Chapter 221: Huo Yuhao Gets Beaten—Du Weilun’s Misinterpretation

Huo Yuhao stood like a walking arsenal, various metal components extending from his body. Two massive cannons rested on his shoulders—fixed-installation soul launchers ready to fire.

"Huo Yuhao, what are you doing?" Zhou Yi asked, her voice sharp with surprise.

"Do you dare raise your hand against me?"

Zhou Yi was genuinely taken aback. Even Dai Huabin, after being disciplined, had never dared resist her. But here was Huo Yuhao, standing defiant, brimming with indignation.

"Am I supposed to just let you humiliate me?" Huo Yuhao's hatred seethed within him. He blamed Zhou Yi for his plight.

Was he supposed to do nothing while Zhou Yi and Qian Ran trampled over him? What kind of person would that make him?

"You're welcome to try firing," Zhou Yi said coldly, swinging her teaching rod. The sharp crack echoed as the rod struck Huo Yuhao's face, leaving a deep red welt across his cheek.

Huo Yuhao snarled, his rage boiling over. "To hell with this! I'll show you both!"

He knew his only chance was to escalate things. If the situation became a spectacle, the academy's higher-ups would be forced to investigate. That would reveal the scandalous collusion between Zhou Yi and Qian Ran.

With his soul power flaring, twenty bright lights surrounded him.

"Take this!" he roared, eyes reddened with fury.

"Enough!"

Qian Ran's eyes gleamed sharply as he unleashed a mental attack. The psychic impact struck Huo Yuhao's mind like a hammer, disrupting his carefully channeled soul power.

"Ahhhh!" Huo Yuhao screamed, clutching his head. His concentration shattered, and the soul power surging through him became chaotic.

The excruciating pain penetrated deep into his spirit, leaving him slumped on the floor. Blood trickled from his nose and mouth.

"Impossible..." Huo Yuhao groaned. He prided himself on his mental strength, yet Qian Ran had overpowered him effortlessly.

"Why... why is his mental power so strong? It has to be because of Skydream!"

It all made sense now. Skydream must have fallen into Qian Ran's hands, granting him unparalleled mental power. That should have been his!

As Zhou Yi's rod descended repeatedly onto Huo Yuhao, his anguished cries filled the room. A sense of despair gripped him.

He couldn't stay in Zhou Yi's class any longer. If he remained, he'd only face endless humiliation.

But if he resisted, he'd be branded a troublemaker and likely expelled from the academy.

"That's enough," Qian Ran said, motioning for Zhou Yi to stop. He knelt beside Huo Yuhao and used his soul power to heal the boy's injuries with calculated precision.

At that moment, the door burst open, and Director Du Weilun stormed in.

The commotion, particularly the failed activation of Huo Yuhao's fixed-installation soul tool, had sent ripples of energy that were hard to ignore.

The sight that greeted Du Weilun left him stunned.

"What's going on here?" he demanded, his eyes darting across the disheveled room.

Huo Yuhao looked up at him as though seeing a lifeline, scrambling to grab hold of the director's leg. Tears streamed down his face.

"Director Du, save me! They almost killed me! Teacher Zhou and Qian Ran have been colluding to abuse me. Please, you have to do something!"

Du Weilun frowned, his stern gaze shifting to Zhou Yi. "Zhou Yi, explain this."

Zhou Yi, ever composed, was about to speak when Qian Ran stepped forward.

"Director Du, here's the truth. Huo Yuhao harbors improper feelings toward Teacher Zhou. When she confronted him about it, he became enraged and attacked her," Qian Ran said smoothly.

"Qian Ran, you're full of crap! Are you not ashamed to lie so blatantly? Does your conscience not ache?" Huo Yuhao burst out, pointing an accusing finger at him.

Du Weilun's brows furrowed. As much as it sounded implausible, incidents like this weren't unheard of. Students from prominent sects often looked down on Outer Court teachers. And Zhou Yi's beauty could indeed spark unwanted attention.

At Shrek Academy, relationships between teachers and students weren't outright forbidden. Outer Court teachers were often not much older than Inner Court students, and for soul masters, age was hardly a barrier.

Mu Jin, for example, had received her fair share of love letters from students she had taught who later advanced to the Inner Court.

"Director Du, don't believe their nonsense!" Huo Yuhao said, his tone rising in frustration. "The truth is, they're the ones behaving improperly!"

"Smack!"

Qian Ran slapped Huo Yuhao so hard his head snapped to the side.

"Still spouting nonsense, are you? Do you think your Clear Sky Clan status gives you a license to behave like this? If I hadn't stepped in, who knows what kind of slander you'd have thrown at Teacher Zhou."

Du Weilun's sharp eyes examined Huo Yuhao. To his surprise, aside from the fresh red mark from Qian Ran's slap, there were no visible injuries on Huo Yuhao's body.

Huo Yuhao froze, noticing the same. Just moments ago, his body had been wracked with pain, his skin bearing the marks of Zhou Yi's rod. Now, there was nothing.

"Director Du, this is Qian Ran's doing! He used a healing soul skill to erase the evidence!" Huo Yuhao stammered, his voice tinged with desperation.

Du Weilun scowled. "Nonsense. Qian Ran isn't a support-type soul master. Healing? With his martial soul? Are you trying to insult my intelligence?"

Zhou Yi had always been diligent and responsible, and it seemed unlikely she would punish a student without cause.

As for Huo Yuhao's accusations about Zhou Yi and Qian Ran?

Ridiculous.

Everyone knew Zhou Yi's connection with Fan Yu. Why would she involve herself with Qian Ran?

Du Weilun's initial thought was that Huo Yuhao was delusional. His wild claims about Zhou Yi and Qian Ran would undoubtedly offend Fan Yu, a key figure in the Soul Tool Department.

No wonder Xian Lin'er had taken an instant dislike to Huo Yuhao when they first met. Du Weilun had been puzzled at the time, but now it all made sense.

Perhaps Xian Lin'er had sensed Huo Yuhao's unsavory intentions. If he dared act so brazenly before someone of her caliber, it was no surprise he might harbor inappropriate thoughts toward Zhou Yi.

But as for Qian Ran? He had his pick of women. Why would he need to pursue Zhou Yi?

(End of Chapter)