Chapter 1284: Both sides withdraw the case

The Capital Mayor's office naturally had no evidence to prove that Chen Guanlou killed Master Qi.

They simply made a show of it and sent constables to investigate the case.

At the same time, they notified the Jixia Academy that Chen Guanlou had counter-sued them for slander and damaging his reputation.

"What a shameless little thief, killing Master Qi wasn't enough, he actually dared to counter-sue our Jixia Academy."

"This matter cannot just end here; we must seek justice for Master Qi."

"What is going on with the Academy Head, why are the methods so weak? That thief surnamed Chen is only one person, we have so many people, is it possible we can't beat him?"

The students complained repeatedly, but the upper echelon of the Jixia Academy remained as motionless as a mountain.

"This matter has already alerted the palace. According to news from the palace, His Majesty is very dissatisfied with us."

"Does the Academy Head mean..."

"Withdraw the case. Since there is no evidence, it's better to withdraw the case directly."

"Withdraw the case? Wouldn't the academy lose both face and substance? What should be done about this."

"If we don't withdraw the case, His Majesty will let the Brocade Uniform Guard intervene. Do you hope the Brocade Uniform Guard will step into the academy's territory? If you don't mind, you can choose not to withdraw the case."

"This, this, this... how did this matter involve the Brocade Uniform Guard."

Everyone was talking at once.

"Don't you understand? His Majesty is determined to suppress the academy. Taking this opportunity to let the Brocade Uniform Guard intervene, the academy will never have peace. The best way is to withdraw the case and block the Emperor's mouth, so the Brocade Uniform Guard has no excuse to intervene. As for Master Qi's death, a gentleman's revenge is not too late in ten years. Let's endure him for now."

"We understand what the Academy Head means. It's just that Chen Guanlou is very strange, and his martial arts cultivation is progressing very fast. In case... he breaks through to the Grandmaster realm..."

"Impossible! For so many years, those who have broken through to the Grandmaster realm can be counted on five fingers. Even if Chen Guanlou has exceptional talent, he has no master, no seniors to teach him, and I heard even his cultivation techniques were collected from prisoners in the prison. What does he rely on to ascend to Grandmaster? If Grandmaster were so easy to break through to, we wouldn't have lingered at the Ninth-Rank realm until now."

"Reasonable! But... Chen Guanlou himself is strange, in case..."

"There is no in case."

"If we withdraw the case, Chen Guanlou must also withdraw his case at the same time."

"Chen Guanlou is like a stone in a latrine, difficult to talk to. To make him withdraw his case at the same time, I'm afraid we'll have to bleed heavily."

"Then invite a middleman to guarantee and resolve the conflict between the two sides."

"Invite whom?"

"How about Minister Yu? I heard that when Minister Yu was imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, he had some friendship with Chen Guanlou."

"Why not invite the Marquis's Mansion to come forward."

"Must we withdraw the case just because His Majesty is dissatisfied? We have already made concessions and didn't kill our way to his door directly. Just reporting to the authorities, this won't do either. The palace is managing things too broadly."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

"Are we not going to avenge Master Qi?"

"I already said to slow down, a gentleman's revenge is not too late in ten years, what's the rush."

"Master Qi is dead, but we are not taking revenge; how will people in the martial arts world look at us? How will martial artists in the world look at us? From now on, what face does the Jixia Academy have to call itself the world's number one academy!"

Both sides argued endlessly, arguing until they almost started fighting.

The Jixia Academy Head sat in the upper seat, eyes slightly closed, motionless as a mountain. He let the noise below continue without opening his eyes to look even once.

Not until both sides were about to fight did he slowly open his eyes and say, "How about this old man gives up the position of Academy Head, and you take it, how about that? Then you can do whatever you want."

"Academy Head, calm your anger!"

"Academy Head, we have no such intention."

"Everything depends on the Academy Head's decision."

The Academy Head sighed. "Whether the academy is strong or not doesn't depend on revenge, nor on temporary killing. It depends on talent emerging in large numbers; we can have a say in the court, and we can also have a say in the martial arts world."

"Since the year Master Qi sparred with Chen Guanlou, the academy has been in a slump. However, our foundation is still there, our roots are still there. Instead of arguing and infighting here, you might as well look for a few more good seedlings and contribute to the academy's future."

"This old man has a premonition that many young talents will emerge in the martial arts world. If we can gather these talents into the academy, why worry that the academy won't be prosperous, why worry about the threats from the palace."

The Academy Head spoke, and everyone, regardless of what they thought in their hearts, all agreed in unison. They no longer struggled with the issue of face.

Yu Zhaoan, as a disciple of the academy, was entrusted with a heavy responsibility to reconcile the conflict.

Yu Zhaoan didn't want to take this hot potato, but he also didn't want to see the Jixia Academy's face trampled on the ground and humiliated. After all, he also came out of the academy.

He reluctantly accepted the arrangement.

He sent an invitation to Chen Guanlou for a drink.

The location for the drink was set on a painted boat in the lake, the highest grade.

Chen Guanlou gladly accepted the invitation.

Someone was treating him, and it was a painted boat, costing thousands of taels a night; he definitely had to go. For the sake of the beauties, he had to go.

Late at night, two grown men sat inside the painted boat, enjoying the singing and dancing, tasting fine wine, and eating top-grade delicacies, very happily.

"Old Yu, you're generous! What are you planning by inviting me to drink? I can't give you anything."

Yu Zhaoan laughed in anger; the other party was the same as back then, not changed at all.

He waved his hand, and the dancing girls and musicians retreated obediently. The hall instantly became quiet, and only the clear waves of the lake could be heard rippling.

"The Jixia Academy has decided to withdraw the case; they hope you can also withdraw your case. Let's turn big things into small things and small things into nothing."

Yu Zhaoan didn't beat around the bush, directly explaining the reason for the treat.

Chen Guanlou heard this and raised his eyebrows slightly. "So they've chickened out? This doesn't fit the Jixia Academy's style of doing things! Such an overbearing academy, clearly should be fighting me to the end, why have they chickened out? Is there any inside story here?"

"Tell this Minister first, do you want to withdraw the case."

"Whether to withdraw the case or not depends on your attitude." Chen Guanlou smiled that smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Yu Zhaoan snorted. "What else could it be, isn't it because the palace has set its sights on both of you."

"The old Emperor is quite idle, managing such things too." Chen Guanlou complained slightly.

Yu Zhaoan sneered. "It's only because it's this old man; if it were someone else, they would directly report you. A charge of disrespect would be unavoidable."

"Old Yu, don't use words to scare me. Back when you were in the Heavenly Prison, you were more ruthless than me. All my skills were learned from you."

Yu Zhaoan was furious; this kid's ability to rake back was incredible.

"You still haven't told me why the Emperor set his sights on this little matter."

"The matter is small, but the people involved are very critical. On one side is the Jixia Academy, on the other side is the Marquis's Mansion. Both are people the Emperor wants to clean up. Such a good opportunity, if it were you, could you give it up and watch?"

Chen Guanlou laughed and stared at the other party. "Old Yu, you are very dissatisfied with the Emperor!"

"Are you satisfied?" Yu Zhaoan rolled his eyes directly.

Chen Guanlou laughed happily, pondered for a moment, and said, "Withdrawing the case is fine. However, since we have been set sights on by the Emperor, I'm afraid it won't end well."

"As long as both of you withdraw the case, there is room for maneuver in this matter. This is not a big case; involving the academy and the Marquis's Mansion, the Emperor also has to pay attention to evidence, and even more so to methods. Also, from now on, you had better be low-key and not cause trouble. His Majesty's patience with Marquis Pingjiang is about to run out!" ===== CHAPTER 1285 =====