Chapter 4: Conviction

Zack was already fed up with Zhang Wen’s persistent harassment. He felt that Zhang Wen’s current behavior had turned his serious duel with Cloud into a clumsy performance by a few clowns. Seeing Zhang Wen’s gesture again only fueled Zack’s anger.

“Fine then. Teacher Zhang, I won’t hold back,” Zack said coldly, raising his crystal energy sword levelly and pointing it at Zhang Wen, who stood about ten paces away.

“Hmm! Come then.” Zhang Wen smiled, lightly beckoning with his finger.

This gesture from Zhang Wen caused all the students around them to jeer loudly, especially the female trainees who admired Zack. They wished they could kill Zhang Wen with their glares alone.

After all, no one truly believed that Zhang Wen actually possessed the strength of a seventh-level martial artist. If he had adopted a cautious and serious demeanor, perhaps he might have had a one-in-a-billion chance of surviving Zack’s first strike. However, facing Zack’s crystal energy sword with such nonchalance, as if it were a wooden toy wielded by a three-year-old, made everyone instantly convinced that this was all an act of pretense.

“Hmph!” Carlet, standing deep within the crowd, snorted angrily, her pretty face growing even more furious.

Carlet couldn’t understand how she had lost her mind earlier, actually being convinced by this guy to make that absurd bet, allowing him to tarnish the honor of the Disciplinary Committee. What angered Carlet even more was how her father could have been saved by someone like this clown.

Among the onlookers, the only person who still stood by Zhang Wen was probably only Amelie, the one who got along best with him. However, judging from Amelie’s worried expression, it was clear that she, too, didn’t think Zhang Wen had much chance against Zack.

This farce should end now! Zack coldly thought to himself as he suddenly rushed toward Zhang Wen, simultaneously rotating his crystal energy sword forty-five degrees to his left.

In Zack’s mind, given Zhang Wen’s unknown strength within the academy and his clownish performance just now, he probably couldn’t even dodge a single strike. If he attacked Zhang Wen with the blade, he might accidentally kill him.

Although even if Zack killed Zhang Wen, his status would likely protect him from serious consequences, in an empire with a tradition of respecting teachers, killing a Disciplinary Committee teacher in public would still be problematic. Therefore, Zack’s current move was clearly intended to swing the sword sideways with its flat side the moment he reached Zhang Wen, knocking him away. This way, Zack could teach Zhang Wen a memorable lesson without killing him.

With the full force of Zack’s fifth-level martial energy and the strength of both arms swinging the sword, if he hit his target, even if Zhang Wen truly possessed seventh-level martial prowess, he might still struggle to withstand it.

However, Zhang Wen, of course, wouldn’t confront Zack head-on. As soon as Zack had taken three steps forward, Zhang Wen had already discerned his intention. At that moment, Zhang Wen inexplicably felt a surge of excitement. Although this was his first battle since arriving in this world, Zhang Wen felt no nervousness at all. He simply focused intently on the sword in Zack’s hand, holding his breath and waiting.

Five steps… four steps… three steps… two steps…

When the distance between Zack and Zhang Wen was reduced to just one step, both seemed to move simultaneously. In the blink of an eye, the students around them only saw Zhang Wen’s body suddenly appear to lose balance and fall backward.

Just as the students, filled with jeers, were about to begin mocking Zhang Wen for his blunder, they were astonished to find that the man, who seemed about to fall, had risen again in an eerie manner! On the contrary, Zack, rushing toward Zhang Wen, not only failed to strike him with his crystal energy sword, but also stumbled forward several steps as if he had overexerted himself before finally stopping.

What was going on? The jeers instantly vanished from the academy square. All the students widened their eyes in shock, trying to recall the unbelievable scene they had just witnessed.

“Wha… what the hell was that?!” someone in the crowd stammered, and immediately the square was filled with astonished murmurs.

Perhaps, only a very few people in the crowd had seen what had actually happened just now. For example, Linoah, the beautiful teacher from the Magic Arts Department, was one of them.

Just as Zhang Wen and Zack passed each other a moment ago, Linoah clearly saw that Zack was the first to swing his sword sideways, attempting to knock Zhang Wen away. Zhang Wen, on the other hand, was a split second slower. He raised his left hand, shaped like a clamp, from below. Then, as if intentionally cooperating with Zhang Wen, Zack “delivered” his crystal energy sword into Zhang Wen’s hand!

After grabbing the crystal energy sword, Zhang Wen kept his feet still but leaned his body backward, dodging Zack’s horizontal slash. Then, he suddenly exerted force, using Zack to pull himself back up.

In other words, the movement that surprised all the students was just a disguise. The real essence of how Zhang Wen evaded Zack’s sword lay in that initial blocking motion!

However, Linoah, who had witnessed the truth, was even more astonished than those students who hadn’t seen clearly. Although Linoah was only a teacher from the Magic Arts Department, her understanding of martial arts was likely deeper than many martial arts instructors at Almystus Academy! She knew all too well how incredible it was for Zhang Wen to have caught Zack’s horizontally swung crystal energy sword.

In that instant, Zhang Wen not only had to judge the speed and direction of the opponent’s sword swing but also perfectly control his own movements! His hand had to arrive at that precise position at that exact moment. Any slight movement more or less, or any delay or hastiness by half a second, would absolutely not work! The control and judgment required in this were astounding!

If Linoah hadn’t known for sure that Zack had no prior relationship with Zhang Wen, she might even suspect that the two had colluded to stage this performance in front of the students!

Originally, Linoah indeed followed the “peeping Tom” from the library to the square, just as Zhang Wen had thought. But now, even if Zhang Wen wasn’t the peeping Tom, Linoah decided she would definitely observe closely to see what other amazing performances he could offer!

Who exactly is this guy? Linoah furrowed her brow in deep thought while showing even more interest in scrutinizing Zhang Wen among the crowd.

Among the onlookers, another person who clearly saw Zhang Wen’s movement was Carlet, who hated him with every fiber of her being. Also belonging to the Magic Arts Department, Carlet’s understanding of martial techniques was not as profound as Linoah’s. Although she was also surprised by Zhang Wen catching Zack’s crystal energy sword, she soon thought it was just a coincidence.

Due to the angle, Amelie, standing beside Carlet, did not see Zhang Wen’s crucial movement. Like the other students, she was startled by Zhang Wen’s strange dodging method. After a while, Amelie excitedly grabbed Carlet and asked repeatedly, “Carlet senior, Teacher Zhang dodged it! He really dodged it! Did you see? How did he do it just now?”

“Tsk! Why is this guy’s luck always so good? But, let’s see if you have such good luck for the next strike,” Carlet muttered through gritted teeth, half answering Amelie’s question, half talking to herself.

As bystanders, Carlet and Linoah had their own judgments about Zhang Wen’s success, while Zack, the one actually fighting Zhang Wen, was too preoccupied to contemplate how much of Zhang Wen’s evasion was skill and how much was luck. He only knew that he had attacked an opponent who couldn’t move, yet not only did he miss his strike, but he was also mocked by the opponent!

If the opponent’s strength was indeed far superior to his own, Zack would naturally have nothing to say. However, in that split second of confrontation, the martial arts level Zhang Wen displayed was at most around the fifth level! In other words, he was merely an opponent of the same level as Zack himself! Throughout Zack’s life, he had never encountered such a frustrating and bizarre situation!

“I indeed underestimated him just now!” Zack once again leveled his crystal energy sword and pointed it at Zhang Wen, who remained standing still, his expression now extremely serious.

Zhang Wen’s persistent entanglement had long since worn on Zack’s patience. He felt that Zhang Wen’s current actions had turned the serious duel between him and Cloud into a clumsy performance by a few clowns. Seeing Zhang Wen’s gesture now only fueled Zack’s anger further.

“Alright then, Mr. Zhang, I won’t hold back,” Zack said with a cold expression, leveling his energy sword and pointing it directly at Zhang Wen, who stood about ten paces away.

“Come on,” Zhang Wen smiled, lightly curling his finger.

This gesture from Zhang Wen caused all the students around to erupt in boos, especially the female students who admired Zack. They were practically glaring daggers at Zhang Wen, wishing they could skewer him with their eyes.

After all, no one believed that Zhang Wen truly possessed the strength of a seventh-level martial artist. If Zhang Wen had acted as if he were facing a formidable opponent, he might have had a one in a billion chance of surviving Zack’s first strike. But now, facing Zack’s energy sword, he appeared completely indifferent, as if it were a toy wooden sword in the hands of a three-year-old. This made everyone instantly conclude that he was merely putting on a show.

“Hmph!” Carlet, standing at the innermost edge of the crowd, snorted in anger, her pretty face flushing with rage.

Carlet couldn’t understand how she had been so foolish earlier, actually persuaded by this guy to make that absurd bet, allowing him to tarnish the reputation of the disciplinary committee. What infuriated her even more was the thought that her father had once been saved by such a clown.

Among the onlookers, the only person who might still be on Zhang Wen’s side was Amelie, who got along with him the best. However, judging by the worry on Amelie’s face, it was clear she didn’t think Zhang Wen stood a chance against Zack.

This farce needed to end! Zack, holding his energy sword, coldly thought to himself as he suddenly charged toward Zhang Wen, simultaneously turning the sword 45 degrees to the left.

In Zack’s mind, given Zhang Wen’s unremarkable strength within the academy and his clownish performance earlier, he probably wouldn’t even be able to dodge a single strike. If Zack were to attack with the blade, he might accidentally kill him.

Although, given Zack’s status, even if he killed Zhang Wen, no one would likely hold him accountable, but in an empire that valued the tradition of respecting teachers, publicly killing a disciplinary committee teacher would still cause some trouble. Therefore, Zack’s current move was clearly intended to swing the energy sword horizontally at the moment he reached Zhang Wen, using the flat of the blade to knock him away. This way, Zack could teach Zhang Wen a harsh lesson without killing him.

With the full force of Zack’s fifth-level martial arts energy and the strength of his arms wielding the sword, if he were to hit his target squarely, even if Zhang Wen truly had the strength of a seventh-level martial artist, he might not be able to withstand it.

However, Zhang Wen certainly wasn’t going to clash head-on with Zack. By the time Zack had taken three steps, Zhang Wen had already discerned his intent. In that moment, Zhang Wen felt an inexplicable excitement. Although this was his first battle since arriving in this world, Zhang Wen didn’t feel the slightest bit nervous. He simply focused intently on the long sword in Zack’s hand, holding his breath and waiting.

Five steps… four steps… three steps… two steps…

When the distance between Zack and Zhang Wen was just one step apart, both seemed to move simultaneously. In that split second, the surrounding students only saw Zhang Wen’s body suddenly lose balance and fall backward.

Just as the booing students were about to start mocking Zhang Wen for his apparent stumble, they were shocked to find that the guy who seemed about to fall had somehow stood back up! Meanwhile, Zack, who had charged at Zhang Wen, not only missed with his energy sword but also seemed to have overextended himself, stumbling forward several steps before stopping.

What just happened? The boos in the academy square instantly vanished. The students all widened their eyes, dumbfounded as they tried to recall the unbelievable scene they had just witnessed.

“Did… did that just happen?!” one of the students in the crowd stammered, and immediately, the square erupted in a flurry of astonished discussions.

Perhaps only a few people in the crowd had seen what had actually happened. For instance, Lenora, the beautiful teacher from the psychic arts department, was one of them.

In the moment when Zhang Wen and Zack had crossed paths, Lenora had clearly seen Zack swing his sword horizontally, intending to knock Zhang Wen away. Zhang Wen, however, had moved a split second slower than Zack. He had formed his left hand into a claw-like shape and reached upward from below. Then, as if intentionally cooperating with Zhang Wen, Zack had “delivered” the energy sword right into his hand!

After grabbing the energy sword, Zhang Wen kept his feet planted but leaned his body backward, dodging Zack’s horizontal slash. Then, with a sudden burst of strength, he used Zack’s momentum to pull himself back up.

In other words, Zhang Wen’s seemingly miraculous evasion was just a feint. The true essence of his dodge lay in the initial move where he used his body to block the first strike!

However, Lenora, who had witnessed the truth firsthand, was even more astonished than the students who hadn’t seen it clearly. Although Lenora was just a teacher in the psychic arts department, her understanding of martial arts was likely greater than many of the martial arts instructors at Almythius Academy! She knew all too well how astonishing it was for Zhang Wen to have caught Zack’s horizontal slash.

In that split second, Zhang Wen not only had to judge the speed and direction of Zack’s swing but also perfectly control his own movements! His hand had to reach the exact position at the precise moment. Moving even a fraction too much or too little, or being even a fraction too early or too late, would have been disastrous. This required an incredible level of control and judgment!

If Lenora hadn’t known that Zack and Zhang Wen had never interacted before, she might have suspected that the two had conspired to put on this show for the students!

Originally, Lenora had indeed been tracking the “peeper” from the library to the square, as Zhang Wen had suspected. But now, even if Zhang Wen wasn’t the peeper, Lenora decided she would keep a close eye on him to see what other astonishing performances he might have in store!

Who exactly is this guy? Lenora furrowed her brow in deep thought, her interest growing as she scrutinized Zhang Wen in the crowd.

Among the onlookers, another person who had clearly seen Zhang Wen’s move was Carlet, who was seething with hatred for him. As a fellow student in the psychic arts department, Carlet’s understanding of martial arts wasn’t as profound as Lenora’s. Although she was also surprised that Zhang Wen had caught Zack’s energy sword, she quickly dismissed it as a mere coincidence.

Due to the angle, Amelie, standing next to Carlet, hadn’t seen Zhang Wen’s crucial move. Like the other students, she was startled by Zhang Wen’s bizarre evasion. After a moment, Amelie excitedly grabbed Carlet and asked repeatedly, “Carlet, did you see that? Mr. Zhang dodged it! He really dodged it! How did he do that?”

“Tch! How does this guy always get so lucky? But let’s see if you can pull that off again next time,” Carlet muttered through gritted teeth, partly answering Amelie and partly talking to herself.

As bystanders, Carlet and Lenora each had their own judgments about Zhang Wen’s success. However, Zack, who was actually engaged in the fight with Zhang Wen, had no time to ponder whether Zhang Wen’s evasion was due to skill or luck. All he knew was that he had swung his sword at an opponent who shouldn’t have been able to move, yet not only had he missed, but he had also been made a fool of!

If his opponent’s strength had truly been far superior to his own, Zack would have had nothing to say. But in that brief exchange, Zhang Wen had displayed a martial arts level of at most fifth-level! In other words, he was just an opponent of the same level as Zack! In Zack’s entire life, he had never encountered such a baffling and frustrating situation!

“I was indeed too careless just now!” Zack once again leveled his energy sword, pointing it at Zhang Wen, who remained motionless in the same spot. His expression turned extremely serious.

“Heh! You still have nine chances left,” Zhang Wen said with a relaxed smile, curling his finger at Zack again.

In fact, if Zack had shown this poker face before Zhang Wen dodged his first strike, Zhang Wen might have felt a bit uncertain. But now, Zhang Wen had already built confidence in himself and the Spring Water Technique. No matter how serious Zack appeared, it only added to the entertainment value of Zhang Wen’s performance.

This time, the surrounding students didn’t boo at Zhang Wen’s finger-curling gesture. Instead, they all widened their eyes, carefully observing his every move.

“Thrust!” Just as everyone held their breath, Zack charged forward again. He once more rushed straight at Zhang Wen, holding his energy sword at his side. When he was three steps away, he suddenly thrust the sword forward.

Although Zack was still slightly worried that his full-strength strike might be too much for Zhang Wen to dodge, he didn’t aim for a vital spot, instead targeting the shoulder. But this thrust was delivered with all his strength.

However, on Earth, anyone who had read even a bit of martial arts fiction would know that going all out is a major taboo in martial arts! Zack’s full-strength attack didn’t fluster Zhang Wen; instead, it made him even calmer. Although the Spring Water Technique Zhang Wen practiced wasn’t as terrifying as Tai Chi’s “Eighteen Falls,” its techniques for borrowing and redirecting force were no joke!

Zhang Wen’s timing was exactly the same as before, almost perfectly synchronized with Zack’s sword swing. But this time, Zhang Wen’s movements were entirely different. He didn’t reach out to catch Zack’s sword. Instead, at the moment the energy sword thrust toward him, he suddenly raised both hands rapidly.

Zhang Wen’s left hand, with fingers slightly curled, moved at a speed barely visible to the naked eye, suddenly lifting to the front of his right shoulder and forcefully flicking out.

Clang! Zhang Wen’s finger precisely struck the tip of the energy sword. The full force of his fifth-level combat energy first deflected the direction of Zack’s thrust, causing the sword to miss Zhang Wen and strike the empty space to his right.

Immediately after, before the ringing from the finger striking the sword had even faded, Zhang Wen’s right hand had already hooked Zack’s extended arm. In the moment they crossed paths, Zhang Wen slightly pulled to the side, and Zack felt an immense force, causing him to stumble past Zhang Wen’s right side.

This is bizarre! Absolutely bizarre!

Zack could clearly feel that Zhang Wen still hadn’t used strength beyond fifth-level martial arts. But when he had thrust his sword, he had used all his strength and employed his most skilled “Thrust” technique. Even an opponent a full level above him might not have been able to dodge it with all their might. Yet this unknown disciplinary teacher hadn’t even moved, and he had completely missed!

What… what just happened? Zack stared dumbfounded at the energy sword in his hand, his face filled with disbelief.

If even Zack, who was directly facing Zhang Wen, found this unbelievable, it was even more so for the students who had been watching from the sidelines. The moment they saw Zack and Zhang Wen cross paths, the square erupted in another gasp of astonishment.

Zhang Wen had actually dodged another strike without moving! Such an unbelievable event happening right before their eyes left the students utterly shocked.

“How… how did he dodge that?” the students exclaimed, once again breaking into discussions. In an instant, the least popular martial arts students in Almythius Academy became the center of attention in their small circles.

“He just…” The martial arts students excitedly gestured, proudly explaining to those around them what they had just seen.

“What? You’re saying he flicked Zack’s energy sword with his finger?! Is… is that even possible? How strong would he have to be?” After hearing the martial arts students’ descriptions, almost everyone was left dumbfounded.

“How would I know? But to flick Zack’s thrusting energy sword head-on like that—even our martial arts instructor, Fox, couldn’t do that!”

“What? So his martial arts might be stronger than Instructor Fox? Instructor Fox is a three-star instructor at eighth-level martial arts!”

The students’ discussions turned the entire square into a chaotic uproar. Even the girls who had never imagined Zhang Wen could defeat Zack and Cloud started whispering worriedly to each other.

In fact, if Zack had adopted this poker face before Zhang Wen dodged his first strike, Zhang Wen might have felt somewhat uncertain. However, now, Zhang Wen had already gained confidence in himself and in the Spring Water Technique. No matter how serious Zack appeared, it only added to the entertainment value of Zhang Wen’s performance.

The surrounding students did not jeer at Zhang Wen’s finger beckoning this time; instead, they all widened their eyes, carefully watching his every move.

“Thrust!” At the moment when everyone held their breath, Zack had already dashed forward. He lunged at Zhang Wen again, drawing his crystal energy sword to his side. When he was still three steps away from Zhang Wen, he suddenly thrust forward.

Although Zack was still a bit worried that his full-strength strike might leave Zhang Wen unable to dodge, so he deliberately avoided aiming at vital areas and only targeted Zhang Wen’s shoulder, this thrust was indeed executed with full force.

However, back on Earth, probably anyone who had read even a bit of martial arts novels would know that giving your all in an attack is a major taboo in martial arts! Zack’s all-out attack not only failed to panic Zhang Wen but instead made him even calmer. Although the Spring Water Technique Zhang Wen practiced had not yet reached the terrifying level of the “Eighteen Falls from Touching Clothes” of Tai Chi, its skill in redirecting force was no laughing matter!

Zhang Wen’s timing was still the same as before, almost perfectly synchronized with Zack’s sword swing. This time, however, Zhang Wen’s movement was completely different. He did not try to catch Zack’s sword again. Instead, as the crystal energy sword came thrusting towards him, he suddenly raised both hands rapidly.

Among them, Zhang Wen’s left hand slightly bent his fingers and, at a speed barely perceptible to the naked eye, suddenly lifted to the front of his right shoulder, forcefully flicking outward.

Clang! Zhang Wen’s fingers accurately struck the tip of Zack’s crystal energy sword. The full force of his fifth-level martial energy first deflected the direction of Zack’s thrust, causing it to miss Zhang Wen’s right side.

Immediately after the crisp sound of the finger striking the sword had not yet faded, Zhang Wen’s right hand had already locked onto Zack’s outstretched arm. As the two passed each other, Zhang Wen slightly exerted force to the side, and Zack felt a tremendous force pulling him sideways, causing him to clumsily dart past Zhang Wen’s right side.

Strange! Too strange!

Zack could clearly feel that Zhang Wen had still not used more than fifth-level martial energy. However, the thrust he had just launched had already used all his strength and his most practiced “thrust” technique. Even an opponent who was a full level higher than him would probably struggle to dodge it, even if they used their full strength. Yet this unknown disciplinary teacher in front of him didn’t even move an inch, making Zack miss completely!

What… what exactly happened? Zack stared blankly at the crystal energy sword in his hand, his face filled with disbelief.

If Zack, who was directly facing Zhang Wen, felt bewildered, let alone the students watching from the sidelines. As soon as they saw Zack and Zhang Wen pass each other in that moment, a new outcry arose from the square.

Zhang Wen had actually dodged another sword strike without moving an inch! Such an unbelievable event happening right before their eyes left the students around it astonished beyond measure.

“How… how did he dodge it just now?” After the outcry, the students began to murmur among themselves. Suddenly, the once least popular martial arts students at Almystus Academy each became the center of small circles.

“He just…,” the martial arts students excitedly gestured and boasted to those around them about what they had seen.

“Ah? You’re saying he flicked Zack’s crystal energy sword with his finger?! Is… is that even possible? How powerful must he be?” After hearing the martial arts students’ descriptions, almost everyone was left speechless with shock.

“Well… how would I know? But, to directly flick the crystal energy sword that Zack thrust forward like that, even our martial arts department’s instructor Fox probably couldn’t manage it!”

“What? So does that mean his martial arts skills are even better than Instructor Fox’s? Instructor Fox is an eighth-level martial artist, a three-star instructor!”

The students’ murmurs caused the entire square to become chaotic. Even the girls who had never imagined Zhang Wen could defeat Zack and Cloud were now worriedly whispering to each other.

Of course, the person who felt the most disbelief at what had just occurred, and was the most anxious, was Carlet, who had made a bet with Zhang Wen. The usually confident governor’s daughter was experiencing something new—doubt. For the first time, she wondered whether Zhang Wen might actually be capable of standing still and dodging ten sword strikes from both Zack and Cloud!

Could it really be true that I’ll have to wash socks for that annoying bastard for a whole month? The mere thought of herself holding Zhang Wen’s socks—just peeled off his feet and still reeking of male sweat—sent a wave of panic through Carlet.

Meanwhile, Amyris hadn’t even noticed Carlet’s inner turmoil. Witnessing Zhang Wen’s unexpected brilliance, dodging two consecutive strikes from Zack, the cheerful young beauty was so thrilled she blushed, as if she herself had won the match. “He dodged again! Zhang Wen dodged again! Did you see that, Carlet senior? Who knew Zhang Wen could be this amazing!” Amyris excitedly tugged at Carlet’s arm, her voice bubbling with excitement.

“Mm-hmm,” Carlet could only nod helplessly while silently praying in her heart that Zhang Wen wouldn’t defeat Zack and Cloud.

However, neither Zack nor Cloud could hear Carlet’s silent prayers. After Zack’s two attacks missed, he hesitated to launch the third. When it was Cloud’s turn to face Zhang Wen, his confidence had also waned compared to Zack’s initial aggressiveness. Predictably, Cloud’s two strikes were also dodged by Zhang Wen.

At this point, the surrounding students were completely captivated by Zhang Wen’s performance. Starting from the third strike, every time Zhang Wen evaded an attack from either Zack or Cloud, applause gradually began to rise from the crowd.

After Cloud’s second strike, carefully planned but still dodged by Zhang Wen, both Zack and Cloud lost all confidence in defeating him. In contrast, the onlookers erupted into thunderous applause and cheers.

Regardless of how much these students had previously looked down on Zhang Wen—the discipline committee teacher who had entered the academy through the governor’s favor—their opinions had now completely changed.

All the confidence Zhang Wen had displayed earlier, which had once provoked their outrage or indifference, now felt entirely different in hindsight.

As for Carlet, who had been watching Zhang Wen dodge Zack’s attacks from the closest vantage point, her emotions were now in complete turmoil.

On one hand, seeing Zhang Wen successfully evade four strikes from Zack and Cloud, Carlet realized she had been wrong about him. His proposal of the bet hadn’t been a joke about the honor and duty of the discipline committee, as she had assumed. He genuinely possessed the ability to defeat Zack.

Carlet was by no means a spoiled, unreasonable girl. Quite the opposite—her composure and self-discipline were widely acknowledged by the discipline committee’s faculty and students, which was why she had risen to the position of student committee member. Reflecting on how she had openly looked down on Zhang Wen before, she now felt deep regret. Since Zhang Wen had done nothing wrong, she should not have hoped for a discipline committee teacher to lose against two rule-breaking students.

On the other hand, every time she thought about the bet she had made with Zhang Wen, she couldn’t help but secretly wish for Zhang Wen to lose the match.

But… what if he really wins? What should I do then? Looking at Zhang Wen, still smiling in the middle of the arena, Carlet’s heart was in a complete tangle.

Meanwhile, not far from Zhang Wen, Cloud in his black attire slowly raised his crystal-energy sword once again. But judging from his tense expression, he himself likely didn’t believe this final strike would pose any real threat to Zhang Wen.

“Wait!” Just as Cloud was about to launch his final strike, Zack suddenly shouted, stopping him.

Cloud hesitated briefly, puzzled, and turned his gaze toward Zack. He saw the latter hesitate for a moment before solemnly addressing Zhang Wen: “Teacher Zhang, you’ve already dodged four of our strikes. Although we agreed to three each, we’ve both given our all by now. As an imperial noble, I should really concede defeat now and return with you to the discipline committee to accept disciplinary action…”

Zack’s words, sounding like a surrender, sparked murmurs among the male spectators. Yet before their surprised exclamations had even faded, Zack suddenly shifted his tone: “However, today’s duel between Cloud and me concerns the honor of the Empire. Therefore, I have no choice but to set aside my personal reputation!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zack, like Cloud, raised his crystal-energy sword! The two of them stood side by side, flanking Zhang Wen from both sides!

Gasps and exclamations erupted among the students, already murmuring among themselves. Even Cloud, standing opposite Zack, looked surprised.

“What the hell are Zack and Cloud doing? The conditions were already tough enough for Teacher Zhang—now they’re actually teaming up against him?”

“That’s right! Acting like this, they’re completely disgracing the nobility!”

“What did you say?! Our Zack would never do anything without reason!” After a moment of shock, the onlookers, both male and female, couldn’t help but huddle together and whisper.

Amyris was already boiling with anger. The moment Zack raised his sword, the girl froze for a second, then flushed red with fury and shouted toward him: “Despicable! Shameless!”

At this point, aside from a few die-hard female fans of Zack and Cloud, no one was willing to speak in their defense. Even Carlet, who had secretly hoped for Zhang Wen’s defeat the most, clenched her fists tightly, feeling indignant on his behalf. Although Zhang Wen hadn’t explicitly stated during the bet that Zack and Cloud couldn’t team up, didn’t these two noblemen at least have a sense of fairness?

Thinking this, Carlet’s inner conflict intensified. Given her personality, she almost wanted to rush forward, scold Zack fiercely, and declare Zhang Wen the winner. After all, if the discipline committee president herself intervened, Zack and Cloud would have no choice but to admit defeat and go to the detention room for reflection.

Yet, if Carlet did that, wouldn’t it mean she was voluntarily accepting the task of washing Zhang Wen’s socks? No matter what, she was still just a seventeen-year-old girl. There was no way she could bring herself to do it in front of everyone.

However, while Carlet’s rational and emotional sides were still locked in fierce internal debate, Zhang Wen suddenly raised one hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down.

In the earlier fight with Zack and Cloud, Zhang Wen had already earned considerable respect among the onlookers at Almirus Academy. As he raised his hand, the noisy square gradually fell silent.

Zhang Wen calmly scanned the crowd, a faint, indescribable smile playing on his lips. Naturally, he knew that if he declared the match over now and ordered Zack and Cloud back with him, even they themselves would have no grounds to protest.

But would that truly resolve the matter? Of course not! Because even if Zhang Wen forced them into detention today, Zack and Cloud would still harbor resentment and never fully accept defeat. Their conflict would remain unresolved. Once their punishment ended, they would likely just find another place to duel again!

Some might say that if they chose to fight again after their punishment, it would be their own affair, unrelated to Zhang Wen. But Zhang Wen never left loose ends—he never did things halfway and left others to deal with the consequences later!