Harshness Is Not Teaching, and Brutality Makes One Even Less Worthy of Being a Teacher

"You!"

Zhou Yi's voice trembled. "Put out the fire, now! Otherwise, I'll expel you!"

Lin Yaoyang stood where he was, the Corona Sword angled toward the ground as golden flames flowed around him.

He looked at Zhou Yi, his tone calm and cold.

"You old hag."

The form of address made everyone suck in a breath.

"Harshness is not teaching, and brutality makes one even less worthy of being a teacher. The academy cultivates Soul Masters, not obedient puppets."

Zhou Yi's face flushed red, though it was impossible to tell whether it was from the flames or rage.

"You—!"

She took a deep breath, and a vicious glint flashed through her eyes.

Just then!

"Enough!"

A commanding voice exploded through the room!

A silver-white figure instantly appeared in the center of the classroom, standing between Lin Yaoyang and Zhou Yi.

The dean of studies, Du Weilun.

His expression was grim as his gaze swept across the classroom.

The shattered podium, the scorched floor, the warped desks and chairs...

Then his gaze fell upon Zhou Yi.

"Zhou Yi, how could you, as a teacher, attack a student?"

Seeing Du Weilun, Zhou Yi hurriedly restrained her aura, though the fury on her face had yet to completely fade. "Director Du, he broke the rules first. I only taught him a lesson so he'd remember!"

"Broke the rules?" Du Weilun frowned.

"He talked back to a teacher, and also..."

"Talked back?" Du Weilun's voice turned cold. "What I heard was that you made the entire class, including those who hadn't fought, go run laps. When this student questioned you, you used Soul Power to suppress him?"

Zhou Yi froze.

At that moment, two more teachers hurried to the classroom entrance.

Wang Dong had brought them.

They had rushed over after hearing that Zhou Yi was going to attack a student, but seeing that the dean of studies was already present, they let out a sigh of relief and remained by the doorway.

Du Weilun stopped looking at Zhou Yi and turned toward Lin Yaoyang.

His expression and tone were completely different from before, even carrying a hint of kindness.

"Student Lin, were you hurt?"

Hearing that, Zhou Yi's eyes widened.

She was still being scorched, the pain making her face turn pale. She was clearly the injured one, yet Du Weilun was asking someone completely unharmed whether he was hurt?

Was there any justice left in the world?!

Lin Yaoyang glanced at Du Weilun, his brows faintly furrowing.

"No."

Du Weilun nodded, the smile on his face deepening. "Good, good. It's good that you weren't hurt."

Just then, another figure flew directly into the classroom.

Dressed in white like snow, he had an elegant bearing, but there was not the slightest trace of elegance on his face now. His expression was so dark it seemed ready to drip water.

The dean, Yan Shaozhe.

His gaze swept through the classroom.

The trembling students in the corner, the two people confronting one another in the middle, the desks, chairs, and floor scorched by flames around them—it all made his expression grow increasingly unpleasant.

But when his gaze landed on Lin Yaoyang and he saw him standing there perfectly unharmed, seemingly without even the slightest injury, Yan Shaozhe secretly sighed in relief.

Good. He's fine.

Then he turned to Zhou Yi. His gaze fell on the golden flames still burning over her body, and his pupils contracted slightly.

What kind of fire is this? With Zhou Yi's Soul Emperor-level cultivation, she can't even extinguish it?

"What are you standing around for?" Yan Shaozhe said gravely. "Put out the fire!"

Only then did the two teachers react. They hurried forward and used Soul Power to help Zhou Yi extinguish the flames on her body.

After a great deal of effort, the golden flames finally went out. The skin beneath Zhou Yi's clothes had been burned black, and much of her hair was scorched as well. She looked utterly miserable.

Zhou Yi stood there trembling all over, though it was unclear whether it was from pain or anger.

She gritted her teeth and glared at Lin Yaoyang, wishing she could swallow this ignorant brat whole.

But with Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun here, she knew she could no longer lay a hand on him today.

"Dean Yan, Director Du," Zhou Yi said after taking a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound calmer. "This student has no respect for his elders, openly defied a teacher, and even attacked one. According to academy rules, he should..."

"Enough." Yan Shaozhe raised a hand and interrupted her.

His tone was mild, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.

"I will investigate what happened. Go tend to your injuries first."

Zhou Yi opened her mouth, still wanting to say something, but when she met Yan Shaozhe's calm, utterly unreadable eyes, she swallowed her words.

She clenched her teeth and turned to leave the classroom.

As she passed Lin Yaoyang, her footsteps paused. She turned her head and gave him a look.

There was fury and resentment in that gaze, but even more than that, there was a complicated scrutiny.

Then she left without looking back.

The classroom fell silent.

Yan Shaozhe looked at Lin Yaoyang. His gaze lingered on Lin Yaoyang's Martial Soul for a moment, and an almost imperceptible glimmer of amazement flashed through his eyes.

Then he revealed a gentle smile.

"Student Lin Yaoyang, correct?"

Lin Yaoyang put away his Martial Soul. The Corona Sword dissolved into golden light, and the flames around him gradually faded. He looked at Yan Shaozhe and nodded slightly.

"That's me."

Yan Shaozhe's smile grew gentler. "Don't be nervous. The academy will handle today's matter fairly. Go back and rest for now. If you need anything, you can come find me at any time."

Lin Yaoyang nodded without saying anything more.

He turned and headed out of the classroom.

Wang Dong hurried after him.

As she passed the doorway, she secretly glanced back at Yan Shaozhe, then looked at Lin Yaoyang's retreating figure, muttering to herself.

The difference in treatment is way too huge, isn't it?

In the corridor.

Wang Dong jogged to catch up with Lin Yaoyang.

"Hey," she said in a lowered voice, "you were... way too fierce just now, weren't you? She's a Soul Emperor! Weren't you afraid she'd really cripple you?"

Lin Yaoyang did not slow down. "She wouldn't dare."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm more valuable than she is." Lin Yaoyang's tone was as calm as if he were stating something utterly ordinary.

Wang Dong paused, then understood.

A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor, with three purple and one black Soul Rings, as well as a Martial Soul no one had ever heard of.

There was not another genius like him in all of Shrek.

How could the academy possibly allow Zhou Yi to cripple him?

"Besides," Lin Yaoyang added, "even if she really dared to attack, I might not lose."

Wang Dong: "..."

Fine. You're amazing.

The two walked out of the teaching building, one after the other.

Looking at his back, Wang Dong suddenly felt that...

This person seemed to be genuinely impressive.

No, not just a little impressive.

He was incredibly impressive.

She pursed her lips and quickened her pace to catch up.

Evening.

Lin Yaoyang walked along the path leading to the dean of studies' office.

His expression was calm and his pace unhurried, as though someone else—not him—had been summoned to the office.

Zhou Yi had been beaten. The academy would definitely need to provide an explanation. Calling him to the office meant only two possibilities: either they would placate him, or they would warn him.

And given the talent he had displayed today, the former was more likely.

He arrived at the office door and raised a hand to knock.

"Come in."

Lin Yaoyang pushed the door open and entered.

The office was more spacious than he had imagined. A row of bookshelves stood against the wall, filled with all manner of documents and books. A large desk stood in the center, its surface neatly arranged. The reception area beside it held a set of sofas, while a tea set rested on the coffee table, the fragrance of tea curling through the air.

Two people sat on the sofas.

Du Weilun, the dean of studies, sat to one side in a silver-white robe, his expression gentle and steady.

As for the white-robed man seated in the place of honor, Lin Yaoyang recognized him. He was the last person to appear in the classroom that morning.

The dean of the Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe.