In the following days, neither Irina nor any other members of the Psionic Arts Division appeared before Zhang Wen again. It wasn’t until the spaceship landed at the Casares Spaceport that Zhang Wen saw the Psionic Arts Division group again, in the ship’s main hall.
As Zhang Wen entered the hall with several students from the Physical Arts Division, most of the Psionic Arts Division instructors were gathered together, whispering anxiously. From their uneasy expressions, it was clear that their discussion likely revolved around Governor Temiso’s fury. Meanwhile, Katerina and Irina stood alone in a corner of the hall, expressionless, gazing out the window.
Only when Zhang Wen appeared did Irina briefly glance at him with a look of hatred. But just as quickly, she turned her gaze back to the window as if nothing had happened.
Not long after, the group in the hall felt a sudden jolt from the spaceship. Those accustomed to interstellar travel immediately knew—the ship had landed. The cabin door opened, and the crowd in the hall surged forward.
“Let’s go,” Zhang Wen smiled, waving to the four students behind him as he led them back onto the soil of Casares.
Normally, when the Almirex delegation returned from the planet Fira, Governor Temiso would personally come to the spaceport to greet them. Under the fluttering governor’s flag, he would escort the victorious Psionic Arts representatives back to Almirex Academy in grand fashion. But this year, the governor’s office had only reluctantly sent an aide, who hurried off after a few brief words of greeting.
“What the hell! Why is it that when the Psionic Arts win, the governor personally welcomes them and sends them off with a grand procession? But when we win, we get absolutely nothing? That’s so unfair!” Zax finally burst out in frustration as he climbed onto a raptor-drawn carriage he had hailed from the roadside.
On Fira, Zax had imagined how warmly he would be celebrated upon returning to Casares. But the gap between reality and fantasy was just too wide!
“It can’t be helped. After all, the Psionic Arts are Almirex’s ace card. Even if they lost the competition, Governor Temiso couldn’t possibly let them lose face, could he?” Claud shrugged indifferently.
“Hmph! Caring so much about the Psionic Arts’ reputation and ignoring us? When we lost in previous years, those bastards in the Psionic Arts never stopped mocking us. And now that we finally won once…” Zax was halfway through his rant when he suddenly remembered that Amelie, sitting beside him, was also from the Psionic Arts Division. He quickly waved his hands apologetically.
“It’s okay. I’ve never mocked the Physical Arts. Even if you want revenge, it’s not me you should target,” Amelie said calmly, waving it off before lowering her head again.
“Hmm…” After hearing Amelie and Zax’s conversation, Xiaoxi suddenly struck a sage-like pose, stroking his imaginary beard solemnly. “Long Legs, why have you been walking with your head down and looking so worried the whole way? What’s on your mind?”
“I was just thinking… the Psionic Arts hadn’t lost to Temis in almost twenty years. This time, they lost so badly. I wonder if Ms. Katerina, who led the team, will be okay…” Amelie sighed.
“Katerina? Why bring her up?” Xiaoxi had even less fondness for the master-apprentice pair of Katerina and Irina than Zhang Wen did.
“Ms. Katerina was my mentor when I first entered Almirex Academy,” Amelie said, stealing a glance at Zhang Wen.
“My mentor too…” Xiaoxi sighed, falling silent. He still had deep memories of his own mentor, a gentle and beautiful older sister figure.
“Ms. Katerina will be fine,” Zhang Wen said with a smile. “After all, the Psionic Arts Division of Almirex Academy has reached its current glory under Ms. Katerina’s leadership. Plus, she’s the last remaining disciple of Principal Jackfry. Even if the governor doesn’t respect the monk, he’ll respect the Buddha. I don’t think Governor Temiso will make a big move this time.”
“Right!” Zhang Wen’s analysis eased Amelie’s worries. She smiled gratefully at him and nodded slightly.
“Teacher Zhang, look quick!” Not long after the carriage had quieted down, the driver suddenly shouted.
“What’s going on?” The driver’s excited shout startled everyone.
Zax instinctively jumped up and pulled aside the curtain.
Then, as if struck by a petrification spell, Zax froze. One by one, Claud, Amelie, Xiaoxi, and the others peeked out and were stunned speechless by what they saw.
Along both sides of the road leading into downtown Casares stood people in Almirex Academy’s Physical Arts uniforms, each holding a Casares bagpipe. They ranged in age and gender, lined up in pairs like an honor guard, stretching as far as the eye could see.
As Zax’s carriage reached the center of the formation, the two middle-aged men at the front raised their bagpipes and blew the “Ode to Victory” with all their might.
One hundred and twenty years ago, Casares was just a small village on this planet. The indigenous people distrusted the imperial soldiers who came from afar. However, during a sudden attack on the village, 164 imperial soldiers bravely faced a tide of ferocious beasts to protect hundreds of women and children. Though only 21 survived after holding out until the nearest imperial fleet arrived, when those bloodied survivors reappeared outside the village walls, the people of Casares finally gave them heartfelt cheers.
At that time, Beijah, known as the “Master of Music” in the Empire, happened to be on the rescue patrol ship and witnessed this scene firsthand. Moved to tears, Beijah composed the “Ode to Victory” in just a few days—a piece now universally recognized as the most stirring masterpiece of his legendary career.
The “Ode to Victory” is Beijah’s immortal work and the eternal pride of the people of Casares. Only when welcoming heroes truly recognized and cherished by all Casares citizens would they play this song that embodies the spirit of Casares!
The carriage driver deliberately slowed down. As the carriage passed each person, they excitedly played their bagpipes. Those behind the carriage spontaneously formed two lines, like royal guards, closely following behind.
“Teacher Zhang, I’m also a 27th batch Physical Arts student from Almirex Academy. Too bad I don’t know how to play the bagpipes, or I’d be down there playing for you right now! But even like this, I’m lucky to be benefiting from your glory!” The carriage driver, his face flushed with excitement, turned around and shouted into the carriage.
From the Casares Spaceport to Almirex Academy, the streets echoed with the stirring melody of the “Ode to Victory.” The returning Physical Arts Division didn’t receive a governor’s honor guard, but what they did receive was the entire city!
Zax leaned far out of the carriage, waving wildly at the crowds lining the streets. Claud clenched his fists, his handsome face flushed red. Amelie, overwhelmed with emotion, burst into tears and threw herself onto Zhang Wen.
All the hardships of joining Zhang Wen’s course, all the humiliations suffered at Temis Academy… every bit of it was worth it for this moment!
The formation of people escorted Zhang Wen’s carriage all the way to the gates of Almirex Academy. As they watched Zhang Wen and his group step down from the carriage, the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.
Many young girls boldly threw down their bagpipes and rushed forward to embrace Zax and Claud, giving them passionate kisses. Many female students from Almirex Academy, their eyes red with envy, quickly joined in. The two young men, still overwhelmed with excitement, were suddenly surrounded by a swarm of girls. Before they could react, their faces and necks were covered in kisses, and their clothes were torn and disheveled.
Meanwhile, Amelie and Xiaoxi ignored Zax and Claud’s cries for help. Taking advantage of the chaos caused by the girls, Amelie and Xiaoxi quietly followed closely behind Zhang Wen and slipped into Almirex Academy.
As the Physical Arts Division was joyfully enjoying the crowd’s cheers, on another road leading from the spaceport to Almirex Academy, two psionic vehicles silently entered the back gate of Almirex Academy. In front of the magnificent Almirex Psionic Arts Division’s First Training Center, the two vehicles came to a stop. One by one, the Psionic Arts Division’s instructor representatives stepped out.
The First Training Center was not far from the main entrance of Almirex Academy. Standing outside the training hall, the group could clearly hear the cheers coming from the main gate.
“Hmph! Those Physical Arts guys got lucky once and now they’re acting all high and mighty,” muttered a male instructor who was the last to step out of the vehicle, spitting in disgust toward the main entrance.
“Enough, Gourado. You all saw with your own eyes the circumstances under which the Physical Arts won. They deserve the title of Almirex representatives and deserve this celebration,” Katerina calmly said, quickly walking into the training hall.
“Actually, we should be thanking the Physical Arts guys! At least they drew all the attention to the main gate. Otherwise, if others saw us coming back like a bunch of defeated dogs, that would be even more embarrassing! The century-old reputation of the Almirex Psionic Arts Division might truly be ruined forever!” Gourado, after being reprimanded, sneered coldly at Katerina’s back and whispered sarcastically to his companions.
Just as Gourado finished speaking, Irina, who was following closely behind Katerina, suddenly turned around, her gaze sharply sweeping over Gourado.
“Oh! So scary! ‘Holy Nun’ is still as powerful as ever,” Gourado mockingly feigned fear, causing the two other Psionic Arts instructors beside him to chuckle softly.
“Irina really thinks she’s the natural successor to the Psionic Arts Division’s head instructor. Katerina hasn’t even resigned yet, and she’s already trying to discipline the subordinates. You all need to be careful too!” Gourado continued his sarcastic remarks, clearly enjoying the laughter of his fellow instructors as they all entered the First Training Center.
In the second-floor meeting room of the training center, the Psionic Arts instructors of Almirex Academy had already gathered. Almost all instructors who could be present at Almirex Academy that day attended this meeting.
The proud faces of the Almirex Psionic Arts instructors, usually so full of confidence, now showed only solemnity and anxiety. However, a few among them seemed to harbor a hidden excitement beneath their anxiety.
Soon, the meeting room door opened, and the six Psionic Arts instructors who had led the delegation to Fira entered. At the forefront, naturally, was Almirex Academy’s Psionic Arts Division Head Instructor, Katerina.
“Head Instructor Katerina,” dozens of Psionic Arts instructors stood respectfully, bowing to Katerina.
“Hmm. Please sit,” Katerina maintained her authoritative demeanor as the Head Instructor of the Psionic Arts Division. However, she seemed completely oblivious to the barely concealed smirks on the faces of several instructors below.
Irina sat beside Katerina, her gaze icy. She could clearly feel the mocking stares from those who had once fawned over her and Katerina like dogs begging for attention.
The mocking glances made Irina almost unbearable. She felt as if a voice in her ears kept repeating, “Kill them! Kill them!”
Irina clenched her fists tightly, needing all her strength to suppress the impulse rising from the depths of her heart.
After everyone was seated, the meeting room fell into a brief silence. Then, the instructor sitting in the first seat to Katerina’s left—the one directly opposite Irina—stood up.
He was a man in his early fifties, dressed in the Almirex Psionic Arts uniform without any extra decorations. His neatly combed two-inch short hair immediately conveyed his personality—serious, efficient, and undeniably arrogant.
Except for Irina, all the other instructors in the meeting room naturally turned their gazes toward him. No one questioned why this veteran instructor was speaking before Katerina.
The veteran instructor’s name was Ximmel. He had been teaching in the Psionic Arts Division of Almirex Academy for over thirty years. In terms of prestige, seniority, and ability, Ximmel was unquestionably the number two figure under Katerina. In fact, in the eyes of many instructors, he was no less capable than Katerina herself.
In fact, twenty-five years ago, when Principal Jackfry officially stepped down from his position as Head Instructor of the Psionic Arts Division of Almirex Academy to become the academy’s principal, nearly everyone believed that Ximmel would be the one to succeed him. However, no one expected Katerina to suddenly emerge and snatch the position that Ximmel had longed for.
When Jackfry announced that the then very young Katerina would take over as Head Instructor, the Psionic Arts Division was thrown into chaos. Various ugly rumors almost forced Katerina to resign voluntarily.
Fortunately, Katerina happened to encounter a visiting delegation from Temis Academy at that time. In that year’s competition, Katerina won two consecutive victories, sweeping the Temis Psionic Arts Division, which had been known alongside Almirex as the “Twin Stars of the South,” with a total score of 10-0.
These two battles established the Almirex Psionic Arts Division’s unshakable dominance in the South and quickly silenced all the ugly rumors about Katerina within Almirex Academy.
“Heh! Twenty-five years ago, Katerina secured her position as Head Instructor because of the Temis Psionic Arts Division. Now she falls because of them again. It’s truly poetic justice,” several middle-aged instructors who had experienced those events twenty years ago exchanged smug smiles when they saw Ximmel stand up.
Since Katerina became the Head Instructor of the Psionic Arts Division, although the reputation of Almirex’s Psionic Arts Division had reached its peak, Katerina always favored young talents. Many instructors who were around her age or even older had long harbored resentment and secretly hoped for Katerina’s early departure.
“Head Instructor Katerina, why did you suddenly gather everyone here the moment you returned to the academy?” The words Ximmel spoke after standing up were as concise and arrogant as his personality.
Katerina slowly stood up as well. She looked at Ximmel, then swept her gaze over all the Psionic Arts instructors present. The previously murmuring instructors immediately fell silent.
“You all know that this trip to Temis Academy ended in a devastating defeat,” Katerina said calmly. “This defeat was not due to our students’ lack of effort, nor was it due to the insufficient strength of the Almirex Psionic Arts Division. This failure was caused by the judgment error of the instructor team on this trip to Temis, especially mine, Liricia Katerina. Therefore, I am willing to take full responsibility for this defeat, and I resign from my position as Head Instructor of the Psionic Arts Division of Almirex Academy.”
“What?” As soon as Katerina finished speaking, the meeting room, filled with over a hundred Psionic Arts instructors, erupted like a volcano.
Just like when Katerina took over as Head Instructor of the Psionic Arts Division, no one had expected her to suddenly announce her resignation now!
Yes! The Psionic Arts had suffered a devastating defeat. Katerina, who led the delegation to Temis, had suffered a significant blow to her authority within the division. However, Katerina had served as the Head Instructor of the Psionic Arts Division of Almirex Academy for twenty years, single-handedly elevating the division to its current status.
Even the most disdainful senior instructors among them did not believe that a single defeat could shake Katerina’s position within the Psionic Arts Division! Yet, just at this moment, Katerina took full responsibility for the defeat and announced her resignation.
“Teacher?!” Irina, who had kept her head down since entering the meeting room, also shouted in shock at Katerina.
“Head Instructor Katerina, won’t you reconsider?” Many young instructors tried desperately to persuade Katerina, but more instructors did not try to dissuade her and instead began whispering among themselves.
Anxiety, confusion, excitement, tension… various emotions brewed in the hearts of the Psionic Arts instructors. The chaos in the meeting room did not subside with the passage of time but instead grew worse.
“Silence! What kind of disorderly scene is this?” Katerina suddenly slammed the meeting table, her face cold. The chaotic Psionic Arts instructors immediately quieted down.
“Head Instructor Katerina, although I also think you’re no longer suitable to continue as Head Instructor of the Psionic Arts Division, shouldn’t you at least wait before resigning?” Ximmel, who had not sat down after standing up, suddenly frowned.
Because the meeting room had suddenly quieted down, Ximmel’s words reached the ears of every Psionic Arts instructor present.
“How dare you speak to Head Instructor Katerina like that?” Irina’s voice practically squeezed out each word, one by one.
“How I speak is none of your business,” Ximmel glanced at Irina, his arrogant gaze returning to Katerina.
“Damn it, damn it, damn it…” Irina lowered her head, her face flushed with anger, murmuring like a curse.
The several instructors sitting beside Irina assumed the “damn it” she cursed was directed at Ximmel standing opposite. However, no one could have guessed that the person appearing in Irina’s mind at this moment was someone completely unrelated to this meeting.
“Zhang Wen…” After whispering “damn it” countless times, Irina finally called out the name she hated most, a name that no one could possibly hear.
If it weren’t for Zhang Wen’s reckless behavior at Temis Academy, how could Katerina and herself have repeatedly embarrassed themselves in front of Governor Temiso? If it weren’t for Zhang Wen and that cursed Physical Arts team’s ridiculous victory, how could Katerina be forced to resign to preserve the Psionic Arts Division’s dignity? How could Irina endure such humiliation in front of the Psionic Arts instructors?
It was all that bastard’s fault! Why was fate so unfair? That useless nobody could enjoy everyone’s cheers at the academy’s main gate, while she had to endure others’ cold stares in this meeting room?
These thoughts flooding Irina’s mind made her consumed with jealousy. But what infuriated Irina the most wasn’t even that. Every time she recalled the scene from a few days ago on the spaceship returning to Casares, the flames rising from the depths of her heart seemed ready to burn Irina to ashes!
She was clearly a ten-tier power user, yet when faced with Zhang Wen’s blatant threats and humiliation, she had fled after enduring it all! And worse…
Why hadn’t she killed that bastard right then? Irina clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Her legs under the table twisted together with all her strength. Only the physical pain could slightly ease the humiliation in Irina’s heart.
“Head Instructor Katerina, you should be aware of the current situation. Principal Jackfry left for the Imperial Capital for health reasons just two days ago due to a sudden heart attack. If you resign as Head Instructor now, what chaos will it bring to the Psionic Arts Division?”
Even in the days when Katerina’s authority was at its peak, the arrogant Ximmel had never shown much respect for this “Head Instructor of the Psionic Arts Division.” After Katerina announced her resignation, Ximmel was even less courteous, treating her like an ordinary junior.
“Teacher Ximmel, your words are too harsh. Head Instructor Katerina’s resignation is for the reputation of the Psionic Arts Division. Since Head Instructor Katerina has already said she is willing to take full responsibility for the defeat, if we still find fault…” Several young instructors couldn’t stand Ximmel’s aggressive attitude any longer.
“Heh! What do you mean by finding fault? If Head Instructor Katerina resigns now, who will become the new Head Instructor of the Psionic Arts Division? Do we have to wait half a year until Principal Jackfry returns from his convalescence before electing a new Head Instructor? During that half-year, the prestigious Psionic Arts Division of Almirex Academy would be without a Head Instructor at all—wouldn’t that make everyone laugh at us?” Several middle-aged instructors immediately countered with cold laughter.
“Enough arguing!” Katerina’s single sentence made both sides fall silent again. Then, Katerina exchanged a glance with Ximmel and coldly said, “Teacher Ximmel, I submitted my resignation letter to Principal Jackfry on the way back to Casares. Whether to approve my resignation or decide when I should resign is up to Principal Jackfry. He knows what would be most beneficial for Almirex Academy.”
After speaking to Ximmel, Katerina shifted her gaze from him and swept it over everyone in the meeting room.
“This matter of my resignation is an announcement, not a request for your opinions, and certainly not something that requires your approval.” After coldly saying these words, Katerina stood up and left the meeting room directly.
“What nonsense! She resigns out of responsibility but acts as if she’s done the academy a great favor!” Several middle-aged instructors who had long harbored resentment toward Katerina were momentarily stunned by her sudden outburst but quickly resumed their mocking and sarcastic remarks.
“Teacher Ximmel, what do you think? If Principal Jackfry approves Head Instructor Katerina’s resignation this time, who will be the next Head Instructor?” Several other middle-aged instructors, eager to curry favor, smiled and approached Ximmel to ask questions.
Unfortunately, Ximmel, who had just been sharply rebuked by Katerina, had no mood to entertain his colleagues’ flattery. With a cold snort and a furious expression, he turned and left.
As soon as Katerina and Ximmel left, most of the others followed. Soon, only a dozen or so young instructors remained in the meeting room, still anxiously discussing the situation.
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