Chapter 369: Master Kong Takes a Disciple, a Sage's Student

Before losing consciousness, his heart was filled with endless resentment.

I came to you with good intentions, only to be poisoned by your student first, then knocked out by your slap...

Who exactly have I offended?

"Teacher Liu..."

Zhao Wuxing and the others were also full of confusion.

Ignoring everyone's astonishment, Zhang Xuan took out silver needles, channeled his true qi, and pierced several acupoints on the other's body.

He had read relevant books about the poison 'Digan Powder' and knew its symptoms and treatment methods. Under normal circumstances, it would require preparing an antidote, which was troublesome.

But using silver needles and Heaven's Path true qi made it very simple.

However, his true qi was extremely pure and could not be known to outsiders. Mo Hongyi was a genius and had the same cultivation level as him. Rather than having to explain later, it was better to knock him out first.

After a while, a dozen silver needles were inserted into the areas where the poison had gathered most. Under the疏通 of Heaven's Path true qi, the poison was absorbed by the needles, which gradually turned black. Mo Hongyi's slightly pale face also eased and slowly became ruddy.

"Impressive..."

Zhao Wuxing and the others exchanged glances, each shocked.

They had long heard that this Teacher Liu had solved nineteen difficult and complicated cases in a row, becoming the president of the Physician Guild, and that his medical skills were superb. Only by seeing it with their own eyes did they realize how formidable he was.

With just a few needles, he restored the weakened Teacher Sun without even needing a diagnosis. Compared to him, the teachers of medicine in the academy were utterly worthless.

"You two, send Teacher Sun back. He should wake up in about an hour!"

After finishing the acupuncture and confirming that all the poison in the other's body had been neutralized, Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

A second-grade peak poison was extremely dangerous. Even after being neutralized, it required some buffer time to recover.

Of course, if he injected more Heaven's Path true qi, he would wake up quickly, but that would also be troublesome and hard to explain.

"Yes!" Zhao Wuxing and the other person supported Teacher Sun on either side and walked toward his classroom.

"Someone wants to poison me. Mo Hongyi just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and drank the water with the poison powder... But who wants to kill me?"

Rubbing his temples, Zhang Xuan couldn't figure it out at all.

His current identity was 'Liu Cheng,' and he hadn't offended many people. Who would go to such trouble to obtain such precious poison powder to kill him?

Could it be someone from the Physician Guild?

Some people dissatisfied with him becoming president?

He shook his head.

Physicians heal the wounded and rescue the dying, with benevolence in their hearts. Even if someone had ill intentions, becoming a formal physician wouldn't stoop to such underhanded means.

Not to mention that this Digan Powder wasn't lethal. More importantly, even if they killed him, it would be easy for the headquarters to investigate, making it not worth the cost.

After thinking for a long time, he still couldn't figure out who wanted to kill him. He rubbed his temples and stopped dwelling on it.

"Let's go see where Lu Chong lives!"

Meng Tao led the way, and soon they arrived at the student dormitory.

Lu Chong didn't live with the other students but in a small room next to the dormitory, which was used to store mops and miscellaneous items.

In the Tianwu Academy student dormitories, basically four students shared one room. The reason he chose this place was probably because he was afraid of talking in his sleep and leaking secrets.

Although the storage room was small and dirty, he was alone and could keep his secrets.

"Lu Chong, Lu Chong, why didn't you go to class today? The teacher came to see you!"

Arriving at the door, Meng Tao knocked a few times.

Hearing no response, Zhang Xuan's heart skipped a beat.

This guy couldn't have succumbed to the severe poison and died, could he?

Without hesitation, he kicked the door open and walked in.

The room was small, filled with all kinds of odds and ends, but it was neatly arranged. In the corner, a small bed that could only fit one person was empty.

"No one?"

The place was very small, and he quickly looked around but found no trace of anyone. In other words... Lu Chong wasn't here.

"Teacher..."

Meng Tao, sharp-eyed, noticed something and picked it up, handing it over.

It was a letter, with the words 'To Teacher Liu, Personal' written on it.

It seemed he knew Zhang Xuan would come looking and had already prepared.

He tore it open casually.

There was only one line, simple and clear.

"Teacher Liu, forgive your student for being unfilial. The vengeance for my parents and family must be exacted. Do not worry!"

"He... went to take revenge?"

His brows furrowed.

He had long known that Lu Chong was burning with the desire for revenge and thought about it every day. But to rush off right after just completing his poison body was a bit too hasty!

However, thinking about it, he understood.

The vengeance for parents and family was irreconcilable. After enduring for over two years, now that his strength had greatly improved, he could no longer hold back.

"I wonder who his enemy is..."

Lu Chong, afraid of implicating his teacher, had never revealed who his enemy was. Now that he had gone to take revenge, even if he wanted to find him, it would be difficult!

"Keep an eye out these next two days. If anyone is killed or any disturbance occurs in Tianwu Royal City, report to me immediately!"

Zhang Xuan instructed.

This group of students all had prominent backgrounds. If he went to investigate alone, he would exhaust himself and still find nothing. But by delegating, he should be able to learn quickly.

Since Lu Chong pretended to be mute and dared not speak, it meant his enemy was definitely in the royal city and held a high status!

Once something happened, it would surely cause a stir, and he would naturally find out then.

"Reckless!"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had originally thought that after the other finished cultivating his poison body, he would teach him a set of martial techniques, at least increasing the chances of revenge.

Who would have thought that as soon as he finished cultivating, he left without even a word? His seemingly steady temperament, when it came to action, was still so reckless.

In truth, Zhang Xuan knew that the reason he left without saying anything was that he didn't want to implicate him.

If he knew, he would certainly interfere, and once danger arose, he would most likely step in to help, thus also falling into the quagmire.

To prevent his mentor from being implicated because of him, he wrote a letter and left, letting no one know where he went.

This kid looked young, but he thought a lot.

"Let's go back to the classroom first!"

With a sigh, Zhang Xuan walked toward the classroom.

Although he found the guy somewhat reckless, he was actually more moved.

"Teacher and student—what is a teacher? What is a student?"

As he walked, he pondered, and a thought emerged.

Since his rebirth, he had taken on students for a purpose and imparted knowledge for various goals.

Though he was sincere, and the knowledge he imparted was carefully considered without any falsehood... in truth, from start to finish, he had never fully embraced the role of a teacher.

It was like some young parents: though they give birth to children and care for them selflessly, deep down they lack the concept of being a father or mother.

In his previous life, Zhang Xuan was merely a university library administrator, not a real teacher.

Even in this life, though he had taken on many students, first, the time was short, and second, there were too many matters to attend to.

At this moment, moved by Lu Chong's actions, his state of mind was unknowingly stirred.

"Is imparting knowledge being a 'teacher'? Is acquiring knowledge being a 'student'?"

"No, a teacher should not be so simple, and a student should not be so easy!"

The bits and pieces of his interactions with Zhao Ya, Mu Xueqing, Lu Chong, and others flowed through his mind. Zhang Xuan's state of mind grew increasingly empty and clear.

"It is a kind of tacit understanding, a responsibility, a reliance, a kind of..."

Boom!

After who knows how long, Zhang Xuan felt a flash before his eyes, as if some shackle had been broken, and everything became clear.

Then a majestic force, like ripples, descended from the sky into his mind, making his state of mind clearer and richer.

"Tell everyone not to disturb me; I'm going into seclusion!"

Feeling the change in his state of mind, Zhang Xuan could no longer contain himself. He instructed Meng Tao, flickered, entered the small classroom, and sat down.

...

The Hall of Masters.

"Father, I'm telling the truth. That Teacher Liu Cheng really guided Master Dan Mu to refine a fourth-grade pill..."

Jiang Chen looked at his father nearby.

What he had witnessed yesterday was too shocking; he still hadn't recovered.

He had consulted many books all morning and only then understood how difficult it was to guide a two-star alchemist to refine a fourth-grade pill—it was not something that could be accomplished merely by being proficient in pharmacology.

In other words, this Teacher Liu was definitely proficient in alchemy, and even an extremely skilled expert.

"Mm, I believe you!" Hall Master Jiang nodded.

He had long known that his senior brother was skilled in alchemy, but such an act still exceeded expectations.

"Father, just tell me, does this Teacher Liu have any connection with Uncle Zhang?"

Seeing his father's unsurprised expression, Jiang Chen voiced the doubt in his heart.

He had been suspicious since yesterday.

Uncle Zhang was proficient in alchemy, and Teacher Liu was also proficient! Uncle Zhang disappeared during a trial, and Teacher Liu appeared... Two such formidable super geniuses, yet they had no contact at all—it made him think.

Seeing his son's suspicion, Hall Master Jiang was about to speak when he suddenly stopped, his expression changing.

"What?"

Not only him, but Jiang Chen was also stunned.

"It's the Enshrinement Hall!"

Hall Master Jiang flickered and dashed straight out, with Jiang Shu closely following.

As soon as they left the courtyard, they saw that all the masters in the Hall of Masters had been alarmed and were rushing forward.

The Enshrinement Hall was where, after passing the master examination, one received the master badge and was formally enshrined as a master.

Normally, after successfully passing the master examination, one needed to apply for the badge here, pay respects to the statue of Confucius, and gain recognition from the Hall of Masters—similar to how some families return to their ancestral roots and offer sacrifices to ancestors.

As for the Q&A session, it was equivalent to announcing one's identity and gaining recognition from everyone, which took place after this worship. Therefore, Zhang Xuan had never been here.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Many masters arrived at the Enshrinement Hall at the same time and looked up.

They saw countless memorial tablets left by predecessors shaking incessantly, as if in an earthquake.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A series of tablets fell down.

"Ten thousand tablets shaking—this is... [Heavenly Recognition of a Master]?" Hall Master Jiang's lips trembled.

"Not only that, Hall Master, look..."

A master pointed forward.

Hall Master Jiang and the others looked in that direction.

They saw the tall statue of Confucius in the center of the room also trembling slightly, shaking continuously.

"This is... Confucius taking a disciple, a sage's student?"

A cry of surprise rang out.