Xiao Chen returned home right on time, and his mother, Mei Lan, had already left home as he'd expected.
He took a shower, washing away the bloodstains, disposed of the blood-soaked clothes, then checked the time and called Principal Xu Wenhai of Zhennan City Martial Arts Academy.
The call was connected quickly. Xiao Chen politely asked, "Principal, are you awake? Is this a convenient time?"
"Xiao Chen, I told you before, just call me brother-in-law in private. I'm awake, just finished breakfast made by your sister. What's up, just tell me," Xu Wenhai said.
"Brother-in-law, I've broken through to Awakening Realm Ten Stars," Xiao Chen informed Xu Wenhai of his breakthrough.
"You broke through so quickly?"
Xu Wenhai was stunned at first, then eagerly asked, "Xiao Chen, after breaking through to Awakening Realm Ten Stars, what's your combat power? Can you fight against an Extraordinary One Star martial artist?"
"Brother-in-law, an Extraordinary One Star demon tried to kill me last night, and I killed him instead!" Xiao Chen indirectly answered Xu Wenhai's question, laying the groundwork for what came next.
"Wh…What?!"
Xu Wenhai stood up in shock.
This was because the demon had awakened Ancient Creature Genes, mutated, and possessed top-tier strength among those in the same realm!
Xiao Chen, having just broken through to Awakening Realm Ten Stars, was able to kill an Extraordinary One Star demon. This was completely beyond Xu Wenhai's expectations and left him extremely shocked!
Because, with the combat power Xiao Chen had displayed, he was not only guaranteed to become the Zhennan City Martial Arts College Entrance Exam Top Scholar, but also a strong contender for the Provincial Martial Arts College Entrance Exam Top Scholar!
After the shock, Xu Wenhai's face was filled with anger!
Xiao Chen was a student at Zhennan Martial Arts Academy, so he shouldn't have any enemies. Encountering an assassination attempt, Xu Wenhai could guess with his toes that it was related to the Yuan family.
And after Xiao Chen and Yuan Fei had a conflict, he had specifically warned Yuan Fei's father, Yuan Shiren, to not let the Yuan family do anything to Xiao Chen. Yet, the Yuan family had still made a move!
How could this not make Xu Wenhai angry?!
Amidst his anger, Xu Wenhai immediately asked, "Xiao Chen, do you have any information on the killer?"
"Brother-in-law, I don't have specific information on the killer, but I took a photo of him. I'll send it to you now," Xiao Chen said, sending a photo to Xu Wenhai, but not the audio evidence.
This was because he remembered what Zhang Jing, the office director of the Zhennan City Divine Demon Research Institute, had said. He knew that the Provincial Supernatural Administration Hall and the Martial Arts Academy belonged to different systems with different responsibilities.
It wouldn't be difficult for Xu Wenhai to protect Xiao Chen, but even if he obtained the audio evidence, bringing down Yuan Shijun would be extremely difficult!
This was just like how in Xiao Chen's previous life, a Municipal Education Bureau director would find it difficult to bring down a Municipal Public Security Bureau director!
The photo was taken by Xiao Chen before he killed the Black-robed demon and dragged its corpse to the Bearded Man Bar.
In the photo, Xiao Chen was squatting beside the Black-robed demon's corpse. His shoulder was shattered, he was covered in blood, and his face looked somewhat pale.When Xu Wenhai received the photo and saw Xiao Chen's tragic state in it, he could imagine how fierce the battle where Xiao Chen killed the Black-robed demon must have been. His heart was filled with rage!
Just then, Xiao Chen said, "Brother-in-law, I believe the mastermind behind this matter is from the Yuan family!"
"No need to think, it must be the Yuan family!"
Xu Wenhai said, recalling what Zhang Jing had told him about Xiao Chen killing the Divine Demon Werewolf. He angrily continued, "Yuan Shijun abused his power and let his nephew Yuan Fei steal the credit for you killing the Divine Demon Werewolf, awarding Yuan Fei a Second-class Merit and obtaining the Special Admission Quota for the Advanced Extraordinary Training Base. Not only that, but he shamelessly held an commendation ceremony at the school and even sent someone to kill you. This is simply too much!"
"They're even going to hold a commendation ceremony at the school?"
Xiao Chen thought of how Yao Ping'an's achievements were erased, and he suffered a tragic fate, while Yuan Fei was to be honored as a hero. His heart also burned with rage.
"Xiao Chen, since the Yuan family has made a move against you, I naturally won't let them have their way – the Special Admission Quota isn't something they can get just because they want it. The decision-making power is in my hands!" Xu Wenhai said through gritted teeth.
Hearing Yuan Shijun's words, Xiao Chen suddenly calmed down. He thought for a moment and said, "Brother-in-law, don't stop the commendation ceremony."
"Xiao Chen, why?" Xu Wenhai was taken aback.
Xiao Chen said, "Brother-in-law, I'm calling you because I hope you can ensure my safety. Other matters, I will resolve them myself!"
"Alright!"
Xu Wenhai's heart stirred. He thought of the advice his wife, Zhang Jing, had given Xiao Chen and realized that Xiao Chen was planning to solidify the irrefutable evidence of Yuan Shijun's legal violations and abuse of power!
At Yuan Family Villa.
Yuan Shijun was eating breakfast with his elder brother, Yuan Shiren, when he received a call. Upon hearing that Xiao Chen had killed the Black-robed demon, his heart was stirred with great waves, but he calmly said "I know" on the surface and hung up.
"Shijun, what happened?"
Yuan Shiren noticed the change in Yuan Shijun's expression.
Yuan Shijun put down his phone and said with a solemn expression, "I just received a call from Captain Wang Hai of the Investigation Team. Wang Hai said that after the demon Long Biao killed Yao Ping'an, Xiao Chen killed him."
"Shijun, Long Biao is an Extraordinary One Star demon. How could that brat named Xiao possibly kill him? Are you sure the news is correct?!"
Yuan Shiren was shocked. He knew that Yao Ping'an had reported Yuan Shijun to the Provincial Supernatural Administration Hall by his real name, and he also knew that Yuan Shijun had used Long Biao to silence him. Therefore, he couldn't believe it.
"Wang Hai called me personally, so it can't be wrong."
Yuan Shijun's face was solemn. He had originally planned to silence Long Biao after he killed Yao Ping'an, but he didn't expect things to go wrong.
Yuan Shiren saw this and asked, "Shijun, are you worried that Long Biao might expose you and reveal that you ordered him to kill Yao Ping'an?"
"That's not the critical issue. Even if Long Biao said something, it would be his word against mine."
Yuan Shijun shook his head slightly and said, "What I care about is the fact that Xiao Chen killed Long Biao. A martial artist at Awakening Realm Ten Stars killing a demon murderer at Extraordinary One Star, do you know what this means?"
"Xiao Chen is a super genius. He has not only locked in the Zhennan City Martial Arts College Entrance Exam Top Scholar title this year but also has a chance to compete for the Provincial Top Scholar!
After the Martial Arts College Entrance Exam ends each year, the Provincial Top Scholars and the top one hundred students in the province are received by leaders from the Provincial Supernatural Administration Hall, the Martial Arts Department, and the Provincial Extraordinary Army Military Region for discussions and exchanges.
If Xiao Chen reflects on certain situations during the discussion, the leaders above will definitely pay attention, which could bring us trouble!"
Yuan Shijun pointed out the key issue incisively.
Yuan Shiren's expression changed. He asked, "Then what should we do? At this point, compromise is impossible. Why don't we go all the way and just kill that Xiao Chen, nipping the danger in the bud?"
This time, Yuan Shijun didn't speak, his eyes flashed with a sharp light, as if he was weighing the pros and cons.
"Ring ring ring——"
Immediately, before Yuan Shijun could make a decision, his phone rang. He picked it up and saw that it was a call from Principal Xu Wenhai of Zhennan City Martial Arts Academy.
"Hello, Principal Xu."
Yuan Shijun’s brow furrowed, sensing something was wrong, but he still answered the call, his tone very polite.
Xu Wenhai said coldly, "Yuan Shijun, I heard there's something fishy about your nephew Yuan Fei's commendation."
"Fishy?"
Yuan Shijun feigned ignorance and said, "Principal Xu, I don't know where you got your information. Regarding this matter, the Municipal Supernatural Administration Bureau verified it according to procedure and reported the specifics to the Provincial Hall. After approval from the Provincial Hall, Yuan Fei was awarded a Second-class Merit. All procedures are without any issues."
"Yuan Shijun, whether the Supernatural Administration Bureau awards Yuan Fei a Second-class Merit is your prerogative. But whether Zhennan City Martial Arts Academy recognizes Yuan Fei's Second-class Merit and whether it's entered into his file, I have the final say!" Xu Wenhai said coldly.
Yuan Shijun's expression changed: "Principal Xu, what do you mean by that?"
"Yuan Shijun, listen carefully. From now on, if my student Xiao Chen encounters any accident, even if he loses a single hair, I will hold your Yuan family responsible! If that happens, your nephew's chances of being admitted through the special quota will be nonexistent! Furthermore, I will use every connection I can to seek justice for Xiao Chen!"
Xu Wenhai laid his cards on the table, his tone resolute. "Zhennan is small, but Xia Country is vast. If you want to test me, I'll see it through to the end!"
"Principal Xu, although I don't know what happened, I think there must be some misunderstanding! If there's anything, we can sit down and discuss it properly..."
Seeing that Xu Wenhai was about to flip the table, Yuan Shijun's expression changed, and he tried to mediate.
However—
Before Yuan Shijun could finish speaking, Xu Wenhai interrupted forcefully: "Yuan Shijun, I am not discussing this with you. This is my final ultimatum!"