Chapter 209: The Poison Hall

Outside, chaos had already erupted. Zheng Yang held a long spear, Wang Ying and the others were on high alert, while Yuan Tao hugged a table and chairs from the room, his face full of murderous intent.

In front of the room, ink was splattered all over the floor. Three pitch-black figures stood at the door, looking utterly exasperated.

Clearly, they had tried to enter but were drenched in ink by Zhang Xuan's disciples, turning them completely black.

"Teacher Zhang, it's these three shameless guys who've been peeping every day..."

"At their age, peeping at female students—have they no shame?"

Seeing Zhang Xuan come out, Yuan Tao and Liu Yang immediately shouted, as if trying to curry favor.

But before they could finish, they saw their usually composed Teacher Zhang twitch at the corner of his mouth, sway, and nearly fall.

"Master Liu, Master Zhuang, Master Zheng... How is it you?"

Zhang Xuan was on the verge of tears.

Earlier, his disciples had said three lecherous old men had been lurking around for days, observing them. He had thought they were just some perverts, never dreaming it was the three master teachers.

Master teachers... if you wanted to see me, you could have come openly. Why dress in plain clothes and hide on the side? What were you up to?

Now this—splashed with ink, looking like a mess...

And on top of that, being called shameless and lecherous...

"Master Liu?"

"Master Zhuang?"

"Master Zheng?"

Hearing what Teacher Zhang said, Zheng Yang, Zhao Ya, and the others all staggered.

The three master teachers had come to the royal city—the news was huge, and they had heard of it, naturally knowing how to address them.

They had thought the peeping tom of the past two days was some lecherous scoundrel coveting Zhao Ya's beauty, never dreaming it was the three master teachers renowned throughout the kingdom...

Aren't master teachers supposed to be lofty and hard to meet?

Why would they come here and keep following us?

"Teacher Zhang, are you mistaken? Which master teacher would be so lecherous, wearing such clothes and hiding on the side, afraid of being discovered?"

Zheng Yang couldn't help but say.

"Mistaken?"

Zhang Xuan nearly choked on his saliva.

Damn it, what kind of students have I been teaching?

Others let down their fathers, their grandfathers, or at worst their grandsons, but you guys—you're all letting down your teacher.

These are master teachers! Powerful figures whose mere stomp would terrify even Emperor Shen Zhui. And you guys splash them with ink, don't even apologize, and call them lecherous...

Lecherous my ass!

To be honest, I really wish I were mistaken, then there'd be no problem.

But now, how am I supposed to resolve this?

Zhang Xuan was so frustrated he could cry, while the three master teachers were equally exasperated, twitching at the corners of their mouths, wishing they were dead.

They had come straight from Old Man Tian's residence to the academy, found the classroom, and as soon as they pushed the door open, black ink came flying at them. They couldn't even react, let alone dodge...

What the hell was going on?

They were master teachers—supreme beings who were respected and admired wherever they went. How could they end up here, splashed with ink and mistaken for perverts?

If word got out, how could they go on living?

"Teacher Zhang, I'm sure it's them. They've been lurking around these past two days, peeping at us. If that's not malicious intent, what is?"

Afraid Teacher Zhang wouldn't believe Zheng Yang, Wang Ying also spoke up.

"I can confirm too. I'd recognize them even if they were reduced to ashes!" Liu Yang said firmly.

"All of you, shut up!"

Seeing that these guys were getting more and more outrageous, Zhang Xuan couldn't hold back anymore.

After scolding them, he braced himself and stepped forward: "Three master teachers, it's my fault for not teaching them properly, causing you trouble. I'll discipline them later and give you a satisfactory answer..."

"No harm, no harm."

"Ignorance is not a crime..."

"Forget it, we were in the wrong first."

Liu Ling, Zhuang Xian, and Zheng Fei forced a smile that looked more like they were about to cry.

"Yuan Tao, Zheng Yang, hurry up and buy some clothes for the three master teachers to change into."

Seeing that they didn't seem about to lose their temper, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, kicked Yuan Tao and Zheng Yang on the backside, sending them flying, and shouted loudly.

"Yes, yes!"

At this point, they finally realized that these three lecherous old men might really be master teachers, and they all turned pale with fear.

Everyone knew how terrifying master teachers were, and they had splashed ink on three of them, turning them into this...

Just thinking about it made them want to cry.

But... they really hadn't meant to.

Who would have thought that dignified master teachers would wear plain clothes, come to their classroom, observe quietly, and point fingers?

"Um... three master teachers, have you been around here these past few days?"

After finding towels for them to wipe the ink off their faces, Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

You're dignified master teachers—why aren't you enjoying being served in the royal palace? What are you doing here?

Even if you want to take me as an apprentice, knowing I'm not around, you don't have to point fingers at my students.

"We... we..."

Hearing his direct question, Master Liu and the others opened their mouths, too embarrassed to say a word.

What should they say?

Should they say they heard about his deeds and wanted to secretly investigate?

Peeping at students, secretly gathering information, afraid of being discovered... If they said that, where would their dignity as master teachers be?

"I have an old friend at Hongtian Academy. I've been free these days, so I come to see him every day. Your place has a nice environment, so... we lingered a bit longer."

Zheng Fei, quick to react, smiled.

"Nice environment?"

Zhang Xuan looked at him with a strange expression.

He had seen people lying through their teeth, but never so brazenly.

This is the most remote, worst part of the academy. How little of the world must you three master teachers have seen to think this environment is nice?

And you have a friend at Hongtian Academy?

I've never heard of it.

If you really did, you'd have come long ago!

"Oh, I see. My students are inexperienced and mistook you for bad guys. Please don't mind..."

Knowing they didn't want to reveal the truth, Zhang Xuan didn't press further.

Soon, Yuan Tao and the others bought new clothes. The three master teachers changed, finally feeling much better.

"Teacher Zhang, I'm sure you know why we've come, right?"

Regaining his composure, Liu Ling smiled at the young man before him.

From their observations these past few days, both Teacher Zhang and his students had impressed them greatly. If they could take him as an apprentice, it would be a huge gain.

Zhao Ya, knowing these three were indeed master teachers, pricked up her ears to see what was going on.

"I've guessed a bit. The three masters want to take me as an apprentice, right?"

Knowing he couldn't avoid it, Zhang Xuan spoke directly.

"Take you as an apprentice?"

"The three master teachers want to take Teacher Zhang as an apprentice?"

"If Teacher Zhang agrees, he'll become a master teacher's apprentice?"

...

Hearing this, Zhao Ya and the others flushed with excitement.

As teachers, their greatest dream was to become master teachers, and being a master teacher's apprentice was an unavoidable step.

Only by becoming an apprentice could one have the chance to become a master teacher and soar to great heights.

The three master teachers had bypassed Teacher Lu Xun and come directly to Teacher Zhang—how could they not be excited?

"Yes, that's right. All three of us have this intention. You can choose to join any of us."

Seeing that he understood, Liu Ling nodded in satisfaction.

"Join any of you?"

The disciples were so excited they nearly jumped up.

Did that mean all three master teachers had taken a liking to their Teacher Zhang?

"Well..." Zhang Xuan scratched his head, looking embarrassed: "Can I refuse?"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Zhao Ya and the others fell to the ground.

A master teacher personally invites you to be his apprentice, and you refuse?

Did we hear that right?

"Refuse?"

Liu Ling and the others were also taken aback, clearly not believing it.

"Yes." Zhang Xuan nodded.

With the Library of Heaven's Path, he was destined to go much further. Liu Ling and the others as his teachers... to be honest, they fell far short.

"I know we were a bit rash. Don't rush—take your time to think it over. You can give us your answer tomorrow."

Unexpectedly, he was so certain. Liu Ling, knowing they had been hasty, smiled awkwardly.

"Answering tomorrow is fine. Think it over today. You should know that without being a master teacher's apprentice and without a recommendation from a master teacher, you cannot take the master teacher exam."

Zhuang Xian spoke from the side.

"Yes, with your teaching level and talent, it would be a waste not to take the master teacher exam." Zheng Fei also said.

"Oh... then I'll think it over carefully." Zhang Xuan nodded.

He definitely had to take the master teacher exam, but having these three as his teachers... that was a headache.

Not for any other reason...

It was because these three had always wanted to become Master Yang's students.

Always wanting to be my students, yet also wanting to take me as their student... what a mess.

"Alright then. We'll come back tomorrow."

Seeing that he didn't refuse again, the three master teachers breathed a sigh of relief.

"By the way, Master Liu, Master Zhuang, Master Zheng, there's something I'd like to ask you."

Seeing that they weren't dwelling on the matter, Zhang Xuan, recalling the poison in his body, couldn't help asking.

"Oh? What is it? Speak freely. If we know, we'll tell you everything without reservation." Liu Ling stroked his beard.

"It's like this. I wanted to ask, where can I find books about [Poison]? The more, the better?" Zhang Xuan said.

He couldn't identify the poison in his body, having never seen it before. Even he couldn't describe it, and asking too many questions would arouse suspicion. It was better to ask about books directly.

As long as he had enough books, with the Library of Heaven's Path, he could easily learn what poison it was and even find a simple cure.

"Books about poison?"

Unexpectedly, the young man asked this. The three master teachers exchanged glances.

"If you want to know the most about poison, naturally it's the [Poison Hall]." After a moment's hesitation, Liu Ling spoke solemnly.

"Poison Hall?"

Zhang Xuan was completely confused.

The Tianxuan Kingdom's library had many books about poison, but it had never mentioned this place. This was his first time hearing of it.

"Yes, the Poison Hall."

Liu Ling nodded.