Chapter 47: Punished to Stand: Zong Fu

Amid the surging crowd, many of the surrounding students watching the scene also wore stunned expressions.

No one had expected that Li Luo, who had come to rescue the situation, had also brought along an inspection mentor.

"Damn, this Young House Master really doesn't play by the rules."

"What a coward, doesn't this just make him look afraid of Zong Fu?"

"A dispute between students, and he actually reported it to a mentor — truly jaw-dropping."

"That's true, but doesn't reporting to a mentor seem like the most correct approach? Unauthorized fighting already violates the rules."

"Y-your words aren't wrong, but-but..." someone stammered for a long time, unable to find a rebuttal, because if the rules were broken, reporting to a mentor didn't seem to be wrong either.

But why did it feel so off?

While some of the surrounding students fell into thought, Zong Fu hurriedly withdrew the palm pressed against Zhao Kuo's back, and with a fawning smile, said to the expressionless inspection mentor: "Mentor, we weren't fighting, just joking around."

"You were clearly about to hit me just now," Zhao Kuo said.

Zong Fu denied it awkwardly: "Impossible, don't slander me."

Li Luo also stepped forward, smiling: "It's fine, speak your true thoughts bravely."

Zong Fu laughed: "No, no, really not."

The inspection mentor glanced at the situation in the field, then looked at that sturdy-as-a-bear little junior sister from Zhongyang Academy, the corner of his mouth twitching as he said: "If you want to scam someone, couldn't you pick a better target?"

Zong Fu felt very wronged — Zhongyang Academy was already overflowing with masculine energy, with hardly any female students to be found. That sturdy little junior sister was the only girl among their academy's top twenty, and they normally treated her like a treasure.

"You — stand in punishment for three hours. One minute late, and I'll have your dean come collect you," the inspection mentor said irritably.

Actually, there had been too many fights between students lately, and they had been turning a blind eye, but since Li Luo had reported it, they had to come handle it, or it would be dereliction of duty.

After speaking, the inspection mentor turned and left directly.

From the surrounding onlookers, low snickers of laughter rang out — no one knew who they were laughing at.

Zong Fu stood helplessly in place, not daring to move. Li Luo stepped forward, smiling: "Are you that curious about me? You even went to such trouble using Zhao Kuo to force me out."

Zong Fu stared at Li Luo and sighed: "Because everyone says the Young House Master isn't worth fearing, but I feel you might be the biggest variable in this Grand Examination, so I had to probe your limits."

Li Luo said, somewhat surprised: "You think that highly of me?"

Zong Fu nodded: "Because I know Jiang Qing's terror. I don't believe someone betrothed to her could truly be useless."

"You've fought Jiang Qing?" Li Luo was even more surprised.

Zong Fu sighed: "Fight? That time she just glanced at me, and my legs went numb from fright."

"But Li Luo, you're hiding so much and refusing to make a move — looks like you really are concealing something. I'm also curious how you'll perform in the Grand Examination."

"We'll find out when we meet in the Grand Examination."

Li Luo smiled, then patted Zong Fu's shoulder: "Then keep standing there. I'm going back to sleep."

With that, he led Zhao Kuo away at a leisurely pace amid many strange gazes.

Zong Fu watched them leave, pouting helplessly, then seemed to remember something, and his expression changed.

"Damn, I'm being punished to stand — how am I supposed to attend Shi Kong's gathering tonight? He won't think I've betrayed him and refused to give him face, will he?"

Somewhere in the White Spirit Garden, inside a room.

Shi Kong greeted Xiang Liang and Chi Su before him with a warm smile, personally pouring tea for the two, his conversation graceful and courteous.

After chatting for a while, Chi Su frowned: "Why hasn't this guy Zong Fu come yet?"

Xiang Liang was also puzzled, because Zong Fu didn't seem like someone uninterested in Shi Kong's proposal, so he should most likely show up.

Shi Kong wore a smile, but his eyes were slightly deep — could Zong Fu be refusing to give him face?

As his thoughts churned, someone suddenly knocked and entered, whispered something in his ear, and then a look of astonishment surfaced on his face.

Shi Kong waved the person away, then looked at the two and smiled: "Zong Fu probably won't be able to come tonight."

"What's going on?" Xiang Liang and Chi Su exclaimed in surprise.

"He wanted to probe Li Luo's limits, but Li Luo reported him to the inspection mentor, and he got punished to stand for three hours." As Shi Kong said this, his expression was slightly odd.

"Huh?"

Xiang Liang and Chi Su couldn't help exclaiming, then exchanged glances, momentarily not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"This Li Luo really doesn't play by the rules," Xiang Liang couldn't help laughing.

Reporting to a mentor — only this guy could come up with that. Isn't he afraid of being laughed at?

"Maybe he really doesn't have the ability to deal with Zong Fu, so he could only choose this method," Chi Su said.

"I told you, there's no need to probe that Li Luo at all. He's not an opponent we need to pay attention to, and he doesn't deserve our caution," Xiang Liang said with a curl of his lip.

Shi Kong said with a smile: "Zong Fu's caution is good. If we really run into Li Luo in the Grand Examination, let's just take him out casually, to avoid any surprises at the end."

But clearly, he didn't pay it too much mind, and instead shifted the topic to today's main business: "Although Zong Fu didn't arrive, the purpose of our meeting today cannot be delayed because of that."

"We all share the same goal — to pull Nanfeng Academy down from the throne of Tianshu Prefecture's number one academy."

"And Nanfeng Academy's strongest person this year should be Lv Qing'er. As long as we take her out, Nanfeng Academy will lose its qualification to compete for first place, and then they definitely won't get the most enrollment slots this year."

"My suggestion is also very simple — in the final stage, we need to join forces to eliminate Lv Qing'er."

Xiang Liang and Chi Su exchanged a glance, both seeing the solemnity in each other's eyes, then voiced their concerns: "Joining forces against Lv Qing'er won't be easy. Even if we can't beat her, with her abilities she should be able to retreat unscathed. Besides, there will inevitably be other strong enemies in the final stage. Once we fight Lv Qing'er too fiercely, someone else might reap the benefits."

Shi Kong smiled slightly: "I'll arrange everything. You just need to show up at the time and place I designate."

Xiang Liang and Chi Su deliberated for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Then let's do as you say. Nanfeng Academy has held the title of Tianshu Prefecture's number one academy for too long — it's time for someone else to take a seat."

Shi Kong's smile deepened, then he raised his teacup.

The three lightly clinked their teacups together.

"Then, pleasant cooperation."

(End of Chapter)