Competing with Family Influence?

Thirty minutes later...

Eastsea Academy, Intermediate Division, Academic Affairs Office.

The atmosphere in the room was so oppressive it was almost hard to breathe.

"I've already informed your homeroom teacher."

Long Hengxu sat behind his desk, staring at the nine students before him with a face dark enough to drip water.

"Tell me, why did you fight in the cafeteria? Explain yourselves clearly, right in front of me."

"Wei Xiaofeng deliberately ran into me, then spilled food all over me."

Xie Xie spoke first, pointing at the still-wet grease stains on his clothes. Suppressed anger colored his voice. "Not only did he refuse to apologize, he even mocked us sarcastically."

"You're lying! I didn't!"

Wei Xiaofeng hurriedly argued, his face full of grievance. "You clearly weren't watching where you were going and bumped into me. That was why the food spilled on you.

"And instead of finding out what happened, you just attacked us."

"Wei Xiaofeng... you!"

Zhang Yangzi stepped forward and glared at Wei Xiaofeng. "You were clearly the one who ran into us first. Not only did you refuse to apologize, you even provoked us."

"And now you're twisting the truth. Do you take us all for blind fools?"

Wang Jinxi nodded as well, his tone steady. "Director Long, we're telling the truth."

"A lot of students in the cafeteria saw it. They were the ones who started it."

"That's not true."

Pu Liyong spoke weakly.

After receiving treatment from the academy's healing Soul Masters, he was doing much better than before, though his face was still somewhat pale. "The four of you ganged up on Wei Xiaofeng. You relied on your numbers and hit us so hard."

"Exactly, exactly."

Ming Quan and Yang Xin hurriedly echoed him, standing behind Wei Xiaofeng as though that could bolster their momentum.

Long Hengxu's brows furrowed tighter and tighter. He looked toward Fang Ming, who had remained silent. "Fang Ming, do you have anything else to say?"

"Doesn't matter."

Fang Ming spread his hands, a casual smile appearing at the corner of his lips. "I just need to make a call."

The moment he finished speaking, Long Hengxu shot to his feet, quickly circled around the desk, and blocked Fang Ming's path.

"Student Fang Ming, calm down. Don't be impulsive."

There was urgency in Long Hengxu's voice, and it even trembled slightly. "I'll definitely handle this properly for you. Please don't make that call yet."

Fang Ming's words had nearly scared him into having a heart attack.

Previously, Pagoda Master Lu Feng of the Eastsea Spirit Pagoda had personally spoken to President Yu Zhen.

He had repeatedly warned him never to offend Fang Ming and Gu Yue, or Sky Phoenix Douluo would personally come to East Sea.

After all, Fang Ming and Gu Yue were disciples of Sky Phoenix Douluo, the vice pagoda master of the Spirit Pagoda.

A figure like that was not someone a tiny Eastsea Academy could afford to offend. Even the entire Skysea Alliance would not dare provoke her lightly.

Wei Xiaofeng and the other three immediately turned extremely ugly.

They had never expected Fang Ming to have such a powerful background.

As for Xie Xie and the others, they had naturally suspected as much long ago. Otherwise, they would not have so readily acknowledged Fang Ming as their boss.

"Director Long... do you know of my Eastsea Wei Family?"

Wei Xiaofeng spoke with an ugly expression, trying to use his family background to pressure them.

"Oh? Just the Wei Family?"

Xie Xie sneered. "What does it amount to before my Xie Family?"

"The Wei Family?"

Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi stepped forward as well, contempt in their voices. "The Zhang Family and the Wang Family would like to see just how capable your Wei Family really is."

As soon as those words fell, the atmosphere in the office became even heavier, like a tightly drawn string that could snap at any moment.

"All of you, stop it."

Long Hengxu's face darkened. He slammed his hand against the desk. "Every last one of you keeps bringing up your family background. Do you really have no regard for the Skysea Alliance?"

"I'll ask the president to handle this matter!"

Knock, knock!

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Long Hengxu took a deep breath and suppressed the anger in his heart.

The next moment, Ye Yingluo pushed open the door and entered. She wore a teacher's uniform, with a hint of concern on her face.

"Director Long."

Ye Yingluo hurriedly asked, "I heard the students in our class got into a fight?"

"Ye Yingluo, look at your class."

Long Hengxu pointed at the nine students in front of him, his tone full of helplessness. "Every one of them has a more formidable background than the last. I really can't manage them anymore."

"Sorry, Director Long. I failed to discipline them properly and caused you trouble."

Ye Yingluo quickly apologized.

"Sigh..."

Long Hengxu waved his hand and sighed. "I've already informed the president to handle it."

"I can't deal with this matter."

"This..."

Ye Yingluo was somewhat surprised.

She had not expected a cafeteria fight to become serious enough that even Long Hengxu could not handle it.

It seemed the matter was far more complicated than she had imagined.

If Long Hengxu knew what Ye Yingluo was thinking, he would be utterly speechless.

This was not about a fight at all. These students all had extraordinary backgrounds and kept pulling out their families to pressure others at every turn. They clearly had no regard for him, the academic affairs director of Eastsea Academy.

Not long after, an elderly man who looked to be in his sixties pushed open the door and entered.

He stood tall, his kindly face carrying an air of authority. He was President Yu Zhen of Eastsea Academy, as well as one of the Skysea Alliance's council members.

"President."

Everyone spoke up to greet him.

"It's fine."

President Yu Zhen waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the nine students.

Long Hengxu quickly gave up his seat for President Yu Zhen.

Long Hengxu and Ye Yingluo respectfully stood to one side.

President Yu Zhen slowly spoke, his voice carrying unquestionable authority. "What should have been an ordinary fight has now escalated to this extent."

"Tell the truth. Otherwise..."

The next moment, the room fell silent.

Though President Yu Zhen did not state the consequences outright, the invisible pressure he exuded made everyone feel suffocated.

"President, I'll talk! I'll talk!"

Ming Quan was the first to crack under the pressure, speaking with a trembling voice.

He knew Fang Ming and the others had extraordinary identities, while he was merely an ordinary person with a little talent. If he stubbornly held out, he would only be the one to suffer.

"Ming Quan... you!"

Wei Xiaofeng and the other three had not expected Ming Quan to betray them so quickly, and their faces immediately turned livid.

"Is there anyone else who wishes to confess voluntarily?"

President Yu Zhen spoke again, his gaze settling on Wei Xiaofeng and the other three.

"I'll talk."

Seeing this, Pu Liyong and Yang Xin also betrayed him one after another.

"You..."

Wei Xiaofeng's expression completely changed.

He had never imagined that all three of his roommates would betray him.

"Go ahead."

President Yu Zhen looked at Ming Quan and the other two.

Ming Quan took a deep breath and recounted the entire incident in detail.

It turned out that Wei Xiaofeng really had deliberately bumped into Xie Xie. After spilling food all over him, he not only refused to apologize but even mocked him.

Unable to endure it, Xie Xie and the others had finally struck back.

"Wei Xiaofeng, do you admit your mistake?"

President Yu Zhen's gaze was piercing as he looked at Wei Xiaofeng.

"I did nothing wrong!"

Wei Xiaofeng gritted his teeth. "They violated school rules by hitting me. Why should I be punished?"

"Sigh..."

President Yu Zhen sighed.

He had already given Wei Xiaofeng a chance, but unfortunately, the boy refused to repent.

President Yu Zhen solemnly announced, "Wei Xiaofeng maliciously provoked others and violated school rules. He is expelled!"

"No! President Yu Zhen!"

Wei Xiaofeng panicked, and even his voice changed pitch. "I'm from the Eastsea Wei Family!"

"And?"

President Yu Zhen looked at Wei Xiaofeng calmly. "Do you have no regard for the Skysea Alliance?"

The next moment, Wei Xiaofeng fell silent.

He bit his lip hard, his nails digging into his palms, yet he felt no pain.

He knew he was finished. He had offended Fang Ming and the others, then offended the Skysea Alliance as well. Even if he returned to the Wei Family, he likely would not fare well.

"As for Ming Quan, Pu Liyong, and Yang Xin, you will receive an official reprimand. Transfer to Class Five."

"Yes."

Ming Quan and the other two nodded, not daring to say another word.

President Yu Zhen looked toward Fang Ming and the others again. "Fang Ming, Gu Yue, Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi, although you had a reason, resorting to violence was still wrong, so you must be punished as well."

"You will compensate the Eastsea Academy cafeteria for all damages."

"Yes, President."

Fang Ming and the others nodded without objection.

When Wei Xiaofeng heard this, his eyes were filled with hatred.

Why? Why was he being expelled while they were merely transferred to another class?

Fang Ming and the others only had to pay some money? Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do.

Wei Xiaofeng silently swore, Just wait. As long as I get the chance, I'll definitely take revenge on all of you!

"Alright, the matter has been settled."

President Yu Zhen said, "Little Ye, take them back."

"Yes, President."

Ye Yingluo nodded and led Fang Ming and the others, as well as Wei Xiaofeng's group, out of the Academic Affairs Office.

Once outside the office, Wei Xiaofeng said nothing, his face frighteningly dark.

"Xiaofeng..."

Ming Quan and the other two spoke up, not knowing what to say.

Wei Xiaofeng turned and left without looking back.

"Fang Ming, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi, you five..."

Ye Yingluo looked at them, unsure what to say for a moment.

"Sorry, Teacher Ye. We caused you trouble."

The five of them apologized sincerely.

Seeing Xie Xie's filthy clothes, Ye Yingluo sighed. "Forget it. Go back first."

"Alright, Teacher Ye."

Fang Ming and the others nodded, turned, and left.