Chapter 114  : Chapter 114  : The Leading Talent

In mid-air, intense scholarly proficiency resonated. Three rings of academic brilliance orbited, emitting an aura that dazzled and mesmerized, prompting gasps of astonishment from the crowd.

Yang Zhen looked up, nodding to himself, impressed. The fact that the person could harness academia so powerfully, creating three rings of academic brilliance was exceptional. Even though he failed to consolidate his proficiency into an academic insignia, the effort was commendable.

“Young Master Bian is truly bursting with talent. A casual scrawl of his, yet it managed to summon three rings of academic brilliance. No wonder he’s likely to be invited to join the Sea Tower.”

“I heard Young Master Bian and Master Sun have a bet going on, dueling on the basis of their scholarly proficiency. Now that Young Master Bian has successfully materialized three rings of academic brilliance, will he surely win?”

“Well, you never know. Apparently, Master Sun has secluded himself right after that day. One cultivating literature and the other amassing talent, the outcome can only be determined after a direct comparison.”

The surrounding crowd was abuzz with chatter, with everyone flocking toward Young Master Bian’s location, leaving isolated the girl busily painting her bamboo stalks, oblivious to the world around her.

Yang Zhen nodded again in appreciation. If he had shown half as much devotion as this little girl during his student days, he would have already achieved fame and secured his place in a prestigious university.

“Sigh!”

The girl looked up, giving Yang Zhen a smile before inquiring, “Big brother, why did you sigh?”

Yang Zhen shook his head, replying, “You wouldn’t understand!”

The girl made a pouty face, slightly upset “Yan’er is very sensible enough, why do you all always treat Yan’er like a child?”

Yang Zhen laughed, donning a serious expression as he affirmed, “Precisely, Yan’er is indeed sensible, even more so than them. All they do is follow the crowd, a sure sign of mediocrity.”

Yan’er clapped her hands in delight, and announced, “Big brother certainly understands, no wonder I feel a familiarity with you.”

Yang Zhen was startled, queried, “What kind of familiarity?”

Yan’er tilted her head to think for a bit before answering obliviously, “I don’t know, it’s like… like we are family.”

Yang Zhen’s jaw dropped as he stared at the little dame. Apparently, he had just run into a relative. She was young and didn’t seem like a con artist either.

All of a sudden, Yang Zhen recalled Tian Rou. That young lady had been just as uninhibited with him, instantly acting friendly at their first meeting to the point where Yang Zhen had wondered if something was about to transpire. Yan’er too emanated a hint of academic talent, albeit not as profound as Tian Rou. Yang Zhen looked perplexed, wondering whether it had to do with this academic aura?

“One’s character is enriched with wisdom and knowledge,’1– the concept of no one being the definitive greatest in literature has always been an eternal point of contention among scholars. Yet, the mutual admiration among them could probably be put down to this reason.

After bidding Yan’er farewell, Yang Zhen also headed in the direction of Young Master Bian. He hadn’t even arrived when he heard a hearty laugh, immediately followed by some modulated modest words.

“I was fortunate enough to have some understanding, please don’t flatter me too much as it makes me nervous…” came Young Master Bian.

Yang Zhen sneered. This ‘Bian’ did not sound the least bit flustered at all. He just spoke loudly as if desiring everyone to hear him.

Suddenly, a snort of contempt emerged from the crowd, “Bian Liang, are you so full of triumph just because you materialized three rings of academic brilliance? Do you think you’re the champion of academia?”

The crowd gasped in response, seeking the source of the voice. When they saw who it was, a wave of murmurs went through the crowd.

“It’s Master Sun, I didn’t expect him to come out. Things are about to get exciting. The rivalry between the two seems rather imminent, and come what may they’ll stop at nothing till a clear winner is determined.”

“Hey, isn’t that the Flame City Changyue Tower Master and Flower Tower Master Hua Youyue next to Master Sun?”

“I didn’t expect them to come together, it truly is an envious sight.”

“I heard that Flower Tower Master always had an interest in literature. Now that he’s here for the overseas trial and has bumped into Master Sun and Young Master Bian, he naturally wants to make good use of this opportunity.”

“Isn’t it odd? Doesn’t Master Sun seem to be behaving a little out of character today?”

At the sound of that, Yang Zhen looked up and indeed saw Master Sun take on a facade of humbleness. However, his facial expression was an open display of arrogance.

“How interesting!” Yang Zhen marveled at the spectacle in front of him, finally laying eyes on the true nature of a sycophant.

Hua Youyue looked serene, dressed in a crisp, icy rice-yellow long dress. She walked slowly along with Medicine Elder and the others. The crowd around her instantly cleared a path, and soon she was standing in front of Yang Zhen.

Seeing Yang Zhen standing still, grinning foolishly in the middle of the path, the people around him quickly pulled him aside. “You must not be rude, young man. That’s the Flower Tower Master of Changyue Tower. She is highly revered in the Coast of the East Sea, you can’t offend her.”

Highly revered?

Yang Zhen was taken aback, and curiously took a glance at Hua Youyue.

Upon noticing Yang Zhen, the normally indifferent Hua Youyue suddenly stiffened, and a hint of complex emotion flashed across her face.

“It’s over! This young man is probably bewitched by the unparalleled beauty of the Flower Tower Master, standing dumbstruck on the spot. Little does he know that his behavior, though attracting the attention of the Flower Tower Master, is most certainly offending her…it’s all over!”

“Look quickly! There is anger flashing across Master Sun’s face, clearly unhappy with this young man’s behavior.”

“Where did this bumpkin come from, behaving so outlandishly at the sight of a beautiful woman? It’s utterly ridiculous.”

As the crowd stood, dumbstruck, the anger on Master Sun’s face disappeared. He walked over to Yang Zhen, fanned himself with a folding fan, and laughingly asked, “Young brother, do you know whose path you’re obstructing?”

Yang Zhen glanced at Master Sun, and retorted, “None of your damn business!” “What?” Master Sun looked puzzled, staring at Yang Zhen. “What do you mean by that?”

Yang Zhen exclaimed, “Oh, I’m sorry. I got the codes wrong…none of MY damn business?”

“Ridiculous!” Master Sun snorted coldly, “Get out of the way, or don’t blame me for being inhospitable.”

Yang Zhen nodded, saying, “Go ahead, don’t be so polite. Feel free to make yourself at home, do as you please…”

“You!” Master Sun was stunned. “Where on earth did this boor come from, causing all this commotion? Move out of the way!”

Yang Zhen scrutinized Master Sun, squinting his eyes as he asked, “Do you even know whose path you are blocking?”

Master Sun was utterly taken aback, looking around in confusion, clearly unable to keep pace with Yang Zhen’s swift retorts.

Hua Youyue giggled at this. Her icy expression thawing, which caused gasps of surprise from the crowd. She walked over to Yang Zhen and said, “Few days we haven’t met, and you’re still so reckless. This is Sun Yushi, the laureate of Water Spirit Country this year.”

“Ah, so it’s the laureate Sun. Do you know Lin Shilang, the laureate Lin?” Yang Zhen asked, as if he had just realized.

Sun Yushi asked in surprise, “You know Lin?”

“Know him? We’re practically best buddies. Just the other day we were drinking and chatting about state affairs, family matters, and even global affairs, but Lin confessed he’s not as knowledgeable and couldn’t keep up with me. So, he went to a far-off place. It’s a pity…a real pity.”

“What?” Sun Yushi looked even more shocked and incredulously asked, “It’s such a shame that Lin is not participating in the overseas trials. Moreover, I wonder who you are to make Lin feel inferior?”

Acting modest, Yang Zhen bowed his fist in salute, “Oh, I’m just the leader of the four talents from the Dirty Detachment Gang, Yang Zhen, an underling of the Flower Tower Master.”

“You are Yang Zhen?” Sun Yushi’s eyes widened in astonishment as he subconsciously stepped back, looking at Yang Zhen with a flabbergasted expression.

Yang Zhen looked puzzled and took a step forward to ask, “Why the sudden surprise, Master Sun?”

“You… you stay back…”

Gasps!

The crowd was completely taken aback, staring in disbelief at both Yang Zhen and Sun Yushi. Young Master Bian sneered, shot a curious glance at Yang Zhen, and became immediately on guard.

Hua Youyue lightly giggled, stepped forward, and grabbed Yang Zhen’s hand. “Come here; I want to ask you a few things.”

With a calm expression, Yang Zhen turned to Sun Yushi and said, “Would you excuse me, Master Sun? I’ll join you and chat over drinks once I’ve had a personal chat with little Youyue.”

Little….Youyue?

Everyone present was petrified. Hua Youyue tensed up and turned to glare at Yang Zhen..