Counterattack

Watching Gao Teng run toward the Administration Building, Zhao Dapeng felt a twinge of panic.

He had only intended to goad Gao Teng into talking back so he could seize the opportunity to add another fifty laps to his punishment, ensuring he would miss the upcoming Martial Arts Research Course.

He never expected this kid to act like a madman, hell-bent on blowing things out of proportion.

Gao Teng had always been incredibly timid; how did he suddenly grow such guts?

"Gao Teng, wait! Let's talk this over properly."

Zhao Dapeng was forced to soften his stance, chasing after him while offering apologies.

"It's the teacher's fault. I shouldn't have been giving you a hard time on purpose. I promise I won't treat you differently from now on."

"Can you just stop and listen to me for a second? I was actually just joking with you earlier."

However, Gao Teng remained deaf to his pleas, sprinting all the way to the Principal's Office on the second floor.

Just as he was about to barge in, Zhao Dapeng grabbed him by the wrist.

"Gao Teng!"

Zhao Dapeng instinctively wanted to threaten him, but the words died in his throat, replaced by a forced smile.

"Don't go reporting me to the principal. Isn't it enough that I've admitted I was wrong?

I shouldn't have punished you with running today. I'll compensate you with a Meridian Opening Pill later."

Hearing this, Gao Teng's expression didn't change in the slightest.

Zhao Dapeng might be backing down now, but who knew what kind of tricks he would pull later?

He couldn't stay in Class Eight anymore; he had to use this opportunity to transfer to another class.

"Teacher Zhao, why are you blocking my door?"

Just as the two were tugging at each other, a middle-aged man walked over with a look of confusion.

He looked to be in his fifties, sporting a sharp, crew-cut hairstyle and a square, dignified face. It was Liang Guofu, the principal of Fifth Middle School.

"Principal."

Zhao Dapeng wore a fawning smile: "We're fine, we were just about to..."

"Principal, I want to report Teacher Zhao.

He recently took on a construction project outside of school, and he's trying to force me to drop out so I can work as free labor on his site."

Zhao Dapeng hurriedly interrupted: "Principal, that's not how it is, I..."

Gao Teng cut him off: "I didn't want to drop out, so Teacher Zhao started giving me a hard time on purpose.

Not only did he nitpick and punish me with running, delaying my cultivation, but he also planned some two-person combat training for this afternoon, where the winning pair gets a 20% discount on medicine.

He deliberately paired me with Zhou Xing, the top student in the class, just to watch us clash and use Zhou Xing's hands to take revenge on me."

Zhao Dapeng hurriedly explained: "That's not it! I paired him with Zhou Xing to ensure fairness and impartiality, so the other students would accept their defeat.

After all, Zhou Xing's strength is too high; if I paired him with another strong student, the others wouldn't stand a chance."

Gao Teng said: "Right after class, Zhou Xing specifically came to find me and said that if I caused him to lose, he'd make me pay for all his lost money, or else he'd make me regret it. You still call that fair?"

"Also, you twisted the truth. Even though Zhou Xing clearly hit me on purpose, you insisted that I was the one who attacked him.

You framed me on purpose because you wanted to keep punishing me and stop me from attending the Martial Arts Research Course."

Zhao Dapeng: "I..."

Gao Teng's mouth kept firing: "And another thing, you talk a big game about finding us a new, cheaper pharmaceutical factory.

But can the medicine produced by that factory actually be any good?

To lower the side effects, they're cramming in painkillers, anti-emetics, anti-nausea meds, and sedatives like their lives depend on it.

You're so obsessed with your kickbacks that you don't even care about the students' lives!"

Zhao Dapeng quickly said: "Principal, the factory I introduced to the students has all the proper qualifications and paperwork; I wouldn't dare mess around.

I just wanted the students to be able to buy cheaper medicine and save some money. I did it for their own good!"

Liang Guofu frowned deeply, staring at Zhao Dapeng without saying a word.

Zhao Dapeng immediately shut his mouth, then lowered his head, looking utterly ashamed as he said: "Principal, I realize I was wrong. I am willing to apologize to Gao Teng and promise that I will never treat him differently again."

With that, he bowed deeply to Gao Teng and offered a very sincere apology.

Gao Teng didn't press the issue; he knew Zhao Dapeng would get a reprimand at most, and firing him was impossible.

Therefore, he accepted the apology and presented his request to Liang Guofu.

"Principal, I want to transfer to Class Five."

"Since I reported Teacher Zhao today, I definitely can't stay in Class Eight anymore.

I hope to have a good learning environment before the college entrance exam, and I want to use these last two months to improve my grades."

Upon hearing this, Liang Guofu's expression turned strange.

He could clearly perceive the strength of Gao Teng's aura, and at his current level, he wouldn't even be able to get into a vocational college.

Improve his grades in the final two months?

Is he dreaming?

However, to avoid trouble like today's, he decided to agree to Gao Teng's request.

He called Chen Yan, the homeroom teacher of Class Five, and after briefly explaining the situation, he transferred Gao Teng over.

"That's it."

Liang Guofu hung up the phone and said to Gao Teng, "Go report to Class Five; I've already spoken with Teacher Chen."

"Thank you, Principal."

Gao Teng thanked him first, then turned his gaze toward Zhao Dapeng: "Teacher Zhao, I don't need to participate in this afternoon's combat training, right?"

"No need, no need."

Zhao Dapeng smiled and said, "Besides, I'll give you that 20% discount directly. I really was in the wrong today, so please don't hold it against me."

Gao Teng shook his head: "Zhou Xing needs this discount more than I do. With cheaper medicine, he might be able to make a push for a key university, so I'm transferring it to him."

Zhao Dapeng was somewhat surprised, but he immediately understood Gao Teng's intention.

Gao Teng didn't want to stir up any more trouble; if Zhou Xing knew he had received this discount, he would definitely come looking for trouble.

This kid is very smart; he knows that some advantages shouldn't be taken.

"Teacher Zhao, I've transferred the discount to Zhou Xing. You won't tell him that this discount was originally mine, right?"

Zhao Dapeng became anxious: "No! Of course not! Why would I intentionally stir up trouble? What kind of person do you take me for?"

"That's fine, otherwise I'd have to go find the Principal to settle the matter again. Principal, I've caused you trouble today; I'm heading to Class Five to report."

Gao Teng bowed and quickly left the Administration Building.

After he left, Liang Guofu's face darkened as he stared at Zhao Dapeng.

Zhao Dapeng felt completely uncomfortable and gave an awkward laugh: "Pr... Principal."

"Zhao Dapeng, you're a veteran teacher who has worked for many years, yet you can't even manage a single student?"

Zhao Dapeng looked embarrassed: "Principal, this kid didn't have the guts to do this before; I don't know what got into him today."

"Enough, isn't it because you went too far? In the future, be a bit smarter in your teaching and don't make things too difficult for the students. There cannot be a next time for today's incident."

"I promise, I promise."

As he spoke, Zhao Dapeng reached out to open the door to the Principal's Office and ushered Liang Guofu inside.