ASER - Chapter 61
Chapter 61: Not Fighting!
"Because the Yuan family is wealthy and has always had business dealings with the Song family, it was originally a fairly solid relationship. But now, if you, as the most promising heir of your family, were to fight with me, and then also fall out with Song Ling, it would mean provoking two families with official ranks at once. The risk has already been created. At that point, your family will either have to abandon you or choose another side to align with. Given the scarcity of members in your family and the disappointing performance of other descendants, you cannot be abandoned. Therefore, they can only align with the Wang family."
"So what does this have to do with your 'big brother'? Well, it does. Because his family has been dormant for hundreds of years, possessing heritage and legacy. The revival of Spiritual Energy is an excellent opportunity for them, but they are precisely lacking resources in the early stages. Thus, they need a money bag. But a money bag doesn't need a brain."
"Ah, you must be very angry right now, thinking how this village girl like me could be so ugly, treacherous, and cunning, attempting to use such a low-level tactic of sowing discord to affect your brotherly bond. However, if you observe carefully, you will find that the Wang family's disciples, after entering Class 1, have changed their previously arrogant style and, along with Wang Wei and other members, have become very low-key. But they are also precisely in your 'brothers' group chat, aren't they?"
How did A'Diao know all this? Because on the very first day, she had figured out Zhongchuan Mingxiu's intention in sending Yuan Shu to her. She was curious, was there any point in doing all this?
After all, they were families with official ranks. She had a chat with the old steward of the Jinling old residence, spent a little money... These noble young masters wouldn't care about a few thousand or tens of thousands of Star Coins, but ordinary people would highly value such extra income. Naturally, she could pry out some subtle pieces of information.
She had also noticed the changes in Wang Wei and the others early on.
Taking everything into account, she understood Zhongchuan Mingxiu's intentions. Of course, if her guess was wrong, it didn't matter. Right or wrong wasn't important; what mattered was that she wanted others to believe this was Zhongchuan Mingxiu's true nature.
But it was quite obvious that the alliance between Zhongchuan and the Wang family was indeed real.
Because the expressions of Wang Shen, Wang Wei, and the others changed.
The situation was just as she had grasped. So, before Zhongchuan Mingxiu could refute, she continued to fan the flames, "Thus, under the premise of opposing the Song and Chen families, the Yuan family's money and the Wang family's power became closely linked to your 'big brother'. However, these are merely tactics, a collaboration. It's not about who is more despicable. Just like you might not have been aiming for his strength to lead you in team fights and jungling. But now, it seems your cost-benefit analysis is imbalanced—at the very least, he didn't call on anyone else at first, but specifically called on you, the most arrogant and trouble-prone, to challenge me."
"When a chess piece is captured, none of the preceding moves are innocent."
After A'Diao finished speaking, she ignored the dumbfounded Yuan Shu and the equally bewildered others, turning to look at Zhongchuan Mingxiu, whose face was grim, as if waiting for his response.
Cheng Zhang facepalmed. In fact, he had vaguely felt something was strange about this issue from the beginning, but he hadn't dared to think it through so clearly, nor did he expect Chen A'Diao to be so confrontational, forcefully exposing these sensitive topics of conspiracy in front of so many people.
But this was also tantamount to openly falling out with Zhongchuan Mingxiu.
In the same class, and tearing each other apart like this on the second day of school... Even though he prided himself on being mature for his age, he felt a bit like he was having a heart attack.
Zhongchuan Mingxiu also felt like he was having a heart attack—he never intended to use Yuan Shu as a disposable pawn! Admittedly, at the beginning, he did want to use him to provoke the Song and Chen families and muddy the waters for his own family's benefit. But the Yuan family was genuinely wealthy, and he didn't want to discard them after they served their purpose. However, explaining this now would seem weak.
This Chen A'Diao was so venomous, deeply understanding the nuances of language and psychological tactics.
Zhongchuan Mingxiu endured for a long time. Finally, with the calm demeanor of a carefree crane, he slowly said, "I did try to dissuade Yuan Shu at the beginning. Are you selectively forgetting that? The gift of words is a rare power, but if used recklessly, it is foolishness."
A'Diao smiled. "If you could break through to the second level today, then I certainly wouldn't be so foolish."
Damn!
Now that was truly confrontational!
Ming Zeye and Zhou Xiuhe both looked grave. This Chen A'Diao was even more unyielding than the two of them.
Moreover, these words were actually a provocation to those like them who were also on the 1st level.
No one would have a good impression of such a Chen A'Diao, but it had to be said, she was more dominant than anyone else.
This dominance matched the sharp edge she ought to possess—having come in first in the entrance exam, it seemed she was currently unwilling to be subordinate to anyone.
Zhongchuan Mingxiu had good composure. Even at this moment, he wasn't enraged, merely darkened his face and continued slowly, "So confident? Are you going to surpass me tomorrow?"
A'Diao was just paying for a bottle of "happy otaku water," and the drink rolled out.
"Could it be that I'm being arrogant and provocative towards you today because I realized you're far less powerful than I imagined?"
"Alright, I am."
Damn!!!
【From Zhongchuan Mingxiu +5455!!!】
A'Diao, having gained mental energy points, was always the happiest, and this happiness was reflected in her smiling face.
Fair-skinned, with delicate and youthful features, she now possessed a subtle, unfolding sharpness that was a stark contrast to her previously unremarkable appearance.
"Also, if it weren't for my father's impending transfer, and your desire to contend for something for your family members, thus arranging for Yuan Shu to fight with me, ideally to disrupt the relationships between the Song, Chen, and Yuan families, so you could sit back and reap the benefits... you might not have been so impatient."
Was this a response to his earlier explanation about supposedly dissuading Yuan Shu?
She wouldn't counter-attack—as long as others reasonably doubted his motives, any rationality in his actions would be construed as part of a conspiracy.
She was targeting his motives.
Taking the villain's path first, leaving the villain with nowhere to go.
Zhongchuan Mingxiu's heart jolted. How could she possibly know about this?!
He regained his composure, a faint, unreadable smile on his face. "You make yourself sound so noble. Since you so confidently assert that I'm using him... why didn't you tell him earlier? Instead, you repeatedly took his money. If one is not upright oneself, how can one judge others? It's clear you're merely slandering."
A'Diao actually didn't know about the official appointment arrangements. After all, it was a court secret, and she wasn't close to Chen Ran. However, she guessed that even without the Zhongchuan family, the relationship between the Song and Chen families was already out in the open. Furthermore, since she and Song Ling were visibly getting along well, the Wang family would definitely be suspicious. The latter naturally wouldn't want Chen Ran to be promoted, so they had a hundred percent certainty made some moves behind the scenes.
So now that it was confirmed that the Wang family and the Zhongchuan family were involved, it was logical for her to further implicate the Zhongchuan family as well. At least, others would believe it.
The truth wasn't important; what she wanted was for everything she constructed to be known by everyone.
However... now A'Diao just said casually, "Of course I couldn't tell him. Who can refuse a money bag?"
【From Yuan Shu +2888!!!】
Pssht! The pull tab of the "happy otaku water" was opened, and a stimulatingly refreshing fizz escaped. She looked at Zhongchuan Mingxiu and smiled faintly.
Gently, softly, she delivered the final blow.
"But teaching him now... it's because I want to see how you, having been cut off from your money bag, will be surpassed by me."
A little wild wolf crawled out from the overgrown weeds, its four paws gripping the ground, its sharp fangs and teeth already stained with the taste of meat.
She had never been one to be trifled with.
【From Zhongchuan Mingxiu +6666!】
【From...】
The mental energy points started racking up.
The administrator watched eagerly for a long time, his heart filled with unparalleled excitement. Tsk, tsk, tsk, impressive! Compared to the back-and-forth exam competitions of the kids from previous years, these last two batches were truly fierce.
But the four-way struggle between the Song, Wang, Cui families, and the hidden Chen Xun had been relatively peaceful. After all, Spiritual Energy hadn't revived back then. This batch was different.
All sorts of schemes, conspiracies, and family power plays were being executed with great flair.
But what kind of incredible genes did the Chen family have? One brother was as steady as an old dog, and the sister was as fierce as a wolf.
Yet, once they made a move, they always pushed people into desperate situations.
At this moment, many people, especially those who had entered through the recruitment exam, suddenly recalled the day Chen Xun had casually and legitimately eliminated Zhao Lingyun.
Looking at it now, was this ruthlessness a family trait?
The heavy atmosphere was soon broken because the leaderboard changed.
Tuoba's "Cleared First Level" changed to "Cleared Second Level."
Everyone: "???"
However, within a few seconds, Tuoba came out, rubbing his ears with a stern face. After seeing the situation in the hall, he raised an eyebrow, then looked at the leaderboard. He seemed to understand the tense atmosphere before him and suddenly smiled, "So that's how it is. Chen A'Diao, you're very impressive. In the future, how about we..."
"Can't beat you, won't fight, no thanks, leaving!" A'Diao, who just three seconds ago was exuding dominance and had triggered a wave of mental energy points, immediately chickened out, clutching her "happy otaku water" and darting out as if flying.
Strong one moment, cowardly the next—she perfectly embodied what it meant to bully the weak and fear the strong.
But no one dared to underestimate her.
Tuoba watched her retreating figure, lost in thought, his eyes glinting obscurely.
A'Diao, walking out and drinking her "happy otaku water," was thinking: It seems Zhongchuan Mingxiu is indeed not a high-level target for gaining points. The recent verbal sparring had already poked at his pride in his strategic maneuvering and his dignity; she had even genuinely threatened him. So, 6666 was probably close to his upper limit.
Using Song Ling as a reference, when Song Ling was provoked by her, she could occasionally yield four or five thousand points. This indicated that they both fit the profile of mid-level targets for mental energy point fluctuations.
Since Zhongchuan Mingxiu's current upper limit was determined, it meant his improvement speed wouldn't be too outrageous. Her surpassing him was just around the corner, so it didn't matter if she offended him.
After all, this person had been secretly sending Yuan Shu to her to stir up trouble since the first day of school, hoping to secretly gain benefits and grow stronger behind the scenes. Dream on!
However, it seemed Tuoba was currently that high-level target.
He was truly strong, having cleared even the second level.
While A'Diao's mind was full of schemes and calculations, the others also came out discussing. Then they saw—Shi Dagang and other teachers sitting on small stools in the plaza, gulping down soda, and still sarcastically bickering with each other.
Bickering until their mouths were dry and tongues parched, completely engrossed.
The students from the 10 classes: "..."
This was a case of "if the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will go askew."
News of clearing the Clearance Points Tower quickly reached Teacher Qu Jiangnan and the other teachers. This time, few were sarcastic.
These students were no longer children.
Qu Jiangnan was somewhat surprised, but she glanced at the file on A'Diao on her desk and mused: Is this child trying to directly cut off Zhongchuan Mingxiu's source of resources, suppress his development, to prevent him from someday breaking free from the restraints of Ming Zeye and Zhou Xiuhe and then teaming up with Cui Liang to deal with her?
This was taking the firewood from under the cauldron.
A very good tactic, and she could also establish a connection with the Song family in the process.
"Powerfully proving her own worth, seeking greater benefits—truly ambitious."
"But also able to act with ease and control."
"This doesn't seem like a child raised freely in a small place... Exceptionally gifted?"
Or had she been meticulously taught by someone?
Qu Jiangnan's thoughts suddenly drifted a bit far, but she quickly shifted her focus because Shi Dagang was about to start today's actual lessons.
She made a call to the medical office in advance.
"Prepare the medicine."
These little rascals would soon discover that all schemes and tricks are insignificant in the face of absolute power.
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