"Qiu Pingâan disregarded the Long Yan Academyâs ban and dared to cheat during the admissions selection. He is hereby expelled from the selection field and banned from stepping foot in the Long Yan Academy for life." Gong Hongru said calmly.
"What, Mu Han Yanâs words were true, Qiu Pingâan really cheated?" Upon hearing this, everyone finally came to their senses.
"Lord Gong, Mu Han Yan is clearly fabricating malicious lies, you mustnât listen to such slander!" The Qiu Family Head was startled and quickly spoke to Gong Hongru.
"Hmph, do you really think Iâm blind, to dare to fake things right in front of me!" Gong Hongru yelled angrily.
"I-I did not." Qiu Pingâan said, his face pale with fear, but still vehemently denying.
"Even now, you dare to argue, do you truly think my Long Yan Academy can be so easily disregarded!" A trace of anger flashed in Gong Hongruâs eyes as he pointed at Qiu Pingâan, "Seeing as you are young and this is a first offense, I intended to spare you once, but I didnât expect you to be so stubborn. If you are not taught a lesson now, who will regard my Long Yan Academy in the future? Destroy his meridians and Qi Sea, and throw him out of the Capital!"
As the words fell, the guide in front of Qiu Pingâan raised his palm, ready to strike down.
Qiu Pingâan was completely petrified, his previous spirit entirely vanished, standing there dumbfounded like a wooden stake.
"Wait!" Seeing his dear grandson about to be crippled at the hands of this person, the Qiu Family Head became extremely anxious, blurting out.
"What else do you have to say? If youâre pleading, save it." Gong Hongru said coldly to the Qiu Family Head.
"Lord Gong, you are renowned for your integrity as a tutor of Long Yan Academy, how can you lightly believe the slander of a playboy today!" The Qiu Family Head was initially going to plead but was blocked before he could even open his mouth, gritting his teeth, he said resolutely.
For Qiu Pingâan, he didnât know how much effort he had spent, how many spiritual pills he had consumed, how could he bear to watch his meridians and Qi Sea be wasted, his cultivation utterly destroyed.
"Are you implying that my judgment is unfairly influenced?" Gong Hongru wasnât angry, still speaking with indifference.
"I dare not, but Lord Gong, merely based on Mu Han Yanâs words without any evidence, accusing my Pingâan of cheating seems biased." The Qiu Family Head said with difficulty.
In ordinary times, he would not dare confront Gong Hongru in any way, but for the sake of his precious grandson, he couldnât care about much else.
"Alright then, since your Qiu family insists on humiliating itself, as you wish." Gong Hongru shook his head and spoke to the instructor beside Qiu Pingâan, "Remove his sword, give him seven and a half minutes, letâs see what he can comprehend."
Qiu Pingâan turned pale, and the Qiu Family Head also changed expressions.
Hearing this, everyone guessed that Gong Hongru determined Qiu Pingâan cheated, the key was within that sword.
"Grandfather..." Qiu Pingâan looked pitifully at the Qiu Family Head with a tear-streaked face.
"Pingâan, donât daydream, focus on comprehending the Swordâs Profound Meaning again, prove your strength to everyone." The turn of events was completely unexpected for the Qiu Family Head, he could only speak reluctantly, giving Qiu Pingâan meaningful glances as he spoke.
"Oh." Qiu Pingâan nodded weakly.
He understood his grandfatherâs signaling, that now, only by passing the assessment again could he overcome this hurdle, and perhaps even turn misfortune into blessing. But without that sword, could he really withstand the test? He truly had no confidence.
"Mr. Qiu, prepare to begin." The instructor removed Qiu Pingâanâs sword and said with a stony face.
As a tutor at Long Yan Academy, he understood Gong Hongruâs strength better than others and had no doubt about his judgment. Thinking that Qiu Pingâan cheated right under his nose, damaging his reputation greatly, he was furious and would not hold back, feeling an immediate impulse to crush him directly.
As the words fell, Qiu Pingâan immediately closed his eyes, beginning to comprehend the Swordâs Profound Meaning.
The Qiu Family Head looked at Qiu Pingâan with nervousness and anticipation, his tightly clenched fists slightly trembling. No matter how, Qiu Pingâan was at least a Third Stage Sword Master, without that sword, relying solely on his ability, he should have a good chance to pass the assessment, and this was his only hope.
Unfortunately, he was destined to be disappointed.
Less than a fifth of the time passed before Qiu Pingâan suddenly opened his eyes, fell to the ground, and cried out: "Iâm done, Iâm done, I want to go home, Mama, help, I want to go home..."
"Pff..." Suddenly, someone was the first to laugh out loud. Afterward, the entire plaza echoed with roars of laughter.
This was the true strength of the Young Master Qiu, unable to persist even a fifth of the time, already having a mental breakdown, unable to compare with the other noble familyâs sons, let alone those from humble backgrounds.
The lack of skill was forgivable, but to have such a weak will, crying out loud in front of so many people, calling for his parents, embarrassed the Qiu Family entirely.
The Qiu Family Head stood in the center of the plaza, his face ashen, feeling lost. Each pitiful cry from Qiu Pingâan was like daggers piercing his heart, and the surrounding laughter was like loud slaps on his face.
With a muffled "bang," the instructor struck down, and Qiu Pingâan collapsed to the ground like a dead dog, his cries abruptly ceasing.
Seeing Qiu Pingâan so pathetic, such a waste, and himself, toyed with by such rubbish, the instructor felt utterly humiliated, striking without mercy, not only destroying Qiu Pingâanâs cultivation but also shattering every bone in his body.
Now, not to mention restoring cultivation, whether Qiu Pingâan could stand up again in this lifetime was in question.
"The Qiu familyâs improper upbringing resulted in such an unfilial son. From today onwards, no Qiu familyâs disciple will be admitted to Long Yan Academy for two hundred years." Gong Hongru said solemnly, not even glancing in Qiu Pingâanâs direction.
"Lord Gong..." The Qiu Family Head trembled all over, looking at Gong Hongru with pleading eyes.
"If you say one more word, I will expel all Qiu familyâs disciples from Long Yan Academy." Gong Hongru said.
The Qiu Family Head looked utterly despondent, unable to utter a single word.
The Qiu familyâs rise in the past two hundred years from an obscure small family to one of the three major families of East State County relied on those Qiu family disciples attending Long Yan Academy. However, they had many experts, but none could be called top-notch.
The ban for two hundred years meant not only Long Yan Academy, but it was likely the other three academies would also not accept Qiu family disciples, as the Anyun Four Great Academies were interrelated, and Qiu Pingâanâs actions today showed disrespect not only to Long Yan Academy but to the other three academies as well.