Even if Ye Feng could tolerate Zhuge Liang's activity right under his nose, Lu Bu absolutely could not. Gripping his Fang Tian Hua Ji, he charged forward recklessly, "My Lord, this man will undoubtedly become an obstacle in our plans in the future. Why not strike him down now!"
"Foolish!" Ye Feng, holding his Overlord Halberd, charged forward without hesitation. With a clash of the two weapons, Lu Bu finally noticed that Zhuge Liang had not moved an inch, utterly unafraid of death!
"My Lord, if you are unwilling to act, then let Feng Xian do it!" Lu Bu roared, his Fang Tian Hua Ji dancing again. Each time, it was blocked by Ye Feng. After who knew how many rounds, Lu Bu, panting heavily, leaned on his Fang Tian Hua Ji for support.
Ye Feng bowed slightly, "Since Sir is unwilling to act, I will never force you. We depart now!"
Lu Bu sighed powerlessly, his Fang Tian Hua Ji in hand, and followed behind Ye Feng. After only a few steps, Ye Feng heard a voice, "King of Chu, please stay. Why not come in for a chat!"
Ye Feng curved his lips and, in a few swift moves, entered the thatched hut. "I wonder what else Sir wishes to impart. This King is willing to listen clearly!"
"I have three questions, and I beg the Great King to enlighten me," Zhuge Liang spread his hands. "If the Great King answers them appropriately, I can assist the Great King. If the Great King cannot answer, I will naturally see you out!"
"Good, ask away!" Ye Feng readily agreed. "If this King cannot answer, I will not force the issue and will leave immediately!"
"Please listen carefully, Great King. If conflict arises between the common people and His Majesty, what will the Great King do? Will you abandon the people to protect His Majesty, or abandon His Majesty to protect the people?" Zhuge Liang stared at Ye Feng with a half-smile, asking slowly.
"If the common people are in the right, this King will naturally side with the common people," Ye Feng answered without hesitation. "If His Majesty is in the right, this King will also side with the common people!"
"Oh, does the Great King mean to usurp the Han dynasty? If the common people knew of such a Great King," Zhuge Liang paused, "they would likely push the Great King into that position!"
Ye Feng was taken aback. The Zhuge Liang of this moment clearly knew everything. He coughed lightly, "When the people prosper, they suffer; when the people perish, they suffer. If by the perishing of one family I can save all the people under heaven, then even if thousands upon thousands oppose me, I will go!"
Zhuge Liang's eyes welled up. After a long moment of silence, he nodded heavily and changed the subject, "If the Great King had the opportunity to usurp the throne, how would you treat the former officials?"
This was also a grave matter. At the beginning of every dynasty, the slaughter of meritorious officials was commonplace. Moreover, there were many former officials. Zhuge Liang's regard for Liu Bei was precisely because of his benevolence!
Ye Feng's heart skipped a beat. He spoke slowly, testing the waters, "They are all common people, and they are living beings. As long as they do not disrupt the people, there is no harm in keeping them!"
Zhuge Liang nodded repeatedly, clearly satisfied with the second question. However, he still rose and said, "What is the Great King's view on the current situation? Please speak frankly. If our views align, I am willing to come out of seclusion!"
"Rustle~" A topographical map appeared on the wall, and a sand table slowly rose. Zhuge Liang's fingers moved in intricate patterns. Ye Feng's heart sank. All he knew was based on knowledge acquired later. To speak directly now was indeed somewhat difficult.
Furthermore, the situation back then was entirely different from the present. He could not create the "Longzhong Plan" of that era. At this thought, Ye Feng broke out in a cold sweat.
When faced with difficulty, there was still the system. Ye Feng unhesitatingly recalled in his mind, "System, System!"
"Ding, detecting the host requires strategic assistance. This system has not recorded such information and therefore cannot provide any help!"
No matter how Ye Feng spoke, the system remained completely silent. Ye Feng stared at the topographical map, utterly clueless. He knew that saying anything even slightly wrong in front of Zhuge Liang would cause the image he had just built to collapse instantly. His expression turned somber in an instant.
"King of Chu, have you thought it through? How will you obtain the world without harming the people's livelihood?" Zhuge Liang asked softly.
A scholar, without leaving his home, could know the affairs of the world. He had painstakingly deduced for many years. If his insights could be understood by Ye Feng at a glance, it would be a great fortune to follow Ye Feng.
Ye Feng gritted his teeth and grabbed Zhuge Liang's hand, which was busy deducing, and remained silent.
Zhuge Liang tried several times to withdraw his hand but was unable to. With a heavy sigh, he asked, "Great King, what is the meaning of this? Please tell me!"
Ye Feng's two fingers, like iron pincers, held Zhuge Liang immobile. After a long pause, Ye Feng finally turned his head, his gaze sharp, and said, "Sir, are you trying to deduce how this King will speak?"
Overwhelmed by Ye Feng's imposing aura, Zhuge Liang nodded blankly.
"Sir, have you deduced how this King will speak? How will he treat Sir?" Ye Feng asked rather provocatively. Others might not know, but he knew that he had a 'dog system' on him, which could surely play a role at this moment.
"I don't know why, but the Great King's aura is shrouded in chaos. I cannot see clearly what important matters you have!" Zhuge Liang finally dropped his guard and spoke frankly.
After all, he would not lose his life, and judging by Ye Feng's previous actions, he would not kill him. He sat down at the table, took out three copper coins, and respectfully began his divination.
Before he could get any results, Ye Feng stood up and unceremoniously swept all the copper coins to the ground, ignoring Zhuge Liang's surprised gaze. He said coldly, "Does Sir want to place the lives of all people on copper coins?"
"To this King's view, Sir is not that extraordinary!" Ye Feng paused and said gravely, "Seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster is indeed commendable, but to disregard the lives of the people for it is foolish!"
"Great King!" Zhuge Liang, after all, was a close friend of Gan Quan. Just as Gan Quan was about to rise and speak, Ye Feng stopped him with a hand. Ye Feng let out a long sigh, "This King cannot afford to employ such a selfish and self-serving person. Lu Bu, let's go!"
He led the three to the courtyard of the thatched hut before hearing Zhuge Liang's suppressed voice, "Book boy, please invite the Great King in. I have made my decision!"
Ye Feng ignored him and strode towards the outside of the thatched hut. The book boy rushed to block Ye Feng's path and said respectfully, "Great King, my master requests your presence. Please, Great King!"
"No need to say more. This King truly..." Ye Feng raised his hand to stop him. "I will leave now and will not disturb your master!"
"Great King, if you come in this time, I will definitely follow you, without any further words!" Zhuge Liang hesitated slightly. "Or if the Great King sincerely invites me, I will leave now!"
Lu Bu was overjoyed. He grabbed Ye Feng and was about to speak, but Ye Feng calmly said, "If Sir wishes to leave, leave now. If you are late, do not blame this King for not waiting for you. Farewell!"
Zhuge Liang stared at the departing Ye Feng, gritted his teeth, clenched his fist, and rushed out, hurrying to follow Ye Feng.