Chapter 126: The Search Is Over, There Is Nothing Here

Several book boys from Ruwen Academy received orders and immediately came over to search the students of Haixing Academy.

Although these children were displeased, they thought, “We didn’t take anything, so let them search all they want.”

If nothing was found, that arrogant teacher would have to kneel before them.

Thinking this, their mood lifted, and they even urged the book boys to hurry up with the search.

The weather was hot now, and their clothing was thin, so it didn’t take long to search one person.

Soon, it was Lin Yanbei’s turn.

A gleam of excitement flashed in Hou Tianlu’s eyes.

“Lin Yanbei, you brat, just wait. You dared to make me kneel; soon it will be you begging for my forgiveness!”

Lin Yanbei stood up calmly and spread his arms, allowing the book boys to search him.

“Search that brat carefully!” Hou Tianlu instructed, “He looks the most suspicious!”

Master Ge turned to look at Hou Tianlu’s suddenly gleaming expression and felt increasingly uneasy.

Could it be that Hou Tianlu had really done something underhanded?

What would Lin Yanbei do now?

By this point, it was too late to stop…

Regardless, Master Ge believed in Lin Yanbei and would definitely protect his student!

Following Hou Tianlu’s instructions, the book boys searched meticulously, almost wanting to strip Lin Yanbei’s clothes off.

But in the end, they found nothing.

“Master, the search is complete. There’s nothing,” one book boy reported.

“What did you say?” Hou Tianlu was so shocked his eyes nearly popped out. “This, this can’t be!”

Lin Xiong was equally stunned.

Impossible! He had clearly placed the ink on Lin Yanbei. How could it have vanished?

Could Lin Yanbei have discovered it? But it was such a small piece of ink, barely any weight, and so little time had passed; how could he have noticed?

“I say, Mr. Hou, what do you have to say now?” Master Ge said with a stern face. “All the students of Haixing Academy have been searched, and nothing was found. This proves your ink was never stolen by our students! You should fulfill the promise you just made!”

Hou Tianlu’s face went pale, but he stubbornly replied, “What promise? What are you talking about?”

“Kneel down and apologize!” Master Ge said mercilessly. “You agreed to this yourself! What, are you going to back out in front of everyone? Don’t forget, your students are here too! Is this how you set an example as a teacher?”

“You, you…” Hou Tianlu almost trembled. “This is impossible! That ink was definitely stolen by Lin Yanbei — no one else could have!”

“Mr. Hou, I’m puzzled. Why do you insist it was me who stole it?” Lin Yanbei asked with a faint smile.

“Because… obviously, you look like a thief!” Hou Tianlu snapped.

Humiliated, Lin Yanbei could not hold back, but before he could speak, Master Ge shouted sharply, “Enough! Hou Tianlu, you dare speak of my student like this in front of me? Do you think I’m dead?”

With that, he rolled up his sleeves and angrily strode toward Hou Tianlu.

Fortunately, Master Huang stopped him just in time.

At this moment, Haixing Academy was clearly in the right; they could humiliate Hou Tianlu as much as they liked.

But if a fight broke out, even with justice on their side, they would lose all reason.

Master Ge wasn’t a fool; when Master Huang pulled him back, he calmed down.

“W-what? You want to hit me?” Hou Tianlu stammered fearfully.

“Heh.” Master Ge sneered. “A gentleman settles matters with words, not fists. Don’t worry, I won’t hit you. But today, you must answer for your actions. You claimed repeatedly that Haixing students stole your property and demanded searches. Now, nothing has been found, and you want to let this go easily? Impossible!”

“Do you really want me to kneel?”

“Yes! That’s what you agreed to! You kneel and apologize, and this matter will be settled!”

“Why do you have to be so merciless when you’re in the right?”

Master Ge chuckled, “You know we’re on the right side, don’t you? Then why should we go easy on you? What can you do about it?”

Hou Tianlu almost fell backward in fury. He glared hatefully at Lin Xiong.

What a useless fool — he couldn’t even handle such a simple matter! And he had the nerve to say it was already resolved!

Lin Xiong was confused as well.

If the ink wasn’t on Lin Yanbei, then where was it?

“*Ahem!*” Hou Tianlu forced himself to calm down. “It was my mistake to blame you earlier. I apologize and will make amends. But the ink is still missing. I think the urgent matter now is to find that ink.”

He tried to buy time, convinced that Master Ge and Master Huang wouldn’t force him to kneel.

At that moment, a clear voice suddenly rang out: “Hmm, Mr. Hou is right!”

Everyone turned toward the source. Among the book boys of Haixing Academy, the shortest one stood up, took off his hat, and smiled brightly.

“We do need to find that ink first.”

“Lin Sangqian!” Lin Xiong exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

“What? Lin Sangqian?” Hou Tianlu was shocked again.

Lin Shuimei had been right — that reckless girl had really sneaked in!

She was not to be underestimated!

“Master Huang, Master Ge, what are you doing? We agreed to a competition between the two academies today. Why have you brought an outsider in?”

Hou Tianlu tried to shift the topic, but Lin Sangqian gave him no chance.

“Mr. Hou, I think you should solve the current problem first before worrying about other matters,” Lin Sangqian said. “Isn’t the urgent task to find that ink?”

Hou Tianlu was speechless.

“That ink should clearly be on Lin Yanbei!” Lin Xiong shouted anxiously, but Hou Tianlu shot him a glare.

What an idiot!

“Everyone, since all Haixing students have been searched, for fairness, Ruwen Academy’s students should be searched as well,” Lin Sangqian said.

“What do you mean?” Ruwen Academy’s students immediately protested. “Are you saying we are the thieves?”

“Impossible! We would never steal our teacher’s things!”

“If you have nothing to hide, why fear a search?” Lin Sangqian returned Hou Tianlu’s words directly. “Besides, the search was your idea. Haixing students have been searched; why shouldn’t Ruwen students be searched as well?”

“Exactly!” Master Huang chimed in. “Why only search our students? Mr. Hou, maybe it’s your own students who are dirty-handed!”

Hou Tianlu struggled for words but found no rebuttal.

Master Ge sneered and said to the Haixing book boys, “Come on, search them!”

The book boys were already eager. Hearing Master Ge’s words, they dashed like wild horses toward the Ruwen students.

Before long, one book boy suddenly shouted loudly, “Found it!”