Chapter 29: How Would You Resolve It If It Were You?
Chapter 29: How Would You Resolve It If It Were You?
"Yes, it's been a long time."
Chen Zhixing also looked at Chen Zhaosheng and casually replied.
Ten years ago, at the age of three, Chen Zhaosheng entered the Treasure Body stage, and the news quickly spread across the thirteen states of Eastern Xuan.
By the age of five, he reached the ninth level of the Treasure Body stage, earning widespread acclaim as a young prodigy! Soon after, Qianyang Academy, a top institution in Eastern Xuan, extended an olive branch to him.
Chen Zhaosheng thus entered Qianyang Academy to cultivate, and now, it had been eight years since they last met.
"How are Third Uncle and Third Aunt doing recently?" Chen Zhaosheng asked.
"They're fine, wandering around," Chen Zhixing replied nonchalantly.
Then, Chen Zhaosheng fell silent, seemingly out of topics to discuss.
Chen Zhixing smiled, not minding it, and found a corner to sit in.
Chen Zhaosheng had always considered him a rival.
Chen Zhixing was well aware of this.
This guy had left the Chen family of Ziwei for eight years and would send people to inquire about the family's situation from time to time, pretending to 'unintentionally' ask about his progress.
Wasn't he just trying to gauge his cultivation progress?
Chen Zhixing merely smiled at this and didn't care.
It was just a child's competitiveness, which he could understand.
Suddenly.
"I reached the Luminescence Realm last month," Chen Zhaosheng suddenly said calmly.
As soon as he spoke, it was like a stone dropping into a still lake, causing ripples.
The entire mountaintop erupted in astonishment!
"What? Chen Zhaosheng has already reached the Luminescence Realm?"
"Hiss! If I remember correctly, Chen Zhaosheng is only thirteen, right? A thirteen-year-old in the Luminescence Realm, that's terrifying!"
"At this speed, he’s among the top tier in the world today, isn't he?"
"Is this what it means to be a Nine Ancient Patterned One? Incredible!"
"Sigh, I'm already fifteen and still struggling in the Treasure Body stage; the gap is just too big!"
"People really can't be compared!"
For a while, the Chen family disciples looked at Chen Zhaosheng with astonishment and envy.
The clan elder responsible for teaching was overjoyed and said, "What? Zhaosheng, you've entered the Luminescence Realm? Why didn't you inform the family of this great news? Hahaha, Zhaosheng, as expected of the Chen family's prodigy, your future is limitless!"
Chen Zhaosheng ignored these voices and his emotions remained unchanged.
He had heard similar praises countless times over the past eight years.
He continued to gaze at Chen Zhixing, but his calm eyes now carried a burning intensity.
"Oh, congratulations, but what does that have to do with me?" Chen Zhixing asked curiously.
"And you?" Chen Zhaosheng asked, his eyes intense, with just two words.
"Me?"
Chen Zhixing smiled and was about to speak when—
"Young Master Zhaosheng, why ask him? He's just a lazy person not worth your attention."
A cold female voice suddenly interrupted.
Lu Ying walked up from the mountain path and then naturally sat beside Chen Zhaosheng. She took out a fragrant handkerchief and gently wiped Chen Zhaosheng's forehead, speaking softly:
"Young Master Zhaosheng, there's something I don't understand about my cultivation. Can you teach me later?"
Seeing this, Chen Zhixing was first taken aback, then amused.
These two ended up together?
He glanced at Lu Ying and shook his head slightly.
Such a woman, who panders to the powerful and looks down on others, was luckily not his choice yesterday.
And where did this inexplicable hostility towards him come from?
Was it because she felt humiliated in front of everyone yesterday?
Chen Zhixing didn't feel angry; he only found it amusing.
On the other side.
Chen Zhaosheng frowned slightly as the conversation was interrupted and said, "Hmm, I'll teach you later."
"Alright, then I must trouble Young Master Zhaosheng."
Lu Ying immediately squeezed out a sweet smile and moved closer to Chen Zhaosheng, almost as if she wanted to cling to him.
She didn't forget to glance at Chen Zhixing and sneer, "Unlike some people, who have a bad temper despite their lack of skills."
"He’s not without skills."
Chen Zhaosheng suddenly spoke indifferently.
"Ah?"
Lu Ying was puzzled, not understanding why Chen Zhaosheng would speak for Chen Zhixing when she was clearly defending him.
"Nothing."
Chen Zhaosheng didn't explain, but looked at Chen Zhixing meaningfully and said:
"My brother, I hope you can surprise me during the Southern Border Trial. Don't disappoint me."
After saying this, Chen Zhaosheng closed his eyes and said no more.
The surrounding Chen family disciples all wore expressions of curiosity but didn't dare to intervene.
Whether it was the outstanding Chen Zhaosheng or the seemingly mediocre Chen Zhixing, both were direct descendants of the Chen family, not subjects for them to discuss.
In the Chen family, bloodlines were extremely hierarchical and distinct!
"Alright, alright, do you still want to listen to the lecture?"
The clan elder sitting on the bluestone scolded, pointing at a Chen family disciple who was distracted:
"You, tell me, where did I leave off?"
Caught off guard, the Chen family disciple inwardly lamented and replied, "Elder, you were talking about how to establish oneself in the cultivation world."
"Yes, that's right."
The clan elder stroked his beard with satisfaction and smiled, "To establish oneself in the cultivation world, besides being strong enough, one must also be smart."
"Without brains, no matter how strong you are, you're likely to offend someone stronger and meet your end."
"Such examples are not uncommon in the cultivation world."
The clan elder pointed at the Chen family disciple and said, "Let me give an example."
"Suppose you're new to the cultivation world and see a couple in an inn. You notice that the woman is exceptionally beautiful, just your type, while the man seems ordinary. You’re filled with lust and approach the woman. However, you fail to recognize the man's strength. If you unintentionally offend him with your words, this senior might reveal his strength and kill you in anger."
"Now, tell me, how would you smartly resolve this situation?"
Hearing this, the Chen family disciple's face showed a smile more painful than crying.
Damn, why am I the one being asked?
"Elder, if it were me, I-I would apologize and explain that I didn't recognize his status and unintentionally offended the senior," the disciple stammered.
"Inadequate! If apologies were enough, why would we need strength?"
The clan elder shook his head and looked at another Chen family disciple, "What about you? How would you smartly resolve this situation?"
The disciple, clearly more confident, replied, "Elder, if it were me, I would first apologize and explain that it was unintentional, only because the senior's companion is too beautiful. Then I would mention that I'm from the Chen family! This approach is both respectful and assertive, leveraging our family's name to make him wary!"
"Moderate! Your approach has some merit, but if you encounter a hot-tempered individual, they might think you're threatening them and decide to kill you!"
The clan elder continued to shake his head and pointed to another Chen family disciple.
One by one, the clan elder found none of the answers satisfactory.
Finally, when he pointed to another disciple, the young man nervously answered:
"If it were me, I-I'd kneel down, apologize, slap myself, and say I was blind and foolish, begging for mercy."
"Elder, would that work? If not, should I bow a few more times?"
After finishing, the disciple looked at the elder with a face full of nervousness.
Hearing this, Chen Zhixing, sitting in the corner, couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing.
Oh my goodness!
What kind of ridiculous question is this?
One word—
Brilliant!
Whoosh—
The clan elder on the bluestone suddenly glared at Chen Zhixing:
"How dare you!"
"Chen Zhixing, it's bad enough that you are unlearned, but how dare you laugh here?"
"Do you think you're so clever, or do you find my questions funny?"
Chen Zhixing quickly waved his hands and explained, "No, no, I just thought of something funny, not laughing at you, Elder. I promise I won't laugh again... Uh, hahaha... Sorry, I can't help it, hahaha!"
The elder's face darkened, turning as cold as ice:
"Alright, you're laughing, aren't you? Then let me ask you, if you were in that situation, how would you smartly resolve it?"
The elder stared coldly at Chen Zhixing, his eyes flashing with anger.
Chen Zhixing looked at the thoroughly angry elder, feeling helpless.
Unable to come up with an answer, he blinked and said:
"Then I would tell him, 'I'm smart, don't mess with me!' Huh?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the other Chen family disciples were stunned, then burst into loud laughter.
Some even bent over, unable to straighten up from laughing.
"Chen Zhixing!!!"
The elder's face turned ashen.