Chapter 13: The Transaction
“Hall Master Jing, the performance is over. Do you still wish to continue watching?”
Jin Tianming’s voice was not loud, but it reached the ears of all the students present. They all looked in the direction Jin Tianming was speaking, and they truly saw the Hall Master of Mingde Hall, Jing Hongchen!
Just as Shrek Academy’s Outer Courtyard students yearned to enter the Inner Courtyard for study, the greatest wish of Sun Moon Royal Academy students was to enter Mingde Hall. The Soul Guidance Device learning materials within Mingde Hall could be said to be the most abundant and complete in the Sun Moon Empire, a sacred place deeply yearned for by their Soul Guidance Device students!
The man leaning against the wall was precisely the current Hall Master of Mingde Hall, Jing Hongchen, a Ninety-Fourth Level Title Douluo and a Nine-Level Soul Guide.
“Is that true?” one person asked in disbelief. He said to a companion beside him, “Quick, slap me to see if I’m dreaming!”
A crisp slap sounded.
The person covered his swollen left cheek with one hand, and with the other, he pointed at his companion, who had slapped him without hesitation, asking in disbelief, “You actually hit me?”
“You see, I hit you, and you’re not happy,” the companion feigned innocence when confronted by his good friend’s questioning.
Jing Hongchen naturally ignored the students’ worshipful and curious gazes. Instead, he approached Jin Tianming, glanced at the five people still kneeling there, and then asked curiously, “How did you discover me?”
He had just used some minor Soul Guidance Device tricks, and while the group of students didn’t notice him, the observation target did, which was truly somewhat incredible.
“Secret.”
“…” Jing Hongchen fell silent upon hearing this answer. He had expected Jin Tianming to give him an explanation, but he only received two words: ‘secret.’
Jin Tianming did not look at Jing Hongchen’s silent expression and continued, “Hall Master Jing, it seems your academy is truly not very good; it even allows bullying. If learning is only like this, I might as well go to Shrek Academy; at least there, there’s an excuse for hitting people.”
Hearing this, Jing Hongchen immediately snapped back to attention. He had somewhat grasped the personality of the genius before him: more arrogant than his own grandson, so arrogant that he didn’t put anyone in his eyes, including himself.
Just now, when he met Jin Tianming’s gaze, he saw no trace of respect in the boy’s eyes.
Jing Hongchen took a deep breath, glanced at the five kneeling individuals, and said.
“You five, go find Director Lin and explain today’s matter clearly, understood?”
“Understood.”
“Then why aren’t you rolling?”
Jing Hongchen saw that the five people answered that they understood but still didn’t get up, and he immediately became exasperated. These royal family members, besides being bullies and having no brains, had no other redeeming qualities.
Royal Family: ???
The five people heard the Hall Master tell them to roll. They looked at Jin Tianming and began to roll.
Jing Hongchen: ???
Jin Tianming: 6
Jing Hongchen clutched his head, truly not wanting to look at these five. He had told them to roll only in the literal sense, but they directly interpreted it as…
“Student Jin, may I speak with you privately?”
“You may.”
Jin Tianming had no reason to refuse Jing Hongchen’s invitation, and the fish he wanted to catch was precisely this fellow.
—
Jing Hongchen’s Office
Jing Hongchen brewed a cup of black tea for himself and Jin Tianming. Jin Tianming sat opposite Jing Hongchen, observing the office. He had to admit, the Hall Master’s office was indeed different; it was incredibly luxurious.
When he had strength and money in the future, and his Engulfing Sky Dragon body was a bit better, he too would enjoy the pleasures of wealth.
After a long wait for Jin Tianming to speak, Jing Hongchen couldn’t help but ask, “Student Jin, you shouldn’t be from the Sun Moon Empire, should you?”
“That’s right, Hall Master Jing,” Jin Tianming did not deny the question.
Jing Hongchen breathed a sigh of relief when Jin Tianming didn’t deny it, thinking, it seems this kid is still easy to talk to.
“Then where in the three nations are you from?”
“A reclusive force.”
“Indeed! I wasn’t wrong.” Jing Hongchen heard this answer, and the stone in his heart completely fell. His calm eyes began to burn with fervor. A reclusive force, how wonderful!
If he could successfully draw the mysterious reclusive force to which Jin Tianming belonged to the Sun Moon Empire, then the Sun Moon Empire’s combat power would surely increase exponentially!
After all, how powerful was this reclusive force? It was evident from their ability to cultivate a genius like Jin Tianming! It was clear that their foundation and strength were absolutely not to be underestimated.
Such a powerful force, once it joined the Sun Moon Empire, would undoubtedly bring earth-shattering changes and unprecedented development opportunities to the entire Empire.
Perhaps, in the near future, the Sun Moon Empire’s dominance of the continent would not be far off!
Jin Tianming took in the hint of fervor in Jing Hongchen’s eyes. He didn’t say much, letting Jing Hongchen’s imagination run wild.
Jing Hongchen quickly calmed down and asked somewhat tentatively, “Did your family only send you alone?”
Meaning: did you come alone, and did your organization not send a protector or anything like that?
Jin Tianming naturally understood the meaning in Jing Hongchen’s words and replied with a smile, “Hall Master, do you want to try to make a move on me right here?”
Silence
The atmosphere between the two fell silent. Jing Hongchen’s eyes narrowed slightly, staring at Jin Tianming, who was smiling at him.
He couldn’t help but think, “This guy truly doesn’t put me, a Nine-Level Soul Guide, in his eyes.”
Jing Hongchen was the first to break the silence, kindly advising, “Student Jin, as a genius, it’s still best to be a bit low-key.”
“Thank you for the advice, Hall Master Jing, but…” Jin Tianming nodded slightly, his face showing no sign of embarrassment or unease after being admonished. His gaze remained as calm as water, as if everything Jing Hongchen had just said had nothing to do with him.
However, just as Jing Hongchen thought he had taken it to heart, he saw the corner of his mouth lift slightly, and his tone suddenly shifted: “But I believe I indeed possess the right to be arrogant!”
As he said this, his voice was neither high nor low, yet it carried an undeniable firmness and confidence, like a clap of thunder exploding in the air, leaving Jing Hongchen speechless.
Arrogant!
Too arrogant!
Any genius who hasn’t fully matured is usually very low-key. While his own grandson was arrogant, he only dared to be that way at home. His grandson knew that only by maturing could one truly be considered a genius.
But the young man sitting before him had an arrogant expression, completely disregarding the consequences. Did his backing force not tell him to be a bit low-key when out and about?
Wait, Jing Hongchen seemed to understand something at this moment. He looked at Jin Tianming, silent for a moment, then asked uncertainly, “Are you preparing to make a transaction with me?”
The young man sitting opposite him, ever since they met, had consistently addressed him as “Hall Master Jing,” never even once calling him “Dean.”
As their conversation progressed, he gradually realized: “This fellow, from the very beginning, never intended to meet and communicate with me as an ordinary student. His true purpose is to come and make a transaction with me, representing the reclusive force behind him.”