Chapter 225: Senior Brother

"Call him uncle?"

Both teachers and students felt as if their necks were simultaneously choked.

Make Lu Xun call Zhang Xuan uncle?

Where did that come from?

Did I hear that right?

Master Lu Chen was a venerable imperial tutor of high status; making Lu Xun call him uncle would imply that even King Shen Zhui had to address him as uncle.

Wasn't that too thrilling?

Thinking of this, everyone looked at the king on the main seat, and sure enough, his expression was somewhat displeased.

A dignified king, a middle-aged man in his forties, being a generation lower than a youth under twenty... no one would be happy about that.

"Call him... uncle?"

Lu Xun nearly cried.

What was all this?

He wasn't even older than me, just a low-level teacher, and I'm supposed to call him uncle?

His heart felt so stifled he wanted to vomit blood.

"What? Can't bring yourself to say it? Master Zhang and I are friends of equal standing; I call him brother. If you don't call him uncle, what do you call him?"

Slapping his son on the head, Master Lu Chen roared angrily.

What kind of son had he raised, daring to lay hands on his uncle? Truly reckless. Luckily, Master Zhang was magnanimous; otherwise, he wouldn't need to come home today.

"I..."

After struggling several times, Lu Xun felt like crying but had no tears, unable to speak.

"You beast..."

Master Lu Chen's beard bristled with anger. Just as he was about to continue scolding, Teacher Zhang stopped him.

"Alright, Brother Lu. The child can't figure it out for now; it's nothing. Just educate him properly later. Beating him in public isn't good either."

Zhang Xuan dissuaded him.

To be honest, he didn't care about seniority.

But he still had to respect Master Lu Chen's face.

Since his transmigration, Master Lu had helped him greatly. If not for that, he would have beaten Lu Xun into a pig's head long ago for such provocation.

"Yes, Brother Zhang is right!"

Master Lu nodded and slapped his son again: "You beast, why don't you quickly thank Uncle Zhang for his magnanimity!"

"I..."

Lu Xun was going crazy. He looked at Zhang Xuan again, feeling a sense of exasperation.

Brother, you adapt to your role way too fast!

"The child can't figure it out for now..."

Whose child am I, damn it?

You're younger than me, yet you say it so naturally. Where do you get the confidence...

His heart was infinitely sorrowful, but in front of his father, he dared not talk nonsense.

He was only sorrowful, unaware that someone had already fainted.

It was his best friend, Wang Chao.

This Teacher Zhang had a half-teacher relationship with Wang Chong, meaning... his father was a junior.

By that logic, he would have to call Zheng Yang and the others uncle...

"Uncle... Zhang!"

After struggling for a long time, Lu Xun gritted his teeth and stood up. Taking a deep breath, he said coldly: "You beat me in the teacher evaluation, but becoming an apprentice to the three masters? I'm afraid you can't do it!"

Today's humiliation was all because of this guy. Even though he called him Uncle Zhang out of respect for his father, deep down he had no respect.

"Oh? Why do you say that, worthy nephew?" Zhang Xuan looked over in confusion.

"You..."

Knowing that the address 'worthy nephew' was intentional, Lu Xun was so angry he nearly vomited blood again. He swayed and gritted his teeth: "To become an apprentice to a famous teacher, you first need to be certified as a Star Teacher or Senior Teacher by the Teacher's Guild. You're just a low-level teacher; you don't even meet the identity requirement!"

Teachers were divided into: Low-Level Teacher, Senior Teacher, and Star Teacher.

Those who wanted to become apprentices to famous teachers were mostly Star Teachers, at the very least Senior Teachers. A mere low-level teacher didn't meet the identity requirement.

Even if the three famous teachers appreciated you, so what?

As famous teachers, they must follow the rules in every action and cannot violate them.

"This..."

Zhang Xuan was startled.

His predecessor had always been a low-level teacher. After his rebirth, time was too tight to take the senior exam. It seemed he must find an opportunity to take it; otherwise, his identity alone could block him from becoming a famous teacher.

Famous teacher, as the most prestigious and dazzling profession in this world, required every step to be taken solidly. Otherwise, if discovered, losing face would be minor; all honors would be forfeited.

"Teacher Zhang, we meet again!"

Just as he was considering when to take the exam, a familiar voice sounded. Turning around, he saw Elder Mo from the Teacher's Guild approaching.

"So it's Elder Mo!"

He still had a good impression of Elder Mo.

He admitted his mistakes, didn't help friends, didn't show favoritism, and was impartial. Last time during the Heart Inquiry, without him, it would have been impossible to silence Shang Chen and Shang Bin.

"Teacher Zhang, I'm truly sorry. A scoundrel like Shang Chen among the teachers caused you a lot of trouble. After I left that day, I reported it to the headquarters, and only now have we gotten results. Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Elder Mo bowed.

"Oh? There's a result? Good!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Last time during the Heart Inquiry, Elder Mo only temporarily revoked Shang Chen's position as Dean of Instruction and canceled Shang Bin's classes, but didn't make a judgment. The Teacher's Guild's punishment had been delayed for half a month.

He thought they wouldn't punish them, but it turned out they had reported the matter to the headquarters.

The Teacher's Guild headquarters was far away. Even with the fastest communication tools, reporting to the Enfeoffed Kingdom and then using its teleportation array would take at least half a month round trip.

"I will now read the headquarters' decision!"

Elder Mo nodded, took out a scroll from his bosom, and gently opened it.

Whoosh!

A beam of light shot up from the center of the competition stage, illuminating the surroundings.

"It's the Teacher's Guild's [Guild Letter]!"

"Guild Letter? What's that?"

"The kingdom has imperial edicts, various oral decrees, and mandates... The Teacher's Guild is one of the highest-level forces on the continent; it also has this thing—the Guild Letter. It's used to handle matters like punishing teachers who violate rules or appointing branch presidents. Once read, it is automatically recorded in the guild's books, and any branch can query it."

"For the guild to use a Guild Letter shows they attach great importance to this matter!"

"Of course. Deliberately oppressing a genius, someone who might become a famous teacher—how could the guild not take it seriously?"

"Yeah, blame it on Shang Chen picking the wrong person to mess with. Serves him right!"

...

Seeing this, the teachers in the know were all secretly shocked.

The Teacher's Guild Letter was not used lightly; bringing it out now showed how seriously they took this matter.

Rustle!

As the Guild Letter appeared, all teachers, students, and even the three famous teachers stood up in unison, with respectful expressions.

"Shang Chen, teacher of Hongtian Academy, Tianxuan Kingdom, as Dean of Instruction, used his position to deliberately suppress other teachers, violating the guild's principles. He is hereby stripped of his teaching qualification, permanently barred from reemployment!"

Light flickered, and a dignified voice slowly sounded.

Thud!

Elder Shang Chen, sitting among the crowd, changed color, fell to the ground, and looked ashen.

He never dreamed that just helping his grandson vent his anger would lead to this result.

Stripped of teaching qualification and permanently barred from reemployment meant his current status and position directly collapsed, turning from a prince to a commoner.

"Shang Bin, teacher of Hongtian Academy, Tianxuan Kingdom, for failing to unite with colleagues and not setting a good example as a teacher, his teaching qualification is suspended for three years; Teacher Cao Xiong, for instigating trouble out of jealousy, is stripped of his teaching qualification and barred from employment by any academy!"

Then the judgments for Shang Bin and Cao Xiong were announced.

Suspension of teaching qualification for three years meant they couldn't teach for three years.

That was still acceptable; at least after three years, they could re-enter the academy. But his grandfather Shang Chen and Cao Xiong were permanently barred.

Especially Cao Xiong—barred from employment by any academy meant even working as a cleaner was forbidden. If discovered, the entire academy would be sanctioned by the guild.

"Zhang Xuan, teacher of Hongtian Academy, Tianxuan Kingdom, for being sincere, considering the overall situation, enduring humiliation, and achieving significant accomplishments in teaching and educating, is truly a model among teachers. He is hereby promoted to Star Teacher."

Whoosh!

The Guild Letter's voice ended, and the light gradually faded.

"I'm a Star Teacher now?"

Zhang Xuan blinked.

He had thought he would need to take the senior exam and then find a way to advance. Now it seemed unnecessary; a single Guild Letter from the Teacher's Guild had completely solved the problem.

"Teacher Zhang, congratulations!"

Elder Mo looked over excitedly, stroking his beard and smiling.

"Thank you for your trouble, Elder Mo!" Zhang Xuan bowed.

He knew that this decision must have involved Elder Mo's efforts, and he was quite grateful.

"You're welcome. I've come only to announce the guild's decision. I won't disturb you further. Farewell!" Elder Mo finished, clasped his hands, smiled, and left.

After he left, the surroundings fell silent. Everyone looked at Lu Xun in the center.

Weren't you just clamoring that he wasn't qualified?

Elder Mo came right over and announced the guild's decision, making Teacher Zhang a Star Teacher. This slap in the face... honestly, everyone felt the sting.

Looking at Lu Xun, they saw his face pale, looking like he wanted to die.

"Master Zhang, this boy has been spoiled by me since he was young. Please be magnanimous..."

Seeing this, Master Lu Chen shook his head. He wanted to ignore it but couldn't help clasping his hands to Zhang Xuan.

"Master Lu, what are you saying..." Zhang Xuan smiled: "He just lost his composure because he wanted to become an apprentice to a famous teacher. I won't hold it against him."

"Then thank you..." Seeing that he wouldn't pursue it, Master Lu quickly clasped his hands in gratitude.

"Don't mention it. Oh, by the way!" Zhang Xuan turned to the three masters on the main seat: "Masters Liu, Zhuang, and Zheng, although Lu Xun hasn't performed well recently, he is no less in teaching students and his actual ability. If any of you are considering taking an apprentice, you might think about him."

"You..."

Lu Xun, who was feeling depressed, heard this, his face flushed, and his eyes widened.

The reason he wanted to compete with Zhang Xuan was to vie for the chance to become an apprentice to the three masters. How could this Teacher Zhang, who had clearly won, instead help him...

And what attitude was that?

They were famous teachers. Speaking like that, weren't you afraid of being beaten to death?

Before his shock subsided, he saw the three masters walk over, stand in front of Zhang Xuan, and simultaneously clasp their hands.

"Senior Brother!"