Chapter 29: Striding Through Life

His hair was always a tangled mess, sometimes falling over his face; the hem of his clothes perpetually stained with something or other; and his eyes forever gazed upward, as if nothing in this world could catch his notice. Eccentric in character, his temper was more mercurial than the Federation’s weather. — Dorin.

When Wu Rong saw the office door hanging pitifully from its hinges, creaking and groaning as if announcing the end of its life’s journey, and caught sight of Dorin’s figure, a headache set in at once. He stood up, forcing a smile onto his face. “Dean Dorin, what brings you here?”

“I can’t come?” Dorin shot him a glance. “If you can’t smile, don’t bother. Your smile is uglier than a cry—so fake it’s painful!”

Veins bulged on Wu Rong’s forehead. He took a deep breath and struggled to produce a perfect smile for Dorin. One day, he swore, he’d kick this wretched old man out of Dexin!

“That smile... Ugh!” Dorin retched.

Wu Rong’s face went pale, his lips twitching as a sour, rotten stench filled his nostrils. He didn’t even dare to look at what had splattered onto him—judging by the smell, it seemed Dorin had thrown up his dinner from the night before. Wu Rong’s face shifted from pale to livid as he glared at Dorin.

Dorin raised his hands innocently. “I swear by the God of Cardmaking, I genuinely didn’t want to puke on you!” He pinched his nose, backing away with a look of utter disgust. “Didn’t I tell you not to smile? What a waste of my dinner. How are we supposed to talk now? Go clean yourself up, I’ll find you later!”

With another look of disdain, Dorin wrinkled his nose and left.

Wu Rong was fuming—this filthy old man had the nerve to despise him? Who was the one who threw up, after all? His whole body shook with rage. He swore that no matter what Dorin wanted to discuss next, he’d oppose it to the end!

Dorin, face clouded with irritation, strode up to the office of the law enforcement captain and ran into Vaughn, who was just about to leave. Dorin grabbed him at once. “Captain Vaughn, I have something to say!”

The rank odor emanating from Dorin, and the suspicious grains clinging to his beard, made even the coffin-like face of Captain Vaughn stiffen. “Dean Dorin, kindly let go of me.”

Dorin snatched his hand back, eyeing Vaughn with contempt. “I’m not even bothered by your coffin face, yet you’re disgusted by me?”

Vaughn subtly stepped back, adopting an official tone. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Dean Dorin?”

“Oh, nothing much. I want you to release Silver immediately!” Dorin looked at him askance, chin raised, as if Vaughn were the one begging a favor.

Vaughn narrowed his eyes, displeasure lacing his voice. “Dean Dorin, you’re overstepping.”

“Play your political games all you want, but I’m not here for that. Silver is the disciple I’ve chosen—you’ll release him whether you want to or not.”

“Dean Dorin!” Vaughn barked, “This is law enforcement business. You have no say!” He was inwardly surprised by the connection between the child and this eccentric old man.

“Well? Will you or won’t you?” Dorin stepped forward, eyes narrowed, hands behind his back, his stooped figure exuding a presence that rivaled Vaughn’s.

Vaughn’s coffin face finally shifted. “Dean Dorin, you must realize the boy has offended someone he shouldn’t have. And, as far as I know, you’ve never even interacted with him. Why bring trouble upon yourself?”

A mocking smile curled on Dorin’s lips, his murky old eyes becoming razor-sharp. “Trouble? Who do you mean? The President of the Federation or those few hidden figures? The trouble you speak of is nothing to me. I want the boy released, will you do it or not?”

Vaughn’s expression darkened further, until he finally bit out, “Dean Dorin, don’t forget—this is Dexin. We indulge your antics out of courtesy, not fear. Hmph!” He brushed past Dorin.

Dorin turned, shouting after him, “Vaughn, wherever I go, I walk sideways like a crab! If you won’t let him go, just wait—I’ll see to it you hand him over to me yourself!”

Vaughn paused briefly before striding away. The crown prince’s target would never be released just because of a word from this old lunatic. Let’s see how Dorin thinks he’ll have his way this time.

“You won’t let him go either?” Dorin slapped the desk, finally frowning. “Wu, are you really refusing?”

“It’s the rules—without rules, there’s no order. As vice dean, I can’t be the first to break them. The boy’s behavior was egregious and has negatively impacted Dexin. I’m merely following procedure, Dean Dorin. Please, don’t make things difficult for me. Perhaps you should take it up with Dean Li Xian?”

“Fine, very well!” Dorin swept the white hair from his face. “Rules, is it? I’ll see that all of Dexin is ruled by them! First, I’ll tear down the Honor Court, then the Student Council, then the Law Enforcement Tower—I’ll give you rules!” He left Wu Rong with an angry silhouette.

Wu Rong’s face shifted; arguing had felt good, but who’d have thought Dorin would seize on the matter of rules so obsessively? Now things were troublesome. He hurried out, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Only Dean Li Xian could handle Dorin’s madness now.

“What?” Li Xian, upon hearing Wu Rong’s report, dropped his purple clay teapot with a crash, shattering it as thoroughly as his mood. He rubbed his brow. “What does Dean Dorin want from you?”

“He… Dean Dorin insists we release a student currently in disciplinary confinement!” Wu Rong’s heart skipped a beat. He realized Dorin’s relationship with Dean Li Xian was deeper than he’d imagined. Had it been anyone else, Li Xian would have dealt with them already.

“Who?” Li Xian sat in his chair.

“A student in the junior division, just enrolled this year. Within a month, he seriously injured a senior student—his methods were cruel and bloody, with a terrible influence. So Captain Vaughn and I agreed to detain him. I just don’t understand why Dean Dorin is reacting so strongly… The student’s name is simply Silver.”

Silver? That child? Li Xian knew of him. He was broadly aware of the matter, so hearing Wu Rong shift all blame onto the boy, Li Xian glanced at him. Wu Rong’s eyes avoided his. Li Xian smiled inwardly. So be it—let them make a fuss. That child was clearly capable, having tamed Dexin’s most notorious eccentric in silence. Even Dorin deferred to him! Well, things were becoming more interesting. The opposition had made their move—how would the crown prince respond?

With this thought, Li Xian felt no urgency. He said placidly, “I see. You may go.”

Wu Rong hesitated. “Dean… Dorin isn’t just threatening buildings—he’d shake Dexin’s very foundations.”

Li Xian suddenly looked up at Wu Rong. “If the crown prince can’t handle this, it’s better Dexin’s foundations are torn down by our own hands than by outsiders—it’d be more satisfying to watch.”

“Dean!” Wu Rong cried in disbelief.

Li Xian sighed. “Wu Rong, your perspective is still too narrow. Why do you think every crown prince shines so brightly in the Federation, bringing so many benefits to both Dexin and Dezhou? Their abilities aren’t honed through flattery but through adversity and challenge. The current climate is unlike years past. The Long family has been forced out, the three card beast emperors are stirring, and the hidden families are making moves. The Federation is in turmoil—a reshuffling of power is surely coming. If this crown prince misjudges, Dezhou is doomed, and Dexin will cease to exist.”

Wu Rong was stunned. Could the confinement of a seven-year-old child cause so much trouble? He took a deep breath.

Li Xian, seeing Wu Rong’s expression, shook his head. “Still can’t see it? I’m tempering the crown prince. That child is a stepping stone—and Dean Dorin is no exception. You’ve done what you should; don’t do what you shouldn’t. Understand?”

“Yes, Dean,” Wu Rong nodded.

“Go on.” Li Xian waved him away, suddenly weary. Wu Rong was a good subordinate, but not a reliable ally. Holding everything together alone was exhausting.

As usual, Ji Yin was practicing in the Honor Court, a green leaf pinched between his fingers, when his wrist communicator beeped. He glanced at it—the red signal made him freeze for a second. Frowning, he opened the message, and what he read made his brow throb. How dare that old man Dorin!

Pressing his lips together, Ji Yin flicked his hand, sending the green leaf spinning. It fluttered down behind him like a rain of blossoms. Suddenly, Ji Yin chuckled.

His fingers danced across the communicator. The corners of his mouth curved, restoring his usual elegance and composure. With head held high, he left the Honor Court with stately grace.

Back at the Student Council, Ji Yin found Vaughn pacing anxiously like an ant on a hot pan. Ji Yin’s brows arched, sharp as a sword slanting to the sky. “Captain of Law Enforcement?”

Vaughn turned around, and for once his coffin face showed rare delight. “Your Highness!” It was as if he’d found his anchor; seeing Ji Yin’s cold pride steadied his nerves.

“What is it?” Ji Yin approached slowly. Vaughn followed, closing the door behind them.

Vaughn’s expression was troubled. “I’ve lost complete control of the law enforcement team—because of that old Dorin. Some obey in name only, others remain silent. Only a third are firmly under my command, and they can’t stop Dorin.”

Ji Yin narrowed his eyes. To have swayed two-thirds of the law enforcement team—clearly, Dorin was not as deranged as he seemed. He had underestimated him. But that alone would not suffice.

As Ji Yin pondered, his communicator beeped again—a red alert. He opened it indifferently, but his pupils contracted: students from the Cardmaking Academy were simultaneously storming the Honor Court, Student Council, and Law Enforcement Tower?

Ji Yin’s brow furrowed. The opponent was not playing by the rules, and he loathed rule-breakers.

He tapped the table lightly. Since the rules were broken, he must respond even more skillfully...

Meanwhile, Dorin, quite pleased with himself, stroked his beard as he arrived at the place where Long Yin was detained. He brushed past the two guards and swaggered inside.

Before even seeing the boy, Dorin’s booming voice rang out: “Kid, are you still alive?”