Chapter 427: Out of Seclusion, Encounter, Annoying Each Other (2)
Old Nie smiled, "Hadn't you complained that life here is too boring? Well, your wish has been fulfilled. You can finally live a busy life. Aren't you happy?"
"Nonsense." Old Huang changed the topic as he solemnly said, "You heard as well, right? So what's your opinion?"
"Zhou Mingren isn't so stupid. Zhou Pingsheng also isn't that dumb. It is normal for them to provoke Wu Jia and Chen Yong. But do you believe that they would drag the entire academy into this as well?"
"No, I don't."
Old Huang shook his head. He was no fool. How would he believe that?
Not even Elder Qi believed that.
That was why only the students were subjected to harsh punishments in the end. Everyone else was let go since Zhou Mingren himself had taken the blame and allowed them to remove him from his position as a vice principal.
Despite the apparent conclusion of the matter, everyone knew that it was very possible that Huang Hao's memories might have really been altered.
Old Huang said, "Who do you think did it?"
Old Nie thought for a bit and said, "Someone from the multiple character faction. Maybe it was Hong Tan. Maybe it was Chen Yong. Or...maybe it was that person."
As he said that, he pointed in the Heart Cultivating Pavilion's direction with his chin.
Either it was someone from the multiple character faction or that fellow was doing something in the shadows again.
"I suspect the same."
Old Huang nodded and said, "That was why I ended the investigation. Even if we continue, it would be hard to find the truth. It's better to calm the disturbance and set an example out of someone first."
Old Nie nodded and said, "As long as you can give a fair judgment, it is enough. We can't be too biased. We only need to follow the rules. There might be some holes in the rules. And people might make use of the rules. But we shouldn't be the ones to challenge the rules."
"Don't worry. I understand." Old Huang moved on from the topic. He asked, "Is that kid still in there?"
"Yeah."
Old Huang exclaimed, "He sure is tenacious. He is clearly intent on squeezing every last worth out of the 100 merit points he paid to enter. I won't be able to stay here for long. It's not proper for me to say much to the multiple character faction, but remind the kid on my behalf when he comes out. Tell him to not do anything stupid. I won't spare them if they cross the line. If someone has really altered Huang Hao's memories, that would be greatly illegal."
Old Huang's eyes turned aggressive as he said, "We can't do anything now since we have no proof. And there is no way for us to find the truth without the help of an Invincible. But if it was really someone from the multiple character faction, tell the kid to be careful."
He would not tolerate having the memories of their students tampered with.
Even if he was personally biased toward the multiple character faction, the bottom line was still very important. Without the bottom line, the academy or even the Human Realm would descend into chaos.
It was all thanks to the bottom line that Liu Wenyan had been able to live this long.
Otherwise, he would have died long ago despite Great Xia King's protection.
Old Nie nodded, "I'll remind him."
"Good. I'll be taking my leave now."
Old Huang wasn't staying for long. He was only here to deliver Su Yu this reminder. Since Su Yu was still in the grotto, there was no need for him to stay any longer.
Seeing how busy Old Huang was, Old Nie laughed. After staying in the Grotto District for decades, Old Huang was finally able to find something to get busy with. That old man must be pretty satisfied with his new job.
"Hong Tan...Chen Yong..."
Old Nie sank into thought. Was it them?
Or was it Wan Tiansheng?
...
18th of October. Early in the morning.
Initially, Su Yu had planned to enter seclusion for only three days. But he ended up extending his seclusion.
He had spent five full days in the grotto.
Early morning of the 18th, when Old Nie was sipping on a cup of tea, his eyes flickered as the door leading to the grotto opened.
The instant Su Yu stepped out, the look in Old Nie's eyes changed. He felt like he was looking at a burning stove instead of a human. A raging storm of source qi that was as blinding as the sun accompanied the figure stepping through the door.
When Su Yu approached him, it was as though a primordial beast was approaching him instead.
"Hmm?"
Old Nie recovered from his reverie after a short instant. When he looked at Su Yu again, the kid seemed to have returned to the usual friendly Su Yu with a smile on his face and an elegant white outfit.
Old Nie gave Su Yu a deep look.
Meanwhile, Su Yu was slightly absent-minded. Five days. Finally, he was out of the grotto.
"Teacher, has Teacher Huang left?"
"Yeah."
Old Nie spent some time studying the kid before softly asking, "You completed your cultivation?"
"Yeah." Su Yu nodded, "The cultivation has been smooth. The Source Qi Secret Grotto is such a great place."
It was an awesome place!
Old Nie laughed. Of course it was a great place. The kid had paid only 100 merit points to cultivate in there for five days. This was only a treatment he could get in the academy.
After checking the condition of the grotto, Old Nie said, "When you grow strong, don't forget to repay the academy. You have consumed too much source qi. This grotto is not your personal cultivation ground. If all our students start doing the same thing, the grotto will collapse sooner or later."
Su Yu felt somewhat embarrassed to hear that. He hurriedly said, "I will! Thank you, Teacher!"
"Don't thank me." Old Nie took a sip from his cup of tea before slowly saying, "This is the way of the academy. Geniuses will get more than the others. But these geniuses will also repay the academy in the future. This is a virtuous cycle that can go on forever. It doesn't matter if you can take a lot more than others right now. Just remember that you are also enjoying the things left behind by your predecessors."
Su Yu nodded.
All these grottos were formed by the characters of their predecessors. He was aware of that, so he did not object to Old Nie's words. As for the matter of repayment, he had to grow strong first, right?
Suddenly, Old Nie said, "Remember to follow the rules when you're in the academy. These rules aren't here to restrict you. They are here to protect you. Rules are the best protection for the weak. Without the restriction of rules, the experts will be able to do everything they want. The weak will be completely helpless."
Su Yu nodded.
"When you're weak, you enjoy the protection of the rules. When you grow strong, the rules will restrict you. Do not think that this is unfair. And do not think that you are the only one who is suffering from injustice in the world. Because the experts are the ones who the rules are restricting the most."
Su Yu nodded. He was starting to get what Old Nie was trying to say.
Old Nie calmly said, "We can't really do too much. But at the very least, we still have some power in the academy. If you want to kill or make a move against someone, that is your prerogative. But never forget the rules."
Su Yu nodded.
"This applies to you, to your teacher, to the multiple character faction, and to the single character faction. Otherwise, Zheng Yuming wouldn't have been injured and exiled to the Vanguard Regiment. That is the price he has to pay for breaking the rules. You guys will also pay a price for breaking the rules."
Su Yu nodded before saying, "Teacher, I don't intend to break the rule. You're saying this because..."
"Just a reminder. That's all."
"I understand."
Su Yu nodded. Had someone from the multiple character faction broken the rules during his absence? He could guess why Old Nie was telling him all that.
"Is it grandteacher or martial uncle?"
His teacher was still injured, so he doubted it was his teacher. And when he recalled what he heard about his senior sister, he wondered if it was his martial uncle.
Seeing that Su Yu was about to leave, Old Nie decided to say one more thing, "You must have left your seclusion to join the tournament for the slots. But a lot of people are aiming for the slots as well. Su Yu, where it is possible to let people off, one should spare them. Some of the old students view this as their final chance. They might end up somewhat heavy-handed. But try to be less heavy-handed yourself if possible."
Su Yu nodded and flashed his honest smile, "I will! Apart from those who are intentionally trying to harm me, I will be lenient toward the others. I understand that everyone needs to strive hard for their own opportunities. If I'm an old man who is still stuck below the Skysoar Realm, I would be even more anxious than them. It is understandable that they won't let go of this chance."
"Good. You can leave now."
Old Nie waved his hand, sending Su Yu off. As long as Su Yu understood what he said, everything would be fine.
He was worried that Su Yu would be needlessly cruel and harsh during the tournament and ended up crippling some old students. Sure, those people weren't strong and were generally viewed as trash, but being too cruel wouldn't be good for Su Yu's reputation.
As for why Old Nie was confident Su Yu was stronger than those old students...he didn't even want to think about it anymore.
A Mental Tempering Stage and Great Strength student was actually capable of giving him the illusion of facing a primordial beast after exiting seclusion. Would someone like that be weak?
The kid had spent only a few days to cultivate the Sky Sundering Saber, a cultivation method requiring 144 acupoints. That was simply scary.
He could only hope that the single character faction would stop doing stupid things. They better let the tournament proceed normally instead of rigging the matches and sending some people after Su Yu. It was very likely that they would be the ones to suffer.