Cutting Yan Shaozhe's Flesh

Chen Xuan was not annoyed. He leaned closer and whispered, "Elder Zhuang, sit tight at today's meeting. Afterward, I have a good thing to discuss with you."

Elder Zhuang shot him a sidelong look, his face full of suspicion. "A good thing? When have you, Xuanzi, ever come looking for me with anything good? You probably want to trick me into being your laborer again."

"That is not true." Chen Xuan's expression turned solemn, his tone sincere. "Elder Zhuang is Shrek's foremost healer. No one can match you in saving lives and holding the fort. Who would dare make you do menial work? We would be grateful just to have you oversee things."

Elder Zhuang did not buy it at all. With a flick of his sleeve, he went straight to a seat near the edge and sat down, saying flatly,

"Stop feeding me sweet talk. Say what you want. If there is nothing, I'll leave first."

"Don't rush. Wait until the meeting is over, and I'll explain everything."

As the two spoke in low voices, Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er entered the hall side by side.

Yan Shaozhe was dressed especially formally today, wearing his usual gentle smile.

Cai Mei'er walked quietly at his side, greeting each of the senior elders in turn.

Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo followed close behind. Xian Lin'er carried a thick stack of papers in her arms.

Qian Duoduo followed behind her. There was unusually little smile on his plump face, his lips pressed together as though he were holding back something major.

Once everyone had taken their seats, Chen Xuan returned to his usual place. He set the old booklet in his arms on the table, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes to rest.

Only then did Mu En slowly open his eyes. His gaze swept over everyone's faces before finally settling on Chen Xuan.

"Xuanzi, you speak."

Chen Xuan opened his eyes and straightened up.

"You all know that every field mission assigned to the Inquisitorial Legion has now been suspended.

"I personally recalled every last man. The reason is simple: the Inquisitorial Legion has long since rotted from within."

He looked around the room. His tone was calm, but there was an anger in it that could not be suppressed.

"I only reviewed the mission records from the past ten years, yet I found so many surprises.

"Disability and casualty pensions were skimmed at every level. Benefits for fallen soldiers were claimed under false names. Equipment procurement accounts were inflated, while the actual military supplies came up short and were passed off with inferior goods. Every single case was horrifying.

"I have entrusted Elder Lin with assisting in a thorough investigation. Within three days, the complete audit list and evidence will all be submitted to Sea God Pavilion and made public."

The moment he said this, the atmosphere in the hall sank.

Quite a few senior elders looked at one another, and some had already changed expression.

Chen Xuan gave them no time to digest it and continued,

"I have already issued an order in my capacity as deputy commander of the Inquisitorial Legion.

"For the next two years, the Inquisitorial Legion will undertake no field missions.

"Everything can wait until I have cleaned out all the vermin inside."

He paused, then added,

"Conveniently, these two years can also be used to fully equip the Inquisitorial Legion with Soul Tools.

"If their equipment is incomplete and their training inadequate, why should they go out and risk their lives? No one's life was blown in on the wind."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

At that point, one senior elder could not help asking, "What if students graduate during these two years? They can't all be barred from going out, can they?"

Chen Xuan looked at him, his tone unchanged. "Those who graduate can graduate as normal.

"For these two years, the academy will pay to make sure they learn how to use Soul Tools and receive full equipment.

"Once they finish learning and graduate, then they graduate. It is not as if serving the Inquisitorial Legion to the death is the only way to count as a Shrek student."

The senior elder opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more.

Chen Xuan added, "For the next two years, the Inquisitorial Legion will not take missions under any circumstances. As for whether the former Three Kingdoms have objections, let them come discuss it with me."

Once those words fell, the hall went quiet again. Some frowned, while others sighed inwardly, but no one voiced further opposition.

Mu En lifted the teacup before him and slowly took a sip. He did not speak to stop it, which amounted to tacit approval.

After finishing, Chen Xuan turned his gaze toward Xian Lin'er.

"Lin'er, did you bring your materials?"

Xian Lin'er immediately rose and pushed the stack of papers before her to the center of the table.

"Reporting to Elder Mu and the senior elders, this is the Soul Tool Department's projected requirements plan for the next five years.

"It includes basic instruction, equipment research and development, equipping the Inquisitorial Legion, and the personnel and supplies needed to establish Soul Tool courses in the Outer Court.

"Everything has been listed by category. Please review it."

Mu En nodded. Attendants immediately took the proposal and distributed it among the senior elders present.

When the proposal reached Yan Shaozhe, his smile stiffened after he had flipped through only two pages. The further he read, the paler his face became.

Xian Lin'er's proposal was exceptionally detailed. Every item had been calculated with absolute clarity.

The required materials, manpower, and funds were all listed one by one. Nearly every page meant taking something from the Martial Soul Department's bowl.

A massive hemorrhage. This was demanding that he bleed heavily!

This was no longer cutting flesh. This was draining his blood!

His fingers gripped the pages so tightly that his knuckles turned faintly white.

Cai Mei'er, seated beside him, saw it and gently reached out beneath the table to pat the back of his hand.

Yan Shaozhe was slightly startled and turned to look at her.

Cai Mei'er said nothing. She merely gave him a secret smile. There was comfort in it, along with a touch of teasing, as if she were saying: Bear with it. Don't show weakness in front of everyone.

Yan Shaozhe's mouth twitched, but he ultimately suppressed the turmoil in his heart and resumed that gentle, composed expression.

Chen Xuan saw all of it and secretly laughed, pretending not to notice.

He cleared his throat and continued, "Everything is written there. What I want is very simple: only three things.

"First, Soul Tool basic courses must be established for all first- through third-year students in the Outer Court.

"Second, every member of the Inquisitorial Legion must complete Soul Tool training. From now on, no field mission may be undertaken without complete equipment.

"Third, add Soul Tools to the graduation assessment. Those who fail will repeat the course. If they still fail, get out!"

"Elder Xuan." A senior elder lightly coughed. "Isn't this third step a little too hasty? Graduation assessments affect too many things. Adding requirements so abruptly may leave many students at a loss."

Chen Xuan looked at him. "Hasty? Can it be more urgent than human lives? Once they walk out of the academy gates, if they cannot even use a defensive Soul Tool, who is responsible when they die? You, or me?"

The senior elder was choked by his words until his face darkened. He spoke no further.

Another person said, "That may be true, but whether the Soul Tool Department currently has the manpower and resources to support such a large volume of courses remains a question.

"If this is forced through, I fear the quality of instruction will be difficult to guarantee."

"That is why I need to hire people." Chen Xuan briefly mentioned Elder Lin's matter.

"Over in the Underground City of the Sun Moon Empire, I have already asked Elder Lin to look into a list.

"When the time comes, we will invite several top Soul Engineers back. There will be no shortage of teachers.

"For materials, facilities, and funding, the academy will provide one portion, the Treasure Gathering Pavilion another. If that is still not enough, I will personally go ask for more."

Once he said that, everyone fell silent again.

Hiring people from the Sun Moon Empire? That was an enormous move.

Yet coming from Elder Xuan's mouth, no one felt that he was joking.

Elder Lin set down his teacup and added, "The list will be ready in one month. The price will not be cheap, but they are all capable hands."