Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 3 Confucius said
Cluck cl ...
When the rooster crows, the world turns white.

As the golden rays of dawn shone down from the horizon, Xu Xuan awoke from his daze.

"I didn't expect him to be sleeping so soundly. I'm really carefree."

Stepping outside and stretching my muscles, I felt exceptionally refreshed. The muscle soreness from yesterday's rolling around had vanished, and even my field of vision seemed much wider.

Perhaps it was because I just transmigrated yesterday and was too tense to notice that my physical condition is actually quite good.

After reflecting on his own situation, he began to wash up, and then sat down at his desk to write a resignation letter.

"Since Xu Xuan entered the school, he has been greatly favored by Master Mengshan, which has enabled him to..."

Jintian Academy, built by wealthy merchants, held no status among the many academies in Jiangnan and was often the subject of ridicule.

They've put in a lot of effort to retain the instructors, and the benefits they offer are quite good.

Xu Xuan himself still regrets losing this job.

He put his resignation letter in his bosom, wrapped the carving knife around his neck and put it in his book box, then prepared to go out on business.

"etc."

He turned around, found a small piece of oil paper, ran to the outer wall, scraped off some wall plaster, wrapped it up, and put it in the inner pocket of his sleeve.

I don't know if it will be useful, but it's always good to have more.

The lack of security is particularly noticeable when I'm sober, and it may take some time for me to adjust to this era before I feel better.

Xu Xuan was much more relaxed when he went out today. He nodded to some people he remembered and exchanged a few meaningless words.

The main point is to project composure and confidence. If someone notices anything unusual, they can simply excuse themselves by saying they have gained some insights from reading or are feeling unwell.

If there's no prolonged contact, such a small-scale incident shouldn't be a big problem.

Xu Xuan became more and more confident as he walked, feeling like a local.

"It seems that after spending half a year in the mountains, once everyone's previous impressions of them have faded, they will be able to fully integrate into this world."

Upon reaching the entrance of Jintian Academy, I found the road blocked.
"Master Zhang, please spare this old man. I really can't afford five taels of silver."

An old man selling firewood was seen pleading with a young girl to a man in his thirties. This man was none other than Zhang San, a notorious local ruffian in Qiantang County.

Xu Xuan learned the whole story from the crowd around him.

It is said that the firewood the old man was carrying tore a hole in Zhang San's clothes.

Most ordinary people would just accept their bad luck and lose a few coins in the process.

But Zhang San is the kind of person who is unreasonable and always tries to cause trouble, so he naturally took this opportunity to extort money from him.

"You blind old fool, this is a genuine silk brocade garment. This would normally cost at least twenty taels of silver. But I have important business to attend to today, so hurry up and give me five taels of silver!"

Xu Xuan looked at it carefully for a moment and fell silent. The ancient methods of extortion were really ruthless.

That linen shirt has so many holes, which one is the one that was just torn?
"Master Zhang, even if I sold my old bones, I wouldn't get five taels of silver. Please, have mercy on us."

Five taels of silver was a burden even for Xu Xuan, let alone a wood seller.

More and more people gathered, completely surrounding the area.

As a local thug, Zhang San naturally became more and more manic the more people around him, even spouting wild words.

"Pay up the money quickly, and we'll call it a day."

"If you don't have the money, then use your little granddaughter to pay off the debt!"

The old man held his granddaughter tightly, terrified. This damned creature was probably after people.

"Old man, you don't think I'm trying to scam you, do you? If you don't believe me, ask everyone. If anyone says this garment isn't worth twenty taels, I'll leave right now."

Then he scanned the surroundings with his gloomy, triangular eyes.

Everyone knew that Zhang San was extorting money, and no one wanted to argue with him.

Ordinary people fear the methods of thugs and hooligans, while people of status have no reason to stand up for an old man selling firewood.

Seeing this, Zhang San became even more smug. This was how he gained his reputation as a local thug.

Until I saw a pair of eyes filled with contempt in the crowd.

"These tattered clothes are worthless!"

Zhang San was furious; this was like stepping on his face.

"So it's Master Xu from Jintian Academy~~ Ah~~~" "Trying to reason with me?! Get lost!!!"

In the past, Zhang San would have immediately slapped himself twice, then knelt down, kowtowed, and rolled away, because this was a scholar.

The old thug was very discerning; he knew exactly who was superior and who was inferior. So-called courage and bravery had nothing to do with this kind of scoundrel.

But this time he has someone behind him, and a very important one at that.

Helping a powerful figure find the painting will grant you a chance to ascend to heaven.

In his view, any scholar or graduate who encountered a celestial master was doomed; humans could not possibly fight against immortals!

Taking advantage of the powerful's influence, he felt he could retaliate against these high-ranking officials.

A scholar who has achieved academic honors but holds no official position is someone we can't really do anything to for the time being.

Besides, these pedantic scholars certainly wouldn't dare to make a move. As for arguing, well, local thugs and ruffians have their own set of skills.

At this moment, Zhang San found a new target to assert his authority, and pushed through the crowd to stand in front of Xu Xuan.

Although it was shorter, its incongruous appearance made it look just like a fighting rooster.

This moment felt like the pinnacle of a hoodlum's life.

Those around seemed to have witnessed an even more interesting and lively scene unfold.

The fact that the scholar was being held hostage is big news.

At this point, some people were eager to help, as helping Xu Xuan out of his predicament was far more valuable than helping the old man selling firewood.

As Xu Xuan watched the scene unfold before him, a surge of resentment began to gather in his chest, like a lump of blood stuck there, unable to be released.

The old man's pleas, the little girl's cries, Zhang San's wild laughter, the indifference of the onlookers, and even the students of Jintian Academy were all watching the spectacle.

This moment felt like stepping back into a past life. It turns out that some things are not incompatible, while some people are still out of place.

Caution is for survival, but one cannot live solely to survive.

Unknown lines in my mind began to surge with my emotions, sketching out a series of images.

In my memory, young Xu Xuan was reading aloud from his textbook word by word in the private school!

Confucius said: "To see what is right and not do it is cowardice."

Thus, the scholar stood tall and straight like a bamboo on Mount Nan, sharp and unstoppable.

Extend your right arm back as far as you can, and then—shush!

The arm, carrying the sleeve, cut through the air.

Snapped! ! !
With a muffled thud, his palm and face made strong contact.

The powerful kinetic energy began to surge wildly across Zhang San's face, causing his facial contortions, teeth chattering, and his mind to go blank.

The immense force then caused the thug's neck to twist uncontrollably, pulling his body in a 360° rotation.

Everyone was shocked. The scholar had hit someone?
So violent and without hesitation, this scholar must be practicing boxing instead of studying at home.

Xu Xuan didn't stop; he looked at the students in the crowd and spoke earnestly.

Confucius said: "Life is what I desire, and righteousness is also what I desire. If I cannot have both, I will give up life for righteousness."

Without even glancing at Zhang San, he moved his right hand along the same trajectory, accelerating, and slapped!
Snapped!
Zhang San turns counterclockwise one more time.

Confucius said: “A man of noble character and a man of righteousness will not seek to live at the expense of righteousness, but will be willing to sacrifice his life to achieve righteousness!”

This time it's a left-handed backhand, whoosh!

The sleeves fluttered, and when they were drawn out, they made a heart-stopping sound.

Snapped! ! !
This final slap sent Zhang San spinning like a top, before he fell to the ground and rolled several more times.

The silence in the room was eerily quiet.

The old man selling firewood stood there holding his granddaughter, looking somewhat dazed. The ordinary onlookers felt a strange sense of embarrassment, while the students of Jintian Academy trembled slightly.

Is Instructor Xu making an example of someone to scare others?! That's way too violent!
Several students who usually liked to slack off in Xu Xuan's classes and write obscene poems and stale tunes were even more flustered.

"Don't leave yet."

(End of this chapter)