Chapter 422: Martial Uncle (2)
Before long, chaos engulfed the entire academy.
Discipline Hall.
Old Huang was forced to take up his new post in advance to work on the investigation.
One student after another was taken in. The elders were personally leading the investigation with the assistance of the guards and Discipline Hall.
Inside a large hall.
A lot of elders were present.
After the students were brought in, Elder Qi questioned, "When did you hear the rumors? Who told you these rumors? What did they tell you? Tell us everything. Don't even dream of lying. You are very clear on the means available to cultural researchers. Anyone caught lying will either be expelled or even executed as members of the Myriad Race Cult."
The students trembled with fear.
None of them had expected that they would be arrested by the guards and the Discipline Hall just for gossiping in private. Not only that, but the elders were even personally interrogating them. None of them dared to hide anything.
One name after another was given, and more and more students were brought in. The investigation proceeded as they chased after the source. Eventually, the single character faction students were arrested.
...
Single character faction's building.
Inside a large office, Zhou Mingren was sitting there silently. A few elders with unsightly expressions could be seen around him.
Just a moment ago, the guards and Discipline Hall had arrested a few of their students right in front of them. They were in the middle of a meeting with these students when that happened. The guards had merely charged in and dragged the students away without care.
Among the crowd, Zhou Pingsheng had a pale expression. He did not dare to utter even one word. This time, only a few students outside the Top 100 Ranking had been arrested. But the situation seemed to be getting more and more serious.
Zhou Mingren looked at the crowd silently. After a long while, he calmly said, "Gather all the teachers and students of our faction. I want to see who else they are going to arrest."
"Old Zhou!" Yu Hong said, "Have the Discipline Hall and academy guards gone mad? How dare they arrest those students in our presence?"
Zhou Mingren shot her an indifferent glance and said, "I think I have an idea about what happened. Initially, I thought that although we have members of different qualities, none of them are absolute idiots. Looks like I was wrong. Yu Hong, are you really not aware of what has happened?"
"There are many ways you can suppress the multiple character faction. But this has involved the entire academy and even the entire capital. We have been reduced into clowns." Zhou Mingren sighed, "I thought that none of us could possibly be that stupid. But now, I have to wonder if some people are really too stupid to be saved."
As he said that, he glanced at his own student: Zhou Pingsheng. Was this student of his really that stupid? Even if he was stupid, how was he stupid enough to involve even people like Wan Tiansheng and Ji Hong? Did this dumb student really believe that the single character faction was already the strongest in the Human Realm?
Zhou Mingren was tired. Of his students, Zheng Yuming was the smart and shrewd one. Thus, things had been smooth for the single character faction for the past few decades. They had been able to grow bigger and stronger while keeping the multiple character faction suppressed.
But after Zheng Yuming fell victim to that ploy...yes. He considered that a ploy. Zheng Yuming had regained consciousness and Zhou Mingren had asked about the incident that day. Zheng Yuming had not intended to make a move against Su Yu at all. Clearly, this was either Chen Yong's scheme or Wan Tiansheng's deliberate action.
Ever since Zheng Yuming was crippled, the single character faction had been in a mess. First, they had spent 100,000 merit points on a ridiculous blood essence formula. Then, due to a mistake he made, he was forced to pay over 100,000 merit points to solve the incident involving the willpower texts.
He had just settled the previous incident when yet another trouble came knocking. How was he supposed to focus on his breakthrough? He couldn't even focus on his cultivation. They had lost a Mountainsea and a genius student. Even their partner, Xia Yuwen, was currently half dead. They had also lost nearly 200,000 merit points. And now...were they going to suffer yet another loss?
Nobod dared to disobey Zhou Mingren's order.
The teachers and students of the single character faction arrived one after another. Before long, the room was too full, leaving the newcomers standing outside.
As a Skysoar, Liu Hong was lucky enough to get a spot in a corner of the room. He stood there and observed silently. The single character faction was declining. After several losses, their faction was starting to fall. He could see that the single character faction only appeared strong, but inwardly, they were weak. The multiple character faction hadn't even done anything toward them yet they were already starting to fall apart by themselves.
"Rumors?"
Glancing at the pale Zhou Pingsheng, Liu Hong resisted the urge to curse. Was that dumbass the culprit? How did that fellow mess something so trivial so badly? Liu Hong couldn't help but start admiring Zhou Pingsheng for his sheer ability to screw things up. Not a single person from the multiple character faction had said anything this time. Yet for some reason, the single character faction had still suffered a loss.
While he was thinking, someone shouted outside, "Huang Qifeng, Di Feng, Zhu Hong, and Qiu Yi. Come out here. We need you to take a walk with us."
Inside the room, Di Feng's face changed as he hurriedly said, "Grandteacher, we didn't spread those rumors! It really wasn't us! Grandteacher..."
Zhou Mingren indifferently said, "Go. Take a walk with them. The truth will be found sooner or later. Old Qi and the others can investigate this matter if they want, but if they try to make my people the scapegoat without proof, then that would be an attack on me."
"Grandteacher..."
They grew even more nervous when they heard that.
"Go." Zhou Mingren stood up and said, "I'll go with you. I want to know which idiot did this as well."
He was also getting furious. If it was found out that this was really the work of someone from the single character faction, then he could only start cleaning up their ranks. With too many fools among them, the others could be dragged down easily. Before this, Zheng Yuming had done very well. He had ensured that their only enemy was the multiple character faction. He was able to face everyone else, including Wu Yuehua and company, with a smile. He wouldn't fully offend them despite not being friendly with them.
He would be willing to take a step back on certain matters for the others and stayed firm for matters involving the multiple character faction.
Because of that, the elders slowly came to understand that they only needed to avoid the conflict between the single and multiple character factions to not cause themselves unnecessary problems. This was a foundation Zheng Yuming had painstakingly built. But that foundation had been broken. In a short period of time, they had offended one elder after another.
...
Discipline Hall.
Zhou Mingren arrived, followed by Yu Hong and the other elders.
Elder Qi ignored them. With a calm expression, Old Huang said, "Since you're here, please listen silently. Faculty Head Zhou, I hope you won't disturb the Discipline Hall and academy guards when we are performing our duties. This matter might seem minor, but if we ignore it, the prestige we have spent over 300 years building will be ruined. In the worst case scenario, this might be the trigger that would cause the academy to decline and eventually shut down."
Di Feng and the others had arrived as well.
Elder Qi ignored all the visitors and focused on the suspects. With a harsh tone, he said, "Di Feng and Huang Qifeng. Some people have identified the two of you as the origin of the rumors about the relationship between teachers and students. Is this true?"
"No!"
"Nonsense." Elder Qi slapped the table in front of him. His aura soared as he said, "You dare lie? Mere Mental Tempering Stage students are trying to lie to us? What do you take Mountainseas for?"
With an imposing expression, Elder Qi scanned his surroundings. Finally, his gaze landed on Zhou Mingren's group. He coldly asked, "You should be able to see that they are lying, right? Old Zhou, as a pseudo Sunmoon, you can see this, right? If you really can't, perhaps you aren't really qualified to be a faculty head anymore."
Zhou Mingren said nothing. He could naturally see that the students were lying. Mental Tempering Stage students were trying to lie to Mountainsea cultural researchers...These students were really treating Mountainseas as idiots. Both Yu Hong and Elder Sun had unsightly expressions as well.
Di Feng hurriedly said, "We're speaking the truth! We're not lying!"
"Audacious!"
Rumble!
Elder Qi lashed out, causing Di Feng to collapse and cough a mouthful of blood. Di Feng paled.
Elder Qi coldly said, "You are already here. How dare you lie? Tell me! Who ordered you to do this? How impudent! Getting mere Mental Tempering Stage students like you dare to slander Mountainseas and even Sunmoons? Do you really think that you're untouchable because you have a backer?"
"Old Qi, don't use this as a chance to attack someone else indirectly." Zhou Mingren said, "There is no need for me to order something this foolish. If I'm that stupid, I wouldn't have been able to become a pseudo Sunmoon."
Elder Qi snorted coldly. He couldn't be bothered to argue. Looking at Huang Qifeng, he shouted, "Huang Qifeng, confess! Who ordered you?"
"Nobody..." Huang Qifeng's face changed as he hurriedly explained, "We didn't slander any Mountainseas or Sunmoons! Elder Qi, I admit that I have said something to Wu Jia because of my hatred toward her. I was trying to force her to fight me. But I have really not spread any of those rumors!"
Huang Qifeng's brain was working overtime as he hurriedly added, "I confess that I did somewhat attempt to slander Head Manager Chen Yong, but I didn't even mention him by name. According to the academy rules, I will be punished for disrespecting my teachers and seniors. I am willing to take the punishment for that. Please be lenient, Elder."
"Hmph!" Elder Qi snorted and looked at the other students. He coldly asked, "Huang Qifeng has confessed. How about the rest of you? Also, have you slandered only Chen Yong?"
After saying that, he ordered, "Bring him in."
Shortly after, a different student was brought in. The student had a pale face. The moment he entered the room, he dropped to his knees and said while trembling, "Elder, it wasn't me! I was only following orders! Di Feng and his group were the ones who had told me to spread the rumors! They paid me five merit points to do so! You can check my merit card for the transaction record! It was really them! I made the mistake of accepting this job because I thought it was easy money. I admit that I am guilty, Elder!"
When Di Feng saw the newcomer, his face changed as he hastily said, "Elder, I only...I only told him to spread some rumors related to Wu Jia! Nothing else! Huang Hao, speak clearly! Isn't that the case?"
The face of the student called Huang Hao sank as he countered, "Nonsense! You clearly told me to drag everyone in and force the other elders to stay uninvolved to prove their innocence! But the thing got out of control and spread outside the academy..."
The expressions of Di Feng and company changed.