In the most core region of the Heavenly Position Academy, there lies an extremely luxurious group of buildings.
Here, only scholars and those of dean-level status are permitted to enter, with the luxurious and grand architectural style manifesting their revered places in society.
The Heavenly Position Academy, nearly as old as the Sky White Empire itself, is an educational institution with a history spanning hundreds of years. Its highest echelons of leadership hold positions that are no less than those of senior court officials.
For instance, the current dean, Mu Yun Sang, holds the position of the Crown Prince’s Tutor within the empire, a rank equivalent to the Three Grand Ministers!
In this opulent area, within a particularly extravagant Bescin, the lights were still blazing bright.
Tong Chengtai, wrapped in his robe, replayed the events of the day in his mind, unable to fall asleep and feeling no desire to engage in cultivation.
"Hmph, such a disobedient student should be disciplined!"
Gently hammering at the desk, Tong Chengtai muttered to himself, "The matter is settled, sacrificing a trivial Ling Feng in exchange for a glorious future, what’s wrong with that!"
Having said this, Tong Chengtai blew out the candle and prepared to meditate in silence in the study.
However, just then, the candle that had been extinguished suddenly reignited.
Tong Chengtai’s brows furrowed, and he abruptly stood up, slamming the table and saying in a cold voice, "Who dares to break into this dean’s residence at night!"
"Oh! You’re just a small vice-dean, one of the five old fools. Even if that old dog Mu Yun Sang kicked the bucket, it wouldn’t be your turn to be dean. And yet you keep saying ’this dean’ as if you could reach the sky."
Tong Chengtai’s brows furrowed deeper, and his aura exploded in an instant, "Scoundrel, who on earth are you? Daring to speak so insolently and hiding , what kind of hero are you?"
"Hahaha, I’m certainly better than a hypocritical old fool like you, posing as the righteous vice-dean overseeing the academy’s discipline, secretly altering a student’s grades. Tsk tsk, such shamelessness. You old dog really should be thrown into a latrine to wash away the stench of your despicable ways!"
"What!" Tong Chengtai clenched his fists tightly, his eyes nearly bursting, "Scoundrel, stop spouting nonsense!"
"Whether or not it’s nonsense, you old fool know it in your heart! Hmph!"
As if tired from the cat-and-mouse game, Yan Cangtian unexpectedly appeared in front of Tong Chengtai, who staggered back a dozen steps as though he had seen a ghost, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
"You... you... Yan Cangtian?" Tong Chengtai swallowed, unable to fathom why Yan Cangtian would know of this matter and even intervene.
"I tell you, Old Man Tong, so many years have passed, you’ve climbed to the position of vice-dean and you’re still not satisfied, meddling in affairs today and interfering with others tomorrow. You really have too much free time for an old man who’s half in the grave."
Tong Chengtai was left red-faced and speechless by Yan Cangtian’s words, grinding his teeth and saying, "Yan Cangtian, this... this vice-dean’s affairs are not your concern!"
"Oh really? Such a big tone you have there! Even that old man Mu Yun Sang speaks to me with utmost respect, calling me Elder Yan, and who do you think you are?"
Yan Cangtian glared at Tong Chengtai out of the corner of his eye, causing the latter to shrink his neck and not dare to let out another peep.
"Old Madman, completely unreasonable!"
Tong Chengtai flung his sleeves, "This is my residence. If there’s nothing else, please leave quickly. Don’t disturb the peace of my dreams!"
"Hah, you committed something on your conscience and you still can sleep?" Yan Cangtian casually pulled over a chair, sat down with a thump, propped up his leg, squinted his eyes at Tong Chengtai, and said lazily, "Let’s speak plainly, today I am here to make you restore the altered scores!"
"Humph, impossible!" Tong Chengtai’s expression was as still as water, "The grades have all been archived, they will be released tomorrow, and there will be no further changes."
"So be it," Yan Cangtian’s lips curled into a hint of a smile. "I’m sorry, but it looks like you’re going to have to go and make those changes in the middle of the night."
"Don’t even think about it, I absolutely won’t make any more changes!" Tong Chengtai’s tone was incredibly resolute, resolute as a mule, his mind made up.
"I’m afraid you will still make the changes!"
Yan Cangtian’s gaze turned icy, and his aura swept out instantly.
"Half... Half-step Emperor!"
Tong Chengtai shivered. More than a decade ago, before Yan Cangtian lost his sanity, he was only King-level. Could it be that over these years, he had actually reached the level of a Half-step Emperor?
"Good that you know!" Yan Cangtian’s figure flashed, and he pressed his hand directly on Tong Chengtai’s shoulder. "What do you say? Will you make the changes or not?"
"Hahaha, that’s hilarious!" Tong Chengtai really wouldn’t cry until he saw his own coffin, and actually burst into laughter. "Yan Cangtian, others may be afraid of you, but I am not. Who doesn’t know that your powers as the Old Madman come and go as they please? If you have the guts, kill me now. If you wait until your powers fade, humph!"
"Powers fading?" Yan Cangtian raised his hand and with a slap "SMACK," he fiercely slapped Tong Chengtai’s face.
"Let me tell you, my powers will not fade! Also, didn’t anyone tell you that the kid Ling Feng is under my protection?"
Tong Chengtai was slapped dizzy by Yan Cangtian’s slap. He had lived to his age, attained his current position, and even the dean, as well as the Imperial Emperor, had to show him some respect.
And yet, Yan Cangtian dared to slap him!
"Old Madman Yan, you... you!" Tong Chengtai stared at Yan Cangtian, his face contorted with rage. "I’ll fight you to the death!"
Another slap was thrown, and like a spinning top, Tong Chengtai spun wildly in place for more than a dozen turns.
Despite his age, the old guy was pretty tough. After spinning so many rounds, his head didn’t even feel dizzy.
Just as Tong Chengtai stopped, Yan Cangtian, with a slow motion of his left and right hands, caused Tong Chengtai’s eyes to see stars.
"So, is it possible for you, Vice Dean Tong, to go and make some adjustments to the final scores now?"
Yan Cangtian squinted his eyes and gave Tong Chengtai a mocking smile, but to Tong Chengtai, this smile looked just like a devil!
"I... I..." Tong Chengtai was uncontrollably angry, but before he could finish his sentence, Yan Cangtian cut him off.
"Old Man Tong, I suggest you think carefully before you answer. If I slap you a few times now, the swelling will go down by daylight, and you can still see people. But if you don’t appreciate what’s good for you, I’m going to be rougher. You’ll swell up like a pig’s head; let’s see how you’ll face others in daylight? The nickname ’Pig Head Dean’ will certainly echo through the entire Heavenly Position Academy."
Tong Chengtai was someone who cherished his reputation. If he were to be called "Pig Head Dean" by the students in the future, he might well end up hiding away, too ashamed to meet anyone.
"I... I agree to your terms!"
Tong Chengtai hung his head dejectedly, like a defeated rooster, no longer daring to defy Yan Cangtian’s will.