So-Called History

"Zhang Xu, you and Senior Ma seem to have a 'very good' relationship. Have you known each other since childhood?"

After talking for a while, Bell and Zhang Xu had become much more familiar with each other.

So, he finally asked the question that had been on his mind for so long.

In his view, neither Zhang Xu in front of him nor Lü Feitian, who had disappeared, seemed to be the kind of people who would run off to be Ma Jingjing's follower.

These two are not fools like Crabbe and Goyle. Without Draco Malfoy, their "father," painstakingly guiding them, they might have turned around and sold themselves out.

"You didn't need to put it so euphemistically."

Zhang Xu gave a wry smile, clearly understanding the deeper meaning behind Bell's words.

"It can only be described as a tragic fate."

We met when we were children, at a family gathering during the Spring Festival.

When a group of kids get together, they inevitably start comparing themselves to each other.

I don't know what came over me at the time, but I approached Ma Jingjing.

As a result, those past events are too painful to recall.

Back then, I was young and impetuous, and after losing once, I certainly wouldn't obediently admit defeat.

So, every time we met again after that, I would take the initiative to pick a fight with Ma Jingjing.

In the end, it turned out like this.

"Uh... please accept my condolences."

Looking at Zhang Xu's expression, which seemed to have seen through the vicissitudes of life, what could Bell say?

This is a classic case of "no zuo no die" (meaning someone who courts disaster).

You wouldn't believe that Zhang Xu, who looks so gentle and refined, was such a wild child.

"Speaking of which, Bell, your relationship with that Miss Ma seems to be quite special. With her carefree personality, she's never thought of taking care of anyone before."

"Did you really only meet the day before yesterday? Or did something happen?"

One second Zhang Xu looked weathered and worn, the next his face was practically screaming gossip.

He stared at Bell with excitement and curiosity, as if trying to find something about Bell that made him different.

"Uh, we only met for the first time the day before yesterday evening, and nothing happened in between."

Senior Ma took care of me, wasn't it because this was a task assigned by the Academy to the Student Council President?

Besides, I already have a girlfriend.

On matters of principle like these, Bell is never careless.

In addition, he now understands why Zhang Xu was beaten up by Ma Jingjing to the point that he had to become her subordinate.

It's fortunate that Hermione wasn't there; otherwise, if Hermione had heard what the other person just said, she would have wanted to beat them so badly they couldn't take care of themselves.

Not wanting to get any more entangled in this dangerous gossip, Bell decisively changed the subject.

"By the way, are the major families very powerful in the China Cultivator World?"

Since arriving in China, Bell has only met five classmates, and all five of them seem to come from wealthy families.

So, has Yandu Academy been booked out by various families?

"Strong? What's the point? Everyone's sticking together for warmth, how can they possibly be strong?"

Zhang Xu waved his hand and said.

However, his face did not show any sign of dissatisfaction with the situation.

"In fact, several decades ago, the power of the major families was indeed very strong."

Although there are four major Academy responsible for training Cultivator, Cultivator from ordinary families can only work for various families after graduation.

But everything changed in that war decades ago.

Because the high-ranking members of various families valued their reputations and most refused to participate in the war, China suffered heavy losses in the early stages of the war.

After that, the prestige of the major families plummeted. After the establishment of the Cultivator Alliance, they were severely suppressed, and thus completely declined.

However, since the members of the Cultivator Alliance also include many young people from various families, the Cultivator Alliance did not go too far.

Therefore, the traditions of most major families are still intact. This also means that those of us from these families often surpass our peers from ordinary families in terms of ability.

Therefore, in each grade's first class, students from such families often make up the majority.

Zhang Xu briefly explained to Bell the reasons why the various families had fallen to their current state.

"But I read in the books that Cultivator are always on the front lines fighting against external enemies, so why are the high-ranking members of those families refusing to participate in the war?"

Bell asked, puzzled.

What the other party said was completely different from what he had learned from China history books.

"What you're talking about is all Old Almanac from the Spring and Autumn/Warring States period."

In fact, since the establishment of the Nine Provinces Guardian Array during the Qin Kingdom Dynasty, Cultivator have rarely participated in large-scale wars.

After all, with the great formation blocking their way, the barbarian witch doctors and shamans couldn't get in.

Without the threat of these beings, the extraordinary power of Cultivator would inevitably arouse suspicion from the court of those Spirit-Rootless Person.

Nobody wants to do something that's thankless and exhausting.

Therefore, more and more Cultivator chose to stand by and do nothing.

Those who do take action occasionally are mostly acting on their own.

This phenomenon became even more pronounced after the Tang Dynasty.

As time went by, the bloodlines of various ethnic groups continued to merge. Even the Li Family of the Tang Dynasty were of mixed Han and non-Han Half-blood.

Gradually, the Cultivator discovered that the invasions of those foreign tribes not only failed to shake the foundation of the Central Plains civilization, but also led to their assimilation into the culture of the Central Plains.

Thus, in order to protect themselves, the various families gradually developed a tradition of not interfering in the battles of those Spirit-Rootless Person.

"In that history book..."

"Those are all attempts by various families to salvage their reputation and whitewash themselves."

Because the target of the whitewashing was the Cultivator as a whole, the Cultivator Alliance, which was also a beneficiary, chose to let it go.

Zhang Xu explained.

In fact, what he said could be considered an open secret.

Not only Cultivator from prominent families can learn about relevant information from their own family's records.

Even Cultivator from ordinary families can learn the truth of history through various channels after graduation.

However, due to the subtle influence they had received during their many years of study at the Academy, even after they learned the truth, most of them still subconsciously believed that the image of Cultivator was always lofty and noble.

This kind of glorification of history is something that no one, whether in the East or the West, or whether an ordinary person or an extraordinary individual, can escape.

Bell didn't know whether this was good or bad, and he didn't want to comment.

However, he will probably have to be more careful when learning about history in the future.

Even if he was fooled, it wouldn't really cause him any loss.

But what if people laugh at him for being a fool? Where would he put his pride then?