Chapter 34

Yan Shaozhe, what do you think I'm saying? This child could never accept your handling plan.

... Yes, teacher.

Looking at Mu En talking with the middle-aged person beside him, a bead of cold sweat slid down Tang Wulin's forehead.

Even a fool could see that Mu En had come with great force, but now it was impossible to back out, so he stepped forward and stood in front of Huo Yutong, saying:

Master Mu, you should also have seen that, I plan to leave the academy together with Huo Yutong. Rest assured, we won't speak of Dai Huabin's matter; please let us go.

Hearing his voice, Mu En turned his gaze back to Tang Wulin.

He smiled slightly.

Tang Wulin, I know you must be utterly disappointed with our academy now.

Tang Wulin did not answer, because the answer was obvious, and not answering was better for both of them.

In response, Mu En could only let out a helpless long sigh.

I feel very sorry about this; it's because my education was lacking that my student made such a mistake. Here I say sorry to you.

Saying that, he slightly bent his upper body forward and actually bowed to Tang Wulin.

The several deans beside him were instantly stunned.

Who is Mu En? He is the current Sea God Pavilion Master, one of the existing Limit Douluo, standing at the pinnacle of the world in both cultivation and status.

For him, only others have ever bowed to him; now he actually assumes this posture toward Tang Wulin, a nine-year-old child.

Yan Shaozhe quickly urged: 'Teacher, you don't need to do this; this matter is entirely my responsibility!'

Mu En looked at him, expressionless, and said: 'Your responsibility is certainly not small, but failing to educate you well is also my dereliction of duty. Yan Shaozhe, I order you to relinquish the post of Shilake Academy Martial Soul Department Dean effective immediately, and you may not hold the position again for the next ten years; the new Martial Soul Department Dean will be Gong Changlong, and you had better calm down your overheated mind from these years of grasping power.'

What?!

A thunderclap rang out from flat ground; if saying that Mu En personally apologizing to Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong was merely shocking, then dismissing Dean Yan Shaozhe from his post is undoubtedly major news capable of robbing one of the ability to think.

Even Qian Duoduo couldn't help but say: 'Master Mu, Lao Yan indeed acted wrongly in this matter, but he has also diligently served the Martial Soul Department for many years, bringing great development to it; outright removing his position is a bit too much.'

Cai Mei'er nodded repeatedly.

Yes, please, Master Mu, show mercy.

Xian Lin'er, meanwhile, shifted her gaze elsewhere, her expression complex, saying nothing.

Mu En sighed.

You still don't understand why I chose to do this. Yan Shaozhe has indeed made great contributions to the Martial Soul Department, no doubt, but he is too focused on the position of Martial Soul Department Dean itself, forgetting his most fundamental duty. While leading the Martial Soul Department forward, the cost has been the stagnation of the academy's Soul Tool Department's development, and his concern for the students has become increasingly indifferent. If this continues, he will eventually make a grave mistake; I am doing this so he can realize this in time.

But, Master Mu...

Enough, Mei'er.

Cai Mei'er was about to say something more, but Yan Shaozhe raised his hand to stop her from continuing.

He respectfully lowered his head toward Mu En.

Disciple accepts the teacher's punishment.

Hmm.

Mu En nodded satisfactorily.

Actually, the reason he let Gong Changlong become the new Martial Soul Department Dean is precisely because this rough fellow basically doesn't understand academy administration, but he looks after the students.

What the Martial Soul Department currently lacks is not administration, but respect for the students; moreover, over these years they have suppressed the Soul Tool Department long enough, and now they need to make a little room for it.

Mu En gently looked at Tang Wulin.

Child, what do you think of this punishment?

Tang Wulin couldn't speak.

What else could he say? Given what he had just heard, the middle-aged man called Yan Shaozhe was actually the Martial Soul Department Dean of Shilake Academy? And Mu En, who could dismiss him with a single sentence, what kind of existence was he? He now only felt his mind in a jumble; the prepared remarks he had in mind were instantly scrambled by this sudden event. Mu En smiled slightly.

Of course, I will also expel Dai Huabin; I guarantee that similar incidents will not happen again in the academy, and I will absolutely ensure your and Huo Yutong's safety.

Listening to Mu En's gentle voice, Tang Wulin only felt a sense of familiarity.

Suddenly, he widened his eyes.

Was that voice from last night yours?

Mu En nodded kindly.

Hmm, it was me; you really have a lot of secrets, but rest assured, I won't pursue them.

The others looked puzzled, unable to understand what Tang Wulin and Mu En were saying.

This is only natural; only Tang Wulin knows that the true mortal threat he faced last night was not an assassin's attack, but the restless Golden Dragon King energy.

When he was about to collapse, an aged voice helped him control the energy, preserving his life.

In other words, was Mu En actually monitoring him all along back then?

If that's the case, then from the very beginning, their party actually faced no danger at all.

Unbeknownst to him, Tang Wulin's resentment dissipated considerably.

Nevertheless, he still said:

But even so, it cannot change the fact that the academy values nobles more than our lives.

Exactly, that is the crux.

Although Tang Wulin's rhythm was disrupted by Mu En, his thinking was not led astray by him.

How Mu En disciplines Yan Shaozhe is his own matter, but letting Huo Dai Bin off the hook is a fact the academy has once done, and no one can guarantee the academy won't do it again.

Regarding this, Mu En did not deny.

What you say is correct; this is also one of my biggest headaches at present.

He sighed, his eyes full of helplessness.

You've seen it too, old man I suffered a serious injury a few years ago because of some matters, so for several decades I haven't focused on managing the Academy; I never expected the Academy to have become like this now.

Saying this, he suddenly asked:

"Tang Wulin, do you know the Sea God Pavilion?"

Tang Wulin shook his head.

"The Sea God Pavilion is the Academy's true power center; those there are the Academy's core personnel." Mu En explained: "I am the current Sea God Pavilion Master, which you can understand as the person in charge of Shrek Academy nowadays, although I haven't been involved in the Academy's operations for many years."

Tang Wulin silently listened to Mu En's words, feeling somewhat confused.

Why is he saying these now? As if seeing through his doubt, Mu En revealed a faint smile.

"Tang Wulin, Huo Yutong, as long as you two are willing to stay, I will take you both as my disciples, have you move to reside in the Sea God Pavilion, and provide you with the Academy's best cultivation resources. Furthermore, as long as you remain willing to stay in the Academy after you grow up, I guarantee you a place among the Sea God Pavilion members, allowing you to truly enter the Academy's power center."

He ignored the shocked expressions of the several deans beside him and spoke sincerely:

"I don't have much time left; even if I wanted to change the Academy's current state, I am powerless. However, you are different—you are still young, I can build a stage for you; if you agree, the future era can be written by you. Can you promise me to stay in the Academy?"

Saying this, he extended his aged hand toward Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong.

Tang Wulin's gaze kept shifting.

Mu En's words were already clear: as long as they continued to stay in Shrek Academy, he would provide Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong with the highest-level resources and give them considerable authority.

If they had any dissatisfaction with the Academy, they could rewrite it themselves.

This sincerity is not small; it is almost the greatest promise Mu En can currently make to Tang Wulin.

Thus, after hesitating repeatedly, Tang Wulin still extended his hand and placed it on Mu En's hand.

Although his impression of the Academy could no longer return to what it once was, he was still willing to remain in the Academy for a period of observation.

(End of chapter)