Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 68 Give a Dignity
The outcome of a war can be determined both on and off the battlefield.

For Xu Xuan, who had already pulled off such a high-level operation as leveraging the cultural heritage of Jiangnan, a small city like Jinning was no trouble at all.

Besides
Is it enough if the audience, judges, and organizers are all from the same side?

Even if they are your opponents, you should give them a chance to save face.

This is another interpretation of the idea that human nature is inherently good.

To persuade people to do good through drastic measures.

Early morning of the fourth day.

The head of the Wang family has arrived in Jinning City, weary from his journey.

Pushing open the gate of the mansion, she coldly dragged her son out of the pile of cosmetics in the bedroom.

As we all know, plants begin photosynthesis as the sun rises in the morning, a process that increases the concentration of oxygen in the air.

Young Master Wang was awakened by the morning sunlight and fresh air.

Then I saw a little surprise.

"father?"

"You've come at the right time; today is the perfect day for me and that..."

He was interrupted before he could finish speaking.

Master Wang said earnestly.

“Huacheng, you should know that I have many sons.”

Young Master Wang was confused. What was his father saying?
Could it be that one of our brothers has achieved something yet?

Snapped!
A slap landed, leaving a handprint on that already unattractive face.

Young Master Wang was bewildered, aggrieved, and in pain.

A few days ago, someone threatened me with a sword to break off our engagement. Today, my own father came to my door and beat me for no reason. My life is just too miserable.

"Father, why?"

Master Wang sat in the center of the courtyard, his face indifferent.

"I won't stop you from marrying into the Shi family; it will indeed benefit the family. I've also done things to consolidate my power in the future."

"Using underhanded tactics to act first and report later, suppressing poor scholars is no excuse. That's just how the world is. Whether it's a merchant family or a family with a distinguished ancestry, they all do it."

"But to fail to kill the snake and be tricked into a betting match is foolish!"

"To be set up and still not realize it, that's the height of stupidity!"

"Do you know that distrust of the family has spread to several surrounding counties? If this continues, it will be dangerous."

After that, a violent, relentless barrage of blows ensued.

Early in the morning, the sounds of ghosts wailing and wolves howling echoed from this multi-courtyard mansion.

They only stopped when they were tired of hitting him.

Mr. Wang, panting heavily, was very sad. Merchants are not like noble families; sometimes, one wrong step can mean the end of their lives.

Although their businesses span several provinces, the prosperous southern counties are of paramount importance.

Jinning, a remote area in the south, may be somewhat of a liability, but some trends need to be nipped in the bud.

The trouble caused by Hua Cheng's engagement this time wasn't too big, but the forces behind it were a real headache.

The person who plotted against his own son was even more troublesome.

Seeing that his son was still somewhat unconvinced, Mr. Wang sighed.

Do you know how I know the whole story?

"Did the butler report it?"

One hand was raised, then limply lowered.

How could the Wang family possibly have the ability to investigate so thoroughly within three days?

"A teacher at an academy named Xu Xuan wrote to me."

The opening line is from the "Biographies of Merchants" in the Records of the Grand Historian: "The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is bustling, all for profit."

It made a strong first impression and clearly pointed out what a businessman should do.

Then, very directly, he analyzed the pros and cons, laying out his options one by one, almost explicitly saying, "I am very strong, stop fighting."

The wedding between Young Master Wang and Liancheng is a lose-lose situation. It would be better to take the initiative to dissolve the engagement and seek a dignified ending.

This shouldn't be a threat, right?

what?
Young Master Wang's mind was a little slow to process this. Master Wang had many children, and although this one wasn't the most favored, there was still some affection between them.

At the same time, the child's cooperation is needed for the annulment of the engagement, so I have to explain it to him thoroughly.

"The Xie family and the Qian family may not have directly participated, but their ambiguous stance is already a subtle indication of taking sides."

Whether the academy takes it seriously or not, it's already an attitude we can't afford.

At this time, the Wang family's reputation wasn't that valuable.

The letter was written for the sake of historians, and to prevent our family from choosing the one-in-a-million possibility of a fight to the death.

Master Wang sighed, feeling completely manipulated.

A contest?

It refers to the life-and-death turmoil of the Wang family on one side, and the opportunity for powerful forces to intervene on the other.

There is no such unfair trade in the world.

"Now they've even given him a way out; it's just a matter of announcing the engagement. Losing a little face for the Shi family is a punishment for Scholar Shi."

Of course, they won't go back on their promise to lower the salt price; this is a benefit they got on behalf of the magistrate—truly a watertight arrangement.

What wasn't mentioned was that if Qiao Shusheng hadn't rallied himself, the other party might have used this bet as a stepping stone.

After all, how could the Wang family, who couldn't arbitrarily control salt prices, compare to Qiao Feng in terms of popularity? In the end, it would just be another drama of academy students.

Although I have never met Xu Xuan, I can tell that if such a person were to go into business, he might become the next Prime Minister Lü.

It is terrifying and frightening.

She was even angrier when she looked at her good-for-nothing youngest son at her feet.

"Come with me to annul the engagement later, and admit defeat in the bet."

Young Master Wang was still somewhat unwilling, but dared not argue and could only obediently agree.

Inside the quiet room, Tenzin slowly finished his practice.

An abnormal flush on the face is a sign that the vital energy cannot be fully contained.

In order to fight to the death with the opponent, he could only use a secret technique to recover from his injuries.

He was quite satisfied with the two magical artifacts in his hands that were now radiating light; this would allow him to suppress the Heavenly Demon.

Tenzin recalled the battle a few days ago and felt that he had been at a disadvantage because he had fallen into the enemy's despicable trap.

This time... Hmph.

Once the transformed demon is subdued, it can become a guardian spirit beast, which is considered a top-tier opportunity.

As for that cultivator who has just entered the path and doesn't even know any magic, he must die!
Just thinking about Xu Xuan's appearance ignited a nameless rage within him; he absolutely could not forgive the other party's utterly immoral sneak attack.

no way!

I can't collect Qiao Feng's soul, so I'll use yours, you demon, to fill the void.

Sorting out the robes triggered memories, and another wave of karmic fire burned within me.

"Humph!"

Pushing open the door, I walked to the front yard and saw Young Master Wang and the true head of the Wang family.

He performed a simple Buddhist ritual, displaying the refined manners of a hermit.

After arriving in the Central Plains, he deliberately chose secular families to provide for him and with resources for his spiritual practice.

Deep down, I genuinely look down on this kind of businessman.

"Gentlemen, it's time to head to the Shi family."

Then this expert received some terrible news.

"Admit defeat?!?"

Tenzin felt a tickle in his throat and almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

His voice trembled and sounded strained; even the Wang family father and son could see that the master seemed very flustered.

Naturally, they panicked.

There are many factors involved in a battle between cultivators, such as magical power, magical treasures, luck, favorable timing and location, and even the time of day and attributes.

In the previous text, Bu Hengzi's three puppet evil arts became incredibly powerful at night, far surpassing their daytime power, and all the constables in the entire Qiantang County were unable to subdue him.

The magician's method of accumulating birth destiny requires children born under the Big Dipper and a large amount of popularity.

The biggest weakness of Tenzin at this moment is his fate.

(End of this chapter)