Ma Xiaotao slitting her own throat in front of Yan Shaoze was clearly not going to work!
With a swift movement, Yan Shaoze snatched the sword from Ma Xiaotao's hand.
"Xiaotao, will death solve the problem?!"
Ma Xiaotao fell silent, knowing that this time, her teacher was wrong.
Her death really could solve the problem!
If she died, the academy could display her body publicly and win over many hearts...
But how could the academy's higher-ups allow a genius like Ma Xiaotao to die by her own hand?
If they wanted her dead, they wouldn't have waited until now!
Seeing this, Yan Shaoze seemed to realize something, his eyes shifting.
"Xiaotao, if you're not afraid of death, are you afraid of living to atone for your sins?"
"Because of you, all the freshmen in Class Nine, including the teacher, nearly perished."
"Because of you, decades of my honor were destroyed in an instant."
"And because of you, the honor of Shrek Academy was almost questioned."
"If you just die like this, what meaning will the academy's efforts and the teacher's sacrifices have?"
Though Yan Shaoze's words were a form of emotional manipulation, Ma Xiaotao was deeply moved.
Despite committing such a grave mistake, the academy not only didn't punish her but even helped her resolve the situation.
For this, her teacher had made a tremendous sacrifice.
"Teacher, what... what should I do?"
Ma Xiaotao was lost, unsure of the path ahead.
She didn't even want to think about the young man who had successfully stopped her, showing just how shattered her state of mind was.
"Xiaotao, you must live well!"
"The Sea God Pavilion has just issued an order for you to rest for a while and refrain from cultivating."
"At the same time, the academy will do its utmost to help you find the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and a soul master with extreme ice attributes."
"The academy values you greatly, so don't let them down!"
Hearing this, Ma Xiaotao forced a bitter smile.
It was precisely because she didn't want to disappoint the academy that she had pushed herself so hard in her cultivation.
"I understand, teacher..."
Ma Xiaotao lowered her head and murmured.
Seeing this, Yan Shaoze seemed to recall something and added, "Xiaotao, take the next few days to recover. Once you're better, go to Class Nine and apologize to those children."
"You ruined their gathering. Next time they meet, bring these two soul bones as a gesture of apology."
With that, Yan Shaoze took out two thousand-year soul bones from his storage soul tool and placed them on Ma Xiaotao's bed.
As a Title Douluo at the 95th level, Yan Shaoze had a few thousand-year soul bones in reserve.
Though soul bones were precious, these were only thousand-year ones, meant to show sincerity in the apology.
If it weren't for the fact that some of these children had special backgrounds, Yan Shaoze would never have had Ma Xiaotao bring soul bones to apologize!
The young master of the Clear Sky Sect, the young master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the little princess of the Divine Realm along with her "consort."
If these people held a grudge against Ma Xiaotao, would she ever have peace in the future?
Though Yan Shaoze could be foolish at times, most of the time, he was quite astute.
"These kids might hold some resentment toward you, but don't take it to heart..."
It wasn't just resentment; these young ones were fearless, even daring to "threaten" a 95th-level Title Douluo like him!
Hearing this, Ma Xiaotao gave a bitter smile. She could understand the feelings of her juniors.
"Teacher, don't worry. No matter what they say, I won't get angry."
"But..."
She glanced at the soul bones on the bed, a hint of guilt flashing in her eyes.
While the soul bones weren't particularly valuable, at least not to a genius like her, they were her teacher's spoils of war!
Yet, it was her mistake, and both her teacher and the academy had shouldered the burden.
The more she felt guilty toward the academy, the more loyal she became.
"Sigh, they're just spoils from my younger days. I occasionally take them out to reminisce about my youthful glory, but now..."
Yan Shaoze sighed and said no more.
How dashing he had been in his youth!
That was his proudest memory.
Now, the foundation of his reputation had been destroyed by Ma Xiaotao, but what could he do?
Punish her?
He couldn't bear to!
She was his precious disciple.
Scold her?
Even less so!
If the academy didn't blame her, how could he, as her teacher, do so?
The scene shifted to the dormitory building of the outer courtyard.
When Hua Huo and Huo Yuhao appeared at the dormitory entrance, cheers erupted throughout the building.
"Class monitor, vice monitor!"
Some clueless students walked into the hallway, curious about the commotion.
Nearly a hundred people rushed to the dormitory entrance, surrounding the young man and girl, their faces filled with admiration.
"Who are they? Such a grand reception!"
"You only noticed the reception, but did you see the looks in these freshmen's eyes?"
"That kind of fervent gaze is truly terrifying!"
"It feels like these people would go through fire and water at their command..."
Though the students of Class Nine had returned to their dorms, they were restless because their class monitor and vice monitor hadn't come back yet.
Without these two, Class Nine felt like it had lost its core.
So, the students quietly kept an eye on the dormitory entrance, waiting for Huo Yuhao and Hua Huo to return.
"Vice monitor, are you okay now?"
Wu Feng, being bold, reached out to check on Huo Yuhao, but Hua Huo slapped her hand away.
"Class monitor, I was just concerned about the vice monitor's health, nothing else!"
Wu Feng said pitifully.
Only she knew that she was telling the truth!
Though Huo Yuhao was handsome, talented, and strong, only slightly weaker than the readers, her heart belonged only to her young master!
Hua Huo smirked. She knew Wu Feng's background well; she was just a bit... unconventional.
What if she spent more time with Huo Yuhao and became... straight?
Hmm??
Wouldn't that be interesting?
Thinking this, Hua Huo's eyes lit up.
"I'm perfectly fine. Even if it happened again..."
Before Huo Yuhao could finish, everyone quickly waved their hands and shook their heads.
Again?
No way!
That was not something anyone should have to experience!
Surviving this time was only because of the class monitor and vice monitor's sudden burst of strength.
If it happened again, what if Vice Monitor Huo Yuhao didn't make it?
Just the thought sent chills down their spines.
"Vice monitor, you can't say things like that!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Class monitor, please take care of the vice monitor. He must still be out of it, talking nonsense."
Huo Yuhao: "..."
I was being serious!
The students, smiling like a tidal wave, surged forward and then dispersed, leaving only Huo Yuhao and Hua Huo at the dormitory entrance.
Upstairs, a group of people exchanged confused glances, utterly baffled.
What were these freshmen talking about? It all sounded like gibberish to them.