Inside the conference room.
All the course lecturers and counselors were present; it was a full assembly.
Once everyone was there, Dean Zhou Qinfeng said gravely, “This morning the authorities issued their disposition regarding Shen Yun and the four others. It will follow the existing legal procedures. The four will most likely be prosecuted for excessive self-defense, while Shen Yun, in addition to excessive self-defense, will be criminally charged with intentional assault.”
Hearing this verdict, the people in the conference room showed shocked expressions.
Everyone had suspected the excessive self-defense angle, but no one expected Shen Yun to also be charged with intentional assault.
“That can’t be right, Dean! If it’s intentional assault, given the deaths involved, Shen Yun could be convicted of intentional homicide and face the death penalty!”
A lecturer blurted out, agitated. He liked Shen Yun very much and couldn’t accept such a result.
Several other lecturers spoke up as well.
“How can it be intentional assault? Didn’t the investigation show those civilians were the first to act?”
“Isn’t a finding of excessive self-defense punishnt enough?”
“Could the authorities be doing this just to calm public opinion…”
Faced with the barrage of doubts, Zhou Qinfeng continued, “The reason the authorities gave is that among the people killed by Shen Yun, several were unard. They were rely standing near ard personnel and were struck and killed by the dispersing lethal Mind Power items, and Shen Yun, as the item’s owner, knew that his item had dispersal properties.”
“This…”
Those who had been questioning earlier were briefly rendered speechless.
Guan Tong, upon hearing this, also recalled the corpses he had seen at the scene.
Judging from the wounds on those bodies, Shen Yun had indeed used an area-effect lethal item; those people had been killed simultaneously.
And as the item’s owner, Shen Yun certainly understood the item’s effects.
“Dean, are we really going to stand by and watch an excellent student be sentenced to death? Shen Yun made a mistake, but his cri is not worthy of death!”
“In such tense circumstances using that item is understandable; I think it was an ergency asure.”
“Shen Yun is very popular among the students; if he’s executed, the students won’t accept it.”
Voices clamored from all sides; none of them wanted Shen Yun to receive the death sentence.
Zhou Qinfeng said in a low voice, “Do you think I don’t want to save our student? But the authorities have already made their decision. What they sent us is a disposition; in effect it’s a notice. Can we change that?”
Everyone exchanged glances and fell silent.
Although the academy had its special functions, in essence it was an institution established by the authorities. That was evident from how students were assigned official posts after graduation.
As a departnt under the governnt, the academy cannot override the official legal apparatus. Zhou Qinfeng understood very clearly that if the faculty publicly opposed the authorities’ handling of Shen Yun, they would face severe consequences.
Guan Tong remained silent too, because he knew yelling in this room would accomplish nothing.
The academy existed on governnt resources; they ate from that hand and could not then smash the pot.
Moreover, this case had sparked an enormous public outcry. Mishandling it could spark more incidents of mutual harm between ordinary civilians and Ascendants…
At this point, the faculty realized that Shen Yun’s conviction was likely irreversible.
Only if the authorities completely made a 180-degree policy reversal—abandoning their long-standing stance and fully siding with Ascendants while effectively discarding ordinary people—would there be any room to maneuver.
But with the current 7:1 population ratio, who would have the courage and power to abandon the “7”?
Not to ntion that as the rules proceed, Ascendants could themselves beco ordinary people in the future. Many Ascendants with low Upper Limits, thinking about their own futures, would likely choose to side with ordinary people in this matter.
“So… Dean, what if students learn of this and riot?”
“We will deal with it strictly according to academy regulations.” Zhou Qinfeng said, “This is one of the main reasons for today’s eting. Besides notifying you of the disposition, we must unify everyone’s thinking.”
“If students are dissatisfied and cause trouble afterwards, no faculty or staff may support them; anyone who does will be dismissed. Students who cause serious trouble will also be expelled according to academy rules.”
Silence filled the eting room.
Many teachers fell quiet; none of them wanted to be fired.
In today’s world the academy was probably the safest, most comfortable place they could be. Leaving would be far worse.
“Additionally, the authorities said they will process this case quickly. A court hearing will be convened in three days, and academy personnel related to the case must attend.”
Zhou Qinfeng looked around at those present as he spoke.
“As dean I will definitely attend. Also, Teacher Guan, Teacher Chen, you two must be there. Counselor Fang, you must also co and provide relevant testimony.”
Guan Tong and Teacher Chen had been involved in the case and would have to attend. Fang Qian, who had intercepted students’ exchanges on the Mind Network and provided intelligence, would of course also need to testify.
“Um…” Fang Qian asked then, “Dean, my testimony has no tangible evidence. Is that acceptable?”
“Right. Conversations in the Mind Network can’t be preserved as evidence; how will the court accept them?”
“If it’s just conflicting testimonies, it’ll be he-said-she-said.”
“I don’t know the answer to that,” Zhou Qinfeng shook his head, “We’ll have to see how the court explains it. Also, this case has attracted a lot of attention; many people may co to observe the hearing, so be prepared.”
After the eting, Teacher Chen stopped Guan Tong to go over the events of that day with him, just to avoid any misstatents at the hearing.
Then she planned to check with Fang Qian as well, since Guan Tong had gone to Cangying Ridge to find Shen Yun and the others while Teacher Chen had returned to the academy to get information from Fang Qian.
“She’s going to be in a lot of trouble.” Teacher Chen told Guan Tong before leaving. “Once this goes to court, Fang Qian’s infiltration of students’ Mind Network conversations won’t stay hidden; the students will find out.”
Guan Tong nodded.
He had known from the start this would be exposed sooner or later. Whoever served as the “mole” was destined to take the fall.
Teacher Chen worried aloud, “If the students lash out at her, the dean, to calm the situation, might have her leave the school…”
“If I were her, I wouldn’t have accepted that assignnt,” Guan Tong said. “If she leaves now, she should tell the students that this was the dean’s decision, make him suffer a little. She might even file complaints with the authorities.”
“Teacher Guan, you…”
Teacher Chen didn’t know how to respond.
Guan Tong shrugged, “If soone makes my life hard, I won’t let them off easily. Of course, it’s Fang Qian’s matter—how she handles it is up to her. I need to teach my class now, so I’ll go.”
Watching Guan Tong leave, Teacher Chen couldn’t help but mutter inwardly, “What on earth did this Teacher Guan used to do…”
…
“Smack!”
Yelanka threw a full-power punch, channeling concentrated Mind Power into it, and struck the palm Guan Tong used to defend.
The collision of offensive and defensive Mind Power produced a fierce energy shock that even emitted a low buzzing sound, like energy vibration.
“Huff…”
After throwing that punch, Yelanka’s Mind Power was nearly exhausted. She braced her hands on her thighs and panted.
Guan Tong nodded in satisfaction, “Applying Mind Power to offense—this is already very good. Next training we’ll change modes.”
“Change modes?”
“Next ti I’ll be the attacker and you’ll defend.” Guan Tong said, “Constantly mobilizing Mind Power to protect the body is the key to advancent. At the extre, you can create a 360-degree large-area Mind shield in an instant.”
Yelanka’s eyes brightened as she looked at Guan Tong. “Teacher, can you do that?”
Guan Tong shook his head, “I can’t reach that level. So far I only know Shi Jingyi can do it.”
Hearing Shi Jingyi’s na, Yelanka asked, “Will she return to teach at the academy?”
“Of course. I’m only the temporary substitute. She should be back before the new year; then you can continue learning from her.”
“That won’t be in ti. I’ll leave the academy and go back to my country before October.”
“Before October? It’s already late August. You’ll be leaving in a month?”
Yelanka nodded.
“No wonder you’re in such a hurry.”
Guan Tong hadn’t known Yelanka would spend so little ti at the academy. If she leaves before October and doesn’t intensify training, she really won’t make it.
Thinking of previous events, Yelanka said earnestly, “Teacher Guan, I’m sorry about the death threats you received earlier that disrupted your life.”
“No need to apologize. I’ve taken care of the people.”
“…”
Yelanka was montarily stunned. She hadn’t expected Guan Tong to admit it so plainly.
The missing Xisiya assassins her brother had sent really had been dealt with by him.
“But, Stasiya, since you brought this up, there’s sothing I should tell you in advance.”
Yelanka listened quietly. From Guan Tong’s expression she sensed this was no ordinary remark.
“I won’t let your brother off.” Guan Tong said straight out. “Those who send killers are the real culprits; the ones sent are secondary.”
Yelanka’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected him to say that.
She almost imdiately tried to stop him—given her brother’s status, an academy teacher had no right to make an enemy of him!
“Teacher, about this—”
“I don’t know how close you two are, but people must bear the consequences of their actions.”
Guan Tong seed to read her intent and his expression turned sowhat indifferent.
“You don’t need to tell
how prominent your family is or what will happen if you offend your brother. For , whether I can offend them or not makes no difference; I’ve angered plenty of powerful people before—your brother is just one more.”
“…”
After training, Yelanka returned to her residence.
Sigorkin saw her troubled expression and asked, “Your Highness, did sothing happen?”
“Your assessnt was correct. The assassins were executed by Guan Tong.”
Sigorkin exclaid in surprise, “He actually told the princess that?”
From her point of view, even if Guan Tong had done it, she wouldn’t expect him to admit it openly.
“He also told
he intends to pursue the sender’s responsibility—that is, my brother’s.”
“…It’s all right, Your Highness. I know what you’re worried about, but once he learns your true status, he’ll definitely abandon that idea.”
Will he really?
Yelanka had known Guan Tong only a short ti but felt there was sothing in him that made her doubt he would break his word.
“Don’t forget you’ll be returning in less than a month.” Sigorkin said. “The North Star Academy is rely one station in your long life’s journey for growth; don’t overthink it.”
“…All right. I know.”
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