Chapter 3596: Careful Consideration

Xiao Fan had asked Yang Yao before, but Taiyi Mountain hadn't told him about this. Even if Xiao Fan had known about Feng Yuliu's departure beforehand, after all, neither Taiyi Mountain nor Shijue Academy were aware of it.

The fact that Principal Shi Hantian told him this directly showed that he truly wanted to help.

However, Xiao Fan still had doubts in his heart: "Um, Principal… there's something I want to ask you, is that alright?"

"Hehehe… What is it? Feel free to speak.", Principal Shi Hantian said with a smile.

"It's about the Huai Family…" Xiao Fan thought for a moment and said, "Back then, why didn't you save Huai Yushu?"

In truth, Huai Yushu was like a thorn in Xiao Fan's heart. If he had been stronger back then, would Huai Yushu have died?

But there was nothing he could do; Xiao Fan had done his best at the time. Principal Shi Hantian was different—he was the Principal of Shijue Academy and a true powerhouse of the Heavenly Saint Realm. If he had intervened, Huai Yushu certainly wouldn't have died.

Furthermore, as the Principal of Shijue Academy, it would have been perfectly reasonable for him to intervene in Huai Yushu's matters.

Hearing Xiao Fan's words, Principal Shi Hantian fell into a long silence…

"Principal, you were so eager to warn me about my own situation just now, so why regarding Huai Yushu…" Xiao Fan continued to press for an answer.

"This… it's not that I didn't want to, but that I couldn't…" Principal Shi Hantian hesitated, exhaled, and shook his head helplessly.

"Couldn't?" Xiao Fan was stunned.

"That's right, I couldn't… You should know that the Middle Realm of the Divine Domain has rules. When someone is ascending to the Heavenly Saint Realm, no one is allowed to interfere. This is a rule set by the Upper Realm, as powerhouses of the Heavenly Saint Realm are rare. It was this rule that bound me, preventing me from acting. Furthermore, Feng Wuxiu and Xi Wen were also there; if I had interfered, they certainly wouldn't have agreed." Principal Shi Hantian said solemnly, "If I had made a move, it might have implicated Shijue Academy…"

"What about before then? Even if you had difficulties and couldn't act… when I told you about Huai Yushu's situation beforehand, why didn't you stop it, Principal?" Xiao Fan asked in a low voice.

Xiao Fan had heard something about not being allowed to interfere with others' ascension to the Heavenly Saint Realm, but he hadn't been certain.

Xiao Fan was also unclear about the current relationship between Principal Shi Hantian, Xi Wen, and the others. According to what Xi Wen and the others had said, Principal Shi Hantian had comprehended the Dao of Heaven and Earth at Taiyi Mountain.

But from Principal Shi Hantian's tone now, he seemed quite wary of the people from Taiyi Mountain as well.

Why was that?

Xiao Fan had no way of knowing.

"Perhaps it was selfishness, not wanting to get involved in the matter… or perhaps I wanted to win over the one from the Huai Family. In comparison, Huai Yushu still had a long way to go… having not grown up yet, Huai Yushu had no value. The Ancestor of the Huai Family was different; he was only half a step away. Besides… Huai Yushu is of the Huai Family Bloodline, and the Ancestor of the Huai Family is his forefather. In such matters, I am ultimately an outsider." Principal Shi Hantian hesitated before speaking slowly.

This time he didn't make excuses but was direct and frank.

"Is this… the result of your careful consideration, Principal?" Xiao Fan hesitated and then asked solemnly.

"Hehehe… I suppose so." Principal Shi Hantian gave a bitter smile and admitted it candidly.

"Thank you for your honesty, Principal. If the outcome of careful consideration is this… then I will not bother with careful consideration in the future." Xiao Fan took a sip of tea and spoke indifferently.

"Hehehe… You are still young, and your path is still long. If you always act on impulse, it will likely lead to your death. Do you understand?" Principal Shi Hantian spoke slowly; he had clearly expected this reaction from Xiao Fan.

"The road is long and far… I only seek a clear conscience." Xiao Fan spoke slowly.

To Xiao Fan, he could kill people at will, but when it came to friends, he couldn't weigh pros and cons. He had considered Huai Yushu a friend, yet Huai Yushu had died right before his eyes.

Clearly, Xiao Fan and Principal Shi Hantian's philosophies were different.

"Hehehe… Alright, I hope you can go far." Principal Shi Hantian smiled and shook his head helplessly.

The blessing was sincere, but the smile was at Xiao Fan's naivety.

If one wanted to become a true powerhouse while acting solely on their heart's whims, it would eventually all be for naught.

However, Principal Shi Hantian also knew that whatever he said to Xiao Fan would be useless; the boy wouldn't easily believe him.

"Principal, I'll take my leave!" Xiao Fan exhaled and cupped his fists in a salute to Principal Shi Hantian.

"Your path is still long… Remember, only with careful consideration can you go far." Principal Shi Hantian didn't look at Xiao Fan but stared at the tea table, saying slowly, "I look forward to… the day you truly grow up."