Chapter 108: Chapter 87: The Solution
“Yes!”
Dean Lu Mingrong nodded.
“So… from when you met her at Huaiyuan Mountain to when you started preparing, how long was it?” Zhang Xuan asked curiously.
Lu Mingrong: “Also about four and a half years!”
“In that case…”
Zhang Xuan realized, “When she was with you, she was already with that guy as if they were husband and wife? In that case… were you the ‘other man’?”
Lu Mingrong shook his head: “Of course not! It was after she and I started dating that she secretly met with him… When I met her, she was single. As for the demands of a massive dowry and reaching the pinnacle of Viscera Realm, those came later.”
“To demand such things from you while she was involved with someone else, what was her purpose…”
Zhang Xuan’s face was full of doubts, and before he could finish speaking, he realized: “I understand now, she deliberately set an unattainable goal for you, hoping you would give up, but… you actually succeeded! By that time, she already had a child and couldn’t be with you…”
“That’s pretty much it… When I found out, I felt like the sky had fallen, I was so distraught I vomited blood several times, my spirit was injured, and I was severely ill for a whole year before I recovered. By then, the cartilage in my joints had completely solidified under the refining of Origin qi, and recovery was no longer possible.”
Lu Mingrong said, “Later, my master recommended me as the head of the school to deter others, so I had to keep making the same mistakes, continuously improving my strength, refining every bone in my body to perfection, hoping that enough strength would break my shackles, and that’s how my current situation arose…”
“I see…”
Zhang Xuan finally understood, but still felt confused about something: “Wait, if that’s the case, then… why did you start by saying City Lord Yu Longqing was progressing fast in his cultivation? What did you mean by that?”
The whole story, this city lord had not appeared at all…
And you start by saying he is a peerless talent, what are you trying to do?
Lu Mingrong: “That… the guy who fathered the child with her is Yu Longqing’s cousin!”
Startled, Zhang Xuan had a sudden realization, “When she met you, you weren’t outstanding and didn’t have much strength, while the other guy is City Lord Yu’s cousin, and City Lord Yu himself is Baiyan City’s greatest talent of the century…”
No wonder that woman would rather give up a man who truly loved her to seek someone weaker; it turns out she wanted to leverage the other person’s status.
After all, being the sister-in-law of a genius city lord definitely beats marrying an ordinary teacher.
Alas, a love story woven with tender emotions turned into one of mercenary motives in the blink of an eye…
But unfortunately for her, she could never have dreamed that this ordinary teacher she disregarded would eventually become the second most powerful man in Baiyan City, with authority second only to the city lord…
“Of course, there’s also her brother’s doing in it; he wanted to become the clan head and needed external forces to assist. If his sister married well, his chances would increase…”
Seeing that he had already guessed, Lu Mingrong was too lazy to hide any longer, and laid out the whole story.
“Large clans, need to breakthrough the Seven Layers of the Source Pool to consider becoming a clan head…”
Zhang Xuan muttered a few words, then realizing something, looked over with a hint of suspicion: “You’re not saying this woman is… the sister of a clan head from one of the Three Premier Clans, are you?”
Lu Mingrong nodded: “Yes, she is Liu Tianzheng’s sister!”
Zhang Xuan’s mouth hung open.
After all this trouble, this Dean Lu Mingrong had nearly become the uncle of Liu Mingyue…
After a long while, Zhang Xuan asked again: “So… how is Liu Clan head’s sister doing now?”
Lu Mingrong said: “Later, Yu Longqing found out the whole story, voluntarily severed ties with his cousin, and expelled him from the City Lord Residence. Without that backing, and while I became the dean… she came to me a few times, trying to reconcile, but I refused each time. Then, I heard she attempted to drive out the City Lord’s brother from the family, completely severing ties, to show her innocence and commitment, but he summoned a Primordial Beast, and they both perished… Of course, I don’t know the specifics; I only heard about it afterwards.”
Seeing that he had said this, the dean commanding respect in Baiyan City looked somewhat downcast, and Zhang Xuan could not help but comfort him: “Actually, Dean Lu, you shouldn’t feel sad for such a woman! It’s her loss for not recognizing unpolished jade…”
“Such a woman?” Lu Mingrong looked over confusedly.
“It’s… those kinds of women who are vain and possess no real abilities, yet are always thinking about reaping without sowing…”
Hesitating for a moment, Zhang Xuan explained, “Not sharing the hardships but wanting to share the wealth; there’s no such good deal.”
“Indeed!”
Lu Mingrong nodded, looking over: “Alright, I’ve finished telling my story, and here’s the cultivation method… This Tidal Marrow Tempering Method is profoundly complex. You can look it over, and if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me directly…”
“No need, I’ve already gained inspiration, found the root of your problem, and have devised a solution. This secret manual is of no use to me now!”
Zhang Xuan handed the cultivation method back.
The Library of Heaven’s Path already cataloged the book, marking the flaws, one being ‘Impatience’ and how to cure it, and he had thought of a method while they talked.
“Useless?”
Lu Mingrong was stunned.
His story, so embarrassing, and yet inspiring?
“Yes, I’ll help you resolve it now, but…let me say in advance, you need to completely seal your cultivation and strength, and no matter what I do, you must not resist at all! Otherwise, if you resist, you might very likely waste all previous efforts.”
Zhang Xuan said with a grave expression.
“Seal cultivation and strength?”
Lu Mingrong frowned, and after a while, nodded: “Alright, but I’m worried that my own seals might break if I face danger, and it would be difficult for me to hold back. Let’s have Wu Yunzhou do it instead; his strength is not far behind mine, but if he takes action, even if I want to break free, it won’t be easy.”
Zhang Xuan nodded.
It seemed the dean still had some reservations, which was understandable; sealing strength was like entrusting one’s life to someone else. Since they had met only two days ago, it was normal to feel uneasy; complete trust would actually be abnormal.
Soon, Wu Yunzhou walked in, quickly understood the situation, and looked at the young man with a curious expression.
The dean’s inability to break through was something he knew, though not in detail, but he understood that no one in Baiyan City could solve it. Now a guy who had been a teacher for just two days was claiming he could do it…
How could that feel reliable?
However, since the dean had made a decision, he dared not object and immediately nodded in agreement.
A moment later, the room was filled with dense power as Dean Lu Mingrong’s strength was completely sealed.
At this moment, the second most powerful expert in Baiyan City was no different from an ordinary person, posing no threat whatsoever.
“We can start now!”
Feeling that all his strength had vanished, Lu Mingrong took a step forward and approached Zhang Xuan with curiosity, eager to thoroughly understand how the other party was going to treat him.
Before he could even ask, he saw the other party stride out, and a moment later, led Dao Li in.
Grabbing the ears of the thousand-li horse, Zhang Xuan muttered softly a few sentences and then patted its rear.
Dao Li got the message, a serious look appeared in its large eyes, and then it abruptly turned its rear and kicked toward the still clueless School Head Lu.
Thud!
If Lu Mingrong’s cultivation had still been intact, he would have been unconcerned about such speed, but with the Source Pool sealed, he could not dodge and, his pupils shrinking, he was sent flying backwards, landing over ten meters away.
“What… Teacher Zhang, what are you doing?”
Wu Yunzhou was startled and hurried forward.
Wasn’t he supposed to help him break through? Why the kick?
“I am helping the School Head solve a problem, I told him before that…”
Zhang Xuan said.
“Told him?”
Wu Yunzhou hurriedly looked at the school head, only to see Lu Mingrong looking just as baffled.
You mentioned helping me overcome the issue of not being able to break through, but you never mentioned anything about being kicked by a horse!
However, having previously agreed to whatever means without resistance, he turned to Wu Yunzhou and couldn’t help but nod.
“Alright then!”
Seeing that it was indeed the case, Wu Yunzhou no longer said anything and found a stool to sit on the side. No sooner had he sat down than he saw Zhang Xuan approaching.
Looking up puzzled, he soon saw the thousand-li horse, Dao Li, chasing after School Head Lu and wildly kicking.
Arms, legs, shoulders… There wasn’t a single spot it could kick that was spared.
“That’s not right…”
After several dozens of kicks, Lu Mingrong, although in a sorry state, didn’t seem to suffer any serious injuries, causing Wu Yunzhou to furrow his brows involuntarily: “Although School Head Lu’s strength is suppressed, his body has been tempered by Origin qi, especially his bones, which are as hard as steel. Surely the horse’s hooves shouldn’t really hurt him, should they?”
“Yeah… How could I forget that!”
Slapping his forehead, Zhang Xuan looked annoyed.
“Forgot?”
Wu Yunzhou’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and he couldn’t help but ask again, “So what you were kicking just now…”
“It’s okay if it was a mistake, after all, School Head Lu has thick skin and flesh, just take it as kicking for fun…” Zhang Xuan smiled.
“???”
Lu Mingrong’s face stiffened.
As a pinnacle expert of Jade Bone Realm and the School Head, I willingly let you bring a horse to beat me up, and you tell me it was a mistake, just for fun…
Just as he was about to question whether it was time to stop since there was a mistake, he heard the nearby young man frown and look displeasedly towards the distant Dao Li: “Why are you kicking so weakly? Didn’t you eat?”
“Hiss~~ Hiss~~”
Dao Li neighed ferociously and charged towards the School Head Lu, hooves flying.
After watching for a while, seeing that School Head Lu was indeed covered with hoof prints, Zhang Xuan then turned to Wu Yunzhou and quietly gave an instruction.
After hearing his words, Wu Yunzhou’s face twitched as he walked out. It wasn’t long before he came back carrying a large bundle of greenish wild grass, placing it on the ground, a handful at a time.
Zhang Xuan walked up, picked up a watering can, and started sprinkling water on the now rootless wild grass. As he did, he looked up at Lu Mingrong, his eyes filled with sincerity:
“School Head Lu, don’t you like the prairie? Now that you have the horse, I’ll set up a grassland for you…”
“???”
Seeing stars, School Head Lu suddenly felt a burst of rage emanating from his belly, nearly exploding in anger.
Who the hell likes the prairie?
I was just dumped, okay?
I could accept being kicked by a horse out of nowhere because it was merely embarrassing and the damage was considerable but not humiliating. But this, this is not very painful, yet the humiliation cuts deep…
I gathered up the courage to share a past embarrassment with you, and not only do you not help cover it up, but you also shame me like this!
Yes, it’s intentional! You must be doing it on purpose!
Righteously enraged, Wu Yunzhou looked over in confusion: “The School Head likes the prairie? I didn’t know that! Come to think of it, it may well be possible; ever since he became the School Head, the academy’s landscaping has indeed improved a lot…”
Zhang Xuan nodded, “Yes, the greener, the better for the eyes. Look, the School Head is so spirited, typically nourished by the greenery…”
“Zhang Xuan, shut your mouth!”
Before he could finish, School Head Lu Mingrong, eyes blazing red, glared fiercely this way, like a raging wolf.
The sealed power within him trembled incessantly, like the tide battering a dam, ready to burst forth at any moment.