Chapter 67

Tanggu turned and was about to leave, leaving the rest of the matters to be handled by the Enforcement Hall. He did not think the punishment for them was too severe. Such a pillar of corruption, if left in the Outer Academy, would only bring more misfortune to the Outer Academy disciples. He himself was leaving, but what about the others? Not everyone would have his good luck.

But at this moment, his feet suddenly sank. It was the plump Manager Wei who once again hugged his trouser legs, refusing to let go, sitting on the ground and wailing like a child. "Spare my life, please, spare me this time. I am willing to work like a horse for you, to do anything..."

"Hmm?"

Tanggu, feeling disgusted, tried to kick him aside, but Manager Wei, though not very capable, had a strong grip. Even with several large gray footprints on his chest, he did not let go after being kicked three or four times.

Tanggu, feeling helpless, his eyes flickered and he suddenly said, "Alright, there is a way to avoid the punishment, but you need to let go of my leg first!"

Manager Wei looked up suspiciously, tears in his eyes, looking pitiful. "You won't deceive me, will you?"

Tanggu said, "There are so many people watching here, I can't possibly deceive you. If you don't let go, I won't say anything."

"Alright, alright, I'll let go, I'll let go!"

Manager Wei, fearing that Tanggu would leave, hurriedly released his grip on Tanggu. Tanggu, relieved, quickly pulled his leg free and took several steps back, distancing himself from the two.

Then he looked at the two and pondered for a moment before saying, "Alright... I actually feel quite sympathetic towards you. Manager Wei's actions were mostly instigated by 'Iron Sword' Du Pengfei, and are not directly related to you. As for Manager Wang's case, it was mostly due to your nephew Wang Zheng's own misdeeds, and is not directly related to you either."

After hearing Tanggu's words, not only Manager Wei, but even Wang Zhenwu, who had a look of hatred on his face, suddenly had his eyes light up. He quickly crawled to Tanggu's feet, looking at him eagerly, waiting for him to continue.

Tanggu thought for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the two, and then said, "Alright, although the Martial Academy's punishment order has been issued and cannot be changed, as the enforcer, I can still make some minor adjustments. The revocation of your Outer Academy manager status cannot be changed, but the removal of your cultivation is a bit too severe. If either of you is willing to atone for your crimes, perhaps I can show mercy and exempt you from this punishment, and only demote you."

After saying this, he looked at the two.

Hearing there was a chance, Manager Wei immediately wiped the tears from his face and swore to the heavens, "Willing, willing! Please, Sir, tell me what you need, and we will be happy to serve you."

All the tears on his face disappeared as if by magic, as if they had never existed. Such acting skills were not something anyone could easily learn. It was no wonder he had managed to secure the position of Outer Academy manager.

All the Outer Academy disciples were stunned.

Tanggu's gaze shifted, looking at the two, and then he slowly said, "Alright, I can plead for you, but I have a thin face and can only plead for one of you. You two decide, and tell me who you choose."

"Ah! Choose ourselves?"

This time, not only Manager Wei but even Wang Zhenwu was confused, instantly becoming dazed.

Then, suddenly realizing something, Manager Wei hurriedly said, "Choose me, choose me!"

Wang Zhenwu immediately pushed him away, saying, "Why should I? Choose me!"

"You..."

The two instantly started fighting. In the face of such a serious matter as preserving their cultivation, all past camaraderie vanished. No matter how close they were, it could not outweigh the importance of their own cultivation.

In no time, the two were bruised and battered, their hair disheveled, and the dignity and honor of their Outer Academy manager status completely forgotten. They fought like two hooligans, rolling around and grabbing each other's hair and faces.

In a short while, bloodstains covered their faces and bodies, their clothes torn, looking extremely fierce and terrifying. The former glory and splendor seemed to have never existed on them.

Tanggu frowned, took a step back, and watched the two silently. The other Outer Academy disciples also hurriedly stepped back, afraid of being involved.

"Bang!"

Another chair was overturned. Manager Wei quickly got up from the ground, his disheveled hair and eyes flashing with a cold light, and pounced on Wang Zhenwu again. As he charged, he lowered his head and slightly lowered his shoulder, using his shoulder to ram Wang Zhenwu's chest.

Wang Zhenwu, not taking it seriously, saw this and pulled his abdomen in, then extended his fist to strike Tanggu's back. At this moment, a look of viciousness flashed in Manager Wei's eyes, and a green short knife suddenly shot out from his sleeve.

"Thud," a dull sound, the green short knife cleanly sliced into Wang Zhenwu's abdomen.

"Ah!"

Everyone in the hall was stunned, a chorus of gasps rising. Wang Zhenwu, clutching his abdomen, staggered backward.

Blood gushed out, covering his entire body and face, but he could not stop it, staining the entire floor red.

He looked down in disbelief at the short knife in his abdomen, then at Manager Wei, extending a trembling hand and pointing at him, "You... you dare to..."

Manager Wei, who had just been crazy, now stood up with a cold smile, retreating to the other side of the wall. Looking at the blood-covered Wang Zhenwu, he sneered, "You are too naive. In this world, it's better to let a poor Taoist die than a fellow Taoist. Since one of us has to be crippled, why can't it be you?"

"In this world of the strong preying on the weak, there is no right or wrong, only survival. What a pity, what a pity, it seems you, Wang Zhenwu, still don't understand, still aren't ruthless enough..."

"You... you... the Wang family will not let you off..."

After saying this, the spark of life in Wang Zhenwu's eyes slowly faded, and he slowly fell to the ground, his eyes wide open, staring at Manager Wei without blinking.

—He died with his eyes open.

Manager Wei's heart trembled, looking at Wang Zhenwu's dead fish-like eyes, a chill running through his heart. He turned around, facing Tanggu, and respectfully said, "Sir, Manager Wang has committed suicide out of fear of punishment... There is only one spot left, so there's no need to choose anymore, right?"

"You..."

Tanggu, hearing this, looked at Manager Wei, then at the blood-covered Wang Zhenwu lying on the ground, clearly not expecting this turn of events.

He remained silent for a long time, and Manager Wei also did not speak, standing quietly with his hands hanging down.

Finally, Tanggu spoke, his voice unusually hoarse, "Aren't you afraid the Wang family will seek revenge?"

Manager Wei replied without hesitation, "I am afraid, which is why I must do it... It's better to take a desperate gamble than to become a cripple. Even if I have to flee now, I still ask Sir to let me go."

After a long pause, Tanggu weakly waved his hand, "Go..."

Manager Wei, as if granted a great pardon, deeply bowed to Tanggu, then, without even packing his belongings, rushed out of the door, fleeing towards the outskirts of the town, disappearing in the distance.

Seeing this, Tanggu suddenly felt no sense of revenge. He tiredly waved his hand and signaled to two Outer Academy disciples, "Now, immediately send someone to inform the Wang family that Wang Zhenwu was killed by Manager Wei, and that Manager Wei has fled out of fear of punishment. The direction is west of Stone Rock Town."

"Yes."

The two disciples immediately stepped forward, lifting the blood-covered Wang Zhenwu and hurriedly left. Tanggu looked at the remaining disciples and faintly waved his hand, "Alright, alright, disperse. Let this be a lesson for all of you. Learn from this, and do not repeat the same mistakes."

After saying this, he turned and left the Martial Academy, the image of Manager Wei bending down and suddenly stabbing the knife still flashing in his eyes.

Perhaps Manager Wei was right. In this world of the strong preying on the weak, sometimes, to survive, one must be ruthless. Not only to others, but also to oneself.

Manager Wei had killed Wang Zhenwu, preserving his cultivation, but he would also have to live in constant fear of being hunted, until his death... What joy could such a life bring?

But he did it without hesitation... ruthless to others, even more ruthless to himself.

Indirectly, he had also shifted the Wang family's hatred towards Tanggu onto himself, a fight to the death.

Perhaps he had done it on purpose...

He knew Tanggu did not want to let them go, so he deliberately said there was only one spot... and he took the blame for killing Wang Zhenwu, making it beneficial for both of them if Tanggu let him go.

If Tanggu killed him, it would only bring endless trouble.

This person, though fat, had a deep and unfathomable mind, making Tanggu feel a chill in his heart.

But...

Tanggu had no interest in their dog-eat-dog pursuit. Both of them deserved it.

Forget it, let it end here. From now on, let the Wang family and Manager Wei fight it out. Whoever wins or loses, it has nothing to do with him, it's all up to their own fate.

Tanggu once again walked down the main street of the town... the sounds behind him faded away... he put everything that had just happened out of his mind, feeling refreshed, and walked towards the direction of the "True Object Pavilion"...

Before that, it was more important to focus on improving his own strength. With strength, no matter what plots or schemes, or grudges and hatred, could be resolved.

PS: Third update, please give me 1 recommendation.