Chapter 88: Chapter 78 Fragments of the Heavens_2
Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Wu Yunzhou’s face turned pale, “Once someone practicing the same fragments of the heavens becomes aware of Zhang Xuan, it’s very likely they will kill to silence him, and we as informers… might struggle to escape the same fate.”
As knowledge of this Zhang Xuan’s talent mounted, it increasingly felt as though his sentence had no end…
“The matter of heaven’s fragments is known only by you and me among those present. Instruct everyone not to leak today’s incident. Let Zhang laoshi avoid utilizing that nonsensical ‘Impartation of Heaven’s Will’ in the future, and we should be able to keep it hidden for a while…”
Understanding his concerns, Lu Mingrong said.
Wu Yunzhou nodded.
This was for the best.
It just felt like the secrets were piling up, so many that he was beginning to feel overwhelmed…
The conversation between the two was very quiet, controlled only within the range they could hear, and the others did not understand what was happening. At this time, Chen Hao could no longer restrain himself upon hearing the Miscellaneous Duties Teacher speak increasingly mystically, “Nonsense, you get winded just calling yourself fat. How could someone possess such an ability? School Head Lu, he is obviously spouting nonsense. How could such a fabricator be qualified to teach? He must be dismissed immediately!”
“Dismissed? Immediately?”
His eyelids twitching slightly, Lu Mingrong nodded and said, “You’re right, as of today, you are dismissed!”
“Great, finally he is dismissed… Let’s see if he dares to insult me again…”
With a loud laugh, Chen Hao had only spoken halfway when he realized what was happening and his face turned ashen while his lips trembled, “Me?”
Wasn’t it supposed to be Zhang Xuan who was being dismissed?
I am the Junior Patriarch of the Three Premier Clans’ Chen family, a famous prodigy at the School, second only to Yu Feng in talent, with great prospects of reaching the Sixfold of the Source Pool, even Transcendent Mortal 7-dan.
Would they dismiss me just for the sake of a Miscellaneous Duties Teacher? I must have heard wrong.
“Hmm, Dean Wu, I leave this matter for you to handle. Chen Hao, as a student, you have been insubordinate, repeatedly slandered a teacher, disregarded hierarchy, and violated the rules of Baiyan Academy. Effective immediately, issue the Principal’s Seal for his expulsion!”
Lu Mingrong waved his hand.
“Using the Principal’s Seal, just to expel me?”
Chen Hao’s face turned white as he looked on in disbelief.
The Principal’s Seal is the highest level token of Baiyan Academy, normally issued only in dire circumstances such as an “institutional crisis” or “dynastic collapse.” Once invoked, all faculty and students must strictly comply, without violation, and it is also sent to the City Lord Residence and the major families of Baiyan City as a notification…
This token, second only to the City Lord Token, hadn’t been used in over a decade. To apply it directly to him was tantamount to not just dismissal but an utter annihilation…
Even as the sole son of Patriarch Chen Xiao, his prospects of succeeding as the next patriarch just got much more difficult!
“Yes!”
Wu Yunzhou looked at Chen Hao with a sympathetic gaze, gave a nod, and said, “Let’s go.”
Offending a genius like Zhang Xuan might lead to dismissal at most, but offending Zhang Xuan who possessed fragments of the heavens… wouldn’t be as simple as just a dismissal.
“School Head Lu, Dean Wu, I… I was just worried that Miss Liu and Miss Yu’s talents would be wasted due to lack of proper education, with no intention of defamation…”
Realizing they were serious, Chen Hao lost the bluster he had before, his teeth clenched, “How about this, I apologize to Zhang laoshi…”
“Chen Hao, my dear nephew, if we’re in the right, we have nothing to fear. Why should we apologize?”
Just then, a stern voice rang out, and following it, the door swung open as Liu Tianzheng, guided by Wang Yuxing, strode in.
“In the right?”
Chen Hao was moved to tears, not expecting the Patriarch of the Liu family to appear at this moment, let alone speak up for him.
Liu Tianzheng nodded, “I have heard of the situation here. That petty Miscellaneous Duties Teacher not only coerced Mingyue into apprenticeship but also physically punished her. His crimes are enormous, absolutely unforgivable!”
Not only were the people in the room flabbergasted, but even Liu Mingyue, the main character in question, was completely puzzled.
She had merely sent the coachman to notify her father, intending to return to Dao Li. How did it turn into physical punishment?
Steps away, Liu Tianzheng approached his daughter and scrutinized her lovely face, indeed seeing a hint of swelling that had not fully subsided.
His face flushed with fury, no longer containing his anger, he looked around the room, and his eyes settled on Zhang Xuan, “Are you Zhang Xuan? I want to know, what did Mingyue do wrong to warrant such harsh treatment from you? You won’t get away with this today without an explanation. My Liu family will not let this stand!”
“You mean the injury on her face?”
It took Zhang Xuan a moment to realize what the other party was referring to, and he turned his head toward Liu Mingyue, “Are you certain I inflicted that?”
“I…”
Her face flushed red, and Liu Mingyue wished she could just hide away.
This was evidence of her own attempt to harm someone, but it turned out to harm herself instead. She was too embarrassed to even start worrying about it, and dared not admit it when publicly questioned. She could only look to her father in front of her, “Dad, stop talking nonsense. How could Zhang laoshi possibly punish me physically…”
Liu Tianzheng said, “You don’t need to cover for him! This matter, the noble nephew Chen Hao has already sent someone to tell me about it, clear and plain. I just looked, and the swelling on your face is still there. If not him, then who could have done this? Rest assured, I came here today especially to stand up for you…”
Seeing the righteous indignation on his face, Liu Mingyue was so anxious she felt like crying.
What do you mean standing up for me? Are you trying to humiliate me publicly by revealing that I framed the teacher?
“Chen Hao!”
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She turned her head to look at the young man not far away, biting her silver teeth, “Can you stop spouting nonsense?”
Misunderstood by his goddess, Chen Hao hurriedly explained, “When I saw you go to Zhang laoshi and return injured, I thought it was him who hurt you…”
“Oh, what you thought! You sure think too much!”
Liu Mingyue huffed coldly, “The injury on my face was caused by an accident I had, what does it have to do with Zhang laoshi? Stop slandering here!”
“I’m sorry…” Chen Hao felt like crying.
He had just said he did not mean to frame Zhang laoshi… and in the blink of an eye, he received firm evidence. What’s going on? Do they think the punishment of expulsion by the Principal’s Seal is not enough?
“Esteemed nephew Chen Hao, we have right on our side; we need not fear!”
Seeing him anxious, his lips trembling, wanting to explain, Liu Tianzheng once again waved his hand to interrupt, “Even if this Zhang Xuan did not physically punish her, receiving unwarranted wealth is inexcusable. Forcibly demanding an Apprentice Gift and making the Dao Li from the Liu Residence his own is also an indisputable fact, right?”
Zhang Xuan frowned, “At the time Miss Liu asked to be my apprentice, everyone present was there. If the head of the Liu family is not clear on the matter, he can ask them…”
Liu Tianzheng was taken aback and looked around.
With teachers and students, the room had more than thirty people in it. If they were all really there, even if this Zhang Xuan had issues, he wouldn’t dare to brazenly demand an Apprentice Gift…
“There were over a thousand people present at the time, this is far from over!”
Seeing what he was thinking, The Third Elder He Qin chuckled lightly.
Seeing her say this, Liu Tianzheng felt that the information he had might be somewhat incorrect, and turned his head to look over, “What exactly happened?”
Elder He Qin said, “At that time, Miss Liu begged Zhang Xuan to accept her as an apprentice. Zhang laoshi said he could accept her, but whether to teach her or how to teach her was up to him to decide. Additionally, he was to purchase the Dao Li from her… Purchase, not a gift!”
“That’s right!”
Seven or eight students in the crowd nodded at the same time.
This was said in front of everyone, and there was no way to fake it.
“Even so, Zhang laoshi was not very willing. In the end, Miss Liu personally said that the Dao Li was a gift, not for sale, and only then did Zhang laoshi reluctantly agree…”
At this point, Elder He Qin looked at the girl, “Liu Mingyue, are these things I just mentioned true?”
“They are… true!”
Liu Mingyue’s face turned red.
She originally thought that with her father coming, they could use their strength to get the Dao Li back, but… with School Head Lu and many Elders there, what more could she say!
Given the circumstances, rather than twisting the truth, it was better to frankly admit it to avoid further embarrassment.
Seeing his daughter confirm it, Liu Tianzheng frowned and looked at Chen Hao, “Didn’t your person say that this Zhang Xuan forcibly coerced Mingyue into becoming his student and wouldn’t take no for an answer?”
Chen Hao became anxious, “That… I might’ve seen it wrong! School Head Lu, I really didn’t mean to frame him, I…”
Before he could finish, Liu Tianzheng again interrupted, “We have right on our side; we need not fear. Your person also said a lot about Zhang laoshi, surely not everything they said was false, right?”
“…”
Chen Hao cried, “I have no right; I am afraid, I am really afraid!”
He just felt he had found someone to support him, moved to tears, only to realize these tears were in vain… Indeed, it was support, but the kind that wouldn’t let him die peacefully!