First, it was forcefully requisitioned by the Astronomical Society. Then, it became a battlefield and was turned into a complete ruin. Only a few carriages sank into the Sea, not even worth salvaging.
The instigators behind this were Ai Qing and her direct subordinate, Huai Shi. Later, Ai Qing even dealt a severe blow to his eldest sister's interests.
Afterward, for several months, his eldest sister maintained a soft-spoken and delicate manner. This left him not daring to breathe too loudly at home, fearing he would inadvertently bring misfortune upon himself.
Especially later, according to rumors, the Group Star had even contained records from the Heavenly Kingdom—a complete Underworld Judgment Armor. Yet, for all these years, the Fred Family had been oblivious to the treasure right before their eyes, failing even to notice it. This matter had practically become a joke in his circle, causing him embarrassment for quite some time.
This pent-up rage completely erupted after his attempt to speak with Huai Shi was rejected.
He had refused the carrot and would now get the stick.
Initially, he had planned on compensating Huai Shi. But now, he wished to see that guy take a severe fall, hoping he would be chased out of the Ivory Tower, disheveled and disgraced.
Unexpectedly, though the trap was set, Huai Shi not only didn't fall into it but was now on the verge of causing Morgan to bury himself.
Soon, his involvement would likely be exposed, and then he would truly lose face.
He was already beginning to hesitate, wondering if he should pay some price to persuade Huai Shi not to be utterly ruthless.
But recalling Huai Shi's arrogant attitude that day, Morgan felt a surge of rage from within.
It wasn't merely contempt; it was as if Huai Shi regarded the Howler name, which Morgan held in high esteem, and the Fred Family, his source of pride, as mere dust.
A momentary defeat would only cause him distress for a few years, but if he were to back down now, he would be ashamed of his own weakness for life.
But now, he had no more cards to play.
He was not the head of the Fred Family. Furthermore, the Purebloods in the teaching research office were not servants at his beck and call. On the contrary, he had always treated these individuals with the utmost respect.
Those teachers wouldn't do him, a mere student, any favors, nor would they agree to interfere in such a meaningless dispute. If he dared to make such a request, the deputy headmaster would undoubtedly be furious. Moreover, his elder sister would likely call him to reason with him.
Now, he had missed his best opportunity.
At the height of the debate, he had tried to add fuel to the fire, attempting to incite other societies' animosity towards Huai Shi.
This included having someone in the Integrated Combat Society express disdain in Huai Shi's name and conveying Huai Shi's contempt in the Rome Swordsmanship Society...
But the problem was, the premise of the 'exalt and destroy' plan required the target to actually be undeserving of such praise. If someone was simply accustomed to being low-key, all the scheming would merely provide them with an opportunity for grandstanding.
Take the Integrated Combat Society, for example.
Their instructor, after hearing about it, didn't fly into a rage. Instead, he felt so ashamed that he went back and drilled those gym-obsessed brutes until they howled in protest.
"Starting today, everyone's practice time is extended by three hours!"
Huai Shi—the Heretic King, whose Iron Fist was once unbeatable in the Abyss, and the officially recognized master instructor of the orthodox Orchard Gym lineage—said your training was subpar.
That meant it really was subpar. What more needed to be said?
The president of the Rome Swordsmanship Society was even more astute. Appearing calm on the surface, after the discussion, he subtly asked the messenger, "When does Teacher Huai Shi have time to give some pointers on Rome Dagger Fighting? Oh, to be honest, we've watched his videos dozens of times and have always been too embarrassed to approach him directly. We're not asking for free; we're willing to pay. Please, don't be shy about naming your price..."
They practically fell over each other in their eagerness to submit.
Some even submitted without a word being spoken.
And after Kiyoshi Kusaki's Draw Sword Technique failed—he couldn't even draw his sword in front of Huai Shi—the Yingzhou Swordsmanship Society straightforwardly shifted its stance: if your own instructors can't beat him, what more do you expect?
Moreover, when Kusaki returned, he seemed to have been bewitched for some reason and became an ardent admirer of Huai Shi.
He would praise Huai Shi to anyone who would listen. He lauded Huai Shi's extraordinary grace and captivating swordsmanship, which had already reached its peak. Furthermore, he praised Huai Shi for being a humble and upright person—an exceedingly outstanding teacher and a rare talent in the Ivory Tower...
It was enough to make anyone pull their hair out.
Just as Morgan was wrestling with this headache, a sudden, hurried knock came from the door.
"Bad news, Morgan!"
A pale-faced society member burst in. "They've come knocking on our door!"