The following afternoon, at the training grounds of the East Sea Martial Academy.
Hundreds of students stood on the training grounds, awaiting Jiang Wuming's arrival.
According to the course schedule, Jiang Wuming was due to teach a class today.
At two-thirty, Jiang Wuming appeared at the training grounds precisely on time.
"Greetings, Teacher Wuming!"
As Jiang Wuming appeared, the students, including Chu Feng, Huangfu Weixia, and Xia Dong, cupped their fists in greeting, a customary and polite gesture.
"Greetings, students."
Jiang Wuming returned the greeting.
"Teacher Wuming, why did you help the Qing Hong's Qing Faction fight in underground boxing matches?"
"That's right, you are our teacher. Doing such things will affect the reputation of the East Sea Martial Academy. Haven't you considered that?"
"On the school's website, many people are discussing this matter. Shouldn't you respond?"
...
Just as Jiang Wuming was about to announce the day's lesson content, a commotion arose from the student formation, with several students eagerly posing questions.
Huh?
Startled by the students' inquiries, Jiang Wuming couldn't help but pause.
He was unaware of the storm his actions at the Azure Dragon Club had caused, nor had he visited the East Sea Martial Academy's website.
Chu Feng, who had been somewhat dazed, snapped back to attention upon hearing the students question Jiang Wuming. Just as he was about to speak, he found someone had spoken faster.
"Teacher Wuming must have his reasons for doing this, and it might involve his privacy. Everyone, please don't ask!"
Huangfu Weixia spoke up to help Jiang Wuming.
She knew the huge stir Jiang Wuming's actions at the Azure Dragon Club had caused, and she had visited the East Sea Martial Academy's website, seeing many posts of doubt and condemnation. However, she didn't know how to tell Jiang Wuming about these matters, so she had refrained from doing so.
"Huangfu Weixia, everyone knows you have a good impression of Teacher Wuming, but you can't just cover for him like this. This is about the reputation of our East Sea Martial Academy, and it also affects our perception of Teacher Wuming!"
"Yes, Teacher Wuming, you should give us an explanation!"
...
As one of the strongest martial arts prodigies at the East Sea Martial Academy, Huangfu Weixia held considerable prestige among the students. Previously, no one would have dared to contradict her, but today, quite a few students openly refuted her and demanded an explanation from Jiang Wuming.
This made her slightly taken aback, finding it rather strange.
At the same time, Jiang Wuming also regained his composure. He first made a downward gesture with his hand, signaling the students to quiet down.
"On that day, my fight with that Lei Bao involved grudges from my father's generation.
Huang Xiong of the Hong Faction had a past grievance with my father. Huang Xiong's son, Huang Xiaoxie, deliberately arranged for Lei Bao to cripple me through a match.
And Chu Wansong of the Qing Faction was a friend of my father and had previously helped me.
I have always been clear about my debts and grievances, hence that life-and-death battle.
As for Huang Xiong's son, Huang Xiaoxie, kneeling to apologize, that was a wager between him and me.
As the saying goes, 'You win some, you lose some,' it's only natural!"
After the students quieted down, Jiang Wuming spoke, truthfully explaining the cause and effect of the Azure Dragon Club incident. He then added,
"If this matter has caused any negative impact on you or the East Sea Martial Academy, I am deeply sorry and will seek out Dean Ren Xiaoyao after class to request a resolution."
"Clear about grudges and grievances, Teacher Wuming did nothing wrong!"
As soon as Jiang Wuming finished speaking, someone voiced their support.
This time, the speaker was Xia Dong.
As the youngest student at the East Sea Martial Academy, Xia Dong was as popular as Huangfu Weixia among the students and was doted on by almost everyone like a younger sister.
"Xia Dong is right!"
"Besides serving the country, we martial artists live by resolving our grievances. Teacher Wuming, I support you!"
Because Jiang Wuming had provided an explanation, Xia Dong's words garnered much agreement from the students.
The students who had previously questioned Jiang Wuming fell silent. Some publicly apologized to Jiang Wuming, stating they shouldn't have doubted him.
Jiang Wuming paid them no mind and began the class.
During the lesson, Jiang Wuming noticed that Chu Feng was not himself, his brow furrowed throughout, appearing preoccupied.
This puzzled him, but he didn't mention it to Chu Feng. Only after class did he find Chu Feng. "Xiao Feng, why were you distracted in class? Is something bothering you?"
"Ah... Brother Wuming, I... I'm fine..."
Chu Feng was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't notice Jiang Wuming approaching. Hearing Jiang Wuming's words, he suddenly woke up, instinctively shaking his head, his expression somewhat flustered.
Seeing this, Jiang Wuming realized Chu Feng was lying. Just as he was considering pressing for details, he saw Huangfu Weixia approaching.
"Teacher Wuming, the police raided the Azure Dragon Club and Azure Dragon Film Company, arresting many of Uncle Chu's subordinates. Chu Feng is probably worried about this..."
"Huangfu Weixia, shut up!"
Chu Feng quickly stopped Huangfu Weixia.
Huh?
Huangfu Weixia was taken aback for a moment, then seeing Jiang Wuming's confused expression, she immediately reacted, "Teacher Wuming, you don't know about this matter?"
"I don't."
Jiang Wuming shook his head, sensing something was amiss. He turned to Chu Feng and asked, "Xiao Feng, what exactly is going on?"
"Brother... Brother Wuming, I don't know." Chu Feng instinctively shook his head.
Jiang Wuming raised an eyebrow and stared at Chu Feng.
"Brother... Brother Wuming, it's not that I don't want to tell you, it's that my dad told me not to."
Under Jiang Wuming's gaze, Chu Feng's composure broke. He said with a bitter expression, "Go ask my dad."
"Okay!"
Jiang Wuming nodded, asking no further questions. He then bid farewell to Chu Feng and Huangfu Weixia and headed directly towards Sword Valley.
Upon returning to Sword Valley, Jiang Wuming took out his satellite phone and directly dialed Tianying, the head of intelligence for the War Dragon Hall.
"Hall Master!"
"Tianying, investigate as quickly as possible the matter of the Dragon Country police raiding Qing Hong's Qing Faction, the Azure Dragon Club, and the Azure Dragon Film Company. Also, dig deep and see if Qing Hong's Qing Faction has encountered trouble recently." Jiang Wuming issued the order.
"Yes, Hall Master!"
Tianying accepted the command immediately.
An hour later.
Tianying completed the tasks assigned by Jiang Wuming and called him. "Hall Master, I have investigated and confirmed that the Jiangnan police raided Qing Hong's Qing Faction, the Azure Dragon Club, and the Azure Dragon Film Company. The Gu family of Yanjing was behind it!"
"The Gu family?"
Jiang Wuming raised an eyebrow at the mention of the Gu family. "Why would the Gu family target the Qing Faction?"
"Hall Master, according to intelligence, the Gu family is still dwelling on the previous incident in Jiangnan, and you have been too close to the Qing Faction," Tianying replied with a complex tone.
"Oh?"
Jiang Wuming's brow furrowed even deeper. He then asked, "Besides the Gu family using their influence to raid the Qing Faction's operations, has the Qing Faction encountered any other trouble?"
"According to information leaked from within the Qing Faction, when the Qing Faction leader, Chu Wansong, was holding a meeting to discuss solutions, Huang Xiaoxie, the son of the Hong Faction leader, arrived at the meeting and conveyed Huang Xiong's message.
Huang Xiong demanded that the Qing Faction provide an explanation for you killing Lei Bao at the Azure Dragon Club. He proposed two options..."
Tianying, through the War Dragon Hall's intelligence network, had obtained extremely detailed information. He reported it to Jiang Wuming without reservation and then offered his opinion.
"Hall Master, I believe the Hong Faction wants to kill two birds with one stone, killing you through a duel between their top fighters and thus unifying Qing Hong!"
Jiang Wuming fell silent.
He had also considered this, and thought even further.
The Hong Faction had specifically requested him to fight as the Qing Faction's top fighter, yet Chu Wansong had not been able to find him until now, nor had he allowed Chu Feng to tell him any of this. This was likely out of concern that he might not be able to defeat the Hong Faction's top fighter, a way of protecting him!
"Tianying, does the martial arts community in Dragon Country have strong opinions about what I did at the Azure Dragon Club that day?"
After a moment of silence, Jiang Wuming recalled the events in class and asked again.
"Yes, Hall Master. Many people in the Dragon Country martial arts community have criticized you, believing that as a teacher at the East Sea Martial Academy, you should not have engaged in a life-and-death battle with Lei Bao of the Hong Faction on behalf of the Qing Faction..." Tianying reported truthfully.
"If there are any new developments from the Qing Hong factions, report them to me immediately!" Jiang Wuming instructed after a moment of contemplation.
"Yes, Hall Master!"
Tianying respectfully acknowledged the order, a thought flashing through his mind.
The underground world of Dragon Country was about to undergo a seismic shift!
...