69novels Chapter 69 I Apply for Withdrawal from School
Chapter 69 I Apply for Withdrawal from School
Tang San's expression remained unchanged; he even slightly raised his chin, forcefully arguing, "It's because he refused to fight me fairly in a spirit battle. I just wanted to force him to make a move. It was just a little test; why make such a fuss?"
"Testing me?" Xiao Wu jumped up and down in anger, her soul power swirling around her. "Is this how you test someone? That arrow was poisoned! If it weren't for A-Zu's quick reaction, he would be poisoned and collapsed by now! You're just jealous that A-Zu is stronger than you, you can't accept defeat!"
Tang San's pupils contracted slightly, a fleeting moment of embarrassment at Xiao Wu's words flashing across his face, quickly replaced by a deeper, more sinister look: "Jealousy? My strength, Tang San's, leaves me with no reason to be jealous of anyone. Yan Zu, do you dare to fight me again? The loser leaves Shrek Academy!"
"A friendly spar?" Yan Zu scoffed, taking a step closer. The pressure from the Qilin grew even stronger, and Tang San instinctively took a step back. "I'm warning you, Tang San. Considering we were classmates, I can let today's matter slide. But if there's a next time, and you provoke me without cause, no matter who's behind you, I will retaliate in kind and make you taste what it's like to be entangled in hidden weapons."
Tang San thought that Yan Zu was saying that Yu Xiaogang was behind him, and he became even more indignant.
"You don't dare?" Tang San continued to provoke him. "Or are you afraid of losing to me?"
"Stubborn fool." Yan Zu was too lazy to argue with him any longer. He turned to Xiao Wu and the other two and said, "Let's go back. Don't let irrelevant people dirty this place."
"Halt!" Tang San suddenly activated his soul skill, and Blue Silver Grass shot out from the ground like a venomous snake, coiling towards Yan Zu's ankle. "Today you either fight me, or admit you're inferior to me!"
"You've gone too far!" Ning Rongrong immediately activated her amplification, "Seven Treasures Transform into Glazed Glass, First: Speed! Second: Power!" Two beams of colorful light landed precisely on Yan Zu, and his speed and power instantly surged, allowing him to easily dodge the entanglement of the Blue Silver Grass.
Zhu Zhuqing flashed, her Netherworld Claw carrying a faint black soul power, and went straight for Tang San's wrist, forcing him to retract his Blue Silver Grass.
Xiao Wu also activated Moon Shadow Step, circled behind Tang San, and prepared to attack if he dared to make another move.
"It's a misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding!" Oscar and Ma Hongjun came running up, panting. Oscar tried to smooth things over with a smile: "We're all classmates, Tang San probably just wanted to have a friendly spar, right?"
Ma Hongjun wiped his sweat, his chubby face beaming with a smile: "Yan Zu, don't be angry. Tang San is just a martial arts fanatic; he kept pestering me to spar with him yesterday..."
"Just itching to grab?" Yan Zu interrupted the two of them, raising his hand and grabbing at the air.
The hidden dart embedded in the tree trunk was drawn back to his hand by his soul power. The eerie blue light on the arrowhead was particularly dazzling in the setting sun. "Datura snake venom, takes effect in three breaths, the victim dies of heart and lung failure—is this what you call a friendly spar?"
The training ground was deathly silent; even Oscar's smile froze on his face.
They were all Soul Masters, so they naturally knew what this poison meant. They never expected Tang San to be so ruthless, actually killing his classmate in a Soul Battle.
Tang San's expression completely changed. He hadn't expected that Yan Zu could recognize the type of poison and its onset time at a glance. Just how terrifying was his knowledge of toxicology?
But he was now in a bind and could only grit his teeth and say, "I...I controlled the dosage well, it won't be fatal..."
That's enough.
A deep voice came from the training ground. Flander pushed up his crystal glasses, his gaze behind the lenses sharp as an eagle's.
He slowly walked to the middle of the crowd, first looking at the hidden arrow in Yan Zu's hand, then at the traces of Blue Silver Grass left on the ground, and finally fixing his gaze on Tang San's face.
"What's going on?" Flander's voice was filled with anger as his gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Tang San. "Tang San, is that hidden blade yours?"
Tang San did not deny it, and said frankly, "It was me. I just wanted to test Yan Zu's strength."
"A test? A test using a poisoned weapon in a sneak attack?" Flander's tone grew increasingly stern. "Shrek Academy teaches you fair and square fighting, not backstabbing! Are you trying to kill your classmate?"
Yu Xiaogang, who had just arrived, quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Flander, the third party was just confused for a moment. He's not a bad person at heart, he's just too eager to prove himself."
"To use a poisoned weapon to ambush a classmate in a moment of confusion?" Ning Rongrong said indignantly. "Dean, if it had been me, or anyone else, who was ambushed today, they would probably be lying on the ground right now! This kind of behavior must be severely punished!"
Zhu Zhuqing echoed, "Tang San's behavior has crossed the academy's bottom line. If he is not severely punished, he will surely become a major threat in the future."
Flanders frowned, looking somewhat troubled.
Tang San is Yu Xiaogang's most valued disciple, and with his innate full soul power, he has unlimited potential and is the future hope of Shrek Academy; but Yan Zu's side is not only powerful, but also has the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
More importantly, Tang San's actions today were truly excessive, and even Flander himself was very dissatisfied.
After a moment's thought, Flander finally sighed: "Tang San, you have violated the academy rules by using a poisoned hidden weapon to attack your classmate. You are hereby given a verbal warning and punished by cleaning the academy's playground for one month. You are forbidden from using hidden weapons to attack others in the future."
This punishment stunned everyone; even Oscar and Ma Hongjun felt it was far too lenient.
Ning Rongrong was the first to object: "Dean! Tang San attempted murder! How can we let him off so easily?"
Xiao Wu immediately protested, "Dean! This is so unfair! He tried to harm A-Zu, and all he got was a verbal warning and cleaning the playground?"
"Xiao Wu, let's leave it at that." Frande's tone hardened. "Tang San already knows he was wrong. Punishment is just a means, not an end. We're all classmates; let's value harmony."
Seeing Flander's obvious biased attitude, Yan Zu's last bit of lingering affection for Shrek vanished.
He finally understood that here, talent and connections were far more important than rules and principles.
With Yu Xiaogang backing Tang San up, Flander had no chance of making a fair judgment.
Xiao Wu bit her lower lip, remembering Yan Zu's earlier words about leaving Shrek Academy, and ultimately didn't say anything more, because it wasn't worth it.
Zhu Zhuqing, however, was indignant, her eyes flashing with cold light, her chest heaving rapidly.
"I'm the dean, and I set the rules." Flander's voice suddenly turned stern. "Disperse! Training continues tomorrow!"
Tang San felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and hurriedly left with his head down. Oscar and Ma Hongjun exchanged a glance and also left silently.
Xiao Wu glanced at Yan Zu, hesitated, and was eventually pulled away by Ning Rongrong. Only Yan Zu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Flander remained on the training field.
Flander sighed, turned to look at Yan Zu, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "Yan Zu..."
"Dean, there's no need for further explanation," Yan Zu calmly interrupted him. "I understand."
Flanders was taken aback: "What do you understand?"
"I understand Shrek Academy's philosophy—'Those who dare not cause trouble are mediocre.'" Yan Zu's voice was exceptionally clear. "I also understand that in your heart, some people are worth far more than rules, and even more than the lives of others."
Flander's expression changed: "Yan Zu, let me explain..."
"Dean, there's no need for explanation." Yan Zu bowed slightly, the first time he had shown such a solemn respect to Flander since enrolling. "Thank you for your guidance these past few days. But Shrek's path is ultimately different from mine."
He straightened up, his gaze as calm as still water: "Today's events are just the beginning. I understand Tang San's character; if he fails today, he will surely become even more ruthless tomorrow. And I cannot show mercy every time. To avoid a complete breakdown in relations later, and to prevent the Dean from being caught in the middle—"
Yan Zu said, word by word, "I am applying to withdraw from school."
(Thanks to readers 8562 and GnTi for their monthly ticket support)