Mu En's Attempt to Keep Them

"Shaozhe, see what I told you? This child could never accept your proposed punishment."

"...Yes, Teacher."

Watching Mu En speak with the middle-aged man beside him, a drop of cold sweat slid down Tang Wulin's forehead.

Even an idiot could tell that Mu En had come prepared, but there was no way to back out now. Tang Wulin could only step forward, shielding Huo Yutong behind him as he said:

"Mu En, you should be able to see that Yutong and I intend to leave the academy together. Don't worry, we won't reveal Dai Huabin's matter. Please let us go."

Hearing his voice, Mu En turned his gaze back to Tang Wulin.

He smiled faintly.

"Wulin, I know you must be deeply disappointed in our academy right now."

"..."

Tang Wulin did not answer. The answer was obvious, and saying nothing was better for both sides.

Mu En could only let out a helpless sigh.

"I am deeply sorry about this matter. My failure to educate my student properly allowed him to commit such an error. I offer you my apology."

As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly and actually bowed to Tang Wulin.

The several deans nearby were instantly stunned.

Who was Mu En? He was the current Sea God's Pavilion Master, one of the surviving Limit Douluo, an existence standing at the pinnacle of the world in both cultivation and status.

Others had always been the ones to bow to him. Yet now, he was assuming such a posture before Tang Wulin, a mere nine-year-old child.

Yan Shaozhe hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

"Teacher, you don't need to do this. This matter is entirely my responsibility!"

Mu En looked at him and said expressionlessly:

"Your responsibility is certainly not small, but failing to teach you properly is also my dereliction of duty. Yan Shaozhe, I order you to step down as dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department effective immediately. You may not hold the position again for the next ten years. Gong Changlong will become the new dean of the Martial Soul Department. Take some time to cool down that overheated brain of yours, which has been warped by power all these years."

"What?!"

It was like a thunderclap out of nowhere. If Mu En personally apologizing to Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong had merely been shocking, then stripping Yan Shaozhe of his position as dean was earth-shattering news enough to leave people unable to think.

Even Qian Duoduo could not help saying:

"Mu En, Old Yan was indeed wrong in this matter, but he has worked tirelessly for the Martial Soul Department for so many years and brought it tremendous growth. Dismissing him from his position outright seems too severe."

Cai Mei'er nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, please show mercy, Mu En."

Xian Lin'er, meanwhile, turned her gaze elsewhere. Her expression was complicated, and she said nothing.

Mu En sighed.

"You still do not understand why I chose to do this. It is true that Shaozhe has made enormous contributions to the Martial Soul Department, but he has become far too fixated on the position of dean itself. He has forgotten his most fundamental duty. While leading the Martial Soul Department forward, the price he paid was the stagnation of the academy's Soul Engineering Department, as well as an increasingly indifferent attitude toward the students. If this continues, one day he will commit an irreparable mistake. I only hope he can realize this in time."

"But, Mu En..."

"Enough, Mei'er."

Cai Mei'er still wanted to say something, but Yan Shaozhe raised a hand and stopped her.

He respectfully lowered his head to Mu En.

"This disciple accepts Teacher's punishment."

"Mm."

Mu En nodded in satisfaction.

In truth, the reason he had chosen Gong Changlong as the new dean of the Martial Soul Department was because that rough man knew nothing about running an academy, yet cared greatly for students.

What the Martial Soul Department lacked now was not management, but respect for its students. Besides, they had suppressed the Soul Engineering Department for long enough over the years. It was time to make some room for it.

Mu En looked warmly at Tang Wulin.

"Child, what do you think of this punishment?"

"..."

Tang Wulin could not speak.

What could he possibly say? From what he had just heard, that middle-aged man named Yan Shaozhe was actually the dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department? Then what kind of person was Mu En, who could remove him from his post with a single sentence?

His mind was a complete mess. All the words he had prepared had been thrown into disarray by this sudden turn of events.

Mu En smiled faintly.

"Of course, I will also expel Dai Huabin. I guarantee that such incidents will never happen again at the academy, and I will absolutely ensure the safety of you and Huo Yutong."

Listening to Mu En's gentle voice, Tang Wulin found it somewhat familiar.

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

"Was that voice last night yours?"

Mu En nodded kindly.

"Mm, it was me. You truly have many secrets, but don't worry. I will not pursue them."

The others looked puzzled, unable to understand what Tang Wulin and Mu En were talking about.

That was only natural. Only Tang Wulin knew that the true mortal threat he had faced last night had not been the assassin's attack, but the restless energy of the Golden Dragon King.

Just as he had been about to collapse, an aged voice had helped him control that energy and saved his life.

In other words, had Mu En actually been watching over him the entire time?

If that was true, then their group had never been in any danger from the very beginning.

Without realizing it, much of the resentment in Tang Wulin's heart dissipated.

However, he still said:

"But even so, it does not change the fact that the academy values nobles more than our lives."

That was right. This was the key issue.

Although Mu En had disrupted Tang Wulin's rhythm, he had not led Tang Wulin's thoughts astray.

How Mu En punished Yan Shaozhe was his own business, but the academy had once chosen to spare Dai Huabin. No one could guarantee that the academy would not do the same thing a second time.

Mu En did not deny it.

"You are right. This is also what troubles me most right now."

He sighed, his gaze full of helplessness.

"As you can see, this old man was severely injured due to certain matters years ago, so I did not pay attention to the academy's management for several decades. I never expected the academy to become like this."

At this point, he suddenly asked:

"Wulin, do you know Sea God's Pavilion?"

Tang Wulin shook his head.

"Sea God's Pavilion is the academy's true center of power. Those there are the academy's most core personnel," Mu En explained. "And I am the current Pavilion Master of Sea God's Pavilion. You can think of me as the one who calls the shots at Shrek now, though I have not interfered in the academy's operations for many years."

Tang Wulin silently listened to Mu En's words, completely confused.

Why was he telling him all this now?

As if seeing through his confusion, Mu En revealed a faint smile.

"Wulin, Yutong, if the two of you are willing to stay, I will take you both as my disciples. I will have you move into Sea God's Pavilion and provide you with the academy's finest cultivation resources. At the same time, if you are still willing to remain at the academy after you grow up, I guarantee that each of you will have a place among the members of Sea God's Pavilion, allowing you to truly enter the academy's center of power."

Ignoring the shocked expressions of the several deans beside him, he said sincerely:

"I do not have much time left. Even if I wish to change the academy's current state, I am powerless to reverse the situation. But you are different. You are still young. I can build a stage for you. As long as you agree, the future era can be written by you. Can you promise me that you will stay at the academy?"

As he spoke, he extended his aged hand toward Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong.

Tang Wulin's expression kept changing.

Mu En's meaning was already very clear. As long as they remained at Shrek, he would provide Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong with the highest-level resources and grant them ample authority.

If they were dissatisfied with anything at the academy, they could reshape the academy themselves.

This was an extraordinarily sincere offer, practically the greatest promise Mu En could make to Tang Wulin.

After hesitating again and again, Tang Wulin finally reached out and placed his hand atop Mu En's.

Although his impression of the academy could never return to what it had once been, he was still willing to remain there and observe for a while longer.