Suddenly, the atmosphere in the meeting hall took a sharp turn, plunging into an eerie silence.
Chen Yang remained indifferent. "A moment ago, were you the one asking for tea?"
"No, no, no!" Yu Feng quickly shook his head and covered his teacup with both hands. "A misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding!"
Yu Feng then carefully stood up and bowed respectfully to Chen Yang. "Commander, I was rash just now. My deepest apologies."
"What are you saying?" Chen Yang waved his hand dismissively. "You weren't wrong. With all the elders here, a junior like myself should naturally be the one to pour tea and light cigarettes, shouldn't I?"
The others sat restlessly, their hearts pounding in their chests. They could never have dreamed that this Former Chief Military Commander, a man recently rumored to be possessed by a Killing God, would actually appear here.
This was especially true for Yu Feng. Large beads of sweat rolled down his uncontrollably trembling face. He kept his head lowered, completely at a loss.
"Have a smoke?" Chen Yang took out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to Yu Feng.
"No, I... I wouldn't dare." Yu Feng was so terrified his soul nearly scattered. He stumbled back several steps, almost falling to the ground.
"And you?" Chen Yang's gaze shifted to Fan Zhiqiang.
BOOM!
The director of education, a man accustomed to throwing his weight around, slid right off his chair and onto his knees. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't realize it was you, sir! Please, be merciful!"
The rest of them looked on uneasily.
"So, does this mean you think you can boss around anyone else?" Su Yan spoke up, baring his teeth in a grin. "Weren't you acting all high and mighty a moment ago? Why are you cowering like a dog now?"
Fan Zhiqiang was speechless.
"The Former Chief Military Commander just won the war for the nation; he's a great hero! What's wrong with me kneeling to him?" After his expression shifted several times, Fan Zhiqiang defended himself with righteous conviction. He then scrambled to his feet and presented a cup of tea to Chen Yang. "Sir, please have some tea."
Chen Yang paid him no mind, placing the cigarette between his lips and pulling over a chair to sit.
Fan Zhiqiang held the teacup with both hands, not daring to move. In the vast meeting room, only the faint sound of burning tobacco could be heard.
After a long moment, Chen Yang finally took the teacup. He took a small sip and stared impassively at Yu Feng. "I hear that you, the Vice-Dean, are the one actually in charge of this academy."
"I... I..." Yu Feng's entire back was soaked in a cold, sticky sweat, and he couldn't stop trembling.
"Tell me about the unified examination," Chen Yang said, tapping the ash from his cigarette. "I like smart people."
Yu Feng finally understood. As the saying goes, one doesn't visit a temple for no reason. The Former Chief Military Commander wouldn't visit the academy just to show off in front of a bunch of old men like them.
And he vaguely remembered something. The student whose results were replaced by Young Master Zuo Long, a boy named Wei Dayong, was from the Former Hanyun Valley Martial Guard.
This... The mere thought caused cold sweat to pour from Yu Feng's pores like a spring. He had long heard that the Former Chief Military Commander was famously protective of his own.
Yu Feng didn't dare to delay. He immediately dropped to his knees and stammered, "Sir, this... this was all Zuo Yuanfei's doing."
"As you know, Zuo Yuanfei's father is the former Prime Minister. Given the Zuo Family's supreme status in Cangyun City, if Zuo Yuanfei said a single word demanding his son, Zuo Long, take first place, not just us, but even the Elders' Court would have to comply."
WHOOSH. Chen Yang blew gently across the surface of the tea, clearing the froth before taking a leisurely sip.
The bystanders were stunned.
Initially, they had said with great confidence that aside from being composed and experienced, Chen Yang was utterly unremarkable in appearance.
But now, his aura shot straight to the heavens, powerful enough to tear their Divine Spirits asunder. It was terrifying!
"We were just running errands! It truly had nothing to do with us!" Yu Feng was hysterical. At this point, he could no longer afford to worry about the Zuo Family's clout; saving his own skin was paramount. Besides, this Former Chief Military Commander seemed even more terrifying than the Zuo Family.
Chen Yang smiled. "So you're saying this whole affair has nothing to do with you, the Vice-Dean?"
Yu Feng's face flushed crimson. He could talk a big game, but in reality, when Zuo Yuanfei had given the order with a single sentence, Yu Feng had thumped his chest and guaranteed the result. He was, of course, eager to curry favor with the Zuo Family.
Furthermore, even if the world becomes a cesspool, that's no reason to eat shit.
Chen Yang asked, "I recall the Great Elder said something when he founded this academy. Isn't it inscribed on the large rock by the main gate? Do you remember what it is?"
"Reach for the stars, for even in failure, you will shine with the sun and moon." Yu Feng enunciated every word, his face gradually turning crimson.
Chen Yang said, "Those aren't just empty words."
Yu Feng nodded, then raised a shaking hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
Chen Yang stood up. That simple movement unleashed a boundless, oppressive force that nearly crushed Yu Feng into unconsciousness right where he knelt.
Chen Yang snuffed out his cigarette. "I hear the Zuo Family is holding a celebration for Zuo Long tomorrow?"
"Yes, yes, that's right!" Yu Feng's head bobbed like a chick pecking at grain. He declared with a look of firm resolve, "Don't worry, sir! Tomorrow, I will expose everything on the spot and see that justice is done for Wei Dayong!"
He couldn't worry about tomorrow; he just had to survive today.
"Good," Chen Yang said with a note of approval.
Yu Feng patted his chest. "Rest assured, sir!"
"Me too!" Fan Zhiqiang quickly chimed in from the side. "I'll expose them with the Vice-Dean and clear Wei Dayong's name!"
Chen Yang turned and reached out, patting Fan Zhiqiang's shoulder as if brushing away a speck of dust.
Yet this seemingly insignificant gesture made everyone present stare as if they had seen a ghost, their eyes bulging.
Before their very eyes, Fan Zhiqiang, who had just been standing tall and making bold promises, simply collapsed.
BOOM!
Upon seeing this, Yu Feng, who had just scrambled to his feet, fell to the ground again, gasping for breath.
Is this killing the chicken to scare the monkey? He had just been thinking that if he could survive today, he would immediately report to the Zuo Family and use their power to save his own life. But now... What kind of otherworldly power is this? He even began to wonder if the Zuo Family could truly stand against this man who had become a living god of slaughter—the Supreme Martial Commander.
"Sir, my apologies for the disturbance. I'll be leaving now," Chen Yang said to Su Yan before turning. Silhouetted against the light from the doorway, his figure receded into the distance.
"Alright." Su Yan walked him to the door. Once Chen Yang was a good distance away, Su Yan took a deep breath. Even he had never witnessed such methods before.
Su Yan turned back around, a faint, unreadable smile on his face as his gaze swept over the remaining men. "Gentlemen, if I recall correctly, all of you are on the Zuo Family's invitation list for tomorrow's event. Be sure to attend. As for what you should do there... I trust I don't need to spell it out for you?"
...