Su Fan was merely offering a forced explanation, and there were many ways to interpret the problem.
Even Su Fan's explanation had flaws.
According to Su Fan's logic, after eliminating one and four, the probability was a fifty-fifty chance, and the answer was three. However, by that point, the probability was already one hundred percent, so the problem was indeed flawed and had no true answer. If one were to nitpick, Su Fan would have no way to explain it.
But clearly, the numerology master did not possess such a flexible mind and was too disoriented by Su Fan's explanation to notice the issue.
"You're just arguing for the sake of it! If you really had skills, I bet you wouldn't even know how to do nine beads!"
The numerology master said to Su Fan in anger.
"Oh? It seems you have a lot of confidence in yourself. In that case, how about I give you a problem to solve?"
Su Fan smiled, seizing the opportunity to change the subject and avoid the other party dwelling on the previous question.
"Hmph! I'd like to see what kind of problem you can come up with!"
The numerology master said dismissively to Su Fan.
Su Fan smiled and walked to the doorway.
"See that tree ahead? If I am currently twenty meters away from it, and the angle from me to the treetop is 40 degrees, could you please tell me how tall the tree is?"
Su Fan asked with a smile.
"An… angle? What is that?"
As a numerology master, he immediately realized that the angle Su Fan mentioned was crucial information and quickly asked.
Su Fan smiled and put his palms together.
"This is 180 degrees, a flat plane."
Then he brought his palms closer.
"A right angle formed by a vertical line on a plane is 90 degrees. Now do you understand how much 40 degrees is?"
Su Fan said with a smile.
"Ninety degrees, a right angle… forty degrees… How… how can this be calculated?"
The numerology master said with a headache.
He was only given a number, how could he possibly calculate the height of the tree? He wasn't a divine immortal!
"I can."
Su Fan said with a smile.
It was just trigonometry, something he had learned in junior high.
Su Fan immediately wrote down a formula for him.
"Here, try to calculate it using this method."
Su Fan handed the trigonometric formula to the other party.
The numerology master took the formula from Su Fan and glanced at it. His heart was instantly filled with shock. To verify his thoughts, he quickly calculated it himself, and it was completely accurate!
"Who… who exactly are you!"
The numerology master looked at Su Fan in utter shock.
Even a Grand Scholar wouldn't be able to calculate the height of an object from a distance using only a number and an angle!
"Su Fan, the new poetry instructor."
Su Fan said with a smile.
The noble young gentlemen present instantly developed a much better impression of Su Fan, having seen him put the numerology master in a difficult position. Su Fan's image in their minds grew considerably.
"While you may have some achievements in numerology, don't be too arrogant. This is my classroom, please leave!"
Seeing that he was outmatched by Su Fan in terms of skill, the numerology master immediately ordered Su Fan to leave.
Su Fan shrugged indifferently and left.
The students, however, were filled with admiration for Su Fan, as the poetry instructor had posed a numerology problem that the numerology master couldn't answer.
After Su Fan left, the numerology master looked at the formula Su Fan had left behind, his eyes gleaming. This method of solving problems was simple and easy to understand. If he were to promote this method under his own name, his achievements in numerology would skyrocket!
Su Fan was unaware that a formula he had casually written down had sparked a wicked thought of appropriation in another.
Su Fan idly waited until the afternoon when it was his turn to teach poetry.
The students were no longer strangers to Su Fan, having just had a conflict with the numerology master that morning.
"You should already know my name. I am Su Fan, your poetry teacher. Please introduce yourselves."
Su Fan said to the noble young gentlemen below in a proper manner.
First, the young man Su Fan had met before stepped forward.
"My name is Xiao Cheng."
Su Fan's heart stirred. Xiao surname?
"Are you also a prince?"
Su Fan asked doubtfully.
Su Fan's words startled Xiao Cheng, who quickly explained.
"I'm not! My father is the Third Prince."
Xiao Cheng was genuinely frightened by Su Fan's words. How could this poetry teacher speak so carelessly? Wasn't he afraid of inviting a fatal disaster by saying such things?
"Oh, I see."
Su Fan suddenly understood. A prince was the emperor's brother, and they indeed shared the surname Xiao.
After they had all introduced themselves, Su Fan gained some understanding of them. They were all sons of dukes and nobles.
Su Fan taught them a few poems and explained their meanings, and the afternoon quickly passed.
"Su Fan, are you getting used to staying in the Imperial Study?"
Xiao Zhiyi arrived as if on cue, just as Su Fan was about to leave the Imperial Study.
"It's alright."
Su Fan replied.
Having just arrived at the Imperial Study, it was natural that Su Fan wasn't entirely accustomed to it, but it didn't bother him. He would get used to it in a couple of days.
"Don't worry, I will promote you once you have enough experience. It is indeed a bit of a hardship for you to stay in this Imperial Study."
Xiao Zhiyi patted Su Fan's shoulder with satisfaction.
Since the poetry gathering, Xiao Zhiyi's attitude towards Su Fan had changed dramatically, and he was clearly grooming him as a confidant.
"Thank you for your high regard, Your Highness."
Su Fan cupped his hands in thanks.
"A troupe of actors has arrived today. Come with me to watch a play."
Xiao Zhiyi said to Su Fan without room for refusal.
Su Fan was helpless. Xiao Zhiyi's tone was not asking for his consent, so what else could he do but go along?
At this point, Su Fan's side quest was completed, earning him 300 reputation points and 5000 experience points, bringing him just a sliver away from leveling up to 39.
Su Fan followed Xiao Zhiyi to the opera house.
This troupe had traveled from Tianlong City. Xiao Zhiyi, who enjoyed watching plays, learned of a renowned troupe's arrival and immediately booked them to perform for seven consecutive days solely for him.
"This troupe is very famous, especially their martial actors. Their skills are excellent. If you are interested, you can go backstage and exchange martial arts with them."
Xiao Zhiyi said to Su Fan with a smile.
Su Fan nodded silently.
If it weren't for Xiao Zhiyi's status, he wouldn't have come here to watch a play.
"It's starting."
The drumbeats sounded, and Xiao Zhiyi's interest was immediately piqued.
Then the protagonists took the stage. This was a play featuring a martial actor as the main character. The martial actor's skills were indeed impressive, wielding his long spear with a whooshing sound. With a somersault, he leaped off the stage and began fighting among the audience.
The two martial actors exchanged blows back and forth, and the fight was indeed spectacular.
"Good!"
Xiao Zhiyi clapped his hands in applause, caught up in the excitement, completely shedding his princely demeanor.
As the two martial actors fought, they moved closer and closer to Xiao Zhiyi.
Su Fan frowned. They were supposed to be performing a play, why were they coming into the audience? Su Fan felt something was amiss.
However, Xiao Zhiyi showed no reaction and even seemed to find it quite amusing.