Great! I'm surrounded by villains!
Chapter 112 - 32: Unite and Outflank

Chapter 112: Chapter 32: Unite and Outflank

Chu Xingluo might be considered a tough man, yet, with unsteady legs and extremely disordered thoughts, he managed to hold on for a few minutes before finally plopping down onto the ground with his buttocks.

The trend was against him.

The legacy of the Chess Institute allowed Chu Xingluo to see his current predicament clearer than anyone. Now, the influence of heaven and earth within the academy had completely converged towards Duan Mingyuan. At the end of the day, everything that happened today was a dying struggle. Deep down, he always knew that if he delved into the accusations against Duan Mingyuan, they might not hold water.

All he wanted was to temporarily send Duan Mingyuan to Ghost Prison, and then, in the shortest time possible, break through the Barrier at Qing Chi Peak.

Originally, his plan was flawless, but who could have expected that Mo Song would bring such a monster.

According to their original plan, the teacher of the "Evil Spirit Defense Class" should have been his man, secretly assisting him in joining forces inside and out to take down the Yunhai Library.

But now, Chu Xingluo was not convinced.

Particularly after hearing Duan Mingyuan’s description of the Tribunal Miracle Arts, he felt even less convinced.

Although Chu Xingluo was a mole within the academy, he believed that deep down, he bore no guilt. Everything he had done was for the academy. So, when the founder glared at him furiously from within the painting, he instinctively wanted to retort.

"Originally, the ancestors separated the Tricky Art to cut off people’s thoughts of revenge and sent all those who studied Tricky Art in secret to Ghost Prison."

Chu Xingluo said indignantly.

In the setting of Mysterious Techniques, Duan Mingyuan indeed hadn’t deceived him. When he spoke those words, the feeling of a thorn in his back disappeared, and instead, a sense of relief filled his heart, "They knew the consequences of resisting the Imperial Court and the Extraterrestrials. However, today, after hundreds of years, you, as the headmaster, are violating the ancestors’ philosophy, seeking to gather the academy’s strength to fight the Imperial Court to the death!"

The topic pointed directly at Mo Song, and Chu Xingluo no longer hid his feelings, the anger in his heart clearly displayed on his face.

It wasn’t hard to see that they had significant discrepancies concerning how to deal with the people of the Imperial Court and corporations.

"What are their demands?"

Mo Song didn’t confront Chu Xingluo coldly but asked calmly instead.

"Hand over each academy’s control of the barrier, turn in all the books in the library, and the Imperial Court will personally appoint the headmasters, teachers, and future course contents. In exchange, the students and teachers of the academy can continue to stay atop Qing Chi Peak."

Chu Xingluo no longer concealed the truth and revealed the reality of his deal with the people of the Imperial Court.

The teachers in the tribunal looked at each other. All these terms can be summed up with one phrase—surrender and you won’t be killed.

"Only this way can the majority be saved," Chu Xingluo profoundly believed. He had once proposed to open the barrier to the people of the Imperial Court but was opposed by the other three headmasters. Mo Song preferred to fight the Imperial Court to the death rather than allow them to step foot onto Qing Chi Peak.

If this weren’t the case, he wouldn’t have had to go to such great lengths to attempt to collaborate with the Yin Die.

"Xingluo, we have already discussed this matter."

Mo Song sighed. The situation now might also serve as an opportunity since they would have to reveal their decision to all the teachers and students in the academy sooner or later.

He also believed that within the academy, many people felt like Chu Xingluo and did not wish to confront the people of the Imperial Court directly. The founders of the academy established it in this place hoping that future generations would stay away from external strife.

"But, everything you just said rests on the premise that the people of the Imperial Court will keep their promise."

Once they handed over control of the barrier, it would be tantamount to voluntarily giving up any chance of resistance.

At that time, all the teachers and students of the academy would be like meat on the chopping block, at the mercy of the advancing Imperial Court. Based on Mo Song’s understanding of the Imperial Court, they were far from trustworthy.

The matter with Ning Ruyue further cemented Mo Song’s opinion. To inherit the throne, they were willing to engage in fratricide; how could they have any compassion for the unrelated people of the academy?

If trust must be placed, Mo Song would rather trust someone like Duan Mingyuan.

Although it sounded intangible, the latter was indeed steadily realizing the concepts he proposed.

"Mo Song, you will regret it."

"The one who should be regretting is you," Mo Song retorted.

Another uninvited guest burst into the tribunal; Jiuyue, with a cold face, quickly entered the tribunal. She had sacrificed numerous opportunities to be an onlooker, finally, before the tribunal’s standoff, got to the bottom of things.

All morning, she gathered a large number of students and monsters on the mountain, almost turning Qing Chi Peak upside down but failed to find the remains left by the roc. Just as she returned to the academy, she heard the news that the head of the Chess Institute had the Enforcement Team take away Duan Mingyuan, after which, all her doubts were finally resolved.

"You not only colluded with people from the Imperial Court to kill the students and Messenger of the academy, but you also turned your slaughterous blade towards the Monsters on the mountain!"

She pointed at Chu Xingluo.

The murderer was very clean-handed, destroying all traces after the killing, leaving not even the slightest mark, because the murderer knew that any remnant left behind could be restored by Duan Mingyuan, and then the identity of the killer would become clear as day.

Although it was a bit late, it was finally possible to give an explanation to the Monsters on the mountain.

"That night, the only people who knew about my husband’s abilities were the four of you institute heads."

As she spoke, Jiuyue did not forget to pull Ning Ruyue aside, reclaiming her rightful place.

"Just a mere Monster, what of it?"

Chu Xingluo sneered disdainfully. He thought Jiuyue’s fierce appearance signified she had some profound argument to present, saying, "Not to mention a single Roc, even if it means sacrificing all the Monsters on the mountain to save the academy, I would not hesitate."

"Then, you should no longer speak of our ancestor. The academy’s foremost taboo is the prohibition of fratricide among disciples. The Monsters of Qing Chi Peak contributed much to the establishment of the academy; the four founding institute heads already regarded them as disciples under their wing."

During the conversation, a commotion arose outside the tribunal.

As people followed the noise, they discovered that it wasn’t only students waiting outside the tribunal, but also the Monsters from Qing Chi Peak.

They were all waiting for the outcome of this tribunal confrontation.

The words Chu Xingluo had just spoken had also reached the ears of the Monsters, which was the cause of the unrest.

Jiuyue’s goal in coming here was not only to expose Chu Xingluo’s crimes publicly but also to rebuild the trust between the Monsters and the academy.

Mr. Mingyuan had also promised these Monsters that he would give them an answer.

Jiuyue’s gaze was fierce, "You should have noticed by now, right? The momentum of heaven and earth has long since ceased to be on your side."

"So what?"

Chu Xingluo, who sat dejectedly on the ground, couldn’t help but laugh, "Indeed, I have failed. Do what you will, if I am killed, those from the Imperial Court will no longer abide by the deal with me. They will immediately muster forces to launch a total assault on the academy... Mo Song, the institute head, if the academy falls because of your stubbornness, it will be you, not I, who will bear the name of infamy through the ages."

"What happens afterward is none of your concern; you all know nothing of my husband’s real abilities!"

Jiuyue took out a jade stone in front of the Monsters and handed it to Duan Mingyuan, "To resurrect the dead does not necessarily require bones. This jade stone was found in the Roc’s dwelling which the Monsters took me to; it is a treasure cherished by it, carried on its person for many years, thus accumulating much of the Roc’s Life Energy."

As she said this, Jiuyue took out her cellphone and brought up a portrait of the Roc that she had meticulously drawn based on the descriptions of the mountain Monsters.

Too many things had happened in the Cloud Sea Academy these past few days. Now that the true traitor turned out to be one of the institute heads, even if Chu Xingluo ultimately received the punishment he deserved, the morale of the academy would plummet. With disheartened hearts, it would be impossible to organize any effective defense.

Therefore, some kind of miraculous and morale-boosting event had to happen at this moment.

In Jiuyue’s eyes, Mr. Mingyuan had always been the man who could bring about miracles.

Duan Mingyuan took the jade stone, looked at the Roc’s portrait, and felt the warm Life Energy brimming within the stone.

Under everyone’s gaze, he tossed the jade stone gently above his head, a soft glow illuminating the tribunal.

Amidst the exclamations, the glow in midair coalesced into the shape of a bird, and then, as if endowed with life, it soared above the tribunal.

It was the Roc!

People stared at where the halo converged, including Chu Xingluo.

This was a Mysterious Technique never mentioned in the library.

A single jade stone transformed before their eyes into the Roc that should have been long dead.

Immediately after, they heard the Roc’s faint voice.

It seems he had yet to understand his current situation, merely mechanically repeating his last words before death.

——"Quick, go to the academy and warn the institute heads, the traitor is Chess Institute’s Chancellor Chu Xingluo!"