Chapter 941: United

Gazes fell upon Ye Qingran, filled with curiosity and questioning.

Wanqi Zifeng frowned and demanded, "Lou Ting, do you have any evidence?"

Lou Ting was clearly prepared, and calmly said, "Both human and material evidence are present!" As he spoke, he looked toward the White Tiger Academy disciples behind him; a frail figure stepped out from the crowd, she slowly lifted her head, revealing a pair of swollen eyes, and in a hoarse voice she said:

"I am Wu Lirong, Yang Jiaomi's roommate."

At Wànlíng Xuégōng, the dormitory standards for disciples are ample, ranging from single rooms to sextuple rooms. Yang Jiaomi lived in a quadruple dormitory at the White Tiger Academy, and Wu Lirong was one of her roommates.

"I know her; she really is Yang Jiaomi's roommate, and they previously had a falling out—they don't get along!"

Someone recognized Wu Lirong, confirming her identity as Yang Jiaomi's roommate.

Everyone couldn't help but feel amazed, thinking Wu Lirong's luck was truly extraordinary—out of four people in the dorm, three died, and she alone managed to escape!

"Wu Lirong, tell everyone what you saw yesterday."

Wu Lirong looked at Lou Ting and nodded.

"Last night, I returned very late; when I reached the dormitory door, I heard a faint groan from inside. I looked through the window and saw someone standing there—that person was Ye Qingran!"

Wu Lirong spoke slowly, her voice soft, yet her words inspired fear.

"I smelled blood, and just as I was wondering how the bloody odor came from the room, I suddenly saw them… all lying on the floor, blood everywhere… I was terrified, I covered my mouth, desperately trying not to make a sound…"

The disciples clutched their chests, nearly forgetting to breathe.

Through Wu Lirong's description, the scene became vivid instantly, filling everyone with extreme dread.

"I vaguely heard her speaking, saying, 'I warned you—this is what happens when you offend me!'"

Hiss~

After Wu Lirong finished saying that, the crowd drew in startled breaths, and some disciples' gazes toward Ye Qingran changed.

Who at Wànlíng Xuégōng doesn't know that Ye Qingran and Yang Jiaomi have a deep grudge?

Initially, Yang Jiaomi sought Ye Qingran for revenge over Wu Zhishang's disability, but instead she got beaten up; then the White Tiger Academy's Heavenly Pride Wu Qiong stepped forward righteously, vowing to help Yang Jiaomi obtain justice, yet he too was beaten by Ye Qingran until he could barely crawl.

It is precisely because of these incidents that Ye Qingran's ruthless reputation spread throughout the academy.

"Could it be that Yang Jiaomi was really killed by Ye Qingran?"

"It's not impossible! After all, Yang Jiaomi has offended Ye Qingran several times!"

"Last time at the West Pavilion Canteen entrance, didn't Ye Qingran knock out several of her front teeth?"

"But why? This reason seems far-fetched."

……

Seeing that everyone seemed to be starting to believe her, a glint flashed in Wu Lirong's eyes; she calmly pulled a blood-stained strip of cloth from her sleeve and held it up.

"This piece of cloth was taken from Yang Jiaomi's hand."

That cloth is stained with blood, now dried, the dark red marks shocking to behold. Everyone looked at the cloth, feeling it was somewhat familiar; upon closer inspection, isn't its material very similar to the clothing Ye Qingran wears?

"Ye Qingran, the human and material evidence are all here—do you have anything else to say?"

Lou Ting questioned.

Faced with Lou Ting's questioning, Ye Qingran showed no sign of panic, calmly retorting, "What need is there for excuses when one wishes to accuse?"

Lou Ting seemed to have anticipated Ye Qingran's reply, sneering, "If you think the evidence just presented isn't enough, I have other, more substantial proof!"

As his words fell, another figure stepped out from the crowd.

She too was a female disciple, of ordinary appearance.

"I am Zhao Yu, a disciple of the Vermilion Bird Academy. Last night Wu Lirong witnessed the murder scene, frightened she ran to find me; I went with her to the dormitory, and I also discovered that piece of cloth."

Zhao Yu's expression was composed, her tone firm, and her gaze toward Ye Qingran brimmed with hatred.

"Yang Jiaomi may be willful, but she has never done anything heinous—did you really kill her? Doesn't your conscience ache?"

At that moment, an ethereal voice sounded.

"I know this child Zhao Yu well; she would not lie!"

Upon hearing this, everyone froze.

The speaker was none other than Tao Hong, the headmaster of the Vermilion Bird Academy, one of the Four Spirit Academies.

Tao Hong is a woman; though not beautiful, she is gentle and easy to like.

As the headmaster of the Vermilion Bird Academy, her standing in Wànlíng Xuégōng is unquestionable; combined with her bewitching appearance, a single word from her convinces most of the disciples.

Wanqi Zifeng's expression gradually darkened, and he said, "All right, Lou Ting, take the person away first; we'll deal with this matter after the ceremony ends."

Wanqi Zifeng's tone was somewhat heavy; as his words fell, another voice countered, "Headmaster, killing three academy disciples in one incident is so heinous—it ought to be investigated publicly, giving every disciple of Wànlíng Xuégōng an explanation!"

The speaker was tall and square‑jawed, looking very stern; his most intimidating feature was his astonishingly strong aura, making people dare not meet his gaze.

"He is the headmaster of the Azure Dragon Academy!"

The headmaster of the Azure Dragon Academy is named Wang Mang; though unprepossessing in appearance, he possesses extraordinary strength.

"What do you all think?"

Wang Mang looked at the disciples and asked.

Many disciples found it reasonable and nodded in response.

"Exactly, we demand an explanation!"

"Please vindicate the wronged dead!"

"The truth cannot wait!"

……

Seeing this, Wang Mang couldn't help but smile, "Headmaster, do you see? Everyone wants to investigate this matter right now."

Seeing Wanqi Zifeng's unpleasant expression, Wang Mang raised his eyebrows, "Headmaster, you wouldn't be planning to shield Ye Qingran, would you?"

"Wang Mang! What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Wanqi Zifeng shouted in a low voice.

「Since it's not, what exactly is the Gōngzhǎng afraid of? 」

Wang Mang spread his hands, speaking helplessly.

Wanqi Zifeng's eyes flickered slightly. Seeing Wang Mang's attitude now, and combining it with Taohong and Lou Ting's earlier actions, how could he still not see that they had long been plotting together?

Wànlíng Xuégōng, with the Four Spirit Academies as its core, the four Gōngzhǎngs are not much weaker than him; although he holds the title of Gōngzhǎng, he might not be able to stand against the combined four Gōngzhǎngs!