Chapter 25: I Choose Chen Yu, The People's Choice
Meanwhile.
The Chen family banquet was nearing its end. Feng Kai, the Secretary of the Awakening Association, and Mayor Zhou Mingyuan had long since left.
But the guests hadn't dispersed. Most were crowded around Chen Guodong and Chen Chen, refusing to move.
"Young Master Chen is strikingly handsome, possessing the style of Patriarch Chen in his youth!" A businessman in a suit raised his glass, his tone dripping with flattery.
Chen Guodong cupped his hands and laughed. "Hahahaha, this kid still has a long way to go."
"The way I see it, that Chen Yu just doesn't have the big-picture awareness of Young Master Chen. He just had to come and ruin a good day."
"Why bring him up? He obviously secretly used Sea Prism Stone gloves and only succeeded because Young Master Chen wasn't paying attention. If we talk about real strength, could he beat Young Master Chen?"
"Anyone with eyes can see that!"
"Sigh, and he wasted three months' worth of Awakening Potions. Truly mud that can't stick to the wall."
These guests perfectly illustrated the phrase: 'Wait until I enter the pass, and the great scholars will justify me.'
With everyone chiming in, Chen Chen's miserable defeat to Chen Yu was whitewashed away.
"My daughter is the same age as Young Master Chen. She should learn more from him."
"Don't bring up your two-hundred-pound daughter. My niece, on the other hand, is the school beauty of No. 2 High School..."
...
Although the Ling family had annulled the engagement, the small noble families of Lanjiang City were eager.
Especially now that Chen Chen was favored by the Association.
Aside from the Jiang and Li families, everyone else stepped forward to play matchmaker.
Chen Guodong stood to the side, watching these people rush to curry favor with him. Although he waved his hands saying
"We'll see, we'll see," the smile in the corners of his eyes couldn't be hidden. He unconsciously touched his tie, feeling lighter than air.
Chen Chen, who had changed into clean clothes, kept his head slightly lowered, but the curve of his lips couldn't be suppressed.
Yes! Just like this!
This is the Coming of Age Ceremony I imagined!
As for Chen Yu?
Now that I'm valued by the Association, with resources tilted my way, surpassing him will be simple. When the time comes, he will taste what it's like to be stepped on!
At this moment, a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses walked over. It was Gao Liming, the principal of Lanjiang No. 1 High School.
Chen Guodong immediately welcomed him.
"Principal Gao, thank you for coming today. Regarding Chen Chen's upcoming military training qualifications, I'll have to trouble you to look after him."
Gao Liming glanced at Chen Chen with approval. "Patriarch Chen, rest assured. With Chen Chen's SS-rank talent, the military training qualification assessment is just a formality."
"Our school is eager to have more good seedlings like him. Later, I'll have to ask Chen Chen to share his experiences with the younger students!"
Chen Chen looked up at the right moment, putting on a humble facade.
"Thank you for the praise, Principal. I will prepare well."
While Chen Guodong was happily seeing off guests, the atmosphere in the second-floor study was vastly different.
Zhang Li's face was so dark it could drip water.
She sat in a chair, tapping her fingers rhythmically on the armrest.
"Why is Chen Yu still alive?" Zhang Li asked, suppressing her voice.
A black shadow in front of her materialized into a human form—the old woman who had
participated in Chen Yu's assassination attempt.
Zhang Li's fingernails nearly dug into her palm, her voice laced with poison. "Didn't I tell you to handle him?"
"You've been with me for so long, and you can't even handle a small matter like this?"
The old woman quickly knelt, a trace of helplessness in her eyes. "Three beginner mid-rank Awakeners couldn't take him down."
"And we encountered the Night Watch Bureau. They were investigating strictly. If I had made a move, my identity would have been easily exposed, so I had to retreat first."
"The Night Watch Bureau?" Zhang Li slammed the table, making the teacup rattle. "Couldn't you wait for them to leave before striking?"
"That slut Lin Lan's bastard must die! As long as he lives, he is a hidden danger to me and Chen'er!"
She walked up to the old woman, her eyes fierce enough to eat someone alive. "I've planned for so long; I absolutely cannot let him ruin my affairs."
"Next time you fail, you should know the consequences."
The old woman didn't speak. She nodded heavily, a bloodthirsty glint flashing in her eyes.
____________________________
Zhou Family Home.
Zhou Mingyuan had just returned home to find his son still practicing swordplay. He felt instantly gratified.
"Mingxuan, take a break. Cultivation requires a balance of work and rest."
Zhou Mingxuan paused. "Dad?"
"It's nothing, I just think I found a way to break through my bottleneck!"
"Oh?" Zhou Mingyuan's eyes lit up. "That's great! keep practicing."
"Dad," Zhou Mingxuan called out. "How was the Chen family's Coming of Age Ceremony?"
Zhou Mingyuan had a strange look on his face. "Why do you ask?"
His son looked excited. "Today I finally understood the principle you taught me: seeing is believing!"
"Have you heard the name Chen Yu?"
"The one who's number one in spiritual power at Lanjiang No. 1 High, and made the mistress kneel at the awakening ceremony!"
Chen Yu again?
Zhou Mingyuan raised an eyebrow. "Tell me the details."
Zhou Mingxuan sat on the sofa, drinking two mouthfuls of tea to moisten his throat.
"I went to Tianyi Sword Dojo this afternoon to practice. The coaches there are terrible, worse than me. Especially one..."
"Get to the point." Zhou Mingyuan glared at him.
"But you asked for details..."
"Tsk!"
"Cough... Chen Yu came to apply as a sparring partner..."
Zhou Mingxuan slowly recounted how Chen Yu gave him pointers at the dojo, and how Wei Tianyi praised Chen Yu.
He got more excited as he spoke. "The Tianyi Sword Saint! That's a senior among us swordsmen."
"He actually praised Chen Yu's swordsmanship talent directly and even talked about taking him as a disciple. He values Chen Yu immensely!"
"I heard they went to the Chen family ceremony later. How was it?"
Zhou Mingyuan rubbed his chin, frowning slightly.
First, he ruled out Zhou Mingxuan lying to him—people who practiced the sword were mostly simple-minded.
He recalled the scenes at the ceremony: Chen Yu instantly defeating Chen Chen, that powerful aura, and his words about the 'civet cat for the prince' marriage graft.
"Hiss..."
He was starting to get it.
No matter how much falsehood was used to whitewash it, facts were facts.
Like Chen Yu being stronger than Chen Chen, Wei Tianyi and Ling Wenhe's attitude toward Chen Yu, and the fact that Chen Yu could truly instruct Mingxuan in swordsmanship.
Zhou Mingyuan was the mayor, after all. With a little thought, the outline of the truth emerged.
Zhou Mingyuan chuckled lightly.
"The Chen family is shady enough, trying to use Lin Lan's name to bind the Ling family."
"It seems the rumors about Chen Yu severing ties with the Chen family have quite a story behind them."
"Old Man, hurry up and tell me about the Chen family." Zhou Mingxuan asked curiously. "I waited for you all night just to hear this."
Zhou Mingyuan paused, then slapped his son on the head. "Who are you calling Old Man?"
"Later on..."
Zhou Mingyuan recounted what happened at the Chen family. Seeing his son listening with glee, he decided to test him.
"What do you think we should do now?"
Zhou Mingxuan froze for a few seconds, then hesitated. "Go to sleep?"
"..."
"I have a lifetime of wisdom, how did I give birth to such a blockhead!"
Zhou Mingyuan waved his sleeve indignantly. "The Association values Chen Chen, but that's for his SS-rank talent."
"But Chen Yu gained Elder Wei's appreciation, made Ling Wenhe look at him differently, and defeated Chen Chen. He relies on true ability and character.".
"Elder Wei has practiced the sword his whole life and values 'righteousness' the most. Someone he fancies can't be bad."
He looked at Zhou Mingxuan, his tone turning serious. "I think the Chen family's bait-and-switch scheme is likely true."
"This matter will be exposed sooner or later."
"Contact Chen Yu more in the future. Don't put on airs, and build a good relationship with him."
"That kid is worth betting on more than the Chen family's 'artificial genius'."
Zhou Mingxuan's eyes lit up, and he nodded immediately. "I choose Chen Yu too! Chen Yu is the people's choice!"
"I got it, Dad! I'll go find Chen Yu tomorrow and ask for sword pointers!"
"Still want to practice?" Chen Yu asked with a faint smile, holding a wooden sword against Zhou Mingxuan's neck.
"No more, no more. Are you even human?" Zhou Mingxuan looked ashen, as if he had lost all hope.
"Entering the Steel Cutting realm in a week..."
Zhou Mingxuan looked up at the sky. "Poetic justice, my ass."
(To be Continued)