AGM 0046 – A Simple Answer
All the teachers from the Emperor Star Academy were shocked. As they stood up and looked at what had just occurred on the arena, their expressions became unsightly.
Today was the last day of the ranking competition organized by the Emperor Star Academy, which invited students from the other academies to gain experience through observation. But today, in the arena, there were actually two students who wanted to kill Orfon.
How audacious! In the entirety of the Emperor Star Academy, such a thing had never happened before.
“Indeed, they are students of Emperor Star Academy. How unbridled.” The teachers from the other academies smiled as they observed the events. There were many geniuses who were proud and arrogant, so it was inevitable that there would be clashes in a place where such geniuses were gathered together.
The Emperor Star Academy was proclaimed as the largest basket that contained the most geniuses in the entire Chu Country. In it, there were many genius students who were obstinate and arrogant, making them the hardest to control. Hence, the teachers of the Emperor Star Academy were all extremely formidable and powerful.
In the spectators’ stand, there were many older students — Luo Huan and Orchon’s peers — whose faces all lit up with smiles. “Interesting, but I wonder if their strength matches the size of their arrogance.”
Janus walked down the spectators’ stand step by step, looking over at Qin Wentian. He coldly stated, “Never has such an impudent student appeared before in the history of the Emperor Star Academy.”
“Well, there has now.” Qin Wentian stared back at Janus, and retorted with a reply that was just as cold.
“It’s always better to follow someone else’s lead.” Fan Le grinned. At this moment, he appeared at Qin Wentian’s side and looked at Orfon on the ground with a fierce glare in his eyes. “Accidentally” treading on Orfon’s hands, Fatty twisted his feet, causing Orfon to shriek pitifully.
Fatty looked down and apologetically exclaimed, “Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you there.”
Although this was what he said, Fatty had made sure to use his full strength when he trod on Orfon’s hands — which lead to Orfon’s shriek. The spectators all rolled their eyes. This fellow was shameless!
“Well, do you see him now?” The killing intent rolled off Orchon’s body in waves as he stalked forward in anger.
Fatty glanced at Orchon. He continued trodding on Orfon’s hands, taking care to use his full strength. The trodding was so painful that it almost forced tears out of Orfon’s eyes.
“I see him, but I’m not moving away from him.” Fatty grinned at Orchon, knowing that the look Orchon gave him that day was a sight that he would never forget.
Apparently, this fatty loved to harbor grudges.
“Stop.” Qin Wentian commanded in a cold voice, and soon after, a Heavenly Hammer materialized in his hands, and rested on top of Orfon’s head. As long as he wished it, Orfon’s life could be extinguished immediately.
Janus, Orchon, and the rest, halted their steps. It was just their luck to run into these two madmen. Despite their hatred and anger, they had no choice but to tolerate it.
“What do you want?” Janus directed the question at the two of them. This was the first time that he’d been humiliated to such an extent by two students. As long as Orfon was rescued, he’d certainly make sure that both Qin Wentian and Fan Le would die a horrible death.
“You have to ask my boss, I’m just a low-profile individual.” Fatty smiled, tossing the ball to Qin Wentian. Once the spectators heard Fatty’s words, they rolled their eyes extensively.
This fatty was really low-profile……
Fan Le grew extremely angry whenever he thought of what had happened back in the Dark Forest, and thus, he held nothing back in his choice to seek revenge. But naturally, Fan Le was clear that the source of all of this was Qin Wentian.
He and Qin Wentian both stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the arena, facing the upcoming storm in unison, but still, he ultimately decided to give Qin Wentian the right to make the final decision.
Fatty was “low-profile”, but he was certainly not a coward. For him to be standing in his current spot was enough to indicate that no matter what decision Qin Wentian made, he was prepared to endure any consequential backlash.
“This Fatty is shameless, but he’s really loyal.” Luo Huan was an intelligent woman, and upon seeing the scenario unfold, she discovered that, similar to her liking of Qin Wentian, she also liked the “low-profile”, shameless Fatty.
“Fatty, do you think that if we release Orfon, Orchon will apologize to us and let us go?” Qin Wentian laughed as he cast a glance at Fan Le.
“No.” Fan Le shook his head. “Previously in the Dark Forest, he had already wanted our lives. Now, I think that he wants to kill us even more; even if we fall to our knees and beg for mercy, nothing will change.”
“I think you’re right.” Qin Wentian mumbled softly, causing the expressions of both Orchon and Janus to turn even more unsightly. The conversation between Qin Wentian and Fan Le had completely disregarded their presences, showing that they had no intentions of sparing Orfon.
His gaze swept over the crowd, before landing on Mustang, as he asked with a smile, “Teacher Mustang, I have a few questions to ask.”
“Go ahead.” Mustang replied.
“If you have no grudges with a particular person, and yet that particular person still wants to kill you, and not only that, that person has almost succeeded… If that person landed in your hands, what would you do?” Qin Wentian asked.
“I would kill him.” Mustang replied.
“But his clan wields great power.” Qin Wentian added.
“Even if I don’t kill him, the power his clan wields would still be just as great.” Mustang replied.
“Mustang.” Janus roared in anger. How could he not understand the intent hidden in their conversation. Mustang was obviously instigating Qin Wentian — allowing Qin Wentian to do as he pleased.
This, everyone understood. It must’ve been Orfon who had wanted to kill Qin Wentian and Fan Le, and thus today, regardless of the cost, they had to appear on stage and trod on Orfon — even if they had to challenge the authority of the Emperor Star Academy.
The previous conversation that had occurred earlier between Fatty and Qin Wentian had been staged long ago.
Kill or don’t kill; the result was still the same! So why hesitate, just kill him!
Now the intent behind the conversation between Mustang and Qin Wentian was clear. He was asking the opinion of Mustang, hiding his intent behind words, but naturally, the words exchanged were fully understood by the spectators.
Regardless of whether or not he killed Orfon, the power their clan had wouldn’t change, and they would definitely deal with Qin Wentian. This point was doubtless, and thus, to Qin Wentian, there was no difference whether he killed Orfon or not.
“Mustang, the iron rule of Emperor Star Academy states that students are forbidden to kill others within the grounds of the Academy. You should also know this rule. If this rule is broken, the Disciplinary Committee will certainly be roused.” The tone of Janus was filled with a strong, chilly intent. Mustang, he actually dared to instigate Qin Wentian.
“Qin Wentian.” Mustang cast a look at Qin Wentian, as he continued. “In the history of the Emperor Star Academy, there were three cases before where students killed others within the grounds of the Academy.”
“In one of the cases, that student was put to death.”
“As for the second case, the student that broke the rule was imprisoned for a total of 50 years. After that, he swore not to step out of the Emperor Star Academy, and was willing to become a staff of the school.
The voice of Mustang caused the expressions of those around him to turn solemn. The iron rule of the Emperor Star Academy was too strict. Within the academy grounds, no deaths were allowed. Otherwise, the consequences would be too severe. And precisely because of this iron rule, no one had dared to misbehave within the Emperor Star Academy.
“What about the 3rd case?” Qin Wentian asked. If it really was a path to death, why would Mustang still have said those things to him during their conversation earlier.
“As for the last case of a student who killed others, he eventually became the current principal of the Emperor Star Academy.”
The calm voice of Mustang caused the spectators to quieten down. They knew how strict the iron role of the Emperor Star Academy was, especially for the crime of killing a student from the same school within the academy grounds.
However, not many knew that the current principal of the Emperor Star Academy, had once broken this iron rule.
Qin Wentian locked gazes with Mustang, but he didn’t continue asking; because he had already understood.
Three students, with three different fates. One died, another became a staff member of the Academy, and the last became the principal.
Three different fates because out of the three of them, their worth to the academy was all different.
Out of the students of Emperor Star Academy, many were arrogant. They came from all places — all with outstanding talents, and full of themselves. However in the school, it didn’t matter how arrogant or how proud you were. The only thing that mattered was if you had the capacity to be proud — if you had the capacity to be arrogant — in the first place.
For geniuses, pride was their confidence. For useless second-rate talents, pride was their burial ground.
In this world, other than kinship, no one owed anyone else for a living. If you want others to help you, you first have to prove what you can give in return. Qin Wentian already had understood this logic back when he was in the Star River Association. Because Qin Wentian hadn’t agreed to his proposal, Murin chose to betray him, accepting the benefits brought to him by the Ye Clan.
This, is reality; this, is the naked truth.
And now, Qin Wentian was faced with a choice yet again. Regardless of him killing or not killing Orfon, the Ou Clan, and Orchon, would certainly want his death — so there was no need to take them into consideration.
The only thing that gave Qin Wentian pause, was the attitude of the Emperor Star Academy.
Qin Wentian inclined his head, and stared at Orchon as a brilliant smile was displayed on his face. An answer could already be seen in his clear eyes.
In the Sky Harmony City, he was driven to desperate straits by the Ye Clan. After he had arrived at the Royal Capital, Janus had made things difficult for him, and Orfon had even wanted to kill him. Obviously, his enemies were the Ye Clan, the Ou Clan, and maybe even the clan in the Chu Country that wielded absolute authority — The Royal Clan.
This time around, if he chose to tolerate this and spare Orfon, the Ye Clan and the Ou Clan would treat this as a sign of weakness, and would continue making life difficult for him.
Hence, needless to say, to him, the answer was extremely simple!
TL Note: The clan of Orfon and Orchon is known as the Ou Clan.