Only moments after Xia Kaishan issued the command, a soft hum sounded as a vibrant holographic projection materialized. In the three-dimensional light screen appeared a spirited, heroic young woman with bright, piercing eyes.
It was Associate Professor Tang.
"Senior Xia," she greeted him proactively.
"Professor Tang." Suppressing the fury raging within him, Xia Kaishan said in a deep voice, "Has Huguang Martial University confirmed the death of my nephew, Xia Tao? As I recall, you are the new Senior Year Director."
"Yes!"
Associate Professor Tang nodded, her expression placid. "I was originally investigating the case of Xia Tao pillaging his fellow students and harming civilian martial artists when word of his death suddenly reached me. Caught off guard, we are currently tracing the truth of the matter—which is why I only sent you an email. I hope Senior can understand."
"A case of pillaging and assault?" Xia Kaishan's eyes turned arctic. "Professor Tang, are you implying my nephew brought his death upon himself?"
The fire in his chest burned hotter.
Associate Professor Tang might show him superficial deference, but beneath the surface, she was disparaging Xia Tao—a blatant refusal to grant him face.
"No!"
"One matter does not excuse another," she said, shaking her head. "Regardless of what Xia Tao did beforehand, a student of the Earth Academy has died. Naturally, we must investigate thoroughly, and we already have several leads."
"Do you know who the killer is?" Xia Kaishan's gaze narrowed. "What about Xia Tao's teammates? Are they all dead too?"
In a single breath, he drove straight to the heart of the matter.
"Senior Xia."
"Everything you just asked touches on student confidentiality, and university regulations forbid disclosure," Associate Professor Tang replied with a shake of her head. "The Martial Arts Inspection Department has already stepped in and launched a joint investigation with our university. The moment the preliminary report is completed, I will inform you immediately, Senior Xia."
Hearing this, Xia Kaishan finally snapped.
"Tang Jianxin!!"
His eyes turned slightly bloodshot. "I address you as Professor Tang out of respect for your master! But I want you to understand that Xia Tao was the junior I valued above all others—he was like a son to me!
"If you cannot give me a satisfactory explanation, I will never let this rest!" Xia Kaishan glared viciously at her.
Tang Jianxin was Associate Professor Tang's real name.
"Senior Xia."
"Everything I do accords with university regulations and Alliance law," Tang Jianxin replied, entirely composed, neither humble nor overbearing. "As a relative of the deceased student, you possess the authority to read the report—not the right to meddle in the investigative process."
Confronted with Xia Kaishan's volcanic fury, she remained completely calm.
"Good! Very good!"
"What a line—'not the right to meddle in the investigative process.'" Xia Kaishan let out a wrathful, mocking laugh. "You truly live up to your reputation as an elite graduate of New Moon Martial University, a martial prodigy who ascended to Earth Martial Artist at age twenty-five! Fine! My esteemed Professor Tang, tell me: when can you deliver this preliminary report?"
"It is expected by six o'clock this evening," Tang Jianxin answered steadily.
"I cannot wait that long." Xia Kaishan's eyes turned chillingly cold. "First, tell me this: was Xia Tao slain by savage beasts, or murdered by a human?"
If slain by savage beasts, then no matter his fury and indignation, he would have to accept it.
If murdered by a human?
He had his own ways to track down the culprit.
"It remains unclear for now," Tang Jianxin said, shaking her head. "Rest assured, Senior Xia, we will uncover every detail. Please wait patiently—though if you continue to delay me, the report will only take longer."
Xia Kaishan ground his teeth, his gaze frigid. "Fine! Go investigate!"
Click.
Tang Jianxin severed the call without hesitation.
"Bastard!"
"A newly ascended Earth Martial Artist! Out on the Primordial Star, I could cleave her in two with a single saber strike! Were it not for her master, would she dare speak to me like this?!" Xia Kaishan fumed, choked with wrath. Had it been the previous Professor Wu, the man would have treated him with utmost deference.
And yet!
Tang Jianxin gave him no face whatsoever, and for the moment, there was nothing he could do against her. When all was said and done, she was the Senior Year Director at Huguang Martial University and held absolute authority over the investigation.
"Fine."
"Tang Jianxin?" Xia Kaishan muttered, his expression venomous. "If the outcome fails to satisfy me, even if it means offending your flock of senior brothers and sisters, I will find an opportunity to teach you a ruthless lesson!
"Tao-er!"
"If you were murdered, no matter who did it, I will tear them limb from limb! I swear it!" Xia Kaishan felt an aching throb in his chest.
He had pinned immense hopes on Xia Tao and cared for him like his own son. He had invested vast sums of money and endless hours into the boy, yearning to see him become an Earth Martial Artist in the future.
Now that Xia Tao was dead, how could his heart not bleed?
Pondering briefly, he sent a message to Wan Jin, ordering him to immediately sniff around the student body to see if there was any additional word.
At the same time, Xia Kaishan contacted several teacher acquaintances at Huguang Martial University to help him gather information.
***
Shortly after Tang Jianxin hung up on Xia Kaishan, all eight students—including Fang Yu, Bai Chen, and Fan Xing—were brought back to the space base. Under Associate Professor Tang's instructions, each of them was placed in an isolated room for interrogation.
Fang Yu's situation, however, proved most exceptional.
Before his interrogation began, Jiang Wei, Teacher Li, and another university instructor jointly measured and recorded his strength, his Star Aspect and star acupoints, and his level of martial technique.
Over an hour later, the interrogations concluded.
While the eight students remained confined to their separate rooms, Section Chief Zhang of the Martial Arts Inspection Department, along with Jiang Wei and several other instructors, gathered inside Tang Jianxin's office.
"Start with Fang Yu," Tang Jianxin said in a low voice.
"Understood."
"According to our measurements, the number of Fang Yu's awakened star acupoints falls between 44 and 48, which matches his statement of 46 and satisfies the benchmark of an Upper-Rank Star Aspect," Teacher Li reported. "His Life Level is 26.2.
"His maximum punch force burst reached two-fold!
"He has already mastered the Entering the Minute secret technique Flowing Shadow. Taking his overall condition into account, he meets the criteria for an Earth Contract. In terms of potential, he stands in the upper tier even among our current senior students in the Earth Academy," Teacher Li concluded. "Everything completely aligns with his own testimony."
Tang Jianxin listened in silence, revealing no reaction.
"Section Chief Zhang." Tang Jianxin turned toward him. "What about your findings?"
"Using the spiritual testing device, we cross-verified the statements from the students, examined their personal effects and the combat marks on their weapons, and correlated everything with the shifts in their coefficient scores," Section Chief Zhang replied. "We have reached our preliminary conclusions.
"First, the Black Ice Squad case.
"The facts establishing that the Black Ice Squad repeatedly pillaged and harmed civilian martial artists and fellow students are validated. Fan Xing and the two other members of the Black Ice Squad have fully confessed without contest," Section Chief Zhang stated.
The instructors nodded. This came as no surprise.
"Next, the case of Xia Tao," Section Chief Zhang continued. "The circumstances are rather complex, so I will elaborate point by point.
"First, Xia Tao indeed lured a wolf tide, directly causing the deaths of multiple civilian martial artists and nearly wiping out the Scarlet Flame Squad. This matches the testimony provided by Fang Yu, Bai Chen, and the others—and Black Ice Squad members Fu Wen and Shao Yihui can serve as eyewitnesses.
"Second, the Scarlet Flame Squad obtained the Star Jade; therefore, Xia Tao held a motive to track them down again. By the same token, the Scarlet Flame Squad possessed a motive to ambush Xia Tao for revenge.
"Third, the statements given by the five members of the Scarlet Flame Squad show no notable discrepancies. All point to them suffering an ambush by Xia Tao, after which Xia Tao was assaulted and killed by a savage beast. However, there are no outside eyewitnesses, and for the moment, no physical evidence.
"Fourth, the moment of Xia Tao's death synchronized with the drop in coefficient scores among the Scarlet Flame Squad. Combined with their statements, we can deduce that Xia Tao's death was tied to the Scarlet Flame Squad.
"Fifth, reasoning by common sense, when Xia Tao died, barely an hour had elapsed since Fang Yu's fierce battle against the wolf tide. His Dark Force should not have recovered, leaving him devoid of the strength to fend off Xia Tao, let alone kill him—unless Xia Tao was likewise injured.
"Taking all this into account, the preliminary report of our Inspection Department leans toward the Scarlet Flame Squad's testimony being authentic," Section Chief Zhang said evenly. "Considering Xia Tao's past conduct and adhering to the fault-liability principle, our Martial Arts Inspection Department recommends ruling it justifiable defense resulting in Xia Tao's death under beast attack, with full acquittal and release."
Silence fell over the room.
The instructors exchanged glances. None of them had expected the Martial Arts Inspection Department to deliver such a preliminary report—an unconditional acquittal?
"Very well."
"Thank you all for your hard work." Tang Jianxin's expression remained unchanged as she spoke calmly. "Send me a copy of the preliminary report. Leave the rest to me; I will report it to the Adjudication Department."
The Martial Arts Inspection Department was responsible for investigations, interrogations, and arrests, but the final judgment had to be rendered by the Adjudication Department.
"Understood. Then I shall take my leave," Section Chief Zhang said, promptly departing from Tang Jianxin's office and leaving the Huguang Martial University instructors behind.
"What are everyone's thoughts?" Tang Jianxin's gaze swept over the crowd.
"Isn't this report a bit too hasty?" one instructor asked hesitantly. "We might not be able to monitor the Wilderness Zone, but at the very least, we should bring Fang Yu, Bai Chen, and the others out to identify the battlefield to provide further corroboration."
"Teacher He."
"According to university regulations, Fang Yu and the others only lost 0.1 coefficient points, which itself serves as the strongest proof that they merely caused indirect death; the case does not warrant that level of scrutiny," Jiang Wei said, frowning. "Besides, the Martial Arts Inspection Department will not venture into the Wilderness Zone. If we go alone, even if we reach a different conclusion, it cannot be submitted as formal evidence."
For evidence to be acknowledged by the Adjudication Department, it required the endorsement and signature of the Martial Arts Inspection Department. Otherwise, it was deemed invalid.
"It might not qualify as formal evidence, but it could serve as supplementary material."
Teacher He shook his head. "I don't mean anything else by this; I'm simply worried that Xia Kaishan will refuse to accept the report. As you all know, before any report can be delivered to the Adjudication Department, the family of the deceased must review and sign it.
"A relative's opinion cannot overrule the final verdict.
"However, if Xia Kaishan disagrees with the report, given his temperament, he will certainly deploy every means at his disposal to ensure the Adjudication Department rejects it and orders us to conduct a reinvestigation.
"Once a report is thrown back, whether it is us or Section Chief Zhang's team, everyone involved will suffer grave consequences," Teacher He sighed softly.
A rejected report impacted every party who handled the case, regardless of the underlying reason.
"Teacher He, what do you suggest?" Tang Jianxin looked at him.
"Amend the sentencing recommendation to Second-Degree Excessive Defense," Teacher He suggested in a low voice. "For Fang Yu and his team, the punishment would be light at most—perhaps revoking their elite student status or holding them in detention for half a year, neither of which would truly derail them.
"The crucial point is appeasing Xia Kaishan's resentment enough to persuade him to sign off on the report," Teacher He continued. "That way, we can all make it through this ordeal unscathed."
Several other instructors nodded in agreement.
Though they were astonished by Fang Yu's talent and prowess, their own interests took precedence over Fang Yu's future. Avoiding Xia Kaishan's wrath was the consensus among these faculty members.
"Bullshit."
"Do you still not understand Xia Kaishan's character? Give him an inch and he'll take a mile," Jiang Wei scoffed. "If you recommend Second-Degree Excessive Defense, he'll brazenly demand a verdict of involuntary manslaughter!"
Clearly, Jiang Wei refused to yield.
"Associate Professor Tang, what do you think?" Teacher He looked directly at Tang Jianxin, and the others turned their eyes to her as well. With a disagreement underway, she alone held the authority to decide.
Tang Jianxin lowered her gaze, seemingly deep in thought.
After a long pause, she slowly lifted her head. "Submit it to the Adjudication Department without altering a single word. You may rest assured: I will write a separate explanatory statement recommending full acquittal and release for the Scarlet Flame Squad. If any complications arise, I will shoulder primary responsibility."
Shock washed over everyone.
A separate statement? Doing that was tantamount to declaring open enmity against Xia Kaishan!
Still, with their superior offering to bear the brunt of the fallout, they could hardly object any further.
"Teacher Jiang, stay behind. The rest of you may return to your duties," Tang Jianxin said.
The instructors filed out one after another.
"Associate Professor Tang, if you intend to write a separate statement, I will co-sign it," Jiang Wei urged.
"No need," Tang Jianxin replied, shaking her head. "I do not fear Xia Kaishan, but you do not possess the standing to endure his retaliation."
Jiang Wei parted his lips, yet found himself at a loss for words.
Though he was Pei Fan's direct disciple and stood merely a step away from becoming an Earth Martial Artist, that single step was an insurmountable chasm. In the world of martial artists, strength was the ultimate arbiter.
"I am writing this separate statement not to do anyone a favor, but because it is my duty as Senior Year Director," Tang Jianxin stated calmly. "Forget the fact that Fang Yu and his team merely indirectly contributed to Xia Tao's death.
"Even if they had slain him with their own hands, what of it?
"Scum like Xia Tao—killing him rids society of an evil. Not only is it blameless, it deserves commendation." Tang Jianxin's voice was frigid, carrying an unshakable conviction.
Jiang Wei stood dazed.
All at once, he realized that he understood far too little about this young superior of his.
Chapter 73