After settling Tong Xugao, Sun Mo could be at ease and return to school.

  As for that mission the system gave him to cure Zhou Wenbin and let Zhou Xingtong contribute favorable impression points to him, Sun Mo couldn’t be bothered to do so.

  Humans should have some persistence.

  He shouldn’t lose his style for the sake of some favorable impression points.

  If Zhou Xingtong didn’t agree to get Secondary Saint Zhou to apologize, he better not dream about asking for his help.

  “Teacher, is it okay for us to poach people from the Black-White Academy?”

  Li Ziqi was a little worried.

  Right now, the Secondary Saint Shi in their school was also from the Black-White Academy. This was no longer ‘prying’ a corner of the wall; it was collapsing the whole wall instead.

  (You are poaching our people again this year? Do you really think the Black-White Academy is made from mud?)

  “I’m also very helpless!”

  Sun Mo spread his hands wide.

  “We can only say that our teacher’s charisma is too strong.”

  Lu Zhiruo giggled and hugged Sun Mo’s arms. “The number of high star-ranking great teachers in our school is still considered little. Why don’t we head to the Nine Greats during the recruitment season this year to poach their teachers?”

  “Yeah, let’s head to the Skyraise Academy!”

  After the papaya girl finished speaking, the others immediately glanced over as though they were looking at a fool.

  Tantai Yutang’s lips moved. He really wanted to ask how many bottles of fake wine she had drunk last night, why was she so self-confident?

  (Head to the Nine Greats to poach people? Are you not afraid of your head getting crushed?!)

  “Zhiruo, Teacher Tong only chose to come because he encountered a bottleneck and just so coincidentally, our teacher could resolve the bottleneck for him.”

  Li Ziqi explained.

  “If a school wishes to headhunt top-level teachers like this, they have to satisfy two conditions. Firstly, they have to have formidable resources so the great teacher would be able to get the majority of things they need from your school. For example, alchemists would require a vast amount of top-level herbs and prescriptions.

  “Secondly, there must be a high-level great teacher circle. In this case, everyone could mutually exchange insights and consult each other, even resulting in friendly competition, which would lead to everyone improving.”

  Qin Yaoguang stretched out two fingers and explained to the papaya girl.

  “Now, we can only try to hire some wild great teachers.”

  Li Ziqi sighed.

  What did the word ‘wild’ mean?

  It meant that those with stains on their histories, those who had too high a salary requirement or strange preferential treatment requests, those who were unwilling to be bound by a contract and preferred to be something akin to mercenaries…

  In the Nine Provinces, all famous schools would cherish their reputations.

  Let alone the Nine Greats, even the Central Province Academy wouldn’t dare to randomly hire great teachers they were unfamiliar with. If not, if these teachers stir up trouble, the reputation of their schools would definitely be damaged.

  So, those wild great teachers would either join a clan to become a private teacher or Dark Dawn, preferring to walk the path of darkness.

  However, Sun Mo felt this was very normal. Because in the normal era, if one had been in prison before, they wouldn’t be qualified to become office-bearers.

  If their parents were sentenced to death or were currently serving a sentence, their children would also not be qualified to become office-bearers.

  For a profession like great teachers who provided education, the vast majority of people would still care about morals and integrity.

  Even if there was a very talented great teacher, if he was someone with a stain in his history, parents basically wouldn’t be willing to allow their kids to learn from him.

  “After the Greenhaze Aboriginals agree to cooperate with me, we will be able to change a vast forest into our plantation and use it to attract alchemists, botanists, and herbalists.”

  Sun Mo didn’t wish to kill people, but if these aboriginals were still stubborn and refused to cooperate…

  (Sorry then, this daddy will offer a high price to employ bounty-hunters to collect heads.)

  Sun Mo suddenly recalled the history of the American Indians.

  (Ai!)

  Sympathy flooded his heart.

  (I can only hope the aboriginals are willing to compromise and don’t make me start Thanksgiving Day for them!)

  “With the Darkness Illusion Dojo increasing the martial skill of students, the Wind King Divine Hall providing spirit stones, and the Greenhaze Forest producing valuable herbs and wild beasts, our school can be considered to have some capital.”

  Sun Mo felt that the future was bright.

  …

  After Zhou Xingtong returned to the mansion, a group of high star-ranking great teachers immediately rushed over.

  “Where’s Teacher Sun?”

  Everyone actually wasn’t concerned for Zhou Wenbin. Rather, they wanted to witness the God Hands.

  “He didn’t come!”

  Zhou Xingtong angrily grumbled.

  “It can’t be, right? The face of your Zhou Clan is still insufficient?”

  Everyone was shocked.

  Given the current situation, regardless of whether Sun Mo could cure Zhou Wenbin or not, as long as he headed over here, the Zhou Clan would owe him a favor. Yet, Sun Mo actually rejected it.

  What sort of plot was this?

  Liang Hongda suddenly felt like laughing when he saw Zhou Xingtong’s expression, which was akin to him just stepping in dog shit. As a result, Liang Hongda’s depressed mood from being rejected by Sun Mo was now lifted.

  This feeling was like he discovered his girlfriend being f***ed by Sun Mo. He felt very unhappy at first. But two days later, he realized that the official wife of a major character had also been f***ed by Sun Mo…

  Hence, he would subconsciously feel that he was much luckier compared to that major figure.

  Liang Hongda was just a vice sect lord. His fame and status definitely wouldn’t be higher than a secondary saint. So, since he received the same treatment, he would naturally feel that his status had improved.

  “Many thanks for everyone lending a helping hand, please feel free to head to the lounge for some tea!”

  Zhou Xingtong was preparing to visit his grandson. If his grandson was temporarily safe, he still had to treat these people who came to help for a meal.

  For social connections, one must naturally take the initiative to maintain them!

  “Let’s go together!”

  Everyone wasn’t here to drink the tea after all. If they went together with Zhou Xingtong, it would only take a few steps. It could also exhibit their concern.

  (This Sun Mo made me so embarrassed. This matter is not ending yet!)

  Zhou Xingtong felt increasingly uncomfortable the more he thought about it, and he felt his crotch area becoming itchier as he had an impulse to scratch it. But before so many people, he was embarrassed to do such a thing.

  Before the group of them entered the backyard, the voice of Divine Doctor Feng’s assistant rang out with great urgency.

  “Has Master Zhou returned?”

  “Not yet? Quickly send people to call him back. Young Master Zhou almost cannot make it anymore.”

  “Quickly go and look for him. If he is late, he might not be able to see his grandson alive for the last time.”

  When Zhou Xingtong heard this, his face paled as he directly executed a movement art and dashed into the backyard.

  Bang!

  The door was knocked open as a group of people entered.

  “How is my grandson?”

  Zhou Xingtong moved toward the bed but with just a single glance, he felt so much heartache that tears filled his face.

  The current Zhou Wenbin no longer looked like the high-spirited and imposing youth he knew. There were purple patches on his skin that were rapidly spreading.

  And his originally handsome-looking face was now filled with lumps, while his body was also becoming skinnier at a speed visible to the naked eyes.

  “Where’s Teacher Sun?”

  When Divine Doctor Feng saw Zhou Xingtong, he immediately asked.

  “He didn’t come!”

  Liang Hongda could tell that Zhou Xingtong didn’t have the mood to answer. Hence, he changed the topic. “How’s Wenbin now?”

  “The poison has erupted, I don’t know if we can stabilize his condition.”

  Divine Doctor Feng held a three-inch silver needle and rapidly pierced into parts of Zhou Wenbin’s body. He wanted to do his best to seal Zhou Wenbin’s blood vessels to prevent the poison from spreading.

  Five minutes later, Divine Doctor Feng was covered in sweat and almost collapsed from exhaustion. Luckily, his assistant reacted quickly enough and caught hold of him.

  “Is he fine now?”

  Zhou Xingtong asked anxiously.

  “I can only alleviate the symptoms and not cure the root. If the poison erupts again, I cannot guarantee that I can continue to extend his life.”

  Divine Doctor Feng sighed. After that, he clasped his hands. “Old Zhou, you should look for someone better than me…”

  Upon hearing this, Zhou Xingtong’s body stiffened as he almost broke down.

  Among all the doctors he knew, Divine Doctor Feng’s medical skills could be ranked within the top five. If he looked for other doctors, they might also not be able to cure this. What was troublesome was that the other doctors were too far away.

  Given his grandson’s current condition, there was no way he could last until the other divine doctors arrived.

  “Xingtong, why don’t you put down your pride and request Sun Mo for his help again? If Wenbin…his talent would be wasted. It would be too much of a pity.”

  Liang Hongda persuaded.

  “Yeah, how old is Young Master Zhou merely? He hasn’t even tasted the beauty of life.”

  The others also all sighed respectively.

  “Old Zhou, if you care too much about your face, I will go and invite him!”

  Divine Doctor Feng offered to do so himself.

  “Do you know what Sun Mo said?”

  Zhou Xingtong was enraged. “He said that if he could cure Wenbin, he wants my grandfather to apologize to his eldest disciple.”

  Swish~

  The room immediately fell silent.

  All the high star-ranking great teachers here were people who had been in large-scale situations before and could maintain their calm even if Mount Tai crumbled before their eyes. But at this moment, all of them were completely stunned.

  What?

  Getting a secondary saint to apologize to a 15-year-old girl?

  What kind of joke was this?

  Did the person who said this drink too much last night?

  Who dared to say something like this?

  This was absolutely ridiculous!

  “Tell me, can I agree to this condition?”

  Zhou Xingtong was sullen. He felt that it was already very benevolent of him not to have slapped Sun Mo to death with a single palm.

  Everyone fell silent and could only silently mused at how courageous Sun Mo was.

  For his student, he truly didn’t mind becoming enemies with the entire world.

  “Old Zhou, come out with me for a while!”

  Divine Doctor Feng walked out of the room. After that, he leaned against a pillar in the corridor and took out a tobacco pipe as he lit it.

  Zhou Xingtong’s expression was heavy as water.

  “We are old friends who have known each other for so many years, so I’ll tell you truthfully. Wenbin’s sickness cannot be delayed. From my experiments, he is in this state due to some darkness organism. Right now, your only solution to save Wenbin is to carry out a full search in the city and apprehend the culprit to press them for details.”

  Divine Doctor Feng stared at the sky. “How much do you think the price your Zhou Clan has to pay if you want to get Saint Gate to cooperate with you to do a city-wide search?”

  Zhou Xingtong felt his heart trembling violently when he thought of the price.

  “Also, it has been three days. The culprit might have escaped.”

  Divine Doctor Feng sighed. “And even if they haven’t fled, could Wenbin persist until you guys find the culprit? Hence, it’s still better to invite Sun Mo over and ask him to give this a try.”

  “But…”

  Zhou Xingtong absolutely wouldn’t permit his grandfather to apologize.

  “I understand your thoughts, but can’t you be more flexible?”

  Divine Doctor Feng was helpless. “Agree to Sun Mo first and let him do the treatment. If he fails, you don’t need to follow through with the promise. Even if his treatment works, it’s impossible for Zhou Wenbin’s sickness to get better within a few days. Can’t you use this time to play some tricks and say that he only fully recovered due to some divine doctors or some alchemy pills?

  “As long as there’s no evidence, who can say that you are in the wrong?”

  Zhou Xingtong’s eyes brightened.

  “Quickly go!” Divine Doctor Feng urged. “Wenbin is the Zhou Clan’s ‘thousand li horse’. He has to inherit the mantle of your clan. If he dies now, the vitality of your Zhou Clan will be greatly damaged.”

  “I’ll go and invite Sun Mo again!”

  Zhou Xingtong was very excited. This was an overt plot.

  Even if Sun Mo managed to cure Wenbin, he wouldn’t owe him a favor. He could simply deny it. The prerequisite was that he had to find some major characters to endorse his actions as well as quickly capture the culprit.

  After Zhou Xingtong thought things through, he no longer delayed and quickly headed to the hotel where Sun Mo was, on a fast horse.

  …

  Zhou Xingtong was in a rush and kept whipping his horse for speed. As for Sun Mo, he was touring the streets with his students and finally returned to the hotel with many bags of souvenirs. When they finally arrived, Zhou Wenbin had been waiting for over ten minutes.

  “Teacher Sun!”

  Zhou Xingtong did his best to squeeze out a smile as he walked over. “As long as you can treat Wenbin, I will agree to your request.”


  Chapter 1017: 第1017章 这一刻，我愿尊你为大师姐!

  Translator: Lordbluefire

  AGT 1017 – At This Moment, I’m Willing To Truly Respect You As My Eldest Martial Sister

  After they heard Zhou Xintong’s words, the students were completely stunned.

  Because it was too hard to believe.

  Although there weren’t the schools of Confucianism in the Nine Provinces, concepts like upholding justice, being faithful and loyal to the extent where you were generously willing to die for the king, and various high morals were still very popular.

  Everyone acknowledged that something like dying for their family and country was called righteousness. This was a noble sentiment that everyone was enthusiastically promoting.

  Once Secondary Saint Zhou apologized for his mistake, it would be like the first strike of lightning cleaving the world apart. It would surely be recorded in history.

  Even if people said that Secondary Saint Zhou wasn’t bothered about trifles and dared to admit his mistakes, he would ultimately still appear as the bad guy. Moreover, his apology would also clad Li Ziqi in a layer of golden light.

  Hence, the students had discussed earlier. Zhou Xingtong would rather let his beloved grandson die and wouldn’t agree. However, they had their faces smacked now.

  (Does your Zhou Clan still want your integrity?)

  The expressions of everyone immediately turned to one of contempt.

  Because in the eyes of the people from the Nine Provinces, even if one had to die to defend the honor of their clan, they shouldn’t hesitate.

  “Teacher Sun, are you satisfied now?”

  Although he had decided to set an overt plot, after he said such a sentence, Zhou Xingtong felt an invisible hand ruthlessly slapping his face.

  Shame, disgrace, embarrassment, and even rage…

  But whenever he thought of the expression of agony on his beloved grandson’s face, Zhou Xingtong felt that this humiliation couldn’t be considered anything.

  (I’m willing to save him at any cost!)

  Zhou Xingtong looked at Sun Mo and uttered each word clearly. “If you are willing to save my grandson, I can even kneel to you.”

  As Zhou Wentong spoke, he was about to kneel.

  “You must not!”

  Li Ziqi and Tantai Yutang’s reactions were the quickest. Their countenances changed as they rushed out from Sun Mo’s side and prevented Zhou Xingtong from kneeling.

  It wasn’t that they felt heartache for Zhou Xingtong. Rather, if he really knelt, their teacher’s reputation would be damaged.

  An elderly over 70 years old was willing to kneel on behalf of his beloved grandson. This was simply the showcase of deep familial love.

  It was worthy of praise.

  “You must not do this!”

  Sun Mo hurriedly supported Zhou Xingtong, while he silently mused at how cunning Zhou Xingtong was. If he really wanted to kneel, why would his action be so slow?

  However, Sun Mo didn’t want to expose him either. “As long as you give me a written pledge, I will make a trip over.”

  Upon hearing the words ‘written pledge’, Zhou Xingtong’s facial features twitched, but he didn’t reject it.

  “Fine!”

  Zhou Xingtong inhaled deeply.

  “Yaoguang, go and prepare a brush and ink!”

  Very soon, the written pledge was completed.

  The two of them agreed that once Sun Mo managed to cure Zhou Wenbin, Secondary Saint Zhou would have to publicly apologize to Li Ziqi.

  “Can we leave now?” Zhou Xingtong urged.

  “Wait a minute, let me prepare something!” Sun Mo went up.

  The students hurriedly followed him.

  “Teacher, you must not go. The Zhou Clan will definitely not honor their promise.”

  Jiang Leng persuaded Sun Mo. The loophole Divine Doctor Feng had said had been thought of by him as well.

  “Teacher has been forced up the mountain, so he has no choice.”

  Tantai Yutang sighed.

  The Zhou Clan visited Sun Mo three times, and the master of the clan personally came twice with heavy gifts. The three visits to a thatched cottage* were merely so-so in comparison.

  If Sun Mo still refused to go, he would surely draw criticism. Some people would say that he was someone who would watch passively and not help when others died.

  “Actually, Teacher should still go even if the Zhou Clan doesn’t agree to this condition. After all, Zhou Wenbin is an innocent party!”

  Li Ziqi looked at Sun Mo. “Teacher, I wanted to persuade you earlier. You definitely have to make this trip over.”

  “Are you not angry?”

  Sun Mo counter-asked.

  “I’m angry, but I’m also very happy because Teacher is thinking of me. However, for something like an apology, I will continue to work hard and become so outstanding to the point where even if Secondary Saint Zhou didn’t want to admit, the entire Nine Provinces would also know that he was in the wrong.”

  Li Ziqi spoke frankly with assurance, “As for Zhou Wenbin, he is just an innocent youth.”

  “Wow, Eldest Martial Sister.?Your thinking and heart realm are at such a high level. You should really let Zhou Xingtong hear your words.”

  Qin Yaoguang praised.

  “At this moment, I’m willing to truly respect you as my eldest martial sister!”

  The sickly invalid teased.

  Honestly speaking, the little sunny egg’s action at this moment caused him to look at her in a new light.

  “A very ambitious target!”

  Sun Mo patted the little sunny egg’s head.

  “Teacher, let me accompany you.”

  The papaya girl recommended herself. However, Jiang Leng had already stood behind Sun Mo and carried his bag for him. Within the bag, there were things like bottles of ancient whale oil and spring water beauty medicine packets, etc.

  Xianyu Wei wanted to go as well, but she was stopped by Helian Beifang.

  (You shouldn’t go and partake in the liveliness)

  (The two of us are barbarians and don’t know the customs of the Central Plains well. If we acted discourteously out of ignorance, others might feel that our teacher’s guidance is problematic.)

  “Zhiruo and Xianyu, go with me. The others are to stay behind!”

  The little sunny egg had a conflict with the Zhou Clan, Tantai Yutang’s body was too weak, hence, Sun Mo didn’t bring them along. As for the others, Jiang Leng could be relied on and could also fight. Hence, it was better for him to stay behind to take care of the others.

  Helian Beifang could help in fighting, Qin Yaoguang was crafty and smart. With this grouping, the combat strength of this group was completely sufficient to handle small problems.

  Sun Mo then went down and grouped with Zhou Xingtong before they went to the Zhou Clan Mansion.

  “Can you introduce Wenbin’s symptoms?”

  Sun Mo asked.

  “He was only unconscious at the start and was like sleeping. There were no injuries, but his breathing was weak and his life force was waning!

  “After that during the second day, purple streaks the size of fingernails appeared on his body. His breathing also started to become disjointed, and we could only depend on ginseng soup to extend his life.

  “And just earlier, those purple spots suddenly spread throughout his body. There were even lumps appearing. His breathing would also suddenly stop. It’s all due to Divine Doctor Feng that Wenbin managed to temporarily preserve his life.”

  Zhou Xingtong didn’t dare to conceal anything.

  “Mn!”

  Sun Mo asked for some minor details again before sinking into deep thought.

  Zhou Xingtong didn’t know what to say. Hence, the atmosphere was awkward. But very soon, his attention landed on the fine horse Sun Mo was riding.

  Good horse!

  This horse’s legs had finely sculpted muscles, its mane was white like the snow. It was really very beautiful

  Who wouldn’t have a hobby?

  And Zhou Xingtong’s hobby was precisely collecting famous horses.

  Naturally, in the modern era, those expensive sports cars were toys only the affluent second generation could play with. In this world, only the wealthy clans could afford rearing and collecting fine horses.

  First, let’s not talk about how expensive a famous horse was. Just the food it ate every day would include many high-grade ingredients. Besides, there was also a need to hire a professional caretaker for the horse.

  To put it unpleasantly, the food eaten by poor families might be even lousier compared to the food eaten by a pet horse from the wealthy clans.

  Sun Mo regained his senses and laughed when he saw Zhou Xingtong’s gaze. “This is a mount from the Longzhong Emperor of Great Tang.”

  “Ah? Is it that Chasing Cloud?”

  Zhou Xingtong had heard of this horse before. It was a horse imported from Western Liang. It had accompanied the Longzhong Emperor and fought wars on all sides, achieving numerous meritorious contributions.

  It was said that when the emperor had fought against another powerful country and was ambushed, he only managed to escape by depending on this fine horse.

  “Not bad!”

  Sun Mo patted Chasing Cloud on its neck.

  Honestly speaking, riding a horse was something cool and graceful. But there was a problem. Sun Mo felt pain in his testicles due to the jotting impact!

  Zhou Xingtong silently heaved a sigh of relief.

  Actually, when Li Ziqi had gone to the Zhou Clan and wanted to enter the tutelage of Secondary Saint Zhou, Zhou Xingtong was the one who received her. He had also persuaded his father to accept Li Ziqi back then.

  Even if she was talentless, her status was still a noble princess of the Great Tang Empire!

  There would be many benefits.

  But sadly, his father was too stubborn and simply refused to accept her.

  “Sigh, if father had agreed back then, this horse would have already entered my stables now.”

  Zhou Xingtong was envious.

  He thought that this horse was something Li Ziqi had gifted to Sun Mo. He had no idea this was a gift from the three-dynasty Premier of Great Tang, Zheng Qingfang, who gave it to Sun Mo to thank him for his famous painting.

  Lu Zhiruo followed behind them. After seeing that Zhou Xingtong was very fond of Sun Mo’s horse and even wanted to stretch out his hands to touch it, her lips couldn’t help but curl.

  (This is just a horse. If we were to tell you that my teacher even has a cloud as a mount, wouldn’t you be so jealous that you want to die?)

  There were horses with a higher grade of bloodline and talent compared to Chasing Cloud. However, that cloud of her teacher was the only cloud in the Nine Provinces.

  …

  Sun Mo entered the Zhou Clan mansion and had to pass through a few courtyards before he arrived at the backyard.

  This caused him to feel incomparably envious.

  When would it be his turn to own properties all around the country?

  Also, he was only interested in large properties like this.

  The great teachers who had been waiting for a long time immediately crowded over.

  “Teacher Sun, I’ve long since heard of your name.”

  “Nice to meet you!”

  When Liang Hongda saw that these people wanted to chat, he hurriedly interrupted them. “Let’s leave the pleasantries for later. Saving Wenbin is more important!”

  …

  Sun Mo instantly frowned the moment he entered the bedroom.

  This was because he smelled a faint sour smell.

  Logically speaking, everyone should wait outside. However, all of them were curious about God Hands and they followed Sun Mo in. Luckily, they were all very tactful and didn’t say anything, simply staring at Sun Mo.

  Sun Mo first cast a glance at the skinny old man by the side of the bed. If there were no accidents, this person should be Divine Doctor Feng. After that, his gaze landed on Zhou Wenbin’s face.

  “Could you please share the information you discovered?”

  Sun Mo asked while he activated Divine Sight.

  Zhou Wenbin, Blood Ignition Realm.

  Strength: 31. Although you are not born with divine strength, your usage of techniques is very good and you can often win through skill.

  Intellect: 36. First-tier genius.

  Agility: 32. As swift as a bird, as agile as a swimming dragon. The words graceful and confident are not sufficient to describe you.

  Will: 36. Your will is tough. You could originally just lie down, do nothing, and enjoy life. Yet, you chose to stand up and suffer, willing to work hard and learn many things for the sake of the Zhou Clan’s glory.

  Endurance: 37. Daily effort has managed to build you a strong ironman-like body.

  …

  Potential value: Extremely high!

  Note: The ‘thousand li horse’ of the Zhou Clan. If he doesn’t die, he can allow Zhou Clan’s glory to improve to another level.

  Note: He is destined to be a new rising superstar that will unleash his brilliance. It’s a pity that he ran into Li Ziqi or he would have been the brightest new star of this batch.

  Warning: Signs of life are fading and he might die any time.

  Sun Mo sighed ruefully when he saw this data.

  Truly outstanding!

  No wonder Zhou Xingtong didn’t mind performing the ‘three visits to a thatched cottage’.

  “But no matter how strong you are, I don’t envy the Zhou Clan because my eldest disciple is even more outstanding.”

  Actually, there was another reason why Secondary Saint Zhou didn’t want to accept Li Ziqi.

  It was because of Zhou Wenbin.

  Secondary Saint Zhou was an upright man. As long as he accepted a disciple, he would meticulously nurture that person. But in the recent ten years, other than him being in seclusion to try and achieve a breakthrough to the saint realm, the time where he exited seclusion was all used on guiding Zhou Wenbin. He no longer had any time or attention left for Li Ziqi.

  “Can you save him?”

  After Divine Doctor Feng shared the information they discovered, he also asked this question in passing.

  “Yes!”

  Although Divine Sight didn’t display what problems Zhou Wenbin had, Sun Mo’s knowledge was enough to resolve this for him.

  However, his answer was like a clap of thunder in the ears of everyone and caused them all to be so shocked that they were dumbstruck.

  [1] Three visits to a thatched cottage – In the romance of the three kingdoms, Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang thrice before finally obtaining his help.