stonecrandall Chapter 25: Punishment
Chapter 25: Punishment
Outside the dormitory, heavy footsteps approached from afar.
"Bang!"
The dormitory door was flung open, and a middle-aged man in a dark blue college uniform with a serious expression stood in the doorway. His gaze swept over the messy floor and the few still-shaken students, finally settling on Yu Chen.
This person is none other than Long Hengxu, the Dean of Studies of the Intermediate Department of Donghai Academy.
"Very good, very good, you guys are very promising!"
Long Hengxu's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a suppressed anger, making the ears of the teenagers present ring.
"Dare to fight in the dorm on the very first day of school? And even used your martial spirit? Do you think the rules of Donghai Academy are just for show?!"
His gaze was fixed on Yu Chen, his eyes filled with scrutiny and pressure: "Come with me! To the Academic Affairs Office!"
Yu Chen remained calm, seemingly oblivious to the pressure. He simply patted Tang Wulin's shoulder, signaling him to follow. Xie Xie and Zhou Changxi lowered their heads, not daring to speak, and obediently followed behind.
A few minutes later, at the Academic Affairs Office.
Long Hengxu sat imposingly in the main seat, scrutinizing the four teenagers standing before him with a stern gaze.
"Tell me, what happened?"
His gaze first fell on Zhou Changxi, the most muscular of the three: "Zhou Changxi, I've seen your file. You possess the Hercules Ape Martial Soul. I originally planned to assign you to Class Three for intensive training. Now, explain to me why you attacked the new classmate?"
Zhou Changxi's forehead was covered in cold sweat.
Faced with Long Hengxu's questioning, he subconsciously turned around and glanced at Yu Chen behind him.
That one glance sent a shiver down his spine.
In the dormitory, he only felt that Yu Chen was an unshakable iceberg; now, in the academic affairs office, under the pressure of Long Hengxu's aura, he remembered Yu Chen's inhuman strength and terrifying pressure just now.
"I...I..."
Zhou Changxi stammered, not daring to say something like, "I wanted to bully them but ended up getting beaten up."
"What? Have you lost your tongue?" Long Hengxu slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "Zhou Changxi, you've bullied the weak and disrupted the unity of the academy. According to school rules, I can expel you directly!"
"No, Director!" Zhou Changxi shuddered in fright, finally breaking down. "It's...it's my fault! I shouldn't have bullied people!"
"Hmm." Long Hengxu remained noncommittal, then turned to Xie Xie: "What about you? What are your thoughts?"
Xie Xie was taken aback by the question, then his arrogance returned somewhat: "Me? I didn't do anything, I just looked. Is that wrong?"
"Watching the excitement and not caring about the consequences is also part of the character assessment."
Long Hengxu said calmly, "At Donghai Academy, unless there's real danger involved, the first choice for capable individuals with knowledge of the situation to report to the teacher is to avoid unnecessary disputes between classmates. You chose the least beneficial option—bystander. That's my assessment of you. Any objections?"
Xie Xie was momentarily speechless. He wanted to retort, but then he felt that what the other person said seemed to make some sense, so he could only hold his breath and turn his head to the side.
Long Hengxu then turned his gaze to Yu Chen.
"Yu Chen, right?" He flipped through the simple documents he had just pulled up.
"Nine years old, level 18 offensive-type Soul Master. Not bad. However, you went a bit too far in the conflict; this exceeded the standard for retaliation."
Yu Chen nodded slightly in response. He didn't want to say more; too much talk would only lead to mistakes.
Long Hengxu paused for a moment, seemingly considering his words.
"Alright, considering this is your first offense, I'll give you a choice."
"Two options."
Long Hengxu's gaze swept over Yu Chen and Zhou Changxi.
"Option 1: According to school rules, anyone who participates in a private fight will receive a demerit and will have to repent at the freshman assembly. In addition, you will also be punished for damaging public property—"
He pointed to the dent on the wall near the entrance of Yu Chensu's dormitory on the soul guidance screen.
"Compensation will be paid at cost, estimated at around 150,000 Federal Dollars, which you two will split equally."
Upon hearing "150,000 Federal Credits" and "split equally," Yu Chen's usually calm expression furrowed almost imperceptibly.
He didn't speak, but Tang Wulin's heart tightened—he knew that Yu Chen had spent almost all his savings after buying him the soul spirit.
Long Hengxu seemed oblivious to this small detail and continued:
"Option Two: This matter will be erased from the official records. All four of you, including Xie Xie who stood by and did not report it, will be transferred to Class 5 of the freshmen class."
Upon hearing this, Xie Xie was the first to exclaim:
"Why?! Class 5? Isn't that the worst..."
"Quiet!" Long Hengxu's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.
"If you don't want to go to Class 5, choose the first option. But don't worry, going to Class 5 means we're abandoning you. You should have heard about Donghai Academy's promotion tournament system. This is the only way for you to earn your way back through your own strength."
He gave Yu Chen a special look: "This is also an opportunity for capable students who have caused trouble to 'make amends.' Use future achievements to erase today's record. Of course, the choice is yours."
Zhou Changxi shouted almost immediately, "I choose number two! I choose to go to class five!" His family was of modest means, and 75,000 federal dollars was a huge sum of money, not to mention the stigma of having been demerited.
Xie Xie's expression changed. He was proud and arrogant, so he naturally did not want to go to the worst class, but he was even more unwilling to be given a demerit and to repent in front of all the new students in the school!
That would be too embarrassing. After a moment's hesitation, he squeezed out through gritted teeth, "...I'll choose option two too."
All eyes were on Yu Chen.
Yu Chen remained silent for a few seconds. Class 5, Class 1... to him, there really wasn't much difference.
Wu Changkong is in Class 5? That might actually save him trouble. Most importantly, he doesn't want to incur debt and a formal disciplinary record for such a pointless conflict.
Long Hengxu nodded: "Then, it's settled. That's enough for today. I don't want to hear anything more. Your class information will be updated in the system. Report to Class 5's classroom on time tomorrow. Now, you can go back."
Throughout the entire process, Long Hengxu did not mention Tang Wulin, because Tang Wulin was originally going to be assigned to Class 5, and with his strength at that time, there was nothing he could do.
The atmosphere in the hallway was somewhat tense as I left the office.
Zhou Changxi walked away quickly with her head down, seemingly too ashamed to stay any longer.
Xie Xie, seething with anger, suddenly turned around and glared at Yu Chen: "Hey! It's all because of you! Now I have to go to that lousy Class 5 too!"
Yu Chen stopped and turned to look at him, her eyes showing no emotion: "Yes, I'm really sorry."
"you!"
Although it was meant to be an apology, Xie Xie couldn't help but feel that it was sarcastic remarks.
"You! Do you dare come with me to the Soul Arena! Let's have a fair fight!"
Yu Chen looked at him quietly, and that gaze reminded Xie Xie of the inexplicable sense of oppression he felt at the train station and in the dormitory, causing his imposing manner to weaken by three points.
"I'm not interested." Yu Chen withdrew his gaze, his tone indifferent.
"If you want to prove something..." He glanced at Tang Wulin beside him.
"Wu Lin's soul power is lower than yours, but his combat ability and potential are quite good. You can try it out with him first."
Upon hearing this, Tang Wulin immediately straightened his back, standing in front of Yu Chen, and glared back at Xie Xie without showing any weakness: "That's right! Xie Xie, if you want to challenge Brother Chen, you'll have to beat me first!"
Xie Xie looked at the stubborn Tang Wulin, then at Yu Chen who didn't take him seriously at all, and a surge of anger mixed with humiliation rose to his head. He couldn't beat Yu Chen, but he couldn't even handle a kid whose soul power was several levels lower than his?
"Alright! Tang Wulin, right? I've got it!" Xie Xie pointed at Tang Wulin. "Right now, in the Soul Arena, anyone who doesn't come is a coward!"
"Let's go!" Tang Wulin said without hesitation.