Chapter 2126: Modern Arc: Unfairness—A Common Occurrence
An argument! Now there was a motive for murder.
Could it really be Xiao Shengyuan?
“The professor and I did have some friction. Even if I don’t say it, everyone can see it for themselves.”
Xiao Shengyuan knew he couldn’t hide it, so he admitted it frankly. “Over the past few years, my abilities have kept improving. In some situations, I’m even better than the professor now!”
No one commented on that—after all, there was no way to know if that was just his own judgment.
The professor had devoted decades to archaeology and had a great deal of expertise that a young newcomer couldn’t simply learn overnight, let alone surpass.
But Xiao Shengyuan truly was talented. He had his own unique insights on many things, insights that the professor—whose thinking had calcified over a lifetime—genuinely couldn’t match.
Still, it was hard to say who was truly more capable.
“The professor has always kept me under his thumb, suffocating me. Plenty of things I could have finished on my own, but every time I was about to complete them, the professor would barge in and take over.”
“And in the end, the professor would claim all the credit for himself.”
Having said this much, Xiao Shengyuan couldn’t help glancing back at He Muling.
“Your own credit was stolen by the professor too. You should know exactly what that feels like!”
He Muling bit her lip, and a tear couldn’t help but slide down the corner of her eye.
She nodded, though somewhat helplessly. “Actually, this happens in most academic departments. A graduate student’s research results often have to carry the advisor’s name on them.”
“I… I think… I can still accept it. Sometimes I really do get angry and disappointed, but… but isn’t it the same for everyone?”
So He Muling clearly had no motive to kill. She simply didn’t take it that seriously.
But Xiao Shengyuan was different. His expertise in archaeology far outstripped He Muling’s.
The credit that had been taken from him was also far beyond what He Muling could imagine.
Xiao Shengyuan looked at Lu Beicheng. “Ninth Master, I truly was angry, and I do resent the professor, but I wouldn’t throw away my own future just to get revenge on him. If I killed someone, my whole life would be over.”
“But what if…” Su Nan was only speaking hypothetically. “What if no one ever found out? Then… then it would be fine, wouldn’t it?”
So in a way, wasn’t this also a kind of gamble?
“Why would I bother?” Xiao Shengyuan was furious, glaring at him. “I’m about to break away from the professor and go out on my own! Even if I have to start from scratch, at least I have real ability. I’ll rise quickly.”
“My future achievements will surely surpass the professor’s. I had no reason to kill him.”
Ji Mingyu said something quietly beside Ninth Master. Lu Beicheng’s expression stayed blank as he waved a hand.
“Listen to Jiu’er.”
It turned out Zhen Jiu’er had said something to Ji Mingyu just now that no one else had noticed.
Only then did Ji Mingyu speak. “In fairness, from now on, everyone stays gathered here. No wandering off, and no one leaves.”
“Why?” He Muling sniffled. She had no desire to stay in this place, constantly facing… the professor’s corpse.
It was too much to bear.
“The professor was knocked unconscious by a nerve-paralyzing drug before he drowned. I need to check everyone’s luggage—there might be something to find.”
“But…” So many personal belongings!
“If you don’t want to be a suspect, don’t obstruct this.” Zhen Jiu’er looked around at everyone. “Yan Qiu and I will go do the search. To be fair, He Muling, you’ll come along, but you’re not allowed to touch anything.”An argument! Now there was a motive for murder.
Could it really be Xiao Shengyuan?
“The professor and I did have some friction. Even if I don’t say it, everyone can see it for themselves.”
Xiao Shengyuan knew he couldn’t hide it, so he admitted it frankly. “Over the past few years, my abilities have kept improving. In some situations, I’m even better than the professor now!”
No one commented on that—after all, there was no way to know if that was just his own judgment.
The professor had devoted decades to archaeology and had a great deal of expertise that a young newcomer couldn’t simply learn overnight, let alone surpass.
But Xiao Shengyuan truly was talented. He had his own unique insights on many things, insights that the professor—whose thinking had calcified over a lifetime—genuinely couldn’t match.
Still, it was hard to say who was truly more capable.
“The professor has always kept me under his thumb, suffocating me. Plenty of things I could have finished on my own, but every time I was about to complete them, the professor would barge in and take over.”
“And in the end, the professor would claim all the credit for himself.”
Having said this much, Xiao Shengyuan couldn’t help glancing back at He Muling.
“Your own credit was stolen by the professor too. You should know exactly what that feels like!”
He Muling bit her lip, and a tear couldn’t help but slide down the corner of her eye.
She nodded, though somewhat helplessly. “Actually, this happens in most academic departments. A graduate student’s research results often have to carry the advisor’s name on them.”
“I… I think… I can still accept it. Sometimes I really do get angry and disappointed, but… but isn’t it the same for everyone?”
So He Muling clearly had no motive to kill. She simply didn’t take it that seriously.
But Xiao Shengyuan was different. His expertise in archaeology far outstripped He Muling’s.
The credit that had been taken from him was also far beyond what He Muling could imagine.
Xiao Shengyuan looked at Lu Beicheng. “Ninth Master, I truly was angry, and I do resent the professor, but I wouldn’t throw away my own future just to get revenge on him. If I killed someone, my whole life would be over.”
“But what if…” Su Nan was only speaking hypothetically. “What if no one ever found out? Then… then it would be fine, wouldn’t it?”
So in a way, wasn’t this also a kind of gamble?
“Why would I bother?” Xiao Shengyuan was furious, glaring at him. “I’m about to break away from the professor and go out on my own! Even if I have to start from scratch, at least I have real ability. I’ll rise quickly.”
“My future achievements will surely surpass the professor’s. I had no reason to kill him.”
Ji Mingyu said something quietly beside Ninth Master. Lu Beicheng’s expression stayed blank as he waved a hand.
“Listen to Jiu’er.”
It turned out Zhen Jiu’er had said something to Ji Mingyu just now that no one else had noticed.
Only then did Ji Mingyu speak. “In fairness, from now on, everyone stays gathered here. No wandering off, and no one leaves.”
“Why?” He Muling sniffled. She had no desire to stay in this place, constantly facing… the professor’s corpse.
It was too much to bear.
“The professor was knocked unconscious by a nerve-paralyzing drug before he drowned. I need to check everyone’s luggage—there might be something to find.”
“But…” So many personal belongings!
“If you don’t want to be a suspect, don’t obstruct this.” Zhen Jiu’er looked around at everyone. “Yan Qiu and I will go do the search. To be fair, He Muling, you’ll come along, but you’re not allowed to touch anything.”