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Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Zhou Yi’s Regret — The Tumor Is Removed!

On the training field.

Countless students and teachers turned their gazes toward Zhou Yi, making her cheeks burn with shame.

It was just after class, and many students had gathered around, curious to get a look at the new Class One.

As for the "old witch" Zhou Yi, her reputation preceded her. They had, of course, heard plenty about her before — but because of her authority as a teacher, they could only gossip in private. Until today…

"Zhou Yi, if these were your only problems, I wouldn't have spoken so harshly."

Du Weilun's voice was cold.

From his hand, he drew a stack of papers. He glanced toward Neuvillette for confirmation; upon receiving a nod, he turned back.

"Bai Yu — a student from two years ago. Because of long-term overexertion over six years, he suffered accumulated internal injuries, resulting in being stuck at the Soul King level for five years without a breakthrough."

"Wang Liyan."

"Zhang Wen."

"Qin Si…"

"…And so on."

With each name Du Weilun read aloud, Zhou Yi's complexion grew paler. She remembered many of them clearly.

Especially the first one — in his third year, due to excessive running, he had been hospitalized, diagnosed with serious injuries. Yet under her threat of expulsion, he persisted with daily training.

She had known that student's potential — quite high, in fact — a typical case of a "poor family's son" on the rise. His talent was at least enough to aim for the Soul Douluo level, perhaps even a Title Douluo…

"Heh… These children, numbering at least in the hundreds, some were injured from your high-intensity, over-limit training and expelled halfway; others gritted their teeth through the pain until graduation, only to find their hidden injuries ruined their future, keeping them out of the inner court."

Du Weilun's cold words struck Zhou Yi's heart like a heavy hammer.

Gasps of shock rippled among the surrounding teachers and students.

The students looked at Zhou Yi in horror. Being students themselves, they could empathize. They now cast sympathetic glances toward the members of the new Class One — for the first time truly understanding the misfortune of their peers.

The teachers, meanwhile, showed a mix of unease and outrage.

In Shrek Academy's vast and complex system, there were always loopholes to exploit. And under the shadow of power, darkness inevitably grew.

Neuvillette took in the scene, then spoke calmly:

"Director Du, I want to know — given Zhou Yi's actions, how should she be dealt with under the Academy's rules?"

"This…"

Du Weilun looked embarrassed.

The school rules had very few clauses for punishing teachers, and gave them far too much leeway.

Of course, most teachers were conscientious and upheld the dignity of their profession. For example, the teacher "Mu Jin" — vilified in the original story — was, in Neuvillette's eyes, actually quite good.

"That being the case…"

Neuvillette tapped the ground lightly with his long staff.

Unseen ripples surged outward, sweeping through all of Shrek Academy in an instant.

Like an amplifier, his voice rang clear in the mind of every person present.

"From this day forward, the Academy will have an applicable rule."

"Any teacher who expels a student for improper reasons will have their post suspended pending investigation."

"Any teacher who ignores students' training limits and uses expulsion as a threat to improve their own class's pass rate will be suspended pending investigation."

"For severe cases, the teacher will be expelled from Shrek Academy and banned from reentering."

In the stunned gazes of countless teachers and students, a pale blue light shimmered from Neuvillette's body — holy, untouchable.

His face remained calm as he felt the ever-growing power of the ancient dragon's authority, letting out a quiet breath of relief.

"Take her away."

Seeing this, Du Weilun quickly waved his hand.

At once, two Academy enforcers appeared, seizing one of Zhou Yi's shoulders, lifting her into the air, and flying toward the Academy's depths.

Only her panicked cries echoed back:

"You can't expel me! They'll kill me! Don't — they'll…"

Hearing this, Neuvillette only shook his head slightly.

See? The "little fairy" understood perfectly well.

It's just that… no knife had been pressed to her neck before.

"Heh, trash. She fears being dealt with, but what about those children whose talent she destroyed under her persecution — are they not wronged?"

Du Weilun spat on the ground, his face cold.

"Director Du, it seems you bear some responsibility in this matter as well."

Neuvillette's tone was calm, his gaze on Du Weilun utterly steady.

"Uh… this…"

Du Weilun opened his mouth, but could only bow his head in frustration.

At this point, even if he hadn't knowingly helped Zhou Yi — even if he'd been kept in the dark — there was little to defend.

"Your Excellency—"

"Du Weilun — dereliction of duty. Half a year's salary docked."

Neuvillette's tone was mild.

"This… Yes, Your Excellency. I'll pay the fine immediately!"

Du Weilun froze for a moment, then broke into a relieved smile, quickly excusing himself to handle the aftermath of Zhou Yi's arrest.

Neuvillette allowed himself a faint smile, feeling that trace more strength in the ancient dragon's authority.

If Du Weilun had truly covered for Zhou Yi or been otherwise involved, Neuvillette would never have called him here today. The Sea God's Pavilion inspectors had already scoured the entire outer court.

Every large and small problem had been exposed — and the entrenched "tumors" on this great tree would be removed one by one.

Lifting his hand, Neuvillette felt the breeze brush past.

"The wind is about to rise."

The next day.

In the office.

Neuvillette slowly raised his teacup and took a light sip.

In recent days, a storm had swept through Shrek Academy.

Zhou Yi's trial was only the beginning — afterward, countless students and teachers were implicated. But few were as egregious as Zhou Yi, who in mere decades had expelled hundreds of students and crippled the talent of over a hundred.

Thus, she remained imprisoned within the Academy for now.

Neuvillette had even taken the time to visit her once. The once-arrogant "little fairy" was now utterly disheveled, crying and begging Fan Yu to rescue her.

But everyone knew she would likely never leave that cell again — or perhaps… she wouldn't dare to.

"Hu…"

With a quiet sigh, Neuvillette shook his head. He truly couldn't understand what Fan Yu had ever seen in her.

As for Fan Yu's own fate, Neuvillette hesitated for some time.

In the end, after a unanimous discussion in the Sea God's Pavilion, it was decided he would atone for his connection to her by continuing to work at the Academy.

The investigation revealed that this honest man was unaware of Zhou Yi's actions. With Qian Duoduo's plea on his behalf, the final decision was to remove him from his post as head of the Soul Tool Department, but keep him as a lifelong worker for Shrek Academy.

And Neuvillette himself…

Had now entered the view of everyone.

His fearsome — even terrifying — record was revealed to all.

Almost everyone now knew: this inner court senior, a once-in-a-millennium genius, had personally removed a massive malignant growth from the Academy.

Applause and praise were everywhere.

After all, Zhou Yi had long been despised—a disgrace to the profession, relying on ruthless elimination rates to inflate her class's pass record and inner court promotions, a practice most teachers considered beneath contempt.

But Zhou Yi had flaunted it.

And so, her downfall was cause for celebration.

When Neuvillette stepped in as Class One's new homeroom teacher, the other teachers welcomed him with genuine warmth.

Taking another sip of tea, he heard a soft knock at the door.

"Sir… Teacher Neuvillette, may I come in?"

"Come in."

Neuvillette rubbed his forehead helplessly.

It seemed that ever since he had taken over Class One, this little girl enjoyed coming to his office with Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao.

As soon as he finished speaking, a lovely girl with light-blue eyes, her pretty face bright yet spirited, slipped cautiously inside and quietly closed the door.

"What, you didn't come with Wang Dong and the others today?"

Neuvillette looked at Huo Yutong in mild surprise.

"I didn't come today for special training."

The girl gently bit her rosy lips as she stood demurely before Neuvillette, her slender, porcelain-white hands clasped behind her back.

"Today…"

(To be continued)

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