"We’ll see how the situation develops next. Let’s see if Zhong Xiang can suppress those guys. When it’s no longer bearable, we’ll let everyone in. Eventually, pooling everyone’s wisdom will surely lead to a solution for the curse," Zhang Chen mused to himself.
Just as Zhang Chen was happily eating his tofu pudding, a familiar sound rang out, followed by a ’ha-te~’ sound. Zhang Chen saw that there was now a mouthful of saliva in his tofu pudding. His face turned iron-colored in anger, but he saw the Young Master looking at him smugly, causing Zhang Chen’s overwhelming anger to subside unwillingly.
"How did this guy learn those filthy tricks from Huang Chao?" Zhang Chen thought to himself, but as he was Zhang Chen, how could he take such a loss quietly?
"Young Master, what’s the meaning of this? It’s disgraceful!" Zhang Chen looked at the tofu pudding in his hand, intending to follow the Young Master’s example from yesterday, swallowing it without changing his expression. Yet, the mere thought caused his stomach to churn and he took his eyes off the smug Young Master, reached into his pants, took out his hand holding the tofu pudding, and ’accidentally’ inserted his thumb into it. He put the tofu pudding on the table, keeping his eyes fixed on the Young Master, waiting for his response.
The Young Master’s face immediately turned green, his eyes filled with resentment as he looked at Zhang Chen: "My lifelong principle is never to take a loss. You’re the type who’d rather suffer yourself than let others gain an advantage. Your attitude sucks; you lack generosity and need to change! Look at this tofu pudding; initially, I spat in it, meaning you couldn’t eat it but I could. But now, with your meddling, neither of us can eat it, isn’t that a waste? We can compete, but we should never waste food."
Zhang Chen glanced at the Young Master, deciding not to provoke him further, and silently started eating his pancake.
"Do you think there’s really an Ancient Divine Tomb outside the mountain?" The Young Master stuffed a pancake from the plate into his mouth and called to the owner, "Bring a bowl of tofu pudding and put it on his tab."
Upon hearing the Young Master’s words, Zhang Chen’s pupil tensed, triggering a thought in his head: "How does he know it was me who spread the rumors? No wonder he came looking for trouble early this morning; it’s because of this. But what does spreading news about the Ancient Tomb have to do with him? Could he be investigating the tomb and wants to probe its mysteries?"
"If the Young Master wants to know the truth, he should ask those spreading the rumors, why ask me?" Zhang Chen feigned confusion.
"The source of the rumors is those beggars. Yesterday, I recall you and that girl from the Xie Family were watching the commotion nearby. You two weren’t just wandering by chance. Considering today’s rumors, you must’ve been waiting for that beggar leader," the Young Master said.
Zhang Chen was startled upon realizing the Young Master had figured out his flaw from this incident.
"Whether the tomb is real or fake is irrelevant. If you’re interested, take a look; if not, stay away. Why ask me?" Zhang Chen looked at the Young Master while nibbling on his pancake and ordered another bowl of tofu pudding from the owner.
The Young Master opened his mouth but hesitated, unable to express the frustration he felt.
Can Zhang Chen be blamed for this?
The Young Master willingly came!
But in his life, he never took a loss, not even the slightest. How could he accept this setback?
"I..." The Young Master looked at Zhang Chen, opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say to regain his standing.
"What do you want to say? Are you asking about the tomb?" Zhang Chen looked at the Young Master, pondering, "If I can lure the Young Master into this, having him share the curse will benefit me."
"Is the curse of the tomb truly unbreakable?" The Young Master asked with a dark face.
He had studied it thoroughly all night but found no solution to break the curse.
"Are you cursed? What kind of curse did you get?" Zhang Chen’s eyes lit up upon hearing this; his resentment evaporated.
The Young Master’s face turned iron-grey, choosing not to answer Zhang Chen but instead asked, "Is there a solution?"
"If I had a solution, why would I spread the news to lure everyone in? After all, many hands make light work. Once everyone gets cursed, maybe combining our collective wisdom will help find a solution," Zhang Chen replied with a smile.
The Young Master was furious, but had no recourse, understanding he came here for nothing. If Zhang Chen knew how to break the curse, he wouldn’t have set up such a fence of deceit.
"Since I’ve taken a loss, everyone else should too. Then everyone’s loss becomes negligible," the Young Master muttered while eating the pancake, his eyes fixed on Zhang Chen: "Kid, tell me your plans so I can see if there are any flaws."
Zhang Chen didn’t hide anything and explained his plan. The Young Master shook his head upon hearing it, "Too crude! Your plan is far too crude!"
"You have a better plan?" Zhang Chen asked.
"If I fight Zhong Xiang, then create some mysterious commotion and employ some actors to stir the emotions, then it’ll be seamless," the Young Master said:
"Leave the rest to me, and you keep out of it."
With this, the Young Master smiled at Zhang Chen: "Logically, for making me suffer this much, I should smack you dead. After all, I never let people off lightly. But I find your actions quite agreeable..."
Seeing Zhang Chen’s other hand holding chopsticks, the Young Master thought, "Has this kid washed hands?" suggesting, "Why don’t you become my disciple? This way, if family members take losses within the family, it won’t count as a loss. The Emperor Dasheng has ordered the Academy to form a Mysterious Academy dedicated to solving mysteries and finding the secret to immortality. I quite like you, kid. When you have time, come find me at the Academy, and I’ll teach you my true skills."
The Young Master had no choice, being previously told by Xie Lingyun and Xie Xuan that Zhang Chen was under their protection, preventing him from doing anything to him.
Getting trapped by Zhang Chen left him no option but to take him along, making it so that he wouldn’t end up taking a loss, not even a bit. Moreover, he had some trouble at the Academy which, considering Zhang Chen’s cunning, could perhaps be resolved successfully.
As he spoke, the Young Master took a document from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Chen: "This is the pass; look for me when you’re in the capital."
Zhang Chen heard this and looked at the Young Master in surprise. After cleaning his hand, he accepted the letter, suspiciously saying: "Strange, would you act so kindly? Aren’t you nobles contemptuous of commoners? Even I’m eligible for the Academy?"
"You do not qualify," said the Young Master resolutely: "But as I happen to find you pleasing, you’ve struck fortune, kid!"
This remark set Zhang Chen’s teeth grinding in rage, wanting nothing more than to stuff his dirty hands into the Young Master’s mouth; who does he look down upon?
"So are you dog shit?" Zhang Chen seemed to accidentally retort.
The Young Master was speechless, his fists clenched inside his sleeve.
"What if I refuse?" Zhang Chen asked.
"Would you really? All the world’s prodigies will gather there. There’s an unprecedented upheaval on the horizon as the Emperor Dasheng has discovered something unique and mysterious. Whoever joins the research would be at the forefront of an era. If you don’t go, you’ll be left behind by time. Besides, don’t you want to compete with prodigies of your age, to see what the other geniuses of your era are capable of?" said the Young Master. As he spoke, he took out a handful of grass from his sleeve and began eating it, full of reluctant acceptance.