Chapter 40: Three Requirements

Wulin, don't be angry.

As soon as she entered the room, Huo Yutong hurriedly and earnestly pleaded.

Hiding many things from Tang Wulin had always been a source of self-reproach for her; now seeing Tang Wulin so dissatisfied with the concealment, a strong unease suddenly welled up in her heart.

Tang Wulin sat on the bed with a dark face, snorted, and turned his gaze elsewhere.

I'm not angry.

No, no, you're definitely angry.

Huo Yutong felt it was quite a dilemma.

In her impression, this was the first time she had seen Tang Wulin acting sulky.

She sat beside Tang Wulin and said in a pleading tone:

I didn't mean to keep this from you on purpose, but the academy gave compensation, I wasn't really hurt, and even if you found out, it would only add to your worries, so I thought there was no need to tell you.

?

Tang Wulin tilted his head in confusion.

How come this explanation sounds somewhat familiar?

His curiosity slightly eased the anger in his chest, and he asked: "What exactly happened? Tell me; you don't need to hide it from me anymore, right?"

"Okay, good!" Seeing Tang Wulin relent, Huo Yutong was overjoyed and quickly said: "The last time I met the woman named Ma Xiaotao was three days ago at dawn; I had risen early, finished breakfast, and was walking by Haishen Hu..."

Over the next few minutes, she detailed how she had been attacked by Ma Xiaotao and how the high-ranking officials of Shilake Academy had silenced her about it.

After much thought, she still kept Tianmeng's matter secret, for she could not reveal it without Tianmeng's permission; doing so would undoubtedly be a betrayal of a friend, something she could never do.

The more Tang Wulin listened, the worse his complexion became.

By the end, his anger had reached a breaking point.

But at this point his anger was no longer directed at Huo Yutong.

The academy actually did something like this!

He had thought his previous experiences were merely rare special cases, but seeing how the academy handled Ma Xiaotao's attack on Huo Yutong, he realized they must have done such things many times; it was far from being an exception.

His long-held favorable impression of Shilake Academy, the Mainland First Academy, was completely shattered.

The foundation of this academy, which appeared splendid on the surface, had thoroughly rotted.

Wulin...

Huo Yutong looked at him worriedly.

Since they had known each other, Tang Wulin had always been gentle and polite; she had never seen him so angry.

Tang Wulin took a deep breath, barely suppressing the anger in his heart.

He lightly touched Huo Yutong's shoulder, and the sensation of the wound being touched made her shudder involuntarily.

Sorry, did I hurt you?

Huo Yutong silently shook her head, secretly relieved in her heart.

This Tang Wulin is the one she knows.

Tang Wulin's eyes deepened, and he said:

"Come on, Yutong, let's go find Old Mu."

Both to treat Huo Yutong's injury and to seek an explanation for her.

Huo Yutong hesitated a little.

"Isn't that inappropriate? It's so late; this minor injury of mine would probably heal in a few days on its own—there's no need to trouble Old Mu."

It's necessary.

"Wait, Wulin!"

Tang Wulin grabbed her hand without explanation and pulled her out the door toward Mu En's room on the first floor.

He knew Huo Yutong would say that; she always worries too much and overly accommodates herself.

His anger was now raging, and he couldn't patiently persuade her as he used to.

Huo Yutong also feared further provoking Tang Wulin; after trying to struggle twice and finding she couldn't break free, she gave up and let him pull her to Mu En's room.

Hearing the two enter the room, Mu En's originally narrowed eyes opened, his tone somewhat surprised.

"Huh? Wulin, Yutong, why are you two looking for me so late?"

Although he spent most of his time monitoring the two promising children for their protection and observation, he still reserved their basic privacy; thus, after confirming they were heading toward his room, he withdrew his mental focus and began concentrating on his recent plans.

So when he saw the two enter the room, he felt quite surprised.

Tang Wulin said: "Old Mu, Yutong was scratched by Ma Xiaotao; please find a way to treat her."

Toward Mu En, who had just patiently taught him knowledge, Tang Wulin's tone noticeably softened. Regardless of how Shilake Academy behaved, at least Mu En's regard and help for him were clearly visible; Tang Wulin was not indiscriminate about right and wrong, knowing his anger should be directed at the proper target.

Oh.

Mu En narrowed his eyes.

Seeing the anger Tang Wulin could not hide in his eyes, he understood.

In fact, he had also anticipated these events to some extent; after all, once Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong took up residence in Sea God Pavilion, it was only a matter of time before they encountered Ma Xiaotao.

But he hadn't expected that upon their second meeting, at first sight she would injure Huo Yutong again.

Mu En beckoned to Huo Yutong and said gently:

"Come, child, let me see your condition."

He placed his hand on the shoulder of the approaching Huo Yutong; a faint golden speck appeared, her shoulder first felt warmth, then the pain completely disappeared.

Mu En released his hand and gave her a warm smile.

"All right, as long as you don't overexert your shoulder tonight, it will be completely healed by tomorrow morning."

"Yes."

Huo Yutong nodded respectfully.

Seeing Mu En's gentle smile, Tang Wulin's spirit felt as if washed by a breath of light, and he calmed down.

He stepped forward and said, "Master Mu, I hope to move out of Sea God's Pavilion."

Mu En showed no trace of surprise.

"Is it because of Ma Xiaotao?"

"Yes."

Tang Wulin spoke without hesitation: "Huo Yutong has already been injured by her once; that time she might have been unconscious, but today she acted with full awareness, striking a fellow student she didn't even know with such cruelty—I cannot believe such a person."

Mu En sighed helplessly.

"Regarding Ma Xiaotao's matter, I feel very sorry."

Tang Wulin was unmoved.

"Sorry, Master Mu, I just hope never to encounter that female lunatic again; please grant my wish."

"What's the use of Mu En apologizing? If the offender doesn't feel genuine remorse, even this elder Mu En apologizing again won't change anything."

Mu En knew what he was thinking, didn't beat around the bush, and asked bluntly:

"Then, Wulin, what would it take for you and Yutong to forgive her?"

"Forgiveness is impossible; the crime has been committed, and her hurting Yutong is an unchangeable fact."

Tang Wulin said seriously:

"However, if she is willing to agree to my three conditions, I can treat her as if she doesn't exist."

"Let's hear them?"

Mu En curled his lips with interest.

He was very curious what demands this exceptionally clever child would make.

Tang Wulin held up three fingers.

"First, forbid her from actively contacting us; if she comes within ten meters of us without our permission, expel her from the Academy."

"Second, require her to personally apologize to Yutong, and we must see her remorseful attitude."

"Third, we want half of her property, as compensation for mental distress."

"The first demand ensures his and Huo Yutong's safety; the second is to let Huo Yutong vent her anger; as for the third, it's purely extortion."

Tang Wulin knew that, given Huo Yutong's nature, if she herself had encountered this, she would surely have endured it silently.

"This wouldn't do; Tang Wulin is the type who won't let someone off the hook when he's in the right. Since the fault lies with Ma Xiaotao, not taking a layer of skin from her would already be considered his great kindness."

"Now I understand." Mu En laughed heartily, looking relieved. "Good, I understand. I'll arrange for her to come apologize to you tomorrow."

"Actually, in Mu En's view, aside from the second condition, the first and third are somewhat overly punitive."

"But as the saying goes, to correct excess you must go to the opposite extreme; to change the Academy's atmosphere, strong measures are needed."

"Only by being beaten will one feel pain; only through pain will one remember. Ma Xiaotao's arrogance and lawlessness stem from being overly indulged by Yan Shaozhe."

"If she can realize her mistake and repent, Mu En feels these demands are nothing."

"By the way, the weary Mu En finds that whenever he painstakingly raises Tang and Huo's affection a bit, it's immediately dragged down by pigheaded teammates."

"Regarding Ma Xiaotao, I don't know if any readers, after reading the previous chapter, still hope she'll be the female lead; if so, don't bother—first, this novel has a single female lead; second, I genuinely have no fondness for this madwoman who harmed people and then, upon a second encounter, still resorts to violent interrogation; in Douluo Dalu II, I dislike Xuanzi most, then Ye Xi Shui, and thirdly Ma Xiaotao—sparing her from death is already my great mercy."

"By the way, even after Ma Xiaotao's second violent assault, Huo Yutong still shows no sign of anger; even Wang Dong can't stand it, and his temperament has truly become overly tolerant."

"(End of chapter)"