A Typical Interest Group, Two Disappointed Geniuses

"Dean, elders!"

"You can't do this!"

Zhang Lexuan had already given up hope.

But Chu Yan, lying on the stretcher, could no longer remain calm.

He had heard about Bai Luo's demands after regaining consciousness.

His family did indeed have some influence.

But there was absolutely no way they could produce treasures and medicinal herbs of that caliber.

If the academy's higher-ups did not provide him with support,

then it meant he might have to remain in this frail, decrepit state for the rest of his life, never again returning to his former youthful vigor.

In just twenty short years, he would reach the end of his life.

He was only in his early twenties!

Even if he could not become a top-tier powerhouse in the future, he still had a strong chance of becoming an ordinary Titled Douluo.

His lifespan should have been at least over a hundred years.

How could he possibly accept dying in twenty years with a body as rotten as dead wood?

His voice was hoarse.

"I was injured during an operation arranged by the academy. The academy must take responsibility!"

"I bled for the academy! How can the academy stand by and watch me die?!"

Chu Yan cried himself hoarse.

Yet faced with his accusations,

the many academy higher-ups present remained cold and indifferent.

"Student Chu, we understand how you feel."

"But one matter is one matter."

Yan Shaozhe spoke softly.

"This accident did indeed occur during an operation arranged by the academy."

"But the most important reason was that you failed to follow the academy's rules and obey the arrangements of Zhang Lexuan, who was leading the team. That led to the result before us."

"Therefore, the academy bears no responsibility to shoulder everything."

"Of course, the academy is not entirely heartless."

"On humanitarian grounds, we are willing to provide ten thousand Gold Soul Coins in assistance."

Ten thousand Gold Soul Coins.

Upon hearing that, Chu Yan fell silent.

A moment later,

he suddenly laughed.

It was the laughter that came after his emotions had been suppressed to their limit.

"What a fine academy."

"What a fine number one advanced Soul Master Academy on the continent!"

"I understand. I understand everything!"

He let out a crazed laugh.

His agitation tugged at his body, making him break into a fit of coughing.

"Take me away."

He looked at the two friends beside him who had brought him here.

Their expressions were equally complicated.

They were also disappointed by the academy's heartlessness.

But they did not dare say anything.

Because they cared more about their status as Shrek Academy inner court students.

After all, that status was simply too important for their futures.

The identity of a Shrek Academy inner court graduate was enough to secure them excellent positions anywhere in the three great empires.

Thus, they remained silent from beginning to end, not saying a single extra word.

They were afraid of being implicated because of this.

After all, their status could not compare to Zhang Lexuan's.

If the academy could abandon Chu Yan without the slightest hesitation, it would not show much concern for two ordinary inner court students like them either.

Still, out of consideration for their past friendship, they lifted the stretcher beneath Chu Yan and carried him outside.

As they were leaving,

Chu Yan's final voice drifted back on the wind:

"Chu Yan applies to withdraw from Shrek Academy."

"To all you great academy leaders."

He emphasized the final sentence heavily.

The mockery in his voice was not concealed in the slightest.

The doors slowly closed.

Silence once again fell over the meeting room.

Yet none of the academy higher-ups present showed any change in expression.

Chu Yan's withdrawal was insignificant to them.

His future was already ruined.

No one cared whether a cripple stayed or left.

"Elders, Lexuan is feeling a little unwell, so I will take my leave as well."

After leaving those words behind,

Zhang Lexuan silently rose and departed.

Everything that had happened today gave her an entirely different understanding of the academy.

This inner court senior sister, usually so bright and radiant, now lowered her face, her expression dark and lost.

"Lexuan won't have any problems, will she?"

After Zhang Lexuan left, one of the senior elders asked with some concern.

One Chu Yan was insignificant.

But Zhang Lexuan was different.

They had placed great hopes on her, and she was currently the most outstanding student in all of Shrek Academy.

She was of tremendous importance to Shrek Academy.

They were still counting on her to grow stronger and continue supporting Shrek Academy's century of glory!

"Don't worry. Lexuan is sensible. She simply has yet to understand the cruelty of this world."

Xuan Zi held a greasy chicken drumstick in one hand and waved the other dismissively.

"Just give her some time to process it. She'll figure it out herself."

"Xiao Luo, you won."

In the clinic,

Ma Xiaotao, having learned the outcome of the meeting from Zhang Lexuan, spoke with a complicated expression.

Her voice was low, carrying an indescribable ache.

Ma Xiaotao's circumstances were very similar to Zhang Lexuan's.

She had no family of her own either.

She had practically regarded Shrek Academy as her home.

Thus, she had deep feelings for Shrek Academy, along with an instinctive filter of admiration.

Yet this incident was like a giant hammer, smashing that filter to pieces.

For the first time, Ma Xiaotao realized something.

Shrek Academy did not seem to be as noble and beautiful as she had always believed.

"Mm. Just as expected."

Bai Luo nodded faintly, unsurprised by the outcome.

He would have been surprised if Shrek Academy had been willing to spend so many resources to save someone like Chu Yan.

"Boss."

Huo Yun'er carried over two cups of freshly brewed premium tea and placed them before the two of them.

The tea rippled, white mist curling above it.

Seeing Ma Xiaotao's downcast expression, Huo Yun'er sighed inwardly.

She could understand Ma Xiaotao's disappointment at having her expectations ruthlessly shattered.

After all, for a long time, she too had continued to hold expectations for that person.

"Xiao Luo, why?"

Ma Xiaotao suddenly raised her little face.

"The academy clearly has the ability, and taking out those resources would not have much of an impact on it."

"Why did they reject Senior Sister's proposal?"

Lost and confused, Ma Xiaotao's first instinct was to seek an answer from Bai Luo.

"It's very simple."

Bai Luo took a light sip of tea.

"Because Shrek Academy is, at its core, the most typical kind of interest group."

"Chu Yan's talent itself was not among the very best at Shrek Academy."

"Moreover, he has his own family behind him. After graduating, he would most likely not remain at Shrek Academy, but leave instead."

"So naturally, he does not carry much weight in the eyes of your academy's higher-ups."

"Put simply, he was not qualified for Shrek Academy to spend resources of that level on him."

"The investment was not proportional to the return."

"But if it were you, Sister Xiaotao, or Miss Zhang Lexuan, Shrek Academy would definitely be willing to provide those resources."

"Because you are qualified."

"That is all."