Naturally, Great Scholars Will Argue the Classics for Me

Outside the private room Ding 527.

In the corridor.

The white-clad young woman Jing Shu walked shoulder to shoulder with Song Que, following directly behind Mr. Zou.

Behind them was the beautiful and alluring Fairy Bai, speaking in low tones with Lei Jie, the hall master of the Martial Hall on the top floor.

From time to time, Fairy Bai's eyes curved with a smile, her gaze enchanting, carrying an indescribable myriad of charms.

Lei Jie, meanwhile, was tall and powerfully built, looking strong and vigorous; his rugged face was suffused with honesty and open-hearted boldness.

In the very last row was a group of richly dressed youths.

These youths looked obedient, but in truth their hearts were higher than the heavens and their pride ran deep. It was only because there were too many powerful people present that they did not dare show their unruliness.

"The Peace Sect's holy maiden, and the defecting grand elder she's supposed to capture, are actually chatting and laughing in public, looking like the gentleman has feelings and the lady has intentions?"

"And Song Que, the branch master of the Peace Sect's capital branch, seems to be flirting with the granddaughter of the great scholar Mr. Zou?"

Yang Xiao quickly lowered his head, putting on the appearance of a respectful welcome, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

The others would have been one thing, but Uncle Mute was the grand elder of the Peace Sect. Just yesterday, Yang Xiao had extorted him and arrogantly proclaimed, "I'm called Zhang Long, and I'm one of Young Master Wang Yulang's men."

And now, Uncle Mute had actually come to the private room Ding 527, while the real Zhang Long was inside that very room.

How could this possibly end well?

An unprecedented sense of life-and-death danger instantly rose in Yang Xiao's heart.

By instinct, Yang Xiao wanted to flee, but he understood there was nowhere to run. He could only force himself not to be afraid and do his best to remain calm.

Fortunately, the honored guests chatted as they walked, and no one paid any attention to Yang Xiao, this utterly ordinary doorman and waiter.

Even "Lei Jie," whom Uncle Mute was pretending to be, merely swept a casual glance over Yang Xiao, then turned to look at Fairy Bai beside him, his eyes filled with burning heat.

Seeing that the group was about to step into the private room...

Yet Mr. Zou seemed to have a rather good impression of Yang Xiao. After the old gentleman reached the entrance to the private room, he suddenly stopped.

"Today, this old man will lecture on the classics in this private room. If young brother does not mind, you may come in and listen. For you, it may be of some benefit."

Stroking his white beard, Mr. Zou said with a smile.

Whoosh—

In an instant, all the honored guests stopped talking, their gazes turning in unison toward Yang Xiao.

Lei Jie stared coldly at Yang Xiao, a fierce glint flashing through his eyes and vanishing at once.

"It's him?"

At the rear, surrounded by the young masters like stars clustering around the moon, the handsome youth saw Yang Xiao raise his head and immediately showed disgust in his eyes.

As the formal disciple Lei Jie valued most, Huo Zhen, like Ye Feng, held only the lowestly status of a menial.

But among those present, whether the young masters or the martial experts who had made their names years ago, not a single person dared look down on Huo Zhen.

As for the reason, there was nothing else to it, only four words—Qingzhou Huo Family!

As for exactly what status Huo Zhen held in the Qingzhou Huo Family, Lei Jie had not said.

But from how highly Lei Jie valued Huo Zhen, everyone understood that Huo Zhen's status in the Huo Family was not low. Most likely, he was an important junior doted on by some major figure of the Huo Family.

It was said that for hundreds of years, the Huo Family had maintained a tradition of sending legitimate sons away to various places to "eat bitterness," letting their disciples "struggle" at the bottom to temper their will.

In fact, aside from Huo Zhen, among the waiters and menials of Vermilion Bird Tower, similar situations were not many, but they were not exactly rare either.

It was just that those noble youths and Huo Zhen, whether in identity, talent, aptitude, or innate foundation, naturally could not be compared.

Seeing Huo Zhen make no attempt to conceal his disgust for Yang Xiao, the surrounding young masters exchanged glances and could not help being astonished.

They truly could not understand how someone of Huo Zhen's noble status could have any intersection with Yang Xiao, a mere waiter.

However, as for Yang Xiao being favored by Mr. Zou, the young masters were still very envious, covetous, and jealous.

Yet when Mr. Zou's gentle, well-meaning words fell into Yang Xiao's ears, they made Yang Xiao's vision go dark, as if thunder had crashed down on his head!

But Yang Xiao had lived two lives; what a shrewd old fox he was. His mind turned only slightly, and he quickly came up with an emergency countermeasure.

"M-Mr. Zou, r-really?"

Yang Xiao deliberately put on an excited look, spraying spittle in his enthusiasm. "Th-thank you, Mr. Zou, thank you, Mr. Zou."

Those large droplets of flying spit not only splashed onto Mr. Zou's face, but were also carried by the wind onto Song Que's face beside him.

Song Que was a naturally elegant and romantic man, graceful and refined; now his smile froze, and he instantly felt so disgusted he wanted to vomit, yet it was inappropriate for him to lose his temper.

"Grandfather, how can such a filthy, coarse person be allowed to step into the private room? I do not agree!"

The young woman Jing Shu was frank and outspoken, and immediately jumped out to refute him.

"Miss Jing Shu is right. This fellow's aptitude and innate foundation are both inferior; he is simply unworthy of listening to your lecture, Mr. Zou."

Huo Zhen could not help chiming in as well.

"Master, in this disciple's opinion, why not leave the door of this private room open by a crack while you lecture?"

"In that case, this young brother will be able to hear your scripture lecture without disturbing the refined pleasure of these esteemed gentlemen. What do you think?"

Song Que's eyes rolled, and he suddenly smiled with scholarly elegance.

Mr. Zou remained silent. The look he cast toward Yang Xiao seemed disappointed, but in truth, a flicker of appreciation flashed and vanished at the corner of his eyes.

Mr. Zou was a great Confucian of his generation, his name known throughout the world. Though he disdained worldly dealings, that did not mean he did not understand them.

After a brief thought, how could Mr. Zou not understand? His unintentional kindness just now had nearly drawn a fatal disaster down upon Yang Xiao.

Fortunately, Yang Xiao was clever, his mind turning quickly. By using spit to soil his own name, he had successfully provoked everyone's disgust and rejection.

A teachable child indeed!

On one hand, Mr. Zou felt guilty; on the other, his love for talent had been stirred. He could not help but see Yang Xiao in a new light.

But what sort of person was Mr. Zou? Having already made one mistake, he naturally would not immediately make a second.

"Good!"

At Song Que's words, Mr. Zou gave a slight nod. Feigning anger, he swept out his long sleeve, his face cold, not even sparing Yang Xiao a glance as he was the first to step into the private room.

The guests followed one after another.

"Boy, a piece of trash with inferior aptitude and bones like you had best stay farther away from my Junior Brother Ye from now on. Otherwise, don't blame this young master for being impolite!"

As he passed by Yang Xiao, Huo Zhen stopped, his eyes full of cold indifference.

"Yes, yes, Big Brother Huo, you're absolutely right."

Yang Xiao hurriedly nodded and bowed, smiling ingratiatingly in fear and trepidation.

"Hmph!"

Seeing that Yang Xiao actually did not resist, Huo Zhen could not help feeling somewhat disappointed. But immediately after, his mood brightened.

He was only a useless piece of trash. Since Yang Xiao was so sensible, Huo Zhen instantly lost interest.

Those thoughts he had originally had of suppressing Yang Xiao scattered with the wind in an instant.

Only after all the honored guests had stepped into the private room did Yang Xiao rise, gently close the door, and leave no crack behind.

"That trash... is at least sensible."

Song Que swept a glance over the tightly shut door. Disdain flashed and vanished in his eyes; then he withdrew his gaze and paid it no more attention.

The appreciation in the corners of Mr. Zou's eyes, however, grew ever thicker, though no one could see through it.

And what even Mr. Zou did not know was that when Yang Xiao returned to the neighboring doorman's room, his gaze turned sharp in an instant.

"Other than Mr. Zou, you so-called nobles are either scions of great clans, Second-Blood experts, or heirs to families steeped in poetry and books. Each of you looks like a man of dignified virtue on the surface, but in truth your bellies are full of bad water, blades hidden in your smiles. How much better than me can you really be?"

"I'm only a hereditary slave of the Princess Mansion, and the lowest of the low shop waiter in Vermilion Bird Tower. If you were in my position, the grass on your graves would already be three zhang high!"

After venting inwardly, Yang Xiao did not take everyone's mockery to heart. His heart remained without ripples, calm as ever.

Five days later was the Grandmaster Dao Discussion, when winds and clouds would gather. Of those who had mocked Yang Xiao today, how many would still be alive then was an unknown number!

A group of people almost certain to die, that was all!

If you don't die, then when my divine art reaches great completion one day, there will be plenty for you to see!

Sitting cross-legged and circulating the Cold Cicada Transformation, Yang Xiao pricked up his ears.

In an instant, every movement in the neighboring private room transformed into a painting of black and white, appearing clearly in Yang Xiao's mind.

"Hm?"

Mr. Zou, seated in the host's seat, suddenly furrowed his brows slightly and looked toward the wall in surprise and uncertainty.

That deep and dignified aged gaze was like two resplendent green-light longswords, whistling through the wall and stabbing straight toward Yang Xiao's eyes.

"Not good!"

"A great Confucian of the Confucian school can actually see through my spying. This is an attack at the spiritual level. Once this attack descends, my life is over!"

An unprecedented crisis of life and death abruptly surfaced in Yang Xiao's mind.