Meanwhile, the commotion within White Deer Academy had yet to subside.
Having suffered such a significant loss, Qin Rou had no intention of letting the matter rest.
Although the male students under her command still obeyed her orders, after witnessing Wang Xuan’s gruesome death, none dared to use force against Ye Ling’er, fearing they would bring trouble upon themselves.
Fortunately, Ye Ling’er seemed disinclined to bother with these insignificant underlings. After dealing with Wang Xuan, she returned to her seat and immersed herself in her book.
Qin Rou, not daring to provoke her directly, could only watch her from across the classroom.
As dismissal time approached, Ye Ling’er packed her bag and prepared to leave.
Panicked, Qin Rou mustered her courage and blocked her path. “You cannot leave.”
Ye Ling’er replied indifferently, “What, do you wish to die?”
“Ye Ling’er, don’t think today’s events can be brushed aside so easily,” Qin Rou retorted coldly, still defiant. “You stole my bracelet, broke my leg, and publicly murdered Senior Wang Xuan. I refuse to believe that within White Deer Academy, you can act lawlessly without anyone to hold you accountable!”
At that moment, a middle-aged man entered the room, looking puzzled. “It’s already dismissal time. Why are you all still here?”
Seeing this man, Qin Rou and the others instantly felt as if they had grasped a lifeline, their relief palpable.
“Master Liu, you’ve finally arrived!”
This man was their instructor, Liu Yuan.
As a teacher at White Deer Academy, Liu Yuan had reached the Nascent Soul Realm in cultivation, placing him firmly among the ranks of formidable experts.
Moreover, Qin Rou knew that Liu Yuan was a former disciple and subordinate of her father, Qin Ru.
Supported by two male students, she limped forward and tearfully pleaded, “Master, you must uphold justice for Rou’er!”
Seeing the severe injury on Qin Rou’s calf, Liu Yuan frowned deeply and asked sternly, “Rou’er, who inflicted such harm upon you?”
“It was her!” Qin Rou pointed accusingly at Ye Ling’er, her voice filled with grievance. “She stole the bracelet my mother gave me, used her martial prowess to bully me, and injured me. Just now, when Senior Wang Xuan tried to stand up for me, she ruthlessly killed him without even asking for an explanation. Master Liu, someone with such a malicious heart will surely become a scourge in the future! You must cripple her and expel her from White Deer Academy!”
Upon hearing this, Liu Yuan’s expression darkened abruptly.
“Ye Ling’er, is this true?”
Ye Ling’er remained composed and replied calmly, “She is slandering me.”
“Nonsense!” Liu Yuan roared angrily. “Who is Miss Rou’er? How could she possibly slander you? Even if she were truly slandering you, does that justify committing murder within the academy? White Deer Academy has been a sacred place of learning for five centuries and cannot tolerate such wickedness. Today, I will cripple you, this vicious and unruly creature!”
Liu Yuan had no interest in investigating the truth of the matter. After all, the statuses of these two individuals were vastly different.
Qin Rou was the daughter of the Prime Minister, cherished like a precious pearl by his own mentor. If he failed to stand up for her after she had suffered such humiliation in the academy, how could his mentor ever forgive him?
In contrast, although Ye Ling’er came from the Ye family, its former glory had long since faded. With only a drunken Prince Xiaoyao left, what trouble could they possibly stir up?
Liu Yuan’s expression was dark and murderous as he slowly walked toward Ye Ling’er with his hands clasped behind his back.
“You’re also aiding and abetting evil.”
Facing Liu Yuan’s approach, Ye Ling’er remained unperturbed and summoned a blazing sword from her storage ring.
“Hah, you dare draw a weapon in front of your teacher? How rebellious!”
Liu Yuan sneered, directly summoning his teaching ruler as a weapon, teleporting in front of Qin Rou, and raising the ruler to strike.
As a Nascent Soul Realm expert, he had thought subduing a mere child like Ye Ling’er would be as easy as turning his hand.
But the next moment, when the sword incinerated the teaching ruler into ashes and pierced directly into his chest, Liu Yuan’s face finally revealed intense fear.
“What?!”
“This… this sword… is actually Saint Grade?”
“How could a little brat like you possess a Saint Grade weapon?!”
Ye Ling’er said expressionlessly, “My father gave it to me.”
“My father said that anyone who dares bully the Ye family or me can be crippled.”
With these words, Ye Ling’er poured her spiritual power into the Fire Spirit Sword.
A surge of scorching fire energy transmitted from the blade, erupting within Liu Yuan’s body.
Instantly, it incinerated all of Liu Yuan’s meridian channels and dantian into ashes.
“Ah!”
Liu Yuan let out a series of shrill screams, collapsing to the ground with a thud, his entire body emitting billowing white smoke.
His formidable cultivation at the Nascent Soul Realm was directly shattered by Ye Ling’er’s single sword strike, rendering him a cripple.
The entire classroom fell into a dead silence.
Everyone stared wide-eyed in disbelief, looking at Ye Ling’er as if she were a monster.
“Ye Ling’er, have… have you gone mad?!”
Qin Rou said in terror, “You even dared to attack Teacher Liu…”
“He is an elder who lacks dignity, bullying the weak with his strength. He deserves this.”
Ye Ling’er sheathed the Fire Spirit Sword and said indifferently, “Do any of you still wish to stop me?”
The few boys guarding the door immediately shuddered, each retreating as far as they could.
Even Teacher Liu Yuan had been crippled by Ye Ling’er.
Anyone who remained standing still now would truly be courting death.
Suddenly, a powerful aura swept over them, making every student feel suffocated.
Ye Ling’er frowned slightly but stood her ground without moving.
A middle-aged man in a long gown with graying hair walked over from a distance, his hands clasped behind his back.
The aura of a Spirit Transformation Realm expert emanating from him made all the students hold their breath in fear.
Song Yuanshan, Vice Dean of White Deer Academy.
Seeing Song Yuanshan’s arrival, Qin Rou, who had been in despair, finally showed excitement again.
The expert who could deal with Ye Ling’er had finally arrived!
Looking at the crippled and unconscious Liu Yuan, Song Yuanshan frowned deeply and asked in a grave voice, “What happened here?”
“Dean Song, thank goodness you’ve come!”
Qin Rou wiped her tears as she approached Song Yuanshan and sobbed, “Ye Ling’er… Ye Ling’er has gone mad!”
“She not only stole my bracelet and broke one of my legs but also flaunted her martial prowess in the classroom.”
“She just killed Senior Brother Wang Xuan, and now she’s crippled Teacher Liu. It’s simply outrageous!”
“I beg Dean Song to take charge, lead us in searching the Wang residence, and punish this thief!”
“Ye Ling’er… stole your bracelet?”
Song Yuanshan was momentarily stunned, his expression suddenly darkening. “Preposterous!”
“The Ye family has always been loyal and honorable throughout their lives. How could they stoop to petty theft?”
“Even though the Ye family has fallen on hard times now, they would never engage in such disgraceful acts.”
“Moreover, when the heroes of the Ye family gave their lives for the nation and fell on the frontier, you lot were still mere sprouts, not yet in bloom.”
“Searching the royal residence? Are you even worthy?!”