Running? Zhou Yi's Panic

Xue Nianbing did not linger long. He nodded with a smile. "Please guide me."

After choosing the class monitor, Mu Jin moved on to today's main topic. "Our academy's teaching methods are vastly different from those of other academies."

"The first lesson of the semester... running."

Her words fell.

Everyone froze, all suspecting they had misheard.

What was that? Running?

The kind of running they were thinking of?

Mu Jin ignored their bewildered expressions and loudly announced, "All students, assemble at Shrek Plaza!"

The moment she said this,

no matter how confused they were, everyone rose and left the classroom.

When they arrived at Shrek Plaza, they discovered that quite a few freshmen from other classes were there as well, and some were already running elsewhere.

Only Class One and Class Nine were gathered in this part of the plaza.

"Huh, they're running too."

"Hehe, I heard Class One's homeroom teacher is Zhou Yi, that devil of a Teacher."

"They're so unlucky, running into Zhou Yi."

"I heard some senior students mention before that Zhou Yi has expelled more students than any other Teacher."

"..."

The Class Nine students murmured quietly among themselves.

Mu Jin stepped before them at this moment and said, "Start running. Run as much as you can. There is only one requirement: you must run until your body is utterly exhausted and can no longer hold on."

"Yes."

The Class Nine students answered and began joining the laps around the plaza.

"Xue Nianbing, come here."

Mu Jin beckoned to him.

Xue Nianbing left the group and came before Mu Jin, his expression faintly puzzled. "Teacher, you called for me because...?"

"You don't need to run."

Mu Jin shook her head. "Reaching Level 36 Soul Elder at your age is enough to show how diligent you are in cultivation. Even without anyone urging you on, you would still cultivate hard."

"So, stay here and record how many laps your classmates complete before they collapse from exhaustion."

"Teacher needs to formulate an appropriate cultivation method tailored to each person's physical condition, rather than simply squeezing them dry."

"Alright."

Xue Nianbing nodded.

Though both were making students run, Mu Jin's approach was vastly different from Zhou Yi's.

Mu Jin wanted to determine her students' limits so she could better prescribe the right remedy.

As for Zhou Yi, she simply squeezed every last bit of potential from her students time and time again, regardless of whether they were strong or weak—one harsh dose for all.

"Hm? It's you!"

Just as Xue Nianbing counted laps, an angry voice sounded from not far away.

Zhou Yi strode over with a stern expression. Combined with her heavily wrinkled face, she did not look particularly friendly.

That was indeed the case. Among all the Teachers, Zhou Yi was the least popular with the students.

Seeing Zhou Yi approach so aggressively, Mu Jin immediately stepped in front of Xue Nianbing. "Teacher Zhou, may I ask what this is about?"

"What is it about?"

Zhou Yi gave a cold laugh, her eyes fixed on Xue Nianbing. "So he's your student. Perfect. Let him tell you himself what he did."

"Hm?"

Mu Jin frowned, somewhat confused.

She turned to Xue Nianbing and asked, "Xue Nianbing, do you know Teacher Zhou?"

"No. We have nothing to do with each other."

Xue Nianbing shook his head, his voice calm.

Before Mu Jin could react, Zhou Yi flew into a rage. "You still dare say you don't know me? You and another student ignored the academy rules and took food out of the cafeteria. Not only did I catch you, you even slipped away!"

"According to academy rules, you should receive a demerit."

Zhou Yi spoke of academy rules at every turn, completely forgetting how many rules she herself had broken through all her expulsions since becoming a homeroom teacher.

Mu Jin had intended to settle the matter for Xue Nianbing.

But Xue Nianbing had already spoken. "Teacher Zhou, empty words prove nothing. Do you have evidence?"

"My eyes are the evidence!"

"Oh, then my mouth is the truth."

"Disrespectful to your elders and insubordinate to your superiors. A student like you should be expelled from the academy!"

"Are you... sure?"

The corner of Xue Nianbing's lips curled up as he smiled faintly. "I can—oh, no, the academy can give you one chance to reconsider your wording."

He did not deny that he had indeed broken the rules first.

But Zhou Yi's insistence on clinging to such a trivial rule was truly making trouble for no reason.

Even if they took ten thousand steps back, the academy had already anticipated conduct like his.

They had already made provisions for it, yet she still wanted to cause trouble?

Then she could not blame him.

Xue Nianbing had nothing to fear. He might not necessarily need Shrek Academy, but certain people in Shrek Academy very much needed him.

With that need to rely on, Xue Nianbing could practically swagger through the academy.

"Hmph, do you really think the academy would not dare expel you just because you're from a great clan?"

"You think far too highly of yourself!"

Zhou Yi's voice turned cold.

Since becoming a Teacher, she had expelled an unknown number of students.

Among them were plenty of noble-born children.

But had she ever been afraid?

Shrek Academy gave her ample confidence.

She refused to believe that Shrek Academy would abandon her, an outstanding "gold-medal Teacher," for the sake of one mere student.

"What a coincidence. You'll regret this very soon."

"What, you dare threaten a Teacher?"

"This isn't a threat. It's a notification."

"I'd like to see just how you—" Zhou Yi crossed her arms, so angry that she laughed.

But before she could finish, an enraged voice reached her ears. "Zhou Yi, apologize to Xue Nianbing immediately!"

"Dean... Dean Yan?"

Zhou Yi was instantly dumbfounded.

Wasn't that familiar voice the dean of the Martial Soul Department?

How could it be? The dean had been nearby all along?

"For the last time, apologize to Xue Nianbing immediately. Otherwise, you can forget about remaining a Teacher, and Fan Yu will be stripped of his position as well!" Hidden in the shadows, Yan Shaozhe's face was terrifyingly grim.

Du Wilun stood obediently beside him, not daring to interject a single word.

At Yan Shaozhe's command, he had been keeping an eye on Xue Nianbing. Yet school had only just begun, and Xue Nianbing had already clashed with that lunatic Zhou Yi.

Du Wilun knew Zhou Yi's temperament well, so he immediately reported the matter to Yan Shaozhe.

As a result, when Yan Shaozhe arrived, he heard Zhou Yi intending to expel Xue Nianbing. That frightened Du Wilun badly.

As expected, Yan Shaozhe instantly flew into a rage. He practically wanted to kill Zhou Yi.

How could Du Wilun have known that Xue Nianbing was crucial to Ma Xiaotao and was also a prospective disciple favored by Mu En?

How could someone so vitally important possibly be compared to a minor figure like Zhou Yi?

Zhou Yi had better pray that Xue Nianbing did not truly intend to leave Shrek Academy. Otherwise, Fan Yu would suffer a terrible disaster alongside her.

Beside the plaza, Zhou Yi panicked the moment she heard Yan Shaozhe's second warning.

Zhou Yi felt as if a chill had enveloped her body, as though saying even one wrong word would bring something terrifying upon her.

Just what background did this Xue Nianbing have, for Yan Shaozhe to pay such a huge price to make her apologize to him?

A Teacher apologizing to a student?

If word got out, where would she put her face?

No, it would definitely get out, because that Arch-rival Mu Jin was here too.

But if she did not apologize, both she and Fan Yu would suffer along with it...