Held fast by the woman, Lin Yun and Tang Wushuang were utterly powerless to resist. She soon brought them to the Academy’s Main Hall, where, one by one, the Academy’s experts began to arrive after being notified.

Finally, when the Director arrived, the woman voiced her frustrations.

"Director, doesn’t the Academy owe me an explanation for these two? If this continues, they’re going to tear my Martial Arts Hall down brick by brick," the woman said.

At her words, the Director first offered a few words of comfort. He, too, was getting a major headache from Lin Yun and Tang Wushuang’s repeated brawls in the Battle Arena.

For one, both of them were students in the Genius Class—and top-tier, even among geniuses. To the Academy, every student like them was a precious treasure.

As long as they didn’t do anything to harm the Academy or the nation, the Director couldn’t bring himself to punish them.

Besides, the two had already been sent to Celestial Net Peak before. Locking them up there again would be pointless.

"The Academy will cover the losses for the Martial Arts Hall. I will dispatch men today to repair it and the Battle Arena," the Director said to the woman after a moment of contemplation.

He then turned to Tang Wushuang and Lin Yun. The two shared a mortal enmity, but both their status and talent were exceptionally high. The Director couldn’t bear to let them fight to the death; losing either one would be a great loss to the Academy.

"From this moment on, you two are confined to your residences. Your masters will be responsible for keeping you there." Left with no other choice, the Director had to make this decision.

If the two couldn’t meet, they couldn’t fight. To be on the safe side, however, the Director assigned the task of guarding them directly to their respective teachers.

After a brief discussion, the experts departed. Lin Yun and Tang Wushuang followed their respective teachers out of the Main Hall as well.

"Tang Wushuang, consider yourself lucky," Lin Yun said coldly.

"Hmph. If we were allowed a life-and-death duel, I’d make sure there’s nothing left of you to bury," Tang Wushuang shot back.

They continued to trade threats, but with their teachers present, neither dared to make a move. Soon, they went their separate ways.

Back at the Bamboo Courtyard, Zhong Qing didn’t scold Lin Yun. Instead, he chuckled and said, "You rascal, you actually dared to tear down the Martial Arts Hall. For the time being, you’re not to go out. Just focus on your cultivation, and we’ll see how things are after a while. As for the feud between you and Tang Wushuang, it will be settled one day."

Lin Yun nodded at Zhong Qing’s words. The Director himself had spoken; it would be foolish to press his luck. If the Director truly became angry, life would be difficult for everyone.

Unable to leave, Lin Yun was happy for the peace and quiet. He buried himself in his training, neglecting nothing—not his Martial Skills, his Cultivation Technique, or his base Cultivation. His daily schedule was packed.

For half a month, Lin Yun didn’t step outside once. The same was true for Tang Wushuang.

On this day, however, a menacing group of people arrived at the Academy gates. The party consisted of more than ten people, all of them Martial Artists of the Qi Sea Realm.

"The Yue Family of Yang City requests an audience with the Director!" the leader of the group shouted from the Academy gates, not daring to be the least bit presumptuous.

An Academy Steward announced their arrival and led the group inside. They were not taken to the Main Hall, but to a peripheral hall; their status did not qualify them to enter the main building.

They were not received by one of the Academy’s experts, but by a mere Steward from the Steward Hall.

"You’re from the Yue Family of Yang City?" the Steward asked coolly.

"Yes." The Yue Family members were exceedingly respectful, not just because the Steward was a Martial Artist at the Qi Sea Realm Eighth Layer, but because he was a man of the Academy.

"What is your business at the Academy?" the Steward asked.

"The thing is... my son, Yue Xiuchuan, died recently at the hands of one of your students, Lin Yun..." a member of the Yue Family began to explain the purpose of their visit.

"Outrageous! You dare come to Yanhuang Academy to demand one of our students? Does the Yue Family of Yang City have a death wish?" the Steward roared, cutting them off.

’Lin Yun? A student from the Genius Class, the beloved disciple of Vice Director Zhong! And these people dare to come to the Academy demanding him? They’re simply courting death.’

However, the words had barely left the Steward’s mouth when Tang Wushuang’s master appeared in the hall in a flash. Seeing one of the Academy’s experts, the entire Yue Family delegation bowed respectfully.

"I’ve heard something of this business with Yue Xiuchuan. A shame about the young man’s death, truly. Why don’t you come with me to the Main Hall? You can petition the Director to personally handle this matter," said Tang Wushuang’s master.

With an Academy expert personally intervening, the Yue Family was easily escorted to the Main Hall. The Steward standing to the side didn’t dare voice a single objection.

It was obvious that Tang Wushuang’s master knew why the Yue Family had come and was intentionally helping them. The mere act of bringing them into the Main Hall and summoning the Academy’s other experts was proof enough.

Otherwise, given the Yue Family’s status, how could they have possibly gained entry to the Main Hall, let alone convene a meeting with the Academy’s experts?

The Main Hall had been unusually busy ever since Lin Yun joined the Academy. The institution’s experts, who in the past might not have gathered more than once a year, were now meeting frequently. It was starting to get on everyone’s nerves.

"Alright, what is it this time?" one of the experts asked impatiently once everyone had assembled. ’What is all this? A meeting every other day, and it’s always about Lin Yun and Tang Wushuang.’

With the help of Tang Wushuang’s master, the Yue Family recounted the story of Yue Xiuchuan’s tragic death at Lin Yun’s hands. Their telling of the tale was a tearful one, with many of the Yue Family Martial Artists even weeping openly.

In their telling, Yue Xiuchuan was an outstanding and filial young man, the very model of a dutiful son. Lin Yun, on the other hand, was painted as a demon who stopped at nothing.

"Hold on, hold on. Stop. Was it really necessary to summon all of us for this business between the Yue Family and Lin Yun?" An obviously annoyed expert shot a look at Tang Wushuang’s master.

"Lin Yun is a student of our Academy; he represents all of Yanhuang Academy," Tang Wushuang’s master argued. "A Martial Artist is defined by more than just their Cultivation—their character and integrity are also crucial. When the Yue Family comes to us seeking justice, are we to simply turn them away at the gate?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

To the Academy experts, Yue Xiuchuan’s death was a trivial affair. Forget one Yue Xiuchuan—they wouldn’t have cared if the Yue Family Patriarch himself had died.

But with Tang Wushuang’s master involved, the Yue Family’s issue had to be resolved. Still, no one could be bothered to get involved, so no one spoke. In the end, it was Lin Yun’s teacher, Zhong Lin, who made the decision.

The Yue Family would send out a Martial Artist at the Second Layer of Qi Sea Realm to duel Lin Yun. The Academy would not intervene. If Lin Yun died, it would be his own misfortune. If he won, the Yue Family was forbidden from ever seeking trouble with him again.

"So it is decided. Tomorrow at noon, in the Academy’s Battle Arena." With the decision made in haste, the experts promptly departed. They had their own cultivation and other matters to attend to; none had the energy to waste on a minor clan like the Yue Family.

This rash decision left the Yue Family members furious but too scared to protest. They had absolutely no confidence that a Martial Artist at the Second Layer of Qi Sea Realm could defeat Lin Yun. Helpless, they didn’t dare voice the slightest objection.