Chapter 192: Not Afraid to Offend the Prime Minister?

Heh! I have no way to teach this child well?

Shu Mu sneered coldly, his face full of anger; although he never truly intended to take Wang Ping'an as a disciple, let alone teach him to read and write, he mocked:

I'm at least a juren; when this child matures, perhaps he could rise another level. But teaching a child's basics now—don't even call me a juren; I might not even be a xiucai. You say I can't teach this child well?

Teaching a child the basics isn't simple; with your current mindset, not to mention you haven't even advanced a level. Even if you did and became a jinshi, I still don't believe you could teach this child well!

Luo Taiqing stared coldly at Shu Mu, mocking sarcastically.

How could he possibly not see that Shu Mu doesn't truly intend to take Wang Ping'an as a disciple, to teach him his skills? Even if he were sincere, given Shu Mu's attitude, there's a great chance he couldn't make Wang Ping'an a talent.

Because he's still in the imperial examinations, not to mention he has no time to teach a disciple; even if he had the intention, he has never taught before and doesn't know what difficulties teaching a student, especially a child's basics, would bring.

Expecting him to produce a talented student is almost impossible.

"You say I lack the ability to turn this child into a talent?"

Shu Mu sneered, still angry at Luo Taiqing's words, but he hadn't forgotten his purpose for coming here; he casually pointed at Xuanqing Daozhang and said:

"If he indeed has the ability to make this child a talent, then can you tell me why, as a juren, I'm still inferior to that wild Daoist?"

Liu Dongzhu, angry, said: "From start to finish, there's not a single place where you surpass Xuanqing Daozhang!"

Since Shu Mu first met her and called her 'Madam Liu', she has harbored deep grievances against him; now she even defames their family's savior.

How could she possibly have a good attitude toward Shu Mu?

Shu Mu ignored Liu Dongzhu's clamor; she's just a village woman—if not for Wang Ruhai's request, he wouldn't have given her a second glance, let alone come here.

Liu Dongzhu's shouting, to him, was like a summer insect unable to speak of ice.

And how could he possibly care?

Of course.

He hoped Liu Dongzhu would think Xuanqing Daozhang could teach Wang Ping'an well!

Shu Mu stared coldly at Luo Taiqing, hoping he could give a satisfactory answer, though it was likely just sophistry.

"Xuanqing Daozhang is no mere wild Daoist; he's a Ziyang Gong Disciple, a proper cultivator, having devoted decades to Daoist methods—how could he possibly fail to teach a disciple?"

Luo Taiqing looked at Shu Mu with sarcastic mockery; at this point, he probably guessed Shu Mu's purpose for coming to the Wang family and said:

"Moreover, Xuanqing Daozhang is only for initiation; once this child has learned all his skills, he'll be sent to our Luo family to study further, under our care..."

"Luo family?"

Shu Mu slightly furrowed his brow, countless guesses flashing in his mind, and said: "I don't know which Luo family?"

Luo Taiqing arrogantly replied: "In the whole county town, which Luo dares to call themselves the Luo family?"

Shu Mu was startled; when Luo Taiqing mentioned the 'Luo family', he felt familiarity, and Luo Taiqing's answer confirmed his suspicion.

It's the county town Daoist Luo family!

They are renowned throughout the county town and even the Prefecture Capital.

No wonder Luo Taiqing, a local wealthy man of a county town, dares to disregard them, to offend them, to provoke them—it's because they're the Luo family.

Shu Mu, with a grim expression, said: "Lord Luo, regarding this child's situation, I think you know; your Luo family still dares to take him on without fearing karmic retribution?"

Luo Taiqing smiled lightly, calmly saying: "I think the Prime Minister and the Top Scholar are magnanimous people who won't fuss over such trivial matters!"

Though he said that, he was actually nervous; the Top Scholar wasn't a great figure, but the Prime Minister was a top-tier power of the Daxia dynasty.

Not only their Luo family—just a county town Daoist Luo family— even a Prefecture Capital Daoist Luo family wouldn't dare offend the Prime Minister, lest they face bad consequences.

Earlier, Luo Liang and Luo Quan approached him, wanting to take Wang Ping'an as a disciple and asked for his help; he had indeed said similar words.

But whether it was Luo Liang or Luo Quan, they only smiled, as if they didn't care at all about offending the Prime Minister.

That's not right.

Accurately speaking, the benefits of taking Wang Ping'an as a disciple far outweigh offending the Prime Minister.

He dares to arrange a marriage alliance with the Wang family, unafraid of offending the Prime Minister or the Top Scholar, because he's just a rural wealthy man; in the Prime Minister's eyes, he's nothing, so he naturally doesn't mind such trivialities.

"Is that so?"

Shu Mu coldly looked at Luo Taiqing, knowing whether Wang Ruhai and the Prime Minister are magnanimous—he knows, Luo Taiqing knows, the Luo family knows…

Yet the Luo family still does this, indicating there are things he doesn't know!

Shu Mu felt a surge of joy in his heart.

Although Wang Ping'an likely has innate talent and a strong foundation in cultivation, and is far from ordinary.

Otherwise the Luo family wouldn't risk offending Wang Ruhai and the Prime Minister just to take Wang Ping'an.

Wang Ruhai may be the Top Scholar, but once offended, it's serious; the Prime Minister, however, is a man‑eating tiger—offending him yields no good fruit.

This novel, you...

A flippant remark from the Prime Minister could cause countless families to be ruined.

Perhaps.

Wang Ping'an might indeed make a name for himself in cultivation, perhaps even join the Immortal Examination; regardless of passing, once he reaches the Capital City, it will cause a huge stir, affecting Wang Ruhai's reputation.

He would be happy, not because he wishes Wang Ruhai to lose face.

Although he might have that thought, perhaps even he doesn't know.

Rather, this news could give him a chance to shine, bringing him closer to Wang Ruhai and even the Prime Minister's household.

How could he not be happy?

Shu Mu, suppressing his inner excitement, said: "Fine, since you have confidence, I'll see what a wild Daoist and a Daoist Luo family can teach this child, and whether they can truly make him a talent!"

Having said that, Shu Mu, like a belly full of anger, unwilling to stay here longer, turned and left.

"Lord Luo, thank you this time for standing up for me and the Wang family!"

Xuanqing Daozhang thanked briefly, then got to the point: "It's true what the juren said; I'm just a wild Daoist, learning only three‑legged cat techniques; I have little confidence in making this child a talent.

It still depends on you, Luo family!"

Luo Taiqing assured: "Daozhang, rest assured, when this child grows up and masters all your skills, we'll send him to our Luo family, and I guarantee our Luo family will definitely make him a talent!"

A long time ago.

Xuanqing Daozhang found him and said that he could let Wang Ping'an take Luo Quan as his master.

However, he hoped to be Wang Ping'an's enlightenment teacher, letting Wang Ping'an learn all of his abilities.

Then he would send Wang Ping'an to the Luo family!

Xuanqing Daozhang would tell him about this, naturally intending to pass it on to Luo Quan through his mouth.

(End of chapter)