Chapter 317

"Natsume-kun, and the two of you."

His voice returned to steadiness, but carried heavy sincerity.

"Thank you very much for today's matter."

He stood up straight, his gaze sweeping over those few members, heartbroken.

"If it weren't for your insight into the truth, this absurd and ugly 'coincidence' would probably have become an unsolvable mystery forever, and even evolved into an even worse rumor."

"And I, would never have known that in my force, there were people who used club activity time to do such unbearable things!"

"Really... thank you very much!"

Classmate Tengyuan Kui poked half her body out from behind Natsume Chikage, carefully observing Shanshan Yingshu's expression, muttering sheepishly in a small voice:

"That... you say so, but don't you actually blame us for being nosy and exposing your force's ugliness? After all, if this kind of thing spreads..."

Hearing this, Shanshan Yingshu's eyebrows twisted, and a unique, almost stubborn uprightness of a martial artist appeared on his face.

"Please rest assured!"

His voice was sonorous, his gaze frank.

"I, Shanshan Yingshu, am absolutely not a person who says one thing and means another! The fault lies with us, and both gratitude and shame come from the heart!"

He paused, his tone turning decisive.

"Later, I will personally take these few useless guys to the swimming force, apologize to Captain Xiaotian and all the members, as well as the teacher in charge, explain the situation, and take all responsibility!"

Those few members were completely panicked upon hearing this, their faces drained of blood.

"C-captain! Don't!"

"We know we were wrong, we really know we were wrong! Please don't..."

"If we go, how can we stay in school in the future..."

They pleaded in a jumble, almost crying.

Shanshan Yingshu snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over them like a knife.

"Now you know you're afraid? What were you doing earlier!"

His voice carried no room for maneuver.

"Do you have the backbone to go apologize with me now, or should I wait for the teacher to notify your parents, let your parents lead you, and go to the teacher's office to 'explain well' to the girls of the swimming force?"

"..."

Several members were like being choked by the throat, instantly silenced, their faces ashen.

Exchanging desperate looks with each other, going to apologize was social death, and alarming parents and teachers was even more of a doomsday...

They couldn't bear either one.

Just at this moment, Natsume Chikage shook his head gently.

"Captain Shanshan, wait a moment."

His voice was not high, but it clearly attracted everyone's attention.

"Perhaps... there is another possibility for the matter."

He looked at those few members who were like frightened birds, his tone gentle as if stating a fact.

"Maybe, these few classmates really didn't have any other intentions at the time, just purely wanting to find a quiet place upstairs to conduct extra physical or basic movement training?"

"After all, the old building hallway is ventilated, the view is open, and occasionally changing the training environment can also lift the spirit."

He paused, a hint of just-right "uncertainty" in his smile.

"As for 'peeping'... that might just be my one-sided speculation based on appearances. There is no conclusive evidence yet, is there?"

Those few members seemed to have grabbed a life-saving straw, raising their heads violently, joy bursting in their eyes, nodding their heads vigorously in agreement:

"Yes, yes! Natsume-kun is right! We were just adding practice! Very serious adding practice!"

"We didn't pay attention to the pool side at all! Really!"

"Captain, we were just too focused on practicing..."

Classmate Tengyuan Kui was stunned listening to this, her small mouth slightly open, her face filled with the shock of "this also works?"

"Eh? T-this, no matter how you look at it..."

Before she could finish, Natsume Chikage had already very naturally raised his hand, gently covering her mouth.

"Mmm...!"

Classmate Tengyuan Kui instantly widened her eyes, her cheeks flushing at a speed visible to the naked eye, all the remaining mockery blocked back, turning into a string of indistinct syllables.

She blinked, looking at Natsume Chikage's calm profile, seemingly understanding something, gradually calming down, but the blush on her earlobes didn't fade for a long time.

Jinweitong had been standing to the side quietly from beginning to end, as if she were an emotionless observation device.

But at this moment, her glass-bead-like eyes turned slightly, her gaze landing on Natsume Chikage, seemingly having a trace of extremely faint interest in his next move.

Shanshan Yingshu didn't speak immediately.

He looked at Natsume Chikage deeply, his eyebrows slightly frowned, falling into deep thought.

He was of course not stupid; Natsume Chikage could solve a ghost story that even teachers were helpless about, so his insight and wisdom were beyond doubt.

For such a person to suddenly say these words that were clearly contrary to the facts and to excuse the members, it could absolutely not be a whim.

There must be a plan.

In normal times, he would absolutely not accept this kind of "transaction."

But at this moment, as captain, he had to consider the reputation of the Jiandao Force.

Once this matter was confirmed and spread, it would become an indelible stain on the club.

When leading the team to participate in the "Tamaryu Flag" or "National High School Kendo Selection Tournament" in the future, if it were known by opponents and used to attack them, the blow to morale would be devastating.

This was absolutely not a situation he wanted to see.

Weighing the pros and cons, the anger on Shanshan Yingshu's face was gradually replaced by a complex heaviness.

He slowly exhaled a breath, his voice lowering a bit:

"Natsume-kun... after you said that, it's not completely unreasonable."

"Perhaps... it was me who was angry just now, and didn't ask clearly about their 'training' content and purpose."

He looked at those few members, his eyes sharp.

"Is your 'adding practice' really seriously conducting the consolidation of basic movements?"

Those few members seemed to see the dawn of pardon, their heads nodding like chickens pecking at rice, promising repeatedly:

"Yes, yes! Captain! We were just practicing suburi and footwork!"

"Absolutely didn't get distracted to look elsewhere!"

However, Natsume Chikage's words turned like a stream at this moment, leisurely saying:

"However, what I just said, in the end, is just my own little speculation and 'feeling'."

He lifted his eyes, his gaze seemingly unintentionally sweeping over a corner of the dojo ceiling.

"The school's public areas, especially the hallways, seem to have surveillance cameras installed. Modern equipment has very clear images and sound recording."

"If a teacher or someone with a heart really goes to check the recording at the time carefully, and listens to the conversation at the time... what the truth is, I think many people will naturally have the answer in their hearts."

His tone was still peaceful, but like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.

Shanshan Yingshu's expression instantly stiffened, his face even uglier.

And those few members were like being poured with a basin of ice water, the hope fire that had just risen instantly extinguished, their faces "swish" turning pale, and some even started to have weak legs.

They knew better than anyone that if the unscrupulous comments and laughter in the hallway at the time were really recorded and made public... that would be more than social death, it would be social destruction!

Natsume Chikage seemed not to see their changing faces, continuing to say in a tone like chatting:

"And our Collection Force, just happens to be preparing for a literary publication recently."

"If the complete truth of the 'pool ghost shadow' is finally found out, including its 'human-centered cause'... we will definitely record it in detail in the literary publication and sell it publicly at the school festival later."

He smiled slightly, imagining that scene.

"I think, whether it's our school's students or guests visiting from other schools, reading such 'interesting news,' their expressions will definitely be very wonderful."

Shanshan Yingshu's fists were quietly clenched at his sides, his knuckles somewhat white.

This was no longer a hint, it was almost an explicit negotiation and exchange.

His face was iron-blue, squeezing sound from between his teeth:

"Natsume-kun... then, in your opinion, how should this matter... be handled to be considered appropriate?"

Natsume Chikage was waiting for these words.

He didn't answer directly, but raised his hand, his finger pointing steadily at the old wooden sword covered with dust and appearing particularly simple and dilapidated on the sword rack in the corner of the dojo.

"Actually, a private reason for me joining the Collection Force is that I have a bit of a hobby of collecting old objects."

"I see that wooden sword in your force, the shape is simple, it has a sense of time, just right for my collection appetite." ===== CHAPTER 318 =====