Having Shared Misfortune

After selling last night's spoils, the four brothers had a wonderful breakfast at a stall on Academy Street.

Flatbreads and fried dough sticks, milk tea and soy milk, steamed buns and shumai—their meal cost them nearly a hundred Demon Spirit Coins.

But that was pocket change to them.

Besides, money was a bastard. Once you spent it, you could just earn more.

Second period that morning was practical combat training.

All the students in the junior martial arts class were still practicing Iron Sand Palm in the clay pots, just like yesterday.

Xian Wu showed up, too.

He hadn't caught a cold at all. He'd only worn a cloak and face covering to hide his shame.

Tie Kuang crossed in front of Xian Wu with his arms folded, a hint of apology on his face.

When you were under someone's roof, you had to bow your head. The Sacred Family wasn't someone a minor noble like him could afford to offend.

Besides, offending a noble student for the sake of a commoner student wasn't a wise move, however you looked at it.

"Reporting in! I'd like to test my own strength!" someone suddenly called out.

Tie Kuang looked toward the voice and saw Shen Yue raising his hand.

"Very good! Our class representative has admirable courage. Let's give him a round of applause." Tie Kuang started clapping first.

The students joined in, but the applause from Xian Wu's group was so sparse it might as well not have existed.

"The Sacred Family's scions sure are something," Lu Piao muttered. "They even need everyone to applaud them for a simple test."

Lu Piao disliked Shen Yue, especially his air of superiority, as if he were better than everyone else. He swaggered around like he owned the place. What was he so proud of? He was only like that because he had a good father.

"It's mainly because our instructor likes sucking up to him. Can't be helped." Xian Wu shrugged. He hated Shen Yue, too. Not only had he stolen the seat beside his darling Ning'er, he'd also taken his class representative position. Absolutely infuriating.

Nie Li nodded. "What's there to be proud of? He's just a pill-fed medicine jar who grew up relying on his family. Xian Wu doesn't even need to step in—I could punch the crap out of him."

He didn't like Shen Yue either.

First, Shen Yue was a lapdog of the Sacred Family.

Second, in his previous life, Shen Yue had mocked and humiliated him at every opportunity, relying on his privileged background and exceptional talent.

Finally, in his previous life, Shen Yue had been engaged to Ye Zi Yun. In this life, he was naturally Nie Li's rival in love.

All things considered, Nie Li disliked Shen Yue intensely—the kind of dislike that made him want to beat him up every time they met.

While the three brothers whispered among themselves, Shen Yue left the line and began his test with Tie Kuang's help.

"Pass if you can pierce this plank with your fingers. Go ahead." Tie Kuang held the plank horizontally with both hands and explained.

"Understood, Instructor Tie Kuang." Shen Yue stood with his hands behind his back, chin raised, looking utterly proud.

His strength was an impressive 68. Breaking a plank two fen thick would be child's play.

Shen Yue extended his dragon claw and confidently jabbed at the plank.

As everyone watched expectantly, three fingernail marks appeared on the wood.

"Hey, Wu, did anything just happen?" Lu Piao asked with a mischievous grin.

Xian Wu shrugged and deliberately spoke loudly. "Looks like our class representative gave the plank a corn."

"Fine work, fine work. Looks like you've had plenty of practice at home," Nie Li said, clapping sarcastically.

The three brothers were especially pleased to see Shen Yue make a fool of himself.

Hearing them, Shen Yue turned green with rage. His chest heaved as he raised his hand and tried again.

This time, Shen Yue put in all his strength and jabbed the plank with a thud.

The marks went a little deeper than before, but he still hadn't pierced the wood.

Just as the three brothers were about to keep mocking him, the plank in Instructor Tie Kuang's hands snapped in two.

All the students who had been watching the test were stunned. They hadn't expected Shen Yue to split the plank in two with a single claw.

"Has Shen Yue's strength already reached Bronze Rank?"

"That's incredible! Is this what the scions of a Peak Family can do?"

"Great! Now we can learn Tiger Fist!"

Instructor Tie Kuang held up the two pieces of wood and announced loudly, "Good! Our class representative has passed the challenge."

Shen Yue's haughty smile returned. He lifted his chin, shot the three brothers a provocative look, and swaggered over.

"Who just said I gave it a corn? Step forward!" Shen Yue said angrily.

Xian Wu slowly rose to his feet and looked down at Shen Yue. In a gruff voice, he said, "I did. So what?"

As the two stood together, Lu Piao suddenly realized that Xian Wu had grown quite a bit taller. He was about two inches taller than Shen Yue.

Was it his imagination? Lu Piao scratched his head.

When they first enrolled, Xian Wu had been fairly short.

"So what? You dare ask me that?" Shen Yue suddenly grabbed Xian Wu by the collar, his eyes cold.

"I broke the plank. Can you do that? What gives you the right to say such things, you lowly piece of commoner trash?"

He'd been looking for a chance to teach this guy a lesson ever since he dared talk back to his aunt in public. He hadn't expected the idiot to walk right into his hands today.

"Trash?" Xian Wu frowned, then smiled. "Are you introducing yourself?"

"Anyone with eyes can see Instructor Tie Kuang snapped the plank for you. You should've just taken the chance to back down, but instead you've come here to humiliate yourself..."

"Bullshit! I broke that plank myself!" Shen Yue flew into a rage and swung a punch at Xian Wu's face.

Beneath his cloak, Xian Wu's left hand twitched, eager to move.

If this kid dared lay a hand on him today, Xian Wu would make sure he ended up standing in front of everyone with his bare ass showing.

"Stop!" Instructor Tie Kuang grabbed Shen Yue by the arm.

He glared at Xian Wu and barked, "Xian Wu, you're disrupting class. Go run a hundred laps around the Training Ground. Now, immediately!"

"Why?" Xian Wu protested, holding his ground.

"You have two choices: go by yourself, or I'll kick you there." As he spoke, Tie Kuang pried open Shen Yue's other hand.

Xian Wu patted the dirt off his collar, snorted, and turned to run toward the Training Ground.

Shen Yue watched Xian Wu's retreating back like a venomous snake.

He'd have his lackeys gathered in a couple of days. Then he'd make sure this arrogant commoner got what was coming to him!

If he didn't beat him until he cried for his mother, he'd change his own name.

"What are you two doing? Get back here!" Tie Kuang suddenly shouted.

Shen Yue looked up and saw that Nie Li and Lu Piao were running toward the Training Ground, joining Xian Wu in his punishment.

"You guys..." Xian Wu felt a lump in his throat.

Nie Li nodded and smiled. "Good brothers share blessings and stand together through hardship!"

"My legs were getting a little numb from crouching. I just wanted to stretch them," Lu Piao said, not meaning a word of it.

"I understand." Xian Wu nodded firmly. "Good brothers stick together!"

To Tie Kuang's surprise, Du Ze, Wei Nan, Zhang Ming, and Zhu Jun Xiang also ran over, spurred on by Nie Li and Lu Piao.

The sight of the seven running shoulder to shoulder around the Training Ground was quite spectacular.

Shen Yue narrowed his eyes. Looks like he'd need to recruit at least seven Bronze Warriors as lackeys.