52 You have no choice but to accept my explanation (2/2)
He silently began to think.
Fang Yuan took all of the academy elder’s change in expressions into consideration. He laughed internally; the academy elder must be really troubled now.
These two guards, they were merely outsiders, their lives cheap as grass. In normal times, no one would care if they died.
But now the situation was different, they were sent out by the academy elder. If they really died, the academy elder would lose his reputation!
Thus, the guards could not die, the academy elder is going to save them.
The part that truly troubles the academy elder is Fang Yuan’s verdict.
In his original plan, Fang Yuan first played truant, and then killed the guards. This could be said to be defying his teachers, being arrogant and self-centered. According to the clan rules, he’d be thrown into the clan jail, reflecting upon his mistakes inside.
But when adding in the matter of Fang Yuan’s advancement to middle stage, these wrongdoings became very different.
Fang Yuan played truant and killed the guards because he was cultivating. This was reasonable.
The crucial part was, he was successful in advancing to the middle stage, and became the first in this class. This allowed him to be on the side of reason.
Just what did Fang Yuan rely on to advance to middle stage, this secret would be discussed later.
Winners win all, losers lose all, the world only cares about result. No one would reprimand such an outstanding junior.
The academy elder could not execute any punishments on him.
What is the academy for? It is to nurture outstanding Gu Masters, and inject fresh blood into the clan.
Now that we have such an aspiring young man, you as the academy elder still wants to find trouble with him? That would be neglecting your role!
Just like a student who got good results, as a teacher he should be encouraging and praising him, instead of punishing and criticizing. A teacher who punishes and scolds a student for his good results is not one that would ever be recognised.
Perhaps the other elders would secretly cause problems for Fang Yuan because they fear Fang Yuan’s future prospects, or because of grudges and past grievances. But him alone, the esteemed academy elder, cannot do such a thing!
Because he is in charge of the academy, he has to be impartial, at least on the surface.
These are the rules!
”Do I just let him go like this? It was not easy finding a weakness of his.” The academy elder was indignant. He knew in his heart that all the youngsters in the academy were merely spectators of this matter.
They can only look at the matter as entertainment, but are unable to see the crucial point in this, they are unable to experience the excitement in this battle!
The truth is, this is the one time where he as the academy elder, was battling against Fang Yuan the student.
First he grabbed hold of the rules, and was bent on punishing Fang Yuan, removing his strong image in front of the other students.
Next, Fang Yuan retaliated! His actions may seem rash, but it hit the matter on the point, and with the excuse of advancing to the middle stage, he got back his argument.
As for those two unlucky guards, they were merely sacrificial pawns who were implicated by the two’s battle of wits.
”This Fang Yuan, he is too cunning! If he had really killed the two guards, I can still retaliate against him with this reason. Although his talent is lackluster, with such a meticulous and experienced method, it is hard to believe that he is just a fifteen year old. The worst part is, I cannot retaliate. No wonder back in those days, the clan had rumors about his early awakened intelligence!” The academy elder suddenly realised, he had lost.
His loss was due to his status, he was the elder in charge of the academy.
This was both his strength and weakness.
One’s strength is also one’s weakness.
Fang Yuan had understood this logic long ago!
The academy elder was both helpless and frustrated.
He had asked Fang Yuan to explain, and in actuality Fang Yuan’s explanation was full of loopholes and easily exposable.
These guards were chosen by the academy elder himself, they would not be so rash and retarded to scold the Gu Yue ancestors.
Fang Yuan’s words were on purpose, it was blatant accusation, framing and laying a trap in front of the other party!
The academy elder was clear of this, but he knew that he could not pursue the matter.
This was a trap.
Once he looked into it, the truth would be revealed, and how would he handle this matter?
If he did not punish Fang Yuan, the two guards would be pitifully framed, and as the academy elder, if he does not handle things impartially, how can anyone trust him?
If he punished Fang Yuan, that would be suppressing and displaying jealousy of the talented! To suppress a junior of the clan for two servants who were not part of the clan, this matter would trigger the unhappiness of the clansmen.
Thus, the best way to resolve this was to pretend to not see anything, and treat these two guards as discarded pieces. Admitting that they had performed a huge mistake, as well as praising Fang Yuan.
This way, the clansmen would be satisfied, and the deceived guards, without additional information, would think of this as being impartial.
If he handled the matter like this, it would give the academy elder the largest benefit.
Logic told the academy elder that this is the way to handle it. But emotionally, he could not take it lying down.
This Fang Yuan was too devious!
The academy elder not only failed to suppress Fang Yuan, but he himself became the stepping stone for Fang Yuan, getting humiliated in public!
Fang Yuan did not show the slightest respect for him and dared to oppose him like this in public, causing this esteemed academy elder to suffer such humiliation and frustration.
The point was, in future if these two guards felt indignant and wanted to reveal the truth, as the academy elder, if he wanted to maintain his image and position, he would have to be the first to step up and suppress them.
But this was all caused by Fang Yuan!
What sort of feeling is this?
For example, it would be like Fang Yuan pooping on the academy elder’s face, but the elder himself still has to praise him and at the same time, clean his butt for him. If anyone wanted to point out that there was poop on his face, he has to be the first to shut that person up.
This feeling of grievance, it was almost unbearable for the academy elder.
There was a growing urge in his heart to give Fang Yuan a few tight slaps!
But finally, the academy elder stretched out his arm and patted Fang Yuan’s shoulder.
”Good lad.” The academy elder’s face was dim like stillwater, forcing the words out of his mouth.
”It is all thanks to the academy’s nurturing,” Fang Yuan replied plainly.
The corner of the academy elder’s eye twitched.