Taking Command of the Exploration Team

Doing his utmost to gather more subordinates had been part of Zhen Jin and Zi Di's plan from the start.

That was why Zi Di had strongly urged Zhen Jin to save Huang Zao back then.

It was only that Huang Zao had concealed the existence of the Silver-level Magic Beast and fled at the crucial moment, allowing one accident after another to arise.

But looking at it now, the final outcome was even more gratifying.

Both Huang Zao and Lan Zao had become Zhen Jin's slaves.

Originally, Zhen Jin had merely intended to recruit them, and they would still have retained their freedom. Now that they had become servants, however, they had lost that freedom.

The brothers were both Bronze-level, and slaves of such strength were quite valuable.

Of course, Zhen Jin did not yet have any reliable means of restraining the two of them, such as a slave contract.

In his current circumstances, Zhen Jin could not ask for too much.

Huang Zao and Lan Zao had pledged themselves to Zhen Jin as servants. Through the influence they themselves wielded, everyone else had naturally chosen to attach themselves to Zhen Jin as well.

Thus, Zhen Jin smoothly gained actual control over this Exploration Team.

The brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao were both Bronze-level elites. Huang Zao was skilled with a halberd, while Lan Zao was adept with a curved saber. The two of them were the strongest.

Among the rest were two archers and one crossbowman. The remaining thirteen were Axemen, spearmen, and Shieldbearers.

Including the unarmed old scholar Cang Xu, there were nineteen people in all—not counting Zhen Jin and Zi Di.

According to what Cang Xu revealed, when they had first set out, the entire Exploration Team had numbered nearly forty people. It had been a sizable group.

But by the time they reached this place, the Exploration Team had already lost half its members.

These people's armor was all very poor.

The brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao wore leather armor, while everyone else wore linen garments.

Survival supplies were not tight. The team carried ample food and fresh water.

Zhen Jin had learned all this intelligence from Cang Xu.

"Since the spring water here is drinkable, have some men collect more fresh water for us next. We can discard half of the fire oil."

Zhen Jin gave his first order.

"Yes, my lord." Cang Xu accepted the command and respectfully withdrew from the tent.

This tent had been brought by the Exploration Team. The brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao had erected it with their own hands, and Zhen Jin could finally have a proper afternoon nap inside.

No sooner had Cang Xu left the tent than Zi Di lifted the flap and entered.

"My lord, this old scholar of ours is no simple man," Zi Di said.

While Zhen Jin had summoned Cang Xu alone, Zi Di had made preliminary contact with every member of the group. From the others' accounts, she had roughly pieced together the full truth.

"So it was Cang Xu's analysis that made Huang Zao and Lan Zao realize how grave the trouble was?" Zhen Jin smiled faintly after hearing Zi Di's report. "It seems the spoils we collected from the Eight-Legged Spider also gave these people a fierce shock."

"One must neither overestimate people nor underestimate them," Zhen Jin sighed from the bottom of his heart.

The outcome of this affair was excellent, but the entire process had driven Zhen Jin to continually reflect upon himself.

He had overestimated Huang Zao's character and failed to recognize the possibility that he would conceal information. He had blindly assumed that Huang Zao, grateful for being saved, would become someone he could use.

Yet Huang Zao had fled at the crucial moment, abandoning Zhen Jin and Zi Di, the two people who had saved his life.

Later, under immense pressure, the brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao had thrown themselves upon him and sold themselves into slavery.

Was it because the two truly repented?

Perhaps, to some extent.

But more than that, they had likely been forced by the formidable strength and profound background of Zhen Jin and Zi Di.

And what of the others?

They were willing to be led by Zhen Jin.

Why?

Zhen Jin was strong. In an environment fraught with danger on every side, the weak clinging to the strong was one of the best strategies for survival, was it not?

Moreover, Zhen Jin's identity as a Temple Knight, along with his deed of rescuing Huang Zao, made people believe that although this leader was young, his character was worthy of their trust.

Among them, the one who stood out most was still the old scholar Cang Xu.

He had served noble households for more than thirty years and must have learned the wisdom of noble survival and contest.

He was unarmed and possessed no fighting strength, yet he commanded the respect of the entire Exploration Team. The brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao almost obeyed Cang Xu's every word.

The moment Cang Xu received Huang Zao's information, he had keenly perceived Zhen Jin and Zi Di's identities.

Under his direction, the entire Exploration Team immediately turned back and ultimately came of its own accord to pledge itself to Zhen Jin.

Huang Zao and Lan Zao became his gift upon meeting Zhen Jin, yet even after selling themselves into slavery, the brothers remained deeply grateful to Cang Xu.

The words he had said to Zhen Jin appeared on the surface to speak up for the brothers, but in truth they had been a transaction.

Cang Xu had voluntarily pledged himself to Zhen Jin, allowing the latter to smoothly accept these subordinates and gain two Bronze-level servants. Zhen Jin, in turn, gave him ample recompense. Within the new group, Cang Xu became the third-ranking person, second only to Zhen Jin and Zi Di.

Zhen Jin's first order was to make him the leader of a group and have him take a number of men to collect fresh water.

This was Boy's response to Cang Xu's initiative in pledging allegiance.

He remained wary of Cang Xu, yet also held him in high regard.

He knew he needed talents like this at his side. Cang Xu might only be a Scholar—an ordinary farmer could knock him down—but he possessed knowledge and wisdom beyond the reach of common people. Knowledge and wisdom were also an invisible kind of strength.

"For the time being, my fragmented memories and inability to use battle qi must be kept secret." Zhen Jin reminded Zi Di again.

Zi Di nodded repeatedly, her expression turning solemn. "I understand, my lord."

Zhen Jin had only just taken control of this Exploration Team; hidden dangers still remained.

If these subordinates discovered that Zhen Jin could not use battle qi, might it give rise to some undesirable thoughts?

Unable to wield battle qi, relying solely on physical qualities, the gap between different levels was no longer so vast.

Just as the Hundred Needles Family's family precept said: People must neither be overestimated nor underestimated.

Zhen Jin now felt this truth deeply!

Though he had become the Exploration Team's leader, his control over the entire group was still weak.

Reaching the point where orders were obeyed without question was simply impossible.

"Make arrangements. Have the Exploration Team members come in one by one. I will speak with each of them alone in the tent." Zhen Jin gave Zi Di one final instruction.

Thus, when Cang Xu led several people back to report after gathering enough fresh water, Huang Zao and Lan Zao, who stood guard outside, stopped them.

"Sir Zhen Jin is speaking with Bai Ya right now."

Cang Xu paused slightly. He knew the young man Bai Ya—a cheerful-smiling hunter's son, unremarkable within the Exploration Team.

"Did Bai Ya make some mistake?" Cang Xu asked.

"No. Everyone in the Exploration Team has to enter the tent alone and be questioned by Sir Zhen Jin," Lan Zao answered.

Cang Xu could not help growing interested. "What is my lord asking them?"

Huang Zao shrugged. "Nothing more than their personal backgrounds, family circumstances, individual skills, and information about the shipwreck and the island."

Just then, the tent flap was lifted, and Bai Ya, a member of the Exploration Team, emerged looking energized.

"Ah, Scholar." Bai Ya greeted him first.

"Judging by that look, Sir Zhen Jin must have taken a special liking to you?" Cang Xu nodded with a smile.

Bai Ya grinned. "Of course not. Actually, Sir Zhen Jin promised everyone that as long as we perform well from here on, we may be able to follow him and join White Sand City in the future! At worst, we can become White Sand City guards."

"Doesn't that fulfill your heart's desire? You'd better work hard, kid." Cang Xu patted Bai Ya on the shoulder.

Bai Ya nodded again and again, brimming with drive. "I'll definitely work hard!"

After Lan Zao announced him, Cang Xu entered the tent once more and met Zhen Jin.

"My lord, following your instructions, we discarded half the kerosene and used the original oil sacks to store fresh water," Cang Xu reported respectfully.

"Mm, well done. Go rest first. After lunch, there will be a meeting to discuss the journey ahead. Be prepared."

"Yes, my lord." Cang Xu bowed and withdrew from the tent.

He did not go far, instead standing beside the tent and watching for a while.

The few members who had originally followed him to store fresh water were also summoned by Zhen Jin one after another.

None of them stayed in the tent for long, but when they emerged, their expressions had clearly changed from before they went in. Even the eyes of those who were usually tight-lipped seemed to have been glossed with a layer of oil.

Cang Xu gave the tent a long look, smiled, and murmured softly, "This is good too."

Not every powerhouse possessed the talent to lead.

In Cang Xu's view, Zhen Jin was very young. For someone so young to possess cultivation at least at the silver level was truly rare. He had likely spent most of his time on his own cultivation. That involved one's energy, so his study and mastery of other areas would naturally be weaker.

But now, it seemed that Zhen Jin was at least passing as a leader.

Though this Boy was not yet the White Sand City Lord, he could already make promises out of thin air, painting a bright future for these Exploration Team members if they followed him.

People's hearts were gradually being drawn in by Zhen Jin, the team's morale was rising, and Zhen Jin's control over the entire Exploration Team was rapidly deepening.