Chapter 27: The Brothers
Chapter 27: The Brothers
*Knock Knock*
"Come in."
Li Chang Yin pushed open the door.
Inside, Li Chang Hu who was writing something at his desk raised his head, "Hmm, what are you doing here Xiao Yin? Shouldn't you be working on your class materials?"
Li Chang Yin looked at the floor guiltily, "Brother…"
"Xiao Yin, don't start. You can't be playful all the time, you know that mother and father have passed, there's only us two brothers left, if I don't push you who will? I know it isn't fun righ-"
Li Chang Yin's cheeks flushed red, "Brother it's not that. I've been working hard, really, you don't have to keep lecturing."
Li Chang Hu looked Li Chang Yin up and down, reexamining his younger brother, trying to figure out if he was being honest or not. "Hmm, alright, big brother will believe you for now, but you need to keep it up.."
As Li Chang Hu was about to go back into his usual lecturing habits (he really was born to be a teacher), Li Chang Yin piped up, "Brother!"
"Haha, alright, I'll stop teasing you, what brings you here then Xiao Yin?"
At this, Li Xiao Yin hesitated for a second, "Hehe… Brother can't I just want to come and see you?"
"Hmph, don't try to suck up to me Xiao Yin, I know better then anyone that you won't come if you don't have something important to deal with. Speak up, what happened."
"Hehe, brother knows me best… It's nothing big really, it's just…"
"It's just what? Spit it out."
"It's just... that Mu Di Bai."
Li Chang Hu's face darkened, as he was suddenly reminded that he had run into Mu Di Bai this morning, although luckily it seemed like the old coot hadn't noticed him this time around, and he was able to get away without a verbal barrage. "What the hell did that old scoundrel do this time? Didn't I tell you not to mention that name in front of me if it's not important?"
"He came into my classroom this morning stringing along one of the underperforming students and said the student was getting harassed and berated me for not telling off the bullies."
"Hmph, that old scoundrel is just looking for trouble, ignore him. Since when has he cared about the ordinary students. If you don't respond to him, he'll get bored and stop bothering you after a while,"
"But brother… he looked really serious and he left a threat."
"What the hell does that old coot know about teaching. It's normal that the underperformers get bullied a bit. If they can't deal with this little bit of trouble, how are they going to survive once they're out of the academy? If they know what's good for them, they'll practice twice as hard."
"But brother…"
"No buts. This is how things work in the martial world. Do you think we're raising kittens? If one of our students gets coddled here, goes out in the martial world and gets bullied, or worse killed, who will they have to complain to then? You may think you're protecting them, but are only harming them. Harming them do you understand?"
Li Chang Yin had an awkward expression on his face, "Brother… You have to let me finish my sentences."
Li Chang Hu apologized with no remorse on his face, "Sorry Xiao Yin."
"Brother I don't disagree with you, it's just that that Mu Di Bai… Mu Di Bai said…"
With a crying look on his face Li Chang Yin took out the stone that Mu Di Bai had left "That it has to be resolved by the next time he sees me and slammed a superior quality spirit stone on my desk saying it was payment. This is blatantly threating me, right? And you know what happened the last time…" Li Chang Yin trailed off, not wanting to stab at the one piece of dark history in Li Chang Hu's otherwise perfect life.
It should be mentioned here that Li Chang Hu was a star teacher who after just three years of teaching had gotten the support of a large population of the student base, despite their differing backgrounds and had made it into the ranks of grand teachers at the young age of 27. This may not seem impressive, but it should be known that the Academy was a rather famous place, and the grand teachers here were typically old seniors approaching their hundreds. Ignoring the necessity of reputation and student support, one also had to have a minimum of a Nascent Soul level cultivation. In this aspect Li Chang Hu was truly a genius being able to manage his cultivation and teaching career at the same time, especially at such a young age.
Li Chang Hu's face darked another shade.
"Hehe. Little brother, are you asking for me to take to take the fall for you?" Li Chang Hu started smiling.
Li Chang Yin's back was suddenly filled with sweat, "No, no, no, brother I was just hoping… hoping..."
"Hoping that big brother would take the fall for you?" Li Chang Hu's smile tightened a degree.
"I was just hoping you could come with me to talk to… Talk to senior Mu."
"No."
"BROTHER!"
"Aiya, look at the time, I think it's time you head back to your room Xiao Yin."
"Brother!!! How could you leave me, your one blood related brother to die like this."
"Hehe, Xiao Yin, this is just a process, a process, brother can't protect you from everything."
"Brother…"
"Ah, Xiao Yin," Li Chang Hu suddenly felt very relaxed, "It's time you departed from the nest, brother can't protect you anymore. Facing some hardships is good for the youth, good for the youth. Hahaha."
Li Chang Yin tried his last card before using "that thing", "Brother… please, for the sake of mother… You always said you'd help me become an outstanding young man right? How can I still become outstanding if… if… if *that* happens to me."
Li Chang Hu's face constricted. "Are you saying that your brother, I, am not outstanding?"
"Brother that's not what I'm saying, it's just, can you really see me suffer like that?"
"Hmph."
Li Chang Yin's heart hardened. "Brother… if you don't help me this time, I'll tell all the female teachers about what happened."
Li Chang Hu's face darkened. "Hehe. Little brat, it seems you've grown up now. But did you ever consider if anyone will believe you? At most they'll think you're angry at me and making a joke."
Li Chang Yin decided to use his final card, "Brother, I have a recording stone…"
The room fell silent.
One second, two seconds, a minute passed and not a word was said.
Suddenly, the two brothers…
"Hahaha."
"Hahaha."
"Good brother, you'll help me out right?"
"Of course, my good younger brother, who will help you if I don't."
Li Chang Hu squinted, "But younger brother that thing you spoke of…"
Li Chang Yin gave a sunny smile, "What thing? I don't know what you're talking about."
Li Chang Hu smiled before… taking off his shoe and throwing it at Li Chang Yin.
Li Chang Yin who had a footprint on his face. "..!"
Li Chang Hu, "Do you think I can't discipline you anymore? Brother is already helping you with the Mu Di Bai situation. Get rid of it."
"Yes brother…"
"Good. We'll go together in two days time just after sunrise, I'm free then.
"It's agreed then."