Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Watching the Fun
The head guard respectfully withdrew. He was rather speechless. Two great families had brought their people to block the gates, yet in Dean Chu’s eyes, it was apparently just a minor issue.
He didn’t know that Zhu Weichen was currently lost in contemplation, trying to understand how Ye Xuan had harnessed the power of heaven and earth. He had a feeling that if he could grasp even a fraction of that technique, he might be able to break through the Tier Four bottleneck that had held him back for so long and become a Celestial Martial Artist.
Faced with such a temptation, forget the Wang and Zhou families blocking the gate—even if the sky were falling, he might not have budged an inch.
「At the entrance of Xingxuan Academy.」
Many students still at the academy were rushing over, looking curiously at the numerous murderous Martial Artists outside the gates and chattering amongst themselves.
Today was the final exam, which marked the beginning of a two-month vacation. Most of the students from Blue Moon City were preparing to head home, but upon hearing what was happening, their curiosity got the better of them. They immediately swarmed the academy gates, buzzing with discussion.
"I hear that’s Wang Fei’s father, Wang Xuan of the Wang family. He’s an expert at the Second Layer of the Earth Martial Artist realm. With him here, Ye Xuan is in deep trouble this time."
"Which one are you talking about? Quick, point him out."
"That one. See him? The one at the very front of the Wang family’s group, the one who looks like he’s about to kill someone."
"That’s him? Why’s his face as black as the bottom of a pot? Can someone that ugly really be an expert?"
"Are you an idiot? His son was turned into a cripple. Of course his face is black!"
"Tsk, tsk. So which one is Zhou Xuan’s father?"
"Zhou Xuan is the daughter of the Zhou family’s Third Master. The ones who came are the Fifth and Sixth Masters. I heard the Third Master is away on business and probably couldn’t make it back in time."
Wang Xuan’s face was grim as he watched the large group of chattering, excited students, and the anger in his heart burned even hotter. If it weren’t for Ye Xuan, his son would have been the most outstanding among them, the most dazzling star. But now, he could only lie in bed. Even after his injuries healed, he would never be able to practice martial arts again.
This was all because of that Ye Xuan.
’If Xingxuan Academy doesn’t give me justice today, I’ll raise hell!’ Wang Xuan roared inwardly.
He knew Xingxuan Academy held a lofty position. In Blue Moon City, along with the Alchemist Association and the Soul Master Tower, it was considered one of the very top powers. Unlike the three great families, they didn’t manage territories or factions, but no one ever dared to underestimate them.
But this time was different. His son’s fate was so tragic. If he didn’t get justice for him, what was the point of his own life of bitter cultivation?
Xingxuan Academy was powerful, but it wasn’t completely untouchable. With the Wang and Zhou families joining forces, there was no need to be afraid.
"The teachers are here."
Just then, a commotion stirred within the crowd inside. A large group of teachers, led by Yun Aoxue, arrived at the entrance.
"Sirs, I am Yun Aoxue, a teacher at Xingxuan Academy. I am aware of the matter you have brought to our attention. The incident with Wang Fei and Zhou Xuan was the result of a fair life-and-death duel against Ye Xuan. We, too, find this outcome regrettable. However, according to the rules of the Profound Hall, in a life-and-death duel, life and death are left to fate. Therefore, we hope your two families can understand. This was not an outcome our academy wished to see."
From the very beginning, Yun Aoxue’s words were reasonable and just, showing no bias and evading no responsibility. Her tone even carried a hint of regret.
But to the ears of the Wang and Zhou families, these sincere words sounded exceptionally jarring.
The reason was simple. Their two families had gathered a huge force here, yet Dean Zhu Weichen of Xingxuan Academy hadn’t even bothered to appear. The person sent to explain was merely a teacher—and a female one at that!
In the eyes of the two great families, this situation was seen as blatant contempt.
’That’s right, your Xingxuan Academy is powerful. But we, the Wang and Zhou families, are also two of the three great families of Blue Moon City! Now our children have been severely injured in your academy, and your dean neither hands over the culprit nor shows his face to explain. He just sends someone to pass on a message, hoping we’ll "understand"? Is that it?’
’Even a pig squeals a few times before it’s slaughtered.’
Wang Xuan immediately flew into a rage. "Heh, a fine ’life-and-death duel where life and death are left to fate.’ Xingxuan Academy is supposed to be a place of learning and nurturing. When did it become an arena for students to fight and kill each other? And you claim it wasn’t what you wished for? As far as I know, my son had already lost before he was crippled! You had every opportunity to stop it, yet you let him strike the final blow! What’s more, I’ve heard that one of your teachers deliberately blocked others from coming to his aid. What was the meaning behind such a vile act?"
"That’s right," a member of the Zhou family also shouted coldly. "I heard my Xuan’er had already conceded defeat before she was crippled. Why did that Ye Xuan still have to be so ruthless? A person that cruel and vicious is a menace to the world if left alive!"
"Hand over the culprit, and we will leave at once. Otherwise, our two families are not done with you, Xingxuan Academy!"
The people from the Wang and Zhou families grew even more furious.
Yun Aoxue frowned. "In a life-and-death duel, life and death are left to fate. Xingxuan Academy followed its rules to the letter and has already spared their lives. As for Ye Xuan, it was a fair duel, and he is without fault. Please leave at once and do not disrupt the order of our academy."
"HAHAHA! A fair duel, and without fault!" Wang Xuan laughed manically, his eyes vicious and savage. "Today, if you, Xingxuan Academy, do not give us an explanation, don’t even think about us leaving quietly. Hand over that Ye Xuan!"
"Yes, hand him over."
"If you don’t hand him over, don’t blame our two families for forcing our way into your Xingxuan Academy!"
"Hmph! You bully the young master of my Wang family! Our young master and the young miss of the Zhou family were both students of your academy, yet now they return as cripples. What right does this trashy academy of yours have to keep its doors open in Blue Moon City?"
The experts of the two families roared in anger, one after another. There were some things that Wang Cong and Zhou Chong were not in a position to say, but the Martial Artists under them had no such scruples.
"Insolent!" Yun Aoxue’s eyes narrowed, revealing a sharp, cold glint. "Sirs, this whole affair is crystal clear. Even if you were to take this matter to the City Lord’s Mansion, we at Xingxuan Academy would have nothing to fear. I give you thirty minutes to leave. Otherwise, you will be provoking Xingxuan Academy, and you will bear the consequences."
Yun Aoxue was furious now, too. As if she didn’t know what kind of people the so-called great families were. Relying on their powerful backgrounds, the disciples of the Wang and Zhou families had committed countless outrageous acts in the academy: getting female students pregnant, breaking other people’s legs, extortion, even crippling others’ cultivation. Such incidents were all too common. Most students didn’t dare to offend these families and could only swallow their anger. The most serious cases ended with the victim being forced to drop out of the academy. Without concrete evidence, the academy could only turn a blind eye.
Now that their own disciples from the Wang and Zhou families had been crippled, they immediately came storming over, demanding the culprit be handed over. ’Do they really think Xingxuan Academy is so easy to bully?’
Wang Cong sneered, feigning sincerity as he spoke softly to Yun Aoxue, "Esteemed teacher, this matter isn’t something you can decide. I advise you to report this to your Dean Chu at once. It would be troublesome if you were to bring disaster upon yourself."
His tone seemed sincere, but his eyes and his demeanor told a different story. It was as if he were saying to Yun Aoxue, ’Your status is too low. Our two families don’t take you seriously. Hurry up and get your superior, or you’re just asking for trouble.’
Yun Aoxue’s gaze turned ice-cold in an instant.
"Hmph." Just then, a cold voice spoke up. It was Luo Zhan, who had come with the other teachers. He said coolly, "Sirs, Teacher Yun Aoxue was personally appointed by the Dean. Her words are the Dean’s words. By repeatedly contradicting her, you are contradicting Xingxuan Academy. You are all being far too insolent."
"Luo Zhan, it’s not your place to speak here!" At this moment, Witch Rune suddenly jumped out. With a savage grin on his face, he said self-righteously, "If you hadn’t stopped me, how could Ye Xuan have crippled Wang Fei and Zhou Xuan? How could the two great families be here now demanding someone be handed over? You can’t escape responsibility for all this!"
"Witch Rune, say no more," Yun Aoxue barked coldly.
"So you’re the Luo Zhan who let Ye Xuan cripple my son." Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan’s eyes turned red. He stared deadly at Luo Zhan, his expression revealing a savage killing intent.
Luo Zhan just smiled coldly, his expression as calm as a summer breeze. He couldn’t be bothered to explain. He was a man who had walked out of a sea of blood and a mountain of corpses—what kind of horrific scene hadn’t he witnessed? Wang Xuan’s meager killing intent was nothing to him.
From the crowd, Witch Rune raised his head. "Teacher Yun, in my opinion, we should just hand over that Ye Xuan. I’m only saying this for the good of the academy. A student like Ye Xuan sullies our academy’s reputation and provokes powerful enemies. Keeping him here is just asking for trouble."
"Shut your mouth." Yun Aoxue’s gaze turned cold. "My Xingxuan Academy will never abandon any of its students, especially not Ye Xuan, who has done nothing wrong."
As soon as these words were spoken, the many students present were deeply moved.
"Heh, as expected, Teacher Yun Aoxue really does care about her students." A calm, cool voice suddenly drifted over from a distance. Everyone turned to look, and they were all shocked beyond belief. It was actually Ye Xuan.
He had a smile on his face as Chen Xing trotted along beside him. He passed through the crowd and arrived leisurely at the main gate, as if he were on vacation.
"Ye Xuan, what are you doing here?" Yun Aoxue’s expression darkened as she demanded an answer. Inwardly, she was starting to feel anxious. ’Doesn’t this Ye Xuan know what’s going on? How dare he come to the gate? The two families have brought so many experts this time. If they really decide to charge, not even I can guarantee his safety.’
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. "I heard a crowd of people came to our academy’s main gate to cause trouble. I was bored in my dorm, so I came over to see what the commotion was all about."
’See what the commotion was all about?’
Whether it was the onlookers outside or the students inside the academy, everyone’s eyes went wide, and they nearly fainted. ’Don’t you know, kid, that the several hundred murderous Martial Artists outside are here to kill you? And you just foolishly run out to watch the show? There’s a limit to how dense a person can be, you know!’
"You are Ye Xuan? The Ye Xuan who crippled my son?"
Wang Xuan stared coldly at Ye Xuan, releasing his killing intent without reservation. The pressure of an expert at the Second Layer of the Earth Martial Artist realm descended like a great mountain, fiercely bearing down on Ye Xuan.
He was eager to see the look on Ye Xuan’s face—to see just how intense the regret and fear in his heart would be when he was crushed by his killing intent.
