The classroom became quiet again, even quieter than last time.
Ye Xiao's eyes became sharp, as if he wanted to see through the souls of everyone present.
"What's the situation outside the city now? The army is fighting bloody battles with Red Abyss monsters, and people are dying every minute and every second. Those soldiers, don't they want to go home? Don't they have no parents and no worries? They know better than you how dangerous the battlefield is, but they didn't run away."
"The Deans of the school, the seniors and seniors, were sent out to perform tasks and narrowly escaped death. Don't they know that they might not be able to come back after going out this time? They knew it. But they didn't run away."
Ye Xiao's voice was not loud, but it was like a dull knife, cutting everyone's heart time and time again.
"Why? Because they know in their hearts that some things are more important than life."
He held up a finger.
"First of all, you are able to sit here today, practice, become stronger, and become so-called "geniuses." How many people have you stepped on the shoulders to get to this point? The army is blocking the front, the senior leaders of the college are standing in front, and the seniors and seniors are rushing in front - they have shouldered the most dangerous battlefields, fought the most difficult battles, and left the easiest jobs to you. What do you think this is? Is it natural?"
Some people lowered their heads in shame.
"Second," Ye Xiao raised a second finger, "Do you think it's really safe if you run away? Red Abyss's Rift is in Jiang City, Shadow Rift's Rift In North China Plain. Today Jiang City has fallen, and tomorrow the monsters will follow the gaps in the defense line and swarm across the country. If you run home, your home will no longer be the front line? If you run to the east, the east will no longer be the battlefield? You think you are running for your life, but in fact you are just delaying the time to face death."
The air in the classroom became solemn.
"Third," Ye Xiao raised a third finger, his voice slowed down a bit, but gained more weight, "You are cultivators! You are not ordinary people. When ordinary people encounter danger, their first reaction is to run. That is their duty, because they have no ability to fight. But what about you? How many years have you been practicing? How many resources have you eaten? How many fights have been fought? When the incident comes, your reaction is no different from ordinary people - you also run."
He suddenly laughed, very lightly.
But that smile hurt more than any irony.
"Then what's the point of your cultivation? What's the point of the country training you? What's the point of the school providing you with so many resources?"
Silence.
Deathly silence.
Wang Hou sat on his seat, clenched his fists with his hands, and his eyes were slightly red.
He recalled that when he first started practicing as a child, his father patted him on the shoulder and said, "Practice well and protect others in the future."
He recalled that on the day he entered school, his mother told him that "the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility."
He used to think it was just a show.
Now he understands.
Su Muyun sat there quietly, with his eyelashes slightly lowered and no expression visible.
But her hands were clenched into fists under the table, and her nails were almost embedded in her palms.
She remembered what she had just said to Ye Xiao, "The school will roast you on the fire."
Only now did she realize that maybe it was not the school that put Ye Xiao on the fire, but Ye Xiao who walked up on it himself.
He could have refused.
I could have said, "I'm just a student, I can't care about this."
I could have been like everyone else, thinking about how to leave this place of right and wrong.
But he didn't.
Why?
Because she just said it herself, "I support you."
Because he had already figured it out outside the classroom. In the past fifteen days, he had to deal with much more than he imagined.
Because some battles have to be fought by someone!
Some responsibilities have to be shouldered by someone!
If everyone retreats, there will be no front lines in the world - because there are front lines everywhere.
Zhao Xiuxiu bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes.
She recalled that when she first entered school, she always felt that she was the proud son of heaven and that her future was limitless.
But now she understands that the real strong man is never because of his talent, but because he chose to take a step forward when everyone else chose to step back.
Just this one step makes a world of difference.
Wu Xiaorui lowered his head and twisted his clothes tightly with his fingers.
She didn't dare to look up at Ye Xiao, because although she expressed her support for Ye Xiao just now, she was really thinking in her heart - maybe she should go home.
Now she feels ashamed.
Deeply ashamed!
The boy wearing glasses looked pale and blue, his lips trembled a few times, but in the end he said nothing.
He wanted to refute and find the loopholes in Ye Xiao's words.
But he found that every word was like a nail driven into his head, and he couldn't pull it out.
He wants to say that his home is in the eastern city, where there are no Rift, and it is very safe.
But Ye Xiao is right.
If Jiang City falls, the city to the east will become the new frontline.
He can run for a while, but he cannot run for a lifetime.
He wanted to say that he was just a student and shouldn't have to bear this.
But Ye Xiao is also right.
After practicing for so many years and eating so many resources, in the end I can only run like ordinary people. So what is the meaning of practicing?
He couldn't answer this question.
The other students in the classroom also looked embarrassed. Some lowered their heads, some turned their faces away, and some stared at the table, as if they wanted to see a hole in the table.
No one dared to look at Ye Xiao.
The sweaty feeling rose from his back and spread to his limbs.
Not because of the heat, but because of a sense of shame welling up from my bones.
Ye Xiao looked at the faces in the audience who were either lowering their heads or hiding away, and remained silent for a few seconds.
He didn't continue talking.
Saying something once is enough, but saying it too much is cheap.
The attitude he should express has been expressed, and what should be pointed out has been pointed out.
The rest is everyone's own choice.
He turned around and walked down from the podium, without any pause in his steps as he passed by the silent students.
When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped for a moment, turned his face sideways, and spoke in a calm tone, as if he was saying that the weather was nice today.
"I will stay here for the next fifteen days. If you want to leave, you can leave at any time. The school door will not be closed. But if you want to stay -" he paused, "I will not let you regret this decision."
After saying that, he opened the door and walked out.
The classroom was quiet for a long time.
Then, I don't know who it was, said softly in the corner, "I want to stay."
Then, the second, the third.
The sound was not loud, but it spread like ripples in circles.
Wang Hou wiped his eyes vigorously and shouted in a hoarse voice, "Nonsense, of course you stay! Whoever leaves is the dog!"
Su Muyun didn't speak, but stood up quietly and followed Ye Xiao's footsteps.
When she walked out of the classroom, the sunlight happened to shine in through the corridor window and fell on the boy's back.
He walked steadily and his back was straight.
Su Muyun suddenly remembered the scene when he saw Ye Xiao for the first time.
At that time, she only thought that this person was a little special, but she didn't think he was special in any way.
Now she knows.
Some people are born to stand in front of everyone.
Not because he has the strongest ability or talent, but because when everyone is looking back, he is the only one looking forward.
Look forward, then move forward.
Even if there are mountains of swords and seas of fire ahead, never look back.