Zhou Yi Kowtows and Apologizes (Seeking Follow-ups and Encouragement for Updates)

"And if I... refuse?"

The slight softening on Du Weilun's face vanished in an instant. His gaze turned sharp, narrowing slightly as he re-evaluated the astonishingly stubborn youth before him.

Zhou Yi was, after all, a registered official teacher at Shrek Academy, and she held a close relationship with Fan Yu, a core figure in the Soul Guidance Department. If Su Chen insisted on escalating the matter and forcing Zhou Yi's expulsion, it would not only be a slap to Zhou Yi's face but also a slap to the management of Shrek Academy—a direct challenge to the academy's rules and authority.

To maintain the academy's stability and reputation, one sometimes had to resort to extraordinary measures, even if it meant... exerting pressure on a genius with peerless talent.

Thinking this, the deep, sea-like soul power pressure belonging to a Soul Douluo began to permeate from Du Weilun. Although he did not directly suppress Su Chen, it caused the atmosphere of the entire playground to become suddenly heavy and suffocating.

His voice also turned cold, carrying a clear sense of warning and intimidation:

"Student Su Chen, to possess such achievements at your age, you must be a smart person who understands how to judge the situation."

He took a half-step forward, his gaze like lightning: "If you insist on making things difficult for the academy and hold onto those impossible conditions... then I, as the Outer Court Dean, will have no choice but to personally step in and 'learn' exactly what is so special about your legendary god-tier martial soul—the Six-Winged Angel."

He paused, his tone softening, but the meaning behind his words became even clearer: "As a holy land for soul masters, Shrek Academy has its own rules and bottom line. It will never allow anyone to act recklessly and disrupt the order and stability of the academy. I believe you understand the stakes involved."

A personal threat from a Soul Douluo!

The surrounding students were instantly struck dumb, not daring to even breathe loudly. Teacher Mu Jin also wore an anxious expression, wanting to speak up to dissuade them, yet she was intimidated by Du Weilun's status and strength.

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao gripped Su Chen's sleeves tightly, their eyes filled with worry, terrified that he might act on impulse and truly clash with a Soul Douluo-level Dean.

Facing this naked show of force and the "greater good" persuasion, Su Chen suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, even carrying a trace of mockery, as if he had seen through all of Du Weilun's calculations and helplessness.

He nodded, and amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, he actually said:

"Fine."

Du Weilun felt a sense of relief, thinking that Su Chen had finally backed down.

But Su Chen's next words made his just-relaxed mood tighten once more.

"Dean Du, out of respect for you and the ten-thousand-year heritage of Shrek Academy, I can take a step back," Su Chen said slowly. "I can temporarily set aside the conditions of expelling Zhou Yi and the three Soul Ascension Pills."

Du Weilun was just about to say "That's more like it," when Su Chen changed his tone, his voice becoming resolute and leaving no room for negotiation:

"However—the wager must be fulfilled!"

Su Chen's gaze was like a cold arrow, piercing toward the pale-faced Zhou Yi:

"Zhou Yi must, right now, in front of everyone, apologize by kowtowing to Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and all the students who were frightened and affected by her indiscriminate attack and her insults calling all students 'trash'!"

"This is my bottom line! It is non-negotiable!"

"Hiss—!"

The entire field erupted in a collective gasp!

A twelve-year-old, level 28 Soul Grand Master defeating a Soul Emperor across ranks was already shocking enough! Now, he was actually demanding that this Soul Emperor teacher kowtow and apologize to him and the other students in public?!

For Zhou Yi, who viewed dignity as her life and possessed a twisted, extreme personality, this was a humiliation far worse than death! It was the trampling of all her pride and face into the dirt!

Yet, after the brief shock, not a single student sympathized with Zhou Yi. Instead, their faces showed satisfaction and approval, and some even couldn't help but cheer and applaud softly.

"Serves her right! She's always so arrogant!"

"Exactly! Why should we be called trash and attacked when we did nothing?"

"Well done, Su Chen! Support!"

"Someone should have dealt with this old witch a long time ago!"

Over the years, Zhou Yi had run rampant in Shrek, frequently expelling students and using sharp, biting words, long since inciting public anger and earning a terrible reputation. Seeing her suffer now, everyone clapped in delight.

Hearing Su Chen's words, Zhou Yi's body trembled violently. Her face was as pale as paper, her lips quivering. She looked toward Du Weilun for help, her eyes filled with pleading, humiliation, and a final shred of hope, her voice dry and hoarse:

"Dean... Dean Du... I... I cannot..."

Make her kneel and kowtow? She would rather be killed!

Watching Zhou Yi's state, Du Weilun felt conflicted. Objectively speaking, Zhou Yi had brought this upon herself. But seeing her current wretchedness, and thinking of Fan Yu...

However, when he met Su Chen's calm yet unquestionable gaze and felt the near-unanimous roar of the students, he knew that today's matter had to be settled.

Su Chen had already made a huge concession. If even this bottom-line demand wasn't met, he feared this genius with a god-tier martial soul, a fierce temperament, and terrifying talent would truly become alienated from the academy, or even leave in a rage. That would be too great a loss for Shrek.

By comparison, having Zhou Yi apologize, while shameful, would at least keep her teaching position, appease Su Chen, and perhaps even provide an opportunity to win over this genius with limitless potential... When calculated, this was the more profitable choice.

As for Zhou Yi's dignity? What did that matter in the face of the academy's interests and a genius student?

But Dean Du did not know that it was precisely this action that saved his life.

Thinking this, Du Weilun had made his decision.

He turned his head to look at Zhou Yi, who was still gazing at him with pleading eyes. His face remained expressionless, his voice cold and devoid of emotion:

"Teacher Zhou Yi."

He deliberately emphasized the word "teacher," though it carried a tone of irony.

"This was your own insolence and improper conduct from the start. As a teacher, you failed to lead by example and instead bullied the weak, nearly causing a catastrophe."

"Now that you have lost the wager, the fact that they only ask for an apology is already a sign of great magnanimity. The strong prey on the weak, and the weak submit to the strong—isn't that the principle you have always believed in?"

Du Weilun's words were like cold blades, stabbing into Zhou Yi's heart.

"You can't even defeat a two-ring student, so what right do you have to stand here and talk about 'dignity'?"

Having said that, he stopped looking at Zhou Yi, as if even a glance was a stain, and cast his gaze toward the distant sky. The implication could not have been clearer: handle it yourself.

Zhou Yi felt as if she had been struck by lightning; her entire body turned cold, and her last shred of hope was thoroughly extinguished. She looked at Du Weilun's indifferent profile, at the expressions of mockery or satisfaction on the surrounding students, at the calm yet immensely oppressive gaze of Su Chen, and at the disdain in the eyes of Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao...

She knew she was finished.

If she did not bow her head today, Du Weilun would likely take the opportunity to abandon her completely, or perhaps even expel her just to appease Su Chen's fury!

Once she lost the protection of her status as a Shrek teacher, given her actions today and the grudges she had accumulated over the years, her fate would only be more miserable!

She lowered her head, her graying hair disheveled, obscuring most of her face, which was twisted into a near-hideous expression. Blood trickled from her tightly pressed lips, dripping onto the ground.

A hoarse, broken sound, as if squeezed from the depths of hell, forced its way through her teeth. Every word was laced with blood and monstrous hatred:

"I... Zhou Yi..."

She paused, as if it took every ounce of her remaining strength to utter the next words:

"Hereby... solemnly apologize to Su Chen, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao..."

Her voice trembled violently, but she forced it higher, carrying a desperate, piercing quality:

"...and to all the students I previously attacked indiscriminately, injured... and insulted..."

The final word was practically torn from her throat:

"Apologize!!!"

Before the sound had even faded—

"BANG!!!"

A dull thud that made hearts tremble.

Zhou Yi's forehead slammed heavily, without the slightest cushioning, against the cold, hard, gravel-strewn ground of the playground. Dust kicked up, coating her graying hair and the wound on her forehead.

She remained in that position, her body curled and heaving violently, but she did not immediately lift her head. It was as if, as long as she didn't look up, she could escape everything before her. In her tightly closed eyes lay a despair and a madness capable of destroying everything, nearly spilling over.

"...I'm sorry."

The last three words were as soft as a mosquito's hum, yet they felt like the most venomous curse, dissipating into the wind along with her suppressed, agonizing sobs.

Zhou Yi hunched her body, like a thoroughly defeated beast curled up to lick its wounds. Hatred, malice, and murderous intent surged and boiled in the depths of her lowered eyes like the thickest poison!

Su Chen... Su Chen!!!

Every syllable carved a bloody brand into her heart.

This humiliation today, I, Zhou Yi, will remember it! One day, I will make you... pay it back a hundredfold, a thousandfold!!

If I do not avenge this, I, Zhou Yi... swear I am no longer human!!!

She buried this murderous intent, which threatened to burst from her chest, deep within her heart, turning it into the coldest ice.

"That's enough." Du Weilun's emotionless voice shattered the suffocating silence and interrupted the frantic curses in Zhou Yi's mind. "This matter ends here."

He waved his hand, and another teacher who had been waiting nearby immediately stepped forward, expressionlessly helping the limp Zhou Yi, who seemed to have lost all strength, to her feet. Zhou Yi offered no resistance, simply keeping her head down and letting her messy white hair cover her twisted face, like a puppet that had lost its soul.

"Take Teacher Zhou Yi away and keep her under temporary watch," Du Weilun instructed the teacher. "In the coming days, the academy will announce the formal disciplinary decision against her in accordance with school regulations."

After dealing with Zhou Yi, Du Weilun's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, slowly swept over the crowd still gathered on the playground. His look carried an invisible pressure, causing the students who were still whispering to fall silent instantly.

Finally, his gaze landed on the golden-haired youth in the center of the field, who, despite his slightly pale complexion, stood tall and straight.

"Su Chen," Du Weilun began, his voice returning to its steady, professional tone. "The academy will make its own impartial judgment regarding the rights and wrongs of today's events. The academy will certainly not be vague in giving you the explanation you deserve."

He shifted his tone, adding a hint of deeper meaning: "However, nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards. Shrek has stood for ten thousand years not just because of its powerful faculty and resources, but because of its iron-clad discipline and impartial order."

"Regardless of the cause, clashing with a teacher in public and allowing it to escalate to this point is, in the end, a violation of the academy's norms."

He paused slightly, looking directly into Su Chen's calm, golden eyes. "Of course, your situation is special, and there was a reason for it. The academy will take everything into account. But principles are principles; we at Shrek have always strived to handle every matter fairly and justly. Student Su Chen, what do you think?"

These words were meant to strike a balance: to warn Su Chen to stop while he was ahead and not to let his talent make him arrogant or continue to cause trouble, while also reassuring him that the academy would handle things "fairly" and not favor Zhou Yi, while simultaneously asking Su Chen to understand the academy's "difficulties" and "rules."

Su Chen understood the subtext in Du Weilun's words. He had already achieved his goal for the day—publicly defeating Zhou Yi, forcing her to admit her faults, crushing her arrogance, and establishing his own authority before the entire academy.

As for the academy's subsequent specific punishment for Zhou Yi, or whether they would place restrictions on him or offer "compensation," those were matters for future negotiation.

"Director Du is absolutely right." Su Chen nodded, his expression calm and his tone indifferent yet possessing a maturity beyond his years. "Rules must naturally be followed. I trust the academy will provide a fair result regarding today's events."

A flicker of imperceptible surprise and appreciation flashed in Du Weilun's eyes. This youth was not only terrifying in talent and strength, with extraordinary courage and temperament, but even his social conduct was so sophisticated? Truly a monster.

"It is best that Student Su Chen thinks this way." A rare, faint, almost non-existent smile appeared on Du Weilun's face as he nodded. "You have expended a lot of energy today; go back and get some rest. The academy will notify you of any relevant matters."

Having said that, he did not linger. He turned and left the playground, which was still permeated with the remnants of soul power and complex emotions, taking with him the teacher supporting Zhou Yi and several academy staff members who had arrived upon hearing the news.

With the protagonist gone and the highest authority having spoken, the onlookers finally began to disperse slowly. Yet, as they left, almost everyone could not help but look back one more time at the golden-haired youth in the center of the playground, who was slowly retracting the magnificent six wings behind his back as his strange soul rings gradually faded from view.

After today's battle, the name Su Chen was destined to be the center of discussion among the freshmen, and indeed the entire Outer Court, for a long time to come.