Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Dean of the Punishment Hall
Watching Lin Yun kill someone despite his attempt to intervene, Tang Wushuang’s master was utterly enraged. In all his time at the Academy, a Primordial Ocean Realm expert such as himself had never been so brazenly defied by a student.
"You little bastard! How dare you openly murder a fellow student! I’ll kill you with my own hands today." An aura flared from his body, and in a mere instant, Lin Yun was rendered immobile.
With Lin Yun restrained, the old man prepared to strike him down with a palm. Against a Primordial Ocean Realm expert, the current Lin Yun had no power to resist whatsoever.
Just as the elder’s palm was about to fall, an even more immense aura descended from the sky, enveloping him completely. Surrounded by this presence, his movements were forcibly halted.
The appearance of this aura made Tang Wushuang’s master’s expression change drastically. He was all too familiar with this presence—it belonged to Zhong Lin, the Director of the Punishment Hall.
"Vice Director Zhong, why are you stopping me?" Although extremely wary of Zhong Lin, Tang Wushuang’s master still mustered the courage to ask.
As the question hung in the air, Zhong Lin’s figure slowly materialized opposite the elder. Gazing at the frail-looking Zhong Lin, the elder didn’t dare show the slightest disrespect. Not only was Zhong Lin’s power far greater than his own, but his status was also something he could only dream of reaching.
"You and your disciple have gone too far," Zhong Lin said flatly upon appearing.
After speaking, his cloudy eyes shifted to Lin Yun, and a satisfied smile graced his features. In all these years, Lin Yun was the first student who had truly caught his eye.
With a wave of his hand, the restrained Lin Yun instantly regained his freedom. Though Lin Yun didn’t yet know Zhong Lin’s identity, judging from the aura he had just revealed, he was definitely a High Tier Opening Realm Martial Artist, far stronger than Tang Wushuang’s master.
"Vice Director Zhong, aren’t you going too far? This boy murdered a fellow student in public. According to Academy regulations, his Cultivation should be crippled and he should be expelled." Unable to gain an advantage through strength, the elder could only fall back on the Academy’s rules.
Hearing this, Zhong Lin’s expression remained unchanged. He replied indifferently, "Regulations? Do I need *you* to teach me the Academy’s regulations?"
"Since you claim this boy killed a fellow student, then what of you and your disciple conspiring to murder him? You even used a death row inmate. Did you really think no one would find out what you were doing?"
Zhong Lin said flatly. As his words registered, the elder’s face slowly turned deathly pale. It seemed Zhong Lin had been here all along, and he simply hadn’t noticed. Zhong Lin had witnessed everything.
The elder’s guess was correct. Zhong Lin had arrived much earlier. He had remained hidden for two reasons: first, to wait for clear evidence, and second, because he wanted to see the extent of Lin Yun’s Limit.
After this period of observation, however, Lin Yun’s performance had left Zhong Lin increasingly satisfied. Not only was his Combat Power exceptional, but his character was also firm and resolute. This was precisely the kind of student Zhong Lin had been searching for.
Not daring to meet Zhong Lin’s gaze, the elder knew his character well—the man was incorruptibly impartial.
However, it wouldn’t be so easy for Zhong Lin to punish him. Punishing one of the Academy’s Primordial Ocean Realm experts could only be done by the Academy’s Director. Even as the head of the Punishment Hall, Zhong Lin lacked that authority.
After all, the entire Academy only had ten Primordial Ocean Realm experts, each one an incredibly valuable asset.
Zhong Lin was aware of this as well. His goal was simply to protect Lin Yun. Looking at the elder, Zhong Lin said coolly, "I hope this is the last time I see something like this. Don’t think that being a Primordial Ocean Realm expert gives you the right to pull such underhanded schemes. This matter ends here."
Zhong Lin’s meaning was clear: he wouldn’t pursue the matter, but the master and disciple had better not get any more funny ideas about Lin Yun in the future.
Watching the two Primordial Ocean Realm experts in the sky, the students below all stood at nervous attention. Though they were students of the Academy, they might not see a Primordial Ocean Realm expert even once a year.
After all, they weren’t like the students of the Genius Class, who were guided by Primordial Ocean Realm experts.
Just as Tang Wushuang’s master was about to concede to Zhong Lin’s terms, Tang Wushuang himself, having rushed over upon hearing the news, shouted before he had even arrived, "Master, you can’t let this kid go! He murdered my brother in public! This must be handled according to Academy regulations! Otherwise, who will ever follow the rules again?"
The moment Tang Wushuang’s words rang out, both Zhong Lin and his master turned to look at him. The elder had no idea what his disciple was thinking; choosing to butt heads with Zhong Lin right now was clearly unwise.
Soon, Tang Wushuang ran up to stand before Lin Yun, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent. The killing intent in Lin Yun’s gaze, as he stared back at Tang Wushuang, was even more intense.
Things had progressed to a point where there was no room for reconciliation between Lin Yun and Tang Wushuang. Tang Wushuang wanted Lin Yun dead, and Lin Yun wanted nothing more than to kill Tang Wushuang in return.
The two great experts slowly descended to stand beside Lin Yun and Tang Wushuang. Tang Wushuang’s master glanced at his disciple and asked via voice transmission, not understanding why he would choose to clash with Zhong Lin.
"Master, the Third Prince already knows about this," Tang Wushuang whispered in reply. "He has already gone to see the Director. This boy will definitely be punished this time. Not even Zhong Lin can protect him now."
Hearing this, Tang Wushuang’s master nodded, his confidence suddenly soaring. The Third Prince was the son of the reigning His Holiness, and the Director of Yanhuang Academy was not only a member of the Royal Family but also the uncle of His Holiness himself. With the Third Prince making a move, punishing Lin Yun would be a trivial matter.
"Vice Director Zhong, it’s not that I won’t give you face, but this boy’s methods are too vicious, and he acted in front of everyone," Tang Wushuang’s master said, his tone suddenly hardening. "If we don’t provide an explanation to the other students, what purpose will the Academy’s regulations serve? Will your Punishment Hall even need to exist?"
Observing the elder’s drastic shift in attitude, Zhong Lin had a good idea of the cause. The only one who could make this man unafraid of him was the Director of Yanhuang Academy.
"Vice Director Zhong, this boy murdered a fellow student in public. According to Academy regulations, shouldn’t he be taken into custody immediately?" the elder pressed, his tone aggressive.
His words only confirmed Zhong Lin’s suspicions. Tang Wushuang and his master must have found powerful backing—most likely one of the Princes, who was probably on his way to see the Director at this very moment.
"That applies to ordinary students," Zhong Lin replied, refusing to hand Lin Yun over. "Lin Yun is no ordinary student, so there is no need for him to be detained. The Director himself will handle the trial when the time comes."
"Not an ordinary student? He’s just a student from the general division. How is that not ordinary?"
"He was, but not anymore," Zhong Lin retorted, not giving an inch. "I have decided to take him as my disciple. From this moment on, Lin Yun is a student of the Genius Class and will naturally receive the treatment afforded to one."
Hearing this, the master and disciple duo exchanged a look. In any case, the Third Prince was already on his way to see the Director. There was no need to be hasty.
