The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness

Chapter 38, The Instigator

“Die, you fucking faggot!”

The massive fist, wrapped in a biting cold wind, collided with Colin’s disgusting face, producing a dull thud.

In the momentary silence of the training ground, it rang out particularly clear.

Everyone was stunned, including Teacher Cade.

For a moment, many eyes were wide with shock, staring at the unexpected turn of events, unable to utter a word.

Only Mu En, watching the delicate, pretentious face of that disgusting man twist beneath his fist, saw him fly back, collapsing without even a scream, and felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him.

“Ah… that felt good.”

He let out a long breath, feeling his mood lighten.

In the words of a cultivation novel, his thoughts were clear.

What did noble upbringing matter? What did outward appearances matter? Nothing compared to the fact that he had taken down that disgusting faggot first.

If Teacher Cade hadn’t been present, knowing he wouldn’t get another chance, he would have rushed over to deliver another blow.

“Mu En Campbell!”

But while hitting someone felt good for a moment, the next instant, an overwhelming pressure bore down on him, causing Mu En’s figure to sink slightly.

Teacher Cade let out a deafening roar of anger, a powerful aura rising from him.

What did he see?

Someone actually dared to strike another teacher in his class, right in front of him?

This was the Empire’s top academy, St. Maria College. Here, even that princess was just an ordinary student, bound to follow the academy’s rules!

“Mu En Campbell! What on earth are you doing?”

Teacher Cade reached out a large hand toward Mu En; no matter what, he had to subdue this lawless brat first.

But just as his hand reached out, he saw Mu En raise both hands, performing a standard military salute from a past life in some country:

“Wait, wait, wait, Teacher Cade, I’m afraid of pain. Don’t grab me; I won’t run away.”

“You!”

Cade’s hand froze.

To hit someone and not run away, and even have the audacity to remain so calm—this was the first time he had encountered such an arrogant person!

“Mu En Campbell, do you have any idea what you’ve done? You hit a teacher at St. Maria Academy! Even with your special status, you must face severe punishment!” Teacher Cade’s expression darkened.

“Indeed, hitting a teacher should be punished.”

Mu En nodded, then spread his hands and said:

“But I didn’t hit a teacher.”

He paused for a moment, then said earnestly:

“I hit a bandit, a disgusting bandit. I just saw a bandit sneaking into the academy and acted to rid the people of harm.”

“You’re still spouting nonsense here!”

Teacher Cade was so furious he felt dizzy:

“You repeatedly slander a righteous and outstanding teacher—what is your true intention?”

“I’m not slandering; I’m speaking the truth.”

“You—brat!”

Teacher Cade was so enraged that he wished he could personally teach Mu En a lesson.

But this was the academy, and as a teacher, he didn’t have the authority to punish him privately.

Let alone someone of Mu En’s status.

So he was also contemplating how to handle this matter better.

At that moment, the students in the audience, after a brief shock, gradually began to grasp what was happening.

What was going on?

That Mu En Campbell actually hit a teacher?

How thrilling!

Most of the students were merely eager spectators, craving the drama.

So upon witnessing such a rare scene, they erupted into excited discussions, like a pot boiling over.

In fact, at this moment, almost all the onlookers were still caught up in the excitement and noise of having something to gossip about. After all, even if they had previously held a good impression of Colin, they didn’t have any real connection with him.

Thus, not many had considered who was right or wrong.

Until—

“Mu En Campbell, how could you do such a thing?”

Sudden accusations, amidst the clamor, were strikingly clear.

The venue fell silent once more.

Mu En’s gaze sharpened, quickly scanning the audience.

Nothing to be found.

The position of the speaker was clearly different from the first time.

“Yes, Mu En Campbell, how could you hit a teacher?”

“Hitting a teacher is wrong!”

“Teacher Colin is such a good person…”

“Mu En Campbell, even if you are the son of a duke, you shouldn’t act this way. The academy is not a place where you can do as you please…”

“Apologize quickly.”

“Yes, apologize!”

Seeing someone take the lead, a few students, brimming with a sense of justice but hesitant due to Mu En’s status, suddenly lost their inhibitions.

The nail that sticks out gets hammered down, but since the nail is already sticking out, what is there to fear?

And even if you, Mu En Campbell, have power and influence, we are many, and among us are also high-ranking nobles; you can’t possibly retaliate against all of us.

Thus, the voices of righteous accusation rose in unison.

Many even flushed with excitement, immersed in the thrill of being heroes battling a dragon.

Indeed, Mu En Campbell, who acted as he pleased due to his status as the duke’s son, was that very dragon.

And they were the brave ones, unafraid of power, wielding justice and righteousness.

Usually, we are meek and dare not act against you, but now that we stand on moral high ground, can we not point fingers at you?

— At this moment, what Mu En had done was already irrelevant.

“You all…”

Teacher Cade frowned, finally noticing that the students’ emotions seemed a bit off, and was about to speak up to intervene—

“You all didn’t say anything, and I almost forgot.”

A clear voice echoed as Mu En suddenly stepped forward, standing in front of those people.

He straightened his slightly disheveled student uniform from the scuffle, looked at everyone, and revealed a warm smile that left no room for criticism:

“I, Mu En Campbell, am the renowned son of a duke.”

“……”

The venue fell silent instantly.

Everyone stared at Mu En with astonished eyes.

What is happening?

He, Mu En Campbell, really intends to confront so many people just because he is the son of a duke?

“Even if he is the son of a duke, he cannot do as he pleases!”

A voice emerged from the crowd.

“That’s right, the son of a duke cannot do as he pleases.”

“Mu En Campbell, you are too arrogant!”

“Apologize to the teacher first.”

More voices echoed in agreement.

“No, I think you misunderstand my intention.”

In the face of numerous accusations, Mu En remained unfazed.

His gaze searched the crowd for something, while he spoke nonchalantly:

“I have no intention of using my status to oppress anyone; I just want to prove to you that I am right.”

“How will you prove that?”

“Did I not say? I am the son of a duke.”

Mu En looked at everyone, smiling, but his tone was unusually cold and steely:

“You think, with the resources of the duke’s household, how long would it take to uncover a person’s identity?”

“…”

“One day should be enough, right?”

Mu En turned to Cade:

“What does Teacher Cade say? If I find out that that Colin is just a bandit, would my previous actions still be considered wrong?”

“This…”

Cade frowned.

If Colin really were a bandit, then Mu En’s earlier actions would naturally be justified.

In fact, the academy would have to commend him for exposing a dangerous figure hidden within its walls.

But…

How could a perfectly good teacher suddenly turn out to be a bandit?

The shift in identity was too drastic.

Moreover, this Teacher Colin was so masculine, formidable, and talkative, fitting perfectly with the qualities he admired.

So when the Pink Bear suggested he come on as an assistant, he was quite pleased.

But upon calming down and thinking it through, although Mu En Campbell had a bad reputation, he truly had no reason to suddenly target a teacher.

“Could it be that…”

Kade recalled the ever-unreliable expression of Principal Pink Bear in his mind, suddenly gripped by a sense of foreboding.

……

“But what if you falsify the results?”

Just as some began to think that Mu En’s words might hold a shred of credibility, the erratic voice rang out once more.

Like a stone skipping across the calm surface of a lake, it stirred up ripples again.

Thus, the “heroes” of “justice” once more found the evil “evidence” of the wicked dragon, eagerly continuing:

“Indeed, you are the duke’s son; it should be easy to frame someone, right?”

“If you were given time, wouldn’t that just put Teacher Colin in danger?”

“Perhaps the duke’s manor would go so far as to kill and silence him—oh, how terrifying!”

“Mu En Campbell, we don’t believe you!”

Mu En’s expression darkened.

He suddenly felt something was amiss; if public opinion were to be guided in this direction, his identity would instead become an obstacle to the truth.

After all, most people harbor extreme distrust towards powers they cannot reach.

Let’s not worry about them for now; should I present the facts later, or should I say…

“Indeed, it can be easily fabricated in hindsight.”

At that moment, a cold voice suddenly echoed throughout the vast training ground.

“In that case, why not prove it face to face?”

The voice was not particularly loud, yet it carried an innate nobility and arrogance that silenced the noisy training ground in an instant.

“Student Council President?”

“Celicia?”

Everyone instinctively turned to look at the silver figure that appeared at the entrance of the training ground, their expressions filled with confusion.

“St… Student Council President, are you going to show favoritism towards Mu En Campbell?”

The unstable voice rang out again, attempting to label Celicia as biased towards Mu En from the start.

However, this time, no one echoed the sentiment.

Because the name Celicia held too much authority.

Even though everyone knew she was betrothed to Mu En Campbell, when she stood there, no one would think she would engage in such a trivial act as “showing favoritism towards Mu En Campbell.”

Thus, only one of those who had been the most boisterous earlier turned pale, mustering the courage to ask:

“P… President, what do you mean by proving it face to face?”

Celicia glanced at a certain spot in the audience, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes, but she said nothing. Instead, she turned to Mu En and asked:

“Mu En Campbell, will you take responsibility for what you just said?”

Mu En was taken aback for a moment, then nodded vigorously:

“Of course.”

“To slander and assault a teacher, that is no small crime at St. Maria.”

“He’s not a teacher; he’s a mountain bandit,” Mu En said earnestly.

Celesia stared into Mu En’s eyes, and after a long pause, suddenly nodded:

“Very well, I hope what you say is true.”

With that, she flipped her hand and pulled out a uniquely shaped communication stone.

Soon, the communication stone connected, and a respectful voice came through.

“Your Highness.”

“Connect me to the Third Intelligence Division of Berland.”

“Yes.”

A burst of static came from the communication stone, followed by the voice of an elderly man.

“What orders do you have, Your Highness?”

“Investigate the wanted individuals in Berland and its surrounding areas over the past three years. Keywords: mountain bandit, Kolen, Scarface, Bald, Male.”

“Understood.”

The communication stone fell silent.

The entire vast training ground was also enveloped in silence.

Everyone stared at the girl who casually wielded powers unimaginable to ordinary people, their breaths barely audible.

Even Mu En’s heart raced with disbelief.

Truly, this is Celesia—her commanding presence that could strip your family tree bare in an instant made one want to cling tightly to her black silk thigh and sing a song of conquest.

But Mu En still felt a bit anxious; what if Kolen wasn’t actually wanted…

“Your Highness, the results are in.” Soon, the communication stone stirred again.

“Speak.”

“Kolen Voso, a mountain bandit, has been active around the Beipol Lake mountains for the past three years. He is characterized by a large scar on his face and is at the peak of the second tier in cultivation.”

“Peak of the second tier?”

Celesia raised an eyebrow: “Such a weak bandit has managed to stay active for three years?”

The sound of pages turning came from the communication stone, as if someone was checking something.

“According to the report, although Kolen Voso’s cultivation is low, he possesses a remarkable evasion technique and is extremely cunning. Moreover, in these three years, he has only robbed for money and never harmed anyone, which is why, after several failed attempts to capture him, his priority was lowered to the minimum, and the bounty is only five thousand Aimer.”

“Alright, I understand.”

Celesia directly hung up the communication stone.

—

Simply put, the people below thought this guy was too hard to catch, and the effort didn’t match the reward at all. So after a few half-hearted attempts, they completely gave up.

After all, he posed no real threat.

That’s how this guy, despite being wanted, could still roam around without changing his name or appearance.

“But what I didn’t expect was…”

Celicia’s gaze turned slightly cold,

“Our pink bear principal really pulled off a big one for me.”

No matter how low the threat level, he was still a bandit.

Under normal procedures, an ordinary teacher entering St. Maria would need to go through layers of scrutiny. Even the slightest blemish in three generations would make it impossible to enter this prestigious academy, where nobles were everywhere and geniuses were as common as dogs.

Yet, in such a place where even a father who had visited a brothel couldn’t gain entry, a bandit was actually allowed to be a teacher?

If this got out, the entire empire would laugh at the academy!

What the evil god couldn’t achieve, you, pink bear, almost did with ease.

“The academy’s biggest flaw, surprisingly, is the principal?”

Celicia couldn’t help but laugh in anger.

But never mind, there was no need to be angry for him; someone would deal with him later.

Now…

Celicia looked down at the sprawled Kolun.

“Still playing dead, are we? Mr. Bandit?”

“……”

“Ha.”

Seeing Kolun remain motionless, Celicia reached out, and a long sword of ice crystals materialized in her hand.

“Since you’re not awake, let me give this sword a try.”

“Wait—wait, I’m awake, I’m awake! Please keep that sword away from me!”

Kolun sprang up, fearfully gazing at the long sword in Celicia’s hand, which radiated coldness:

“My trick of playing dead can fool even a fourth-tier warrior; how did you see through it?”

“Of course, I didn’t see through it.”

Celicia lowered the sword and said coldly:

“I just thought that with Mu En Campbell’s soft and weak little frame, a single punch shouldn’t knock you out for this long. Just wanted to test you a bit.”