(Teacher Guan, I've got a clear picture of the situation.)
(Five students left the city via the mountain road. They might be heading to the Cangying Ridge scenic spot south of Pinglu.)
Teacher Chen's voice rang out from the Mind work. Guan Tong replied that he understood and set off for Cangying Ridge.
He hadn't taken many steps when Teacher Chen's voice sounded again in the Mind work, this time sounding very urgent.
(Teacher Guan, there's an emergency situation!)
(Counselor Fang Qian says those students just posted in the Mind work, saying they've had a bloody clash with people from a camp on Cangying Ridge!)
Guan Tong replied: (I'll get there as fast as I can.)
The Dean's voice chimed in: (Teacher Guan, you go check the situation first. We'll send people over immediately on our end. The students absolutely must not come to harm!)
Guan Tong immediately released a wisp of Shadow, sending it to rush to Cangying Ridge in his stead.
At this moment, on the Cangying Ridge viewing platform.
Several dozen people from a wilderness group composed of ordinary people, half of them were already knocked to the ground. The remaining twenty or so all stared at the few students with fear on their faces.
They couldn't believe how powerful these students were, taking down half their people the moment the fight started!
The bearded man, as the Camp Leader, stared fixedly at the group.
He saw clearly that several of his people had struck the opponents with weapons, but it hadn't caused any real harm at all.
These students didn't look particularly muscular, but their physical constitutions were far superior to theirs. Ordinary clubs and sticks hitting them only made them frown.
"We told you, you'd be the ones to suffer if you started a fight!"
The tall one among the students wore a smug expression.
Even if the other side had weapons, they were Ascendants who had passed over a dozen rules. It would be laughable if they were afraid of ordinary people armed with weapons.
Apart from some initial nervousness, once the fight actually started, they quickly realized these ordinary people were far inferior to them. They didn't even need to use any item abilities; just relying on their physical prowess, a few punches and kicks were enough to take them down.
Several of those hit by a heavy punch or kick from a student were now lying on the ground, unable to get up.
At this point, one of the fallen men on the ground started continuously vomiting blood from his mouth, looking quite severe. The bearded Camp Leader and a few others hurried over to check on him.
"Boss, he seems to be in bad shape, something's broken inside, the bleeding won't stop!"
"Quick, carry him into the house first!" the bearded man called out.
Seeing this, the few students also began to panic. They didn't know how things would be resolved if they had actually killed someone.
Shen Yun, the leader, wanted to leave quickly now. He signaled with his eyes for his companions to seize the chance and run, but the bearded man noticed.
"You think you can leave after beating our brother like this?!"
"You attacked first! We were acting in self-defense!"
"Damn it!"
The bearded man raised a hunting rifle. The students' faces also changed color.
The previous clashes had involved cold weapons, no firearms were used, so they could rely on their physical superiority to win easily. If the other side used guns, they would undoubtedly have to use items.
Seeing their leader about to use a gun, several others who also had guns raised theirs.
The students, seeing the other side resorting to Thermal Weapons, knew the conflict had escalated—and they had only taken one month of Mind Power Flow classes, far from being able to channel Mind Power energy to form protective shields around themselves.
They had to use items!
"Bang!"
A gunshot rang out, a spray of pellets erupting from the thick barrel of the bearded Camp Leader's gun.
Several others with guns also pulled their triggers, and for a moment, gunfire erupted.
The students had long been prepared. One of them took out a fan-shaped item and gave it a powerful wave. The incoming bullets all suddenly hung suspended in mid-air before losing momentum and falling to the ground.
This sight shocked the camp people. At that moment, Shen Yun took out a playing card item and flung it.
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!
The single flying playing card unfolded into dozens in the air, each one razor-sharp, shooting towards the people holding guns.
The next second, the sound of "thud, thud, thud, thud" of blades piercing flesh accompanied by sprays of blood mist erupted. These playing cards were like steel throwing darts, piercing through the bodies of several gunmen and a few others nearby.
Twelve or thirteen people, including the bearded Camp Leader, immediately fell. Seven or eight died on the spot, while those not dead were screaming and wailing in agony.
The other students were somewhat stunned, looking at Shen Yun in shock, not expecting him to use an item with such lethal power.
Shen Yun himself, after taking action, stared blankly at the consequences: Did I kill someone? And so many?
"Stop fighting!"
"Spare us!"
The remaining camp people completely broke down upon seeing this. They thought with dozens of people, dealing with a few students would be easy. But the result was the opposite; the power wielded by these Ascendant students easily overpowered them.
"Let's go... let's get out of here!"
After regaining his senses, Shen Yun, his mind in turmoil, called out to the other four classmates to leave.
But they had only hurriedly taken a few steps when they saw a figure blocking the path ahead.
When the five saw that person, their footsteps all halted.
"T-Teacher Guan?"
Guan Tong swept a glance over the five, then looked at the aftermath of the fight behind them. His gaze lingered for a moment on the several corpses lying haphazardly on the ground before returning.
He asked, "You did this?"
"Teacher Guan, we—we were acting in self-defense! They wouldn't let us leave! They attacked us!"
The tall, sturdy boy argued his case, but meeting Guan Tong's gaze, his confidence wavered, and he involuntarily looked away.
"I'm the one who killed them," Shen Yun admitted at this point. "I saw them using guns, worried that my classmates and I would get hurt. In a moment of panic, I used a high-lethality item... I forgot they were all ordinary people."
Guan Tong remained silent.
Although he had just arrived, he pretty much understood the situation.
After the conflict broke out, because the camp side consisted of ordinary people with weak strength, the students didn't know how to control their force, killing and injuring many from the camp.
"Teacher Guan, it's all my responsibility! I'm willing to bear it alone!" Shen Yun said loudly.
His classmates all shook their heads, wanting to say something, but Guan Tong stopped them with a look.
"How this matter is handled is not for me to decide," Guan Tong said. "The academy will send people over soon. You stay here for now, don't wander off."
"...Understood."
One student asked nervously, "Teacher Guan, what will... happen to us? Will we have to go to court?"
"I don't know that either."
Guan Tong genuinely didn't know.
Since entering the era of Doomsday Rules, although the law hadn't explicitly changed on the surface, many aspects had been breached by "emergency risk avoidance" and numerous practical situations.
Previously, when there were many provider organizations and violent gangs in the wilderness, the official way of dealing with them was to directly dispatch armed forces for suppression, without any courtroom trial procedures. Did that comply with regulations?
Times had changed, and many things would change.
Now, several academy students had clashed with a wilderness camp, killing many people. How this matter would be handled, whether legal procedures would be followed—Guan Tong, who had lived alone in the wilderness for a long time, had no idea how the authorities would deal with it.
Guan Tong then walked towards the camp group and introduced his identity.
He asked about the situation, but the camp people ignored him, only staring at him with hostile gazes.
One woman, tears streaming from her eyes, held the body of a man killed by Shen Yun with one arm while clutching a phone in her other hand, her voice hoarse as she cried out, "You Ascendant Academy students think you can get away with murder? I recorded everything that just happened and uploaded it online! If the authorities show favoritism, izens will see that we get justice!"
"......"
Seeing this, and looking at the way those people were looking at him, Guan Tong shook his head and said nothing more.
Not long after, people from the academy arrived.
There were teachers, along with soldiers from the Security Department and medical personnel.
After some simple on-site handling, all students involved in the conflict and the camp personnel were taken back to Pinglu City.
After returning to Pinglu, the five students, led by Shen Yun, did not return to the academy but were temporarily detained by official departments.
This prompted Dean Zhou Qinfeng to immediately convene a meeting to discuss the matter.
"I think everyone is clear on the situation. Now, our five students are temporarily detained. The situation is not good."
Zhou Qinfeng's expression was very serious. As someone who had been a principal for many years, he could see this incident was severe in nature and not easy to resolve.
Zhang Linliang, the Lecturer who had previously sparred with Guan Tong, said puzzledly, "Wasn't it that wilderness camp group who stopped our students? And they attacked first, right? Were our students wrong for acting in self-defense?"
Another Lecturer said, "These students are all considered excellent, Shen Yun especially ranks among the top. If we punish them for this kind of incident, delaying their studies, it would be a significant loss for both the academy and the authorities."
Teacher Chen, seeing Zhou Qinfeng frowning deeply, asked, "Dean, what are your thoughts?"
Zhou Qinfeng said gravely, "I'll just mention one thing, which Teacher Guan told me. The video of Shen Yun and the others taking action was recorded by the camp people and uploaded online. They seem to have given it some sensational title like 'Academy Students Brutally Kill Ordinary People' or something. It has already triggered a public opinion storm."
Everyone's expressions changed slightly, understanding the implication in Zhou Qinfeng's words.
On a societal level, ordinary people and Ascendants had always been fraught with conflict. Some departments, to avoid clashes between the two, intentionally or unintentionally arranged different residential areas as much as possible, reducing intersections in their daily lives and minimizing conflict.
Now, with this video out online, it was bound to cause a public opinion uproar.
"Our academy must definitely try our best to protect our students," Zhou Qinfeng said. "We need to quickly issue an incident explanation report online, to prevent public opinion from becoming completely one-sided."
"That might be... Dean, have you forgotten? The effective period of [Digital Detox] isn't over yet. The vast majority of active users online right now are ordinary people. Which side public opinion will lean towards is self-evident, right?"
"What if the authorities, pressured by public opinion, convict the students? What then? Would we really let precious academy students go to jail?"
"I say our academy needs to be the students' backing!" one Lecturer said somewhat radically. "Forget that our students were right in self-defense; even if they were somewhat at fault, so what? In this era, the value of one excellent academy student is higher than a hundred ordinary people. Although people don't like to hear the truth, that's the fact!"
Upon hearing this, the others looked at him with some surprise. Zhou Qinfeng glared at the Lecturer. "Watch your words!"
Although that Lecturer didn't speak further, he still wore an unconvinced expression, as if he felt he wasn't wrong.
And from the way his gaze swept over the others, it was clear he believed many people present shared this view but dared not voice it due to political correctness.
The meeting room fell into brief silence.
After a moment, Zhou Qinfeng looked at Guan Tong. "Teacher Guan, you were the first teacher to arrive at the scene. What are your thoughts on this matter?"
"If the students aren't lying, and those camp people attacked first and even used firearms, then I think self-defense is justified," Guan Tong said.
"That's true, but... sigh."
Zhou Qinfeng sighed, finally saying, "Regardless of how the authorities handle it, our academy will first state our position: we will resolutely uphold the students' legitimate rights. Also, all subject Lecturers, please ensure during your next classes that you make the students learn a lesson from this incident and not bring trouble upon themselves!"
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