Chapter 19: Framing
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Thaddpole&Tortex
After a violent thrashing, Zhang Xuan finally feels the rage in his heart subsiding slightly.
Lowering his head to take a look, Yao Han's mask has already fallen off in the midst of the bashing and his face is warped from taking his hits. Probably, even his own mother would be unable to recognize him in his current state.
"Keng..."
Now that anger is no longer clouding his mind, Zhang Xuan immediately grasps his current situation. "This fellow is the butler of Baiyu City Lord, as well as the uncle of my disciple. It is still okay for me to teach him a lesson, but I should not kill him by any means."
No matter what, this fellow is still Zhao Ya's Uncle Yao. If Zhang Xuan were to really kill him, won't the disciple he just admitted go to waste?
There would surely be zero possibility for reconciliation if that were to happen!
Besides, Baiyu City is reputed as the third biggest city in Tianxuan Kingdom. To be able to become the city lord of such a city, Zhao Ya's father should be rather powerful and holds great influence. If his butler was killed and he chooses to pursue this matter, it might be possible for him to investigate onto himself. If so, he would be in deep trouble.
Being a newcomer in this world, he has yet to create a firm foothold for him to stand on, so it is best for him to keep a low profile.
"I mustn't let me become suspicious of me!"
The thought flashes through his mind.
Since Yao Han cannot be killed, then Zhang Xuan have to let him go alive. For him to get beaten him in the midst of an assault against Zhang Xuan, Zhang Xuan would definitely be the first person he would be suspicious of!
"Oh right, I have the perfect scapegoat for this. If he didn't come looking for trouble today, I wouldn't have thought of him..."
A person flashes through Zhang Xuan's mind.
That person is the man who was beside Shen Bi Ru earlier today, the one who kept mocking him, Shang Bin.
Anyway, that fellow is the grandson of Elder Shang Chen. If Zhang Xuan were to push the blame to him, Yao Han wouldn't dare to take revenge even if he wanted to!
In fact, it would be better if Yao Han were to take revenge! The two of them would then bite viciously onto one another.
At this point, Zhang Xuan stares at the distorted face of Yao Han and deepens his voice, "I have a grudge with Zhang Xuan. Earlier today, he got on my nerves and so, I intended to teach him a lesson in the night! However, if he were to be castrated by you, Bi... she would definitely suspect that I am the one who did it and a misunderstanding would arise between us! Blame this all on the fact that you met me today, as well as your untimely arrival!"
"..."
Only now did Yao Han know why he was thrashed. He wants to retort, but his mouth is swollen like a pair of sausages, making it impossible for him to talk.
"Scram!"
Seeing that the other party has comprehended his words, Zhang Xuan doesn't continue speaking. He stands up and kicks Yao Han's body a dozen meters away.
"Damn it!"
Hurling vulgarities towards the other party in his mind, Yao Han knows that he is in a disadvantageous situation today. Gritting his teeth, he turns away and leaves.
At the same time, he carves the two main characteristics of the attacker onto his mind. Firstly, the person who beat him up had an encounter this Zhang Xuan earlier in the day and was incensed by his words or actions! Secondly, the relationship between him and Zhang Xuan should be love rivals. The woman who they are pursuing has a 'Bi' in her name.
As long as he remembers this two distinctive features, it is an easy task for him to find out who the fellow who laid his hands on him is.
Only after seeing Yao Han disappear into the distance does Zhang Xuan heave a sigh of relief. He pats away the dirt on his clothes and returns back to the dormitory.
This event is a great fright to him. If he didn't stay up to cultivate tonight, it would be hard to tell what would have happened.
However, at least the danger is averted temporarily.
"The key to survival in this world... power!"
Sitting on the bed in his dormitory, Zhang Xuan mutters to himself.
If his cultivation didn't soar today, even if he knew Yao Han's weaknesses, he wouldn't have been a match for him. The one to suffer in the end will be him.
Thus, the urgent matter at hand is for him to swiftly raise his strength. The stronger he is, the better it is!
He slowly drifts into the world of dream with his mind filled with sentimentality.
The next day, Zhang Xuan wakes up the moment the sky lights up. Although he has barely slept for two hours, not to mention how hard he had worked the previous night, he still feels refreshed without the slightest fatigue.
"Time to start lessons!"
He mutters as he puts on his clothes. After which, he walks to his classroom with large strides.
It didn't take long for him to arrive at his classroom. The moment he pushes the door open, a plump youth welcomes him enthusiastically.
"Zhang laoshi, you are here! Look, I have already finished cleaning up the room!"
He is the final student Zhang Xuan accepted yesterday, the fatty Yuan Tao.
Zhang Xuan didn't expect that this fellow would be the first to arrive, given how he threatened him yesterday. Furthermore, he even cleaned the classroom spick and span.
"Not bad!" Zhang Xuan nods his head in approval.
"Hehe, since teacher said that I did not bad, is there any reward for my effort? Like some martial art or cultivation technique and such. You can casually reward me with three or five of them..."
Hearing Zhang Xuan's acknowledgment, a wide smile appears on fatty's face.
This fellow is the type who would go too far when you give him some leeway.
"Wait by the side first. I will start the lesson after the other students arrive!" Zhang Xuan gestures.
The first to arrive is fatty. Unexpectedly, the second to arrive is the student whom he won from the bet, Liu Yang!
However, Liu Yang's attitude isn't as good as fatty's. Indignation spells on his face as he gazes at Zhang Xuan with a look of contempt.
In his opinion, Zhang Xuan only won the bet by luck and it is a torture for a genius like him to come under the tutelage of a teacher of such horrendous standards.
The third to arrive is the youth who specializes in the way of the spear, Zheng Yang!
After Zhang Xuan pointed out the problem in Zheng Yang's spear, his strength rose by more than a single fold. As a result, Zheng Yang holds great confidence towards his teacher and out of the current few students who acknowledged Zhang Xuan, he is the only one who came to him on his own free will.
The fourth to arrive is Wang Ying. The shy lass couldn't help but blush upon catching sight of the other students when she enters and immediately hides at the corner.
..........................................
"I should be able to solve the problem of my body today..." Zhao Ya opens her eyes.
Yesterday, the academy's worst teacher claimed that he is capable of solving her problem. After returning to her dormitory, she felt lost and worried, causing her to roll about her bed, only falling asleep after a long time later.
Regardless of whether the other party is telling the truth or lying, there would surely be a conclusion by the end of today!
When such a thought strikes her, she gargles her mouth, puts on her clothes and leaves the room swiftly.
As the daughter of Baiyu City Lord and one of the top ten scorers of the entrance examinations, she is granted a personal residence, unlike the shared dormitory of the other students. There are many rooms in the residence and the butler, Uncle Yao, stays in one of the rooms not too far away from hers.
"Uncle Yao, I'm going to class!"
Seeing no movements in the room after shouting, Zhao Ya prepares to walk off.
"Young mistress, wait for me. I will go with you!" A shout echoes from beyond the door. The door opens and Yao Han walks out.
Looking at his face, Zhao Ya is taken aback. "Uncle Yao, you... What happened?"
Zhao Ya is stunned to see Yao Han's swollen face and the dark rings around his eyes. In a single night, the dignified Yao Han has been disfigured. If it wasn't for the familiar voice, she wouldn't have known who he is!
"Oh, I accidentally hit myself after getting too absorbed in my training yesterday!'
Yao Han explains.
"..."
Who would hit themselves in the midst of their training?
Is it possible for anyone to find an even worse excuse than that...
"Uncle Yao, what happened? Who did it? No, I have to tell my dad!" Zhao Ya exclaims furiously.
"Young mistress, don't bother yourself with this. This is my own problem... I can resolve it myself! You better hurry to your class first. I want to see how the teacher you acknowledged is like. If his standards are exactly like what the rumors dictate, I will immediately report this to the city lord and have the Hongtian Academy get a new teacher for you..."
Yao Han waves his hand imposingly. However, as his movements are too big, his wounds are pulled on and cold sweat drenches his back.
"Fine!"
Seeing how adamant Yao Han is against her interference in the matter, Zhao Ya doesn't touch on any further on the subject. The two of them walk towards Zhang Xuan's classroom.
"Uncle Yao, given how severely wounded you are, I think you should go back and rest first. I can attend the lesson by myself, there is no need for you to send me!"
After walking a short distance, Zhao Ya noticed how his entire body is trembling and drenched in sweat, she couldn't help but say these words.
Yesterday, Zhang Xuan didn't pull back his blows even in the least. Despite applying medicine on the wounds and resting for a few hours, his wounds are still severe. It is quite incredible that he is even able to walk.
"Young mistress, the city lord has tasked me to find a good teacher for you before we set off. Yet, you had to choose such a fellow. How can I face the city lord in the future!" Yao Han says. "No matter what, I want to expose the true face of that fellow before you and prove to you that he is a fraud! Only our pure and innocent young mistress would fall for his tricks. Given those standards of his, it is impossible for him to recruit a second student. When you finally witness that there are no other students in his class, you would know that..."
Jiyaaaa!
The door to the classroom is pushed open, revealing its interior.
Within the classroom sits Zhang Xuan and his four new students.