Chapter 128

Master Zheng tidied up his documents, straightened his back, and walked out. Before he stepped out the door, not a single student dared to make a sound. The classroom was quiet until he could no longer see anyone, at which point it suddenly became noisy.

Si Ming finished tidying up his textbooks and was about to leave when he tripped in the aisle and almost fell. Turning around, he saw Si Qi, the culprit, making a "I'm just pretending to look at the scenery" expression.

Si Ming sighed and said, "Don't do that again next time, it's pointless."

It's one thing to scheme against adults, but to argue with a group of children is just too childish. His answer was just right, neither too weak to make them want to bully him further, nor too forceful to make them angry and want to prove them wrong. Children usually do things on a whim and forget them as soon as they turn their heads, so you can't take them too seriously.

Si Qi pursed her lips, looking like she'd made a fool of herself, but didn't continue to make things difficult for her.

However, Si Qi wasn't the only one harboring resentment.

"What's the use of just being good at studying? If you can't cultivate Internal Cultivation, you're destined to be a useless person. Nowadays, whether you're cooking, driving, or watching TV, you need to use True Qi. Without True Qi, you'll have to live like a caveman."

The one who spoke was the student whom Master Zheng had called out to practice horse stance. His name was Si Chao, and he was three years older than Si Ming. He was usually fond of bird fighting and dog racing, and was mischievous.

In fact, it wasn't just him; most of the men in the Si Clan were spoiled brats. After all, they were pampered from childhood, so it was hard for them not to be unruly. Oppression would only provoke strong resistance, while the gentle embrace of women could truly erode one's ambition. The Si Clan understood this well, so they strictly disciplined the women in the clan while indulging the men.

Si Ming ignored the provocation and walked away as if he hadn't heard a thing.

"You dare ignore me, kid?"

Si Chao reached out to grab Si Ming's shoulder, but a pencil suddenly pierced through the air, the tip striking his wrist precisely, causing him to pull back in pain.

"You're not allowed to bully Brother Ming!"

Si Huaruo stood behind Si Ming like a tiger whose territory had been invaded, baring her teeth and claws.

Si Chao rubbed his reddened wrist, not daring to step forward. He had witnessed Si Huaruo's prowess before. Although she was a head shorter than him, she relied on her Level Two Internal Cultivation, and basically no one among her peers could defeat Si Huaruo.

"Look everyone, that coward Si Ming only knows how to hide behind girls. Am I right? He's a good-for-nothing who'll need girls to protect him for the rest of his life."

Si Chao's shouting attracted a crowd of onlookers, some curious, some disdainful.

If Si Ming were truly a child, he would definitely refuse Si Huaruo's protection at this moment, and even knowing he couldn't win, he would still challenge Si Chao to a duel to protect his pride as a boy. But as an adult, why would he care about such a provocation?

What's wrong with clinging to someone's coattails? You'll find out once you enter the workforce that you either have to be the one to climb the ladder or you have to cling to someone else's coattails. If you're unwilling to do either, you'll just end up living a mediocre life at the feet of others.

Even if we take a step back and say you have a beautiful young woman as your bodyguard, what is there to complain about?

If you don't cherish such a great opportunity, no wonder you can only be jealous of others who won at the starting line when you grow up.

"So what if I protect you for life? I'd be willing. Someone as worthless as you, I wouldn't protect you even if you begged me."

Si Huaruo said indignantly, her golden hair standing on end in anger.

Si Ming person involved, remained unusually calm and advised, "Don't pay any attention to this kind of person, let's go."

"No, I must teach him a lesson this time! He's incompetent, and when the Master reprimands him, instead of reflecting on his own actions, he shifts the blame onto others. That kind of person is truly useless. The Master said that a person's strength is not determined by their physical power, but by their spirit. Si Chao, you're a coward for not daring to face your shortcomings!"

Si Huaruo spoke with righteous indignation, and her words resonated with her friends.

"Yes, yes, that's what the Master said."

"Actually, there's nothing wrong with being protected by girls. In our Si Clan, women have always been in charge."

"Si Chao is so much older than Si Ming, how dare he say that? He only dares to bully Si Ming because he doesn't know martial arts. When he encounters Si Huaruo, who is stronger than him, he doesn't dare to speak up. As the Master said, this kind of person is called a bully who preys on the weak and fears the strong."

"That doesn't make Si Huaruo seem like the villain, does it? She should be the one who bullies the weak and fears the strong."

Public opinion shifted instantly. Si Chao, still just a child, didn't know how to handle the situation. His face flushed red, and he roared, "Don't think I'm really afraid of you!"

After saying that, he pounced with a move called "Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain," relying on his larger size and intending to win by brute force.

"You can't even execute Fierce Tiger Fist properly; what right do you have to look down on Brother Ming?"

Si Huaruo lightly touched the ground with her toes, her body fluttering like a butterfly. With a graceful spin, she dodged Si Chao's outstretched claws and simultaneously pressed in, her small handprint aimed at his abdomen. It was the Jade Wave Palm from the Water Moon Precious Mirror. It seemed like only one strike, but in reality, three streams of energy surged in like waves.

With a "whoosh," Si Chao flew out like a thrown sandbag, knocking over two desks, his face contorted in pain like an orange peel.

Si Huaruo sneered, "I haven't even put in any effort, how come you've already collapsed?"

"Si Huaruo, you brat! Not only are you ugly, but your hair is even uglier—a yellowish-brown mess that looks like a pile of poop. You'll be wearing poop for the rest of your life. Let's see who marries you then."

Si Chao was surprisingly tough. Despite being in excruciating pain, he refused to back down, cursing loudly while shedding tears, and the others joined in the jeering.

"You, you actually said something about my hair..."

When Si Huaruo was told what she cared about most, her eyes immediately reddened, her lips trembled, and she looked like she was about to cry.

"That's why kids are such a hassle."

Si Ming sighed, grabbed Si Huaruo, and ran quickly outside.

After running for about ten minutes, he turned around to make sure no one was chasing him before gradually slowing down.

"Don't worry about it. Si Chao is just a sore loser, that's why he's talking bad about you. He won't say that when he grows up."

"... Brother Ming, is my hair really that ugly?" Si Huaruo asked, her head bowed, her voice trembling with tears. "Everyone says my hair looks like... like... do you think so too? But my hair doesn't smell at all! I can just shave it all off, or dye it black with ink. Please don't hate me, okay?"

Si Ming asked, puzzled, "When did I say I disliked you? Your hair is beautiful; they just don't know how to appreciate it."

"Brother Ming, you don't need to comfort me. I know my hair is ugly. Everyone else has black hair, but mine is blonde, which is why they don't want to be friends with me. Even if you don't think that way now, Brother Ming, you'll start to think that way after hearing it so many times in the future."

Si Huaruo seemed lost in her own fantasy world, shaking her head and refusing to listen to Si Ming's advice, sobbing sadly.

Seeing this, Si Ming couldn't help but sigh again. Children's tempers are like summer thunderstorms, coming unexpectedly.

"Come with me."