40 Chapter 39: Principal of Wu Ling Academy, Xiao Zhang (2/2)

”I am very sorry. I failed to stop Elder Hu Lao.”

”You have nothing to be ashamed of,” Xiao Zhang told him plainly. ”The opponent is a venerable elder of the White Tiger Sect. there is a noticeable gap between your strengths.”

He then turned to the struggling Hu Lao, who still emanated hostility and aggression.

”I warned you, Hu Lao. I won't be giving you any other chances.”

The next second, the entire arena seemed to implode. The air literally shimmered as Xiao Zhang's qi expanded and crashed down upon everything like a tsunami, saturating the atmosphere with his incredible qi.

”Gah…ugh!”

This time, it was Hu Lao's turn to fall. The Elder of the White Tiger Sect crashed onto the ground as the weight of Xiao Zhang's qi slammed upon him like a gigantic hand, pinning him facedown onto the ground. Never mind kneeling like me, his prostrate figure was planted onto the ground, his face buried in the rubble and his lips kissing the dirt.

”As I said, this is my academy, not your home. How dare you interfere in a fight in the arena? Who do you think you are? You think you can just barge into my academy and break my academy rules?” Xiao Zhang snarled as he utterly and completely suppressed Hu Lao.

Hu Lao writhed about on the ground, helpless before Xiao Zhang's overwhelming presence and power, but he managed to appeal desperately.

”Principal Xiao Zhang, this student of yours is so ruthless and merciless. Even though he is so young, he already resorts to such barbaric and vicious methods to cut off both of my disciple's arms. If we let him off, in future, he'll become a demon!”

Xiao Zhang stared at the pathetic, prostrate form of Hu Lao in disbelief, not sure if he heard the bastard right. ”You do realize that your own disciple was basically trying to do the same thing, and he was the one who forced his opponent's hands?”

”So what?!” Hu Lao snarled. ”That One Star Constitution student is just trash. He shouldn't be standing up to my White Tiger Sect! Principal Xiao Zhang, you have to give our White Tiger Sect some respect! Or you'll be suffering the consequences!”

”Give your White Tiger Sect some respect?!” Xiao Zhang thundered. ”I already gave in regarding this disciple's misbehavior throughout the past year. Even when he was under suspicion of murder, I conceded to your sect because of insufficient evidence – evidence that your sect refused to allow us to collect – and let you sweep it under the table. And he has only gotten more arrogant. Now he blatantly cheats in an official match, and you still defend him? And don't think I don't know…we have security cameras capturing footage of you handing over that Qi Burst Pill to him. An elder of one of the four major sects, actually encouraging his disciple to cheat! Not only that, you interfered in the duel and assaulted my staff and one of my students?!”

Hu Lao fell silent when he realized he had gone too far, but Xiao Zhang had long since given over to his fury.

”You've gone too far! Did you think I wouldn't dare to kill you for breaking the rules in my academy?”

”Y…you wouldn't dare!” Hu Lao stammered. ”Do you know which sect I'm from? If you kill me…”

”Fuck your White Tiger Sect. I don't care what sect you're from, even if you're one of the so-called four major sects. The moment you're in my academy, you're to respect and follow the rules I establish. I don't care if you're the Emperor himself, the same goes for him. I don't barge into your White Tiger Sect, flout the rules there and attack your sect's disciples, do I? Give your sect respect? Haven't you not been giving me any respect at all?!”

He took another step forward, and the weight seemed to increase upon a groaning Hu Lao. The ground, unable to withstand the tremendous pressure of Xiao Zhang's qi, broke and shattered under the invisible forces.

”Get out of my academy right now, or I'll kill you.”

”Let's leave it at there.”

A new voice spoke up, and everyone's attention was drawn to the owner.

”That's…”

”Lei Lie…”

”The Patriarch and Sect Leader of the White Tiger Sect?!”

”What is he doing here?!”

Whispers and murmurs echoed across the spectator box as the students and the recently arrived teachers whispered to each other. A burly man with short white hair, bulging muscles and silver eyes had descended into the arena, a maelstrom of qi swirling around him. He was dressed in a sleeveless vest and rough jeans, all the better to show off his abs, six-pack and pectorals. Electricity danced around him, combating against Xiao Zhang's potent qi.

Thanks to that, Hu Lao was able to get up, the tremendous pressure weighing him down slightly abated by the arrival of the White Tiger Sect patriarch.

Xiao Zhang narrowed his eyes as he glared at Lei Lie.

”Are you here to break the rules of my territory as well?”

”Not at all. I wouldn't dare.” Lei Lie inclined his head slightly and cupped his hands respectfully. ”As you say, this is your academy and we are just guests. Even I wouldn't dare to disrespect the revered Principal Xiao Zhang in his own grounds.”

”But Sect Leader, that brat…”

”SILENCE!”

With a single roar, Lei Lie sent Hu Lao crashing down onto his face again. This time, it was the White Tiger Sect patriarch's qi that crushed Hu Lao into the ground, humiliating the beleaguered elder and pinning him to the floor.

”What you've done is inexcusable. You have shamed the sect with your misbehavior! Your manners are ill-fitting of that of an Elder of our sect!”

”F…forgive me…”

Hu Lao whimpered hoarsely and miserably, unable to retort against his sect leader's rage. The pressure slightly lifted and he was able to raise his head a little.

Swallowing, I studied Lei Lie, and noticed that he wasn't alone. Bai Ning Xue had accompanied him, and hopped into the arena as well.

On the opposite side, Zhu Jiao and Tang Qi Hong rushed to my side. They had jumped through the broken hole that Hu Lao left in the reinforced window, and landed next to me. Tang Qi Hong helped me up, slinging my arm over her shoulder.

”We should bring you to the infirmary,” she said, concerned.

”Yeah, after all this is done.”

Zhu Jiao was watching Bai Ning Xue keenly, and she returned his gaze coolly. I wasn't sure but I believed that some sort of exchange passed between them. Without my protagonist privilege, I didn't dare to probe into their personal matters.

More importantly, I was more curious in the current predicament. Was Xiao Zhang about to clash with Lei Lie? But it didn't seem that Lei Lie had come to fight. If anything, he had come to hold Hu Lao back before he did anything stupid.

”Please accept my humble apologies. The White Tiger Sect will compensate for all the damages incurred in the match today.”

Lei Lie lowered his head. He then turned to glare at Hu Lao.

”Hu Lao, you'll be stripped of your title of Elder, and you will return to the White Thunder Pillar to receive your punishment.”

The disgraced ex-elder could only hang his head in shame. Lei Lie then turned back to Xiao Zhang, still maintaining his humility.

”If that is all right with you, of course, Principal Xiao Zhang. Unless you would prefer to punish Hu Lao yourself.”

”That is fine with me,” Xiao Zhang replied tightly. ”My only condition is that Hu Lao does not trespass and break any rules in Wu Ling Academy again. If he does, then there will be no second chance. I will kill him on the spot.”

The last sentence was spoken with such murderous intent that everyone who heard it couldn't help but shudder.

Lei Lie was the only one who didn't tremble, being on par with Xiao Zhang. He merely nodded modestly as he remained with his head bowed slightly and his hands cupped respectfully.

”The White Tiger Sect will accept this condition and thank you for your magnanimous decision and mercy. In fact, if Hu Lao dares to come to Wu Ling Academy to make trouble again, we'll personally extinguish his life.”

Hu Lao whimpered again, but it was hard to feel sorry for him, especially after all the things he had done.

”One more thing…”

Lei Lie turned to the trembling Qi Fu Ren, who looked like he was just about to pass out. In the chaos, everyone had forgotten about him. Except his sect leader.

”Qi Fu Ren, you're expelled from the White Tiger Sect. from today onward, you're no longer one of our disciples. Bullying weaker students, cheating in an official match…while I have been lenient with you after listening to Hu Lao's appeals, not only have you not reflected on your behavior, you even got worse.”

His face a cold mask of contempt, Lei Lie spun away to leave.

”The next time you attempt to murder someone again, the White Tiger Sect will no longer be here to protect you.”

With that, he disappeared, with Hu Lao in tow.

Bai Ning Xue lingered for a bit, and Qi Fu Ren desperately reached out to her.

”Wait…Ning Xue! I can explain! I…!”

Bai Ning Xue merely looked upon him with eyes frostier than even those of the White Tiger Sect patriarch.

”Disgusting.”

That was the only word she said before she departed with the two masters of the White Tiger Sect. Qi Fu Ren turned extremely pale and sank to his haunches, and I knew his pallor this time wasn't caused by the massive loss of blood.

The bleeding of his stumps had stopped long ago, after all.

Xiao Zhang looked at him sympathetically. Even if he was a bully, Qi Fu Ren was still a student of Wu Ling Academy after all. Not only did he lose both arms and was humiliated in an official match, he was also disgraced and expelled from his sect. even I felt a little sorry for him.

”Teacher Cai, bring Student Qi Fu Ren to the infirmary and have Teacher Yi Liao treat his wounds and reattach his arms. While at it, have your own wounds treated as well.”

”Yes.” Teacher Cai nodded and obeyed. Picking up both of Qi Fu Ren's arms, he led the poor bully away. Xiao Zhang then turned to me.

”You too, Student Fei Wu. Get to the infirmary and get your injuries treated, then rest up.”

”Yes, sir,” I replied while leaning on Tang Qi Hong. She was already helping me toward the direction of the infirmary.

”Be careful,” she told me as she supported me. Zhu Jiao also followed closely, hovering behind like an escort.

”One last thing.”

I turned to Xiao Zhang with a raised eyebrow, and the old man smiled. His eyes glittered under the illumination of the arena lighting as he delivered one last instruction.

”Once you've fully recovered, take the level 5 test.”