Chapter 80 Mr. Bi's Ascension Part 2

"..."

The conflicted Yu Longqing, after hearing these words, had his eyelids twitch violently, almost exploding with anger on the spot.

This old Bi Deng was too sly.

He had gone to great lengths, even willing to let his daughter become a disciple, cooperating in every possible way, just to foster a good relationship with the person before him. Now, not only had he helped to lift the siege, but all the credit had also been completely taken by someone else...

"So that's how it is!"

Just about to die from anger, he heard Zhang Xuan sigh, prompting a curious look: "City Lord Yu, when School Head Lu asked you to do this, didn't you think of refusing?"

With an ugly expression, Yu Longqing was at a loss for words when Steward Liao's voice came: "Why would the City Lord refuse? It was all decided upon through discussions with School Head Lu!"

This steward, who had once helped with beast taming, had somehow arrived in the classroom at some unknown time.

Zhang Xuan: "Mutually agreed upon?"

"Yes!"

Steward Liao stepped forward: "There are no more than five people who know that Zhang laoshi can tame the Cangbai Eagle. If the City Lord hadn't spoken to School Head Lu, how else could he have found out?"

"Correct!"

Suddenly understanding, the City Lord looked very satisfied.

This move neither denied Lu Mingrong, thereby making it impossible to maintain the lie, nor did it raise the initiative of himself. Even if there were feelings involved, he was the first recipient.

Lu Mingrong, too, hadn't expected this steward to react so quickly, turning the situation from passive to proactive. Knowing that saying more would only raise suspicion, despite his inner turmoil, he could only nod: "Zhang laoshi, rest assured, what we did was all in order to carry on the legacy of beast taming. We had no other intentions..."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Who would have thought that in just a minute or two, the two most powerful experts of Baiyan City had already engaged in a covert battle of words. Although he still felt something was off, the logic was consistent, and that should be the real reason.

Otherwise, why would School Head Lu give him a Miscellaneous Duties Teacher's spot? After all, he had been very low-key and never showed any special characteristics!

"I don't care why you wanted me as your teacher. Now, I am giving you another chance to choose again. If you do not wish to remain under my tutelage, you may leave now!"

Ignoring the two, Zhang Xuan looked towards Yu Xiaoyu and Liu Mingyue.

"I..."

Liu Mingyue was caught in a dilemma.

Just as she said before, she was forced to accept him as a teacher and was quite resistant. But the blood essence of the Cold-Backed Turtle ignited the Peak of Pinnacle Furnace; the casually taught cultivation method increased her strength by 50%...

No matter how you look at it, taking him as a teacher was better than anyone else, and perhaps even School Head Lu couldn't compare.

But... his age was really too young. If these two things were just coincidences, what should she do once her cultivation deepened?

While she was conflicted, Yu Xiaoyu was also very troubled.

Her agreement before was due to her father's wishes. Now that Zhang laoshi had given her another chance to choose, she hesitated instead.

After all, the shock and impact this person had given her were too significant.

"I..."

"Zhang laoshi..."

Just as the two raised their heads and were about to speak, they were interrupted by Zhang Xuan, "You don't have to tell me the answer right now. If you wish to continue as my disciples, practice well tonight according to the cultivation technique I imparted. Come to the classroom tomorrow for an assessment. If you pass, you may stay; if not, then let it be."

With that said, Zhang Xuan turned and walked over to the lectern, picked up a writing brush and wrote on two pieces of paper, folded them slowly, and placed them into two silk pouches.

"Each of you take one. Inside is my requirement. Do not open it tonight. You may only look at it before class tomorrow. If you find that you are not up to standard, then there is no need for you to come."

"Yes..."

Yu Xiaoyu and Liu Mingyue exchanged a look, then pocketed the silk pouches.

"Secondly, if you truly want to be my students, you cannot listen to others' persuasion and be of two minds. Otherwise, if I ever discover that you doubt my words, you will be immediately expelled from my tutelage and will never be accepted again," Zhang Xuan's eyebrows lifted.

Whether it was Zhao Ya, Zheng Yang, Yuan Tao, or Liu Yang, which one of them was not utterly loyal and never betrayed him? These two girls had only been with him for a couple of days and had already played hundreds of tricks with him...

If he didn't want to stand out, wanting instead to keep a low profile, he would have certainly expelled them by now...

After exchanging another look, the two girls nodded again.

"Alright!"

Only then did Zhang Xuan breathe a sigh of relief and turned his head to look at Hong Yi.

This one, although of average talent, excelled in being obedient and hardworking, so there wasn't anything that needed to be said.

"Teacher, I will definitely come tomorrow..." Seeing him, Hong Yi was startled and hastily bowed.

Zhang Xuan no longer dwelled on the three of them and remembered something, turning his head to look at Liu Tianzheng, "Liu Clan Head, though Dao Li was a gift from Liu Mingyue, you are right, one should not accept rewards without merits. I am just a teacher, and even if it is a gift, I can't claim such a precious thousand-li horse as my own. However... in the mere two days we've been together, Dao Li and I have grown familiar with each other. I wonder if you, Liu Clan Head, could bear to part with it and let me know how much you paid; I am willing to pay you that amount!"

Liu Tianzheng shook his head, "There's no need for that. Since Yue'er has agreed to give it to you, there's no reason to ask for money..."

Zhang Xuan replied, "Let's keep matters separate! If it were a few hundred Origin Currency, I would just accept it, but this horse is extremely valuable. If I were to accept it without a word, it wouldn't look good for me or for your Liu Clan!"

Seeing his seriousness, Liu Tianzheng nodded, "When I bought it... it was 320,000 Origin Currency. If Teacher Zhang really wishes to pay, 300,000 Origin Currency will be enough!"

"300,000?"

Zhang Xuan's eyes widened, and after a long while, he awkwardly spoke, "About that... could it possibly be put on credit?"

"On credit?"

Having just now steadfastly insisted on buying, and as full of bluster as he could be, now to suddenly be like this, left Liu Tianzheng at a loss.

As he was unsure how to respond, School Head Lu spoke, "What credit? Baiyan Academy will pay for it!"

"Why should Baiyan Academy pay? Teacher Zhang is Yu Xiaoyu's teacher, naturally, the City Lord Residence should pay!"

Yu Longqing gestured grandly.

"On what grounds? Zhang Xuan laoshi is a teacher in our Baiyan Academy and is very likely to teach Horse Taming classes. What's wrong with buying him some teaching equipment?" School Head Lu rebuked.

"You call a thousand-li horse, teaching equipment?" Yu Longqing snorted coldly.

Have some shame!

"What's wrong with that?"

School Head Lu said, "On the other hand, our Baiyan Academy doesn't accept an Apprentice Gift. If you really want to help buy it, how will others look at Teacher Zhang? If the same situation that just arose occurs again, where would that leave the face of Teacher Zhang and our academy?"

Yu Longqing was taken aback.

With him phrasing it that way, he really couldn't argue back.

Liu Mingyue was a lesson to be learned. If her father accuses you of greed for taking their horse, it truly wouldn't be easy to explain...

"School Head, your words are misguided. Our city lord has always cherished and valued talent. Besides, Teacher Zhang helped the city lord tame the Cangbai Eagle, so reciprocating with a thousand-li horse isn't an issue, right? Moreover, Teacher Zhang is the benefactor of our Miss, and when teaching Horse Taming classes, not having a horse wouldn't do, so it is perfectly natural for us to purchase one in advance!"

Steward Liao interjected.

"Indeed, the Steward is right! It's just returning a horse. School Head Lu wouldn't think that our City Lord Residence couldn't spare such a small amount now, would you..."

Yu Longqing smiled.

"Ahem, School Head Lu, City Lord Yu, although I don't have that much money on hand right now, as long as I am willing to earn it, I can get it soon and make it up later..."

Zhang Xuan awkwardly smiled, not expecting both of them to insist on paying the bill, "Moreover, I am just an inconspicuous little character, a very ordinary teacher, there's no need for either of you to spend funds for me."

Yu Longqing nodded, "Yes, indeed, as Teacher Zhang said, he's just an ordinary teacher! An inconspicuous little character... School Head Lu, there's no need for you to compete with me!"

School Head Lu swept his hand grandly, "Exactly, since he is inconspicuous, there's no need to trouble the city lord with such a grand gesture..."

The two started arguing once again.

"This is 300,000 we're talking about... Both the city lord and School Head Lu are vying to pay for Teacher Zhang?"

"Am I seeing things?"

"Even though Teacher Zhang is highly talented in beast taming, isn't this a bit too much from these two big shots..."

As they witnessed the two quarreling until both their faces turned red, neither willing to back down, everyone around was filled with speechlessness.

300,000 Origin Currency could easily buy a house in Baiyan City, and here they were fighting to pay, as if the opportunity was a greater honor for them... And all this for "an inconspicuous little character", "a very ordinary teacher"; they were fighting as if they were at a festival...

Tell me... where is that ordinary!

"Father, School Head Lu..."

Just then, the crisp voice of Yu Xiaoyu rang out, "The money has already been given..."

Both masters turned their heads and immediately saw Patriarch Chen Xiao standing in front of Liu Tianzheng, passing a stack of Origin Currency, counting and smiling as he spoke, "Sorry, but I've paid. You guys can come back next time... No matter what, Zhang Xuan is the honorary elder of our Chen Clan, and it's not your turn to pay!"

Watching his smug expression, both School Head Lu and Yu Longqing's argument came to a halt, and a single thought simultaneously appeared in their minds.

"Cunning Fox!"