Further Advancement, Jianzhi Academy

Wang Han was all bark and no bite.

The surroundings fell silent as a graveyard.

It was as if a typhoon had swept through the students' hearts. No one had expected that, faced with so many accusations, Jiang Shu would not retreat but advance instead—he had lifted the desk and thrown all of Wang Han's books away as well!

This... had blown up big.

"Don't worry. I won't hit you."

Paying no attention whatsoever to what the other students thought, Jiang Shu spoke blandly to Wang Han. With effortless ease, he set the desk steadily back down. Unless necessary, he truly did not want to deal with this bunch of children.

That had been one of his original reasons for taking leave from school.

In his eyes, Wang Han's tricks were far too childish.

Manipulating public opinion? Playing with people's hearts?

Before absolute strength—

Everything was an illusion!

Fists were what men truly relied on.

But just because he did not care about Wang Han's petty tricks—

Did not mean others would not care.

Jiang Shu glanced at Xu Shuhui, who had been caught in the crossfire because of him and forcibly placed over the flames by a single accusation of secret crush. He withdrew his gaze just as Wang Han's voice rang out again, though it had completely lost its former aggressiveness.

"Jiang Shu, there were important notes from my senior year in that desk. You... you threw them all away. You have to apologize to me..."

"If they were really important, if you were really that studious, you should go look for them by the trash can yourself."

"Go get the teacher, then. That's all you people know how to do."

Not wishing to waste any more words, Jiang Shu's final sentence sounded like a prediction. A student had already quietly slipped out through the back door. Within minutes, hurried footsteps drew closer and closer to the classroom.

Yan Dehou pushed open the door, his face cold. "Jiang Shu, Wang Han, come to my office!"

The moment Wang Han saw Yan Dehou standing in the doorway, his heart abruptly settled, as though he had suddenly discovered a great mountain at his back.

His thoughts became clear.

That was right, he was at school.

How could Jiang Shu dare hit someone?

How could he commit campus violence in front of so many classmates?

Even if Jiang Shu was a martial arts student, even if lifting that desk meant he might have achieved Qi and Blood Sensing and could enter an undergraduate university without examination—

The school would still give him a major disciplinary penalty.

As long as the teacher stood on his side, Jiang Shu could do nothing to him.

He might even have to apologize to him!

Violence could only frighten people away.

What truly controlled everything was power!

At school—

Teachers and school administrators represented power!

"Jiang Shu, let's go. We'll head to the office and let Teacher Yan judge who's right!"

Wang Han swallowed some hot water to steady himself, then strode quickly out of the classroom.

What he had put into Jiang Shu's desk had actually been nothing but books and test papers of little use.

He could have done without them entirely.

But now that things had developed this far, if he did nothing, how would the people in the class see him?

No matter what, he had to make Teacher Yan support him, make the school stand on his side, and make Jiang Shu lower his head and apologize to him!

Wang Han narrowed his long, slender eyes into slits as he walked down the corridor, organizing what he would say in the office.

Meanwhile, unconcerned as ever, Jiang Shu stepped out beneath Xu Shuhui's worried gaze.

The Martial Dao sought fierce and relentless advancement, a mind free of obstruction.

When Zhao Tai offended him, he killed him with a single punch!

When the taekwondo coach provoked him, he seized him by the throat and lifted him up!

His treatment of Wang Han was already mercy, shown for the sake of being classmates!

In the office.

Yan Dehou sat in his chair, looking at the two students before him with a face as deep and still as abyssal water.

He had never imagined that something so vile would happen in his class.

Throwing a classmate's books and test papers all beside the trash can.

He did not dare believe that Jiang Shu, a student he had thought rather highly of, could have done such a thing!

"Tell me. What happened?"

"Teacher Yan, while Jiang Shu was on leave from school, I merely put a few of my books in his desk. I never expected that the moment he came back, just because of a few joking remarks I made, he would lift the desk without another word and throw all my books and test papers beside the trash can."

Seeing that other teachers were present in the office, Wang Han emphasized the minor points and glossed over the major ones, unable to hide the anger on his face.

"Not only that, after Jiang Shu threw away my books and test papers and came back, the way he looked at me—it was like he wanted to hit me. Teacher Yan, the school does give Martial Arts Students preferential treatment, but it can't favor them this much."

"It can't turn a blind eye even when a martial arts student commits campus violence."

"Jiang Shu lifted a desk. No matter how accomplished he is in martial arts, even if he has achieved Qi and Blood Sensing, he is still a student of our Fifth High School. One student attacking another—if this matter is not properly handled, what will people outside think of our school if word gets out?"

"In a situation like this, only severe punishment can set the record straight!"

Wang Han raised his head, speaking with absolute conviction. Gradually finding his rhythm, he pressed his advantage without mercy, and a trace of interrogation returned to his voice. He glanced at Jiang Shu, who had not said a word, as though he had gained the upper hand.

What use was lifting a desk?

Did Jiang Shu dare lift a teacher's desk in the office?

Other than throwing books and test papers, did he dare hit someone?

Yan Dehou's gaze immediately shifted to Jiang Shu.

Yet Jiang Shu's expression was calm, without the slightest trace of panic or guilt.

He did not look at all like someone who had done something wrong.

Could it be that the matter was not as Wang Han had described?

Having been a homeroom teacher for more than a decade, Yan Dehou naturally would not listen to only one side.

Without rashly reaching a conclusion, he spoke evenly to Wang Han. "Mm, I understand. Wang Han, go back to the classroom first. I'll ask Jiang Shu about the specifics and see what exactly happened. Go retrieve your books and test papers first, settle yourself down, and get back into shape. Class will start soon."

"Mm, mm, mm. Teacher Yan, you must give Jiang Shu a good talking-to. I'll head back to the classroom now."

He placed extra emphasis on the words "talking-to." Knowing when to stop, Wang Han pulled open the door and left. A gust of cold wind blew in, making the entire office oppressively tense.

The other teachers all busied themselves arranging their lesson-preparation materials without saying a word.

There were far too many student conflicts at school that spiraled out of control.

As veteran teachers, they saw and heard fresh ones every year.

Looking at the calm-faced Jiang Shu, Yan Dehou sighed and said,

"Now that Wang Han is gone, can you tell me the specific circumstances? Jiang Shu, Teacher Yan believes you are not the sort of person who throws your weight around just because you have a bit of strength."

"If you have a conflict, you can argue, or you can ignore each other. But throwing away his books and test papers was wrong. You were at fault."

"In a moment, you'll return to the classroom with me and properly apologize to Wang Han in front of all the students."

"I'll also help smooth things over from the side, saying that you have already admitted your mistake and that what happened before was merely an impulsive act."

Yan Dehou spoke earnestly and sincerely.

"I know you are already a martial arts student and can enter university through your martial arts realm. Being able to lift a desk also shows that you have achieved something in the Martial Dao. But having a little achievement is useless. You need Qi and Blood Sensing before you can enter university without examination."

"So let's make a big matter small and a small matter nothing. Don't let this rise to the school level and leave yourself with a disciplinary record. That way, there won't be any problems when you seek employment later on. Listen to me on this matter. A teacher certainly would not harm you."

"Teacher Yan, thank you for your concern."

Having lived through one lifetime, Jiang Shu could naturally see Teacher Yan's genuine concern for him. With Wang Han speaking so evasively and misleadingly, and before knowing the truth of the matter, Teacher Yan could still stand on his side and consider things for him.

It could be said that, during one's student days, meeting a teacher like this was an extraordinarily fortunate thing for any student.

If it had been an ordinary student facing the current situation, apologizing and lowering their head as Teacher Yan suggested would have let the matter pass.

But did Jiang Shu need that?

"Teacher Yan, there are surveillance cameras in the classroom. You can watch them right now and see exactly what happened between Wang Han and me."

"Also, I lifted the desk not because I might have achieved Qi and Blood Sensing, with strength of three hundred jin."

"But because... I have already achieved Qi and Blood Circulation."

Jiang Shu's voice was soft, yet he directly revealed his trump card, like a thunderclap exploding through the night.

The moment Wang Han finished speaking, Jiang Shu had already understood his intentions.

Wang Han wanted to manipulate public opinion, isolate him as a martial arts student, and make the school pressure him and stand up for Wang Han.

It was a good plan.

If he had only been an ordinary martial arts student, the matter would basically have been settled.

Punishment where punishment was due, apology where apology was due.

Even if he had been an ordinary martial artist with Qi and Blood Sensing—

The school would have feared damage to its reputation and made both sides shake hands and make peace.

But unfortunately...

He had already achieved Qi and Blood Circulation.

Apologize? Make peace?

If Wang Han reasoned with him, then naturally, he could reason with Wang Han as well.

But Wang Han had abandoned reason.

Now that he practiced martial arts and great power belonged to himself, was he still supposed to reason with Wang Han?

How utterly laughable.

Jiang Shu stood there impassively.

For a moment, every teacher in the office abruptly raised their heads and looked toward the handsome youth.

Qi and Blood Circulation! Horse Stance mastery! Admission to a Key University without examination!

No one understood their school's students' standards better than the teachers.

In last year's College Entrance Examination, Jicheng Fifth High School had thirteen hundred examinees, of whom six hundred and thirty-four were admitted to undergraduate programs.

Only twenty-seven were admitted to Key Universities.

In other words, the youth standing before them was already comparable to the school's finest students.

What was even more terrifying upon reflection was—

In merely four months of martial arts practice, the youth had advanced through two minor realms in succession: Qi and Blood Sensing, then Qi and Blood Circulation.

Now, there were still three months until the College Entrance Examination.

Who could guarantee that he would not advance another step further?

Jianzhi Academy!

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