The teaching director had nothing to say about it.
Demon Yan cast a glance at Principal Sun and searched around the area. Soon, he brought out eight video cameras.
When Meng Chao saw the video cameras in Demon Yan’s hands, he said, “It’s true that Zuo Haoran is injured, but I don’t understand what happened. I’ve just recovered, and my limbs are weak. There’s no way I could deliver such a heavy punch. Mr. Yan, Mr. Wang, Teaching Director Ma, please watch the videos before the students and help me figure out what happened, or else…”
“Or else what? Do you think that the school will falsely accuse an innocent man?” The teaching director braced himself. “Mr. Yan, turn on the videos, let’s have a look.”
Each micro video camera had its own super high-definition monitor.
Demon Yan handed the eight video cameras to the teaching director and the homeroom teachers of the other third year classes. Wang Longjun managed to get himself one as well.
Chu Feixiong and the other students quickly went behind Wang Longjung and craned their necks to take a look.
The fight was very short. It only lasted a bit over two minutes. First, Meng Chao was beat up so badly that his face was a bloody mess. Then, he pounced on Zuo Haoran. After that, Zuo Haoran went flying while coughing blood.
The normal students could not understand it, but the homeroom teachers looked contemplative. The teaching director’s face turned white, and Demon Yan’s pupils shrank.
He gathered up the other video cameras and slowed down the video five times and replayed the final scene several times from different angles.
Then, he cursed softly and strode to Zuo Haoran, who was on the stretcher.
“Tell me. What move were you about to use against Meng Chao?” Demon Yan asked while glaring at him.
Zuo Haoran’s face was pale. He could not say anything even after a long time had passed.
“Hurry up and tell me. Even if you don’t tell me, I already know it. But if we don’t figure out what sort of injury you have, you might miss the optimal time to be treated, and your injury will accompany you for life!” Demon Yan’s expression was fierce.
The ruthless instructor’s intimidating presence was not something the heavily injured Zuo Haoran could stand up to. He shuddered and said, “I-It’s Heart Hammer.”
When he said these words, before the students reacted, the homeroom teachers sucked in sharp breaths and jerked in shock.
“You know Heart Hammer?”
“You were just sparring with another fellow student, and yet you used Heart Hammer! What were you thinking of doing?”
“Ah! Zuo Haoran, y-you were too rash!”
Everyone was shocked and remorseful.
The teaching director covered his face. He looked as if everything was over.
“Mr. Yan, what’s going on? How was Zuo Haoran injured? We want to know.” Chu Feixiong stood out to represent all of Class 6.
Demon Yan cast a glance at Principal Sun. When he saw that the principal was not reacting to the situation, he faced the excited students and answered honestly.
“Zuo Haoran used a very powerful killing move called Heart Hammer during the sparring session just now, but he hasn’t mastered it, and there were obstructions in his force execution. The explosive strength was all gathered on his spine, and the moment he was about to release it, Meng Chao hit his chest, which caused the strength at the depths of his spine to explode. It resulted in his spine exploding.”
“Heart Hammer… as in the attack described ‘with a crack of the whip, a needle seeps into bones’?” After saying this, a student who was very well-read finally remembered what it was and could not help but cry out. “This is a domineering killing move only used against monsters who have strong defenses.
“The power of the punch can pierce the organs and destroy the heart. Zuo Haoran actually tried to use it on Meng Chao? Isn’t that too diabolical?”
“I see! So he reaped what he sowed?”
“So, Meng Chao was actually defending himself?”
“Meng Chao didn’t injure Zuo Haoran, he hurt himself. You can’t blame Meng Chao for this!”
Demon Yan handed the eight video cameras to the teaching director. “Teaching Director Ma, do you have any opinion regarding my judgment?”
The features of Ma Qingyun’s horse-like face bunched up so much that he looked like a fried dough twist. The color of his face changed several times, but in the end, he said fiercely, “N-no matter what, this was caused by them fighting in secret. Meng Chao, why did you come to the grove to fight against Zuo Haoran?!”
“Teaching Director Ma, allow me to say this again, we were not fighting but sparring, and it was an accident. That Heart Hammer was also something Zuo Haoran mentioned that he would demonstrate to me beforehand. That’s why I believe that it would be better to categorize the whole thing as an accident,” Meng Chao said calmly.
“Otherwise, it would be very hard to understand what went on. Zuo Haoran and I only have a little disagreement between us, which is something that can be resolved with a few words. Why should he use a move that is said to be able to deliver needles into bones with just one crack of a whip?
“That’s a little over the top. If things really go out of hand, it’ll be bad for me, Zuo Haoran, Class 6, and the school. What do you think?”
The teaching director’s expression changed.
The homeroom teachers furrowed their brows.
He was right. Students fighting against each other was common, but if they used Heart Hammer during a fight, were filmed doing it, and word about it spread out, it would be difficult for them to control how things would blow up.
If it were not handled properly, Ninth High School’s reputation would be ruined.
Even the teaching director himself would be disgraced for teaching a nephew who was ruthless and ended up reaping what he sowed. He would have trouble progressing the career ladder.
But if the students were just sparring and an accident occured, it was a different matter.
The teaching director was still hesitating, but at that moment, Principal Sun, who had not spoken since the start, finally opened his mouth.
“Teaching Director Ma, Zuo Haoran is still lying there. Shouldn’t you send the boy to the hospital? The other classes are still going through their tests. If we continue with the argument, we’ll affect the children’s future. That will not be good.”
The small, shriveled up old man spoke feebly. Since he was missing a few teeth, he spoke with a lisp, and he did not sound imposing at all.
But the teaching director looked as if he had just been struck by a stick. He instantly held his anger back, lowered his head, and said, “Yes, Principal Sun.”
“Mr. Yan, ask Meng Chao what exactly happened and how did the accident occur. Then, write a report about it. By the way, put on a friendlier face. Don’t scare the children now.”
“Understood, Principal Sun!'” Demon Yan instinctively saluted. It looked like a ruthless instructor was facing his own ruthless instructor.
“It’s pretty good, hmm?”
Principal Sun smiled and returned to how he usually looked like—a mascot who only knew how to doze off. His hands were placed behind his back when he walked out of the grove.
The class released a long sigh. Judging by the looks of it, the incident would be classified as an accident.
However, Meng Chao should have coincidentally and unintentionally hit a fatal spot on Zuo Haoran, right? It was not wrong, then, to say it was an accident.
What else could have happened? There was no way Meng Chao could have countered Heart Hammer! It would make absolutely no sense if he did!
While the class watched with a complicated gaze, Meng Chao was led away by Demon Yan.
But they did not go to the office or the student affairs office. They only strolled about the schoolyard.
Demon Yan walked at a moderate pace in front of Meng Chao when he suddenly asked an unrelated and very strange question. “How much did you hold back during your speed and strength tests this morning?”
Meng Chao did not intend to hide and thought about it. “About twenty to thirty percent?”
It was twenty to thirty percent right now, but the figures might change in a few days.
“Why?”
“It wasn’t challenging, so I wasn’t interested in it.”
“Heh. And only the Golden Target was able to stir up your interest? Your shooting skills are pretty good. Who did you learn it from?”
“My dad. He was once an ace sharpshooter in the army. A few days ago, a Ghost-eyed Golden Winged Flame Beetle invaded Blessed Heavenly Garden. My dad dealt a headshot to it.”
“I see.” Demon Yao suddenly stopped still, turned his head around, and said, “What happened today was intentional.”
Meng Chao did not back down from the ruthless instructor’s suddenly fierce gaze. Instead, he took a huge step forward, as if he was trying to clash weapons against him. “Yes, it was intentional.”
“I need an explanation.”
Meng Chao shrugged. “It was purely self-defense.”
“Was it self-defense, or were you launching a preemptive strike? If you hadn’t been baiting him, Zuo Haoran might not have attacked you.”
“Am I supposed to stake my destiny on the possibility that he might not harm me?” Meng Chao smiled coldly. “Mr. Yan, right now, if there was a fierce monster standing beside you and your family, would you carefully judge whether it’s hungry or not, whether it would choose to spare you, or whether it was going through some difficulty?
“Would you try to decipher whether it is a kind monster? Would you think about whether you could find a better way to get rid of it?
“I’m just a high school student. When I handle matters, I am not able to pay attention to all details. I can only dig a pit and fill it with spikes. Then, I will stand behind that pit to see whether the monster will follow me. If it doesn’t come, I won’t bother it. But if it insists on coming after me, what can I do? Am I supposed to kneel down and beg it not to attack?”
Demon Yan stared at Meng Chao for a long time before saying, “Alright, I can accept this explanation. I’ll handle the trouble that will come later. Just focus on preparing for your exam!”
Meng Chao sighed in relief and smiled brilliantly. “Thank you, Mr. Yan. I knew that you’re the fairest and kindest teacher in the entire school.”
Demon Yan waved his hand. “You don’t have to flatter me. If you’re really thinking about thanking me, then have you ever thought about getting into military school?”
Meng Chao shook his head frankly. “Feixiong wants to become a general who fights in wars. Please help him. As for me, forget it.”
A cunning look flashed in Demon Yan’s eyes. “Why? I don’t think you’re the type who hates wars.”
Meng Chao had been a harvester for ten years of his life, and he had gained some occupational diseases because of it. He pouted. “Being a soldier is too crude. They use guns, cannons, and tanks to reduce the monsters into a mess. Resources that were originally in perfect shape end up mostly destroyed. Fighting in such a simple and crude manner isn’t my style.”
Demon Yan smiled. “Oh? And what sort of style do you like?”
“Meticulous, precise, and elegant.”
Meng Chao thought about it, and he could not help but brandish his hands. It was as if he was holding an invisible scalpel and surgery knives. “I like cutting into monster skin carefully, going through their blood vessels, gently caressing their organs, searching through every drop of their blood, and separating their organs perfectly before placing them in vessels filled with all sorts of medicinal liquid.
“In the end, a fearsome monster will become exquisite art. This is the art of a harvester, and I want to become an artist in this area.”
Demon Yan was unable to help it and shuddered when he saw the intoxicated expression on Meng Chao’s face.
Were all high school students this crazy nowadays?
Demon Yan took a few steps forward and said nonchalantly, “Last question. You said you dreamt of my death that day?”
Meng Chao was stunned. Then, he remembered what Demon Yan said. He was referring to the day he was reborn.
“Urgh… Mr. Yan, dreams are the exact opposite of reality. Are you bothered by this?” He scratched his head.
“Heh. I’m not bothered by it at all. Instead, I hope that’s the case.” While Meng Chao was shocked, Demon Yan said, “I was once a member of Dragon City’s regular army, Red Dragon Army. Even though I have been discharged from service, I will be a member of the Red Dragon Army till the moment I die.
“The greatest humiliation to a soldier is to die in his sleep. Since a person is going to die either way, I hope that I can die in a monster’s stomach and use my very last bone to pierce a monster’s heart. That is the best way for a member of the Red Dragon Army to die.
“So, thank you for dreaming of me fighting to my death, Meng Chao.”
This time, it was Meng Chao’s turn to be unable to speak.
Demon Yan laughed loudly and strode forward.