Chapter 113: Eruption

The entire Northwest Military Academy was immersed in unease. Only now, in the moment they had lost their strength, did they truly understand its importance. Only now did they realize how wonderful their once-stable life had been.

At the same time, resentment toward Fang Qingyun grew deeper among many. If not for him, they reasoned, they would not be struggling to survive. Although Xi Liuan’s departure was not necessarily caused by Fang Qingyun, it did not stop them from thinking so; after all, it was Fang Qingyun who had publicly declared at the meeting that he would support the Beacon Fortress.

Does that place even need your support? Who do you think you are, Fang Qingyun? Just because you became the student council president, have you forgotten your own name? You’re just a snot-nosed kid—you want to go support a major fortress? Why don’t you just go shoot down the Giant Beast’s Gaze?

However, perhaps because their target was not the Northwest Military Academy, or perhaps because the enemy knew something, there had been no movement. The academy remained calm.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Within the school, it became increasingly quiet. The people from Black Tooth Military Academy, however, were growing restless. They wanted to leave. What was the point of staying at the Northwest Military Academy like this? They would rather go support the Beacon Fortress; at the very least, they could earn military merit, and for military academy students, the benefits of that were self-evident. While there was a risk of sacrifice, this world never lacked ambitious people willing to risk their lives.

However, Hu Shisong suppressed this idea. Both the Northwest and Black Tooth academies were military institutions; while they were competitors, they were also comrades-in-arms destined to fight on the battlefield together. How could they abandon each other and leave independently at such a critical moment? Anyone with a brain could see that the Northwest Military Academy was having a hard time right now, and their strength was crucial. If their departure led to problems at the Northwest academy, how could they cooperate on the battlefield in the future?

Yet, there was another voice within the Black Tooth academy: Why was the team supporting the Beacon Fortress from the Northwest academy and not the Black Tooth academy? If it had been the Black Tooth academy that went, the Northwest academy wouldn't be in this state. Was it possible that the Northwest academy didn't want them to steal the glory?

Hu Shisong forbade the students from harboring such thoughts, but human nature is complex; the more you forbid something, the more people tend to dwell on it. The atmosphere began to turn strange from within.

At this moment, Fang Qingyun finally appeared. Two days after disappearing, he surfaced in the student council office, issued an order to convene a meeting, and invited those from the Black Tooth Military Academy.

This was a perfectly normal event! The student council president of the Northwest Military Academy calling a meeting—was that not expected? Yet, many found it incredibly irritating. They believed that it was precisely because of Fang Qingyun that the current situation had arisen, placing their safety in jeopardy, and so many simply refused to attend.

"The student council should just manage the students well; they don't need to worry about the rest!"

When Fang Qingyun walked into the conference room, the room was sparsely occupied, with only a few student council members and a handful of teachers. Fang Qingyun frowned and asked, "What is going on? Did you not notify them?" He looked at Gu Xi and Zhang Mei. Both women looked aggrieved.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Junhong frowned, his voice cold. "What happened? Speak!"

Gu Xi sighed. "The teachers are unwilling to come. They believe that since we are in wartime, there is no point in having meetings; they would rather settle down and do their own tasks."

Zhang Mei added, "The people from the Black Tooth Military Academy believe that they are not part of the Northwest academy, so there is no need for them to participate in its meetings."

Fang Qingyun asked calmly, "Do the high-ranking generals think the same? And Hu Shisong—what did he say?"

Zhang Mei spoke first. "Teacher Hu Shisong has gone into seclusion."

"As for the high-ranking teachers..." Gu Xi glanced cautiously at Fang Qingyun and whispered, "They also believe it is better to maintain the status quo."

"Heh!" Fang Qingyun chuckled. He shook his head gently, said nothing, and turned his gaze to Qin Xiangjun. "What about your side? Did you get results on the investigation I asked for?"

"I did!" Qin Xiangjun looked at Fang Qingyun with a strange expression. This man’s way of thinking was truly different from everyone else’s. At a time like this, he was the only one who would think in that direction, which was what allowed her to uncover something. She whispered a few names.

Fang Qingyun was stunned. "No way?"

"It can't be wrong!" Qin Xiangjun said with great certainty. "I’ve verified it repeatedly!"

"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s move!" Fang Qingyun said calmly. "The disciplinary brigade, mobilize everyone. Use all our resources; this is not the time to be thrifty."

"Yes!" The members of the disciplinary brigade didn't know what Fang Qingyun was planning, but hearing that there was to be a battle, and that they were to use all their resources, they became instantly excited. The feeling from the last battle seemed to return to them.

Indeed! Fang Qingyun handed each of them a second-tier bullet. "Remember, do not fire without orders!"

Fang Qingyun felt a pang of heartache. Once these second-tier bullets were fired, they would certainly not be recovered. His losses were truly immense. He had spent days and nights working without rest, and he had poured all the credits he had recently earned into this. Over a hundred second-tier bullets! Each one was capable of inflicting damage on a General-rank; ten people working together could potentially take down a General. A hundred people working together could force even a peak-level General to avoid the brunt of their power.

Clatter! Zhao Junhong led two disciplinary squads to move first. Qin Xiangjun followed closely with two more. Their movements immediately drew the attention of countless people, especially the teachers and those from the Black Tooth academy. They all knew Fang Qingyun had called a meeting, yet none of them had gone. With Fang Qingyun's personality, would he just let it go? But at such a critical moment, what could Fang Qingyun possibly do? In wartime, would he dare to take any radical action? Was he not afraid of causing a major disaster?

The next moment, Fang Qingyun made it clear to them: he was going to be reckless!

"Zhao Junhong, what do you think you're doing?" Facing the barrels of the disciplinary brigade, the blocked teachers roared in anger. "Are you rebelling? Pointing guns at your teachers?"

Zhao Junhong said calmly, "Teachers, the President said we are to have a meeting. Please come with us!"

"You... you..." The teachers were stunned. Are these people crazy? Pointing guns at teachers to make them attend a meeting? Was the world really this insane?

The teachers said with grim expressions, "And if we refuse?"

"Bang!" A student fired a shot toward the side. The power of the spiritual energy made the teachers' mouths twitch.

"Spiritual energy bullets? And at least second-tier?"

"Correct!" Zhao Junhong clapped his hands lightly. "The guns held by the others are the same. Teachers, do you want to test whether we dare to fire?"

Facing the forty-strong disciplinary brigade, the teachers took a deep breath. "You must be mad!" They walked toward the conference room. They wanted to see exactly what Fang Qingyun was planning—yes, that was it. They were definitely not afraid that this brute, Zhao Junhong, would suddenly open fire! Definitely not!

...

Qin Xiangjun led the two squads of forty disciplinary members into the school’s VIP area. The people from Black Tooth Military Academy were staying there. Seeing Qin Xiangjun and her team approaching aggressively, the sentry students were alarmed and hurriedly sounded the alarm. Led by a teacher, the Black Tooth students rushed out in a swarm.

"Qin Xiangjun, what are you trying to do?" The leading teacher shouted. He was the deputy leader of the Black Tooth Military Academy, Jiang Huai! He was also a high-ranking General. The Northwest Military Academy was a special institution; other schools didn't have as many Generals. In some martial arts universities, the principals were only peak-level Generals, so a high-ranking General was more than qualified to be a vice-principal. Jiang Huai was the only high-ranking General among the Black Tooth contingent, a powerhouse second only to Hu Shisong! He was extremely furious. As reinforcements for the Northwest academy, they were being treated like this. What was the Northwest academy trying to do? Repay kindness with enmity?

Qin Xiangjun smiled slightly. "What’s with the big display?"

"Hmph, Qin Xiangjun, I know you’re a bit strange, but you’ve come to the wrong place," Jiang Huai said coldly. "If you want to throw your weight around, go do it with the students of the Northwest academy. It won't work in front of us at Black Tooth!" One sentence made his position clear and put Qin Xiangjun in her place. A student! No matter how much power a student had, they were still just a student! They should just stick to playing king among the students.

"Is that so?" Qin Xiangjun waved her hand gently.

"Click!" Forty disciplinary members aimed their guns at the Black Tooth contingent.

Jiang Huai sneered again. "What? Want to fire? Go ahead and try!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

In a coordinated volley, powerful spiritual energy dispersed. Jiang Huai looked at the row of bullet holes in front of him, his lips trembling. "What exactly do you want?"

"The President has ordered a meeting!" Qin Xiangjun continued to smile. "Don't make me say it a second time. That was just the first squad. Are you sure you can dodge the second squad's fire?"

"Ahem!" Jiang Huai coughed dryly. "Miss Qin, what is this for? It's just a meeting, right? As reinforcements for the Northwest academy, it is only natural for us to attend."

*Damn it, a bunch of lunatics!* Were these little brats so thin-skinned that they lost their heads just because they were snubbed? As adults, they shouldn't indulge these kids! Leaving three teachers behind, the others followed Jiang Huai, preparing to leave.

"Wait a moment!" Qin Xiangjun waved her hand. "The President said this meeting is very interesting, so Teacher Jiang Huai should bring a few outstanding students to witness it."

"Oh, I see!" Jiang Huai didn't think much of it. Sometimes, for certain meetings or discussions, teachers would bring outstanding students to help them observe and learn. This wasn't rare. He immediately pointed to a few people.

"Teacher, I won't go!" Yin Ming suddenly spoke up.

"Why?" Jiang Huai was startled. Yin Ming was a key protege of the Black Tooth academy. He wasn't just talented; he was of noble birth—the direct grandson of a Duke! Even some princesses of lesser status couldn't compare to him. In the past, he was always by Hu Shisong’s side and would jump at any opportunity. Why was he backing down now?

Yin Ming smiled faintly, saying nothing, but glanced inadvertently at Qin Xiangjun.

"Oh!" Jiang Huai realized, assuming Yin Ming was just fed up with Fang Qingyun and his group and didn't want to go; for a young man, that seemed normal. "If you don't want to..."

"He must go!" Qin Xiangjun interrupted Jiang Huai. Looking coldly at Yin Ming, she said, "What? Do you look down on our President? Our President specifically requested that outstanding young people attend and has prepared a stage for you. Why won't you go?"

Yin Ming frowned slightly, then smiled faintly. "I simply don't care for such occasions."

"What a joke!" Qin Xiangjun looked disdainful. "It's wartime; do you have the luxury of choice? Let me tell you, you are going today, whether you want to or not. If you don't, I’ll have to tie you up and drag you there!"

Jiang Huai’s eyes burned with anger. "Is this the Northwest Military Academy? I see a den of bandits! We are your reinforcements, yet you treat us like this!" The other Black Tooth students were also furious. If not for the teachers suppressing them, they would have erupted long ago.

Qin Xiangjun glanced at him coldly. "That has nothing to do with me. My orders were simply to bring most of the Black Tooth teachers and their most outstanding students. If you have any complaints, feel free to protest to the student council or even the Snake King."

Jiang Huai’s expression grew even more furious. "Fine, I want to see what kind of tricks you can pull. If you don't give us a proper explanation today, I will not let this go. Yin Ming, let’s go!" He strode away without another word.

Yin Ming frowned, feeling a vague sense of unease. However, facing Qin Xiangjun's icy gaze, he had no choice but to follow.

The group soon arrived in the main conference room. Fang Qingyun sat alone on the high platform. His face was calm as he looked at the papers, scribbling away. Below, many teachers were already seated, some disgruntled, some appreciative, others furious. Fang Qingyun ignored them all. He sat high above, his demeanor steady and faintly sharp. At this moment, he seemed to be the center—the center of the world.

When the people from the Black Tooth academy arrived, no matter how much they resented Fang Qingyun, their momentum faltered upon seeing him.

"President!" Qin Xiangjun smiled slightly, greeted him, and took her seat. Moments later, Zhao Junhong returned and did the same. The teachers looked at each other, snorted angrily, and found seats, glaring at Fang Qingyun.

This time, Fang Qingyun had gone too far. He had used military coercion against teachers and even acted against the Black Tooth academy. This was a grave matter. If he couldn't provide a reasonable explanation and was just holding a meeting to throw his weight around, he feared that even the Snake King wouldn't let him off easily. By acting against reinforcements without authorization, Fang Qingyun’s own reputation would be in ruins.