Chapter 73: Sacrifice Brings Reward

Although Fang Xu did not yet know whether the adviser before him was truly the brilliant strategist he needed, at the very least, compared to Lao Wu and the other rough men, this man seemed to have his uses. One could tell just from the adviser’s ruthlessness toward him. This was indeed a man suited for great undertakings. Why did Fang Xu think so? Precisely because of the adviser’s ruthlessness—he was willing to wager everything on a single throw, even without knowing Fang Xu’s true identity or that he was the mastermind behind the scenes. All he had ever seen was Fang Xu acting as a messenger between himself and Qin Suwen.

Now, that messenger had already left the Quanzhen Temple, having slipped away under cover of darkness the previous night, bound for Xianyang. In such circumstances, with the adviser having no idea how these events might be connected to himself, he still chose to take a gamble. In Fang Xu’s eyes, this was indeed a reckless wager—the adviser was staking his entire livelihood and life on it.

Why make such a claim? Because if the adviser’s bet succeeded, he might serve at Fang Xu’s side and perhaps one day rise to power and wealth. But if he lost, his only choice would be to retire into obscurity in the mountains. There was simply no other way. He had learned too much; even if he tried to serve another, who would truly trust and employ him? If things were otherwise, his gamble would not be tied so closely to his life and fortune. If he failed, given the adviser’s character, he would likely choose to end his life rather than live in disgrace.

Thus, he would only wager everything once, driven by the ambition in his heart. He refused to let his talents be wasted in the wilds, and in his own view, his learning should benefit all the people under heaven.

This is, perhaps, the aspiration in the heart of every scholar. Though the adviser was just past thirty, his breast still burned with ambition and desire. Now, having found Fang Xu, he was willing to offer all his abilities to serve him.

Fang Xu naturally had Lao Wu escort the county magistrate away for a time, and Qiu Chuji, being tactful, did not come over either.

“Why did you choose me?” Fang Xu asked with a smile, looking at the adviser, who clasped his hands and bowed his head. The adviser then revealed to Fang Xu the ambitions and thoughts that lay in his heart.

On hearing the adviser’s words, Fang Xu could not help but laugh, though the adviser did not know what amused him so—or why.

“Do you know why I laugh?” Fang Xu asked, still smiling as he looked at the puzzled adviser. The adviser shook his head in confusion. Of course, Fang Xu thought, the adviser might have guessed a little, but dared not say so directly—a sign of his cautious mind.

“I laugh because you know neither who I am nor what my background may be, and yet you are willing to entrust your life and future to me. Isn’t that rather laughable?” Fang Xu murmured, a wry smile at his lips. The adviser simply clasped his hands and said nothing.

“How should I address you?” Fang Xu asked, smiling at the adviser, whose temples were already flecked with gray. Clearly, Fang Xu had begun to consider matters more closely.

“My humble name is Gu Bei. Greetings, sir,” replied Gu Bei with a smile. Fang Xu murmured his name a couple of times, then nodded.

“It’s not impossible for you to follow me, Gu Bei, but you must understand one thing: if you choose me, then your life and fate will no longer be your own to command.” Fang Xu looked at Gu Bei, the smile fading from his lips, his gaze turning solemn.

Fang Xu was generally easygoing by nature, rarely troubling others unless provoked, able to bear insult for the sake of peace. But he had his boundaries—he could not abide betrayal. If someone pledged loyalty to him, then their life and fate belonged to him; should they betray him, he would not act the saint.

“At present, my identity is not for you to know. I can only tell you this: tomorrow I intend to go south, a venture fraught with countless risks. If you wish to leave now, I can put in a good word for you with the county yamen and see you returned to your post.”

“But if you decide to follow me, then you must be clear about the dangers ahead. Even I cannot guarantee we will emerge unscathed.”

“You do not yet know who I am, so it is still not too late.” Fang Xu toyed with the ring on his finger, his tone languid, as if discussing matters of no consequence.

But at Fang Xu’s words, Gu Bei’s face turned ashen, and a dawning realization crept into his mind. After all, the events in the south were no secret; what else would Fang Xu travel south to pursue? Gu Bei made a bold guess. Right or wrong, he understood one thing: nothing ventured, nothing gained.

“I understand, sir. Henceforth, I will place your interests above all else,” Gu Bei declared, bowing even lower, a sign of his complete submission.

“Since you have decided, then, like Lao Wu and the others, you may address me as Young Master,” Fang Xu said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Gu Bei.

“Gu Bei greets the Young Master!” Gu Bei replied, clasping his hands. Fang Xu, satisfied, gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

“I believe you’ll not regret this, Gu Bei,” Fang Xu whispered with a smile in his ear, then strode off toward Lao Wu and the county magistrate, who watched from a distance.

Gu Bei stood there, momentarily stunned, gazing after Fang Xu’s retreating figure, his hand unconsciously reaching for the spot where Fang Xu had patted him. For a moment, he was lost in thought.

But soon he gathered himself and hurried after Fang Xu in quick, small steps—fully aware of his new position and the path he had chosen.