Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

Upon hearing this self-revealing statement, the students who had been speechless under Chen Dong's questioning immediately became excited!

Just when it seemed their crystal was about to be destroyed, the other side surrendered!

Such a good thing!

Overjoyed, the group shouted, "Did you all hear that? He bullied us because we're poor and because of our family background!"

"Although we come from humble backgrounds, we still understand the principle that poverty and hardship cannot sway us, nor can power subdue us!"

"Though we are poor and live in poverty, our spirit is not broken!"

……

"Well said!" A cheer immediately erupted from the crowd.

People have always sympathized with the weak, and when they heard these people's inspiring words about how they were poor but had high aspirations, they were deeply moved and applauded them.

Qin Hui's face turned red with anger, and he clenched his fists. Chen Dong also looked helpless and was about to step forward to speak up for Gao Zhao when Gao Zhao patted his shoulder to stop him.

Then Gao Zhao slowly stepped forward, his face full of sneer, and said, "Oh, so poverty can't sway you? In that case, why don't you return the money you borrowed from me earlier!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the faces of the people who had just been so passionate and full of lofty ideals suddenly froze, their high-pitched voices caught in their throats, and the cheering crowd instantly fell silent.

The student in the lead had a glint in his eye and subconsciously took a half step back, trying to sound tough as he loudly argued, "What... what do you mean by that? That money was what you voluntarily gave us, not a loan, so how can you say it has to be returned?"

"Voluntary aid? Haha... Now you're saying poverty can't be swayed?" Gao Zhao's laughter was grating, full of sarcasm.

"Gao Gongming, don't push your luck!" A student from the Imperial Academy, unable to tolerate Gao Zhao's aggressive behavior, stepped forward and rebuked him, "Tell me how much money those people took from you, and I'll pay it all back!"

The leader immediately said, looking aggrieved, "We received a string of cash from him!"

"It's just one string of cash!" The student turned and glanced at the group, then pulled out a stack of banknotes from his pocket, strode towards Gao Zhao, and shouted, "Here are ten strings of cash. Even if each of them gets one, it's enough. The extra can be considered a reward... uh..."

Before he could finish speaking, Gao Zhao rushed forward and, using his fist as a spear, punched the man in the abdomen. The man immediately arched his body like a shrimp, fell to his knees in pain, and could not even groan.

Gao Zhao suddenly attacked again, and screams erupted all around. The previously noisy crowd fell silent in an instant. Everyone's pupils shrank as they stared in disbelief at the student kneeling on the ground, curled up in a ball.

The man clutched his lower abdomen tightly with both hands, his face ashen white, his body convulsing uncontrollably, and the pawn tickets scattered on the ground, drifting away in the wind.

"Gao Zhao, how dare you commit murder in public!" someone in the crowd exclaimed angrily, and then others followed suit, filled with righteous indignation.

Even Chen Dong and Qin Hui were speechless. They knew you were reckless, but this was just too reckless!

Gao Zhao withdrew his fist and stood there, completely disregarding the crowd. He raised his hand, grabbed the student's hair, tilted his face up, and sneered:

"You scoundrel, you're quite the schemer, trying to do me a favor by stepping on me? So generous, why didn't you give anyone a single penny before? I've spent over two hundred strings of cash, and you think you can get a good reputation with just ten strings?"

The man was forced to tilt his head back, his eyes filled with terror, his abdomen churning with pain, cold sweat dripping down his chin, and he barely had the strength to refute.

Seeing his arrogance, the people around him became increasingly vocal in their criticism. Many people looked indignant, and their condemnations were incessant. Some people, however, sensed something was amiss and quietly shut their mouths.

Seeing that the person in his hand didn't react, Gao Zhao flung the person away again. Then he raised his eyes and swept them over the crowd. The strange pleasure in his heart grew stronger and stronger. He had an urge to punch a hole in the sky!

"I hit him because he wanted to climb the social ladder by stepping on me! If you don't like me, you can come and try!"

Gao Zhao stood tall and straight, his eyes filled with arrogance and his whole being exuding a sharp aura. As soon as these almost provocative words fell, the chorus of rebukes that had just risen and fallen suddenly stopped.

Then the crowd erupted in chaos!

"You dare to spout nonsense after hitting someone? Do you really think we scholars wouldn't dare to fight back?"

"The Biyong Hall is not your backyard, and we are not your servants, to be beaten or scolded as you please!"

"I will not let this matter rest!"

……

The crowd was restless and surging, everyone was united in their hatred of the enemy, and they pressed forward step by step, the encirclement was getting smaller and smaller, and the atmosphere was tense.

Qin Hui's scalp tingled, his face turned deathly pale, and he instinctively grabbed Gao Zhao's arm tightly, his voice trembling with urgency: "Gongming! We must not provoke the public's anger any further!"

Chen Dong's expression also changed drastically. He quickly stepped forward to the side, spreading his arms to stop the agitated crowd, and repeatedly calmed them down: "Fellow students, please calm down! Let's reason things out, not fight! The Biyong Academy has rules, and private fights will be punished!"

But at this moment, the public was so enraged that it was impossible to suppress the anger!

They were all hot-blooded young men; who could tolerate such anger!

As the students drew closer, Gao Zhao felt no fear whatsoever. Instead, the pleasure in his heart grew stronger and stronger, which then transformed into a deep hatred.

He shoved Qin Hui aside, clenched his fists, and stared coldly at the students before him. A hint of malice lurked in his smile as he said in a chilling voice:

"A bunch of self-proclaimed righteous hypocrites who speak recklessly without distinguishing right from wrong—you are more despicable and hateful than real villains! Today I will teach you a lesson you won't forget!"

At this moment, Gao Zhao felt torn apart. Deep down, he knew that if things continued this way, the situation would become unmanageable and it would be an extremely unwise move.

But his body was out of his control; instead, he was overwhelmed by that intense emotion and just wanted to beat them up to vent his anger.

He had even opened the control panel, ready to unleash his berserk skill at any moment!

It's a really strange feeling!

A major battle seems imminent!

Just then, a majestic and chilling shout suddenly rang out from outside the crowd, piercing through all the noise and shouts, and silencing the entire place instantly!

"Stop! What are you doing?!"

The restless crowd froze abruptly. The students, who had been furious just moments before, instinctively stopped and turned around, their anger instantly freezing in place, and their expressions changed.

Someone gasped in alarm, their voice filled with panic: "Oh no, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy is here!"

The crowd spontaneously parted to create a path, like a tidal wave.

With a livid face, the Biyong Cheng led several Biyong officials into the crowd. His gaze swept over the mess and scattered pawn tickets, over the students huddled on the ground in agony, and finally landed on Gao Zhao, who looked at him with disdain.

"You are still a student of the Biyong Academy, and should abide by its rules!"

Seeing that the fight was not going to break out, Gao Zhao's anger vanished instantly, and reason regained its footing.

His expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "I would also like to ask, is this Biyong a place where sages teach and enlighten, or a place where wicked people run rampant!"