Bab 23: Section 24: Taking Charge of the Exploration Team
Editor: Henyee Translations
Trying to gather more subordinates was originally a plan set by Lord Zhenjin and Zi Di.
Therefore, Zi Di had strongly urged Zhenjin to save Huang Zao back then.
However, Huang Zao concealed the existence of the Silver Magical Beast and deserted at the critical moment, repeatedly causing unexpected trouble.
But looking at the present outcome, the result was even more delightful.
Huang Zao and Lan Zao both became Zhenjin's servants.
Initially, they merely recruited them, and they still retained their freedom. But now, as servants, they lost their freedom.
These brothers were both at the Bronze Level; slaves of such strength were quite valuable.
Of course, Zhenjin currently had no reliable means to restrain them, such as a servant contract.
In the current environment, Zhenjin couldn't ask for too much.
By pledging their allegiance as servants, Huang Zao and Lan Zao brought their own influence, leading others to naturally choose to rely on Zhenjin.
Thus, Zhenjin smoothly gained actual control of this exploration team.
The brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao were both elite at the Bronze Level. Huang Zao excelled in using the long spear, and Lan Zao was a skillful scimitar user. These two had the greatest strength.
Among the others, there were two archers and one crossbowman. The rest comprised thirteen axe men, gunmen, and shield bearers.
Including the old scholar Cang Xu, who was unarmed, there were a total of nineteen people (excluding Zhenjin and Zi Di).
According to Cang Xu, when the exploration team first set out, there were nearly forty people, making it a large team.
But by now, the team had already been halved.
Their armor was quite poor.
The brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao wore leather armor; the others wore linen clothes.
The survival resources were not tight; the team carried ample food and fresh water.
Zhenjin obtained all this information from Cang Xu.
"Since this mountain spring is drinkable, please assign some men to collect more fresh water for us. We can discard half of the kerosene."
Zhenjin issued his first command.
"Yes, my lord." Cang Xu accepted the order respectfully and exited the tent.
The tent was brought by the exploration team and personally set up by the brothers, Huang Zao and Lan Zao, so Zhenjin could take a good nap here.
As soon as Cang Xu left the tent, Zi Di lifted the curtain and walked in.
"My lord, our old scholar is not a simple man," Zi Di remarked.
When Zhenjin met with Cang Xu alone, Zi Di had a preliminary conversation with each member. From their words, Zi Di pieced together the whole truth.
"So, it was Cang Xu's analysis that made Huang Zao and Lan Zao realize the severity of the situation?" Zhenjin smiled slightly after hearing Zi Di's report. "It seems the spoils we collected from the eight-legged spider also thoroughly intimidated them."
"Do not overestimate people, but do not underestimate them either," Zhenjin sighed sincerely.
The outcome of this matter was good, but the whole process prompted Zhenjin to deeply reflect on himself.
He had overestimated Huang Zao's character, failing to recognize the possibility of him concealing information, naively believing that Huang Zao would serve under a debt of gratitude.
Yet, the result was Huang Zao fled in the face of danger, abandoning Zhenjin and Zi Di, his saviors.
Later, the brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao submitted to him under immense pressure and sold themselves into servitude.
Was it because they genuinely repented?
Perhaps to some extent.
But more likely, it was due to Zhenjin and Zi Di's formidable strength and profound background.
What about the others?
They gladly accepted Zhenjin's leadership.
Why?
Zhenjin was a strong figure. In such a perilous environment, it was one of the best survival strategies for the weak to rely on the strong, wasn't it?
Furthermore, Zhenjin's identity as a Holy Temple Knight and his act of saving Huang Zao made people believe that while he was young, his character was worthy of their trust.
Among them, the most striking was the old scholar Cang Xu.
He had served a noble family for over thirty years and must have learned the wisdom of noble survival and strategy.
Though unarmed and lacking combat power, he earned the respect of the entire exploration team. The brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao followed his words almost unconditionally.
When Cang Xu received the information from Huang Zao, he immediately recognized Zhenjin and Zi Di's identity.
Under his command, the exploration team immediately turned back and took the initiative to seek allegiance with Zhenjin.
Huang Zao and Lan Zao became his greeting gift to Zhenjin, and even though they sold themselves into servitude, these brothers were still deeply grateful to Cang Xu.
His words to Zhenjin, though appearing as praises for the brothers, were actually a transaction.
Cang Xu's voluntary allegiance allowed Zhenjin to easily accept these subordinates and gain two Bronze Level servants. Meanwhile, Zhenjin also provided ample reward. In the new team, Cang Xu became the third-ranking person, only after Zhenjin and Zi Di.
Zhenjin's first command was to make him the leader, gathering a group to collect fresh water.
This was the young man's response to Cang Xu's voluntary allegiance.
He remained vigilant toward Cang Xu, but he also greatly admired him.
He knew he needed such talent around him. Despite Cang Xu being merely a scholar, a common farmer could knock him down. But Cang Xu possessed extraordinary knowledge and wisdom, which were also a form of invisible strength.
"For now, my memory gaps and inability to use fighting energy need to be kept secret," Zhenjin instructed Zi Di.
Zi Di nodded repeatedly, her expression slightly solemn. "I understand, my lord."
Zhenjin had just taken control of this exploration team, and there were still hidden dangers.
If these subordinates discovered that Zhenjin couldn't use fighting energy, would it stir some negative thoughts?
Without the use of fighting energy, just relying on physical fitness, the gaps between different levels weren't as significant.
As the Hundred Needle Family's motto said: one must not overestimate nor underestimate people.
Zhenjin now deeply understood this saying!
Although he had become the leader of the exploration team, his control over the entire group was still weak.
It was impossible to achieve a level of command where orders were unquestionably followed.
"You organize it so that the members of the exploration team come to see me one by one in the tent for a private conversation," Zhenjin finally instructed Zi Di.
Therefore, when Cang Xu led several people to collect fresh water and returned to the tent to report, he was stopped by Huang Zao and Lan Zao guarding outside.
"Lord Zhenjin is talking to Bai Ya."
Cang Xu was slightly taken aback; he knew Bai Ya, the cheerful young man, son of a hunter, not particularly noticeable in the exploration team.
"Did Bai Ya make a mistake?" Cang Xu asked.
"No, everyone in the exploration team has to enter the tent once for a private conversation with Lord Zhenjin," Lan Zao replied.
Cang Xu became very interested, "What is the lord asking them about?"
Huang Zao shrugged, "Nothing more than personal background, family situation, individual skills, and information about the shipwreck and the island."
At that moment, the curtain lifted, and Bai Ya, a member of the exploration team, came out, looking invigorated.
"Ah, it's the scholar," Bai Ya greeted first.
"You look like Lord Zhenjin has taken a special interest in you?" Cang Xu smiled and nodded.
Bai Ya grinned and said, "Of course not. Actually, Lord Zhenjin has promised everyone that as long as we perform well, we might be able to follow him and join White Sand City in the future! At the very least, we could become guards in White Sand City."
"That's just what you've wished for, isn't it? You better work hard then," Cang Xu patted Bai Ya's shoulder.
Bai Ya nodded repeatedly, full of vigor. "I will work hard!"
After receiving Lan Zao's notification, Cang Xu re-entered the tent to see Zhenjin.
"My lord, as per your instructions, we discarded half of the kerosene and used the original oil bags to store fresh water," Cang Xu reported respectfully.
"Hmm, well done. You may go rest now. After lunch, there will be a meeting to discuss the upcoming journey. Be prepared."
"Yes, my lord." Cang Xu bowed and exited the tent.
He did not go far and stood beside the tent watching for a while.
The members who had followed him to collect fresh water were also summoned by Zhenjin one by one.
No one stayed in the tent for long, but when they came out, their expressions were noticeably different from before. Even the usually stern ones had a certain gleam in their eyes.
Cang Xu glanced deeply at the tent, smiled, and murmured, "This is good."
Not all strong individuals have leadership skills.
In Cang Xu's view, Zhenjin was very young. Such a young person possessing at least Silver Level cultivation was rare. Most likely, most of his time was spent in his own cultivation, which affected his ability to learn and master other areas.
But now it seemed Zhenjin was at least competent as a leader.
Though not yet the White Sand City Lord, this young man could make promises, painting a bright future for these exploration team members.
People's hearts gradually gathered around Zhenjin, morale in the team was rising, and Zhenjin's control over the entire exploration team was quickly deepening.
Hadiah
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Power 
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