Chapter 197: Zhang Xuan's Legend (Part 1)

I, Lu Xun, have managed to carve out a small reputation in Tianxuan Kingdom, and I possess at least that much confidence. As for whether Master Yang will accept me or if the three million can be refunded, you don't need to trouble yourself with such concerns!

Seeing that neither His Majesty nor the three masters had spoken, and a merchant in a fur-trimmed hat and sable cloak inquired, Lu Xun couldn't help but frown.

The fact that this person could sit with the three masters and His Majesty indicated a high status. However, Lu Xun also had his own pride. Not to mention his family of imperial tutors, just the fact that he became the most famous star teacher in Tianxuan Kingdom at such a young age qualified him to be on equal footing with the patriarchs of some great families.

Just like Wang Hong, the patriarch of the Wang family previously, who had to address him as Teacher Lu and dared not put on any airs.

Yet this person in front of him was clearly a parvenu with no grace whatsoever. So what if he had some status? He was speaking with Emperor Shen Zhui, and it wasn't this person's place to interfere or comment excessively!

Who do you think you are?

Seeing him so confident, the three masters and the others almost choked on their saliva.

We, three true master teachers, wouldn't dare to be disrespectful in the slightest... What airs are you putting on, a mere star teacher who's not even as good as an apprentice?

“I'm not worried,” Zhang Xuan said, “I just think that if it’s not refundable, you definitely won't be able to pay back the money. How will you explain that to His Majesty then? Even if you were sold, you wouldn’t be worth that much!”

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had offered a kind reminder, but to be spoken to like that by the other party was truly exasperating.

“Please mind your words, sir!”

This time, before Lu Xun could speak, Wang Chao, standing at his side, narrowed his eyes. “Teacher Lu Xun is Hongtian Academy’s top-ranked star teacher, and he will become a master teacher sooner or later. Do you think he would default on a mere three million gold coins? What kind of joke is that? To put it bluntly, he might not even accept this money if others tried to give it to him. Do you think a future master teacher's favor is so easily owed?”

“Enough!”

Lu Xun interrupted his friend, his back straight as a javelin. Ignoring Zhang Xuan, he clasped his hands towards Shen Zhui again. “Your Majesty, you know what kind of person I, Lu Xun, am. Even if Master Yang doesn't refund this money, as long as I wish, I am confident I can repay it within a short time. This small amount of money won't cause me to lose my credibility or default on a debt!”

Although star teachers are not as good as master teachers, they can still guide people to breakthroughs and advise on cultivation. Though three million is a large sum, if he was willing, he could still earn it within a short time.

“This…”

Emperor Shen Zhui hesitated.

Three million gold coins was nothing to a kingdom. His hesitation stemmed from worrying about displeasing Master Yang, who was not far away.

“I seem to have heard that Master Yang no longer grants audiences to outsiders now. Even with money, you might not be able to meet him!” Ignoring the other party’s rude attitude, Zhang Xuan continued to speak.

This fellow was the son of Master Lu Chen. Master Lu Chen surely didn't know he had come here to borrow money, so he should be dissuaded one way or another.

Although he would be conducting a teacher's evaluation with him, making them rivals, one thing was separate from another. Master Lu Chen had provided considerable help, and as an elder, he still had the right to offer a reminder.

“Whether I can meet him or not is my own business,” Lu Xun said. “Don't you think you're overstepping your bounds and meddling too much, sir?”

Seeing this fellow constantly speaking inappropriately, Lu Xun finally became somewhat displeased. “I'm borrowing money from His Majesty, not from you. Whether to lend or not, His Majesty will decide for himself, and there’s no need for you to trouble yourself here.”

After speaking, he flicked his sleeve.

What's wrong with you? I'm borrowing money from Emperor Shen Zhui, and you keep obstructing me, saying I can't pay it back, or that borrowing money is useless. What do you mean by that?

Do you think I, Lu Xun, am easy to bully?

As a dignified star teacher, if he didn't even have a bit of dignity and allowed people to speak nonsense, how could he continue to thrive in Tianxuan Kingdom in the future? Moreover, the three masters on the dais were still watching. If they saw him being criticized, cowering and not daring to utter a word, what qualifications would he have to aspire to become a master teacher's apprentice in the future?

“Sir, no matter who you are, this is between Teacher Lu Xun and His Majesty. Don't you think you're too talkative for constantly interrupting?”

Wang Chao also snorted coldly.

Who are you? Didn't you see that even the three masters haven't spoken?

Will you die if you don't speak?

“Too talkative?”

Zhang Xuan had only kindly tried to dissuade him, not wanting the other party to spend money uselessly. He hadn't expected to be scorned, so he shook his head helplessly.

His identity as 'Master Yang' would soon disappear. It was clear that Lu Xun was mistaken in wanting to become his apprentice. He had originally thought that after meeting, a few words would dispel this idea, but he never dreamed that his kindness would be taken for ill will.

However, there was no need to get angry about the other party's attitude. If it were him, and he was asking someone for money while the host hadn't spoken, he would certainly be displeased if someone else kept interrupting.

Zhang Xuan ignored the other's sarcasm, but Liu Ling could no longer tolerate it.

“You are Lu Xun, aren't you?” Liu Ling spoke, “I had heard your name even before I came here. I think Master Yang... he is right. You should consider it!”

He originally had a very good impression of Lu Xun and even intended to test him and accept him as an apprentice. He hadn't expected that at their first meeting, he would witness this scene. Speaking to Master Yang in such a way was utterly lawless and presumptuous, and that lingering trace of goodwill immediately vanished.

“Thank you for your guidance, Master Liu. I have already considered it…”

Hearing Master Liu speak, Lu Xun dared not put on airs. He quickly clasped his hands, his attitude completely different from when he spoke to Zhang Xuan.

Seeing that Lu Xun hadn't grasped his true meaning, Liu Ling shook his head and said no more.

Master Yang had stopped Emperor Shen Zhui from revealing his identity, clearly not wanting the other party to know. Given that, he wouldn't be so talkative as to reveal it either.

Seeing that Master Yang had no intention of blaming them, Emperor Shen Zhui felt relieved and spoke. “It's only three million. Don't bother talking about lending or borrowing. Master Lu Chen is my teacher, so giving it directly to you is no problem!”

This money was nothing to some great families, and a kingdom naturally thought even less of it. As the son of his teacher, let alone borrowing, even giving it away for free was nothing.

“Thank you, Your Majesty! However, since I said I would borrow it, then it is a loan. I don't want to owe him this favor!” Lu Xun waved his hand dismissively, his face filled with pride.

He had already fallen out with his old man at home; he was his own person, and his father was his own person.

How could he take advantage of the other party?

“Go and fetch three million gold coins!”

Knowing there was some conflict between father and son, Emperor Shen Zhui said no more and waved his hand to a eunuch standing nearby.

The eunuch turned and left. Before long, he returned with a stack of gold notes.

“Thank you, Your Majesty! I, Lu Xun, will repay this soon, I promise!”

Receiving the gold notes, Lu Xun clasped his hands again.

“Mhm!” Emperor Shen Zhui waved his hand.

If he could repay it, good; if not, it was fine. He didn't care.

Now that the Old Ancestor had broken through to the Grandmaster realm, Tianxuan Kingdom's national power would undoubtedly become increasingly prosperous in the future. If it could attract master teachers to reside there, it might even aspire to become a second-tier kingdom. A mere three million was nothing.

“Lu Xun and Wang Chao will not disturb Your Majesty further. We bid you farewell!”

With the money in hand, Lu Xun did not linger. He turned to leave.

After taking a few steps, he stopped. He looked up at Zhang Xuan, who was not far away.

“I don't know what your identity is,” Lu Xun said, “but being able to confer with the three masters and His Majesty here, you must be someone important. However, there's something I wish to remind you of!”

“Oh?” Zhang Xuan looked over.

“When others are conversing, it's best not to interrupt haphazardly. Doing so is very annoying!” Lu Xun swung his arm, his expression arrogant, like a pure and proud lotus flower rising unsullied from the mud. He didn't linger and walked out.

Wang Chao glanced at Zhang Xuan and sneered. He then quickly followed Lu Xun out.

As soon as the two left, the room immediately fell silent. The three masters exchanged glances, utterly speechless.

“That fellow... where does he get such confidence?”

After an unknown period, Master Zhuang couldn't help but say.

He had truly been holding it in.

A mere star teacher, not even an apprentice, dared to openly criticize Master Yang, whom even they treated with utmost caution...

How audacious!

“I originally planned to take him as an apprentice,” Liu Ling said. “But now, it seems best not to. He has no manners and disregards his elders...”

Liu Ling also shook his head.

Lu Xun's reputation was considerable, no longer confined to Tianxuan Kingdom. Liu Ling and the others had heard of him long ago, but they hadn't expected their first meeting to be so awkward.

“Master Yang, I apologize,” Emperor Shen Zhui quickly said, “He probably... didn't know your identity and offended you unintentionally...”

Seeing that the three masters were somewhat displeased, Emperor Shen Zhui quickly looked at Yang Xuan, who was the subject of the offense, hoping he wouldn't be angry.

“It's nothing,” Zhang Xuan said. “Achieving such accomplishments at a young age, a bit of arrogance is understandable!” Zhang Xuan shook his head and stood up. “Alright, Shen Hong has broken through, and I should also leave. I hope Your Majesty will gather all the Profound Connection realm secret manuals as soon as possible.”

“Yes!” Emperor Shen Zhui quickly nodded.

After exchanging a final greeting with the other three master teachers, Zhang Xuan saw no need to stay. He clasped his hands and departed gracefully. Witnessing this, the three masters and Emperor Shen Zhui felt their blood surge with excitement once more.

Did you see that?

If it were anyone else, helping someone achieve a breakthrough would certainly be an opportunity to extort a hefty sum. But he was calm and unconcerned, taking nothing with him...

He was even questioned and mocked by a junior to his face, yet showed no trace of annoyance or anger.

“This is the true magnanimity and bearing a master teacher should possess!”

Liu Ling exclaimed in admiration.

“Indeed! I am truly impressed by Master Yang. It would be a fortune spanning three lifetimes if I could become his disciple!” Zheng Fei also quickly nodded.

“I had heard of Lu Xun's reputation before, but I didn't expect him to be like this upon meeting him!” After sighing, Liu Ling shook his head, recalling Lu Xun's earlier behavior. Then, recalling something else, he asked, “Your Majesty mentioned last time that he was going to have a teacher's evaluation with a teacher named Zhang Xuan in a few days. Is that true?”

He had been in Tianxuan Kingdom for a while and had specifically paid attention to Hongtian Academy. This matter was no secret; a little inquiry would reveal everything clearly.

“Indeed, that is true!” Emperor Shen Zhui nodded.

Upon returning to the palace, he received a report from Elder Qian and learned about this incident, which had been classified as a three-star event.

The duel between the two teachers, while not as shocking as Master Teacher Yang Xuan's arrival in Tianxuan Kingdom, had also stirred up a storm and attracted countless eyes.

“To be able to duel with him, this Zhang Xuan must also be a star teacher at Hongtian Academy, right? Why have I never heard of him before?”

Master Liu looked over, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

As it was a match between equals, Lu Xun was Hongtian Academy's top star teacher, so since Teacher Zhang dared to challenge him, he shouldn't be too far behind.

But he had heard of many promising young teachers. Why had he never heard this name?