The Mole Is Exposed, Zhou Hu Is Expelled

Jiang Hai City No. 1 High School's central auditorium was packed to the brim.

The entire faculty and student body had gathered there. The atmosphere was so solemn and oppressive that even the usually rowdy students sat upright, not daring to make a sound.

At the center of the stage, the principal swept his grave gaze over the sea of people below. Several school administrators and martial arts instructor Li Qingshan stood beside him.

Off to one side of the stage, Zhou Hu knelt on the ground, pale as death, as though every bone had been pulled from his body.

"Everyone has been gathered here today to publicly address an incident of an extremely serious nature."

The principal's voice carried through the amplification system and echoed across the auditorium.

"Regarding the malicious tampering of the permissions for Advanced Gravity Chamber No. 7 and the deliberate attempt to harm student Jiang Yuan, the school has completed its preliminary investigation and will now announce the results."

Everyone's eyes converged on Jiang Yuan, who stood on the stage.

Just then, a beautiful figure stepped out from the crowd and walked directly onto the stage.

It was the class monitor, Zhao Qingya.

She wore a tight black athletic yoga outfit today, one that perfectly outlined her fiery figure. Her long hair was tied high in a ponytail, swinging with each step and brimming with youthful energy.

"Principal, teachers, I believe there are still some doubts surrounding this matter."

Zhao Qingya walked to the front of the stage, bowed first to the school officials, then turned toward Jiang Yuan. Her face carried just the right touch of concern and worry.

She did not speak immediately. Instead, before the entire school, she began to sway gently to a peculiar rhythm.

It was a performance that blended modern dance with the force-generation techniques of ancient martial arts. Every movement was seductive, her waist supple as a water snake and her legs long and powerful, perfectly combining a woman's softness with a martial artist's strength.

A collective gasp rose from below the stage, and quite a few boys stared with their eyes wide open.

"Jiang Yuan, I know you're very strong, and that you're angry after being wronged. We can all understand that."

As Zhao Qingya danced, she spoke in her sweet, magnetic voice. Her body gradually drew closer to Jiang Yuan, her gaze carrying a faint, suggestive allure.

"But Zhou Hu is still young. He made a mistake in a moment of impulsiveness. You beat him into this state, then questioned him in private. It's entirely possible that he said some false things out of fear, isn't it?"

Her words were highly provocative, immediately shaking some of the students who had originally sympathized with Jiang Yuan.

"Yeah, Jiang Yuan was a little too harsh."

"Zhou Hu was beaten that badly. It wouldn't be impossible for him to confess under duress."

Seeing public opinion begin to shift, Zhao Qingya's dance became even bolder and more provocative. She leaned close to Jiang Yuan, nearly pressing herself against him, her breath fragrant.

"Jiang Yuan, let it go. Forgive when you can. Could you give him a chance to turn over a new leaf?"

Lowering her voice, she added in a volume only the two of them could hear, "My mother raised me alone, and it wasn't easy. So I especially understand the hardships of single-parent families. Zhou Hu is the same. None of us have had it easy. Just consider it a favor for your senior."

She even added a suggestive remark.

"Oh, and my mother is still single too."

Jiang Yuan looked at the woman performing so vigorously before him, utterly unmoved.

He even found it somewhat amusing.

"Are you finished?"

Jiang Yuan spoke calmly.

Zhao Qingya's dancing stalled, and the smile on her face froze for a moment.

"If you're done, then it's my turn."

Jiang Yuan did not look at her again. Instead, he took something from his pocket and held it up.

It was a black magnetic card, its edges marked with slight wear.

"I picked this up from the trash can outside the gravity chamber. I believe this should be what was used to tamper with the permissions."

He looked toward the technician responsible for the school's network equipment.

"Mr. Zhang, please test whether this card's underlying code came from Celestial Pivot Industries' permissions database."

The bespectacled technician immediately jogged onto the stage, took the magnetic card, and inserted it into the testing device he carried with him.

In less than ten seconds, a line of red code appeared on the screen.

"That's right! Principal, this card's encryption protocol and underlying code are indeed from an internal-use permissions card of Celestial Pivot Industries, and its authorization level is extremely high!"

The technician's tone carried a trace of excitement.

Boom!

The entire auditorium erupted.

Zhao Qingya's face instantly turned deathly pale. She never could have imagined that, despite watching Zhou Hu throw the card into the trash herself, Jiang Yuan would actually retrieve it!

Jiang Yuan ignored everyone's reactions. Step by step, he walked before the limp Zhou Hu, crouched down, and whispered in an extremely low voice beside his ear.

"Zhou Hu, do you know? I went to see your grandmother yesterday."

Zhou Hu's body shook violently.

"It really is lonely for an elderly person to live alone, so I took it upon myself to find more than a dozen healthy old companions for her in your neighborhood."

Jiang Yuan's tone was soft, yet it carried a chilling coldness that made one's hair stand on end.

"From now on, they'll accompany your grandmother every day to dance in the square, practice tai chi, and play chess. I guarantee her later years will be rich and colorful, and she'll never feel lonely again."

"Y-You demon!"

Zhou Hu's mental defenses completely crumbled at that moment. He suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Zhao Qingya in the distance, and screamed with all his strength.

"It was her! Zhao Qingya!"

"She gave me this black card! She also taught me step by step how to alter the gravity chamber's permissions and destroy the communications module!"

Like a madman, Zhou Hu pointed at her, tears and snot streaming down his face.

"She said that as long as I got it done, Mr. Chu He of Celestial Pivot Industries would give me a huge sum of money, enough for me to live the rest of my life without worrying about food or clothes! She ordered me to do everything!"

This earth-shattering reversal plunged the entire auditorium into dead silence.

Every gaze turned like a sharp sword, stabbing toward Zhao Qingya in unison.

"You're lying!"

Zhao Qingya screamed. Forcing herself to remain composed, she argued, "My fingerprints aren't on the card! This is slander! Your ravings alone can't possibly count as evidence!"

"Enough!"

The principal's furious shout cut off her excuses.

"Zhao Qingya!"

The principal's voice was filled with disappointment and anger.

"As the class officer responsible for managing the gravity chamber's permissions, such a major security incident occurred, yet you failed to discover and report it immediately. Instead, you tried to confuse the facts and shield a criminal!"

"Whether Zhou Hu is telling the truth or not, you cannot escape responsibility for your dereliction of duty!"

"I hereby announce that, effective immediately, Zhao Qingya will receive a major demerit and be suspended from her position as class monitor and all other school duties, pending further investigation!"

The principal's ruling rang out with unquestionable force.

Zhao Qingya's body went limp, and she nearly collapsed to the floor. She knew that her future was completely ruined.

"As for Zhou Hu," the principal shifted his gaze to the man who had already collapsed into a puddle of flesh, "his character is corrupt, he deliberately attempted to harm a fellow student, and his methods were exceptionally vile. By decision of the school committee, he is expelled effective immediately!"

Thus, the farce came to an end.

After the assembly was dismissed, the students left amid heated discussion.

Jiang Yuan's gaze passed over the crowd and landed on Zhao Qingya, who was walking out in a daze.

This woman was far more complicated than she appeared.

Just as Zhao Qingya's figure was about to disappear through the auditorium doors, a familiar light-blue notification sound rang in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Hidden mission triggered: Martial World Manhunt Order!]

[A flower-picking rapist has appeared on campus. Kill him as soon as possible. The target is a martial arts expert proficient in various internal arts.]