A Tracking Technique That Needed No Stars
"Master, I beg for your guidance!"
Zhang Xuezhou had several things to do, the simplest of which was undoubtedly the cultivation of the Tracking Technique.
The Xiangmen sect's Tracking Technique are considered the best; their Star-Fixing Technique can locate people thousands of miles away. Wu Chao, having achieved some initial success, found Zou Bugui through various means.
However, the star- Star-Fixing Technique Star-Fixing Technique has an adaptability problem. It requires celestial guidance, and the celestial phenomena in the sky of this world are completely different from those in the real world.
Zhang Xuezhou can learn the Star-Fixing Technique, but he cannot use Star-Fixing Technique in the real world.
If Zhang Xuezhou wanted to learn tracking techniques, he would have to choose techniques from other schools of thought.
"Whom do you want to track?"
Inside Xuanhua Tower, neither Dong Zhongshu nor Gongsun Hong had left.
Dong Zhongshu intended to stay in Jiangdu to carry out his mission, while Gongsun Hong sought advice from Dong Zhongshu.
Twelve days later, Zhang Xuezhou returned. After sorting things out, he found Dong Zhongshu in a pavilion, fanning himself and recounting his story.
After exchanging greetings, Zhang Xuezhou asked the most direct question.
As long as Dong Zhongshu was willing to teach, and Dong Zhongshu spoke to him, things went smoothly.
When investigating Zou Bugui, the first person to inquire was Grand Commandant Zhou, and the second was Dong Zhongshu.
While it cannot be said that Dong Zhongshu's tracking skills were second to none in the Great Han Dynasty, and there were also excuses from officials at various levels during the subsequent investigation, Dong Zhongshu's tracking ability must have been extremely outstanding to be recommended.
Zhang Xuezhou was also humbly seeking guidance from experts.
"I just want to learn it so I'll be prepared for any eventuality," Zhang Xuezhou said.
"Tracking techniques are very difficult to master; a slight error can lead to a huge mistake," Gongsun Hong said. "Instead of learning this technique on your own, you'd be better off having Zhongshu do the tracking for you!"
"This technique isn't afraid of being accurate in its investigation, but rather of being inaccurate," Dong Zhongshu nodded. "A wrong investigation will lead us astray, causing us to waste time on incorrect methods and ultimately resulting in more harm than good!"
"The most time-consuming thing is traveling back and forth; time is wasted in the back and forth." Gongsun Hongdao said, "Only by asking the right people for help can you move forward in the most efficient way!"
"But I still want to learn," Zhang Xuezhou said. "I'm carrying out the Emperor's orders to track down people, so having a skill to rely on is the best thing I can do!"
"Is there anyone in this world that Zhongshu can't catch?" Gongsun Hong laughed. "Just say it. Don't worry about revealing His Majesty's decree. We're not the type to gossip!"
I'm looking for my good friend Li Shaojun!
Zhang Xuezhou shrugged. He didn't say that seeking out Li Shaojun was to carry out an imperial order, but only mentioned that the other party was his good friend.
This made Gongsun Hong shrug, while Dong Zhongshu frowned slightly.
Dong Zhongshu knew of Li Shaojun, but he had absolutely no connection with Li Shaojun, let alone track him down.
To achieve tracking, at least suitable methods and techniques are required.
Compared to tracking Zhang Xuezhou, Dong Zhongshu felt it would be simpler and more convenient to teach Zhang Xuezhou a skill.
However, he was not one to take shortcuts. He simply explained the situation and indicated that he didn't have enough tracking material, so his technique couldn't track Li Shaojun.
"Even Zhongshu is having trouble, so it's a bit hard to find a friend like you," Gongsun Hong said with a smile.
"Li Shaojun is no easy man to deal with," Dong Zhongshu said. "In over a hundred years, no one has ever been able to capture his true identity, making him extremely difficult to track down!"
"Over a hundred years?"
Zhang Xuezhou opened his mouth slightly, feeling that the Li Shaojun he knew and the Li Dong Zhongshu knew were completely different people.
"Li Shaojun probably didn't live to be a hundred years old, right?" Zhang Xuezhou said.
"He should have been born in the early Emperor Qin, experienced the unification of China by the Emperor Qin, and then witnessed the succession of our Great Han Dynasty," Dong Zhongshu said earnestly. "I've heard some rumors, and that's what they say!"
"Then my friend Li Shaojun might share the same name as the Li Shaojun you know," Zhang Xuezhou said. "There's only one..."
After thinking about it, Zhang Xuezhou decided to invite Li Shaojun to the new emperor's place to freeload, but he stubbornly refrained from saying the affectionate compliment of "idiot".
"Same name, oh, that's possible," Dong Zhongshu nodded and said, "If you insist on learning my tracking technique, then I will explain it to you properly today. My tracking method is called the Star Reversal Tracking Technique!"
"The stars are reversed?"
Dong Zhongshu began to speak, clearly unwilling to use his magic to investigate Zhang Xuezhou.
His words sent a chill down Zhang Xuezhou's spine, making him realize that Dong Zhongshu's tracking techniques also involved astrology.
The entire explanation took only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Zhang Xuezhou listened attentively to the explanation and felt that Dong Zhongshu's tracking technique was not as good as the Star-Fixing Technique.
Confucian School is a vast and diverse field of knowledge, with practitioners proficient in various Technique Method, but it is indeed inferior to other schools of thought in terms of specific expertise.
At least Zhang Xuezhou felt that the Star Reversal Tracking Technique was a level below the Star-Fixing Technique.
This tracking technique is not suitable for Zhang Xuezhou to learn.
"Master, do you have any tracking techniques that don't require celestial observation?" Zhang Xuezhou asked. "I get a headache just looking at the stars; I definitely won't be able to learn that technique!"
"Tracking techniques that don't rely on astronomical calculations are Lower Vehicle," Dong Zhongshu said. "Lower Vehicle techniques may have some use, but their error rate is extremely high. They're fine when chasing the weak, but they're completely useless against the strong. I won't learn this kind of technique, nor do I possess it!"
"Speaking of schools of thought that do not rely on celestial tracking, in the area I am in, there is the Beast Taming Sect, whose beast taming techniques rely on dogs that are good at tracking by their breath. In Bohai County, there is a school called the Tomb Raider Sect, which is also good at tracking, but their techniques do not use celestial science," Gongsun Hong said.
"Even the Beast Taming Sect needs to raise dogs," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Is the Tomb Raider Sect you mentioned easy to find? Are they as enthusiastic about teaching as Master Fuzi?"
"That school is incredibly stingy; they don't teach at all," Gongsun Hong waved his hand and said. "They rely on this little bit of skill to make a living, and their fighting ability isn't strong. They've repeatedly done these kinds of things for others, which has attracted a lot of trouble, and they're constantly on the run to avoid disaster."
That's terrible!
"The current leader of the Tomb Raider Sect seems to be named Ning Cheng, and he has some connections with the Northern Border Military Region. If you're lucky, you can give it a try!"
"So it's Ning Cheng!"
After going around and around, Zhang Xuezhou never expected to end up back where he started.
He not only knew Ning Cheng, but he had also been caught by Ning Cheng's tracking skills, which was an extremely embarrassing experience for Zhang Xuezhou.
If the Star-Fixing Technique allows one to know where and when the other party will be, Ning Cheng's Tracking Technique is to relentlessly pursue them once discovered.
The former is undoubtedly high-end and sophisticated, but the latter also has its merits.
Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but sigh with emotion when he recalled the past.
He needed to find Li Shaojun, but Zhang Xuezhou also urgently needed to learn a tracking technique to find Huang Daoxian.
Zhang Xuezhou felt he needed to set off for the Northern Border to find someone.
If he can't find Li Shaojun in Fengxize, he can go to Shanggu County to find Ning Cheng and see if he has a chance to learn a few skills.
Some matters have been temporarily resolved, and Zhang Xuezhou also wants to complete the new emperor's decree as soon as possible, return to Chang'an City to reunite with Zhang Zhong and others, and seek to contact Yao Yuanguang to see if there are any other ways to rescue the remaining people of Zhang Household Village.