Chapter 75: Shang Chen Spits Blood

"Earlier, I discussed many issues regarding teacher assessment with Teacher Zhang. Not only could he answer clearly, but he also gave seven or eight answers to each question—answers even I couldn't come up with. His breadth of knowledge was admirable! At the time, I found it strange that someone so knowledgeable could score zero on such a simple assessment. Now it turns out... the published results were fake!"

Shen Biru also recalled something and couldn't help interjecting, her beautiful eyes blazing with anger.

Last night at dinner, she had specifically tested Zhang Xuan, and he had answered fluently. She had found it odd then, but after hearing the conversation just now, she finally had a "sudden realization."

He must have answered correctly, but the Academic Affairs Office gave him no points!

In other words, there was nothing wrong with his completed exam paper, but... the grading teacher in charge deliberately marked it as zero!

Why?

Why would they do this?

"No wonder Teacher Zhang didn't want to talk about it. We're all colleagues; once it came out, it would certainly affect relationships and harm the academy's reputation! For that, he'd rather bear the label of 'good-for-nothing' alone!" Clan Chief Wang thought he understood more and more, having a "sudden realization."

Didn't you see how hesitant Teacher Zhang was just now about speaking up?

If he hadn't been pushed to the brink, he probably wouldn't have made this public. Even when misunderstood by so many, he silently endured... Even when you all pressured him, he only revealed his cultivation level without going into detail. We guessed the specifics ourselves...

What does it mean to be a model teacher?

This is it!

What is teacherly virtue as solid as a mountain, aloof from worldly strife?

This is it!

"Once news of this injustice spreads, everyone will question the accuracy of the academy's teacher assessments and doubt the true teaching abilities of other teachers... This will throw the academy into chaos! He chose not to speak, silently bearing it himself, preferring to be misunderstood. Such breadth of mind, such magnanimity..."

An elder of the Wang family grew more agitated as he spoke.

There could actually be such a great teacher in the world...

How laughable that we previously misunderstood him as knowing nothing, a good-for-nothing!

As they spoke, everyone turned their eyes in unison toward Elder Shang Chen, who stood not far away, their faces full of fury.

Look at him, then look at yourselves!

Both teachers, yet what a difference!

Teacher Zhang, out of consideration for collegiality, endured humiliation and bore a heavy burden, refusing to betray his colleague. But you...

"I..."

Shang Chen stood frozen in place, on the verge of losing his mind.

Damn it, what's going on?

What fabrication? What consideration for feelings...

Your last assessment was at the True Energy realm, and your exam paper was a mess—getting zero points was normal... I personally reviewed and graded it; there's no way I made a mistake. How did it become me deliberately framing you?

Zhang Xuan, you're a real bastard. If you've got the guts, say it clearly...

Elder Shang Chen felt a mouthful of blood at his lips, ready to spew out at any moment.

...

Watching this lively scene, Zhang Xuan was also dumbfounded.

Actually, what I meant earlier was that the Academic Affairs Office's assessment was inaccurate... How did the tone suddenly turn into this?

Your divergent thinking is too strong!

But, well, ahem... I really do like it...

...

"You say I framed him, but there has to be a reason! I'm the dignified director of the Academic Affairs Office, an academy elder. Why would I frame a junior teacher?"

True to his role as academic director, Elder Shang Chen quickly found the crux of the issue.

Every action must have a motive, a reason.

He was of high status; it was simply unreasonable for him to frame an ordinary teacher for no reason!

"Do we even need to elaborate? Your grandson Shang Bin wants to become the academy's young star teacher, and Teacher Zhang, being so young with such cultivation and ability, would surely stand out and surpass him. To prevent that, you deliberately suppressed him!"

This time it was Elder Mo who spoke, growing angrier with each word, his beard bristling: "I may not have concrete evidence for these matters, but I saw everything from start to finish today! The heart-probing interrogation, the heavy bets, all kinds of pressure... Shang Chen, you're quite skilled at scheming. And to think we've been friends for so many years—I, Mo Xiang, must have been blind!"

Elder Mo had always detested evil. Today, he had come specifically at Shang Chen's invitation to root out corrupt teachers, only to witness Elder Shang constantly using various methods to suppress Teacher Zhang Xuan!

And Teacher Zhang had consistently proven himself right with facts.

Wasn't that proof enough?

If that wasn't proof, then Mo Xiang must be blind!

"I can also testify that today Elder Shang Chen deliberately suppressed Teacher Zhang. I saw it with my own eyes!"

"If it's this obvious even with us present, who knows what methods he used behind the scenes!"

"Truly, you can know a person's face but not their heart. A dignified academic director, doing this for the sake of his grandson—he's nothing but a beast!"

...

Once Elder Mo spoke, many chimed in, one after another, righteous indignation on their faces.

"..."

Elder Shang Chen felt dizzy and on the verge of madness.

I... really never suppressed him before. It was only today, after he humiliated me, that I started looking for trouble...

What if I told you that before today, I only knew he had low ability and wasn't familiar with him—would you believe me?

But seeing the angry expressions on everyone's faces, he knew it was useless to dwell on this topic.

Right now, he was like mud in his pants—not shit, but shit all the same!

He turned to look at Zhang Xuan, the instigator of all this, and saw him still standing with hands behind his back, wearing a look of pity for the world, as if he was reluctant to reveal the secret.

Reluctant my ass!

You made all this up!

You had no ability and scored zero on the teacher assessment—how did it suddenly become the Academic Affairs Office cheating and me deliberately suppressing you?

What does this have to do with me or the Academic Affairs Office?

Pfft!

Unable to hold it in any longer, blood sprayed directly from his mouth.

"Hmph, and you still have the nerve to spit blood? Doing something so disgraceful—if it were me, I'd have already banged my head against a wall and died!"

"Shameless! How did someone like this become the director of the Academic Affairs Office at Hongtian Academy?"

"And he calls himself an elder? Someone with such moral character should have his teaching license revoked..."

...

Seeing him spit blood, the crowd showed no sympathy; instead, they grew even angrier, shouting wildly.

"How did this happen?"

Shang Bin and Cao Xiong, standing to the side, were also completely dumbfounded.

Just moments ago, they had been confident of victory—how had it suddenly turned out like this?

What was going on?

After spitting blood, Elder Shang Chen felt much better, his mind clearing. He looked around, raised his arms, and turned to Zhang Xuan, his face filled with undisguised hatred: "You say I deliberately suppressed you to give you zero on the teacher assessment. I can't explain it now, and I can't say more. But what about the student who went into qi deviation? That happened in your class, didn't it? How do you explain that?"

No matter how many reasons or excuses you have, a student going into qi deviation on the spot in your class is an undeniable fact. Let's see how you explain that!

Zhang Xuan's heart skipped a beat.