuan Ge not only had a keen eye, but he also specialized in targeting "relationship bundles"—dig up one, and you'd likely get another one or two thrown in for free!

Almost without delay, Jing Yuan turned toward the door outside and ordered with a decisiveness he might not even use when handling urgent military affairs as a Shen Ce general:

"Someone!"

A Yun Qi Xiao Wei on duty entered in response, clasping his fists to receive orders.

"Immediately arrange an escort to return General Shen Wei to his warship berth."

Jing Yuan's speech was steady, but the content was blunt and to the point.

"Notify the Bureau of Celestial Vessels to open a priority departure channel for the Shen Wu army's Third Warship, today... no, immediately, to set sail and return to the Shen Wu Xian Zhou."

"Yes!" The Yun Qi Xiao Wei, though slightly confused, dared not question a general's command and immediately accepted the order.

Almost at the same time, one of Xuan Ge's personal guards from the Shen Wu army, who had been waiting under the corridor outside the Shen Ce Fu, heard the commotion and came in, looking at his own general.

Xuan Ge raised his head, leaned back into the soft couch, and spread his arms comfortably on both sides.

Xuan Ge raised an eyebrow, leisurely watching Jing Yuan's expression, which seemed calm but whose eye corners twitched slightly.

That expression was clearly the look of "having hidden treasure, been caught red-handed, and urgently trying to destroy evidence and send away the unwelcome guest."

Xuan Ge finally couldn't help it, letting out a "pfft" laugh, hearty and even a bit smug.

"Hahahaha! Jing Yuan, is it really necessary? I'm just looking, just looking!"

As he laughed, he waved at the two soldiers who had entered, gesturing for them to stay calm, then instructed his own Shen Wu army personal guard:

"Go, according to this list, invite these people—Yu Kong, Cai Yi, Guang Yuan, Dan Shu, Yu Fei—to the Shen Ce Fu. Just say the Shen Ce General and Shen Wei General have important matters to inquire about."

"Yes!" The Shen Wu army personal guard hesitated not, accepted the order, and turned to leave and execute it.

The Yun Qi Xiao Wei then looked at Jing Yuan, his eyes questioning.

Jing Yuan nodded extremely slightly, almost imperceptibly, squeezing out one word from between his teeth: "... Go."

The Yun Qi Xiao Wei then accepted the order, left quickly, and went to catch up with that Shen Wu army man.

He had to follow, at least to indicate this was a joint summons from both generals, to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding or panic.

The study room temporarily had only two people left.

Xuan Ge laughed enough, stood up, walked to the side of the depressed Jing Yuan, reached out and put his arm around his shoulder, patted him hard, looking like "brothers," his tone "sincere" to the extreme:

"Oh, don't worry, don't worry! Jing Yuan, my good brother, can't you trust me?"

Xuan Ge winked at Jing Yuan:

"I really am just looking, getting to know what level of young talents Luofu has, exchanging and learning, learning and exchanging. Absolutely no other meaning! I swear by the Arrow of the Hunt!"

Jing Yuan was patted until his shoulder went numb, turned his head, looked at Xuan Ge's face full of "sincerity" and "innocence," and his mouth twitched again.

Trust him? Trusting him would be asking for trouble!

When this fellow "invited" Ling Sha away from Zhu Ming back then, he had the same "I'm just borrowing it to use, exchanging medical arts" look!

The result? She became the Chief Strategist of Shen Wu Xian Zhou and the Director of the Ding Ding Si!

"Fine... then." Jing Yuan broke free from Xuan Ge's arm, sat back in his general's seat, picked up the already slightly cool tea, and gulped down a mouthful, trying to extinguish the flame of unease in his heart.

He knew he couldn't stop him; since Xuan Ge had spoken to summon people, he was determined to make contact.

Now he could only try to set a bottom line and minimize losses.

"But, Xuan Ge, we have to say this beforehand."

Jing Yuan put down the teacup, his gaze turning sharp, regaining the aura of a Shen Ce general during negotiations.

"First, you cannot force anyone. Luofu is a place that values rules and voluntariness. Second—"

He paused, then uttered that name decisively:

"Yu Kong, you cannot take her away."

"Hey—!" Xuan Ge put his hands on his hips and made a sound of dissatisfaction.

Jing Yuan had this time precisely blocked his biggest possible "gain."

Yu Kong could not be moved, so Cai Yi, who was like a sister to her and in perfect harmony, naturally had no chance either, and Cai Yi's husband Guang Yuan was the same.

This "buy one get two free" big gift package had been labeled by Jing Yuan as "Luofu exclusive, not for sale" before it was even opened.

Xuan Ge sat back on the soft couch and picked up his own cup of tea, but didn't drink, just held it up.

Xuan Ge tilted his head to look at the dome, sighed long and hard, his tone full of "unappreciated talent" and "unfulfilled ambition" desolation:

"Fine, fine, since the Shen Ce General has spoken, can I still snatch them by force?"

"Actually, I just think that Yu Kong is indeed a good seedling, thinking that our Shen Wu Xian Zhou's Bureau of Celestial Vessels lacks a helmsman who can hold the field, and hasn't found a suitable one. Alas, I just have this one small, simple wish... thinking of cultivating a top flight commander for the Xianzhou Alliance, what's wrong with that?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Jing Yuan from the corner of his eye, his expression aggrieved and dejected, as if Jing Yuan had strangled a great dream.

Jing Yuan listened expressionlessly, his heart without a ripple, even wanting to laugh a little.

Here it came again, this combination of "complaining + putting on a high hat + moral blackmail."

Jing Yuan listened expressionlessly, his heart utterly calm, even feeling a bit like laughing.

Here it comes again, this combination of "complaining + flattery + moral blackmail".