Overdraw the future and become a peerless martial god

Chapter 56 Rectification
Chu Ning frowned, and a cold shout exploded like thunder: "Nonsense!"

As his sleeves billowed, a sudden gust of wind arose, sending the snow fox flying back several feet. He abruptly raised his hand to touch behind his ear, and the black hair his fingertips touched faded inch by inch, instantly turning into a dazzling frost-white, as if a piece of time had been forcibly ripped away.

Chu Ning slightly turned his head, his gaze sweeping coldly over the crowd.

"Now, who still wants to experience the taste of Thunder Prison?"

Some of the disciples below the stage had their knees buckle and their foreheads slammed heavily against the blue bricks; the instructors dug their fingertips deep into their palms, drawing blood but not noticing; even the usually arrogant elders prostrated themselves like shrimp, their backs trembling uncontrollably beneath their wide robes.

The remaining purple lightning on the lightning pillar flickered like a snake's tongue, and wisps of blue smoke seeped from the charred cracks in the pillar. The air was filled with the pungent smell of burnt flesh, like a gluttonous beast licking its fangs after a satisfying meal.

Chu Ning withdrew his gaze, his eyes devoid of any emotion, as if this was nothing more than a trivial cleanup.

The lingering power of the Thunder Prison still lingered, the air thick with the aura of burning and terror. Chu Ning glanced at everyone, indifferently put away the Thunder Prison Pillar, clenched his fist, and the lightning dissipated, as if the world had finally returned to silence.

He did not leave the execution ground immediately, but instead stepped up to the high platform, looking down at the disciples, instructors, and elders still kneeling on the ground. At that moment, no one dared to meet his gaze; that battle had completely subdued the entire audience.

"Elder Han Xu," Chu Ning said, his voice authoritative without being angry, "Before leaving, Master Lei personally handed you the letter of succession. This is a symbol of his trust in you and his final entrustment to me."

From the crowd, an elderly man with a white beard slowly rose to his feet; it was Han Xu. His expression was calm and solemn as he bowed to Chu Ning, saying, "I have not failed Master Lei's trust and will do my utmost to assist the new master in the future."

Chu Ning nodded slightly, a rare hint of trust in his eyes: "You are a senior, someone that Master Lei Wanjun relies on. From today onwards, you will be in charge of all matters concerning Benlei Martial Arts School if I am not present."

These words sent a chill down everyone's spines. This was a clear and unequivocal establishment of Han Xu as the regent of the martial arts school, under whose command everyone was to obey. What chilled them even more was that after Chu Ning swiftly purged the traitors, he still maintained such clear and decisive political maneuvering, unaffected by anger or emotion.

"Lin Yue".

Lin Yue, the instructor of the Jiazi Academy, felt a tightness in his heart when his name was called. He slowly stepped forward, clasped his hands, and bowed, saying, "Your subordinate is here."

"As an instructor in the Jia-class academy, you teach martial arts on a daily basis. If you are careful in your words and deeds, how could your disciple have any wicked thoughts?" Chu Ning asked calmly.

Lin Yue broke out in a cold sweat and was about to defend himself when Chu Ning suddenly changed the subject: "But I have investigated your actions over the past few days and found no connection with traitors. I am not punishing you today because although you have made a mistake in oversight, you have not lost your true nature."

Lin Yue felt relieved, but dared not relax.

Chu Ning's gaze turned cold as he continued, "From today onward, all disciples of the Jia-class academy must transcribe the laws and regulations daily and personally participate in the three-day martial arts training session before the palace. You will personally supervise this. If even one person slacks off, the entire instructor will be implicated. Do you understand?"

Lin Yue immediately prostrated himself on the ground: "I will obey the Master's orders!"

"Duan Wuyai," Chu Ning called again.

Elder Duan Wuyai of the Punishment Hall was of a fierce temperament. He had had many disputes with Lei Wanjun, and seeing Chu Ning's strong presence today, he was already dissatisfied.

"Yes." He stepped forward, his tone respectful, but his eyes held a hint of probing.

“You have always been upright and are extremely familiar with the affairs of the martial arts school,” Chu Ning said calmly. “But I will not allow you to use ‘personal feelings’ as an excuse to favor your disciples or bend the law for personal gain.”

Duan Wuyai's expression changed slightly. Just as he was about to explain, Chu Ning interjected, "Of course, you are able to uphold the dignity of the Punishment Hall and are the pillar of the Benlei Martial Arts School. If you are willing to swear allegiance, not only will you still be in charge of the Punishment Hall, but I will also open two floors of the Kung Fu Pavilion for you to refer to."

"...I will remember Master Chu's kindness." Duan Wuyai's eyes were filled with shock, and he finally bowed his head. Chu Ning glanced around, his voice calm but unquestionable: "I don't need your loyalty to me. But as long as I am in charge of the Benlei Martial Arts School, I will not tolerate any place that is corrupt and filthy."

"I will protect the loyal and punish the traitors."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone bowed down in unison, "Yes! Master!"

Chu Ning turned around, and the snow fox crouched behind him, its expression weak. He gently stroked the fox's head, his eyes showing a hint of barely perceptible tenderness before his gaze turned cold again.

What he wanted was not just to purge, but to completely rebuild the order of the Benlei Martial Arts School.

As Chu Ning finished making arrangements and stepped down from the platform, Li Jing'an, who had been gazing at her for a long time, finally withdrew his gaze, a meaningful smile unconsciously appearing on his lips.

He lowered his gaze slightly, looking at the elders and instructors who were prostrate on the ground, not daring to speak, and then at Chu Ning, whose expression was cold and stern. A long-lost sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart.

"good."

Li Jing'an's fingers, hidden in his sleeve, gently caressed a bronze token. He gazed at the solitary figure on the high platform and suddenly felt a metallic taste rise in his throat—this ruthless decisiveness surpassed even that of the Pavilion Master back then.

Li Jing'an silently assessed him, a faint look of satisfaction in his eyes: "I knew I hadn't misjudged him."

When he first met Chu Ning on the orders of the First-Rank Pavilion, the other party was just a young, sharp-witted youth, decisive in killing but also unruly. But today, he witnessed Chu Ning's every step, from swift and decisive purges and calm judgments to the arrangement of power and the application of both kindness and severity, being just right and flawless.

"Those who deserve to be killed should be killed without hesitation, leaving no future trouble; those who can be used should be spared, both to establish authority and to win over hearts... This is not something a newly appointed master can easily do."

His gaze fell on Han Xu, the old man standing quietly with a solemn expression, clearly convinced by Chu Ning's arrangement; looking at Duan Wuyai, Lin Yue and the others, they had all submitted, at least outwardly showing no further dissent.

Li Jing'an sighed softly, stood with his hands behind his back, and tilted his head slightly upward to look at the lingering thunderclouds on the horizon, as if speaking to someone, or perhaps to himself:

“Master, your judgment is truly excellent. This lad does indeed possess some of your spirit from back then… no, he’s even more composed.”

He turned his head slightly, watching Chu Ning walk down the high platform and step by step toward the true core of power, as if he were no longer a boy, but a ruler who firmly held the future in his hands.

"It seems I should also return to Yipin Pavilion and give the Pavilion Master an explanation."

He raised the corner of his mouth, his eyes flashing with a restrained light, as if he had already set up a much larger game in his mind.

"If we allow him to grow up like this... Master, are you really not afraid of raising a tiger that will eventually become a threat?"

With the internal turmoil at Benlei Martial Arts School quelled and traitors eliminated, Chu Ning, as the new headmaster, personally reorganized the various halls, appointed trusted disciples to key positions, dismissed redundant staff, and restructured the system. He acted swiftly and decisively, without any hesitation.

As night deepened, everyone at the martial arts school returned to their places. Chu Ning stood alone in front of the main hall, gazing at the sky. Lightning flashed across the night, and thunder rumbled, as if echoing the restless energy within him.

He glanced back at the towering pavilion behind the main hall—the Gongfa Pavilion.

(End of this chapter)