The night before the cleansing operation.
A Sea God's Pavilion meeting was held.
All the elders, the heads and deputy heads of both academies, Elder Gong, and a few non-Pavilion elders but respected white-haired seniors sat on each side.
The atmosphere was heavy and solemn.
Even Gong Changlong sat quietly at the back, glancing around curiously.
"Old Cheng, what's going on?" he nudged the old man next to him, "What's with this stormy atmosphere? Don't tell me the Sun and Moon Empire declared war?"
"Hmph~" The actual head of Shrek City's west district, the white-haired old man, just snorted, ignoring him.
Gong Changlong was dumbfounded—what did I do to you?
He just shrugged and sat quietly.
A few minutes later.
"I'm sure you all know why I've called this Sea God's Pavilion meeting," Mu En coughed gently, his warm voice echoing through the hall.
The room was silent.
"That's right, the parasites of Shrek Academy have become so numerous that even my old eyes can't tell them apart. So, tomorrow, we act—here's the list, take a look."
As he spoke, Yan Shaozhe quickly bowed, handing out a stack of lists.
Black on white.
Each black name now looked to the elders as if it had a big red X over it.
"Gulp..." Gong Changlong was stunned.
There were both inner and outer court teachers on the list, and even a few from the Treasure Pavilion and the Great Beast Arena, though only one or two. Most were—managers of the west district, under Cheng Ju's control.
No wonder the mood was so heavy—this was a major action.
"The Shrek Inspection Team has confirmed that those on the list have used their power to amass wealth, install their own people, and form cliques. Anyone involved with less than 100,000 gold soul coins and not too serious is just getting a warning," Yan Shaozhe said with a smile.
"But those on the list... are all confirmed to be involved with huge sums. While the west city isn't as prosperous as the east, it still has at least a few hundred million in annual turnover. According to the inspection, most culprits are—west city, under Old Cheng. Old Cheng, care to explain?"
"Hmph! What's there to explain?" Old Cheng lifted his head arrogantly, "You said you'd only check the outer court, now you're reaching into all of Shrek City. What are you up to, Yan Shaozhe?"
He waved his robe: "For the academy, we can suffer anything, but I don't get why the more you do, the more you suffer. Where did our money go? The academy! Why do you fuss over a few extra gold soul coins?"
"A few?" Elder Gong scoffed.
"My Beast Arena's funding always comes from the Treasure Pavilion. Lin Huiqun might be stingy, but he's way better than you—a parasite who eats everything up."
"You have the right to lecture me?" Cheng Ju raged. "I once went after evil soul masters for the academy, almost lost a leg!"
"That's because you suck..." Elder Gong muttered.
"Old Cheng, this isn't the time for merit. If it was, every elder here could match you," Yan Shaozhe smiled. "This is about facts: the west city's civilians and soul masters all live under your oppression, paying fees for everything. Don't pay? At best—a beating. At worst—family destroyed. Do I need to list examples?"
"Since you took over, the west city's gotten worse every day, and not just because the east is closer to the academy."
"What do you say?" Yan Shaozhe squinted.
"Hmph! The west city's 1.32 million people are my responsibility. Corruption is none of your business!" Cheng Ju snorted.
He turned to the main seat, where Elder Mu sat with eyes closed.
"Elder Mu, the villain's revealed himself!"
He pointed at Yan Shaozhe, "He's one!"
"And Gong Changlong!"
Gong Changlong: "..."
He'd been enjoying the show, and now the joke was on him.
"Come on, man..." Gong Changlong's face darkened.
"You take at least a third of the academy's income every year, tens of millions, for a rundown Beast Arena. There's no way those soul beasts eat that much! Must be pocketing half the money—he's greedier than me, why not go after him?"
"You bastard!" Gong Changlong fumed, but he wasn't quick with words, so he just rolled up his sleeves to fight.
"Quiet!"
Mu En finally spoke.
He slowly opened his eyes, taking in everyone with a gentle gaze.
The invisible pressure made everyone lower their heads.
"Gong Changlong isn't corrupt at all. In fact, he puts in nearly a million gold soul coins of his own each year. The academy's already investigated. Cheng Ju, don't try to confuse everyone. Who here is a fool?"
Mu En's voice remained gentle.
"That's it. Cheng Ju is stripped of all positions and to reflect for three years in the Sea God's Pavilion prison," he said indifferently.
"Hmph!" Cheng Ju was displeased, but obediently left with Yan Shaozhe.
It was only now Gong Changlong understood.
This meeting wasn't about punishing the small fry on the list—it was all about bringing down Cheng Ju!
A warning to others.
But Cheng Ju had gone too far, ruining the once-booming west city—even Gong Changlong couldn't stand it. He hadn't expected Elder Mu to act in person...
...
Sea God's Pavilion.
In the vast meeting room,
Yan Shaozhe pushed Mu En's wheelchair outside. The breeze blew, master and apprentice gazing at the distant academy.
"Honestly, Old Cheng..." Yan Shaozhe couldn't hold back his doubts.
"He's a blade for the academy. You can use him as a knife, but you must also be the sheath to restrain him. I haven't appeared much these years, so he lost control... Don't worry about him betraying us—his loyalty is as he says, heaven and earth can attest," Mu En smiled.
"The Pavilion prison can't hold him, but he'll build a prison in his own heart and lock himself away. He's only level 96, and the Pavilion's prison is just for major offenders. Even Title Douluos are rare there, let alone Super Douluos."
"Because of you?" Yan Shaozhe realized.
"Yes. Because I can suppress him. In his heart, I represent the academy's will..."
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