Huang Pufeng didn't hesitate, immediately pinning the blame on Wang Zhan.

Even though he felt this was somewhat unkind and rather embarrassing, he had no other choice!

Before Wang Zhan came along, I was genuinely simple and honest. Even though I'm from a prominent family, I still had a pure heart, respected my elders, and cared for the young. The only one to blame is Wang Zhan; that guy is so unscrupulous, he even corrupted Grandfather…

He should be able to handle it, right?

Huang Pufeng was hesitant internally, but his face showed a timid expression. Although his voice lacked confidence, the Wei Que on his face compensated for any shortcomings.

Liu Zhenfeng shot him a cold glance and then snorted.

If he believed Huang Pufeng, he'd be a fool. Who was Wang Zhan? A student who fought to the death for the Martial Arts Academy, who risked his life for humanity, and who had even taken on a mission from the Military Department at the risk of offending his original organization.

Would such a loyal student corrupt an old fox like Huang Pufeng? What a joke! he immediately retorted coldly.

"Unrepentant in your wrongdoing, your crime is compounded! After this competition, you'll be on gate duty at the Martial Arts Academy for one semester. If I find out you're falsely accusing Wang Zhan again, see if I don't punish you severely!"

Pfft. Chen Mengshu burst out laughing. That fool Huang Pufeng! Wang Zhan is so respectful of his elders and caring towards the young; how could he do something as outrageous and disrespectful as calling Vice Dean Liu Zhenfeng 'Old Liu'? It was definitely Huang Pufeng courting disaster; it didn't even take a moment's thought to figure that out.

Huang Pufeng was stunned, on the verge of tears.

"Dean, it's true! It was really that kid Wang Zhan who started it! How would I dare?"

"Shut up! Keep arguing, and I'll add another semester."

Old Liu grew increasingly annoyed, his face turning pitch black. This damn brat is getting more and more out of line! Song Dongming, however, paid Huang Pufeng no mind and asked Lv Zhenglong again.

"Dean Lv, is what Dean Liu said about Wang Zhan true? Was he just…"

Song Dongming hesitated, wondering if Liu Zhenfeng wasn't thinking clearly, perhaps getting carried away and exaggerating.

Lv Zhenglong paused for a moment before nodding.

"Yes. Wang Zhan had a great opportunity and obtained some precious elixirs that allowed him to fight above his level. Of course, he's used most of them by now. It's unlikely he could kill a Grandmaster anymore, though taking on a Martial Master might still be possible…"

None of the team members dared to speak. If both Deans said it was true, then it had to be true.

But this meant that while their team was still 'playing in the mud' back at the Temporary Stadium in the Martial Arts Academy, Wang Zhan had already been out fighting real battles—and winning!

Chen Mengshu muttered, her eyes filled with a strange light, "Junior Brother Wang Zhan… he's become this strong already?"

Liu Zhenfeng and Lv Zhenglong exchanged a glance, nodded, and continued, "So, all of you need to work harder. He's likely on the verge of becoming a Martial Master, while you are still low-rank Warriors. If this gap continues to widen, you might never catch up in this lifetime.

"He caused quite a stir this time, and the Four Great Academies paid a hefty price to bail him out. That's why they've requested him as an exchange student. However, we can arrange for some mentors to help you all narrow the gap. Of course, none of this is to be spoken of outside. Anyone who lets this slip will be expelled, no exceptions…"

Lv Zhenglong said with a casual laugh, hoping they would be motivated to push themselves harder. Even if they couldn't win the Federal Martial Arts Competition, they should at least improve somewhat and feel a bit of pressure.

However, looking at their reactions, apart from the two simpletons, Chen Mengshu and Huang Pufeng, Song Dongming and Sun Kelan merely exchanged a glance and had already deduced most of the truth.

Wang Zhan caused too big a stir. The Four Great Academies wouldn't normally interfere in the affairs of a smaller institution like Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy. The only explanation is that our Dean went to them, hat in hand, and offered up Wang Zhan in exchange for their help. It's beneficial for Wang Zhan, true, but it also means our Dean admits he lacks the capability to protect him and doesn't want to drag him down…

An inexplicable sense of frustration and helplessness washed over them, especially Song Dongming, the team's main pillar.

Wang Zhan should have been the prized talent of Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy, the driving force leading us forward. Yet, in the end, because we are too weak, because we lack the ability to protect our own junior, our own student, we have to just hand him over. They call it an 'exchange,' but it's clear that from now on, Wang Zhan will likely only have a nominal connection to Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy. Our academy is too small, the competition too fierce. For them to even accept Wang Zhan is already giving us immense face. We are too weak!

The news that Wang Zhan was being 'given away' by Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy as an exchange student didn't spread widely.

However, Qin Ying had noticed the way Yanjing Martial Arts Academy and Royal Martial Arts Academy acted as if they were drawing a clear line in the sand, staying out of each other's affairs, after the Four Great Academies of the Federation made their move.

Previously, despite constant internal strife and conflicts in private, the Four Great Academies of the Federation had always presented a united front, advancing and retreating as one.

This could only mean that rifts had appeared among the Four Great Academies, with internal situations emerging that were beyond the Federation's regulation and control. Furthermore, Wang Zhan was very likely the catalyst.

Moreover, she didn't believe Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy could have secured Yanjing Martial Arts Academy's intervention without paying a significant price.

Thus, in the early morning, having woken at some unknown hour, she lay quietly on the bed, chin propped in her hands, watching the sleeping Wang Zhan and pondering these developments.

Rifts among the Four Great Academies could be both good and bad… The Federation has grown too complacent, and the martial arts world is like a pool of stagnant water. Although the Federation has implemented many reforms, they're mostly superficial, addressing symptoms rather than the root cause, and haven't had much real effect… These rifts mean competition will intensify, and their mutual opposition will become more pronounced. In such an environment, smaller martial arts academies like Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy will have no ground to stand on their own; they'll only survive by clinging to the powerful… What were Yanjing Martial Arts Academy's conditions for intervening? Wang Zhan is already a student of Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy. Transferring his registration would be too costly, and it would also be improper and lack justification, making it look like the Four Great Academies were bullying a Federal Martial Arts Academy. So, could it be an exchange program?…

It had to be said, when Qin Ying's mind wasn't addled (or when Wang Zhan wasn't clouding her judgment), she was quite sharp. It didn't take her long to figure out Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy's likely arrangements for Wang Zhan.

Even for exchange students, there are many kinds. This was especially true for someone like Wang Zhan, who, while not widely known across the Federation, was quite famous among his peers. Once he became an exchange student, he would inevitably be branded with the mark of the host academy. It wouldn't take much to establish which camp he belonged to.

"What are you thinking about?"

Wang Zhan woke in a daze. As his eyes opened, a gleam of light flashed, and he saw Qin Ying right beside him.

What exactly is our relationship? Wang Zhan wondered. Are we secret lovers? Or am I keeping her as a hidden treasure?

But he had to admit, waking up to find such an enchanting beauty quietly beside him gave him a surreal, peaceful feeling, as if time itself had paused for this perfect moment.

"Thinking of you," Qin Ying began, her voice tinged with a playful grievance that made Wang Zhan's heart skip a beat. "And you? Were you thinking of me?"

Who knew that Qin Ying would start teasing him so plaintively? It made Wang Zhan's heart flutter, and he didn't know how to respond.

Heavens, this is too much! Haven't I been right beside you since last night? Even though I was paralyzed, my hand has been under you for so long, it's definitely numb, right?

Seeing Wang Zhan's dazed look, Qin Ying couldn't help but flash a winsome smile, adding another layer to her beauty.

"Just teasing you. Look at that silly face."

"Oh, hehe... hehe…" Wang Zhan let out a sigh of relief. That's good, that's good. Just smile, smile and the world feels right.

The two didn't banter for long before Qin Ying suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right! I made breakfast. Do you like congee with egg and black rice? I'll bring it over for you to try…"

With that, she hopped out of bed like a giddy young girl in love, her ample assets bouncing with her movements, prompting Wang Zhan to murmur to himself.

So white, so big... ahem, so big and white... Bah, what am I thinking? Didn't I see them yesterday? They didn't seem this... prominent!

He hadn't recalled it clearly. Yesterday, paralyzed like a log, his mind had been full of Yao Yao; he wouldn't have dared let his eyes wander. But still...

"Wait, don't bring it over! I'll come get it…"

Wang Zhan, forgetting his paralysis and feeling it was improper for Qin Ying to wait on him like this, tried to stand up.

The next moment, he froze. Wasn't I paralyzed? Weren't there supposed to be complications? What's going on?

He quickly assessed his condition. Though his body was covered in scars, and his Essence Energy and mental energy felt somewhat depleted, the paralysis and unbearable pain from the complications had vanished completely.

Just then, Qin Ying returned with a bowl of congee. Seeing Wang Zhan standing there in nothing but his boxer shorts, she blushed.

But she quickly recovered, hastily setting aside the dubious concoction of congee. Her face lit up with surprise and joy as she looked at Wang Zhan, reaching out to pinch and prod him all over.

"You… you're okay now?"

The complications from the Blood Essence Pill were no joke. Qin Ying knew very well that they were enough to drive a normal person mad, or even destroy their martial arts foundation.

So, seeing Wang Zhan completely recovered, an irrepressible excitement showed on her face.

"It seems you've completely absorbed the bloodline talent from the Blood Essence Pill, so you're immune to the complications! Last night was just because the medicine's effect was too potent, and your body couldn't handle it all at once."

Wang Zhan looked at Qin Ying, who was still checking him all over, and felt her genuine joy. A smile spread across his face as he slowly pulled her into an embrace, inhaling her orchid-like fragrance, and said softly, "Thank you. If it weren't for you, I might have really died yesterday."

He didn't know everything that had happened, but the scar on Qin Ying's forehead was still there, the white gauze strikingly visible.

Qin Ying trembled slightly in his arms. Feeling the masculine aura emanating from Wang Zhan, she felt somewhat intoxicated and gazed at him adoringly as she said, "As long as you're alright, I'm alright. Besides... besides, after everything, we're like this now... You won't abandon me, will you?"

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