"Who dares to cause trouble here?"
"Jiayi, go take a look."
Hearing the commotion outside, Jing Hongchen frowned and instructed Lin Jiayi, who was standing by the door.
This confinement room was right next to his office, and the noise was clearly coming from outside his office.
"Your Highness, forgive the embarrassment."
Jing Hongchen then turned to Xu Tianran, who was seated in his wheelchair, and spoke softly, his gaze flickering slightly.
"It's nothing. If Hall Master Hongchen has matters to attend to, feel free to go ahead—no need to mind me."
"If you need assistance, just let me know. When it comes to troublemakers, the Royal Inspectorate still has some strength and methods."
Xu Tianran wore a gentle smile and spoke politely.
"Well then, that's perfect. Please accompany me, Your Highness, and let us take a look at who dares to make such a ruckus here—do they not know that the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy is directly under imperial authority? Such audacity! This is nothing less than a blatant disregard for the empire's dignity!"
Hearing this, Jing Hongchen's eyes gleamed sharply. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, then in an instant his expression turned solemn as he spoke righteously.
With that, he took the lead and walked outside.
When Xu Tianran heard Jing Hongchen's words, the smile on his face froze for a moment, his expression stiffening.
He had only said those words out of politeness—who would have thought Jing Hongchen would take them so literally?
"Everything is fully under this Hall Master's control!"
With his back to Xu Tianran, Jing Hongchen quietly revealed a fox-like smile. Everything was proceeding exactly according to his arrangements.
Inviting Xu Tianran to discuss plans, Fan Yu stirring up trouble—and next, using Xu Tianran's hand to completely escalate the conflict.
Xu Tianran only wanted benefits from him, without contributing any effort. How could that be acceptable? There was no such easy deal in this world.
Besides, didn't this perfectly align with Jing Hongchen's own principles of conduct?
"You Mingde Hall treat your guests like this? Arbitrarily arresting students of our Shrek Academy? And even spreading slander against the reputation of Shrek students!"
"Move aside! Don't block me! I want to see your Hall Master Jing Hongchen—get out of the way!"
Outside the hall, Fan Yu led a group of Shrek Academy students, constantly pushing against the Mingde Hall instructors and forcing their way inward, ignoring all attempts to stop them.
Yet the Mingde Hall instructors seemed to have received some kind of instruction. They did not strike back, only offering light obstruction.
"What nerve—to dare cause trouble at Mingde Hall!"
Lin Jiayi swept his gaze over the crowd and shouted coldly.
"Director Lin, I want to see Hall Master Jing Hongchen. I want to ask him personally—what exactly did my student Huo Yuhao steal from Mingde Hall, that you would dare to arrest him without authorization!"
"Yes! Exactly!"
"Our Shrek Academy students would never do such a thing!"
Seeing Lin Jiayi appear, Fan Yu's eyes blazed as he spoke angrily.
The Shrek Academy students also echoed his words in agreement.
Watching Fan Yu, Ye Xiaosheng couldn't help giving a thumbs-up inwardly.
"Teacher Fan Yu really steps up when it matters—impressive, full of spirit, didn't lose face!"
"Teacher Fan Yu, this isn't Mingde Hall randomly arresting people. We only acted after obtaining sufficient evidence."
Lin Jiayi glanced at Fan Yu and spoke indifferently.
"I don't believe it. Yuhao could never steal anything!"
Fan Yu insisted stubbornly. Huo Yuhao was a carefully selected student chosen by his wife Zhou Yi. While studying soul tools under him, Yuhao had always been diligent and serious—there was no way he would engage in such despicable behavior.
The corner of Lin Jiayi's mouth twitched. He felt rather speechless—there was simply no way to reason normally with someone like this. After a moment's thought, just as he was about to speak, a voice interrupted him.
"Teacher Fan Yu, what business do you have with this Hall Master?"
Jing Hongchen's voice rang out like muffled thunder. A powerful aura surged forth like an overwhelming tide, pressing down upon Fan Yu.
Fan Yu clenched his teeth. His legs trembled slightly as he forced himself to stand firm.
Although he was a Soul Douluo, he spent his days researching soul tool technology in the Soul Engineering Department and was not skilled in combat. Moreover, the gap between a Soul Douluo and a Titled Douluo was truly as vast as heaven and earth.
"Look—our Hall Master is here, yet you don't speak, hesitating back and forth. What kind of posture is that?"
Seeing Fan Yu's condition, Lin Jiayi felt refreshed and said lightly.
"Hall Master Hongchen, where is my student Huo Yuhao?"
Fan Yu endured the pressure and spoke word by word.
"Mingde Hall treats every exchange student well. However, when it comes to those who steal and endanger Mingde Hall, we will not show mercy."
"Right and wrong—you can judge for yourself."
Jing Hongchen said calmly, flicking his hand as a recording soul tool flew straight toward Fan Yu.
With doubt and suspicion, Fan Yu activated the recording soul tool. Huo Yuhao's voice immediately came through—it was the recording of Huo Yuhao admitting that he had secretly recorded other Mingde Hall students while they were making soul tools.
With every second he listened, Fan Yu's face grew paler. His fingers gripping the soul tool turned white from the force.
"This is impossible… this can't be…"
Fan Yu muttered softly, his body swaying slightly.
No matter what, he had never imagined that the student he took such pride in would actually do such a thing.
All his earlier confident guarantees instantly turned into a joke. Feeling the gazes of the Mingde Hall instructors around him, Fan Yu felt his face burn with pain, like a clown putting on a show for ridicule.
At this moment, Lin Jiayi looked toward Jing Hongchen. Seeing Jing Hongchen give a slight nod, Lin Jiayi discreetly made a small hand gesture toward the Shrek students.
The next instant, an angry voice rang out.
"This is something you forced Huo Yuhao to say—you narrow-minded scum!"
From among the Shrek students, one person charged forward, instantly summoning a mutated Lone Wolf martial soul. Four soul rings rose as he lunged straight at the Mingde Hall instructors.
"Holy crap—there's someone even more reckless!"
Seeing this, Ye Xiaosheng was shocked. This was on the enemy's home turf!
"Stop! Don't!"
Fan Yu's expression changed drastically when he saw this. He shouted urgently. At the same time, the oppressive pressure bearing down on him suddenly vanished. Seizing the chance, Fan Yu rushed forward, trying to stop it.
Arguments were one thing—Mingde Hall wouldn't dare do much to them over words alone. But once hands were thrown, the nature of the situation completely changed!
The other Shrek Academy members also hurried forward. Meanwhile, the Mingde Hall instructors—who had previously been slacking off—seemed to receive some signal. Their spirits lifted as they all moved at once, blocking everyone.
It should be known that every Mingde Hall instructor had at least the cultivation of a six-ring Soul Emperor. How could these Shrek students possibly be their match?
"Very good. Truly very good."
"To dare cause trouble in a place directly under imperial authority—Elder Xue, restrain them."
The sound of a wheelchair creaking echoed as Xu Tianran looked on coldly and snorted.
A figure flashed out from behind Xu Tianran like a ghost, instantly appearing before the Lone Wolf martial soul user. In the blink of an eye, that soul master collapsed to the ground.
As for Fan Yu, who had rushed forward, he was naturally treated as a resisting party by Elder Xue as well. Very quickly, Fan Yu realized that he was no match at all. In the next instant, the soul power within his body was sealed.
Jing Hongchen looked at Elder Xue—dressed in the plain uniform of an ordinary palace guard, his body stooped—and his gaze shifted slightly, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.
"Shadow Douluo Xue Chen—indeed worthy of his reputation."
Back when Jing Hongchen was still at the Soul Douluo level, Xue Chen had already reached the realm of a Titled Douluo. He had never expected that Xue Chen would now follow Xu Tianran's commands so obediently. After all, Xue Chen had once been famous for his arrogance.
"However, this Hall Master's objective has already been achieved."
Jing Hongchen swept his gaze over the scene and thought to himself.
"Hall Master Hongchen, leave these people to me. I believe the Royal Inspectorate will be very interested in such troublemakers."
A trace of surprise surfaced in Jing Hongchen's eyes. He looked deeply at Xu Tianran and saw that he had once again returned to that gentle, affable expression. Jing Hongchen's heart stirred, and he nodded slightly.
"Very well. I'll leave it to Your Highness."
Very soon, a large group of Royal Inspectors clad in golden armor arrived. Not only did they take away the Lone Wolf martial soul user and Fan Yu, but all the Shrek Academy members present were also taken away together for questioning.
This time, Shrek Academy's exchange students could be said to have been completely wiped out—caught in one net.
(End of Chapter)