Chapter 448: Estrangement

At night, Jiang Cheng sat on a straw mat, meditating to restore his Spiritual Power, when the phone on the table began to vibrate.

Jiang Cheng opened his eyes, and with a thought the phone flew into his hand; it was an incoming call from an unknown number.

"Could it be Principal Xu?"

The thought arose in his mind, and he answered the call.

Immediately, a mature woman's voice sounded, bearing some authority: "I heard from Cui Hao that you have something important to discuss with me? What is it?"

"Principal Xu, it's like this..."

Jiang Cheng made no small talk, after all the other party didn't seem to be the type who liked such niceties.

After briefly recounting the matter, Jiang Cheng said, "Principal Xu, we had already agreed that after I complete the two tasks you assigned, the remaining time is at my discretion, but at today's meeting I didn't quite understand Vice‑Principal Sun's actions."

Because he also didn't know whether Sun Bo's actions were authorized by Xu Juan, his words were very courteous.

"I understand."

Xu Juan's voice followed, "Alright, in a moment I'll call him, and as we agreed before, after you finish the tasks, you may use the remaining time however you wish."

"Thank you, Principal Xu."

Jiang Cheng said.

"Hmm, is there anything else?"

"Nothing."

"Alright, I'll hang up first."

Xu Juan said and hung up.

Jiang Cheng looked at the phone screen and let out a slight sigh of relief.

It seemed that Sun Bo had acted on his own, and Xu Juan was unaware.

In that case, it was indeed better than expected.

He noted the phone number and resumed his meditation.

On the other side, after hanging up, Xu Juan opened her contacts, found Sun Bo's number, and dialed it.

A few seconds later the call connected, and Sun Bo's laughing voice rang out, "Principal? Calling me so late—what important matter is it?"

"I heard you ordered Jiang Cheng to refine six batches of Top‑grade Awakening Pill each day at today's meeting. Is that true?" Xu Juan asked.

She didn't fully believe the claim about Jiang Cheng, though her intuition told her Sun Bo might indeed be capable of such a thing.

"Did Director Jiang tell you that?"

Sun Bo's smile froze.

That kid from the back alley really knows how to tattle, even reporting the matter to Xu Juan overnight.

"You don't need to ask how I found out; just tell me clearly whether it's true or not," Xu Juan said, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Indeed, it is true."

Sun Bo felt some pressure, obediently admitted, and continued, "But I do this for everyone's benefit. In recent decades, Hope City's strength has been widening the gap with those outside; of course there is a population difference, but the shortage of large quantities of pills is an undeniable fact.

Since he joined us, he should think of the collective and refine more pills; moreover, he does have the ability. Principal, you probably don't know that he can produce a batch of Top‑grade Awakening Pill in just two hours!"

"Is that so?"

Upon hearing that, Xu Juan was a bit surprised, then shook her head:

"Vice‑Principal Sun, I understand your point, but the gap between us and the outside world can't be bridged merely by a few extra batches of Top‑grade Awakening Pill."

"Principal, having something is better than none!"

Sun Bo emphasized, "As the saying goes, water drops wear away stone, rope saws wood; a year or two may have little effect, but ten or eight years? Adding a few batches of Awakening Pill daily widens the gap. Over twenty‑three or thirty years, it could even produce several Grandmasters, perhaps even Supremes, for Hope City." Xu Juan, hearing this, had to admit Sun Bo's reasoning was sound.

But she had already promised Jiang Cheng, and not even a month had passed; breaking her word would look terrible.

Moreover, the leader had repeatedly reminded them before.

"Vice‑Principal Sun, there's no need to discuss this further. As long as he refines two batches of Top‑grade Awakening Pill daily and teaches students twice a week, that's sufficient. If he wishes to earn more contribution points, he'll refine more pills on his own, without us urging him."

"But Principal..."

"Enough, I don't want to repeat the same words again."

Xu Juan's voice grew solemn.

"Yes, Principal."

Sun Bo could only agree.

After hanging up, his face was full of resentment.

He had thought that even if Xu Juan learned of today's matter, she would turn a blind eye, since it benefits everyone.

Who knew the other side would directly side with Jiang Cheng, leaving him at a disadvantage.

Recalling the scene in the Conference Room where he was publicly rebuked, the suppressed anger in his heart flared again.

…

The next day.

Jiang Cheng strode into the academy and immediately sensed that the atmosphere was off.

People around him, upon seeing his arrival, all glanced his way with odd expressions, and faint murmurs arose.

"Look, that's Jiang Cheng. I heard that at yesterday's Weekly Meeting he directly rebuked Vice‑Principal Sun in person, and left the meeting abruptly halfway through."

"Is that true? That's Vice‑Principal Sun, a newcomer, who must have swallowed a leopard's gallbladder to dare confront the principal face‑to‑face?"

"So many saw it with their own eyes; how could it be false? The point is, it's not a big deal, and Vice‑Principal Sun acted for the collective, ending up like a lit powder keg that exploded at once."

Jiang Cheng ignored the idle chatter behind him.

He had already anticipated this scene before arriving.

In the corridor near the Alchemy Workshop, a few familiar teachers approached, chatting and laughing.

When they saw Jiang Cheng, the smiles on the opposite few faces froze instantly; they lowered their heads, looked elsewhere, and walked past Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng also didn't say much.

Although these people are all teachers in the Alchemy Workshop, technically they are his subordinates, but given that he and Sun Bo have fallen out, others keeping their distance is understandable.

Fortunately, he never intended to get too close to those around him; whether close or distant, let it be natural.

He reached the Director's Office doorway; as soon as he opened the door, a hurried voice rang out from inside.

"Ah, Director Jiang, you finally made it. I called you several times last night; why didn't you answer any?"

Ma Ming Teng, in a flash, rose from his office chair, placed both hands in front of him, and walked toward Jiang Cheng.

"……"

Jiang Cheng was speechless, yet somewhat moved.

The person before him was probably one of the few in the entire academy who cared about him.

Although this person might care about everyone in the academy the same way.

(End of Chapter)