Chapter 24: Just a Little More Saliva

Li Daoze received special attention, as if struck by a wall of water. He staggered back several steps, his whole body aching, his legs weak and nearly collapsing. If not for someone behind him catching and steadying him, he would have already fallen. The others, though not as miserable, were also drenched from head to toe. Yet, despite their sorry state, not one bore any visible injuries.

A moment ago, the crowd had been in an uproar, emotions running high, but now all fell silent. The earlier draconic roar had hit them hard. Only some upperclassmen and the teacher in charge of registration seemed largely unaffected, though even they had risen to their feet. A few more people hurried over from afar, evidently fearing a large-scale brawl might erupt.

“Damn it, that’s disgusting! You got your spit all over me…” At this moment, Mao Yiqiang was frantically wiping the so-called “spit” from his face.

“Lin Qingyun, you… you actually dared to make a move at Haicheng University… You, an outsider, actually attacked a student—you're dead now…” Li Daoze, who had suffered the full force of that waterfall-like spray, finally gathered himself. He was the unluckiest of them all, now looking like a drowned rat, his eyes bloodshot as he roared at Lin Qingyun.

This was Haicheng University—attacking a student here would provoke public outrage. No one could save this interloper now.

This time, before Li Daoze could incite the crowd again, Lin Qingyun's eyes flashed with a steely light, instantly fixing on Li Daoze, frightening him into retreating several more steps.

“Pathetic,” Lin Qingyun sneered, not considering Li Daoze worthy of being called an opponent.

“Stop! Anyone who dares fight on campus—restrain them all!” The uproar had grown too loud to ignore, drawing attention, though the thick crowd made it difficult for outsiders to approach.

At that moment, a shout rang out. A man nearly two meters tall, thin as a bamboo pole, leapt from the rear. The crowd had formed a blockade over a hundred meters long, yet the man’s military boots glimmered with light as he jumped—clearly a magical artifact at work.

He rode the wind, traversing nearly a hundred meters in a single bound, landing before Lin Qingyun and Li Daoze. The badge of the Student Council’s Disciplinary Division Captain gleamed on his chest.

The freshmen didn't recognize him, but all the upperclassmen who had come to help drew a sharp breath. This was Captain Lu Hang of the Student Council's Enforcement Division, nicknamed “Wind-Chasing Legs,” the top entrant from Sichuan North three years ago, now already at the advanced Qinxin Realm, famous for his cold, uncompromising enforcement.

At a cultivation university like Haicheng, which focused on practical disciplines rather than the humanities or sciences, the Student Council wielded far more power than its counterparts elsewhere. Investigating violations, meting out punishment, and overseeing duels all fell under the Enforcement Division’s purview.

“Freshmen, having just arrived, dare to brawl on campus? Did you not read the admission notice? Do you not understand the most basic rules? What do you take Haicheng University for? It seems you intend to drop out the moment you enroll.” Lu Hang, tall yet lanky rather than burly, swept the crowd with a cold gaze.

A swirling wind gathered around him, its pressure making many feel they could hardly breathe.

Many shrank back, even Li Daoze and Mao Yiqiang, who had just been about to charge forward, retreating repeatedly.

Unlike them, Lin Qingyun took a step forward, positioning himself protectively before Chao-ge and Chu Qing, whose faces had gone ashen and whose feet refused to move. Without any visible effort, he blocked the wind pressure emanating from Lu Hang.

“Qinxin Realm foundation already? And not just recently achieved, by the looks of it... Perhaps that's the source of your arrogance?” Lu Hang’s heart skipped a beat as his cold gaze fixed on Lin Qingyun. Though he didn't know the full story, it was clear enough that Lin Qingyun was the crux of the issue.

“It’s him… He isn’t even a student here yet. He attacked us—only because we disdained his coercion of Nangong Lingyue into marriage. We told him to leave Haicheng University, and he attacked us…” At that moment, Li Daoze’s eyes lit up as he took several steps back.

Earlier, he had incited the crowd, spreading Zheng Haoyue’s suspicions about Lin Qingyun, determined to drag him down whether the accusations were true or not.

But as for actually retaliating, fighting on campus would incur disciplinary action, and he knew he was no match for Lin Qingyun, who had somehow already reached the Qinxin Realm foundation.

With the Enforcement Captain Lu Hang now present, things were different. If Lin Qingyun dared act up again, he would be dealt with legally and properly. Sensing the opportunity, Li Daoze fanned the flames further.

“He’s not even a Haicheng University student, yet dares to act violently on campus—” Lu Hang had been surprised that Lin Qingyun had withstood his casual wind pressure, but now his expression turned icy as he stepped forward. Fierce winds swirled around his feet, beginning to encircle Lin Qingyun, Chao-ge, and Chu Qing.

A moment ago, Lu Hang’s words had been harsh, but since they were all just registered freshmen, even a conflict would only merit disciplinary action; his intent had been to intimidate. But if an outsider dared to commit violence on campus, that was absolutely unforgivable. Now there was even a faint murderous intent about him—if the target truly wasn’t a member of the university…

This time, Lin Qingyun said nothing, simply producing a badge. Professor Qian Shanning’s connections had expedited things—the formalities for Lin Qingyun had long since been completed.

Seeing this, Lu Hang frowned slightly and raised his communicator, activating the scanning function.

A chime sounded: “Lin Qingyun, freshman, intern researcher at Qian Shanning’s Alchemy Institute.”

The Student Council’s Enforcement Division communicator was anything but discreet; though the volume was low, the surrounding silence meant most could hear.

“Hmph!” Chao-ge snorted, pulling out the badge he’d just received at registration and donning it, shooting a provocative look at Li Daoze and his cohorts.

Chu Qing silently did the same, though without Chao-ge’s provocation, clearly signaling her stance.

This silent rebuke was far more persuasive than Li Daoze’s earlier bluster, the contrast turning his previous outrage into a joke.

“He… he hit someone…” Hatred filled Li Daoze’s eyes—this was supposed to be his. The partnership with Qian Shanning should have belonged to his family’s company; the intern researcher position should have been his.

Damn Lin Qingyun. Hadn’t he arrogantly declared he wouldn’t even attend university? Shameless, despicable…

No matter how furiously he raged inside, all he could do was cling to the accusation of assault.

“Assault? Who hit you? Are you even a person?” Lin Qingyun glanced at Li Daoze with contempt, then turned to Lu Hang, whose stern expression had eased: “Since Captain Lu is head of enforcement, please investigate thoroughly. This is no lawless wilderness.”

Lin Qingyun had no interest in arguing with Li Daoze; when it came to following rules, Li Daoze was a child in a sandbox.

As expected, after confirming that Lin Qingyun and his friends were all freshmen, Lu Hang’s demeanor softened and the wind pressure dissipated.

Li Daoze insisted on the assault, and some others echoed him emotionally, with Mao Yiqiang backing him up. But that wasn’t what mattered.

Lu Hang quickly pulled up all the surveillance footage of the incident, a 360-degree holographic projection displaying every detail.

He watched as Li Daoze and Mao Yiqiang emerged, Lin Qingyun drank water, and finally, at the shout to shut up, a spray of water burst forth…

Lu Hang’s eye twitched; he glanced up at Lin Qingyun—this guy didn’t seem like an ordinary freshman at all. That moment hadn’t caused any harm, but the humiliation was intense. But if he tried to punish Lin Qingyun for it, the latter could always claim it was an involuntary spit during a heated moment.

Indeed, no matter how much spit there was, it was still just spit.

You could say it was rude, improper, even dirty play—but it hardly counted as assault.

“So what if he’s a freshman? Damn it, it’s still assault, it’s disgusting, clean it up…” Mao Yiqiang and the others who’d been hit by Lin Qingyun’s spit were muttering curses as they wiped themselves off.

With Lu Hang present, they were cowed and didn’t dare act out as they had moments before.

Lu Hang replayed the footage of Lin Qingyun’s “shut up” moment, analyzing it carefully. To call it an attack seemed… a bit much.

But this kid had clearly done it on purpose, which annoyed Lu Hang; a freshman playing games with the rules, causing such a commotion.

Still, he found the braying of Li Daoze and his crew even more grating.

“That’s enough. What are you shouting for? Does that count as assault?” Lu Hang turned and swept a cold glare over Li Daoze, Mao Yiqiang, and the rest. “I don’t care who you idolize—this all started because you came looking for trouble. Spraying spit in a moment of agitation is rude, yes, but it’s not assault.”

“Everyone disperse immediately. This is Haicheng University. You are all new students here, most about to enter the Alchemy Department. An alchemist must cultivate a calm mind—look at yourselves.”

“Students of Haicheng University, acting like mindless fools.”

With that, Lu Hang made his decision.

“That’s not assault?” Mao Yiqiang was livid, about to curse, but Lu Hang’s icy glare silenced him.

No matter how brash he was, he wouldn’t dare cross the Student Council’s Enforcement Captain.

Li Daoze was panting heavily, chest heaving with rage.

Some of Nangong Lingyue’s fans muttered under their breath, but none dared voice their grievances in Lu Hang’s presence.

“And you…” Lu Hang looked at Lin Qingyun. After a brief hesitation, he warned, “Now that you’re a member of Haicheng University, don’t stir up trouble. This time the others provoked you first, so we’ll let your… spit… slide. Don’t try this trick again. If you cause another disturbance, you will be punished severely.”

Everyone knew what that “spit” attack really was; calling it assault was a stretch, but it was highly insulting.

Lu Hang, as Enforcement Captain, didn’t mince words—he gave Lin Qingyun a direct warning.

“Captain Lu, your judgment is sharp, and I accept your warning. But you should also caution these brainless fools—whether it’s Li Daoze, stirring up trouble and chaos, or those mindless fans. Where there are rules, I follow them; where there are none, I fear no one.”

Lin Qingyun spoke calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.

“Who do you think you’re talking about? Listen to him, listen, he’s insulting us—us, the Moonshadow fans!” Li Daoze, having come this far, realized he had to see it through to the end. So, seizing the moment, he once again tried to incite the crowd.