Chapter 1165: Loyal and Young King

“Teacher...” Luo Qiqi’s expression changed, and she quickly stepped in front of Zhang Xuan.

The strength of these guards was not exceptional; they were all only at the Half-Saint level. However, when combined with the surrounding array formations and the special environment left by the gardener, they immediately became a completely different threat.

The offensive power they generated was such that even a Saint 3-realm expert, if caught within, would likely find it difficult to escape.

“No need to be nervous!” Seeing the girl’s reaction, Zhang Xuan pulled her behind him. He looked at the young man in front of him, a slight smile playing on his lips: “Are you going to teach me a lesson?”

“You were invited by the King, so your life can be spared, but a little physical pain is nothing!” The young man sneered.

The King had previously stated that if the other party truly refused to obey, they could be taught a lesson, without regard for their identity as a master teacher. Hence, the young man was fearless.

“Physical pain?” Zhang Xuan shook his head and sighed. “Originally, a kick would have been enough, but you insist on being disobedient... I don’t like disobedient people!”

After speaking, he lightly rubbed his thumb and middle finger together, snapping his fingers.

A crisp snap echoed through the courtyard. The young man in black, who had initially thought the other party was merely putting on an act, suddenly felt his body convulse, and an intense pain surged from within.

He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. His face turned ashen in the blink of an eye, and at the same time, he looked over with a terrified expression.

“You... you... poisoned me?” In an instant, he understood what had happened. He had been poisoned by the other party without even knowing when!

His body trembling, he hastily took two antidote pills from his storage ring and swallowed them. However, it would have been better if he hadn't taken them; upon consumption, the pain intensified. Cold sweat streamed down his forehead, and it seemed as though he could vomit blood and die at any moment.

“Poisoning? When did you discover I poisoned you? You must have eaten something unclean! But don’t worry, I’m a very capable physician; I can treat you for free...”

Zhang Xuan spread his hands, his face showing innocence and sincerity.

He was currently a master teacher, and his identity as a poison master could not be revealed, so of course he wouldn’t admit it.

“You...” Veins throbbed on his forehead, and the young man in black gritted his teeth audibly. He wanted to strike, but finally gritted his teeth and said, “Let them pass!”

He had originally intended to teach the other party a lesson, but he hadn’t expected to fall into their trap. Though filled with unwillingness, he could only let it go.

“Yes!” The many guards said nothing more and cleared a path.

With a soft chuckle, Zhang Xuan approached the young man in black. He put his mouth close to the young man’s ear, speaking in a voice only he could hear: “This poison of mine can only be neutralized by repeatedly slapping yourself... otherwise, the pain will worsen until you vomit blood and die!”

“Slap myself? Are you bluffing me? What kind of poison is that?” The young man was stunned.

“Indeed, there isn’t... I’ll be going now, feel free to do as you please!” Without offering any explanation, Zhang Xuan led the two girls forward.

“You...” He had expected the other party to explain that such a potent poison existed, but instead, they directly stated it didn't. This blatant, shameless admission left the young man in black dumbfounded.

Just as he was at a loss for what to do, his body began to boil again. His internal organs felt as if they were being corroded by sulfuric acid, threatening to shatter at any moment.

He spat out another mouthful of fresh blood.

“If this continues, I’m definitely going to die...” Feeling his life force gradually wane, just as the other party had said, that he would die at any moment, cold sweat poured down his forehead. The young man in black gritted his teeth and turned to look at a nearby guard: “Come here and slap me...”

“Slap... slap you? Steward Qin, I... I wouldn’t dare!” The guard was startled.

“Hurry up and do it!” The young man’s face was twisted in pain.

He had to slap himself; he didn’t want to die. Although it was highly likely the other party was deliberately deceiving him, he had no other choice now.

“This...” No one had heard the conversation between Zhang Xuan and him. The guards had not expected this Steward Qin to have such masochistic tendencies. They exchanged glances, completely bewildered.

“Hurry up and do it, or do you believe I’ll kill you all...” Seeing their hesitation, the young man roared.

“Yes...” The guard stepped forward, gritted his teeth, and raised his hand to deliver a slap. The young man’s face immediately became red and swollen.

“Hmm?” His face burned with pain, but indeed, the pain inside his body seemed to have diminished somewhat.

“Could such a poison actually exist?” A wave of surprise swept through him, and he immediately said, “Keep slapping, don’t stop...”

“Yes!” The guard, fearing he would be killed by this man, could only slap with all his might.

Slap, slap, slap, slap! After several continuous slaps, the young man in black’s face was so swollen that it no longer resembled his original appearance. However, the poison inside his body truly seemed to have alleviated significantly, and the previous pain was gone.

“It really works...” Enduring the searing pain on his face, the young man in black breathed a sigh of relief.

Although being slapped and humiliated was embarrassing, as long as it detoxified him and saved his life, it was a huge gain for him.

After allowing the guard to slap him dozens more times, feeling that there was no longer any significant issue, he finally stood up. The hatred in his eyes flowed like a river.

“Damn it, making me slap myself to detoxify! If I don’t kill you, I’m not a man...” He roared through gritted teeth, his fists clenched tightly.

As a loyal subordinate of King Zhongqing and a steward of the King’s mansion, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

“If I hear anyone discussing today’s events outside, I’ll cut out all of your tongues!” He turned and snorted coldly.

“Yes, we wouldn’t dare...” The numerous guards immediately bowed their heads.

“Hmph!” Only then did the young man in black breathe a sigh of relief and hastily pursued Zhang Xuan’s direction.

“Teacher Zhang, this fellow will probably come after us again. Are we just going to let him off like this?” Following closely behind Zhang Xuan, Yu Fei-er couldn’t help but look at the young man in front of her.

Although Teacher Zhang usually appeared jovial, he was always merciless once he decided to act. Just like when he made her his maid, she had been furious at the time but completely helpless.

This young man in black clearly wasn’t someone easy to deal with. And now they had offended him so severely... letting him off like this didn’t fit Zhang Xuan’s personality.

“To openly confront a Master Teacher Academy Dean, a peak six-star master teacher, he must have a thorough plan,” Zhang Xuan transmitted his voice. “Not killing this guy might actually produce better results...”

Normally, even if he didn't kill someone like this, he would at least beat them until they couldn't walk. But now, with Sun Qiang in their hands, it was better to be cautious.

There was only one path to the main hall, and it didn’t matter if no one led them. They continued forward and soon arrived.

The grand hall was dozens of meters tall. Four massive pillars stood in front of it, each with a diameter exceeding three meters. From a distance, they exuded a strong sense of imposing might.

“Are you Teacher Zhang? The King is waiting inside...” A guard came forward to greet them.

Without replying, the three of them stepped inside.

The hall was extremely spacious, easily over a thousand square meters. It was studded with countless luminous pearls of uniform size, densely packed, illuminating every minute detail of the surroundings.

In the main seat of the room sat a middle-aged man, broadly and powerfully. His skin was dark, and his eyes were like lightning. Even before approaching him, he exuded an intimidating presence. It was clear at a glance that he wielded great power and was accustomed to killing.

This was likely the legendary King Zhongqing.

In a guest seat not far from King Zhongqing sat an old man. He appeared to be around sixty years old, not very tall, and somewhat hunched. No aura was discernible from him. He was as still and quiet as an oil painting. Had one not seen him with their own eyes, one might not have even noticed his presence.

“This King Zhongqing is at the peak of the Nascent Saint realm... And this hunched old man is probably even stronger!” In the blink of an eye, Zhang Xuan assessed the situation.

Although King Zhongqing’s strength was profound and immense, carrying an intense killing aura, the truly terrifying one was definitely the hunched old man.

Even without using his Eye of Insight for careful observation, the ability to conceal his aura so perfectly indicated a level of strength that was in no way inferior to that of Master Wu after his promotion.

“Are you Teacher Zhang Xuan?” He was observing the others, and they were also observing him. As the three of them reached the center of the hall, King Zhongqing raised an eyebrow and looked over.

“That’s right!” Nodding, Zhang Xuan took a few steps to a guest seat on one side of the hall and sat down.

Although the other party wielded great power and possessed formidable strength, Zhang Xuan was not afraid.

If they didn't provoke him, then fine. But if they truly didn't know what was good for them, he wouldn't mind turning the entire Qingyuan City upside down.

Honestly, wherever he went, it was a blessing if he didn't cause trouble. Troubling him... that was simply seeking death!

“Did I tell you to sit?” King Zhongqing’s face darkened, radiating an intimidating aura without needing to express anger. A powerful aura suddenly pressed down.

“I am a peak six-star master teacher, the Dean of the Master Teacher Academy, with status comparable to a seven-star master teacher...” With a lift of his eyelids, Zhang Xuan looked over. “I sit when I want to sit. Even your Emperor would not dare to utter nonsense; what do you amount to?”

Hearing these words, Yu Fei-er and Luo Qiqi both twitched their faces, their palms drenched in cold sweat.

To arrive at someone else’s mansion alone, yet still speak so confidently and directly scold them... Teacher Zhang’s courage was perhaps too great! However, master teachers had their dignity; if they lacked such audacity, they wouldn’t be qualified to be called the foremost profession, teaching the world.

“A peak six-star master teacher? Hmph, do you even have the face to call yourself a master teacher?” With a cold sneer, King Zhongqing scoffed. “Violating the Master Teacher Pavilion’s regulations, colluding with poison masters and the Poison Hall... do you think you can still remain as Dean?”

“Colluding with poison masters and the Poison Hall?” Zhang Xuan looked over, lifting his eyelids: “You can eat whatever you want, but you can’t speak carelessly! You should know the crime of slandering a master teacher!”

Master teachers must not be insulted. Slandering a master teacher carried an enormous crime, and even if the other party was the foremost King, they could very likely be directly executed.

“Slander? It seems you won’t shed a tear until you see the coffin!” King Zhongqing waved his hand.

Clank! The sound of iron chains rang out, and then a plump figure was escorted in.

“Young Master...” As soon as the figure saw Zhang Xuan, he immediately cried out. Though he exerted effort, his voice was weak and lacked strength.

It was indeed Sun Qiang, who had been captured by the other party. Taking a glance, Zhang Xuan’s face darkened. At this moment, there wasn’t a single uninjured spot on Sun Qiang’s body; he had clearly endured severe torture. Two Golden Soul Chains pierced his chest, preventing him from unleashing his full strength, and he looked utterly wretched.

“What is the meaning of this?” Suddenly turning around, Zhang Xuan’s eyes narrowed instantly.