All Detained

As a student of the Earth Academy and someone whose reputation preceded him, Xia Tao easily ranked among the top five fourth-year students in sheer renown. Many of the several thousand senior students kept an eye on him. "Xia Tao's ranking is gone?" "Completely gone?" "Did Xia Tao die?" Consequently, the moment his name vanished, people took notice. Such occurrences were not unheard of. Many students began speculating whether Xia Tao had perished. "Good riddance! Scum like him should have died long ago. I just wonder who did it—probably some civilian martial artist." "Who cares who killed him? The world's better off with him dead." Many students who had suffered his bullying celebrated in secret. The overall leaderboard displayed only rankings, not exact coefficient scores. Therefore, when elite students like Qin Yang and Bai Chen—ranked beyond the top hundred—slipped down a few spots, none of the older students paid it any mind. For one thing, overall rankings fluctuated constantly. For another, their coefficient scores had only dropped by 0.1, making their drop in rank hardly noticeable. However... As the top-ranked newcomer on the freshman coefficient board, Fang Yu's score still drew considerable attention from the incoming class. "How did Fang Yu's coefficient score drop to 1.8?" "It fell?" "Did he get into a conflict with some civilian martial artists?" Many freshmen wondered, though their subconscious assumption was merely that Fang Yu had run into trouble with civilian martial artists. That was a common enough occurrence. Even when some older students learned of Fang Yu's drop through the freshmen in their teams, most did not connect Fang Yu to Xia Tao's death for the time being. After all, according to public information, the difference in strength between the two was immense. Xia Tao was Level 29; by all rights, he could have dispatched the Level 20 Fang Yu with a single strike. ...Yet not everyone failed to suspect Fang Yu. In a wooded mountain within the Wilderness Zone. "Xia Tao actually died?" "He's dead?" "And Fang Yu's coefficient score dropped by 0.1 at the exact same time." Fan Xing, another freshman, exchanged dumbfounded glances with his two teammates, who had just narrowly escaped death themselves. They had only just finished burying Gu Ming. Belonging to the same martial artist squad, even though they could not contact one another directly through their communication star rings over long distances, they had agreed upon rendezvous points beforehand. This was standard practice for martial artist squads, allowing them to regroup after being scattered by beast packs. During this foray by the Black Ice Squad into the wind wolf den, Fan Xing, being the weakest, had been deliberately stationed on the outermost perimeter by Xia Tao. Thus, when the wolves converged into what was practically a beast tide, he had been the very first to escape safely. "Fu Wen, Shao Yihui," Fan Xing said through gritted teeth. "Didn't you two say the captain fled for his own life earlier? How could he be dead now?" Fan Xing felt as though the sky had collapsed. Domineering and brutal as Xia Tao was, he had treated Fan Xing reasonably well. Fu Wen and Shao Yihui looked at each other. They felt a surge of grim satisfaction, mingled with lingering dread. Though they cursed Xia Tao in their hearts, they had always feared him just as much. Otherwise, they would never have come to this rendezvous point in the first place. To their shock, instead of Xia Tao returning, they received news of his death. "Fan Xing, did you just say Fang Yu's coefficient score dropped by 0.1 as well?" Fu Wen asked suddenly. "Did it drop at the exact same time?" "Hard to say. It's not like I check every second." Fan Xing shook his head, then his eyes widened in realization. "Are you suspecting Fang Yu killed the captain? But Fang Yu is only Level 20!" "Level 20, my ass!" Shao Yihui snapped furiously. "Fan Xing." "Weren't you curious earlier about how we managed to break out after the captain ran off?" Fu Wen said in a heavy voice. "We ran into Fang Yu and Bai Chen's squad. In the end, Fang Yu stood alone against the onslaught of the wolf tide. He personally slaughtered the Level 30 wolf king and every single alpha wolf before the pack was frightened into retreating." "All by himself?" Fan Xing's eyes went wide with disbelief. In his mind, Fang Yu was at best roughly on par with him. How could he possess such terrifying power? Even Xia Tao would have struggled to achieve a feat like that. "A senior transfer student... If we hadn't seen it with our own eyes, we wouldn't have believed he had such strength either," Fu Wen sighed, shaking his head. "But he truly does." "My guess is he must have made a major breakthrough recently," Shao Yihui said. Fan Xing held his breath. Having also graduated from a vocational college, he had always looked down upon the other newcomers, convinced that none of them could keep pace with him. Yet Fang Yu's strength clearly crushed his own. "Last time, the captain stole their spoils." "This time, the captain nearly got Fang Yu and his team killed," Shao Yihui murmured. "Besides, the captain took so long to come back. I suspect he doubled back later to search for that Star Jade. It's very possible the two sides crossed paths and fought again. The captain didn't know Fang Yu's true strength and was ambushed and killed." "It's possible," Fu Wen agreed. One had fled frantically in the face of the wolf tide, while the other had slaughtered his way through it and driven it back. Subconsciously, they already considered Fang Yu stronger than Xia Tao. "That doesn't make sense," Fan Xing said, shaking his head. "If Fang Yu killed the captain, why would his coefficient score only drop by 0.1? Even if they weren't in the same squad, it should have dropped by at least 0.3." "Hmph!" Fu Wen sneered. "Fan Xing, you've been in the squad this long and you're still this naive? In the Wilderness Zone, there are plenty of ways to minimize your own liability. For example, by merely inflicting heavy injuries and letting a beast deliver the final blow. Or by sharing the liability among teammates." Fan Xing fell silent. He recalled how, whenever the squad plundered other martial artist teams and needed to rough someone up to make a point, Xia Tao never got his own hands dirty. He always ordered Fan Xing or the other members to do it—the goal being to lessen his personal liability in the event of a death. How could other martial artists not know such tricks? "In short," Fu Wen said grimly, "the captain is dead. Fang Yu has both the strength and the motive, and the timing of his score drop matches perfectly. He is the prime suspect. Once we get back, we're bound to be questioned." "Let's just hope the Xia family doesn't take it out on us," Shao Yihui said through gritted teeth. Being in the same squad, Xia Tao's boastful nature had long led him to reveal nearly everything about his background. They were all too aware of how staggering the Xia family's influence was—far beyond anything they could withstand. "Let's hurry back to the space base." "If we pass our suspicions along to the Xia family right away, maybe they won't blame us," Fu Wen suggested. "What do you think?" "Agreed." "Let's go." The three quickly set off toward the space base. They moved swiftly, and because the rendezvous point was not particularly far from the space base, they reached the Safe Zone in just half an hour. However... Before the transport aircraft summoned by Fu Wen could arrive, and barely five minutes after they crossed into the Safe Zone... *Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* Several aircraft rapidly approached them and descended slowly. Even before the craft came to a complete halt, two figures dropped down from midair with a swift rush of wind. They landed directly before Fu Wen, Shao Yihui, and Fan Xing. "Instructor Cao." Fu Wen and Shao Yihui recognized one of them, their expressions changing instantly. The other figure radiated a powerful aura and eyes sharp as lightning, striking dread into their hearts with a single glance. He was unquestionably a formidable martial artist as well. "The three of you, I won't bother repeating your names." "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Cao Jie, a lecturer for the fourth-year class at Huguang Martial University. I was ordered by the university to wait for you at the perimeter of the Safe Zone." Instructor Cao was tall and burly, his gaze cold. "Right now, there are two matters that require your cooperation in an investigation. First, Xia Tao's death is a grave matter. As his teammates, you are the prime suspects." Fu Wen, Shao Yihui, and Fan Xing listened obediently; this was within their expectations. "Second," Instructor Cao continued coldly, "during this practical combat exercise, over ten students from our university have filed verified reports accusing your squad of plundering Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Furthermore, over twenty civilian martial artists have reported being robbed and injured by Huguang Martial University students. Preliminary investigations identify the Black Ice Squad as the primary suspect. You will return with us for investigation." The color drained from all three faces. They had spent the journey worrying about the Xia family, never imagining that the university would launch an investigation into the robberies and assaults. According to what Xia Tao had said before, as long as they didn't kill anyone, the university would never interfere. "Instructor Cao, before, it was Xia Tao who—" Fu Wen began anxiously. "I'm warning you," Instructor Cao cut in coldly, "the man beside me is Section Chief Zhang from the Martial Arts Inspection Department, assigned here under orders to conduct this joint investigation. From this moment onward, every word and action of yours will be recorded in real time. Choose your words carefully." Fu Wen shut his mouth, his heart filled with turmoil. He had never expected someone from the Martial Arts Inspection Department to arrive in person. "Alright, you three." Section Chief Zhang wore a smile. "Starting now, no further conversation is permitted among you. Board separate aircraft and surrender your communication star rings. You are all elite students of Huguang Martial University with bright futures ahead of you. I have no wish to make things difficult for you, so until the investigation concludes, I hope we can cooperate pleasantly. Don't make my job hard." "I will do my best to help you as well," Section Chief Zhang added with an amiable smile. Beside him, Instructor Cao glanced at him sideways. He knew full well that this seemingly genial Section Chief Zhang was a smiling tiger. Associate Professor Tang's purpose in inviting him specifically went without saying. It was to turn the Black Ice Squad's misdeeds completely inside out. ... At the very same time. The five members of the Scarlet Flame Squad had also been escorted onto separate aircraft, already en route to the space base. Aboard one of the transports. "Rest assured." "Your squad's battle spoils and those Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, including the Star Jade, will be properly looked after by the university," Jiang Wei said as he sat beside Fang Yu with eyes closed, his voice completely devoid of emotion. "Your teammate will also be taken for medical treatment first." "Thank you, Martial Uncle," Fang Yu replied, his mind racing. Not long ago, shortly after they arrived at the Safe Zone, Jiang Wei and two other instructors had appeared with several aircraft. They had curtly announced that the squad was suspected of involvement in Xia Tao's death and requested their cooperation with the investigation. Without allowing any room for argument, they had ushered them onto separate aircraft. Fang Yu and Bai Chen understood the gravity of the situation, yet neither had anticipated the university reacting so swiftly—positioning people to wait for them right at the Safe Zone. It left Fang Yu with no opportunity to notify Wang Mo or his family. The only slight comfort was that Jiang Wei had been the one to come. "Fang Yu, answer my questions now," Jiang Wei said calmly. "Did Xia Tao's death have anything to do with your squad?" A flicker of hesitation passed through Fang Yu's mind before he answered, "I dare not deceive Martial Uncle. It does!" "Did you kill him?" Jiang Wei's voice turned frigid as his eyes snapped open, his gaze piercing like a blade as he locked onto Fang Yu, making every hair on Fang Yu's body stand on end.