Chapter 119: Violent Rage

"You..."

This time, it was Hu Shisong’s turn to change color.

He had seen this summon before and even possessed detailed files on it, but seeing it again now, he realized it had grown significantly more powerful. How much time had even passed?!

Fang Qingyun looked at Hu Shisong with indifference and said coldly, "Now, get out of here immediately, or I will help you get out!"

Hu Shisong’s face turned ghastly.

Jiang Huai and the others hurried over. "Team leader, no! Team leader, the Vice Principal wants to speak with you." He hastily handed the phone in his hand to Hu Shisong.

"Hmph!" Hu Shisong let out a cold snort, took the phone, and walked to the side.

Jiang Huai quickly offered a conciliatory smile. "Everyone, please, stay calm. Yin Ming is Principal Hu’s disciple and is held in high regard by him, so it’s inevitable that he’s a bit agitated."

Fang Qingyun said calmly, "I am only worried that he will make the wrong choice."

"That is absolutely impossible!" Jiang Huai’s words were firm and decisive.

Yin Ming had collaborated with the demon race, causing such severe casualties to the Northwest Military Academy. It was rumored that a fortress on the front lines had also suffered a breach, which was likely Yin Ming’s doing as well. If he wasn't punished, the Black Tooth Military Academy would be unable to shirk its responsibility!

Neither the Northwest Military Academy nor the Snake King would let this slide. Perhaps one should also include Xiang Tian, who was still the commander-in-chief of the Beacon Fortress! Yin Ming’s actions were equivalent to stabbing him in the back. As a commander-in-chief and a powerful figure who had once suppressed the Snake King, would he just let it go?

With three divine generals, two powerful marshals, and a university principal involved, even the Duke of Song would not dare to confront them head-on.

However, something that left him dumbfounded happened next.

After finishing the call, Hu Shisong strode back and said, "I must ask the Northwest Military Academy to release our student. Furthermore, since our student was detained without cause, the Northwest Military Academy should apologize for it."

The scene fell into a deathly silence. Jiang Huai’s jaw nearly hit the ground. *Big brother, have you lost your mind?*

The academy had produced concrete evidence, and Yin Ming had even confessed. The Northwest Military Academy had paid a heavy price, with over three hundred students dead. At a time like this, you want them to release the prisoner and even demand an apology for detaining him? Jiang Huai no longer knew what to say. The world had gone mad.

Fang Qingyun’s gaze was extremely cold, and the aura around him flickered unsteadily.

Wang Meng and the others were already seething with rage. If not for the last shred of their sanity, they would have rushed up and finished Hu Shisong off.

Fang Qingyun’s voice sounded, ethereal and drifting as if from the clouds: "Hu Shisong, have you lost your mind?" He no longer used titles like "team leader" or "Principal Hu," calling him by his name instead.

"I am perfectly clear-headed!" Hu Shisong said calmly. "The Northwest Military Academy has detained our student without cause. I have already reported this to the academy. Our Principal will hold the Snake King accountable, and the Duke of Song’s estate will not let this matter rest!"

The scene remained quiet, but the silence was like a volcano on the verge of erupting.

Zhu Yao had remained silent, watching Hu Shisong with cold eyes. But suddenly, as if realizing something, his complexion became ghastly, and his lips began to tremble. He looked at his phone, wishing he could smash it to pieces, because he knew that a call he did not want to answer, but had to, was likely to ring at any moment.

"Beep, beep, beep!"

Amidst Zhu Yao’s fear, the phone rang. He stared at the device, not answering.

Hu Shisong smiled faintly from the side and said, "You are the Snake King’s secretary, aren't you? Is it really wise not to answer? Perhaps this is a call from the Snake King himself."

*Swish!* Everyone turned their gaze toward Zhu Yao.

"Answer it!" It was Fang Qingyun’s voice.

Zhu Yao looked at him without speaking.

"Answer it!" Fang Qingyun repeated. His voice was calm, and his expression was equally steady.

A flash of surprise crossed Zhu Yao’s eyes. Only now did he realize that Fang Qingyun had already suppressed his anger, his emotions remarkably stable. He was truly no longer a child. He even showed traces of the bearing of a great general! *Has he grown this quickly?*

Zhu Yao thought of the battle at the demon supply point, his time leading the academy, and the final battle against the great demon army. Fang Qingyun hadn't experienced many battles, but every single one of them had been classic. He had also participated in many smaller skirmishes, completing hundreds of academy-issued missions—so many that the academy had run out of suitable tasks for him at one point. In a short time, he had earned thousands of points, shattering the academy's records. The battle in the Chaotic City had even helped him build his own core team.

*Does he have his own ideas now? Is he about to become a capable commander?*

Zhu Yao took a breath and answered the phone.

"Release him!" The Snake King said calmly, using only two words.

"But..."

"Release him! That is an order!"

*Click!* The phone was hung up.

Zhu Yao’s face was pale. At this moment, he couldn't even look Fang Qingyun in the eye.

"I knew it!" A familiar voice rang out. Everyone turned to look.

Xi Xiean!

He had returned to the academy with his group of students and had arrived here the moment he heard the news. He smiled slightly and said calmly, "To those people up there, what are we? Nothing, right? They have their own agendas; our thoughts and our sacrifices mean nothing to them."

"In their eyes, what they do is maximize benefits and represent the best choice for humanity."

"We are just a bunch of lowly chess pieces!"

"Xi Xiean!" Zhu Yao barked. *Does he want to die, saying things like that?*

Xi Xiean smiled, looking at Fang Qingyun. "You understand now, don't you? This is why I resigned from the Beacon Fortress to become a teacher here—because I cannot accept many of their ideas."

Fang Qingyun said nothing. Neither did anyone else. The atmosphere was terrifyingly oppressive. Fang Qingyun and his peers were holding up, but the inspectors were struck by a heavy blow, their expressions dazed. Their comrades had died, yet they were being asked to release the culprit and even apologize. How laughable was that!

"This is actually not strange," Hu Shisong said lightly from the side. "What would we gain by killing Yin Ming and sanctioning the Duke of Song’s estate?"

"By releasing Yin Ming, we gain the support of the Duke of Song’s estate and the Black Tooth Military Academy."

This was the deal between the two sides. The Black Tooth Military Academy was acting as an intermediary between the Snake King and the Duke of Song. Release Yin Ming, clear his name, and restore the reputation of the Duke of Song. In return, the Duke of Song promised to take action and help the Beacon Fortress once. Since Yin Ming was a student of the Black Tooth Military Academy and the academy was involved, they also promised to send experts to assist.

The Beacon Fortress was currently facing risks; if they gained the help of these two sides, they would not only stabilize but could even push back the Blood Mane. Dealing with Yin Ming would only stain the reputation of the Duke of Song and the Black Tooth Military Academy, yet it wouldn't cause them any real harm. Thus, both sides chose the path that was more beneficial to them. As for the soldiers who had died because of Yin Ming, that was none of their concern; at most, they would offer a bit of compensation.

Even...

"Hoo!" Fang Qingyun’s mind had reached a state of intense clarity, and he quickly understood all of this. He asked calmly, "So, the thoughts of those of us in the Northwest Military Academy are not being considered at all, is that right?"

"Because you are the weak!" Hu Shisong’s voice was calm, though a hint of lingering sadness appeared in his eyes. "If you were divine generals..."

This statement held true for both sides!

"Enough!" Zhu Yao stopped them. He sighed and said, "Someone, go bring Yin Ming out."

Two teachers moved immediately. Zhu Yao still held considerable prestige at the Northwest Military Academy. Many teachers were his former subordinates, and since he had spoken, some obeyed, while the rest dared not interfere.

More people turned their eyes toward Fang Qingyun. Recently, he had been the one issuing orders. Moreover, every command required no discussion—they were executed directly, without hesitation. Many had grown accustomed to this. At this moment, a fire was burning in their hearts; as long as Fang Qingyun directed this flame, they would erupt.

"Heh, don't look at him, he has no way out either!" A loud laugh rang out.

Everyone looked over in anger to find that the one laughing was none other than Yin Ming, who had just stepped out of the prison. He had been listening from the start and knew everything that had happened. He was laughing now, but it wasn't a smug laugh; it carried a sharp, angry edge.

He walked up to Fang Qingyun and stared at him. Although his strength was only at the entry-level martial artist stage, his presence was not the least bit inferior to Fang Qingyun’s.

"Fang Qingyun, do you understand now?"

Fang Qingyun remained silent. The ground beneath his feet began to crack.

"Actually, I would rather you had killed me." Leaving these words behind, Yin Ming turned and walked away.

"Did I tell you that you could leave?" Fang Qingyun’s voice sounded. The atmosphere at the scene changed instantly.

"What do you want to do?" Hu Shisong’s gaze was cold. He had paid a countless price to facilitate this, and if Fang Qingyun acted recklessly, something truly disastrous would happen.

"No way, right?" Yin Ming turned his head, looking at Fang Qingyun with interest. "Are you going to defy the order of the Snake King? Oh, and Xiang Tian’s order too. Two powerful marshals—there aren't even ten people in the entire empire who would dare to stand against them."

Fang Qingyun’s voice was ethereal: "I am not afraid of facing the living, but I do not know how to face the dead."

*The dead?*

Everyone instantly thought of the three hundred students of the Northwest Military Academy who had died because of the demon attack. If you expanded the scope, you had to include the auxiliary fortress as well.

"Fang Qingyun!" Seeing that the other side’s state was becoming increasingly erratic, Hu Shisong grew anxious. "Do you dare to defy the Snake King’s order? You are a soldier; a soldier’s duty is to obey. If everyone dared to defy orders, humanity would cease to exist."

Fang Qingyun smiled slightly—a smile as cold and biting as an iceberg. "And if we let you people run wild, will humanity be able to grow and thrive?"

"Awoo!" With a roar, Little Black appeared. It stared coldly at Hu Shisong. Sensing its master’s mood, it was already prepared to tear the man apart.

"Bang!" Hu Shisong immediately fired a signal flare.

"Hu Shisong!" Jiang Huai was furious as well. That was an order—an order to summon the students of the Black Tooth Military Academy. Hu Shisong wanted to use the Black Tooth students to create an opportunity for himself! *Shameless!*

In the stronghold of the Northwest Military Academy, what could a hundred Black Tooth students do? Send themselves to their deaths! Even a thousand would be sending themselves to their deaths!

*Clatter, clatter!* The students of the Black Tooth Military Academy had already received orders to stand ready. Although they didn't know what was happening, military academy students were soldiers by nature, and they took obedience as their duty. When they arrived and saw Hu Shisong and Fang Qingyun in a standoff, they were shocked.

"This, this..." Several teachers were left dumbfounded. *Hu Shisong and Fang Qingyun are having a conflict, so why the hell did you summon them here?*

As the Black Tooth group gathered, the Northwest Military Academy students also assembled, and they too were confused by the scene. *Are they about to fight?*

*Wait?* Many teachers and students were surprised to find that Yin Ming was out? What was going on? Why was he out of prison? And Hu Shisong was even shielding him? This made many people’s hearts sink. They weren't fools; why would Yin Ming, who was in prison, be out and under Hu Shisong’s protection? That alone spoke volumes.

"All of you, stand down!" Jiang Huai shouted orders to the Black Tooth students.

"Insolent! Is it your place to speak here?" Hu Shisong shouted back, then turned to the Black Tooth students and commanded: "Listen up, Black Tooth Military Academy! Follow my orders and fight your way out of the Northwest Military Academy!"

"Yes!" The Black Tooth students were even more confused, but they subconsciously chose to obey the order. They were soldiers!

Fang Qingyun stared at the Black Tooth students and then at the Northwest Military Academy students surrounding them, his fingers trembling slightly.

"Fang Qingyun, you had better think this through!" Hu Shisong said coldly. "Don't let your actions lead to more bloodshed. This time, it won't just be three hundred people who die. Besides, they have just made a great contribution."

Silence. No one spoke. Even Zhu Yao and Wang Meng did not know what to say. If they let the others take him away, how could they face the students they taught at the Northwest Military Academy? How could they answer to the students who had died in battle? If they didn't let them go, it would be equivalent to defying the Snake King’s order—a breach of a soldier’s duty. Furthermore, as Hu Shisong had said, if the two sides went to war, the Northwest Military Academy would inevitably win, but what would be the result? Killing their own comrades? And after such an order was given, what would become of the Northwest Military Academy students in the future?

"Fight me!" Fang Qingyun looked at Hu Shisong and said calmly. "I cannot let you leave like this, so you and I will have a match!"

Hu Shisong’s brows twitched. "Impossible!"

"I won't use this summon!" Fang Qingyun pointed at Little Black and added, "And I guarantee, I will absolutely not take your life!"

Truly sensing the threat of death, Hu Shisong had been about to order the Black Tooth students to attack. A great battle had seemed unavoidable. Hearing this, Hu Shisong hesitated.

"You don't even dare to do this?" Fang Qingyun sneered. "Then what kind of Vice Principal are you? Don't embarrass the Black Tooth Military Academy."

"Fine, I will fight you!" Hu Shisong said coldly. "And while I'm at it, I'll see just what kind of strength the Northwest Military Academy’s most outstanding student truly possesses!"

He stepped forward, standing face-to-face with Fang Qingyun.

Fang Qingyun smiled slightly—the smile was indescribably ferocious. "Don't worry, I will make sure you see it."