"Fang Yuan actually didn't come to class today. Look, his seat has been empty the whole time."
"How dare he! This morning is the Academy Elder's lecture, and he still doesn't bother showing up?"
"This is bad. The Elder's face looks awful—Fang Yuan's going to be in trouble. Hehehe."
In the Academy, the youths whispered among themselves. Gaze after gaze swept toward Fang Yuan's vacant seat, and toward the Academy Elder's darkening expression.
Ever since Fang Yuan had begun robbing and extorting others, he had placed himself on everyone's opposite side. Seeing him meet misfortune was something all the students took delight in.
The Academy Elder's face was livid. While explaining the techniques for nurturing one's Empty Orifice, he kept casting covert glances at Fang Yuan's seat.
He sneered inwardly: "Fang Yuan, oh Fang Yuan. Yesterday I was fretting about finding no handle to seize on you, and today you walk right through the door yourself. After all, you're only fifteen. I overestimated you."
Most of his grim expression was, in fact, put on. His goal was to seize this opportunity to make trouble for Fang Yuan and quell the increasingly brazen arrogance the boy had been displaying.
Undeniably, as time passed, Fang Yuan's presence had grown ever more overbearing, pressing down on the other students until they could barely breathe.
One person dominating the Academy was not what the Academy Elder wished to see. He wanted a scene of a hundred flowers blooming and a hundred schools of thought contending.
"Guards." The Academy Elder curled his finger and rapped lightly on the lectern.
"Sir, your orders." Two guards standing outside the door immediately pushed it open and entered.
The Academy Elder let out a cold snort before the assembly: "This Fang Yuan has gone too far—slacking off to such a degree, skipping class right under my nose. Go to the dormitory and bring him to me."
"At once, sir." The guards turned and departed.
Watching the guards vanish beyond the doorway, the Academy instantly erupted into a cacophony.
Countless students whispered to one another.
"Fang Yuan's done for now," someone said, eyes gleaming.
"Heh heh, there's going to be a good show," another laughed with schadenfreude.
"Brother, you've been far too reckless. You're challenging the Elder's authority. Whatever punishment you receive, you brought it upon yourself." Gu Yue Fang Zheng glanced toward the empty seat and sighed inwardly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Academy Elder, wearing a frigid expression, slapped the lectern three times. "Silence! No talking in class!"
His aura at that moment was like a volcano about to erupt—intimidating to behold.
Instantly, the Academy fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The students shut their mouths in fear, each sitting ramrod straight.
Yet this was only outward compliance. Their attention had long since been seized by the unfolding situation.
The lesson continued, but the youths all appeared somewhat absent-minded.
A few students seated near the windows kept stealing glances outside.
Time trickled by. After quite a while, the sound of footsteps suddenly came from the entrance.
In that instant, many students' ears perked up, and dozens of pairs of eyes blazed with bright light.
"He's here..." The Academy Elder heard the footsteps too, and his eyes narrowed involuntarily.
He had already decided how to deal with Fang Yuan. He would sentence him to stand outside the door for six hours.
The punishment was not severe, but it was humiliating.
During class and between classes, students would be entering and leaving, walking back and forth, and they would all see Fang Yuan standing there in punishment.
This would shatter the fearsome image Fang Yuan had cultivated. Once the students realized Fang Yuan was nothing more than this, the deterrent power he held over them would plummet, and a surge of courage would well up within them—sparking the will to fight back.
Even better, the punishment would come from the Academy itself. Without anyone realizing it, the students would come to hold the Academy in even greater awe.
Only through awe would there come obedience.
Therefore, though this measure seemed simple on the surface, it actually carried profound meaning behind the scenes.
The footsteps drew closer and closer. Finally, the visitor stopped outside the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knocking sound rang out.
"Heh heh, I'll get the door!" A student sitting nearest to the door volunteered eagerly, stood up from his seat, and opened the door.
The Academy fell silent of its own accord, countless eyes fixed on the doorway.
Creak.
The door was pulled open to a narrow crack by the student's hand.