Chapter 176: Facts

Within Qingbei, it has always been called fair and equal, but combat-type ability users have higher speaking rights, which is also an unspoken fact.

For example, the External Duty Team formed by Xin Ping and Liang Yan, although their ranks are equal and everything is supposed to be settled through discussion, once opinions diverge, Liang Yan naturally lacks the confidence to insist.

"Then you followed them?" Shi Yuanjun asked.

"Yes." Liang Yan nodded.

"Where did they go?"

"Number 3 Teaching Building."

"Oh?" Shi Yuanjun was surprised.

"We didn't expect that either, and since both are ability users, they easily went up the stairs, and we almost lost them."

Shi Yuanjun suddenly asked Song Yu: "How much progress has been made in exploring Building 3?"

"Two-thirds of the area has already been covered." Song Yu replied respectfully.

"Is the newly made basket still usable?" Shi Yuanjun smiled and asked Liang Yan again.

Liang Yan nodded: "Without the basket, we probably couldn't keep up, and fortunately they only went to the fourth floor; if it had been the fifth, we would have been powerless."

"Where did they go?"

"Professor Wan's office."

"Wan Zhong?"

"Yes." Liang Yan answered.

Shi Yuanjun then asked Song Yu: "Has that area not been explored yet?"

Song Yu said: "It should be the next step we prepare to go; the fourth floor has been swept from east to west, leaving only a few rooms."

Shi Yuanjun nodded, indicating Liang Yan to continue.

"At first we didn't dare follow too closely, so we couldn't see the man and woman's faces clearly, but once inside the room…… you also know, Professor Wan's office is rather messy with many obstructions, so we could get closer to tail them, and thus we saw their appearances clearly."

"Do you know them?" Tong Bin couldn't help asking.

"Hmm."

Liang Yan glanced at Song Yu unintentionally, then said: "That's the Chen Mu that Senior Song mentioned before."

"Chen Mu?"

"Yes, it matches exactly the portrait drawn by Miao Qingqing, and the woman is He Ying, senior sister—I know that even without the portrait." Liang Yan said.

After Chen Mu caused a ruckus in the storage room and defeated Yangbu'an, Qingbei internally issued a bulletin about him; of course, it didn't necessarily mean treating him as an enemy, just informing members that such a person exists.

Qingbei has a member named Miao Qingqing, who possesses a Special Ability in drawing, so Chen Mu's portrait quickly spread throughout the organization; because he had a record of defeating Yangbu'an, and with Song Yu unintentionally fanning the flames, he gained considerable fame.

If Chen Mu knew this fact, it's unclear whether he would be happy or worried.

Tong Bin suddenly snapped: "Is Xin Ping injured like this because of that Chen Mu?"

"Hmm…… yes…… but……"

"But what?" Tong Bin said impatiently.

Liang Yan began to recount in detail the entire process from the two sides meeting, to talking, to fighting, and finally how the opponent was frightened away.

After he finished, the scene fell silent.

Song Yu began to reassess someone's strength level in his mind.

Meanwhile, the others felt somewhat uneasy.

Since Qingbei's establishment, everything has gone smoothly; even when facing Yi Zhong, a formidable rival, they have never suffered a major loss.

But now.

Despite Qingbei's size, it has been toyed with repeatedly by an unknown nobody; the two major combat-type ability users, Yangbu'an and Xin Ping, were easily dealt with, and one of them may even be dead or alive unknown.

"Song Yu!"

Tong Bin suddenly shouted: "Didn't you say that Chen Mu posed no threat? What's going on now? You should also bear some responsibility for this!"

Song Yu drawled: "At the time I said this person's allegiance is hard to gauge, and I saw no threat temporarily; moreover…… don't you find it funny? Clearly Xin Ping struck first, and it was a sneak attack—how can they not be allowed to fight back?"

Tong Bin snapped: "Xin Ping was just trying to test the waters; he heard you praise Chen Mu repeatedly and felt dissatisfied, but who could have imagined the opponent would strike so ruthlessly?"

"Oh?"

Song Yu raised an eyebrow: "Liang Yan, tell me, was Xin Ping really just testing?"

"Well……"

Liang Yan was momentarily at a loss for words; he certainly knew how heavy Xin Ping's first sneak attack was, but if the opponent had been any weaker, death would have been certain—put bluntly, Xin Ping may not have truly wanted Chen Mu dead, but if he had actually killed him, he would feel no remorse whatsoever.

However, Tong Bin and Song Yu belong to different factions, and Liang Yan happens to be in Tong Bin's camp; if he spoke the truth, it would undoubtedly be a slap to his own leader's face.

Liang Yan suddenly felt disheartened.

Originally drawn to Qingbei's ideals, he had been enthusiastic in his work, but now the organization's direction is increasingly deviating from its principles, with at least a large portion of members no longer caring about the original ideals.

Liang Yan hesitated a moment, then sighed and said: "Xin Ping indeed failed to control his strike, causing the other side to misunderstand."

In the end, this statement still defended Xin Ping.

But it also basically stated the facts.

Especially since everyone knows Liang Yan is Tong Bin's man, saying this must mean Xin Ping bears greater responsibility.

Song Yu approvingly glanced at Liang Yan and smiled: "I have seen this Chen Mu before; he should not be someone who actively stirs up trouble. Last time, when forced to fight Yangbu'an, he merely trapped him without harming little Yang, which shows his strikes are still measured; Xin Ping perhaps truly ought to reflect on himself……"

"According to Qingbei's regulations, indiscriminately attacking survivors warrants at least a reduction in quota as punishment, and in serious cases, confinement in the small dark room……"

Without waiting for Tong Bin to speak, Song Yu continued: "Of course, I'm not being biased; Xin Ping still needs full treatment, and if his ability can be restored, that would be best, but regardless of whether he can recover, his current condition already counts as a considerable punishment, and I don't advise further punishment against him."

"However, his external duty work must be removed, and a thorough self‑critique is required; I say this for his own good—otherwise…… this time it's just an amputation, next time he might lose his life."

In verbal sparring, Tong Bin is no match for Song Yu; he was so angry he blew his beard and glared, but for a moment couldn't think of a rebuttal, and with Shi Yuanjun present, he didn't dare swear.

As a rough man who can't speak without swearing, reasoning is indeed a difficult skill for him.

Fortunately, Shi Yuanjun spoke up at this moment: "The main responsibility for this matter still lies with Xin Ping."

He then stopped Tong Bin, who wanted to speak, and said, "Of course, after he wakes up, we'll give him a chance to defend himself; there's no rush to reach a conclusion, Tong Bin—go see how he is."

Those words were tantamount to telling him to leave.

Tong Bin shot Song Yu a glare, then, fuming, led his people away as he turned and left.

Yet no one paid attention to Liang Yan.

Liang Yan hesitated for a moment, then ultimately turned and walked toward the other staircase.