Double Standards

The Law Enforcement Hall!

The Law Enforcers.

And the Grand Law Enforcer, who oversaw punishments and passed judgment throughout Southern State. He could execute first and report afterward. Within the Academy, his authority was second only to the Academy Head's!

In fact, in some ways, the people of the Academy feared the Grand Law Enforcer far more than they feared the Academy Head!

He carried Killing Intent wherever he went, killed without blinking, and had always been ruthless. He was the notorious Living Yama.

As the Grand Law Enforcer arrived, everyone's faces changed. They retreated together, silent as cicadas in winter.

The battle overhead also began to subside. A figure burst out of the Sword Light above the Firmament.

His hair hung loose, blood stained his blue robes, and one of his shoes had been hacked apart.

He looked utterly wretched.

The Super Mentor, Chen Qingyun!

"Grand Law Enforcer, you're finally here... Nan Qingyue and her disciple have run completely wild..."

"Shut up!" Nan Qingyue stood in her Black Skirt, Black Sword in hand, and snapped coldly, "I'm the one beating you. What does my Li'er have to do with it?"

Chen Qingyun ground his teeth. "Lu Li had no respect for the law! He came to my grounds and killed people. It's outrageous."

Nan Qingyue said, "Your disciple bullied others because he had power behind him. He deserved to die."

Chen Qingyun said, "Even so, the Academy has its own laws and its own Grand Law Enforcer. It isn't your place to commit murder!"

Smack—

Before his words had even faded, Nan Qingyue appeared before him and swung. The slap sent Chen Qingyun flying.

Blood sprayed, along with two broken teeth.

"Keep your mouth shut!" Nan Qingyue snapped.

Below, Wu Xiaokai muttered, "So when she can't win an argument, she just hits him?"

Ye Qiu replied, "What did you expect?"

But this was serious trouble. Even the Grand Law Enforcer had been alerted. There was no way it would end quietly.

Besides, Nanzhou Academy was known as Southern State First Academy and had always presented itself as fair and strict.

What Nan Qingyue and Lu Li had done had crossed the line by a wide margin. They were bound to face severe punishment!

At the very least, they might be expelled!

Ye Qiu glanced at Lu Li. The young man showed no expression and walked straight down the mountain.

After a moment's thought, Ye Qiu followed with Wu Xiaokai.

Nan Qingyue landed beside Lu Li and said, "If you're still angry, I'll keep beating him tomorrow."

"Or I could finish him off in the middle of the night..."

Lu Li thought for a moment, then nodded. "Sounds good to me!"

Chen Qingyun: "..."

Could you two at least keep your voices down?!

Lu Li stepped forward to face the Grand Law Enforcer, who looked back at him sternly.

Lu Li said openly, "I killed them. I know I've seriously violated the Academy Laws. I ask to leave the Academy!"

Ye Qiu's eyes flickered.

Leaving the Academy might be the lightest punishment he could get!

This was too big!

Wu Xiaokai sighed as well. What had happened earlier had felt great, but it had crossed the Academy's bottom line. If there was no punishment, how could the Academy Laws of Nanzhou Academy carry any weight?

If everyone did the same from now on, how could the Academy manage anyone?

"Brother Ye, your sweetheart really loves you," he whispered. Lu Li had paid an enormous price!

Leaving the Academy meant losing many opportunities and resources.

There was nowhere better in Southern State.

Ye Qiu shot him a glare.

Yet as those thoughts ran through their minds, the stern Grand Law Enforcer's eyes flickered.

Some of the severity left his face. "We can discuss this matter further... Still, you did go a bit too far. You'll have to pay some price."

Ye Qiu and Wu Xiaokai both looked up, startled.

But Lu Li insisted, "No. I know my crimes are heinous. I'll leave the Academy."

The Grand Law Enforcer's expression shifted. "Well, there may be a reason behind this. Why don't you tell me why you killed them?"

Lu Li said, "I wanted to. I didn't like them."

The Grand Law Enforcer: "..."

He looked at Lu Li. All his sternness had vanished. If anything, he seemed almost pleading.

It was as though he wanted Lu Li to give him a way out and let him save a little face.

After all, so many people were watching.

The Grand Law Enforcer had to at least put on a show.

After a long pause, he said, "How about this... You pay them some compensation, and we can—"

"I'll leave the Academy!"

"I'll pay it for you?" the Grand Law Enforcer offered.

"I'll leave the Academy!"

The Grand Law Enforcer took a deep breath. "I know they angered you and made you unhappy. It was their fault. You had your reasons for killing them. Well, you must be tired after all that killing. Why don't you go back and get some rest?"

Lu Li nodded. "All right."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Ye Qiu: "???"

Wu Xiaokai: "???"

But after a few steps, Lu Li stopped and looked straight at the Grand Law Enforcer.

"I'll handle it!" the Grand Law Enforcer said at once.

Lu Li said, "This isn't over. I haven't let out all my anger yet. There'll be more in the next couple of days!"

The Grand Law Enforcer wiped away a bead of sweat. "When you make your move, could you try to leave me a little dignity?"

Ye Qiu: "???"

Wu Xiaokai: "???"

They looked at each other, completely dumbfounded.

Wait.

What was going on?

Someone explain this!

He was the Grand Law Enforcer!

Instead of enforcing the law fairly, he actually... actually...

"I'm hungry. Let's go home and make dinner... What are you standing around for?" Nan Qingyue walked over to Ye Qiu and beckoned.

Ye Qiu and Wu Xiaokai exchanged another look, then stole a glance at the Grand Law Enforcer. The old man looked terribly embarrassed.

Ye Qiu glanced at Chen Qingyun, who looked ready to explode with rage.

He looked around. The disciples and elders were just as dumbfounded as they were!

Then he and Wu Xiaokai followed Nan Qingyue and Lu Li like walking corpses.

Behind them, as the group left, Chen Qingyun roared, "Grand Law Enforcer, I refuse to accept this!"

The Grand Law Enforcer glanced at him. "Then go pick a fight with her."

Chen Qingyun: "..."

His face flushed crimson. He was a Super Mentor, a man of enormous standing in Southern State and great prestige within the Academy!

When had he ever suffered such humiliation?

Even if Nan Qingyue was powerful, even if Lu Li was extraordinary, he could not accept this outcome!

He drew a deep breath and was about to speak when the Grand Law Enforcer said, "There are things someone at your level can't come into contact with. So if you don't like it, swallow your complaints!"

Chen Qingyun's eyes widened. He was about to argue his case when the Grand Law Enforcer said coldly, "Do you want to leave the Academy too?"

Chen Qingyun fell silent at once.

The Grand Law Enforcer snorted and turned to survey the crowd. In an instant, immense pressure descended over everyone.

He declared in a stern voice, "The Academy Laws are fair and strict. Anyone who dares violate them will be executed without mercy!"

But after what had just happened, his words sounded bitterly ironic and absurd.

Fair and strict?

Sir, do you believe that yourself?

But who dared say anything?

Hadn't they seen it? Even Chen Qingyun, a Super Mentor and the greatest victim in all this, had nearly been told to leave the Academy just for protesting!

The Grand Law Enforcer was playing favorites, shielding Lu Li, applying a double standard, and giving him a free pass.

If anyone didn't like it, they could leave right now!