In his eyes, Xero didn't want to be Wang Jie. Rong Bufan had put this on himself. The only reasonable thing he could do was walk away.
But, Father and Mother Zhang had always taught him young that he had to set a threshold for something… in case they meet again. Even if Rong Bufan was a misfit, he didn't compare to the heads of Shadow Emblem's killers.
And so, Xero left his school jacket, after taking the relationship between both schools into consideration.
But then, when will the cycle of revenge end?
Xero pondered about this, but still gave him the jacket. It was at least worth a try.
After all, Director Yue, the hardest nut at No. 89 High School, was somehow cracked open by a history teacher. Anything was possible nowadays…
…
In No. 89 High School, someone definitely got blue-balled by the damn wind.
Elsewhere, in the office of the General Management of 100 Academies, Master Akira was feeling very upset today.
Master Akira, who had become Deputy Director at just seventeen years old, was resentful of outsiders, but no one could understand the pressure he was undergoing…
On one hand, this pressure came from the higher-ups.
The General Management of 100 Academies was in charge of all schools in Qinghai city, even that of kindergartens. All the major schools in the area were cautious of its directives. And above the General Management of 100 Academies sat the Covenant of Ten Thousand Academies, which was under the management and supervision of Secretary Li Hong.
This position of Deputy Director wasn't exactly big nor small… However, in Master Akira's opinion, sitting in this office was like shoving anal beads up his ass… the benefits all went to the higher-ups or directors while he sat down and answered phone calls. This directly led to work pressure, which made him think his life was shitty…
On the other hand, this pressure came from Master Akira himself. Additionally, what bewildered him the most, is that on most annual meetings, his drunk superiors would ask him to perform the "Heaven Blade Parting Skill", which he had "used" to defeat the Void God.
Summarized in a short sentence, Deputy Director was just too damn tiring for him.
There was no shortage of parents coming to him in case they want their child to enter school. Obviously, education is important and Master Akira wouldn't decline. Of course, there were also parents who would discreetly give him money in order to put their children in advanced schools but Master Akira didn't accept.
He thought that, although he wasn't exactly a "outstanding and talented model" to follow, he was at least very upright and honest. He even tried to report his superior for money laundering. But he didn't have a molecule of proof.
Hence, since the Anti-Immortality Division of Yunzhou nation's central government had issued the Nine Edicts and Five Prohibitions, various politicians had thus started to restrain themselves, no longer doing debauchery. Party bartenders wouldn't even serve dishes; politicians or leaders would take out scallop flavored fasting pills, pop them into their mouth and drink tea whilst chatting.
So, it was even more of a pain in the anus for Master Akira to find proof.
…
No. 90 High School's defeat of the Shadow Emblem Terrorist Organization was a widely discussed topic around the state. With regard to the spirit sword exchange between No. 90 and No. 89 High this time, the head office of the Covenant of Ten Thousand Academies had personally called Master Akira in order to hear his concerns of the event.
The main concern was actually Misaki's safety. After two of the Shadow Emblem assassination attempts, rumor was that the superior of the Yunhua Lotus Group had directly called the central government… though Master Akira didn't know what was discussed. And so, after that, the Covenant of Ten Thousand Academies had called Master Akira over to discuss Misaki's movements at school.
That morning, he had answered a phone call from his senior.
This time, so many first class Shadow Emblem killers had died — there was no way they would give up that easily.
In the spirit sword exchange between both schools, leaders of various states would be present and evaluate performances. The more people they were, the higher of something stimulating to happen. Problems were bound to rise if security measures weren't tightened. Actually, Master Akira had people carry out surveillance in the last two days in fear of something going wrong. If this task had gone the other way, the first person in line would be him, Deputy Director who had ordered for it to be rolled out.
It wasn't just about work, it was also about the main situation at hand.
After he had gotten off the call with the head of the Covenant of Ten Thousand Academies, an unexpected guest showed up to his office.
The person was tall, had dressed stylishly in a suit and was carrying a motorcycle helmet. He didn't look like someone important at first, but the moment the door swung open, Master Akira's eyes widened slightly. "Ser… Secretary Li Hong?"
Secretary Li Hong, the director of Yunzhou nation's Education Ministry and Secretary of the Covenant of Ten Thousand Academies… this old leader was definitely a passage to follow.
Master Akira hadn't met him before, and had only seen him from afar at annual meetings.
Rumor had it that Li Hong was a very low-key person, and when Master Akira saw him today… God, that had to be true! Motherf**ker pulled up in a motorcycle, people from afar would think the dude was a delivery man!
Li Hong sat down in the guest chair with a sigh shortly after settling his motorcycle helmet on the table. "This place hasn't changed one bit…" His voice was magnetic and had a particular accent which old leaders used, giving his manner while speaking a unique charm.
Usually, they were plenty of leaders who had come to see Master Akira that time, and the tea leaves were running low. When he opened the tea canister and couldn't find anything, he felt embarrassed.
Li Hong chuckled at Master Akira. "Don't worry, Deputy Akira. Brown tea is fine. I showed up uninvited today, I hope Deputy Akira won't be disturbed."
Master Akira hurried to serve him tea, "How could you say that? You're welcome here anytime. If there is a problem, a phone call would've sufficed."
"I ran out of credit," Li Hong sighed, "… So I came to visit you myself today."
"Oh. Well, if it's about Misaki's safety, I have already arranged the managements. There is no need for you to worry,"
"That's not the reason why I'm here today."
Li Baixing waved his hand, "To regard Misaki's safety, we are of course very confident in Deputy Director Akira's arrangements. Upper superiors are aware of Director Akira's contributions to the General Management of 100 Academies in Qinghai city in the last few years. If Deputy Director Akira hadn't personally made plans to protect No. 90 High School and disrupt the Shadow Emblem assassination attempt a few weeks prior, I'm afraid there would've been a terrorist attack that would be the biggest this department had ever faced."
"…"
Master Akira: "Then why has Secretary Li Hong come see me today?"
"The spirit sword exchange between No. 90 High School and No. 89 will be in two days. However, this time, I will be observing it with my seniors."
"…"
"It suddenly occurred to me yesterday that I hadn't mentioned this. It's not too late for me to come report to Deputy Director Akira, right? Of course it isn't… It's better for me if Akira manages to craft another identity for me when I take part in the event. If my real identity is present then, people would make a fuss and it'd be irritating."
Li Hong spoke evenly, "In short… a low-key profile!"
". . ."
"Old secretary… what are you talking about?"
Master Akira wiped his cold sweat and could already see the connection. Goddamn it, if this got out…
The school authorities of both schools would go crazy, not even the schools, the locals and government would be shocked!
Li Hong… the name was just too famous.
Even hearing his name alone would make people shudder. The Secretary of the Covenant of Ten Thousand Academies was one of the fifteen renowned individuals who had founded Yunzhou nation! He was a widely respected hero who had once fought in the ancient cultivation battlefield, an old general who had made contributions to the Scientific Cultivation Era!
Master Akira couldn't help but feel doubtful as he thought about this… such a revered person would want to see a spirit sword exchange between two ordinary high schools?
He felt this was unimaginable!
"Apart from this, there's one other thing…"
Li Hong took a sip from his tea, "I believe you still remember the void invasion that happened eleven years ago?"
"…"
At the mention of that day… Master Akira felt a sense of impending doom.