The Master Complains and Backfires, Ning Rongrong's Token Calms the Crowd

Xiao Wu did not answer immediately.

She squeezed the dried fruit in her hand and looked down at the tabletop.

"I have been."

Ning Rongrong waited for her to continue, but Xiao Wu only dropped those two words before stuffing the fruit into her mouth and falling silent.

Su Hang did not pick up the conversation for her either.

Regarding some things, he let Xiao Wu choose how much to share; he would not arrange it for her.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment until Xiao Chenyu ran in from outside, his soles skidding against the stone floor as he braked.

"Boss Su, something happened."

Wang Sheng followed behind, still clutching half a pancake, panting for breath.

"Tang San went to the academy teachers and said he wants to investigate you."

Xiao Wu stood up on the spot.

"Investigate what?"

Xiao Chenyu spilled the rest of the story.

"They said you seized control of Tang San's Blue Silver Grass yesterday, which might involve dark arts, and they are demanding a public inspection by the academy."

Ning Rongrong unhooked the Seven Treasures Token from her waist, her fingertips resting on the edge of the medallion.

"A counter-accusation, and it came quite quickly."

Xiao Wu grabbed Su Hang's sleeve and pulled him half a step behind her.

"On what grounds is he investigating you? He was the one who ambushed you first, and now he's turning around to file a complaint?"

Su Hang patted the back of her hand.

"Don't worry, let's go see first."

The training ground was already crowded with people.

The duty teacher of Notting Academy stood in the center of the field, holding a hastily drafted inspection document, beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.

He had been teaching for over a decade, and this was the kind of situation he feared most.

On one side was a freshman with innate full spirit power, backed by Yu Xiaogang; on the other was a monster with a purple First Spirit Ring, accompanied by the little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect.

He could not afford to offend either side.

Tang San stood by a wooden post, his sleeves neat, his right hand hanging naturally at his side.

The Sleeve Crossbow Mechanism was fastened tightly beneath his cuff, and the cloth bag was hidden behind his waist, leaving no trace visible from the outside.

Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back, half a step behind him.

"Teacher Zhao, we are merely raising a reasonable concern."

"Yesterday, during the sparring match, Su Hang used unknown means to strip Tang San of control over his martial soul. Such an ability is unheard of."

"If left unchecked, who can guarantee the safety of the other students in the academy?"

Teacher Zhao tucked the document into his sleeve, his face twisted in distress.

"Mr. Yu, Su Hang did not actively harm anyone yesterday, and Tang San was not injured."

Tang San stepped forward and interjected.

"I was not injured, but the sensation of my martial soul being suppressed by an external force still lingers in my meridians."

"I only want to confirm whether the ability he used belongs to a normal Spirit Skill or something else."

His words were flat.

The spectating students whispered among themselves; some nodded, others shook their heads.

"That sounds reasonable."

"But Tang San used poison arrows to aim for vital points yesterday—why isn't that being mentioned?"

"Shh, the Grandmaster is right there, keep your voice down."

Su Hang led Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong into the training ground.

The crowd automatically cleared a path.

Xiao Chenyu and Wang Sheng followed behind, one with his arms crossed, the other still gnawing on his pancake.

Su Hang stopped in the center of the field, five paces away from Tang San.

"I heard someone wants to investigate me."

Tang San met his gaze.

"I am merely raising a legitimate concern to the academy."

Su Hang nodded and pointed casually at the ground.

"Then, should we also investigate the poison arrows, fine needles, and Sleeve Crossbow Mechanism hidden in your cuffs?"

Laughter erupted immediately from the edge of the training ground.

Tang San pulled his right hand back slightly, pressing down on his cuff.

"Hidden Weapons are merely tools; there has never been a prohibition against Spirit Masters carrying tools to assist in combat."

Su Hang took a step forward.

"If there's no prohibition on tools, then why is there a prohibition on my Spirit Skill?"

"I am using the innate ability of my Martial Soul, while you are using poison darts hidden in your sleeves."

"Who exactly is the one that should be investigated?"

Tang San did not back down.

"The domain involved in Martial Soul manipulation is completely different from ordinary Spirit Skills. If you can seize my Blue Silver Grass, you could seize someone else's Martial Soul next time. Once such an ability spirals out of control, the danger far exceeds that of a Hidden Weapon."

Yu Xiaogang immediately followed up.

"Teacher Zhao, the ability Su Hang has displayed exceeds the scope of known Spirit Skills. For the safety of the academy, a public inspection is reasonable and fair."

Caught between the two, Teacher Zhao felt his legs wanting to retreat.

Su Hang ran through the situation in his mind.

Tang San and Yu Xiaogang had made a swift move, playing on the "fear of the unknown."

The academy teachers were already afraid of trouble; as soon as the words "evil arts" were thrown onto the table, everyone had to weigh the consequences.

Yet, this move had come at the worst possible time.

Ning Rongrong stepped out from behind Su Hang, her pace unhurried, her heels clicking twice against the stone floor.

She held the Seven Treasures Token up in front of Teacher Zhao.

The pattern of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda on the front of the token caught the sunlight, reflecting a bright sheen, while the character "Ning" on the back was deeply embossed.

Teacher Zhao's legs froze on the spot.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect.

The token of the little princess of the world's number one support sect was shining right before his eyes.

Ning Rongrong spoke, her tone not loud, but every word hitting the ground with weight.

"Su Hang has been within my line of sight since last night."

"He was helping me resolve questions regarding Martial Soul cultivation; from start to finish, he did not use any evil arts."

"Ning Rongrong of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect is willing to vouch for him."

The training ground erupted in an uproar.

"The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect is vouching for him?"

"Is that token real or fake?"

"Look at those patterns, it's definitely authentic. Our entire Notting City couldn't scrape one of those together."

Xiao Chenyu patted Wang Sheng on the shoulder from behind.

"Awesome. The power of money crashing the party—the ultimate version-breaker."

Wang Sheng nearly swallowed the entire piece of cake in his mouth.

"With that token placed on the table, Teacher Zhao won't be able to sleep tonight."

Teacher Zhao was indeed unable to sleep.

He shoved his paperwork deeper into his sleeve and swallowed hard.

"Miss Ning, since the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect is willing to vouch for him, I shall reconsider the matter of the inspection."

The color drained from Yu Xiaogang's face.

He had pushed for this inspection by betting that the academy teachers were afraid of trouble.

But once the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's token appeared, the source of the teachers' fear shifted instantly.

Tang San smoothed his cuff back down and looked at Ning Rongrong.

Before he came to Notting Academy, he had never imagined that the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect would stand on Su Hang's side.

First Xiao Wu.

Now Ning Rongrong.

Everyone who should have had a connection with him had been intercepted by Su Hang.

Su Hang did not look at Tang San, turning instead toward Teacher Zhao.

"Teacher Zhao, since we are going to investigate, let's make it thorough."

Teacher Zhao was stunned.

"Student Su, what do you mean by that?"

Su Hang pointed toward the back of Tang San's waist.

"Using an unregistered Hidden Weapon during an academy sparring match, and with a poisoned tip aimed at the ribs—a vital point."

"Everyone at the training grounds saw it yesterday."

"I must ask student Tang San to hand over all Hidden Weapons, fine needles, mechanisms, and stones carried on his person for registration."

The discussion among the surrounding students shifted instantly.

"That's right, that poisoned arrow almost pierced Boss Su's ribs yesterday."

"Hidden Weapons should be registered, right?"

"Yu Xiaogang said there was no ban on the items, but he never said they didn't need to be registered."

Tang San's right hand hung beneath his sleeve, his knuckles slowly tightening.

The mechanism inside his cuff was something he had spent half a year perfecting.

To dismantle and register it was equivalent to laying all his Hidden Weapon trump cards out on the academy's table.

If he used them again, anyone could defend against them.

Teacher Zhao pulled a document from his sleeve and, with a trembling pen tip, added a line at the end.

"According to academy regulations, special items used in sparring must indeed be placed on record."

"Student Tang San, please cooperate."

Yu Xiaogang wanted to speak up and intervene, but Teacher Zhao had already raised a hand to stop him.

With the Seven Treasures Token still glowing in Ning Rongrong's hand, he, a mere duty teacher, could not withstand that kind of pressure.

Tang San stood where he was, his thumb flicking the catch of the mechanism under his sleeve back and forth twice.

Xiao Wu stood beside Brother Su Hang, her chin lifted.

"What's wrong? It's fine to investigate others, but you're unhappy when it's your turn?"

Xiao Chenyu chimed in from behind.

"You can investigate Blue Silver Grass for being flimsy, but you can't investigate a sleeve full of Hidden Weapons? That's quite the double standard."

Wang Sheng swallowed the last bite of his biscuit.

"I suggest an expedited registration. If it goes astray next time and stabs Teacher Zhao, it would be a huge loss."

Teacher Zhao's body shuddered, and he immediately handed the document to Tang San.

"Student Tang San, please cooperate."

Tang San took the document, his fingertips pausing on the edge of the paper for a moment.

He unfastened his cuff, took out a Sleeve Crossbow Mechanism, two short arrows, and a packet of fine needles, placing them on the wooden table beside Teacher Zhao.

The metal struck the wood with a crisp sound.

The surrounding students stared at the pile of items.

"So many?"

"The arrow tips are green; they really are poisoned."

"The Control-type taught by the Grandmaster apparently comes standard with a full set of Hidden Weapons."

Yu Xiaogang stood behind Tang San, his lips pressed into a thin line.

The inspection he had initiated had been shoved back at him by Brother Su Hang, with an extra Hidden Weapon registration to boot.

Ning Rongrong tucked the Seven Treasures Token back into her waist and walked over to Xiao Wu.

"Is your Notting Academy this lively every day?"

Xiao Wu gripped Brother Su Hang's sleeve and replied.

"With Brother Su Hang around, there's a show every day."

After placing all the fine needles on the wooden table, Tang San slowly straightened up.

He looked past Brother Su Hang and Xiao Wu, fixing his gaze on Ning Rongrong.

"Miss Ning, are you certain you want to stand as his guarantor?"