Mr. Wu’s voice was very soft, but to Chen Sanliang’s ears, it was like a thunderclap.
Was Han Suzhen wrong or not?
Han Suzhen died because of Chen Sanliang. If Chen Sanliang admitted that Han Suzhen was wrong, it would probably cause his own moral compass to collapse immediately. Moreover, he would be seen by the world as a heartless and unjust person; his reputation would be tarnished. Who would still study his teachings?
Furthermore, in today’s events, Chen Sanliang’s secret influence cannot be ruled out. If he admits Han Suzhen was wrong, it would also mean he himself was wrong, completely denying himself.
Moreover, if Chen Sanliang dares to say Han Suzhen was wrong today, Han Suzhen will have no chance of redemption for eternity and will be nailed to the pillar of shame by the world.
Below the stage, Zhang Chen saw this scene, and his pupils involuntarily shrank. This was the world of philosophical debate here - a direct and brutal confrontation, nothing like the scholarly citation and reference he imagined.
Chen Sanliang stood dumbfounded on the high platform, his eyes looking at Mr. Wu, the vast righteous aura around him fluttering like a candle in the wind, eventually extinguishing silently, his last trace of extraordinary aura disappearing.
"Pfft~"
Chen Sanliang vomited a mouthful of blood, his mind in chaos, his divine soul suffering backlash as the mysterious threads of divine power dissipated. He laughed foolishly and crazily, jumped off the high platform, and ran out of the academy.
Chen Sanliang went mad!
"He ultimately still has a bit of conscience. He’d rather have his soul suffer severe damage than admit his wife’s mistake." The Young Master’s voice whispered to Zhang Chen’s ear.
As Chen Sanliang went mad, a smug smile appeared on Mr. Wu’s pallid face on the high platform. The vast righteous aura around him began to slowly increase, his spiritual state enhancing at a peculiar speed, as if he’d consumed rooster blood, with strands of Pure Yang Qi unexpectedly emerging within his spiritual world.
"Chen Sanliang is finished, it’s just a pity for my cousin." The Young Master looked at his cousin’s petrified body, a trace of sadness appearing in his eyes.
Nobody expected this debate to end in such a manner; it had barely begun, yet it was already over.
"Everyone, thank you for coming, sorry for taking up your time. I shall host a gathering at Yellow Crane Tower in the city and invite you all for a discussion, appreciating the support of all friends." Mr. Wu’s voice on the high platform was full of pride.
He had gained great benefits and was now elated; even the blood from his wounds was sealed by his spiritual power.
"Congratulations to Mr. Wu on the victory of the debate, driving away the likes of Chen Sanliang, so his disgrace did not tarnish our academic name!"
"Indeed, the master’s divine power prevailed; within a few words, he rebutted Chen Sanliang, who is nothing but a straw bag, worthy of delaying the master’s time?" Zhang Xiaohua also stood up to compliment at this moment.
"Mere Chen Sanliang is just a stray dog, nothing but some ghost tricks, not worth mentioning."
...
At this time, everyone continuously congratulated Mr. Wu on the high platform, while Zhang Chen below watched with a somber expression, anger burning beneath his hat.
His master died tragically under the other’s machinations. Zhang Chen always felt he should do something at this moment; otherwise, his moral compass would be unsettled.
"With an unsettled moral compass, how can I practice in the future? My master was not unkind to me." Zhang Chen touched the introduction letter in his pocket. By rights, Han Suzhen could have expelled him, ignoring him from then on, yet she did not do so.
Moreover, Han Suzhen could have avoided dying, but they killed Han Suzhen to ensure a full-proof plan to defeat Chen Sanliang, using her to disrupt his Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
"And, if I don’t make a mark, how will Prince Pingbian’s Mansion and all major forces be attracted to the great tomb and turn into frogs together?"
Zhang Chen, wearing a hat, stepped forward towards the high platform one step at a time.
Zhang Chen’s abrupt move towards the high platform immediately made the armored warriors nervous; they all rushed up to the high platform to protect Mr. Wu, drawing their swords and glaring at Zhang Chen.
"Who are you!"
An officer glared menacingly at Zhang Chen.
"No need to be nervous, I am merely here to stand up for my master and have three questions to ask Mr. Wu." Zhang Chen’s voice was calm as he stood at the edge of the stage, not approaching the center to avoid provoking the opposing samurai.
"Who is your master? Since you came on stage to debate, you should reveal yourself. Hiding like this, are you some sort of person who can’t face the light?" Mr. Wu’s eyes fell on Zhang Chen, his voice full of authority: "A person who conceals themselves is unworthy of a debate with me."
Hearing this, Zhang Chen slowly removed his hat, and seeing Zhang Chen, Mr. Wu was taken aback. He turned his head to look at Zhu Xun below; after all, on that day at the mutton skewer stall, Zhu Xun was sitting with Zhang Chen, theoretically, Zhang Chen should be one of their own, shouldn’t be undermining them at this moment, right?
"This person is a disciple of Han Suzhen." Zhu Xun explained the situation.
On hearing this above, Mr. Wu’s brows furrowed, his eyes focusing on Zhang Chen. He was about to speak when Zhang Xiaohua, unable to sit still, interjected: "Someone, seize this fiend for me!"
"Zhang Chen, I have been searching for you for days. I never thought you’d come forward to die on your own today. Once I capture you, I will have you torn to pieces, leaving no place for burial." Zhang Xiaohua’s voice was full of fury.
Zhang Xiaohua, his face twisted with scars all over, missing an ear, looked quite terrifying.
"Mr. Wu, I just have three questions. Are you afraid of these three questions from a junior like me? Or do you intend to use the tricks against Chen Sanliang to deal with me?" Zhang Chen cornered Mr. Wu with his words: "Also, apart from using schemes to trap a fool like Chen Sanliang, what can you do? If your scholarship is inferior to a junior like me and I stump you with my questions, it would also ruin the reputation you worked hard to gain through intrigue. You had better ask the armored warriors of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion to kill me directly, and then with the army of Prince Pingbian, slay me to maintain your reputation. Otherwise, if the world knows that, like Chen Sanliang, you are also a straw bag with no true talent or learning, where would you dare to debate with others? Even when a simple disciple like me asked for guidance, you dared not respond. Truly... Tsk tsk tsk... It’s disappointing to see the Academy as mere charlatans who deceive the world!"