Chapter 69: Conditions and Disappointment

“Conditions?”

Nangong Yuchen, Nangong Kexin, and Gao Xinyu were all taken aback. Weren’t the three of them fighting desperately for the elite student quota precisely because of the academy’s promised wishes? Now, the real matter was finally being addressed.

“Principal Yang, I hope to cure my mother’s illness!” Gao Xinyu’s face flushed deeply, her expression filled with emotion as she was the first to voice her heartfelt wish.

“Your mother?” Yang Long was somewhat surprised. In the past, students always demanded exorbitantly, but this girl was asking to save her own mother? Pondering this, his voice softened: “Are you sure you want to use such an enviable condition to save your mother?”

“Yes, Principal, please allow it!” Gao Xinyu’s voice was resolute and unwavering.

This caused an uproar among the crowd in the plaza. Everyone stared at the girl in astonishment. After all, such a wish was priceless, yet she was willing to use it just like that? They all knew this condition could have been exchanged for expensive mech equipment, which would significantly impact one’s future strength development!

“Haha, I accept this condition. Now, tell me exactly what’s wrong with your mother,” Yang Long said with genuine relief.

Hearing this, Gao Xinyu’s expression turned painful, but she still mustered the courage to briefly describe her mother’s illness and hospitalization.

After listening, Nangong Yuchen was slightly stunned. It turned out that the despised girl on Illusion Island, who had been so vicious, was actually trying to save her mother. No wonder she had reacted so intensely during the elimination—she was fighting for her mother!

With this realization, Nangong Yuchen’s anger toward Gao Xinyu’s actions on Illusion Island vanished completely. Though her behavior was underhanded, it was for the sake of family. Wasn’t this the same kind of suffering that he and Kexin shared?

“Very well, the school will handle this matter tonight!” Yang Long agreed briskly, then instructed the homeroom teacher, Xu Liang, “Mr. Xu, please take care of Gao Xinyu’s mother’s case tonight. All expenses will be covered by the academy.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Liang nodded promptly, while Gao Xinyu wept with joy on stage.

“Good child, your mother will be fine. Now, please head to the elite student area up front. Follow the youngest girl there; she will help you get settled,” Yang Long said, gently patting Gao Xinyu’s shoulder before letting her leave.

Yang Long felt deeply moved. In an era where survival of the species was paramount, there were still such good-hearted children. He thought of the warriors who had fallen before, all fighting for the homeland of humanity.

“Alright, Nangong Yuchen, you and the others come forward and state your conditions,” he said.

The moment his words fell, the entire crowd perked up, eager to hear what the three well-rounded prodigies would ask for. Would it be mechs? Money? Or something else?

But Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin exchanged a glance and, speaking in unison, said:

“Release my father!”

“Release my mother!”

Their trembling voices echoed across the campus plaza, stunning everyone once more. No one understood what was happening today. All the promoted elite students were asking to save their parents—and coincidentally, they all gathered together? What was even more enviable was their willingness to use such precious conditions to save others!

“Your father? Your mother? Both of you…” Yang Long looked at the two with reddened eyes brimming with tears, his heart trembling again. He had expected Nangong Yuchen’s condition to be about mechs, but he hadn’t anticipated both of them were pleading for their parents!

With a sigh, Yang Long agreed immediately, “Very well, the academy consents to your conditions. Li Xiuyuan, notify the Mech Technology City immediately in my name. Instruct their subordinate agencies to unconditionally release—” He paused and turned to ask, “What are your parents’ names?”

“Nangong Jianyuan and Fu Wanyu!” Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin replied together quickly, as if fearing the principal might change his mind.

“Hmm. Li Xiuyuan, order your subordinates to unconditionally release Nangong Jianyuan and Fu Wanyu immediately. Regardless of what crimes they have committed, issue a direct order to free them at once!” Yang Long’s voice was resolute and commanding, leaving no room for doubt.

“Yes, Principal!” Li Xiuyuan nodded and immediately set about carrying out the order without hesitation.

He understood well the weight behind the principal’s words. After all, Nangong Yuchen might very well be the hope of Ruxia or even the entire Northwest region’s human race in the future.

Seeing this, Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin were overjoyed. After a nightmare of six months, they could finally save their parents. Especially for Nangong Yuchen, who had borne the stigma of being a calamity-bringer, today could be the day of his redemption. His relationship with his sister could truly return to what it once was.

It was all so wonderful.

With this thought, Nangong Yuchen’s eyes grew moist. Had he not been restraining himself, he might have burst into tears. Nangong Kexin, on the other hand, was already overwhelmed with emotion and threw herself into Nangong Yuchen’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

Angel stood nearby, sincerely happy for the two.

“Well then, Angel…” Yang Long turned his gaze toward her.

At that moment, a discordant voice suddenly rang out from the elite student area, interrupting Yang Long’s words.

“Principal Yang, isn’t this inappropriate? I’ve heard that Nangong Jianyuan and Fu Wanyu are both rebels. Unconditionally releasing them like this might be unfair to all the citizens.”

The plaza fell silent. Everyone stared in disbelief at the handsome and upright young man sitting in the VIP section. Even Li Xiuyuan, who had just walked away a short distance, stopped and looked back.

“Nangong Yuchen’s parents are rebels?”

“Lu Shijie!” The moment Nangong Yuchen heard that voice, murderous intent surged within him. He glared at Lu Shijie below, whose face was filled with righteous indignation, and wished he could rush down and kill him immediately!

“You’re slandering them! It was you who framed them! My parents have never committed any crime, let alone being rebels as you claim!” Nangong Kexin’s voice was sharp and fierce, her face contorted with rage, looking at Lu Shijie as if she were mad. She harbored boundless hatred toward the man who had destroyed her family.

“Heh, frame them? Your parents were just two small-town citizens. What right do they have to accuse me of framing?” Lu Shijie sneered, his face full of scorn.

“It was clearly you… Ah, I’ll kill you!” Nangong Kexin’s emotions spiraled out of control. Seeing her parents about to be saved, only to be obstructed by her enemy again, she couldn’t hold back and charged toward Lu Shijie, seemingly ready to fight to the death.

Fortunately, Nangong Yuchen was quick and grabbed Nangong Kexin just in time, preventing an unimaginable disaster.

The entire crowd of teachers and students watched in stunned disbelief. They could not fathom how an ordinary student’s family could be entwined in such hatred with the Lu family’s young master.

As for Mu Ningxue, her delicate face paled, and she was speechless. She wanted to stand up for Nangong Yuchen but feared that doing so might put Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin in danger. She dared not imagine what a rampaging Lu Shijie would do, so she silently bore immense pain alone.

“Yuchen, let me go! I want to kill him…”

“It’s all his fault! He destroyed our family…”

“Kexin, calm down!” Nangong Yuchen’s heart ached hearing these words. His hatred was no less than his sister’s, but his strength was too weak; he was no match for Lu Shijie, who had long since broken through to the first tier.

So, for now, he had to endure. One day, he would personally bury all his enemies in ruin.

“Heh!” Lu Shijie continued to smirk. Then he said, “Principal Yang, don’t you think Nangong Yuchen and the others should change their conditions? Otherwise, this is unfair to all the citizens of Ruxia City!”

Yang Long pondered for a moment. As an elder, he did not believe Lu Shijie’s words. Why would a young master of the Lu family care about an ordinary family’s crimes? But then he suddenly had a thought. Looking at Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin, he asked, “Nangong Yuchen, would you be willing to change your conditions?”

His question was not out of fear of Lu Shijie and his backers. As the principal of the Star Academy, he naturally would not fear a single family. It was just that he realized Nangong Yuchen and Lu Shijie were enemies. If Nangong Jianyuan and Fu Wanyu were released now, Nangong Yuchen’s desire and motivation to grow stronger might diminish considerably.

But if their release were delayed, the hatred between them would reach its peak, and Nangong Yuchen’s growth would accelerate dramatically.

After weighing the pros and cons, he asked if Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin were willing to reconsider. He was eager to see how formidable Nangong Yuchen would become once he truly broke through to the first tier.

“Impossible! We only want our parents released!” Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin rejected the offer without hesitation.

“In that case, I will order an investigation into this matter. Once the truth is uncovered, rest assured your parents will be safely released,” Yang Long said firmly.

In the end, Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin tried to explain further, but Yang Long raised his hand to silence them. Seeing they had been stopped, Lu Shijie’s smile grew even wider.

“Alright then, Angel, you may now state your conditions!”