Chapter 21: The Scuffle - Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

### Chapter 21: The Scuffle As Song Qingyi passed by the academy's entrance, she faintly heard a commotion outside. The graceful female instructor stepped out and saw a crowd of students gathered not far from the gate, seemingly witnessing some kind of altercation. Within, there were sounds of fists and cries of pain. Song Qingyi's expression immediately tensed, and she quickly made her way forward, parting the students as she asked, "Who's fighting? What's happening?" However, the crowd was packed tightly, making her advance slow. "Professor Song!" A student at the periphery turned and respectfully made way upon seeing her, while another answered, "It's Yan Xiaohu and a newcomer we don't know..." "Yan Xiaohu..." Upon hearing the name, Song Qingyi immediately shouted, "Yan Xiaohu, stop it right now! You are not allowed to bully and hit your classmates!" Yet the sounds of fighting and screams continued unabated, and as she got closer, the cries grew more intense. Hearing the heavy thumping sounds, Song Qingyi's brows furrowed deeply. "I'm warning you for the last time, Yan Xiaohu, if you don't stop, I'll have the principal expel you!" Her voice rang out loudly, prompting the students in front to recognize it was her and quickly make a path. And then... Song Qingyi saw Yan Xiaohu lying on the ground, his face covered in blood. Both his eyes were barely open and it was hard to tell if it was blood or tears. He was miserably murmuring. "Professor Song, I already stopped! I didn’t dare to fight back at all! I got beaten up like this, and you’re going to expel me..." "Eh?" Song Qingyi was momentarily stunned, her expression one of bewilderment. For in her mind, Yan Xiaohu was the little tyrant of Nanshan Academy, bullying classmates daily, so upon hearing about a fight, she naturally assumed he was the aggressor. However, with his ancestral martial skills and two gang bodyguards always at his side, who could have beaten him like this? Wait… The two bodyguards were those two hulking figures kneeling nearby, clutching their ears? Where was the person who did the hitting? She scanned the area, noting that all around were spectators, without any additional presence in the center. Song Qingyi then said, "Whoever was hitting, step forward!" No one did. However, all the onlooking students retreated a step in unison, leaving only two people standing conspicuously in place. One was a charming youth with a warm smile, seemingly a newly arrived student named Chu Liang. The other was his bookish servant, with thick brows and large eyes, both pretending to be part of the onlookers. Song Qingyi frowned at Chu Liang, "Was it you?" "Sigh." Chu Liang shook his head, also caught off guard by the students of Nanshan Academy's collective understanding, and promptly bowed his head to apologize, "Professor Song, I’m sorry! I just arrived today, and when Yan Xiaohu asked me for ten taels of silver as protection money, I had no choice but to resist, violating academy rules. Please punish me." "..." Song Qingyi was silent for a moment. She felt her reprimands were caught in her throat–unexpectedly unable to come out. "Regardless, you shouldn't resort to violence..." She paused and softly added. Chu Liang continued, "I was planning to pay him to avoid trouble, but my servant was too outraged, hence ended up fighting with those three. I will sternly punish him when we return." With that, he glanced at Lin Bei. Catching his cue, Lin Bei immediately let out a wail, "Oh, young master, his face hurt my hand so badly... It feels like it’s broken, we need to see a doctor immediately." "Really that bad?" Chu Liang seemed slightly anxious and turned to Song Qingyi, "Professor Song, I must take my servant for treatment at once, if we delay..." "Fine, you all go get treatment." Song Qingyi gave him an exasperated look, then addressed Yan Xiaohu and his lackeys on the ground, "I'll have the principal punish you all when you come to class tomorrow." Immediately, Chu Liang took the "injured" Lin Bei and left, while the two bodyguards carried the barely conscious Yan Xiaohu, each heading towards treatment. However, as Yan Xiaohu’s bodyguards had not gone far, a voice called out from behind them, "Stop!" Turning back, they saw that it was the same two little troublemakers as before! How could they dare proceed? They quickly dropped Yan Xiaohu on the ground and knelt respectfully, clutching their ears. "No need to be so tense." Chu Liang looked at them with a smile, "I just wanted to say, even though what happened today was entirely your fault, we aren’t unreasonable." As he spoke, he reached out to Lin Bei, "Give me a sword coin." Puzzled, Lin Bei reached into his pocket and handed a sword coin to Chu Liang. Chu Liang gave it to one of the bodyguards, "Take this back to your boss and say it’s compensation for injuring his son. Make sure you personally hand it to your boss." "Yes, yes," the two bodyguards nodded enthusiastically like chickens pecking rice, quickly bolting from the scene. "Hey! You left your young master behind." Lin Bei called after them. "Thank you," the bodyguards sheepishly returned, hoisting Yan Xiaohu and once more hurrying away. Watching their retreating figures, Lin Bei then asked, "Why give them a sword coin?" "To prevent future trouble," Chu Liang explained, "When you beat a bully, sometimes their elders come after you. Yan Xiaohu’s father, upon seeing the sword coin, should leave us alone." "Then why did you take my sword coin?" Lin Bei questioned. "My money is put to good use," Chu Liang replied earnestly. Lin Bei: "?" … Night fell. Chu Liang found Li Jue in his room, staring blankly as if lost in thought. According to some news he heard today, Li Jue used to be a diligent student who was lately in a state of despair for some unknown reason. Seeing him enter, Li Jue snapped back to the present, asking, "What's up?" Chu Liang placed five taels of silver on the table. "This is the money I retrieved from Yan Xiaohu on your behalf. No need to pay today… and likely, not in the future." Li Jue was silent for a moment, then said, "I saw you discipline him today… Thanks." "As a practitioner of righteousness, helping others is what we're supposed to do," Chu Liang replied with a smile. "Hmm…" Li Jue seemed to drift back into his thoughts. Chu Liang suddenly asked, "Why did you say he wouldn't live long?" "Eh?" Li Jue was startled by the question, his gaze evasive, yet he didn’t answer. "Is it because of Situ Yan?" Chu Liang pressed further. "I don’t know…" Li Jue shook his head. "You do know. Is it because they used to bully Situ Yan, and you’re aware of it?" Chu Liang asked again. Li Jue seemed agitated, looking at Chu Liang, "Stop asking!" "Your father spent a hefty sum for us to protect you by enlisting help from Mount Shu. The longer we stay, the more money you spend. Resolving this quickly would be best for you." Chu Liang spoke with a calm, firm voice, "Let me ask you, is the vengeful spirit that's killing, Situ Yan?" "…" Li Jue frowned deeply, reflecting for a long time before finally admitting, "It should be her." "Then the reason you're so worried… is it because you also mistreated her?" Chu Liang continued his inquiry. "I did not!" Li Jue shook his head firmly, "I never did." "Then… who are these people?" Chu Liang asked. Li Jue, holding his head as if haunted by memories he wished to forget, finally responded, "Zhang Cong, Wu Shaoan, Yan Xiaohu, Chen Da… It was them, always bullying Situ Yan…"