Super Gene Ⅱ: Evolution

"Well, I've just arrived at the Celestial Master Institute and am not quite clear about the situation yet. First, make a record and wait for me to verify the details. As long as the debt is truly owed by the Celestial Master Institute, I will certainly acknowledge it," Lin Shen wanted to send them away first.

They definitely knew he had no money, and pressuring him further would be pointless; they should give him some time to figure something out.

But to Lin Shen's surprise, as soon as he made his proposal, a Celestial lady from the crowd burst out, "We don't care about that! The accounts are clear; you must pay back the money today, or else we will take our dispute to the Celestial Court..."

As she spoke, someone grabbed Lin Shen, intending to drag him off to the Celestial Court.

Lin Shen immediately realized that they weren't here to collect a debt; they were here to intimidate him.

If the matter were to escalate to the Celestial Court, even if they did not make him repay the debt immediately, his reputation as the new Dean of the Celestial Master Institute would still be tarnished.

How would anyone show him respect when conducting affairs outdoors? With creditors everywhere, who would take his position as Dean seriously?

The ministers, directors, and vice-deans of the Celestial Master Institute were merely spectating from the side, with none stepping forward to help him. They had no personal ties to Lin Shen, and while they had gotten along fairly well recently, it was clear that no one wanted to step in and take the hit for him in such a situation.

Lin Shen frowned slightly, pondering how to resolve the issue, when suddenly, he heard a cold snort.

"You want money, is that it? Whoever wants money, come and get it from me."

This voice quieted the previously noisy crowd for a moment, and everyone involuntarily turned to look toward its source.

They saw a robust, white-haired Celestial draped in a battle suit and White Robe, with a long box slung across his back, standing at the doorway, staring at them coldly.

"You're going to pay on behalf of the Celestial Master Institute? The Celestial Master Institute owes our Electricity Department three hundred forty-six years and seven months' worth of electric bills, which is a total of..." The vice minister of the Electricity Department, the Celestial lady An Hui, confidently stepped forward, her voice rising as she pointed at Tian Zhixia and began to shout.

But mid-rant, she sensed something amiss, as none of the other debt collectors seemed to be supporting her bold stance.

An Hui turned around only to see that, far from following her lead, the debt collectors had actually stepped back, distancing themselves as if they were worried about being associated with her, their expressions quite peculiar.

"What's the total amount?" Tian Zhixia asked An Hui coldly.

"The total is... the total is... who are you... I am here to collect the electricity bill from the Celestial Master Institute. Are you from the Celestial Master Institute?" An Hui, seeing that something was not quite right, began to waver.

"I asked you what's the total amount?" Tian Zhixia persisted, his gaze fixed on her.

"What do you care about the total? I'm not asking you for the money, why do you care so much?" An Hui responded through clenched teeth, already guessing that this man must have some significant background, or else the other departmental old-timers wouldn't be silent.

But she felt confident since she had backing; so what if the other party had some background?

"Smack!"

Tian Zhixia slapped An Hui across the face, sending her spinning several times in place before she collapsed onto the ground, with one side of her face swelling, blood smeared all over, and several teeth missing.

"You... you dare to hit me... do you know who I am..." Before she could finish her sentence, the other side of her face was struck by Tian Zhixia's palm, swelling up, and all her teeth flew out of her mouth.

"I don't know who you are, but you ask them who I am," Tian Zhixia said as he walked over to the main seat and sat down authoritatively, not sparing the lady another glance, addressing the other creditors.

"This is the Little Imperial Uncle Tian Zhixia, Lord Heavenly Emperor's own uncle and a dignitary of our Celestial Race," gloated an old man.

Upon hearing this, the auntie was struck dumb, her cries and commotion ceased, and she scrambled to her feet, kowtowing incessantly to Tian Zhixia, her mouth full of blood as she muttered unclearly, "Unaware it was Little Imperial Uncle gracing us with his presence... I have offended Little Imperial Uncle... It's my fault to die..."

"Do you still want the money?" Tian Zhixia asked indifferently.

"No more... No more..." the auntie stammered repeatedly.

She had never seen this long-absent Little Imperial Uncle, but she had heard of his reputation and the deeds he had done, and she dared not be stubborn anymore.

"If you don't want it, then scram," Tian Zhixia said coldly.

The auntie, as if pardoned from a death sentence, scurried away from the Celestial Master Institute with a mix of rolling and crawling.

"Do any of you still want the money?" Tian Zhixia's gaze then swept over the other debtors.

Everyone shook their heads in unison, no one daring to provoke this harbinger of doom. The money wasn't theirs to begin with, and at this time, no one was willing to bring up the subject of money—it would be like gambling with their own lives.

"Since you no longer want the money, what are you still doing here?" As soon as Tian Zhixia's words fell, everyone hastened to take their leave, not daring to utter any unnecessary remarks.

Lin Shen watched on, dumbfounded. He knew Tian Zhixia must be an important figure, but he didn't realize he was actually the Heavenly Emperor's own uncle.

The staff of the Celestial Master Institute looked at Lin Shen and Tian Zhixia with complicated expressions, some puzzled as to how their new Dean came to be acquainted with Tian Zhixia.

The long unseen Tian Zhixia unexpectedly came to help him.

"Younger brother, if you have any troubles in the future, come to find me. Just ask anyone, and they should be able to locate my residence." After Tian Zhixia finished speaking, he too stood up and left the Celestial Master Institute.

Hearing Tian Zhixia address Lin Shen in such a manner, everyone's expressions grew even stranger, including An Sai's look of astonishment.

If Tian Zhixia addresses Lin Shen as "younger brother," does that mean the Heavenly Emperor would also have to call this Dean "Uncle"?

Of course, that certainly wouldn't be the case, and nobody dared to make such an assumption.

After Tian Zhixia left, An Sai pulled Lin Shen into the office, saying with a strange look, "Tian, how did you come to know the Little Imperial Uncle? Are you close?"

"It was an accidental meeting, and we've just gotten acquainted recently. Is there a problem, Auntie Sai?" Lin Shen was puzzled. Seeing An Sai's strange expression, it seemed that having a good relationship with Tian Zhixia was not a good thing at all.

"Tian, Auntie Sai is giving you this advice because she finds you to be a good person, and you are all alone. Just listen to what I have to say, but once you leave this room, I never said anything. Our Little Imperial Uncle is actually about the same age as Lord Heavenly Emperor, perhaps even a bit younger. He grew up together with Lord Heavenly Emperor.

Although they are called uncle and nephew, they are more like brothers and friends. The Little Imperial Uncle is deeply favored by Lord Heavenly Emperor; he used to come and go with the emperor and had free access to the Imperial Palace without any need to report. But what can I say, he is an emotional person, prone to acting impulsively.

In your dealings with him, if one day you displease him, you might incur great disaster. You must be cautious,"

Lin Shen understood An Sai's implication; she was essentially saying that both Tian Zhixia and the Heavenly Emperor are unpredictable and capricious characters.

"No wonder those people are so afraid of him," Lin Shen thought with a shiver.

An Sai was correct. His association with Tian Zhixia was not deep; it was merely due to forging a blade that they had developed some sort of connection. To claim their acquaintance was deep would certainly be nonsense.

Tian Zhixia helped him fend off the debt collectors this time, and Lin Shen was exceedingly grateful. However, if Lin Shen were to take this help as a form of capital, it would be hard to say whether their slight connection would still be considered a bond.