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After Dugu Bo demonstrated his strength, Xiao Wu was utterly terrified. Her body went limp, collapsing to the ground, her face ashen, as if she had already accepted her fate.
However, Dugu Bo seemed to completely ignore her, sweeping his gaze over the group before finally focusing on the three commissioners.
"I have no interest in your affairs, but listen carefully to His Highness Prince Xue Xing's demands. I won't repeat myself a second time—avoid unnecessary casualties."
With his overwhelming power, Dugu Bo's words naturally carried immense authority and intimidation.
The three commissioners' faces darkened, their teeth clenched in frustration.
From Prince Xue Xing's earlier words, it was clear he intended to strip them of their positions.
They were staunch supporters of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. If they lost control of the academy, how could they possibly explain themselves to the crown prince?
Resisting Dugu Bo now would only give Prince Xue Xing an excuse to seize their positions as commissioners.
Seeing the commissioners' predicament and helplessness, Flender stepped forward and said, "Lord Dugu, Your Highness Prince Xue Xing, we voluntarily leave. Please don't make things difficult for the three commissioners."
"Get out!"
With a wave of his hand, Dugu Bo unleashed a burst of soul power, hurling the entire Shrek group out of the Education Committee.
Though the three commissioners were indignant, they didn't dare try to stop them.
Yu Tianheng opened his mouth as if to say something but hesitated and closed it again.
Shrek Academy's failure to stay wasn't a complete loss for him—it didn't harm his interests.
But offending Dugu Bo now would likely ruin his prospects with Dugu Yan.
As the situation seemed settled, Qin Ming remained calm, bowing respectfully to the three commissioners. "Since Tian Dou Imperial Academy cannot accommodate Shrek Academy, Qin Ming has no face left to remain in the academy either."
"Qin Ming came alone, and he shall leave alone."
With that, Qin Ming turned and walked toward the door with an air of righteousness.
The three commissioners stomped their feet in frustration.
Fearing Dugu Bo's strength, they could do nothing but watch helplessly.
"Are you done?" Prince Xue Xing picked at his ear, clearly impatient. "Qin Ming, you're not leaving."
"Dugu's niece, tell the three commissioners everything that happened in Soto City."
Qin Ming froze, startled. Confident of his innocence, he stopped in his tracks and raised his head to look at Prince Xue Xing defiantly.
The three commissioners were visibly tense. Qin Ming was their most valued protégé.
Even if he left the academy, they could still meet him at any time. But if Dugu Bo targeted him, Qin Ming likely wouldn't survive the day.
As soon as Dugu Yan began speaking, the three commissioners' expressions immediately darkened.
There was no exaggeration in Dugu Yan's words—even Yu Tianheng didn't object.
"Qin Ming, you've got some nerve," Dugu Bo growled, his Azure Phosphorus Snake Emperor martial soul flicking its tongue menacingly behind him.
Intimidated by his presence, Qin Ming instinctively took several steps back, his posture no longer as upright as before.
After a moment, he regained some composure and explained, "What I did wasn't wrong. The members of the Imperial Team are all adults—they're fully capable of handling setbacks on their own."
"Shrek Academy is my alma mater. Qin Ming has never forgotten Principal Flender's teachings, and it's only right to repay my school."
"This…" The three commissioners were speechless.
Of them, Meng Shenji, who had always been the most supportive of Qin Ming, now felt utterly disappointed in him.
It was true that Shrek Academy was Qin Ming's alma mater, but he was receiving a salary from Tian Dou Imperial Academy and should have taken responsibility for his students.
Yet, when Ye Lingling's safety was threatened, Qin Ming stood idly by.
Meng Shenji closed his eyes in regret. If only he had instilled proper moral values in Qin Ming earlier, he might not have committed such disgraceful acts.
Dugu Yan was furious, and Dugu Bo, who doted on his granddaughter, would never let Qin Ming off the hook!
A green sphere of soul power condensed in Dugu Bo's hand. Once it struck Qin Ming, it would reduce him to ashes.
"Lord Dugu, please wait a moment," Prince Xue Xing quickly interjected.
Dugu Bo's gaze turned icy as he turned around, sneering, "I thought of countless people who might plead for him—but never did I expect Prince Xue Xing to be one of them."
If Xue Xing truly saved Qin Ming, Dugu Bo would actually enjoy seeing it.
After all, Prince Xue Xing had once saved his life. Letting Qin Ming go would repay that debt.
Prince Xue Xing clasped his hands together and smiled, explaining, "Lord Dugu misunderstands me. My point is that Qin Ming has other crimes to answer for. Let's settle everything at once."
With that, he gestured to a guard, and a middle-aged man dressed as an academy teacher was brought into the Education Committee.
"Teacher Wang Heng, I'll back you up here. Tell the three commissioners what you've discovered."
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The three commissioners now understood—Prince Xue Xing was clearly targeting them.
Qin Ming's crimes had already landed them in trouble for failing to recognize his misdeeds. If someone were to falsely accuse them now, they wouldn't be able to defend themselves.
Wang Heng glared at Qin Ming before speaking, "Your Highness, I discovered that Qin Ming has frequently visited the academy's resource vault over the past month to withdraw resources meant for the Imperial Team's training."
"However, after investigating, I found that Qin Ming wasn't using these resources for the Imperial Team's training. Most of the team members' resources are provided by their respective families, rarely relying on the academy's supplies."
The members of the Imperial Team came from wealthy families, so the academy's resources naturally couldn't meet their needs. They relied on their family's provisions instead.
In the past month, knowing that the Shrek group was coming to Tian Dou Imperial Academy, Qin Ming used his position to withdraw resources that the Imperial Team didn't need.
He planned to hand these resources over to Flender and the others once the Shrek group joined the academy. He never expected this act to be exposed.
This matter could be interpreted in two ways. On a small scale, it was a misunderstanding—Qin Ming could simply return the withdrawn resources. On a larger scale, this was theft of royal assets—an unforgivable crime.
"If I'm not mistaken," Prince Xue Xing declared solemnly, "you intended to hand these resources over to your alma mater, Shrek Academy, correct? Qin Ming, as a teacher of the imperial academy, you betrayed your duties, colluded with your alma mater, and attempted to harm your own students. Moreover, you stole royal assets for your school."
"Your crimes deserve death."
Sensing the imminent threat to his life, Qin Ming hurriedly defended himself. "Your Highness, the resources I withdrew from the treasury are stored in the team's lounge. Tianheng is about to break through, and I prepared them for his upcoming seclusion."
As long as he didn't admit guilt, he was confident that Prince Xue Xing wouldn't find any evidence.
But Qin Ming seemed to forget—offending Dugu Bo meant certain death, evidence or not.
"Qin Ming, do you still intend to lie?" Dugu Yan's expression darkened.
She harbored no pity for this former teacher of hers.
Yu Tianheng, standing nearby, couldn't help but interject, "Teacher Qin, you've gone too far."
Dugu Bo gave him no further chance to speak. The soul power sphere he had formed floated toward Qin Ming and struck him.
Inside was a slow-acting toxin—enough to make Qin Ming wish for death.
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