Hearing Shen Ling's harsh words, Zhang Chen glanced at her coldly: "I am a member of the Zhang family, not the Shen family. How can the Old Madam of the Shen family criticize someone from the Zhang family?"
Then, he lowered his head to look at Zhang Gaoqiu, a hint of coldness in his eyes: "Zhang Gaoqiu, you… tsk, tsk…"
Zhang Chen stopped himself, revealing an expression of 'You are a useless bum, only capable of pointless tantrums, unable to achieve anything great,' putting on an act of not wanting to bother with a useless person, then walked towards the academy with a face full of smiles.
"Zhang Chen!!!" Zhang Gaoqiu watched Zhang Chen's back, his voice filled with resentment, but Zhang Chen left without even turning his head.
Seeing Zhang Chen walk away, Shen Ling whispered, "I don't think Zhang Chen did it. Where would he get such methods? If he had such methods, why would he need to rely on the Shen family?"
Shen Ling's expression suddenly changed upon hearing this: "You wouldn't ask me to continue seducing him, would you?"
"Of course not! I am also a man of integrity, how could I do such a thing?" Zhang Gaoqiu shook his head: "I only want the Shen family…"
Zhang Gaoqiu's voice became lower and lower, while Zhang Chen had already entered the academy. He went all the way to the school, and from afar he saw Tu Shanqing holding dice and gambling with a group of noble children.
The noble children were red-faced, and streaks of red light flickered around them, converging towards Tu Shanqing and being absorbed by him.
"Young Master Zhang Chen, the dean has asked you to come over," Chen Qi said to Zhang Chen as he reached the gate.
Hearing this, Zhang Chen nodded and walked towards the dean's residence. As soon as he arrived in the courtyard, Zhang Chen saw Zhou Qiu Cheng in white, holding a pair of scissors, trimming flowers and plants.
Zhang Chen walked over and respectfully saluted: "Greetings, teacher."
Zhou Qiu Cheng turned his head to look at Zhang Chen and smiled: "No need to be so polite, please rise."
Zhang Chen stood up, and Zhou Qiu Cheng smiled and said: "How much do you know about Zhang Gaoqiu's matter?"
Zhang Chen looked into Zhou Qiu Cheng's eyes, hesitated slightly, and then shook his head: "I didn't do it!"
Zhang Chen's answer was interesting.
He only said that he didn't do it, but he didn't say that he didn't know the details.
After saying this, Zhang Chen added: "Although I am a member of the Zhang family, I have not yet awakened the Zhang family's bloodline! Moreover, my own opportunities are not small. Although the Zhang family's bloodline is good, I don't think much of it."
Zhou Qiu Cheng nodded upon hearing this, not knowing whether he believed Zhang Chen's words or not. At this moment, he turned his head to change the topic: "How much do you know about Chen Sanliang? I heard people say that you had some connection with Chen Sanliang in the Northern Lands?"
Zhang Chen was stunned upon hearing Zhou Qiu Cheng's words, wondering why the other party brought up Chen Sanliang's news.
Zhou Qiu Cheng saw the astonishment in Zhang Chen's eyes, so he explained: "Chen Sanliang has already swept through the Northern Lands and entered the eleventh rank! All the academies under the major vassal states in the Northern Lands have been taken down by Chen Sanliang and become his supporters. Now Chen Sanliang has become the leader of the Confucian school in the Northern Lands."
Zhang Chen's expression was astonished upon hearing this. He did not expect Chen Sanliang to have such methods, truly taking down the entire Northern Lands.
Calculating the time, it has been nearly two years since I walked from the Northern Lands to Jinling, including the time spent on the road. Even if Chen Sanliang debated three times a day, he should have swept through all the academies in the Northern Lands.
Moreover, as more and more experts under Chen Sanliang defected, his power expanded like a snowball. Many academies did not even need him to take action, and the major forces under his command had already taken care of it.
Yesterday, Tu Shanqing also said that Chen Sanliang was debating three times a day and was about to sweep through the entire Northern Lands. Now it seems that the other party's news is already outdated.
"After Chen Sanliang unifies the Northern Lands and establishes a foundation, it won't be long before he goes south. His ambition is high and his momentum is like a rainbow. At that time, the Jiangnan region will probably be the same as the Northern Lands…"
Zhou Qiu Cheng did not finish his words, but the strong sense of worry could not be concealed.
Zhang Chen glanced at Zhou Qiu Cheng, knowing what the other party meant by inquiring about Chen Sanliang's news, so he shook his head: "Although I have some relationship with Chen Sanliang, the relationship between us is hard to explain. As for the specific news about Chen Sanliang, I may not know more than you, Dean."
"Alas, how much do you know about Chen Sanliang's doctrine of teaching without discrimination?" Zhou Qiu Cheng asked.
Zhang Chen pondered slightly upon hearing this, then looked at Zhou Qiu Cheng: "Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"
"Of course I want to hear the truth," Zhou Qiu Cheng said.
"Although you are sitting in Jinling, in charge of the largest academy in Jiangnan, and your position in Jiangnan is crucial, you are highly respected and sought after by countless scholars, but facing Chen Sanliang's doctrine of teaching without discrimination, you have absolutely no chance of winning. If I were you, I would surrender as soon as possible," Zhang Chen replied.
Zhou Qiu Cheng put down the scissors in his hand, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Is his doctrine really that strong?"
"Unbelievably strong, no one can compete with him, because all the people in the world are standing on his side. How can you fight against him? How can one person fight against all the people in the world?" Zhang Chen said, his voice full of emotion.
Hearing these words from Zhang Chen, Zhou Qiu Cheng's eyes were filled with disbelief: "Is there really no way?"
Zhang Chen thought of the Jie Sect in the Investiture of the Gods novel. The Jie Sect taught without discrimination and preached to the world, suppressing Buddhism, forcing the Chan Sect to retreat, and the Human Sect to completely hide. The general trend of the imperial court was completely controlled by the Jie Sect. Who could compete with it? How could they compete with it?
"Unless his life is destroyed, and he is suppressed and killed with absolute power, without debating with him, perhaps there is a glimmer of hope," Zhang Chen said.
"Chen Sanliang has a twelfth-rank expert from the demon race backing him, and there is also a demon race ancestor with unfathomable cultivation as his backer. Who would dare to assassinate him without following the rules? Moreover, he has already entered the eleventh rank, and killing him is as difficult as ascending to heaven. He is the ancestor of a sect, possessing the power of a sect. Even if a twelfth-rank expert takes action, I'm afraid they can't do anything to him," Zhou Qiu Cheng shook his head and rejected Zhang Chen's suggestion.
Zhang Chen looked at Zhou Qiu Cheng with his eyes. He could see Zhou Qiu Cheng's dilemma. He was a highly respected Confucian scholar in the Jiangnan literary world. Once Chen Sanliang came to Jiangnan from the Northern Lands, he would definitely be the first to bear the brunt and would not be able to escape.
However, Zhang Chen recognized Chen Sanliang's doctrine from the bottom of his heart. He hoped that Chen Sanliang could destroy the current Confucian order and fight for a glimmer of hope for the people of the world.
Zhang Chen came from a small village, so of course he knew how difficult it was for ordinary people to study. A person who has been rained on always hopes to hold up an umbrella for others.
"Forget it, you go back first," Zhou Qiu Cheng said to Zhang Chen, putting down the scissors in a distraught mood.
"This disciple takes his leave." Zhang Chen looked at Zhou Qiu Cheng, bowed, and retreated.
"Zhou Qiu Cheng is a good person. If possible, protect him from Chen Sanliang's hands," Zhang Chen said to himself.
Just as various thoughts were running through Zhang Chen's mind, he saw Tu Shanqing walking down the mountain with Zhou Zhen, their arms around each other's shoulders.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Chen couldn't help but frown. Others didn't know Tu Shanqing's background, but he did. Tu Shanqing was a person who wouldn't get up early without profit. Now that he was hanging out with Zhou Zhen, he must have set his sights on something of Zhou Zhen's.
"However, this kid's social skills are quite good. He can even hook up with Zhou Zhen," a thought flashed through Zhang Chen's mind, then he waved to Zhou Zhen. Zhou Zhen looked at Zhang Chen, and the two of them smiled and walked towards Zhang Chen.
"Brother Zhang." Zhou Zhen greeted Zhang Chen from afar.
"Greetings, Brother Zhang." Zhang Chen cupped his fist in salute, then looked at Tu Shanqing with a smile on his face. Before the other party could speak, Zhang Chen had already blocked his mouth: "I have something to discuss with Brother Zhou. I wonder if Brother Chai can excuse himself?"
Chai Chuanxin was stunned upon hearing this, and glanced at Zhang Chen in surprise, but he did not continue to pester, but said with a smile: "You guys talk, I happen to have some things to deal with."
Watching Chai Chuanxin's departing back, Zhang Chen turned to look at Zhou Zhen. Zhou Zhen curiously said: "Brother Zhang, what do you want to say to me alone?"
"Brother Zhang, it's best to stay away from Chai Chuanxin in the future. This person is very dangerous!" Zhang Chen said.
"Very dangerous?" Zhou Zhen immediately became interested: "How dangerous?"
"Ten times more dangerous than you think," Zhang Chen said.
Zhou Zhen's expression immediately became serious upon hearing this, then he nodded: "I'll listen to you!"
He then grabbed Zhang Chen's sleeve: "Let's go drink."
Farther away,
Tu Shanqing walked down the mountain, pondering in his heart: "I always feel that Zhang Chen is full of vigilance towards me. It shouldn't be like this? With the relationship between him and me, he shouldn't be so wary of me, unless this kid has seen through my background!"
Chai Chuanxin suddenly stopped, recalling that Zhang Chen had twice ruined Zhang Shicheng's dragon transformation plan, his heart began to beat rapidly: "There is no such thing as luck in this world. He can ruin Zhang Shicheng's dragon transformation plan twice, that's not ordinary luck, but this kid has something!"
"He can even destroy Zhang Shicheng's dragon transformation, if he can see through my background, it doesn't seem impossible," Tu Shanqing secretly wondered: "He didn't respond to the trap in my words at the time, it seems it wasn't a coincidence either."
Then, he lowered his head to look at Zhang Gaoqiu, a hint of coldness in his eyes: "Zhang Gaoqiu, you… tsk, tsk…"
Zhang Chen stopped himself, revealing an expression of 'You are a useless bum, only capable of pointless tantrums, unable to achieve anything great,' putting on an act of not wanting to bother with a useless person, then walked towards the academy with a face full of smiles.
"Zhang Chen!!!" Zhang Gaoqiu watched Zhang Chen's back, his voice filled with resentment, but Zhang Chen left without even turning his head.
Seeing Zhang Chen walk away, Shen Ling whispered, "I don't think Zhang Chen did it. Where would he get such methods? If he had such methods, why would he need to rely on the Shen family?"
Shen Ling's expression suddenly changed upon hearing this: "You wouldn't ask me to continue seducing him, would you?"
"Of course not! I am also a man of integrity, how could I do such a thing?" Zhang Gaoqiu shook his head: "I only want the Shen family…"
Zhang Gaoqiu's voice became lower and lower, while Zhang Chen had already entered the academy. He went all the way to the school, and from afar he saw Tu Shanqing holding dice and gambling with a group of noble children.
The noble children were red-faced, and streaks of red light flickered around them, converging towards Tu Shanqing and being absorbed by him.
"Young Master Zhang Chen, the dean has asked you to come over," Chen Qi said to Zhang Chen as he reached the gate.
Hearing this, Zhang Chen nodded and walked towards the dean's residence. As soon as he arrived in the courtyard, Zhang Chen saw Zhou Qiu Cheng in white, holding a pair of scissors, trimming flowers and plants.
Zhang Chen walked over and respectfully saluted: "Greetings, teacher."
Zhou Qiu Cheng turned his head to look at Zhang Chen and smiled: "No need to be so polite, please rise."
Zhang Chen stood up, and Zhou Qiu Cheng smiled and said: "How much do you know about Zhang Gaoqiu's matter?"
Zhang Chen looked into Zhou Qiu Cheng's eyes, hesitated slightly, and then shook his head: "I didn't do it!"
Zhang Chen's answer was interesting.
He only said that he didn't do it, but he didn't say that he didn't know the details.
After saying this, Zhang Chen added: "Although I am a member of the Zhang family, I have not yet awakened the Zhang family's bloodline! Moreover, my own opportunities are not small. Although the Zhang family's bloodline is good, I don't think much of it."
Zhou Qiu Cheng nodded upon hearing this, not knowing whether he believed Zhang Chen's words or not. At this moment, he turned his head to change the topic: "How much do you know about Chen Sanliang? I heard people say that you had some connection with Chen Sanliang in the Northern Lands?"
Zhang Chen was stunned upon hearing Zhou Qiu Cheng's words, wondering why the other party brought up Chen Sanliang's news.
Zhou Qiu Cheng saw the astonishment in Zhang Chen's eyes, so he explained: "Chen Sanliang has already swept through the Northern Lands and entered the eleventh rank! All the academies under the major vassal states in the Northern Lands have been taken down by Chen Sanliang and become his supporters. Now Chen Sanliang has become the leader of the Confucian school in the Northern Lands."
Zhang Chen's expression was astonished upon hearing this. He did not expect Chen Sanliang to have such methods, truly taking down the entire Northern Lands.
Calculating the time, it has been nearly two years since I walked from the Northern Lands to Jinling, including the time spent on the road. Even if Chen Sanliang debated three times a day, he should have swept through all the academies in the Northern Lands.
Moreover, as more and more experts under Chen Sanliang defected, his power expanded like a snowball. Many academies did not even need him to take action, and the major forces under his command had already taken care of it.
Yesterday, Tu Shanqing also said that Chen Sanliang was debating three times a day and was about to sweep through the entire Northern Lands. Now it seems that the other party's news is already outdated.
"After Chen Sanliang unifies the Northern Lands and establishes a foundation, it won't be long before he goes south. His ambition is high and his momentum is like a rainbow. At that time, the Jiangnan region will probably be the same as the Northern Lands…"
Zhou Qiu Cheng did not finish his words, but the strong sense of worry could not be concealed.
Zhang Chen glanced at Zhou Qiu Cheng, knowing what the other party meant by inquiring about Chen Sanliang's news, so he shook his head: "Although I have some relationship with Chen Sanliang, the relationship between us is hard to explain. As for the specific news about Chen Sanliang, I may not know more than you, Dean."
"Alas, how much do you know about Chen Sanliang's doctrine of teaching without discrimination?" Zhou Qiu Cheng asked.
Zhang Chen pondered slightly upon hearing this, then looked at Zhou Qiu Cheng: "Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"
"Of course I want to hear the truth," Zhou Qiu Cheng said.
"Although you are sitting in Jinling, in charge of the largest academy in Jiangnan, and your position in Jiangnan is crucial, you are highly respected and sought after by countless scholars, but facing Chen Sanliang's doctrine of teaching without discrimination, you have absolutely no chance of winning. If I were you, I would surrender as soon as possible," Zhang Chen replied.
Zhou Qiu Cheng put down the scissors in his hand, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Is his doctrine really that strong?"
"Unbelievably strong, no one can compete with him, because all the people in the world are standing on his side. How can you fight against him? How can one person fight against all the people in the world?" Zhang Chen said, his voice full of emotion.
Hearing these words from Zhang Chen, Zhou Qiu Cheng's eyes were filled with disbelief: "Is there really no way?"
Zhang Chen thought of the Jie Sect in the Investiture of the Gods novel. The Jie Sect taught without discrimination and preached to the world, suppressing Buddhism, forcing the Chan Sect to retreat, and the Human Sect to completely hide. The general trend of the imperial court was completely controlled by the Jie Sect. Who could compete with it? How could they compete with it?
"Unless his life is destroyed, and he is suppressed and killed with absolute power, without debating with him, perhaps there is a glimmer of hope," Zhang Chen said.
"Chen Sanliang has a twelfth-rank expert from the demon race backing him, and there is also a demon race ancestor with unfathomable cultivation as his backer. Who would dare to assassinate him without following the rules? Moreover, he has already entered the eleventh rank, and killing him is as difficult as ascending to heaven. He is the ancestor of a sect, possessing the power of a sect. Even if a twelfth-rank expert takes action, I'm afraid they can't do anything to him," Zhou Qiu Cheng shook his head and rejected Zhang Chen's suggestion.
Zhang Chen looked at Zhou Qiu Cheng with his eyes. He could see Zhou Qiu Cheng's dilemma. He was a highly respected Confucian scholar in the Jiangnan literary world. Once Chen Sanliang came to Jiangnan from the Northern Lands, he would definitely be the first to bear the brunt and would not be able to escape.
However, Zhang Chen recognized Chen Sanliang's doctrine from the bottom of his heart. He hoped that Chen Sanliang could destroy the current Confucian order and fight for a glimmer of hope for the people of the world.
Zhang Chen came from a small village, so of course he knew how difficult it was for ordinary people to study. A person who has been rained on always hopes to hold up an umbrella for others.
"Forget it, you go back first," Zhou Qiu Cheng said to Zhang Chen, putting down the scissors in a distraught mood.
"This disciple takes his leave." Zhang Chen looked at Zhou Qiu Cheng, bowed, and retreated.
"Zhou Qiu Cheng is a good person. If possible, protect him from Chen Sanliang's hands," Zhang Chen said to himself.
Just as various thoughts were running through Zhang Chen's mind, he saw Tu Shanqing walking down the mountain with Zhou Zhen, their arms around each other's shoulders.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Chen couldn't help but frown. Others didn't know Tu Shanqing's background, but he did. Tu Shanqing was a person who wouldn't get up early without profit. Now that he was hanging out with Zhou Zhen, he must have set his sights on something of Zhou Zhen's.
"However, this kid's social skills are quite good. He can even hook up with Zhou Zhen," a thought flashed through Zhang Chen's mind, then he waved to Zhou Zhen. Zhou Zhen looked at Zhang Chen, and the two of them smiled and walked towards Zhang Chen.
"Brother Zhang." Zhou Zhen greeted Zhang Chen from afar.
"Greetings, Brother Zhang." Zhang Chen cupped his fist in salute, then looked at Tu Shanqing with a smile on his face. Before the other party could speak, Zhang Chen had already blocked his mouth: "I have something to discuss with Brother Zhou. I wonder if Brother Chai can excuse himself?"
Chai Chuanxin was stunned upon hearing this, and glanced at Zhang Chen in surprise, but he did not continue to pester, but said with a smile: "You guys talk, I happen to have some things to deal with."
Watching Chai Chuanxin's departing back, Zhang Chen turned to look at Zhou Zhen. Zhou Zhen curiously said: "Brother Zhang, what do you want to say to me alone?"
"Brother Zhang, it's best to stay away from Chai Chuanxin in the future. This person is very dangerous!" Zhang Chen said.
"Very dangerous?" Zhou Zhen immediately became interested: "How dangerous?"
"Ten times more dangerous than you think," Zhang Chen said.
Zhou Zhen's expression immediately became serious upon hearing this, then he nodded: "I'll listen to you!"
He then grabbed Zhang Chen's sleeve: "Let's go drink."
Farther away,
Tu Shanqing walked down the mountain, pondering in his heart: "I always feel that Zhang Chen is full of vigilance towards me. It shouldn't be like this? With the relationship between him and me, he shouldn't be so wary of me, unless this kid has seen through my background!"
Chai Chuanxin suddenly stopped, recalling that Zhang Chen had twice ruined Zhang Shicheng's dragon transformation plan, his heart began to beat rapidly: "There is no such thing as luck in this world. He can ruin Zhang Shicheng's dragon transformation plan twice, that's not ordinary luck, but this kid has something!"
"He can even destroy Zhang Shicheng's dragon transformation, if he can see through my background, it doesn't seem impossible," Tu Shanqing secretly wondered: "He didn't respond to the trap in my words at the time, it seems it wasn't a coincidence either."
