Chapter Thirty-One: Worth and Disposal

Hearing the question, a strange expression appeared on Li Changkong's face as he said, "I couldn't help myself and asked him a question: Why did you seize the Su family's property?"

"What did he say?"

"He retorted, asking me: Back in the day, you knocked on widows' doors and dug up childless graves, and over the years you've accepted student bribes and made quite a bundle, haven't you?" Li Changkong's expression was peculiar.

All three of them simultaneously thought: "..."

The boss had never done any of those things!

However, Bing Shangxue, Duan Zhongliu, and Bao Feiyu instantly understood Fang Che's intention.

"Interesting."

Bao Feiyu stroked his chin, while Bing Shangxue's eyes were filled with deep contemplation.

"Boss, what do you think we should do?"

Bing Shangxue asked.

"What do I think?" Li Changkong hesitated for a moment, then stood up, paced back and forth, and said softly, "Right now, our side, the Guardians, still holds the upper hand on the surface, but our actual high-level strength is already inferior to that of the Solo Sect."

With these words uttered, everyone's face darkened, yet they could not refute it.

"Lord Xue's defeat at the hands of Duan Xiyang had far too great an impact on the mindset of martial artists across the entire continent."

"We've taught so many students, but how many can be said to be certain of making the weapons ranking in the future, provided they aren't cut down in their youth?"

Li Changkong let out a bitter laugh and asked, "Are there any?"

None.

The three lowered their heads and sighed.

"Mo Gangyun has sufficient talent, but he is only expected to make it to the Cloud Realm weapons ranking; he is on par with the most gifted geniuses we've taught before. However, Fang Che is practically guaranteed a spot; with effort, he even has a chance to fight for the top position."

Li Changkong took a deep breath and said, "So, do you understand?"

"Understood."

The three nodded in unison.

Their movements were slow, but their gazes gradually grew resolute.

"We are merely instructors."

Li Changkong said, "Not masters."

Though the words were obscure, all three understood the boss's meaning.

Treat everyone equally!

"Good!"

With the tone set, this matter became much easier to handle.

"Whether one's reputation lasts for ages or stinks for ten thousand years, if such a raw talent is placed in our hands, are we supposed to let him wither away intentionally?"

Li Changkong took a deep breath and said, "Even if he is a disciple of the demonic faction, can't the four of us teach him well? Can't we turn a student's mindset around in five years? If he is not a demonic disciple, we will have added a vital pillar to the continent; if he is, the worst-case scenario, I believe, is that we can still make him neither entirely righteous nor entirely demonic!"

Li Changkong continued, "The grace of teaching is profound, binding us with deep ties; if in the future... if in the future, he truly turns out to be a demonic disciple, then... even if you and I must use our blood to awaken a shred of his conscience, I would deem it worthwhile. Even if it's just a shred."

"In that case, I believe this is enough."

"Then let's do it!"

...

Naturally, Fang Che was unaware of the instructors' deliberations; right now, he was extorting Mo Gangyun.

"You're treating me to lunch at noon, right?"

Fang Che asked.

"Uh, no problem... Wait? Why... suddenly asking me to treat you to lunch?" Mo Gangyun was very surprised.

"Because of me, you got yourself a single room—a big room all to yourself. Shouldn't you treat me to a meal?" Fang Che asked.

"Well, when you put it like that, it does make sense."

Mo Gangyun rubbed his head, vaguely feeling that something wasn't quite right, but he agreed anyway.

Martial academy students usually shared a room in pairs.

As for Fang Che and Mo Gangyun, both belonged to the pinnacle tier among the new recruits, so they were naturally assigned the best, largest, and most convenient rooms.

Now that Fang Che was living outside, this room rightfully became Mo Gangyun's exclusive domain.

"Then it's settled."

Fang Che smiled inwardly.

Ah, this Mo Gangyun has a really cute personality. Just as I expected, he's truly a... simpleton.

The instructors were formulating their teaching plans.

One hundred students needed to be carefully screened, and multi-layered teaching plans had to be devised to suit different individuals and teach according to their aptitudes.

A one-size-fits-all approach was strictly forbidden.

This was an extremely tedious task, which was why the first few days after the new semester started were always the most exhausting time for the instructors.

Yet, these exact same days were the most comfortable time for the new students.

Because no one cared about them.

Usually, this process took three days.

It was known among the students of White Cloud Martial Academy as 'The Last Moment of Relaxation and Joy in Life!'

Well, the final moments of relaxed revelry before descending into hell.

Once classes officially began, it would be a year of continuous high pressure, lasting right up until the next batch of new recruits entered the academy, which served as a milestone.

And that milestone...

Was even harder to put into words!

Once graduated, whether it was life, combat, or cultivation, everything had to rely solely on oneself, and all sorts of pressures would descend like mountains.

Therefore, calling it 'The Last Moment of Relaxation and Joy in Life!' was entirely accurate.

While the new students were enjoying this period, the veteran students were suffering through torment.

Assessments!

Headmaster Gao Qingyu's methods came in relentless waves.

The fourth-year veteran assessments! Taking the first day of the new semester as the benchmark, anyone who showed no progress would be penalized with two merit points! Those whose cultivation and rankings actually regressed would have five merit points deducted!

The entire White Cloud Martial Academy echoed with wails of misery!

Apart from those who disciplined themselves strictly and kept making leaps and bounds, there was only one person who eagerly awaited this assessment.

Fang Qingyun.

He could clearly feel just how massive his own progress had been!

To describe it as shedding his mortal frame and exchanging his bones would not be an exaggeration in the slightest.

It all stemmed from that meal his cousin had treated him to.

Though Fang Qingyun had no proof, he kept this matter tightly locked away in the deepest recesses of his heart.

He knew very well how much trouble it would cause his cousin if he were to voice his suspicions!

He still remembered when, after sensing the changes in himself, he had once quietly spoken with Fang Che.

"Cousin, my state has been exceptionally good lately; it feels as though my comprehension and innate bone structure have improved a great deal."

At the time, Fang Che had smiled and said, "Then... in the next assessment, you probably won't be ranked seven thousand four hundred and seventy-sixth anymore. That's truly something to be happy about."

Back then, Fang Qingyun had feigned anger, leaving in a huff of embarrassment and annoyance.

Yet in his heart, he became certain.

Because his cousin hadn't shown the slightest bit of surprise!

Filled with anticipation and a flutter of anxiety... Fang Qingyun poured his absolute best effort into participating in this assessment!

...

Amidst the time when new students ran wild and veterans faced assessments, the martial academy was holding a meeting.

There was only one agenda item: How to deal with Gao Yunqi and Zhou Yi.

Things had already happened; the academy could not simply pretend to be deaf and mute.

Besides, ripples of public discussion were already stirring in the outside world.

Deputy Headmaster Huang Yifan firmly backed Gao and Zhou, asserting that the two men had done nothing wrong.

Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Meng Chizheng steadfastly maintained that the pair had tarnished the academy's reputation and their crimes were unforgivable!

Superintendent Lü Jiaoshan firmly believed that Instructors Gao and Zhou bore no responsibility whatsoever!

Whether supporting Meng Chizheng or backing Huang Yifan, the numbers on both sides were substantial.

The largest group, however, was the neutral faction—punishing them was fine, as there were grounds to do so; not punishing them was also acceptable, as a rationale could be found either way.

Thus, the ultimate pressure fell upon Headmaster Gao Qingyu.

In Gao Qingyu's hand was a piece of intelligence.

One he had just received: Ximen Xuri's Ximen family was suspected of colluding with the Heavenly God Cult, with a ninety percent probability that they had long since become members of the Cult, and Ximen Xuri was a seed cultivated by the Heavenly God Cult.

The news was absolutely reliable.

Therefore, from the very beginning, Gao Qingyu had already decided what to do. How could I possibly punish my own people just for killing someone from the Heavenly God Cult?

And so...

From the start of the meeting, Headmaster Gao Qingyu wore a drowsy, half-asleep expression—right up until Huang Yifan flew into a rage and was about to beat Meng Chizheng right there on the spot...

Only then did Headmaster Gao Qingyu finally open his dim, aged eyes: "Ah... Huh? Ah, ah... What's going on? Why is it so rowdy?"

Immediately afterward, he burst into furious anger: "Is this still a meeting of White Cloud Martial Academy? Are you sure this isn't a bunch of street thugs carving up turf?!"

The people below instantly felt their hearts skip a beat: Such a damn familiar pair of sentences!

Bang!

The headmaster slammed his palm heavily against the table, pounding it repeatedly: "Bang, bang, bang..."

"Do you still have me, the headmaster, in your eyes! Huh? Do you have me in your eyes?!"

"Are the two of you forming cliques to launch a rebellion?!"

Gao Qingyu's fury erupted as he pounded the table and roared a storm.

All the high-ranking officials of the martial academy lowered their heads, pinching the bridges of their noses with helpless expressions.

Here it comes again!

The headmaster was playing the rogue again... for the umpteenth time!

Sure enough, while frantically cursing people out, the headmaster began to make a mountain out of a molehill.

"Utterly lacking in organization and discipline! To show such disrespect to me, your headmaster, is bad enough, let alone anyone else! Of course Gao Yunqi and Zhou Yi made mistakes, but is there any need to beat them to death with a single club like this? They've both been working diligently here for so many years—are you all really that impatient to drive them to their graves?!"

Gao Qingyu roared angrily: "Huang Yifan! Are you trying to kill them? Do you want to seize their property as well? Do you want to seize... other things too?! Hmm?! Are you relying on your high cultivation and martial might to bully me, the headmaster?! Speak! Are you?!"

Huang Yifan mentally cursed a mother of a thousand profanities in his heart.

This old bastard, I'm supposed to be the one adamantly defending this side, right?

Why is it that whenever this old scoundrel makes a mountain out of a molehill, he always drags me out to berate me just to show off his presence, using me as a chicken to frighten the monkeys!

I am seriously sick of this!

Across the table, Meng Chizheng didn't dare to utter a sound either.

Even Deputy Headmaster Huang, who had the highest combat power, was suppressed; how could he possibly make a fuss?

Besides, there were hidden meanings in the headmaster's words.

What did he mean by 'trying to kill them? Do you want to seize their property as well? Do you want to seize... other things too?'?

Where on earth did those words even come from!

Who wanted to kill them? Who wanted to seize their property? Those two paupers—what was there for anyone to seize?

Yet he dared not refute it.

The moment he refuted it, he would become the kind of person who 'wanted to kill them, seize their property, and seize... other things too'!

He could only swallow his anger and remain silent.

"The matter is thus decided!"

Headmaster Gao Qingyu pounded the table, going bang, bang, bang as he said, "Whoever wants to rebel, whoever is dissatisfied with this decision, can go straight to the higher-ups and report me!"

Everyone fell into a speechless silence.

Decided just like that?

May I ask what exactly has been decided?

Whoever is dissatisfied is rebelling? Where on earth did that logic come from?

One had to admit that Headmaster Gao's rogue tactics had reached an art form.

Just at that moment.

"Knock, knock!"

The meeting room door was knocked upon.

The door opened.

Gao Yunqi and Zhou Yi appeared in the doorway.

Gao Qingyu turned his head to look, instantly freezing, a flicker of anxiety flashing in his eyes.

Why did these two simpletons show up?

There are so many people in here trying to punish you right now, why on earth did you come here?