Chapter 129: You Heartless Boy | Seventh Update, Seeking Subscriptions

Principal Sun’s face was etched with embarrassment. The school’s scandalous affairs had not only spread throughout the city of Yuanjiang, but now, to his dismay, they were reaching the ears of the Yuanjiang military base as well. Since the situation had already come to this, it was pointless to hide it any longer; he might as well speak plainly. After all, his reputation was already in tatters.

He gave a bitter smile and said, "That third individual is named Lin Hao, the son of Lin Anguo, the former vice-principal of Yuanjiang No. 1 High School. His father was forced to commit suicide on the spot at the vitality examination site after being exposed for framing Xiao Nan, conspiring to murder a student, and sabotaging the martial arts entrance exam..."

"I see." Wang Yuanzhi realized, his expression clearing. Of course, he had heard of the incident, though he hadn't paid much attention to it at the time. To him, the squabbles between high school students and teachers were nothing more than trivial child's play. Now that he understood the details and his curiosity was satisfied, he shook his head and laughed, "It seems the Xiao boy isn't ruthless enough. To drive a man to his death but leave his son alive? That's just asking for trouble."

The others present exchanged glances, all bowing their heads in silent amusement. Their commanding officer was notoriously unconventional, clearly advocating for cutting weeds by the root.

Sun Zhongli stood to the side, completely at a loss for how to respond. Was he supposed to say that vengeance only begets more vengeance, and that as classmates, they shouldn't have taken things so far? In reality, even if mercy had been shown, it wouldn't have prevented the subsequent trouble or resolved the underlying resentment.

In truth, he didn't know that Xiao Nan had actually contemplated sneaking into the Lin household that night to finish off Lin Hao. However, thinking that the boy had just lost his father and that the house was filled with the sounds of mourning, he felt that killing him then would have been too excessive. Furthermore, having served as vice-principal for many years, Lin Anguo had his share of acquaintances, many of whom were formidable experts. If one were to barge in while people were paying their respects—whether out of genuine sympathy or feigned concern for Lin Hao—it would surely end badly. It wasn't out of compassion; he simply hadn't considered Lin Hao's revenge a threat, never imagining that those who lacked personal strength would resort to using powerful tools.

While the people at the camp breathed a sigh of relief, Xiao Nan had already entered the radiation zone. The wound on his chest was already knitting together; vital energy surged like a tide, bursting with life, and the bleeding stopped instantly. His bones began to itch.

His vitality and mental energy were slowly regaining their strength. The pace of this recovery, while seemingly gradual, was relentless. Since his mental realm had broken through to the stage of fetal respiration, his "Spring Essence" had reached completion, and his physical body had risen along with it. This vitality had grown even more formidable, granting him an astonishing capacity for recovery. He only felt a pang of regret that his mental and physical state hadn't fully recovered, making it impossible to unleash the Four Seasons Sword Intent again in the short term. Otherwise, before retreating, that "Nine-Nine Return to One" sword strike, empowered by the Four Seasons Sword Intent, would certainly have dealt the Wolf Barbarian leader a devastating blow—likely shattering his battle aura defense and cracking his skull, rather than merely slicing off an ear.

"What a pity, a real pity." Xiao Nan stood where he was, watching the Wolf Barbarian leader lead his men back, and let out a sigh.

Then, he saw Tang Zhixuan. She flashed to his side, white steam rising from her head and beads of sweat dotting her forehead. She was slightly out of breath, her own vitality surging like waves, clearly the result of rushing over in a hurry.

"Don't tell me... you were actually thinking of leaving him behind?"

"Not at all. I'm already quite satisfied that I managed to escape." Xiao Nan didn't reveal what was truly on his mind. He didn't have the habit of boasting; if something wasn't done, it wasn't done. Making threats or talking big after the fact was meaningless—utterly meaningless.

"You really are such a hypocrite. I don't know what that girl Shuang sees in you." Tang Zhixuan lacked any semblance of a teacher's decorum; she always seemed to conveniently forget her role. She looked at Xiao Nan with nothing but disdain. She didn't expect an answer, but suddenly remembering something, she added, "I heard in the camp's comms that you displayed incredible power in the Yin Feng Valley, not only breaking through the encirclement but also killing the Wolf Barbarian priest... That priest was protected by divine power, how did you manage it? Come on, tell your big sister."

"Are you sick in the head?" Xiao Nan snapped back. What kind of place was this? He still had his badge pinned to his chest. Every word and every movement was being watched by others... How could she be so oblivious to the situation? From this remark, Xiao Nan understood that she must be a naive, straightforward woman who lacked any real understanding of the dangers of the world. She likely suspected that people in the camp were plotting against him and that enemies were lurking in the shadows, but she clearly lived her life pursuing an open and honest code, believing there was nothing that couldn't be said aloud, completely unaware of the importance of keeping an ace up one's sleeve. However, this personality was undeniably refreshing and put him under very little pressure.

Perhaps, in Tang Zhixuan's eyes, everything should be straightforward, and one should simply push through any obstacle. It was no wonder she had been teaching martial arts in Yuanjiang for six months and had spent that entire time on a single mission without making any real progress. Such efficiency was truly unparalleled.

However, he did glean one piece of good news from her words: it seemed the people at the camp had failed to notice the nuances of his Four Seasons Sword Intent. That semi-tangible line of sword intent had passed through the Wolf Barbarian priest, and because he had charged so quickly, it looked exactly as if the opponent hadn't had time to react before being cut down in close quarters. As for the divine radiance, that went without saying. Back when the blood sacrifice occurred at the villa, many people had watched with their own eyes and failed to notice the trickery. Seen through surveillance cameras, they wouldn't have spotted a thing. This was for the best; the longer his trump cards remained hidden, the more useful they would be.

Stung by Xiao Nan's retort, Tang Zhixuan was so angry she nearly gasped for air, her face full of grievance. "I rushed over here, sweating and exhausted, just to save you... and this is the attitude I get?"

When her voice softened, Xiao Nan felt a bit sheepish. It was true that regardless of whether Tang Zhixuan had actually been able to help, she had been the first to arrive. If he wasn't mistaken, the camp's own reinforcements were likely still on their way. Regardless of whether she had looked after him because of Qin Shuang, he owed her a debt of gratitude.

He explained earnestly, "It was mostly because that Wolf Barbarian tribe underestimated me. That old white-haired priest, in particular, had no guard up, which allowed me to get close enough to strike. You know how it ends for a spellcaster when a martial artist gets within reach, don't you?"

This was a powerful, deflective excuse. In reality, he wasn't saying it for the woman before him, but for those in the camp who were listening. Tang Zhixuan looked thoughtful and didn't press further. Her anger came and went quickly. Seeing that Xiao Nan's injuries weren't too severe, she smiled and said, "It's fortunate you escaped into this area; the barbarians didn't dare follow, otherwise we would have had a major fight on our hands. The base's troops are quite slow; they still haven't arrived after all this time."

As she spoke, she grew annoyed again. After all, she was representing the school and held the title of a teacher.