Chapter 308: Chapter 315: Everyone Present is Trash! (Third Update)
Translator: 549690339
Within the bell tower, everyone seemed rather uneasy, casting glances around with a sense of silent apprehension.
Yang Zhen nonchalantly surveyed his surroundings, asking Xue Zonglin next to him, “What exactly is this monthly competition about, and how are the rankings decided?”
Xue Zonglin seemed taken aback, he looked around and whispered, “The monthly competition isn’t constrained to specific works. As long as the piece can condense culture, it can be presented. The judging process is unknown, it’s all subject to Su Dajia.”
“Subject to one person’s opinion?” Yang Zhen asked in surprise, “Isn’t that unfair?”
As Xue Zonglin was about to respond, Yan Hua, standing by their side, interjected with a smile, “The path of talent isn’t like exam scoring. Ability to provoke talent, and how much talent can be aggregated is apparent at first glance. Only extremely unique pieces may pose a challenge in judging.”
Yang Zhen nodded in understanding, realizing that Su Dajia must possess a unique method to incite the culture within these works.
At this moment, Gan Bailin suddenly approached and said to Yang Zhen, “Yang Kang, these monthly competitions are for people with real talent and learning. It’s not something that a charlatan like you would comprehend.”
Yang Zhen simply laughed without replying, while Xue Zonglin angrily retorted, “Gan Bailin, stop making cynical remarks here. If you’re so capable, why don’t you challenge Yang Zhen? Despite his young age, Yang Zhen caused a huge stir on Turtle Serpent Island. His melodious expressions had everyone lost in thought. His Roaring Tiger Mountain Forest Painting was the epitome of talent manifested. Can you do that?”
Gan Bailin burst into laughter, “That Yang Zhen is nothing but a charlatan. If he were genuinely talented, he won’t be a universally hated figure. Why hasn’t he appeared since then?”
As Xue Zonglin was about to reply, Gan Bailin sneered dismissively, “Don’t tell me you actually believe those rumors!”
Gan Bailin then turned towards Yang Zhen, “What do you think, Brother Yang?”
Yang Zhen replied seriously, “Perhaps Yang Zhen didn’t consider you worthy of his attention or even pretense.”
“You…” Gan Bailin scoffed, “You have a sharp tongue. Let’s see what you have to say when your true colors are revealed in front of Su Dajia.”
Yang Zhen just smiled and said nothing more. He glanced at Xue Zonglin, who wanted to speak but thought better of it, causing him to close his mouth.
At that moment, a sudden commotion erupted among the crowd. Everyone’s gaze turned towards the second floor of the bell tower.
Yang Zhen looked up and his eyes brightened.
At the top of the stairs on the second floor, Su Dajia, attired in a snow-white outfit, gracefully appeared. Every movement she made was suffused with an overwhelming elegance, making one’s breath involuntarily quicken.
Su Dajia had a gentle smile on her face, devoid of any emotional hues. She glanced at the crowd, her lips parted gently, and she said, “I apologize for keeping everyone waiting.”
The crowd responded courteously, bowing and exchanging pleasantries.
Gan Bailin even subtly maneuvered to obstruct Yang Zhen’s line of sight and began to flatter Su Dajia, “I’ve long heard of Su Dajia’s elegance. Seeing you in person today, I feel like I’ve been caressed by a spring breeze. Su Dajia’s radiance is truly extraordinary, a peerless beauty that outshines all in Tieling City.”
Su Dajia laughed lightly and returned a small curtsey, “You flatter me, Master Gan.”
Gan Bailin looked pleased and was just about to speak when Su Dajia turned towards Yang Zhen and said, “I presume this must be Yang Kang, the young master Yang!”
Seeing that Su Dajia was no longer paying him any attention, Gan Bailin’s face darkened. He shot a resentful glance at Yang Zhen and sneered repeatedly.
If Yang Zhen were here with his audacious personality, Gan Bailin might have felt a twinge of jealousy. But this Yang Kang was not Yang Zhen and in comparison, Yang Kang seemed far too inconspicuous and mediocre.
Gan Bailin chuckled coldly again, about to intrude into the conversation between Su Dajia and Yang Zhen, when suddenly a surprised voice said, “Brother Yang Zhen!”
Yang Zhen… Brother?
Upon hearing these four words, everyone instantly turned their heads towards the source of the voice in sheer astonishment.
Even Yang Zhen was taken aback, turning in surprise to the source of the voice, his eyes widened!
“Tian Rou?”
No wonder the name sounded familiar. Seeing the young girl descending from the staircase, Yang Zhen recognized her.
“Yang… Yang Zhen?” Xue Zonglin jumped in fright, even leaping to the side, and swiftly landing across from Yang Zhen. He stared back and forth at him in disbelief, querying, “Yang… Brother Yang, aren’t you called Yang Guo?”
Gan Bailin stared blankly at Yang Zhen, disbelief flashing in his eyes as he declared, “Impossible, there’s no way he’s Yang Zhen!”
“What, Yang Kang is Yang Zhen, how… how can that be?”
“Why not? Miss Tian Rou’s slip of the tongue must be true. Who’d have thought Yang Kang is Yang Zhen, this damn sneak infiltrated here without raising suspicions!”
“This is bad, we can’t let him hurt Su Dajia, everyone quickly take down Yang Zhen!”
The crowd’s expressions shifted gradually, some even surrounding Yang Zhen, staring and challenging him, “You’re the arrogant Yang Zhen?”
Among the crowd, Yan Hua and Su Dajia were the most surprised. After a glance at each other, they both detected the shock in each other’s eyes.
For a moment, the entire clock tower echoed with silence, all eyes on Yang Zhen in intense bewilderment.
“Brother Yang Zhen, how come you’re here?” Tian Rou bounced up beside Yang Zhen, looking up at him in curiosity.
Yang Zhen laughed, ruffling Tian Rou’s hair, “Little girl, I didn’t expect to find you here, why didn’t you go to that Spiritual Studies Palace?”
“Spiritual Studies Palace?” Gan Bailin snorted, “So you really are Yang Zhen, this is outrageous. Do you think it’s easy to enter the Spiritual Studies Palace?”
Yang Zhen shook his head, “It might be tough for you, but not for this little girl!”
“This is absurd!” Gan Bailin sneered loudly, “Everyone heard it, this Yang Kang here is that arrogant Yang Zhen. He insults Su Dajia shamelessly. I suggest we all take down Yang Zhen and make him pay the price!”
Having said this, Gan Bailin covertly glanced at Su Dajia. Seeing no opposition from him, he let out a sigh of relief and grinned triumphantly at Yang Zhen.
At this moment, a strange smile crept onto Yang Zhen’s face as he looked at Gan Bailin, “Now that’s weird. You insist that I insulted Su Dajia. But what exactly did I say?”
“You said…” Gan Bailin faltered, his complexion turning horrid as he stared at Yang Zhen. Surely he couldn’t tell everyone, especially Su Dajia, that Yang Zhen dared to say Su Dajia was so inferior he couldn’t even make his bed?
At this point, Yang Zhen chuckled lightly, focusing on Gan Bailin, “I personally don’t know what kind of person Su Dajia is, and I definitely didn’t target any particular person here…”
Yang Zhen looked around at the crowd, grinning broadly, “I was just saying, all of you here… are actually garbage!”
At Yang Zhen’s words, everyone present was dumbstruck, then swelled with rage as they collectively berated Yang Zhen, yelling non-stop.
Gan Bailin burst out laughing, pointing at Yang Zhen, “Yang Zhen, anyone can talk big. Do you dare to compete with me?”
“Compete with him!”
“Absolutely ridiculous, who could believe such outrageous behavior.”
“Yang Zhen, stop being so audacious! If you have the guts, compete with Master Gan!”
Listened to the incessant cursing from the crowd, Yang Zhen suddenly felt confused, just what the hell did that bastard cat want him to do?