"Hey, why do I get the feeling that Boyan seems like he's been thoroughly crushed by you?" Chen Xi turned his head and asked Zhuge Liang, who had a calm expression, sensing that Zhuge Liang's demeanor seemed similar to when he pretended to be indifferent to avoid being noticed while daydreaming.
"I was outside the cabin reading 'Strategies of the Universe,' and he came over to take a look. I've gone through this book dozens of times, and I've pretty much grasped its essence. I was just flipping through it when he told me I didn't understand it. So, we talked for a while, and now he's like this." Zhuge Liang replied nonchalantly. He had already given the book to Lu Xun; after all, he knew exactly who had compiled this work, which, despite its lengthy digressions, contained significant insights.
"Oh, let me think about what I wrote in that book," Chen Xi mused, looking up as he tried to recall the content of the book he had authored under the title Strategies of the Universe. "That book suits you, but it might not be right for him."
Zhuge Liang frowned slightly. The idea that the author himself couldn't remember what he had written was enough to make him want to punch the person responsible if the book hadn't been genuinely insightful.
"It suits him as well," Zhuge Liang remarked, glancing at Chen Xi. "When we talked, it was clear he had his own ideas about military strategy, even though they were immature and underdeveloped. But still, they were his own insights, which is quite promising!"
Meanwhile, though Lu Xun was intently reading the pirated version of Strategies of the Universe that he had managed to obtain from Zhuge Liang, he couldn't help but eavesdrop on Chen Xi and Zhuge Liang's conversation. The more he heard, the more uncomfortable he felt. Of course, he still held a deep respect for Chen Xi, who had written such an impressive book.
"He's suited to learning tactics, while you're suited to mastering strategy. You should learn how to grasp the great trends of the world, how to understand the ebb and flow of victory and defeat, how to contend for power, and how to turn the tides of fate," Chen Xi said, frowning as he continued, wondering if he might have guided Zhuge Liang onto the wrong path. "That's what the book should have covered, right?"
"Do you not even know what you wrote?" Zhuge Liang asked, exasperated. "How could you dare publish it?"
"I've written so many things—who remembers them all? I just found a suitable title and slapped it on." Chen Xi replied nonchalantly.
Zhuge Liang chuckled and nodded, dropping the formal tone. "Your book does indeed discuss how to grasp the grand trends of the world, how to understand victory and defeat, and how to contend for power and turn the tides of fate. But your habit of digressing means the latter part veers off into discussions on civil governance. Overall, though, it's an excellent book."
"Oh, well then, it's fine. I remember that I didn't let you read anything inappropriate." Chen Xi nodded in satisfaction, confirming that his guidance for Zhuge Liang had been correct.
"Grasping the world's trends, contending for power, and turning the tides of fate—these should be your forte, right?" Zhuge Liang mused. "But you seem to shy away from handling details, or perhaps it's more accurate to say you're too lazy to deal with the minutiae. You often leave things somewhat vague."
"Hahaha," Chen Xi laughed awkwardly. Indeed, he wasn't particularly adept at handling fine details. As for grasping the world's trends, that did seem to be his strong suit. After all, he had been able to catch hold of the overarching trends from the beginning, and now he was barely able to keep the situation moving in the direction he had planned.
"That's why I want to learn from what you're best at," Zhuge Liang said with a smile. "I really like that book, and I believe that what you're best at is what I need to master the most and am most interested in."
As he spoke, Zhuge Liang fixed his gaze on Chen Xi, his eyes filled with anticipation. Zhuge Liang admired Chen Xi's mastery of grand strategy but was dissatisfied with his laid-back attitude. In Zhuge Liang's view, Chen Xi possessed countless tools at his disposal but often refrained from using them simply because it seemed too bothersome.
"I want to learn too!" Lu Xun suddenly jumped in.
"I don't even know how to teach this," Chen Xi said, yawning. This time he wasn't just making excuses—he genuinely had no idea how to teach such things.
"I'll follow you and learn on my own. If there's something I don't understand, I'll ask you. Over time, I'll figure it out," Zhuge Liang replied calmly.
"Boyan, you might not be suited for this. Kongming's mind is meticulous, so strategy suits him better. For you, learning tactics or methods might be more appropriate. You each have your own strengths, and Kongming excels in meticulous thinking," Chen Xi said, turning to Lu Xun. He noticed that despite everything, Lu Kang had still bestowed upon Lu Xun the courtesy name "Boyan." It seemed rather mystical, though Lu Xun's coming-of-age ceremony would have to wait until they reached Taishan.
"I want to learn," Lu Xun insisted, his eyes filled with determination as he looked at Chen Xi.
"You're naturally inclined towards something different," Chen Xi said, frowning. He knew these people's potential paths and didn't want them to end up working twice as hard for half the results.
"I want to learn," Lu Xun repeated after glancing at Zhuge Liang, who remained composed.
"Let him learn," Zhuge Liang interjected calmly.
"He's different from you," Chen Xi replied, irritated. How could these kids be so stubborn? And Zhuge Liang was only making things worse by egging Lu Xun on. Seeing the hopeful look in Lu Xun's eyes, Chen Xi felt a headache coming on. If he outright refused, it might sour their relationship in the future. Stubborn kids were always particularly troublesome.
"Diligence can make up for lack of talent, but not everyone can see the same thing from the same perspective. A fool sees a crane, a wise man sees snow, and a Zen master sees white," Zhuge Liang said meaningfully, casting a glance at Chen Xi.
Although Lu Xun didn't fully grasp Zhuge Liang's words, he glared at him for a moment before fixing his gaze on Chen Xi.
"Alright, you can join too," Chen Xi sighed.
He understood Zhuge Liang's point. The same lesson could yield different outcomes depending on the individual, and Zhuge Liang was suggesting that since Chen Xi had the luxury of time, there was no reason not to teach both of them. After all, if a single story could be interpreted in multiple ways, it would be easy to separate their lessons, ensuring each learned what suited them best.
"Thank you, teacher!" Lu Xun immediately knelt and bowed to Chen Xi three times, making Chen Xi feel awkward as he hurriedly helped him up.
Zhuge Liang glanced at Lu Xun with a sidelong look, then turned his head, hesitated, and finally sighed. "I suddenly realize how much I've gained from you. Maybe I should formally become your disciple too."
"No, no," Chen Xi quickly stopped Zhuge Liang. "Don't mess around. I've already got enough on my plate. I wasn't prepared when Boyan caught me off guard, but if you stir things up too, I'll really be in trouble. Sigh, Boyan, why did you insist on becoming my disciple?"