Do Not Causing Trouble Make One Mediocre? Harmful Culture Must Be Eliminated!

It was late at night, yet the courtyard of Shrek Academy was still lit.

After returning from the library, Ma Hongjun did not take his medicinal bath as usual. Instead, he headed straight for Flender's office.

"Teacher, there's something I want to say."

Flender had been sorting through the account books. Hearing this, he looked up, saw the serious expression on Ma Hongjun's face, and set down his pen.

"Speak."

"The school rules."

Flender raised an eyebrow slightly. "What about the school rules?"

"Some of them need to be changed." Ma Hongjun took a deep breath. "Especially that one—'A Soul Master who does not cause trouble is mediocre.'"

Flender frowned.

Zhao Wuji happened to walk in through the door at that moment. Hearing those words, he halted.

"This school rule," Ma Hongjun said quietly, though every word was clear, "will destroy the academy sooner or later if we keep it."

The office fell silent for a moment.

Flender did not immediately state his position. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and scrutinized Ma Hongjun.

"Go on."

Ma Hongjun knew he needed sufficient reasons to convince these stubborn teachers. He took a deep breath and organized his thoughts.

"Teacher, I understand the original intention behind this rule—to encourage students to have spirit, to dare to act, and not fear trouble. But the academy's circumstances are different now. There will be more and more students in the future, and the hidden dangers of this rule will only grow."

Zhao Wuji frowned from the side, apparently unconvinced.

Ma Hongjun knew theory alone would not be enough. He needed an example. After thinking for a moment, he gave one so absurd that even he found it ridiculous.

"Hypothetically. I mean, purely hypothetically. In the future, the academy recruits a student with a powerful Martial Soul, exceptional talent, Innate Full Soul Power, and strength greater than mine. But there's something wrong with his head, and he interprets 'A Soul Master who does not cause trouble is mediocre' literally—he goes looking for trouble and provokes everyone he sees."

"One day, he goes to Suotuo City for a meal. Because he has to wait too long for a bowl of noodles, he smashes up the noodle shop. The owner calls the authorities, and the city guards arrive. He refuses to submit and beats up the city guards."

"There are Soul Masters among the city guards, and he injures several of them. So Spirit Hall intervenes and discovers that he is a student of Shrek Academy. Spirit Hall comes to us, Teacher. How would you handle it?"

Flender's frown deepened.

"And that's only the beginning." Ma Hongjun did not stop. "Who compensates the noodle shop owner for his losses? Who pays the city guards' medical expenses? How do we explain this to Spirit Hall? If the student remains stubborn and refuses to admit his mistake, and the matter blows up, will the Heaven Dou Empire authorities develop a negative opinion of the academy? When future students graduate and want to join the imperial army or government departments, will they be blocked because of this record?"

"And that's just one incident. What if this student refuses to change despite repeated warnings? What if there's more than one like him? Once the academy has more people, if several such disciples emerge every year and make a pile of enemies, the teachers will be too busy cleaning up after them outside."

Ma Hongjun paused, and his voice lowered.

"Teacher, let me give another example. What if the person this student provokes is not an ordinary person or a city guard, but the grandson of a Soul Douluo?"

The air in the office abruptly turned cold.

"What does a Soul Douluo represent? Eight rings, above level eighty, someone who can become a mid- to high-ranking figure in Spirit Hall. If he learns that his grandson was beaten, what will he do? He will come to demand an explanation."

"Our academy's strongest fighters are you and Teacher Zhao, two seven-ring Soul Saints. If a Soul Douluo comes, can the two of you defeat him together? Not necessarily."

"What if it's a Title Douluo?"

Ma Hongjun's voice was not loud, but every word drove into the ears of everyone present like a nail.

"There are fewer than twenty Title Douluos on the entire continent. Every one of them stands at the peak of the pyramid. If one of our students provokes the direct relative of a Title Douluo, and that Title Douluo comes here in fury—Teacher, are we supposed to be wiped out?"

Zhao Wuji clenched his fists.

Li Yusong's knuckles turned white around his Dragon Pattern Staff.

Behind Lu Qibin's lenses, his gaze was grave.

Shao Xin's hand holding his teacup trembled slightly.

Flender's face turned livid.

He was not angry. It was because he knew every word Ma Hongjun had said was reality.

"Even if it's not a Soul Douluo or a Title Douluo, what if it's only a Soul Emperor? If he comes knocking, can you beat him back every time? Even if you do, he'll hold a grudge and later ambush our students or trip them up outside. After they graduate and enter society, they may find themselves targeted everywhere because of the trouble they caused at school. Who will take responsibility then?"

"If they make too many enemies, once they graduate and leave, and those enemies cannot find them, will they come to the academy for revenge? The academy is right here. It cannot run away. When a crowd of enemies blocks the gates, how are we supposed to keep running the academy? Will students still dare to come?"

Ma Hongjun looked at Flender, his gaze frank.

"Teacher, we have few students right now, only Little Oscar and me. If something happens, you, Teacher Zhao, and Teacher Li can all look after us. But what about later? Shrek will not always have only two students. More people means more trouble. If every student goes around making trouble under the banner of 'A Soul Master who does not cause trouble is mediocre,' can you protect all of them? Can the academy still survive?"

Flender remained silent for a long time.

He had established that school rule in his youth. Back then, he had nothing, so he acted recklessly without fearing trouble or trouble coming to him. But now, Shrek no longer belonged to him alone. It had students, teachers, and academy walls and school buildings under construction.

These were all things he could not afford to lose.

After standing nearby for a long while, Zhao Wuji finally forced out a sentence. "So what you mean is that students should all become turtles hiding in their shells?"

"Not turtles hiding in their shells." Ma Hongjun shook his head. "Not causing trouble does not mean being afraid of it. If someone bullies you, of course you fight back. But you cannot go looking for trouble for no reason. Smashing someone's shop because you waited too long for a bowl of noodles is bullying the weak, not having spirit. Bully someone young and have their elders come after you, provoke someone you cannot afford to provoke, and end up getting everyone killed—that is even less about having spirit."

Zhao Wuji was taken aback. After considering it carefully, he felt that it did seem to make sense.

"Hongjun is right." Shao Xin's voice came from outside the door.

He walked in carrying a pot of tea and poured a cup for everyone.

"I've worked in the cafeteria for so many years and seen all kinds of people. Some Soul Masters have high cultivation but violent tempers, always resorting to violence at the slightest provocation. On the surface, no one dares offend them, but behind their backs, countless people hate them enough to grind their teeth. When the day comes that they fall on hard times, everyone will push them down."

Shao Xin set down the teapot and sighed.

"When we teach students, we must not only teach them how to cultivate, but also how to conduct themselves. No matter how high their cultivation is, if their character is poor, they will not go far. If they provoke someone they should not provoke, they may lose their lives."