Chapter 128: Punishment of the Dai Brothers

"No."

Elder Xuan narrowed his eyes. "And why the hell not?" he demanded, his voice booming through the room.

Elder Lin, unperturbed by Elder Xuan's outburst, leaned back in her chair, her expression serene. "Because, Elder Xuan, while I understand your anger, the consequences of punishing the children of the White Tiger Duke could have far-reaching implications. It's true that Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin have committed grave offenses, but we must also consider the potential repercussions on the relations between our academy and the nobility of the Star Luo Empire."

She sighed, folding her hands across her chest. "Moreover, the Continental Advanced Academy Soul Duelling Tournament is about to begin and no one within the inner courtyard can replace Dai Yueheng... Aside from, no, he's too young." she muttered the last part to herself and shook her head, a hint of frustration evident in her tone.

Elder Xuan's expression darkened further. "So, you're suggesting we let them get away with their actions just because of their noble status and upcoming competitions? That's preposterous! No, I won't stand for this. Punishment must be served, regardless of their status or any upcoming events," Elder Xuan declared firmly, his voice resonating with authority.

"Moreover, over the many years since the founding of our academy and the ascendance of the original Shrek Seven Monsters to Godhood, out of all the descendants of the seven ancestors, the Dai and Zhu families has always been the most overbearing! Taking advantage of their ancestors connection with our academy, they have always acted with arrogance and disregard for the rules, thinking that they are above reproach! We have put up with their antics for too long! Even their ancestors would be ashamed of them!"

As Elder Xuan spoke, his frustration and indignation were palpable. The fiery aura emitting from his body caused some of the elders to sink in their seats from the pressure.

Normally he wouldn't care much about school matters, opting to drink and eat and be indifferent, but it would change when it involved the lives of the school's students. As someone who failed to protect his precious students in the past, haunting him for many years, he couldn't bear the thought of allowing such injustice to prevail.

Elder Lin stared at Elder Xuan with narrowed eyes, releasing her own overwhelming aura as she stood up, her demeanor commanding respect despite the tension in the room. Though she doesn't it often, but she herself was a Transcendent Douluo, rank 97(1). Though combatively speaking, she wasn't a match against Elder Xuan but releasing her own aura should serve as a reminder of her own authority.

"Xuan Zi, I respect your dedication to upholding justice within our academy. However, it's crucial to approach this matter with careful consideration for all factors involved." she calmly said.

She took a step forward, her gaze unwavering. "The implications of punishing the children of the White Tiger Duke extend beyond mere status or upcoming events. We must weigh the potential consequences on our academy's reputation, our relationships with external powers, and the stability of the entire continent."

Her eyes gleamed with a cold glint. "Think clearly for a second, Xuan Zi. If we execute these children, a war will likely broke out between our Shrek Academy and the Star Luo Empire. I'm sure we can win against them, but what about the students? The civilians? This is just not yourself and a few others, but also the lives of millions! Can you bear the responsibility for that?"

Elder Xuan's expression softened slightly as Elder Lin spoke, her words carrying the weight of wisdom and foresight. He took a moment to consider her perspective, the tension in the room gradually easing as he mulled over her points.

The other elders remained quiet, unable to interrupt the conversation between the strongest elders in the academy. All they could do was helplessly sit by the side and listen in, and join in when they are asked to give their input.

But there was one person who can easily interject into their conversation.

"Enough. Both of you are troubling everyone else with your little debate." Said by the great old elder that sat at the head, with a scolding tone of voice. He harshly coughed after reprimanding them, immediately catching everyone's attention.

"Elder Mu!"

"T-The medicine! Someone get Elder Mu's medicine!"

They immediately stood up in worry and was about to move around in order to help Elder Mu, only for them to stop when the oldest person among them raised his hand with a weary expression.

"Cough... Sit down! Seriously, just because I coughed from a dry throat, doesn't mean I'm dying, hooo. You all overreact too much." Elder Mu chided, though a small smile played on his lips at their concern. "Let's not allow this matter to overshadow the purpose of our gathering."

With Elder Mu's gentle reprimand, the atmosphere in the room lightened slightly, and all the other elders like Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er sat back down. Both Elder Xuan and Elder Lin shared a look and lowered their heads, they obediently sat back down on their seats.

Elder Mu softly rubbed his long white beard in deep thought, contemplating the situation before him. His eyes, though aged, held a sharpness that spoke of wisdom earned through decades of experience.

"It is evident," Elder Mu began, his voice carrying the weight of authority, "that this matter requires a delicate balance between justice and diplomacy. While we cannot condone the actions of Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin, we must also consider the broader implications of our decisions."

He paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "We must seek a solution that upholds the integrity of our academy while also maintaining the peace and stability of the broader realm. Punishment, yes, but one that serves as a lesson rather than a catalyst for conflict."

Elder Mu's gaze swept across the room, meeting the eyes of each elder in turn. "... We are a school," he said, "we teach and guide the younger generation toward a better understanding of the world and their responsibilities within it. So honestly speaking, we do not have the right to give out punishments as if we were a governing body. Our duty lies in educating and mentoring these students, not in meting out harsh judgments."

The other elders nodded in agreement, understanding the essence of Elder Mu's words.

"But Elder Mu-!" Elder Xuan protested.

Elder Mu raised a hand. "However, we cannot ignore the severity of their actions. Therefore, I propose a satisfying disciplinary action for these children that both sides can agree upon. We are to expel both Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin from school, their cultivations would be sealed by me personally for the next three years. This will serve as both a punishment for their actions and an opportunity for them to reflect on their behavior and make amends."

"Elder Mu, Dai Huabin's entire left part of his body is completely crippled. Even with Elder Li's healing capabilities, I'm afraid, he won't be able to fully recover unless he gets a heavenly herb. If you seal his cultivation, the Dai Family would naturally seek vengeance, not to mention the potential conflicts that could arise between our academy and the Star Luo Empire," Elder Lin interjected, her tone firm but respectful.

Elder Mu nodded thoughtfully, "You make a valid point, Lin Xuan. However, they wouldn't cause much of a ruckus when they hear that Dai Huabin tried to kill his fellow schoolmates, and with the help of his father's soldiers. When news of this were to reach the Star Luo Empire, the White Tiger Duke would lose a lot of his reputation and would be under scrutiny, thus the Dai Family wouldn't seek vengeance."

He chuckled, rubbing his beard. "The empire wouldn't as well, why would they want to avenge a stupid kid that tried to kill his fellow schoolmates? It would only reflect poorly on them. So, just leave him be. As long as he learns his lesson and changes his way, I'm sure he would one day recover. Karma has its own way of dealing with such matters. As for the potential conflicts, we will handle them diplomatically, ensuring that tensions do not escalate unnecessarily."

Elder Xuan's expression softened as he considered Elder Mu's words. He realized the wisdom in prioritizing diplomacy and avoiding further confrontation. "You're right, Elder Mu," he conceded. "We cannot let personal vendettas cloud our judgment. Diplomacy is the key to resolving this matter peacefully."

Elder Lin nodded in agreement, relieved that they had reached a consensus. "So, it's settled then," she said. "We will expel Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin from the academy and Elder Mu will seal their cultivations for three years. This will serve as both a punishment and an opportunity for them to reflect on their actions."

The other elders murmured their agreement, satisfied with the decision. With the matter resolved, they turned their attention to other pressing issues facing the academy.

"So, here's another problem..." Elder Xuan said, sighing, rubbing the bridge of his nose and decided to take a sip of his gourd for a moment. "And it's connected to the 'victim' of the incident with the Dai brothers."

"Huo Yuhao? What happened?" Elder Lin asked in concern, as she was busy apprehending Dai Yueheng and his subordinate, she didn't know what happened in the Soul Dueling Arena.

Both Xian Lin'er and Qian Duodou started sweating.

"... There's not going to be a new generation of Shrek Seven Monsters this time."

"W-What?!"

....

(1): Rank 95-98 Soul Masters are called Super/Hyper/Transcendent Douluo. I decided to go with Transcendent Douluo because it sounds cooler.

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