Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 793 A Single Sentence of Mistake

Ning Caichen is not that cowardly, love-obsessed pretty boy protagonist.

He is now a well-connected, capable, and experienced scholar, and one of the Three Wonders of Chongqi.

At this moment, he stood up straight and calmly met Fu Tianchou's gaze—he had experienced the chaos of demons and monsters in Guobei County, witnessed the overwhelming ferocity of the Blood Demon, and even personally witnessed Xu Xuan slay the Black Mountain Demon with his sword.

Compared to those experiences of life and death, this stubborn old man in front of me is hardly a frightening presence.

When she spoke, she exuded charm and showed no trace of the awkwardness of her first appearance.

If he were to collect debts at this time... even if Guo Beicheng were filled with karmic ghosts, they wouldn't be able to stop him in the slightest.

Therefore, they have the courage to break the deadlock and get straight to the point.

According to Master Xu's concept of equality for all, the other party is just an older person, not someone unapproachable.

There's no need to act like a child.

Offering help within the bounds of morality is kindness.

He was also very curious about what the other party wanted to see him about. Could it be about the Suzhou prefect case?

The matter has also been discussed within the academy, since the academy is located in Wu County.

A giant centipede became a prefect and served for several years, earning the title of "upright official"—this kind of gossip is even wilder than ordinary unofficial history.

“The matter of demons cannot be investigated by ordinary means. Deng You has been able to impersonate the prefect for many years without revealing his true identity, there must be something fishy going on behind the scenes. If you trust me, I am willing to lend a hand.”

In fact, Ning Caichen knew something about this matter; all he needed to do was find Master Xu to provide or create evidence that could close the case.

However, saying this in the Fu family study was quite significant.

Fu Tianchou frowned, and the air in the study seemed to freeze instantly.

Fu Qingfeng quietly withdrew his foot, his fingertips tightening slightly, already prepared to apologize on behalf of Ning Caichen later.

She knew her father's temperament well—this former Imperial Censor had always adhered to etiquette and law, emphasizing the importance of hierarchy and respect, and tolerating no transgression whatsoever.

"Heaven is high and earth is low, thus the universe is established; high and low are arranged, thus the noble and the lowly are positioned." — This is a saying my father often repeated.

According to etiquette, the father should have taken charge of the situation, first testing Ning Caichen's knowledge and character, and then "humbly asking questions" for advice.

All the younger generation who came to visit in Luoyang were treated the same way. They could even leave after the examination, and there was no communication at all.

But Ning Caichen spoke first, his tone calm and devoid of any respect.

Fu Tianchou was indeed immediately annoyed, and he coldly scrutinized the young man in front of him.

Compared to the distinguished young men from prominent families he had met in the capital, this man before him was utterly unruly.

Which of those talented young people wasn't humble, polite, and knew how to conduct themselves appropriately?

Even if one possesses great talent, one should understand the principle of "concealing one's talents and keeping a low profile," and would never be as straightforward and reckless as Ning Caichen.

"I must have lost my mind..."

Fu Tianchou mocked himself inwardly.

A former Imperial Censor, who was once a high-ranking official, actually lowered himself to meet an unknown scholar because of a single word from his daughter.
That's utterly absurd.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his displeasure, and spoke again with a tone that was somewhat distant and scrutinizing: "I heard... you know some magic techniques?"

That was a very tactful question.

This not only clearly expresses disdain for "heretical practices" but also subtly conveys doubt about Ning Caichen's identity. An ordinary scholar would likely be sweating profusely at this moment, hastily explaining that he is not a wandering magician.

...But the one on the other side who knows this is a legitimate practitioner of the demonic path.

What is the demonic path? At the very least, the more unorthodox and unconventional it is, the more it is considered the standard for entry.

Ning Caichen's lips curled up slightly, revealing a knowing smile.

Even without using any of his abilities, he could clearly sense the condescending disdain in the other person's words.

This Dr. Fu may indeed have been an honest official, and perhaps he once harbored ambitions to speak out for the people. But what does it matter?

"Those who love others will always be loved; those who respect others will always be respected." Ning Caichen silently recited this ancient proverb in his heart, a hint of pity appearing in his eyes as he looked at Fu Tianchou. He didn't even understand such a simple truth, wasting so many years in vain.

This wasn't a misunderstanding between two good people, but rather an inevitable clash between two people from different worlds. Ning Caichen suddenly found it somewhat ridiculous—why should he prove anything to this kind of person? Prove that he was a righteous person? Prove that he was willing to help?

Ning Caichen doesn't need to be looked at with respect by this kind of person.

“I am neither a sorcerer nor a wizard.” Ning Caichen straightened his back and spoke in a clear voice, “I am a scholar like you.”

His words, though spoken softly, carried weight. Fu Qingfeng looked up in surprise and saw a gleam in the young man's eyes—a brilliance she had never seen in the eyes of her father's students and friends.

Fu Tianchou's expression changed slightly, and he was about to lash out when he saw Ning Caichen bow and say, "Since you are busy with official duties, I will not disturb you any longer."

Teacher Xu is right; one must be flexible and adaptable in doing things. Instead of wasting time here, we should go back and review a few more policy essays.

Fu Tianchou felt a tightness in his chest from this neither humble nor arrogant response, and his already gloomy face became even more unpleasant.

Since being demoted from Luoyang and left to supervise this stagnant case in Yangzhou, his frustration has grown day by day.

Now he's been reduced to seeking help from ghosts and spirits, and even more so, he's been openly contradicted by a younger generation...

All these events completely destroyed his already weakened self-cultivation skills.

Before he could even adopt the authority of an elder to reprimand this arrogant young man, Ning Caichen had already bowed and taken his leave, saying he needed to go back to study for the autumn imperial examination.

This is simply... simply...

Fu Tianchou took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his surging anger.

He snorted coldly, picked up his teacup, took a sip, using this action to calm himself, and then spoke in a tone that reprimanded a junior:
"If one possesses the talent and virtues of the Duke of Zhou, but is arrogant and stingy, then the rest is not worth considering."

"Rankings are determined by virtue, and official positions are granted according to ability."

"The imperial court selects talents in the same way; I hope you will all keep this in mind."

After saying these words, he felt a great deal of relief. This was not only a reprimand to the arrogant young man, but also a reminder to himself.

Even in difficult circumstances, one must uphold the bottom line of being an official and a decent person.

Fu Qingfeng stood aside, watching his father gradually regain his dignified expression, and then looked at the straight back of the man standing at the door, feeling a mix of emotions.

She suddenly realized that these two equally stubborn people might never truly understand each other's world.

Ning Caichen was somewhat bewildered. He still didn't think he had gone too far, let alone that a high-ranking official would speak to him like that.

From the moment he entered until he left, he only exchanged three sentences with this Lord Fu. How could he be labeled as "morally deficient"?

In the imperial examination system, reputation was more important than talent. A candidate described as "arrogant" by a high-ranking official would probably not even be allowed to enter the examination hall.

(End of this chapter)