Grasshoppers on a Rope

The next day, Meng Li brought Na'er to register at the school. The moment they entered, Na'er heard whispers and gossip, nearly all of it about her brother. None of it was good.

The record holder for skipping class, Red Mountain Academy's worst student, the number one slacker, the one who had been called to the office more times than anyone else.

Meng Li had grown used to hearing it and did not care, but Na'er did. In her heart, her brother was the best person in the world, the strongest person in the world. How could she let others slander him like this?

On the way to the administrative office, her little fists remained tightly clenched. She wanted to stand up for her brother.

"Na'er, let those unimportant people say what they want. They're just a bunch of elementary school kids who haven't received much education. They'll get better when they grow up." Meng Li patted Na'er on the head.

"But... but Na'er is so angry." Na'er's face was filled with indignation.

They're still young, so please don't let them off. Meng Li suddenly thought of those words and stopped walking. "Na'er is angry, right? Then I'll make sure Na'er isn't angry anymore."

Noticing Meng Li stop, the elementary school students from the Soul Master Class froze. Their hearts skipped a beat as a bad feeling welled up inside them, but that did not stop their mockery.

A pair of snow-white wings spread from behind Meng Li. The girl held in the arms of the figure clad in pale golden armor and a brown cloak slowly appeared. She wore a red crown, and in her hand was a long spear with a golden spearhead, a black shaft, and a blood-red gemstone at the butt.

A colorless surge of Soul Power burst from the girl like a gust of wind. Centered on Meng Li and Na'er, it blew everyone else to the ground. Among those knocked down were even Soul Grand Masters, showing just how powerful that Soul Power was. Yet strangely, it only affected people and avoided all the academy's facilities.

"You little brats, stop wagging your tongues. My strength isn't something you can afford to provoke." After Meng Li spoke, the Sacred Winged Angel Martial Soul behind him vanished without a trace.

"This time is only a warning. Next time, being blown over won't be all that happens.

"And this person beside me is my little sister. If anyone dares bully her, heh heh."

As Meng Li spoke, he looked toward a huge tree in the distance and threw a punch. In an instant, the tree was reduced to ashes, leaving not even a scrap behind.

Everyone was stunned by that terrifying power and swallowed hard. They silently decided to stay far away from those two in the future.

Some innocent people among them looked at one another, wondering what had happened today for them to be so unlucky.

No one made trouble for Meng Li. The adults felt that arguing with a seven-year-old child would be beneath them, while the children simply did not dare.

"Brother, you're amazing!" Na'er followed behind him, her big eyes full of admiration.

"Of course I'm amazing. I was afraid you'd get bullied at school later, so I made some friends for you in advance."

"Mm." As Meng Li said this, his eyelid twitched. He raised his hand and counted to three, and then a woman's furious shout rang out.

"Meng Li, you've got some nerve! Is the academy a place for you to fight? Well, well, a few months without seeing you, and you've gotten stronger, haven't you? On the first day of school, you knocked down your classmates and their parents!" Lin Ximeng angrily twisted Meng Li's ear.

Meng Li let out a helpless sigh and allowed her to twist his ear without resisting. He knew Lin Ximeng was helping him. After causing such trouble, if she did not do this, he might very well be expelled.

"Big sister, don't bully my brother." Na'er grabbed Lin Ximeng's hand with her little hand. She did not know right from wrong; she only knew that no one could bully her brother.

"And who is this?"

"My little sister. Her name is Na'er, and today is her first day registering." Meng Li said with an awkward smile.

Lin Ximeng took a deep breath. She first released Meng Li's ear, then crouched down and rubbed Na'er's hair. "Na'er, I'm educating him. You haven't started school yet, so you don't know how serious a mistake he made."

Na'er only half understood. "Anyway, you can't bully my brother."

"Your parents gave birth to a good little sister." Lin Ximeng sighed. "Take her to register first."

"Brother?" Na'er said.

"Let's go. Teacher won't bully me." Meng Li took Na'er's little hand and gave her a reassuring expression.

Na'er stared at Lin Ximeng again and again. In the end, she chose to believe her brother and followed him to register.

Once Meng Li left, Lin Ximeng sighed. What was coming had finally come.

"Lin Ximeng, look at the fine student you taught. What impressive skills—he actually knocked down most of the students in the entire school. Your student has certainly brought you glory."

Lin Ximeng gave the same awkward smile Meng Li had earlier. Turning to the middle-aged man standing before her with his hands behind his back, she said, "Director, I'll definitely educate him properly. He actually dared to start a group fight at school. I'll make him write a proper five-thousand-word Self-Criticism."

"It has to be profound, understand? And remember, if a child is not taught properly, it is the father's fault. As his teacher, just as the saying goes, a teacher is like a father or mother. You must take responsibility too. Write a five-thousand-word Self-Criticism as well."

"Understood." This mouth of mine... If I'd known, I would have punished Meng Li less. Truly, hurting the enemy by a thousand only hurts myself by a thousand. Lin Ximeng repeatedly agreed and did not dare act out before the director.

"Mm, and he..."

For the next half hour, Lin Ximeng was berated by the director until her scalp went numb under the gazes of the teachers and students.

"You may go now. Remember to reflect on yourself properly, understood?"

"Yes, yes, yes. I'll definitely reflect properly." Meng Li, you're finished. If I don't lecture you for a whole week, my surname isn't Lin. Lin Ximeng withdrew with a smile.

"Director Shen, come to my office." A balding middle-aged man passed by the director who had just berated Lin Ximeng, his hands clasped behind his back.

Director Shen repeatedly agreed. Five minutes later, even fiercer curses and a man's humble apologies could be heard from the principal's office.

An hour later, the reprimand finally ended with Teacher Shen being ordered to write a ten-thousand-word Self-Criticism.

Even Meng Li himself had not expected that one fight would cause his teacher and the director to be punished along with him.

The elementary school students and parents who had just been blown over looked at one another, unsure whether they should demand justice or simply let it go, but they could not swallow this grievance.

The parents then surrounded the principal and gave him an earful. In the end, the disturbance caused by the fight concluded with the principal writing a Self-Criticism.

Meng Li, Lin Ximeng, Director Shen, and the principal were like grasshoppers tied to the same rope—pull one, and the whole group moved.

After this incident, no one in Red Mountain Academy ever dared trouble Meng Li and Na'er again. They all feared Meng Li.

There were rumors that several fools had once blocked Meng Li and Na'er's path. The next day, those fools ended up in the hospital for an entire semester.

Meng Li held the top spot on the strength rankings, unshakable by anyone. He could even fight a level-twenty Soul Grandmaster, let alone those who were not even Soul Masters.

Na'er ranked second on the strength rankings because Meng Li protected her.

Back to the matter at hand.

After Na'er was sent off to register, Meng Li wanted to climb over the wall and lie low for a few days before returning to class.