Chapter 29: The Principal

The brilliance of enlightenment lingered for quite some time, but as soon as everyone realized it was the sword cultivator who had experienced it, their gazes turned from envy to regret.

"What use is enlightenment for a sword cultivator!"

"Exactly! It's wasted. They don't have much to realize anyway!"

"If only it were a spell cultivator who had the enlightenment, they'd surely gain a new spell."

The principal, who had been excited, calmed down as well. "Why does it have to be a sword cultivator!"

Just as disappointment clouded his eyes, the door handle turned, and Jiang Ningguang entered, followed by several downcast students.

A hint of displeasure flickered in the principal’s eyes—she hadn’t even bothered to knock. These Jiang clan members truly lacked manners.

He said nothing, merely gazing at her with a cool indifference.

Jiang Ningguang waited for the principal to inquire, so she could righteously lodge her complaint, but she too remained silent.

For a moment, an awkward silence filled the air.

Why isn’t the principal asking? A trace of confusion crossed Jiang Ningguang’s mind. She stepped forward, slammed the desk, and, with an aggrieved expression, exclaimed, "Principal, look at what your sword cultivators have done to the spell department students—they’ve been bullied like this!"

The principal leaned back, avoiding the reverberating desk, his gaze sweeping over the students.

"What’s the matter? Is this worth such outrage from Teacher Jiang? Just a few superficial injuries! The pill cultivators blow up their furnaces all the time—far worse than this."

As for sword cultivators bullying spell cultivators—who would believe that!

In the current climate, no sword cultivator would actively provoke a spell cultivator.

He hadn’t interfered with this hierarchy of contempt, but he certainly wasn’t foolish.

Jiang Ningguang’s eyes blazed even brighter. She slammed the desk again, indignant. "Principal, how can this be a small matter! Look at our spell department students—their robes are torn, they’re hurt. The sword department must apologize!"

The principal felt his patience fraying. Jiang Ningguang was always making trouble over nothing. He nodded perfunctorily. "Fine, fine, was it second-year or third-year sword cultivators? I’ll have them apologize, and that’ll be the end of it."

Jiang Ningguang, recalling Jiang Wangshu’s face, spat fire from her eyes. "A freshman."

The principal’s hand froze on his communication jade, incredulous. "A freshman?"

Jiang Ningguang assumed the principal was about to pursue the matter and immediately poured out everything Jiang Wangshu had done, embellishing as much as she could.

The principal barely listened, still in disbelief. "A few second-year spell cultivators—beaten by a freshman?"

Jiang Wangshu thought the principal was sharing her indignation. "Yes! This freshman is lawless, injured every single student in Spell Department Class Two!"

The principal looked shattered. "A single freshman challenged the entire Spell Department Class Two?"

Jiang Ningguang finally sensed something was amiss. The principal’s tone wasn’t accusatory.

She pulled herself from her anger, replaying what she’d said in her mind—nothing wrong, surely. She’d made clear the freshman’s disrespect and violence.

"Principal, you must severely punish this Jiang Wangshu! It’s only the first day of school, and already such trouble—who knows what’s next!"

The principal picked up his communication jade. "Jiang Wangshu, is it? I’ll have Yu Jianyi bring her over."

Jiang Ningguang’s suspicions vanished. She thought as much—her prized spell department students hurt, the principal couldn’t possibly let it slide.

She was about to speak again when the principal raised a hand to silence her, gesturing to the spell department students. "You tell me—how did Jiang Wangshu deal with you?"

The students of Spell Department Class Two hung their heads, mumbling.

Jiang Ningguang, exasperated, urged, "Louder! The principal’s here for you—what are you afraid of?"

Their voices grew a bit louder but heads remained bowed, unwilling to let the principal see their faces.

The principal listened intently.

To emphasize their grievance, Jiang Ningguang stepped forward and forcibly lifted their faces from their chests. "Look, Principal, their faces are nearly ruined!"

Their faces flushed with shame and anger, tears shimmering in their eyes.

Clearly embarrassed.

The principal massaged his temples, exasperated. "Let go, now." Had Jiang Ningguang left her brains at home? The students were nearly in tears from her, and she looked proud as ever.

When her hand finally released their chins, the spell department students quickly buried their heads, for the first time doubting the intelligence of their well-respected Teacher Jiang.

Knock, knock!

Yu Jianyi entered, leading Jiang Wangshu. "Principal, what’s going on?"

He had been resting in his office when the principal abruptly ordered him to bring Jiang Wangshu. He was baffled, and even Jiang Wangshu didn’t know what was happening.

He had no time to rejoice over Lian Yangxia’s enlightenment, and hurried over with Jiang Wangshu.

As Jiang Wangshu entered, the spell department students all stepped back, seeking to hide themselves behind Jiang Ningguang—how humiliating!

Jiang Ningguang glanced at her smugly, her schadenfreude unmistakable.

Yu Jianyi, seeing Jiang Ningguang, immediately knew she was up to no good. He turned to the principal. "Principal, this is Jiang Wangshu."

The principal stood, scrutinizing Jiang Wangshu, hands clasped behind his back. "So you’re the one—challenged Spell Department Class Two single-handedly?"

Yu Jianyi was astonished. Only now did he notice several students in tattered robes nearby.

On closer inspection, it wasn’t mere tattered clothing—their spell robes had been destroyed by someone, and with a certain flair, leaving them looking like beggars.

Realizing it was a sword department student’s handiwork, he couldn’t help it—a laugh burst out.

Hearing this derision, the spell department students nearly buried their faces in their stomachs.

Jiang Ningguang scowled, sweeping her gaze across. "How dare you laugh! Look at what your student has done! An apology, medical compensation, psychological damages—none must be omitted!"

Alarm bells rang in Jiang Wangshu’s mind. Remembering what Lian Yangxia had said, she realized there would be trouble. Nonetheless, she remained calm, nodding. "I did it."

Before the principal could speak, Jiang Ningguang pounced as if seizing evidence, strutting forward. "Principal, did you hear? She admits it! Someone who harms classmates doesn’t belong in Eagle Palace!"

Yu Jianyi stepped forward, blocking Jiang Ningguang. "Speak properly. Why are you shouting at a child?"

Jiang Wangshu took a step back, her eyes darting between the principal and Jiang Ningguang, ready to go wild if needed.

Seeing Jiang Ningguang unrelenting, the principal dragged her aside. "Teacher Jiang, have some dignity!"

Jiang Ningguang was stunned. "Principal, how could you!"

The principal, irritated, pointed to the spell department students. "Look at your students—second-year, an entire class, yet they couldn’t defeat a single freshman."

"The students are embarrassed enough. Yet you shout so loudly—what, do you want everyone to know just how miserably Spell Department Class Two was trounced by a freshman?"