Above the Galaxy
Chapter 163 - 112: The Shame of the Student!

Chapter 163: Chapter 112: The Shame of the Student!

Zhong Tianque knew that any decision his father made, you just needed to execute it without question.

After expressing his support, he could then voice his doubts, adopting the appearance of someone eager to learn. Only then could he make his father feel favorably towards him, shedding any defense.

They were father and son, but also monarch and subject.

If the monarch harbored suspicions towards you, doubting your loyalty, that would be a massive problem for a subject.

"The Mechanical Camp was originally led by Gong Shu Ze of the Gongshu Family, but now it has been handed over to Qin Jianyi... Won’t the Gongshu Family have objections?" Zhong Tianque asked aloud.

"The Mechanical Camp is an army of the Phoenix Empire, not belonging to any single family or surname." Zhong Daolong said with a deep voice, "What? Just because their Gongshu Family was the first leader, they should lead it forever? If this continues, whose army is the Mechanical Camp? The Gongshu Family’s or the Phoenix Empire’s? The Royal Family’s?"

"Yes, I understand." Zhong Tianque bowed as he accepted the lesson.

"Of course, Gong Shu Ze has to be taken care of properly; otherwise, if they really drag their feet behind the scenes, Qin Jianyi will have a hard time managing the Mechanical Camp. After all, most of the weapons and equipment in the camp are supplied by the Gongshu Family..."

"I will handle it." Zhong Tianque pondered for a moment before speaking, "Gong Shu Ze has been the leader of the Mechanical Camp for many years; he can be transferred to work at the Military Department for a while. When he is reassigned, he will hold significant authority."

"Hmm. I trust you." Zhong Daolong had great confidence in his eldest son’s capabilities.

Noticing Chen Fenglei quietly entering, Zhong Daolong asked, "With whom did the Phoenix dance the first dance tonight?"

"A little fatty..." Chen Fenglei walked over, reporting with a bow and a chuckle, "Tang Fei’s brother, Gong Shulei, whom I had seen just after they moved here. They have no other skills but a hefty appetite."

"Oh." Zhong Daolong nodded, looking thoughtfully at Zhong Tianque and asking, "What do you think of that Tang Fei?"

"I haven’t paid attention to him." Zhong Tianque admitted frankly.

"Not paying attention is understandable. A rootless youngster from the Old Land is hardly a concern for you." Zhong Daolong said solemnly, "What do you think of his relationship with the Phoenix?"

Zhong Tianque felt a slight heaviness in his heart; this concerned his sister, a matter internal to the family.

"I think... it shouldn’t have any effect." Zhong Tianque spoke hesitantly.

Whether true or false, they didn’t need to concern themselves with it.

They just needed to manage the potential bad impact on the Royal Family.

As he had said, the issue wouldn’t affect the Royal Family...

If there was an impact, they would eliminate it, as they excelled at doing just that.

"Childish tricks of ’trying to steal a bell by plugging one’s ears’." Zhong Daolong said with a laugh, "But it does give the Royal Family an out, not doing things too blatantly, saving face for the Royal Family..."

"What does the King mean?"

"Let it be for now." Zhong Daolong spoke out, "With so many state affairs to deal with every day, how can we be bothered with these minor issues of youthful affection?"

"Yes." Chen Fenglei responded gravely.

Yet in his heart, Zhong Tianque pondered his father’s intentions. Could he really be willing to just let things be?

Or was he treating Tang Fei as a touchstone?

Perhaps this time, it revealed Qin Jianyi’s intention to draw closer?

And Qin Jianyi’s intentions are, after all, the intentions of the Qin Family.

In his father’s mind, every piece on the chessboard had its use.

------

Back at home, Tang Fei lay on his bed without a hint of sleep.

"If you do not come, the Phoenix flowers shall not bloom."

Phoenix flowers are the national flower of the Phoenix Empire; if you do not come, the flowers of this nation shall not be allowed to bloom.

Can a nation’s Phoenix flowers wait for you?

They cannot.

Hence, it is only I who waits for you.

Thinking of this line, Tang Fei felt a sweet warmth in his heart.

Meeting is fate, loving is hard, but everyone is trying their best.

Could this be the legendary love where both parties go towards each other?

Thinking of the scene where Zhong Daolong had summoned him, could the King be without even a hint of suspicion?

A King, deep as the sea, surely could not lack such perception and judgment skills.

He must have had doubts, otherwise, he would not have spoken with the Phoenix after which she began consciously distancing herself from Tang Fei.

So, he does not like him, yet he specifically asked to see him, even granting him a promising future...

What then, is the real reason behind all this?

"Is it indeed out of gratitude for saving the Phoenix and uniting his family?"

Tang Fei found this thought too optimistic.

"To set me up as a target?"

This, however, was a very real possibility.

Thinking of the mountain weighing down on his head with a monstrous beast behind him, eyes fixed onto him, Tang Fei’s mood soured instantly, and even his breath became heavy.

"I must become stronger."

"Strength is the only currency for survival."

"I must be diligent, work hard, and strive..."

With this in mind, Tang Fei closed his eyes and began his hypnosis technique.

Early to bed and early to rise makes a body healthy—only then can one practice ten thousand sword strikes every day.

The next morning, Tang Fei was abruptly awoken by the surrounding sounds of crashes and clatters.

Tang Fei checked the clock on the wall, it was five o’clock in the early morning.

He pushed open the window, looked down at Little Fatty forcefully hitting stones in the courtyard, and shouted, "Little Fatty, what are you doing up so early?"

Little Fatty grinned naively and replied, "Bro, I got up to smash stones."

"I know you’re smashing stones... I’m asking why are you getting up so early to smash stones?"

Little Fatty’s head drooped as if it were extremely embarrassing for him to say such things, and his voice was as soft as the buzz of a mosquito, "I figured, if I were a bit stronger, I could help big brother more..."

"..."

Clearly, Little Fatty also felt the pressure and dilemma facing Tang Fei.

So, he too wanted his own strength to become even stronger.

If he were stronger, he could share more of the burden for his brother...

It had always been the big brother protecting the little brother.

He also wanted to do something for his big brother...

Even taking a few more hits for him would be fine.

Tang Fei saw the dark circles under Little Fatty’s eyes and asked, "Did you not sleep well last night?"

"Huh? How did you know?" Little Fatty widened his panda eyes, looking at Tang Fei with a face full of surprise.

"..."

Little Fatty didn’t understand cultivation, nor could he manipulate the Yin Yang Qi in his body to induce sleep.

So, if something was on his mind, he would toss and turn all night, unable to sleep.

"Wait for me, I’ll come down and train with you," said Tang Fei.

"Okay!" Little Fatty beamed with a smile.

-------

Breakfast was prepared by Tang Fei, a bowl of beef noodles for each, plus a dozen steamed buns.

Little Fatty ate ten; Tang Fei ate the remaining few... all together, a dozen or so.

After eating, the pair took an autonomous car towards the school.

Tang Fei was also considering buying a car. He and Little Fatty going to school in the morning and returning home in the afternoon, it was somewhat inconvenient without a car.

Although the Second Prince owed him a Flying Car and told him to drive it home after the ball, Tang Fei still hadn’t driven it home...

He didn’t know how to drive, and even if he did, he had no place to park it.

Tang Fei and Little Fatty had just arrived at the Ancient Martial Department when they were stopped by Mr. Ran before they could enter the classroom.

"Wait a second, you two..." Mr. Ran hurried over and said, "I need to talk to you."

"Good morning, Mr. Ran," Tang Fei greeted him with a smile.

"Morning." Mr. Ran replied with a stern face.

"Mr. Ran... heh heh heh..." Little Fatty, feeling guilty like a thief, couldn’t even make his greeting clear.

He wanted to say ’good morning’ to Mr. Ran, but given the current situation, it seemed Mr. Ran wasn’t likely to have a good morning.

Mr. Ran eyed Tang Fei and Little Fatty up and down before asking, "Did you two go to the Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony yesterday?"

"Yes," Tang Fei nodded and replied, "We just went to add to the numbers..."

"Just went to add to the numbers?" Mr. Ran’s facial muscles twitched as he challenged.

"And danced a dance..." Little Fatty quickly added.

"Alright, Tang Fei and Gong Shulei, who went to add to the numbers and dance a dance... Dean Shang called me first thing in the morning, and he wants you two to come to his office immediately upon your arrival at school..."

"..."

Has the cat been let out of the bag?

Was Little Fatty’s act of beating someone up and shouting ’I am Dean Shang’s master’ exposed? Had someone reported it to Dean Shang’s ears?

Of course, such sensational news was unrealistic to keep secret...

With Dean Shang’s disciples and influence everywhere, someone must have snitched about the incident to him by now.

Tang Fei turned around, intending to run, and said, "Mr. Ran, I don’t have anything to do with this matter, right? I’m innocent, I didn’t do anything..."

He knew Dean Shang didn’t like him. If Dean Shang found out that he had instigated his own star pupil to beat someone, then...

Dean Shang would like him even less, right?

Tang Fei felt that it was better to keep some distance to avoid straining their relationship; getting too close could lead to conflicts.

"I don’t know if it involves you or not, but the dean told me to bring both of you over," Mr. Ran said, her gaze fixed on Tang Fei, ready to control him with the swiftness of an eagle catching a rabbit the moment he made a move.

Otherwise, he would slip away faster than a rabbit.

Having such students was quite a headache for Mr. Ran.

However, Little Fatty showed more responsibility than Tang Fei, saying, "Each person should face the consequences of their actions. If I did something wrong, let me face the dean alone... Let my brother go..."

"The dean said he wanted to see both of you... Neither of you will escape," Mr. Ran said as she grabbed them both by the arm, "Let’s go, and don’t keep the dean waiting. If he gets angry, I won’t be able to speak up for you..."

Tang Fei looked at Little Fatty, who then reassured him, "Bro, don’t be scared. I was the one who hit someone... I was the one who yelled the wrong title; it has nothing to do with you..."

Tang Fei was deeply moved, nodding and instructing Little Fatty, "Remember, when we see Dean Shang, you have to say the same thing..."

"Tang Fei, you truly are..."

Mr. Ran was utterly speechless about this student she had personally recruited.

What kind of big brother acts like this?

He was a disgrace to the students of the First Military Academy.