The Principal’s Predicament and a Protagonist’s Plight

The administrative building’s principal’s office, even as afternoon waned into dusk, remained cloaked in dim light, permeated by an almost palpable sword intent.

Yet, despite its inherent solemnity and its role as the very emblem of Tianwu University’s authority, the atmosphere within the principal’s office was far from the gravitas one might expect.

This was evident in my own expression, as I stood before the desk, a wry smile playing on my lips, my gaze fixed on Principal Dugu’s head, which was swathed in bandages like a turban. It was equally apparent in Feng Tian’er, who, standing just behind him, struggled to contain her mirth while applying a cold compress with an ice towel.

“Stop, stop, stop, stop laughing! What’s so funny?” Principal Dugu burst out, no longer able to endure their amusement. “Associate Professor Wu always has such heavy hands! And she’s supposed to be a medical professional! Stop laughing, both of you! Miss Dongfang, I’m this badly injured, sacrificing my dignity, all for your sake! Stop laughing!”

At his outburst, I meekly stuck out my tongue, no longer daring to gaze at him with such blatant schadenfreude. However, Feng Tian’er, his young secretary standing behind him, seemed far more audacious.

Even as Principal Dugu resorted to local dialect in his frustration, her almond-shaped eyes twinkled with delight, her cheeks dimpled with suppressed laughter, and she continued to let out an occasional giggle.

Perhaps his usual attempts to assert authority over his personal secretary had fallen short, or perhaps, as a more scandalous thought suggested, there was an improper relationship between them. Whatever the reason, Principal Dugu appeared utterly helpless before his enchanting young secretary, leaving him with no choice but to indulge her.

Just as my thoughts veered into a ‘Yang Laoer-esque’ tangent, picturing office uniforms and alluring black stockings, Principal Dugu cleared his throat awkwardly. He then composed his features, turning to me with an air of utmost seriousness.

“Hmm, Miss Dongfang,” he began, “now that you have been examined, I believe I can largely trust everything you claimed earlier. Furthermore, I shall honor the palm-strike agreement I made with Old Monster Dongfang all those years ago.

“I will approve your enrollment as a special recruit into Tianwu University’s Foreign Studies Academy. Does this arrangement meet with your satisfaction?”

Hearing his earnest tone, I immediately reined in my wandering thoughts and replied candidly, “I am entirely at Principal Dugu’s discretion. My Master didn’t give me many instructions before this, only telling me to follow Principal Dugu’s guidance in all matters once I arrived here!”

“Hmph, it seems that old monster actually trusts me quite a bit,” he mused with a slight hum, then let out a profound sigh. “Still, on another note, you, little girl, are quite the hot potato, aren’t you?”

Slightly puzzled by his words, I stammered, “Principal Dugu, what do you mean by that? Is something wrong with me?”

“Haha, little girl,” he chuckled, “according to your own account, roughly eighty percent of Old Monster Dongfang’s internal cultivation now resides within you, does it not? Though you cannot wield it yet due to your insufficient innate Pure Yang energy, once you truly master that power, few within all of Tianwu University will be able to stand against you.

“This means the stable order that Tianwu University, its ten major academies, and various factions have painstakingly forged over the decades since Old Monster Dongfang’s departure, is likely to face new variables!” Principal Dugu sighed with a hint of lament.

“Still, so be it,” he concluded, his voice softer. “One dares not fully calculate destiny, fearing the Heavenly Dao’s unpredictable nature. How fate will unfold is beyond the grasp of us mere mortals, so perhaps, this might even prove to be a blessing in disguise…”

I nodded dutifully, feigning agreement, though inwardly, I couldn’t help but grumble about how incredibly far-sighted this old man truly was. At present, that supposedly ‘supremely yin and pure, peak-level internal energy’ merely swirled within my Dantian and Qi Sea, its release a mystery to me.

Furthermore, Master had warned that a single misstep could lead to qi deviation and loss of control. In essence, this power simmering within me was akin to the Thunderfire Bombs and Heaven-Shaking Thunder of the Jiangnan Thunderclap Hall—it might well annihilate me before I could ever unleash it upon an enemy.

What’s more, the ‘Sunflower Manual’ itself remained an enigma, akin to an ancient, indecipherable celestial text. To speak of influencing Tianwu University’s future at this juncture felt like a dream, distant and unattainable.

As if discerning my wandering thoughts and less-than-attentive demeanor, Principal Dugu cleared his throat once more. “Miss Dongfang,” he said slowly, “I observe that you appear somewhat displeased with my assessment, am I wrong? Pray tell, what troubles you?”

With my thoughts laid bare, I shed all pretense and spoke candidly. “This young woman dares to speak frankly, Principal Dugu. Perhaps it is due to my limited knowledge and shallow learning, but the ‘Sunflower Manual’ is truly too profound and enigmatic.

“Its language is dense and convoluted, making it utterly beyond my comprehension. Yet, my Master insists that to control the internal energy he imparted to me, I must find the method within this very manual.

“Does this not place me in an impossible dilemma? Forget about altering Tianwu University’s landscape, as you suggest; I fear that even after I complete my four years of undergraduate studies, I may still fail to decipher its secrets.

“With my internal energy crippled and martial arts lost, how can I possibly speak of reshaping Tianwu University? It seems I would be fortunate just to ensure my own survival!”

Having vented the frustrations I had harbored for days, a pang of guilt for my Master struck me. Yet, the reality remained: to lose all martial arts in the current martial world was to be utterly crippled.

This stark truth brought a wave of profound disappointment to me, who had once dreamed of becoming a great hero, mastering peerless martial arts. It was this deep-seated dejection that compelled my unguarded outburst.

Principal Dugu, seated behind his desk, first paused in surprise, then offered a slight smile. “Very well, it seems I was rather thoughtless myself,” he admitted. “Indeed, it appears Old Monster Dongfang made a rather ill-advised move, forgetting that you, little girl, have only been part of his sect for a mere few days, unlike him, who has cultivated since childhood.

“Little girl, if you place your trust in me, you are welcome to bring that manual to me anytime. Though I am not exceptionally gifted, my understanding of Yin-Yang creation and innate true qi, while not as profound as Old Monster Dongfang’s, is certainly not negligible. What do you say?”

I paused, taken aback. ‘This old man could easily seize that deceptive, castration-inducing manual if he wished,’ I mused. ‘There seems little need for such elaborate trickery just to see it.’

A look of delight blossomed on my face. I bowed my head and cupped my hands respectfully. “If that is the case,” I declared, “then this young woman extends her deepest gratitude to Principal Dugu!”

He waved a dismissive hand from behind the table, then turned to Feng Tian’er. “Tian’er, this towel is no longer cold,” he instructed. “Fetch me a fresh one, and while you’re at it, please take the call from the logistics department. They shouldn’t have left for the day yet. Arrange a dormitory for her at your earliest convenience!”

Feng Tian’er offered a soft smile, acknowledged his words, and then gracefully departed.