"Qin Chen, it's time for those who haven't awakened their bloodlines to undergo the awakening ritual. Why are you still sitting there? Trying to slip through the cracks?" Qin Fen shot to his feet, his voice booming across the plaza, laced with glee. Haha, Qin Chen's too scared to face his failure. The more he squirms, the more I'll expose him.
His shout drew every eye to Qin Chen.
"Qin Chen, what's wrong?" Lin Tian asked, his voice low and concerned.
Zhang Ying leapt up, glaring at Qin Fen. "What nonsense are you spouting? Young Master Chen's just not ready yet. What's your rush? Hmph, the emperor's calm, but the eunuch's in a panic."
"You're nothing, Zhang Ying, daring to talk to me like that," Qin Fen sneered, laughing loudly. "Not ready? Look at the stage—everyone else is prepared. Is he the only one who's not? I bet he's not confident in awakening his bloodline and wants to weasel his way out. Hmph, good thing the Qin family already kicked out that useless mother and son. At sixteen, still no bloodline? He's a disgrace to our name. If I were him, I'd have died of shame long ago."
"Oh? The Qin family expelled Qin Chen?" Several dignitaries caught the tidbit, their interest piqued.
"You're the one talking nonsense! If anyone's dying, it's you first!" Zhang Ying trembled with rage.
"Zhang Ying, don't waste words on him," Qin Chen said calmly, remaining seated. He ignored Qin Fen's taunts, his expression serene, as if watching a clown's antics.
Not far off, Qin Yuechi watched her son, her hands clasped tightly, heart aching at the scrutiny he endured.
"Qin Chen, your name's on the list. Get to the stage!" A mentor overseeing the ritual, holding a roster, strode toward Qin Chen. His triangular eyes and pinched features gave him a weaselly look, his cold gaze slicing like a blade, as if angered by Qin Chen's disruption.
"Madam, that's Mentor Gou Xu, the one we bribed. With him in play, Qin Chen's bloodline awakening is doomed to fail," Qin Yong whispered to Zhao Feng.
Zhao Feng's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Excellent. Let's enjoy the show." Her gaze flicked to Qin Yuechi, pale-faced below, and she gloated inwardly. Keep up your dignified act, you wench. Let's see you cry soon enough. Hahaha.
On the high platform, Lord Xiao Zhan and Dean Chu Weichen frowned slightly.
Vice Dean Ge Hong, overseeing the event, stood, his voice stern. "Qin Chen, why aren't you participating in the bloodline ritual?"
Under countless eyes, Qin Chen rose slowly, his voice steady. "Vice Dean Ge, it's not that I refuse to participate. My bloodline has already awakened."
His words stunned the crowd.
"Haha, your bloodline's awakened?" Qin Fen burst into laughter, as if he'd heard the funniest joke. "Qin Chen, to sneak through, you'd spin such a blatant lie? If you can awaken your bloodline, pigs might climb trees!" He bowed to Ge Hong. "Vice Dean, in my view, a deceitful student like him should be expelled outright. Why give him another chance?"
Qin Fen's proposal sparked a chorus of agreement.
"Exactly, expel him!"
"Lying in front of the deans and lords—unforgivable!"
"Without basic integrity, how can he be a Tianxing Academy student?"
Wei Zhao, Wei Zhen, and their group jeered from below, their eyes dripping with contempt. They didn't dare confront Qin Chen directly, but this chance to kick a man when he was down was too good to miss.
On the platform, onlookers noted Qin Fen's mocking laughter, thinking, They say Qin Chen and his mother are unwelcome in the Qin family. It seems true.
"Qin Chen, do you understand the consequences of deceiving the academy?" Mentor Gou Xu seized the moment, elated. Paid by Zhao Feng to ensure Qin Chen's failure, he saw an opportunity. If Qin Chen could be expelled outright, his task would be even easier. "Vice Dean, I propose we revoke Qin Chen's testing eligibility and expel him immediately."
Ge Hong shot Gou Xu a displeased glance. Students could make a fuss, but a mentor stirring the pot was out of line.
"Qin Chen, you claim to have awakened your bloodline. Do you have proof?" Ge Hong asked gravely.
Qin Chen frowned, realizing his oversight. A bloodline master from the Sacred Grounds hadn't verified his bloodline awakening. "No, Vice Dean. I awakened it on my own."
"Hahaha, self-awakened?" Qin Fen doubled over, laughing until tears streamed. "Only the kingdom's most renowned geniuses can self-awaken bloodlines. A failure like you? That's a riot! Haha!"
The crowd buzzed with murmurs, many casting pitying looks at Qin Chen. To them, he was clearly desperate to avoid failure, grasping at lies to save face.
What a shame for Duke Dingwu to have such a grandson.
"Claiming a self-awakened bloodline without evidence? Vice Dean, the matter is clear. Qin Chen's deceit warrants immediate expulsion to set an example," Gou Xu declared, bowing sharply.
Qin Chen glanced at Gou Xu. I don't recall ever crossing this man. Why is he targeting me?
Ignoring him, Qin Chen addressed Ge Hong. "Vice Dean, verifying a bloodline is simple. The academy needs only to arrange a bloodline master to test me, and the truth will be clear."
His calm composure gave some onlookers pause. Could he really have self-awakened? Such a lie would be easily exposed.
Gou Xu's heart sank. Though unlikely, it wasn't impossible that Qin Chen had awakened his bloodline. He quickly interjected, "Vice Dean, this is the year-end exam. We can't disrupt the schedule for one student. If there's to be a test, it should happen during the awakening ritual."