I picked up skill fragments in the demon world

#601 - The Dagger Revealed (Additional Update for Alliance Leader Feng Junzi Haoran)

Zhang Chen was stunned when he heard this, and looked沈丘 up and down, thinking to himself, "So this kid has his eyes on Jiang Nan. He came to me to make trouble, but he treated me like a pushover."

"Oh?" Zhang Chen gave a faint "Oh" when he heard this, without answering, just looking at the other party in a strange way.

"Next time, if I hear about you meeting again, I will break your legs, cut off your tongue, and gouge out your eyes. This is Jinling City, my territory. You, a mere savage from the frontier, dare to dream of a toad eating swan meat. It's simply wishful thinking. If you don't want to die, just try it. If I make you disappear here, even the Zhang family in Kyoto will be out of reach." Shen Qiu looked at Zhang Chen coldly, his body filled with murderous intent.

Zhang Chen was most sensitive to the perception of Qi, and he could sense that Shen Qiu really had murderous intentions towards him, wanting to kill him.

Shen Qiu was about to say something more, but he saw Shen Xu approaching. Shen Qiu quickly put on a smiling face, patted Zhang Chen on the shoulder, and made a look of 'you're good, I'm good, we're all good,' expressing concern between relatives. Then he said, "Cousin Zhang Chen, just stay in the mansion. If there's anything you need, just tell me. Why should we brothers be so polite?"

Zhang Chen looked at Shen Qiu, who had changed his face in an instant, and couldn't help but sigh that this kid was a talent, his face-changing speed was too fast.

At this time, Shen Xu approached, and Shen Qiu quickly bowed and saluted: "Second Uncle."

"Why aren't you preparing for the various matters of Chongzheng Academy and running around outside? The Shen family's only spot to enter the inner court was given to you. You must work hard and not let down everyone's expectations. What are you doing running around outside all day?" Shen Xu scolded unhappily.

Zhang Chen's heart stirred when he heard Shen Xu's words, and he turned his head to look at Shen Qiu: "The Shen family has a spot to enter the inner court of Chongzheng Academy? And the heir is Shen Qiu?"

Hearing this, Zhang Chen immediately perked up, and he already had a plan in mind, a plan to retaliate against Shen Qiu.

Who was Zhang Chen? He was never one to swallow his anger. If the other party threatened him like this, what was the point of Zhang Chen cultivating this divine power if he didn't retaliate?

"Make trouble! Must make trouble! I want to make Shen Qiu regret it!" Zhang Chen made a decision in his heart.

Shen Xu's smile froze when he heard this, and he said with a bitter smile, "You child, your mouth is too poisonous. Our Shen family will never default on your debt. Even if the treasure can't be found back, we will compensate you. We will never let you suffer a loss."

Zhang Chen looked at Shen Xu meaningfully when he heard this, but he didn't continue the conversation, just saying, "I hope so."

Shen Xu comforted Zhang Chen a few more times, and then left in a hurry.

Zhang Chen stood in place and looked at Shen Xu's back for a while. After a little thought, he headed towards the Old Madam's residence. Because of the previous fire, the Old Madam's original residence was reduced to ashes, and now Zhang Chen was going to the other courtyard where the Old Madam had temporarily moved.

After the steward girl's report, Zhang Chen entered the other courtyard and saw the Old Madam, who had a ruddy complexion and was tasting tea.

Although a fire had burned countless wealth, it did not affect the Old Madam's pampered life.

The Shen family controlled 70% of the nation's water transport. This was a gold-devouring beast, and wealth from all over the world was pouring into the Shen family. As long as the Shen family was given time, they would be able to turn things around.

But would the Yellow Heaven Dao and the Cao Gang give the Shen family time?

"Greetings, Old Madam." Zhang Chen knelt on the ground respectfully and kowtowed to the Old Madam.

"So it's you, little monkey. You haven't come to see me for some days. Why are you free to see me today?" The Old Madam looked at the girl beside her, signaling her to help Zhang Chen up.

Zhang Chen complained in his heart when he heard this: "Your Shen family is so big, how can I casually come to see you without your summons?"

But on the surface, he made a look of guilt: "It's this grandson's fault. This grandson has been busy familiarizing himself with the new environment these days, and I actually forgot about the Old Ancestor."

The Old Madam gestured for Zhang Chen to sit down, and then asked, "Are you used to living in the Shen family? Is there any shortage of food, clothing, or expenses?"

"Thank you for your concern, Old Ancestor. This grandson eats well and sleeps well. The Shen family is extremely wealthy. This grandson has never enjoyed such glory and wealth since childhood," Zhang Chen said with a smile.

"That's good! That's good! If you have any dissatisfaction, just come and tell me, and I will take charge for you," the Old Madam said.

Zhang Chen was skeptical of the Old Madam's words. He listened to the other party's words with a grain of salt. After observing for the past few days, Zhang Chen felt that the Old Madam might not be so friendly to him.

Just as various thoughts flashed through Zhang Chen's mind, the Old Madam yawned, and a trace of fatigue appeared on her face. The close-fitting girl beside her said, "You didn't rest all night because of the fire last night. Should you go and rest for a while?"

The Old Madam didn't speak, but looked at Zhang Chen with a questioning look in her eyes.

At this time, Zhang Chen stood up and knelt on the ground again: "This grandson came today to ask Grandma to take charge for me. The things my mother left me were lost by the Shen family. This thing is the only memento my mother left me. You old people must pity me, who has no father or mother, and cannot let people bully me."

The Old Madam felt a little caught off guard when she heard Zhang Chen's words. Now that the treasure had been lost under the eyes of the gods, how easy would it be to find it back?

But Zhang Chen's request was also reasonable, and she couldn't refute or scold him.

"Don't worry, the Shen family will definitely do everything in its power to find your treasure back. You don't need to worry," the Old Madam said.

"But I don't know when it can be found back? Three years? Five years? Or ten or eight years? Fifty years or a hundred years?" Zhang Chen asked, his words pressing tightly.

The Old Madam took a breath when she heard this, and for a moment she couldn't answer. She was the Old Madam of the Shen family, and her words were as good as gold. Naturally, she couldn't just make promises casually.

"Don't worry, if that treasure can't be found back, our Shen family will compensate you at a price," the Old Madam said.

"What's the price?" Zhang Chen asked, pressing on.

The Old Madam's words stopped when she heard this, and for a moment she didn't know how to answer. After a moment, she said, "Whatever you ask for, our Shen family will do everything in our power to satisfy you."

Zhang Chen had been waiting for these words. Hearing the Old Madam speak, he no longer concealed anything and said directly:

"This grandson has never learned culture since he was a child. I want to go to the inner court of Chongzheng Academy to study. Now that the treasure has been lost, I don't want to find it back. I heard people say that Chongzheng Academy wants to open an inner court. I want the Shen family to help me arrange it and send me to the inner court to study. As for the matter of the lost item, it will be offset by the treasure, and we will settle the account here."

Hearing Zhang Chen's words, the Old Madam frowned. After a little thought, she said, "Please ask the Second Master to come over. This matter will be handled by the Second Master. The Second Master knows the tricks in it."

As the Old Madam's words fell, a servant quickly left. Not long after, Shen Xu arrived and knelt to the Old Madam: "Greetings, Mother."

"Chongzheng Academy's inner court is about to start selecting students. How many spots does our Shen family have?" the Old Madam asked.

Shen Xu said without hesitation: "There is only one spot, reserved for Shen Qiu."

"Only one spot?" The Old Madam was stunned when she heard this.

Zhang Chen was also surprised, the dignified Jinling Shen family, actually only had one spot?

Shen Xu explained: "Chongzheng Academy in Jinling City is the number one academy under the Imperial Academy. Its foundation and resources are second only to the Imperial Academy in Kyoto. Many descendants of Kyoto dignitaries who failed in the competition all choose to go to Jinling to compete. Not to mention the Kyoto dignitaries who are like crucian carp crossing the river, the descendants of the various princes in the world also abandon their original territories and come to Jinling City to compete. Just think, one prince has a dozen or hundreds of sons, and the inner court of the academy only has less than a hundred spots. Our Shen family being able to reserve one spot is already taking advantage of being the local tyrant."

Hearing this, Zhang Chen suddenly understood. This was like Peking University in later generations, not only enrolling students from Kyoto, but everyone in the world competing for it.

The Old Madam pondered for a while, and then said, "Deprive Shen Qiu of his spot and give it to this little monkey."

Shen Xu was stunned when he heard this, and looked at the Old Madam in astonishment. Although he was biased towards Zhang Chen in his heart, he would never allow outsiders to interfere with such important resources. Could it be that his mother was getting senile, how could she give such important resources to outsiders?

The Old Madam glanced at Zhang Chen and sighed faintly: "Don't think that I'm biased towards outsiders. Who told you all to be troublemakers and owe foreign debts."

The Old Madam explained the transaction, and hearing this, Shen Xu turned his head to look at Zhang Chen, and then smiled bitterly: "Since it's a debt, it should be so. It's just that the spot was originally reserved for Shen Qiu, I'm afraid my sister-in-law will make a fuss when she gets the news."

The Old Madam waved her hand dismissively when she heard this: "The Shen family is still my say."

Hearing the Old Madam's words, Shen Xu didn't dare to refute, just looked at Zhang Chen meaningfully. He had just talked to Zhang Chen about the compensation issue in front, just to appease Zhang Chen, but who knew that Zhang Chen would turn around and cause such a commotion?

"You go down and handle it. I'm tired and want to rest," the Old Madam waved her hand, chasing Zhang Chen and Shen Xu out.

Then, Zhang Chen and Shen Xu walked out of the house, Shen Xu's eyes looking at Zhang Chen, revealing a complex and unclear color.

"You kid has caused a big disaster!" Shen Xu looked at Zhang Chen and couldn't help but sigh faintly: "You child, why didn't you discuss such a big matter with me?"

PS: Added update for the alliance leader 'Feng Junzi Haoran', the second update.