Chapter 15: The Guiding Hand of the Cold Reaper (Rolling and Begging for Votes and Favorites)

A true teacher is not only responsible for imparting knowledge, but must also possess the ability to command the room, to quell chaos with undeniable strength. Otherwise, one is incompetent and unfit for the role.

Clearly, Leng Sha was more than capable.

Even if the academies harbored lingering resentment or entertained rebellious thoughts, before acting, they had to consider his will. With the intricate web of family ties, it was impossible to control Leng Sha. Some among them knew well of his background. During the infamous Butterfly Academy riot, he had been there—fighting tooth and nail.

If he had to choose a side, Leng Sha would undoubtedly stand with the commoners.

Anyone who tried to confront him head-on would meet a grim fate.

"That was satisfying!"

On the side of the ordinary students, Wolf’s resounding victory filled them with pride. Blood still surging, one of them couldn’t help but shout out. Xiaohua, startled, hurriedly covered his mouth.

Leng Sha turned his gaze, watching them for a moment. As Xiaohua, Wolf, and a few close friends grew uneasy, he suddenly broke into a broad grin.

Nodding in approval, he said, "Well done. That was a delight to watch. I haven't been this pleased in a long while."

Wolf and Xiaohua exchanged glances, half-suspecting they’d misheard. From behind, Swimmer whispered softly, "The Black-Faced God is praising you."

"What black—?" Leng Sha’s ears twitched; clearly, he’d heard.

Swimmer, terrified by Leng Sha’s reputation, trembled all over, his plump body rippling like water. Cold sweat poured down his cheeks as he stammered, "B-Black… Black-Faced God…" With that, he squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for a storm.

But Leng Sha did not react with the expected fury. Instead, he pondered the nickname, then smiled, the corners of his mouth nearly reaching his eyes. "Black-Faced God, is it? Interesting. It suits me. I like it…"

Relief washed over Swimmer, leaving him utterly drained; he collapsed onto the floor. Leng Sha had smiled two or three times today, shocking the students and leaving them—especially Swimmer—with a sense of unreality.

Seeming pleased with the effect he’d caused, Leng Sha smiled again, his dark face growing even more fearsome. Pressing his hands down in the air, he said, "Today was good. You all performed admirably. I am satisfied. Battle is a struggle for life and death—kill, or be killed. In our Wildlands, strength is what matters. The one with the biggest, hardest fists is the leader. If everyone loses their edge, lacks the courage to kill, and refuses to risk everything, then, when war erupts and the Celestial Clan invades, who will stand in their way? Who will defend our Wildlands humanity?"

As he spoke, his voice grew ever more passionate, resounding through the classroom long after he finished. Turning to the students of noble lineage, including Chu Yi, he continued, "So, I did not punish Wolf. My decision was not out of favoritism, nor out of discrimination against those from powerful families. I, Leng Sha, would never impose my own likes and dislikes on you, nor seek petty revenge."

"Frankly, the rivalry between you is as childish as a game, lacking in any true substance. As your teacher, it is my duty to change you, to make you grow—grow into true warriors."

All the students fell silent, deeply moved.

"More importantly, you are all members of Butterfly Academy." Leng Sha’s gaze swept over them, his expression returning to its usual sternness, exuding authority. He continued in a deep voice, "Your vision should not be limited to the academy alone. Look ahead, think bigger. Beyond Butterfly Academy are the other five great academies, other factions, and even the other Four Wilds. Your stage should not be confined here—that would be far too narrow."

"That said, even if you insist on competing because of your backgrounds, this is not the way to do it. You can always prove yourselves—show who is stronger—on another battlefield, in another contest!"

This was the first time since the start of the term that Leng Sha had spoken at such length. And he was clearly not finished. Observing the changing expressions of his students, he pressed on, "Your background cannot be changed, but status is measured differently. All external things are illusions—they are not truly yours. Only what you earn through your own strength is honor; only then do you live with dignity!"

"To further cultivate your abilities, the academy has specially prepared a gift for each and every one of you."

"It's coming…"

"It must be…"

"We’ve been waiting so long…"

As soon as Leng Sha finished speaking, the noble-born students began to whisper excitedly among themselves. Meanwhile, students like Xiaohua and Wolf, whose modest origins had left them with a more limited perspective, looked confused. Some from lesser families, like Swimmer and Zuo Fang, hurriedly explained in hushed tones. In their words, the phrase "Wind and Cloud" could be faintly discerned.

Leng Sha didn’t interrupt, waiting for a moment before announcing, "It seems some of you have already guessed what I’m about to say. I must admit, those born into great families are truly enviable, blessed with advantages from the start—no one can deny that. The gift the academy has prepared for you, at the express command of Her Majesty the Queen, is the Wind and Cloud Token."

The Wind and Cloud Token!

For most scions of the great families, one of their main reasons for entering the academy was the chance to obtain this very token.

With this confirmation, those who understood its significance cheered, the atmosphere electric.

Knowing some students were still unclear, Leng Sha explained, "The Wind and Cloud Token is your pass to enter the Wind and Cloud Arena—a special domain created by the Six Kings of the Eastern Wilds, designed for cultivation and broadening your horizons. As long as you work hard and persist, you will receive insights gained by the Six Kings themselves during their cultivation. The better your results, the higher your level, the more you will gain. Perhaps, one of you will become a future Image Bearer!"

"Enough talk. I will now distribute the tokens—please line up to receive yours."

Having finished, Leng Sha took out a spatial pouch and began handing out the tokens, one to each student. When Xiaohua's turn came, he hesitated for a moment before quietly asking, "Is there one for the boss… Dugu Bieli?"

Leng Sha paused, trying to recall, and finally remembered who Dugu Bieli was. His face darkened as he snorted, "No… next!"

Xiaohua stood stunned, nudged aside by the student behind.

Wolf, who was next, was braver and immediately asked, "Why not?"

Still distributing the tokens, Leng Sha waited until Wolf approached before answering, "I am the teacher for the first-year class and only responsible for the Braves. He is a General—outside my jurisdiction."

Receiving his token with great care, Wolf turned to Xiaohua and muttered, "Boss didn’t even go to the second-year class—where is he supposed to get his token? So unreasonable…"

"Let’s talk about it later. Don’t anger Teacher Leng Sha," Xiohua whispered in warning.

…

Once everyone had received their tokens, the students naturally divided into two lines, as distinct as ever. Leng Sha shook his head slightly and reminded them, "Simply press the Wind and Cloud Token to your forehead, focus your mind on connecting with it, and it will fuse with you. Then, at will, you can enter the Wind and Cloud Arena. There you will face challenges from the other five academies, and even from other factions. If you still wish to compete against one another, do it in the Wind and Cloud Arena—defeat those who are not of Butterfly Academy. Whoever wins the most matches will be the victor and prove themselves the stronger. Do you understand?"

"Understood!"

This time, all the students responded with vigor.

"Class dismissed," Leng Sha said, turning to leave.

The students filed out in two orderly lines. Even as they continued to glare at each other, their words were nearly identical: "Just wait—you’ll see who’s stronger."

"Who’s afraid of whom? We’ll see."

……

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