Compensation

Seated below Elder Song was the ninety-fifth-ranked healing-type Life Douluo, Zhuang Yusen—Elder Zhuang. He wore a plain green robe, his hair completely white, his expression kind.

Noticing Mu En's gaze, Elder Zhuang smiled and nodded in agreement.

But just then, Yan Shaozhe lived up to his reputation as an iron rooster. Under Mu En's stare, he forced himself to speak. "Teacher, can't we cut back on this part as appropriate?"

"After all, Zhou Yi has taught for so many years. There are simply too many students she expelled or punished. If we compensate every single one of them, the resources required will be far too great!"

Mu En looked at his eldest disciple and sighed, unable to hide the disappointment in his eyes. "Sigh! Shaozhe, you..."

"Don't fixate on such petty gains before your eyes. You need to understand that what Zhou Yi and the others have done is, in essence, digging up Shrek's very roots!"

"Any student who can enter Shrek is either exceptionally gifted and supremely talented, or comes from an extraordinary family with deep foundations. After being expelled and threatened for no reason, how could they not harbor resentment?"

"If this continues, countless grudges will pile up layer upon layer over time. Have you ever considered what the consequences might be?"

"After all, when all is said and done, Shrek is merely an academy."

Although Mu En had made himself clear enough, how many people present truly took his words to heart?

Seeing the indifferent expressions on everyone's faces, even Mu En felt a deep sense of helplessness rise within him.

He knew perfectly well that these people did not truly fail to understand the stakes. They were simply intoxicated by Shrek's supreme glory, accumulated over ten thousand years, and could not be bothered to care!

In their eyes, any student who had been expelled inherently failed to meet Shrek's standards for "monsters."

And if they were not "monsters," then they could only be mediocrities.

How could a group of mediocrities possibly shake Shrek's ten-thousand-year foundation?!!

"Enough! Sigh!"

Mu En sighed again, then his expression turned stern and his tone firm. "Compensation must be carried out. There is no room for negotiation!"

Seeing Mu En grow angry, Yan Shaozhe did not dare openly object again. However, he immediately turned his spear toward the Soul Guidance Department and said:

"Then, Teacher, the resources needed for this compensation should not be borne by the Spirit Department alone. Fan Yu is a core member of the Soul Guidance Department and cannot escape blame either, so the Soul Guidance Department must bear at least half."

Mu En slowly rose to his feet. As he walked toward the door, he said mildly, "Fine. Discuss the exact distribution yourselves. I am somewhat tired, so I will return first."

When Mu En reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped and looked back. "But no matter how you divide it, not a single bit of the compensation for the victimized students may be withheld!"

At that moment, warm sunlight streamed diagonally through the half-open doors, falling precisely across Mu En's aged profile and dividing his face in two—one half bathed in light, the other hidden in shadow.

Just like his worries for Shrek's future: the road ahead was long. Would light prevail, or would darkness gain the upper hand?

Even he could not say for certain!

By evening, Lin Yan was summoned by Yan Shaozhe once again.

How should he put it?

When he saw Yan Shaozhe this time, Lin Yan felt that Yan Shaozhe's attitude toward him had changed again.

It seemed as though he valued him even more?

There was even a hint of eagerness mixed into that regard?!

Something was off!

Why would a Super Douluo like Yan Shaozhe be so eager toward a mere Soul Elder like him?

Even if his talent truly was a little better than others', Yan Shaozhe should not have acted this way.

Could something else he did not know about have happened during these short few hours?

Or did Yan Shaozhe have some other scheme in mind for him?

Though Yan Shaozhe's somewhat unusual attitude put Lin Yan on guard, his face remained calm and betrayed not the slightest abnormality.

"Little Lin, the academy has thoroughly investigated what happened before. The entire matter was indeed Zhou Yi's fault."

"At the same time, the academy has already reached a decision regarding her punishment."

"So quickly!"

Lin Yan was somewhat surprised. He had originally thought it would take at least several days before the matter reached a conclusion.

"Of course. The academy has always attached great importance to vile acts such as bullying and persecuting students, so we began a thorough investigation immediately after the incident occurred."

Watching Yan Shaozhe put on an upright and righteous expression, as though he had even convinced himself, Lin Yan treated his words as nothing but bullshit.

What kind of place Shrek was now, did he not know that perfectly well?

If not for his own potential and value being astonishing enough, how could Shrek possibly have been so reasonable?

Those students whom Zhou Yi had once wantonly expelled, who had left nursing bitter hatred, had the most right to speak on that matter.

Without exposing Yan Shaozhe's self-congratulatory act, Lin Yan followed up naturally. "Then what was the academy's final decision?"

"Zhou Yi has been stripped of her position and expelled from the academy, never to be hired again."

"Her husband, Fan Yu, was guilty of shielding and indulging her, as well as failing in supervision. He has likewise been removed from all positions, though the academy has given him a chance to atone for his crimes through merit."

"Also, Little Lin, rest assured. The academy has expressly forbidden Zhou Yi from taking even half a step outside Shrek in the future. Furthermore, both husband and wife will be placed under dedicated supervision. They will absolutely never threaten your safety again!"

Hmm?!

This time, Lin Yan was genuinely surprised. He had expected Shrek to expel Zhou Yi in order to appease and win him over, but even Fan Yu had received severe punishment. That was unexpected.

Fan Yu was one of Shrek's only two Rank Eight Soul Engineers, and also a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse. Yet because of such "minor matters" as shielding her and negligence, he had been stripped of everything.

It seemed it truly had not been his imagination. Though he did not know what exactly had happened, Shrek's level of regard for him had indeed increased again.

Otherwise, in order to win him over, it might have been possible for Fan Yu to be demoted a few ranks, but they would never have been so utterly merciless.

After all, Douluo Continent was still a fantasy world where individual power reigned supreme. In such a world, the strong always possessed privileges. Besides, regardless of the future, Lin Yan was only a Soul Elder at present.

As for making Shrek cripple Zhou Yi, or even directly kill her?

Impossible. Lin Yan had known from the beginning that it was impossible.

Because Zhou Yi had never been the only one abusing her authority and expelling students. The people and interests entangled behind this matter formed an enormous, deeply rooted web.

One had to know that most students who came to Shrek were either wealthy or influential. So, if a teacher with direct authority to expel students said:

"Madam, you wouldn't want your son or daughter to be expelled, would you?"

Tell him, with Shrek turning a blind eye, how many parents could withstand such threats without compromising?

Therefore, given its "long history" and the number of people involved, directly crippling or executing Zhou Yi was unrealistic.

Because if they drove Zhou Yi to ruin today, it would set a precedent for reckoning. Zhou Yi's "allies," who had done the same things in the past and feared that the butcher's blade would someday fall upon their own heads, would certainly obstruct it with all their strength.

Thus, for the academy's stability, this matter could only end here!

While Lin Yan was secretly pondering, Yan Shaozhe mistakenly assumed he remained dissatisfied with the punishment and hurriedly added, "Little Lin, there is more than that. The academy has decided to completely revoke Outer Courtyard teachers' direct authority to expel students, preventing such incidents from happening again."

"At the same time, the academy will provide a certain amount of compensation to all students who were once suppressed and persecuted by Zhou Yi."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yan immediately understood. These should have been Mu En's decisions—there was likely no one else in the entire academy besides Mu En with such foresight and resolve.

Although Lin Yan was indeed quite satisfied with Shrek's decision this time.

But where was his compensation?

Why was Yan Shaozhe only talking about these "unimportant" matters and not mentioning his compensation at all?!