High Martial World: I Gain Passive Skills Daily-Chapter 82 - 81: How Many Tongues Can a Man Have?

The son of the Cao Bang’s gang leader?

Chen Kuang squinted and looked down from the window.

This room is equipped with special wards, capable of preventing outsiders from peeking and defending against a certain degree of attack, but it doesn’t hinder those inside from looking out, akin to one-way glass, and bulletproof at that.

This is probably the VIP treatment... Qi Sibai is ranked in Canglang’s Thirty-Fourth Ranking, which makes him quite a notable figure even among cultivators.

The true identity of Xianyu Nunnery’s owner is unknown, but being able to maintain the sole inn opened by cultivators at this most scenic location by Dongting Lake surely indicates they are not ordinary.

Otherwise, it’s likely they’d be found dead in the streets by the second day of opening...

The cultivators in this world don’t care about rules; it’s all about how hard your fists are.

Being given VIP treatment by the owner of Xianyu Nunnery is in itself a form of recognition.

"What’s the matter? I asked you to repeat what you said just now. You dared to speak earlier, so why not now? Are you afraid you’ve said something scandalous?"

Fan Chuan sneered as he moved forward, walking to the center of the pavilion.

The students subconsciously retreated, leaving Chen Ning behind, along with two other youths in student attire.

These two youths are named Gu Zitao and Liang Zhi, both reputed talents from Jishao County, having passed the preliminary exams at a young age.

If not for an unexpected event this year, they should have been preparing to enter the Imperial City for the higher exams, potentially entering officialdom with a stroke of luck, serving Da Liang with pride and speed.

But alas, with the changes in the blink of an eye, the Liang Kingdom no longer exists...

It’s uncertain; next year, to participate in the exams, they’d need to travel a thousand miles to the Zhou Kingdom.

This is still thinking optimistically; the reality is worse, as Ji Chengtian is likely not to recognize the Liang Kingdom’s exam results, intending to unify the examination times and system with Great Zhou’s.

The exam content of Zhou Liang’s Liang Kingdom also differs greatly.

In other words, the decades of hard study of Liang Kingdom’s students would all be wasted!

Who could bear such a situation?

Precisely because of this, the gathering meant to relieve depression transformed midway into a venting criticism meeting, growing ever more intense...

From ancient times, literature detests prosperity; the precipitous fall and national resentment naturally evoke many emotions.

Gu Zitao and Liang Zhi have considerable poetic talent; driven by their stirred emotions, they casually composed some fervent poems, severely criticizing the Zhou Kingdom as plunderers, and the Liang Kingdom’s traitors.

These poems could naturally remain timeless works, and if spread after the gathering, it would indeed encourage the scholars of the Liang Kingdom.

Only, it was most unfortunate that someone heard them directly...

That person, quite unfortunately, is the son of the Cao Bang’s gang leader!

Who doesn’t know that the Great Zhou Civilization Official stayed at the Governor’s Mansion for one night, then got invited by this local tyrant Fan Hailong to be a guest the next day?

Smart people embrace the current situation; with the Liang Kingdom gone, they naturally seek a new backing.

Self-made Fan Hailong understands this better than anyone.

Fan Chuan scanned the students, his gaze particularly lingering on Chen Ning with a hint of ambiguous desire.

"Afraid to speak? Then let me speak for you!"

Fan Chuan sneered, pacing while reciting, "A minor official serves a major official, currying favor pleasingly; if one can serve their parents like this, wouldn’t they become a filial child!"

He "clap, clap, clap" applauded enthusiastically, praising, "Good poem! Truly a good poem! Could any of the esteemed talents present have composed it?"

"Though my father is a rough man, he cherishes talent, having invested quite a bit in private schooling in Jishao County."

"Now seeing such brilliant young talents from Jishao County, I’m sure he would be immensely delighted!"

Fan Chuan spoke the words, though his eyes flashed coldly with no hint of joy.

He looked towards the other students, loudly saying:

"If any of you can reveal the author of this poem, I will definitely recommend him to my father, ensuring he lives out the rest of his life worry-free, obtaining an official position without enduring the hardship of the exams!"

His words sounded pleasing, yet he didn’t specify if the recommendation was for the poem’s author or the person identifying the author...

For a moment, those other students became restless.

Chen Ning clenched the book in his hand, turning to glare at the other students, silencing their hesitation, then looked at Fan Chuan:

"Young Master Fan, a dignified cultivator, why bully us ordinary folks..."

Fan Chuan, putting on a fake smile, interrupted: "Little sister of the Chen Family, food can be mismanaged, but words must be carefully spoken. Accusing me of bullying requires evidence, doesn’t it?"

"I speak kindly, offering the Jishao County students a path to glory amid their dire straits, how could there be wrongdoing?"

"On the contrary, little sister blocking the mouths unjustly is the true abuse of power, isn’t it?"

Fan Chuan looked at the students and said righteously, "Feel free to speak your minds. Do not fear revenge from the Chen Family! Whatever happens, I, Fan Chuan, will have your back!"

His blatant twisting of truth made Chen Ning furious, "You!"

Though talented, she was still only sixteen and had never seen such direct attempts at sowing discord, leaving her at a loss for what to do.

Fan Chuan’s words caused the originally hesitant students to glance at each other, becoming uncertain once more.

One student gritted his teeth, pointed at Gu Zitao, and said, "It, it’s he who wrote it!"

Gu Zitao’s face turned ghostly pale, and he turned to the student, saying, "We’ve been classmates for ten years, how can you do this?!"

Fan Chuan walked up to Gu Zitao, smiling as he patted Gu’s shoulder, "You’re indeed a fine talent. Why not come to my home, and we’ll have a good talk about your poem."

Gu Zitao collapsed, being forcibly taken away by Fan Chuan’s men.

He panicked and shouted, "It wasn’t me who wrote it, it really wasn’t me!"

From above, Chen Kuang watched without showing any intention of intervening.

These few students, in a moment of hot-bloodedness, wrote poems and recited them publicly; they should have anticipated the consequences. Had Gu Zitao some backbone, he should have stepped forward to admit it earlier, rather than wait for Fan Chuan’s provocation.

If he had bravely acknowledged it, Chen Kuang might have been able to save his life.

Instead, he chose to be a coward, wanting Chen Ning to speak up for him, and in the end, outright denied it.

Cowardly actions paired with brash words — it’s hard to commend.

However, Chen Kuang noticed that Fan Chuan didn’t seem to be targeting the poem in earnest, but rather was focusing on Chen Ning...

Chen Kuang blew at the tea in his cup.

The Chen Family had close ties with the Cao Bang, yet Fan Chuan’s attitude showed no inclination to give face to the Chen Family.

Being the Young Master of the Cao Bang, naturally, his stance represented that of Fan Hailong’s.

With the shifting times, it seemed... the Cao Bang was unwilling to share its benefits with others anymore.

Particularly, with the Chen Family’s influence at the South Pier surpassing the Cao Bang, tolerance might be in short supply.

Fan Chuan stepped forward again, "It seems there were a few other well-written poems earlier, such as..."

Chen Ning stopped him, "The poetry gathering has been reported to the Governor; you should at least consider the Governor’s face, even if you disregard the Chen Family."

Fan Chuan whispered, "Little sister, it seems you lack perspective."

"Currently, even the Civilization Official is in my father’s mansion, so what does a mere Governor count for?"

He suddenly addressed the anxious Liang Zhi nearby, "I remember, your name is Liang Zhi?"

Liang Zhi nodded.

Fan Chuan suddenly turned cold, "How dare you call yourself Liang Zhi? With the Liang Kingdom fallen, how can you be named Liang Zhi under Great Zhou’s rule?! Such treason! You deserve to die!"

He waved his hand, and a cultivator behind him stepped forward, drawing a sword toward Liang Zhi, seemingly unintentionally slicing toward Chen Ning’s throat in the process.

Chen Ning, never having witnessed such a scene, felt chilled to the bone, instinctively closed her eyes.

"Zheng——"

The sound of a qin suddenly echoed, causing the cultivator to pause and then topple backward, revealing a thin line of blood on his neck...

Following him, the rest of Fan Chuan’s men fell silently to the ground as well.

Everyone was struck with terror.

Chen Ning, stunned, opened her eyes, watching the scene, thinking the unique sound of the qin seemed familiar.

Fan Chuan was shocked, his forehead cold with sweat, quickly called out, "Which senior is present?"

"Senior? Are you implying I’m old?"

A voice came from a nearby small building, "I scorn being considered old. How dare you call me senior? You deserve to die!"

Fan Chuan, panicked, replied, "No, no! I meant to ask if there are any other seniors here, not you!"

The voice continued, "Oh? Is that so... then I won’t trouble you."

Then generously added, "For speaking carelessly like that, you’ll cut out one of your tongues."

One of the tongues?

How many tongues does a person have?

Fan Chuan’s face turned pale.