My Professions Have Too Much Personality - Chapter 80: Cons? Pros?
Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Cons? Pros?
Xia Hanshi’s smile was downright sinister.
Su Chen pursed his lips.
Seeing his reluctance, Xia Hanshi’s voice grew icy. “Did Yang Yan and Gu Bing, those two little brats, tell you something?”
“I’ve heard a few things,” Su Chen said, not revealing his source.
“That I’m infamous? That I’m bloodthirsty and cruel? That I ruin promising young talent?” Xia Hanshi said, sounding unbothered.
“I’m sure there are reasons for it,” Su Chen said. “Although this is our first time meeting, I can still see the integrity etched into your very bones.”
“Integrity?” Xia Hanshi seemed taken aback for a moment. He looked at Su Chen with amusement, then said meaningfully, “The ones with the power to speak are the ones in charge. After I leave, Zhang Hongbo will speak ill of me too.”
“As for how many Deceitful God’s Followers I’ve killed, nobody cares.”
Su Chen froze for a second, but then Xia Hanshi continued, “Do you think I’m going to force you to become my student?”
’Everything I know about Xia Hanshi came from Gu Bing, and she shouldn’t have any reason to lie to me. I’m already Yuan Chenyang’s student, and his teacher is also a Chief Judge. If I go to Ying Feng, I’ll still have a Chief Judge as my backer. The difference shouldn’t be that great, and I’d prefer a more stable path. It would be best if he doesn’t force the issue.’
As if reading Su Chen’s mind, Xia Hanshi nodded. “That’s right, you guessed correctly.”
Su Chen: “…”
Su Chen was silent for a long time before he managed to force a smile. Before he could even speak, Xia Hanshi cut him off with a smirk.
“That scared of me?”
“It’s not fear,” Su Chen immediately denied. “I’m just untalented and inexperienced. I’m afraid I would tarnish your great reputation.”
“I don’t have any great reputation,” Xia Hanshi said nonchalantly. “As long as you don’t get mixed up with those Deceitful Gods, I don’t even care if you desert your post from time to time.”
“You really do things in an unconventional way, sir,” Su Chen complimented, then added helplessly, “But I already have a teacher.”
“Yuan Chenyang?” Xia Hanshi smiled. “He has more than one teacher himself. I’m sure he’ll agree.”
“And what if he objects?” Su Chen asked cautiously.
Xia Hanshi said as if it were obvious, “If a teacher sees his student has a brighter future and tries to stand in the way, what’s the point of having him?”
’Fine… He’s already got it all figured out.’
Su Chen gathered his thoughts for a moment. “My grand-teacher is also a Chief Judge. It’s not worth causing a conflict between the two of you over a nobody like me.”
“Hmm…” Xia Hanshi mused, “I don’t think there are any Chief Judges I’m *not* in conflict with.”
’In for a penny, in for a pound, I suppose.’
Su Chen couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so utterly speechless.
“You can’t just look at the downsides…” Xia Hanshi’s tone was surprisingly pleasant. He even tried to smile to appear more amicable, but it only made him look more terrifying.
’I don’t even know the full extent of the downsides yet, so how am I supposed to evaluate them?’
Su Chen felt increasingly helpless.
“Setting aside everything else, if you become my student, you’re guaranteed a spot as an Inner Court Seed,” Xia Hanshi explained. “The Judicial Court is divided into two parts: the Inner and Outer Courtyards. The Outer Courtyard is for training low-level members. You’re definitely destined for the Inner Courtyard.”
“But if you enter the Judicial Court as Yuan Chenyang’s student, even with a Red Gold Talent, you’ll start out as just an ordinary member of the Inner Courtyard.”
Xia Hanshi continued slowly, “The Judicial Court accepts over a hundred talented individuals like you from cities under Ying Feng’s rule every year. A Red Gold Talent is certainly rare, but they do show up occasionally.”
“When you accumulate them over a few years, it’s not an insignificant number.”
“Resources aren’t infinite. Talent is a major factor in the evaluation, but it’s not the only one. Heart, ability, and actual combat strength are all taken into account.”
At this, Xia Hanshi’s expression grew even colder. “Of course, connections are also extremely important.”
Then, he added, “However, you have connections too. Barring any surprises, you’d become an Inner Court Seed within a year anyway. But as my student, you can skip that step entirely.”
He continued, “Talent is most potent when you’re young. A one-year delay now might take three years to make up for in the future.”
Su Chen’s eyes flickered.
“Also, as my student, you can run amok just like me,” Xia Hanshi said candidly. “The Judicial Court doesn’t train you for nothing; missions will be assigned from time to time. You can just outright refuse them.”
Su Chen’s expression turned a little strange.
“Of course, there’s the most important point.” Xia Hanshi’s voice grew even more frigid. “You and I are both refugees. No matter how they alter the files, among all the Chief Judges, I’m the only one who won’t look at you with prejudice.”
Su Chen sighed. He straightened his back, then bowed slightly and said, “Teacher.”
’These so-called benefits aren’t the deciding factor. What’s more crucial is Xia Hanshi’s attitude. He wouldn’t even give Zhang Hongbo and the other two the time of day, but with me, he’s been practically coaxing me. He’s already gone this far. If I refuse again, I’m pretty sure he’ll get angry. Besides, I don’t think he’s quite the monster Gu Bing made him out to be. Old Xia was right. Gossip among common folk doesn’t reach the upper echelons, much less spread to other cities. The rumors that get passed around must have started from the top.’
Xia Hanshi nodded. “Good. You’re not like those other apprentices of mine. You’ll have a much brighter future.”
He pulled a silver metal disk from his robes, glanced down, and saw it was inert. He stuffed it back inside and asked casually,
“How did you know the location of those Deceitful God’s Followers? An informant?”
Su Chen fell silent again.
’Sir, it’s true we’re teacher and student now, but don’t you understand *why* we’re teacher and student? Do you really have to ask such a sensitive question right now?’
Seeing his silence, Xia Hanshi didn’t press the issue. Instead, he asked, “After you killed that Black Tuo Follower, did you find a Deceitful Artifact?”
“Deceitful Artifact?” Su Chen frowned. “What Deceitful Artifact?”
Xia Hanshi shook his head. “Never mind. It was probably a fake, meant to lure me out.”
With that, the Chief Judge made one final confirmation. “You have no ties to the Deceitful God Sect, do you?”
Su Chen didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said, “The last time we met, it was because someone had framed me. The two special envoys from Ying Feng tested me and confirmed I have no connection to the Deceitful God.”
“Just as I thought. They knew you had a Red Gold Talent back then,” Xia Hanshi said with a cold, sinister smile. “Framed? It sounds like the City Lord has a problem with you, kid. Want a taste of what it’s like to ’run amok’?”
Su Chen thought for a moment, then asked, “Could you see if the City Lord sent anyone outside?”
“There are. I’ve detained them.”
“Tier Three?”
“Tier Three.”
After hearing this, Su Chen shook his head. “The so-called ’framing’ wasn’t without reason. It’s understandable.”
“You’re not like the other refugees, kid,” Xia Hanshi remarked, clicking his tongue. “You don’t have to be so formal around me.”
Su Chen gave a wry smile to himself as Xia Hanshi said, “Come on, come back with me. We’ll test your Talent again. Don’t get me wrong; I, your teacher, like to see things with my own eyes.”
Su Chen naturally had no objection. He was just secretly speculating that, compared to the last measurement, his Talent would have changed somewhat thanks to the boost from the [Wise Man].
