Standing Up for His Brother

After three consecutive days of grueling cultivation, Li Bufan felt that his strength had improved, and he had been in high spirits. But that evening, when he went to the Academy to pick up Ping'an as usual, he keenly sensed that something was off with his younger brother's mood.

The little fellow did not come running out with his usual bounce and cheer. Instead, he walked out slowly with his head lowered, no smile on his little face, looking somewhat sullen.

"Ping'an, what's wrong? Were you unhappy at the Academy today?" Li Bufan took his brother's hand and asked gently.

Ping'an's little hand shrank back slightly. His eyes darted away as he stammered, "N-No, Brother. It was fine."

Li Bufan could tell that his brother had something on his mind, but he did not press him right away. He merely rubbed his head. "As long as you're fine. Come on, let's go home. Brother will stew some meat for you tonight."

"Mm." Ping'an answered softly, still lacking spirit.

All the way home, Ping'an remained unusually quiet. He did not chatter away about interesting things from the Academy as he usually did. Li Bufan's doubts deepened, but his expression did not change. He simply held his brother's hand a little tighter.

When they got home, Ping'an merely picked at the rice in his bowl during dinner, eating absentmindedly. Even his favorite stewed meat seemed unable to tempt him.

Li Bufan saw it all, and it pained his heart. He set down his bowl and chopsticks, looked at his brother, and softened his voice further. "Ping'an, tell Brother. Did someone bully you? Did you suffer some grievance at the Academy?"

Ping'an suddenly raised his head. His eyes were slightly red, but he still shook his head hard, his voice carrying a trace of a sob. "No... Brother, really, no. Hurry and eat." With that, he quickly lowered his head again.

Li Bufan knew that his brother was stubborn. He would get nothing from asking now. He stopped pursuing the matter, but a thorn had already lodged itself in his heart. He would never allow anyone to bully his little brother!

Early the next morning, Li Bufan sent Ping'an to the Academy as usual. Watching his brother's somewhat heavy footsteps as he entered, Li Bufan's gaze narrowed slightly.

He did not leave immediately. Instead, he found a relatively secluded patch of open ground nearby, one that still allowed him to see the Academy entrance. Several old trees and a low wall provided cover, making him difficult to spot.

He assumed his stance and began practicing the three forms of the Nameless Fist Technique. This time, however, his mind was not wholly immersed in cultivation. He kept part of his attention fixed on the Academy.

His movements appeared slow, yet every strike and form contained tremendous power and precise control over his body. Meanwhile, his ears were like those of the most alert cheetah, catching the intermittent sounds of children playing in the wind.

Time trickled by. When school let out in the afternoon, Li Bufan finished his practice early and silently concealed himself behind a crumbling wall, his sharp gaze fixed on the Academy entrance.

The children poured out in a chattering swarm. Before long, he spotted Ping'an. The little fellow had his head down, clearly wanting to leave as quickly as possible.

Just then, several boys dressed far better than Ping'an, boys who clearly came from wealthy families, surrounded him and blocked his path.

One chubby boy pointed at Ping'an and shouted in an exaggeratedly mocking tone, "Hey! Li Ping'an, where's that brother of yours who stinks of sweat every day and looks like a menial servant? Why didn't he come pick you up today? Did he think you were embarrassing and decide he didn't want you anymore?"

Another tall boy joined in. "Exactly! He dresses in rags and has some weird smell on him. He must be some servant doing odd jobs at a manor! Maybe he carries out chamber pots! Hahaha!"

Ping'an's little face instantly flushed crimson. He abruptly raised his head, eyes wide and round, and shouted back, "You're talking nonsense! My brother isn't a menial servant! He's a warrior! He's a guard at Lin Manor! He's amazing!"

His voice carried grievance and anger, yet it sounded somewhat weak.

Instead of holding back, those boys laughed even harder.

"A guard? Him? Stop boasting!" The fat boy snorted disdainfully. "Which of Lin Manor's guards isn't imposing and majestic? What part of your brother looks like one? He probably washes the guards' horses!"

"Exactly! A warrior? Who are you trying to fool? Who would believe that?" The other children chimed in as well, their words sharp and cruel.

Ping'an's eyes reddened from their taunts. His little fists clenched tightly, yet he did not know how to argue back. He could only repeat, "My brother is! He really is amazing!"

But the children only laughed louder, surrounding Ping'an as though they were watching some amusing joke.

Behind the low wall, Li Bufan took in every word. His face darkened at once, and his eyes turned as cold as the ice of the bitterest winter.

So that was it!

These ignorant children's ridicule and mockery had wronged Ping'an! They actually dared to belittle and insult Li Bufan's younger brother like this!

A surge of fury rushed to his head, but he forcibly suppressed it.

Seeing Ping'an's stubborn little figure standing alone and helpless, holding back tears, Li Bufan felt both pain and rage.

He slowly rose from behind the broken wall, but he did not immediately head for the Academy entrance. Instead, he straightened the old clothes on his body, worn and stained with the sweat of his martial training. They were his usual practice clothes, not the guard uniform issued by Lin Manor.

Then he strode toward the children at an unhurried pace. His steps were steady and powerful, his back straight. Though his clothes were ordinary, after reaching Minor Mastery in Muscle Tempering, he naturally carried a lean, capable air unlike that of ordinary commoners.

He did not release any terrifying aura, but as he approached, that quiet presence with its hidden strength still made the laughing children instinctively fall silent. They stared at him in surprise and apprehension.

Ping'an saw his brother too. He froze for a moment, then panic flashed through his eyes, as though he feared that his brother had heard those ugly words.

Li Bufan walked to Ping'an's side and stopped. He did not look at the other children. Instead, he first reached out and gently rubbed his brother's head, his tone calm and warm. "Little Brother, school's out? Come on, let's go home."

His appearance had been so sudden, and his manner so calm, that the provoking children were instead left at a loss.

The fat boy gathered his courage and tried to say something. "You..."

Only then did Li Bufan slowly turn his head, his calm gaze sweeping over the children. His eyes were not fierce, yet they held the unquestionable authority unique to an adult, along with the sharpness unique to a warrior.

He merely looked at them once without saying a word.

Yet that single look made the boys who had been so arrogant moments ago seem as if their throats had been seized. All their remaining words choked back down, and they instinctively took a step back, fear appearing on their faces. No matter how unruly they were, they could sense that this man was different from the poor children they usually bullied.

Li Bufan ignored them again, took Ping'an's hand, and kept his tone gentle. "Let's go."

Ping'an blankly let his brother lead him away. He could not help turning back to glance at those classmates, now silent as cicadas in winter. His little face was filled with surprise and... a faint sense of finally holding his head high?

After they had walked several steps, Li Bufan finally spoke lightly. His voice was not loud, but it was enough for the children behind them to hear. "Little Brother, remember this. A person's worth lies in the heart and in the bones, not in clothing, and even less in idle tongues. Cultivate well from now on. Once you are strong enough, gossip and slander will naturally scatter."

These words were both guidance for Ping'an and a silent reply to the children behind them.

Ping'an nodded hard and tightly gripped his brother's hand. His earlier gloom vanished in an instant, and his little chest unconsciously puffed out.

Watching the brothers' retreating backs, the children looked at one another, unable to utter another mocking word.

On the way home, Ping'an became unusually lively, chattering nonstop as though he wanted to vent all the pent-up gloom from before.

Li Bufan listened with a smile, but he had already made up his mind.

It seemed that becoming strong himself was not enough. If he wanted his brother to no longer be looked down upon, then as his elder brother, he could not remain too low-key in daily life.

The unpleasantness outside the Academy yesterday hung over the brothers' hearts like a thin shadow. After returning home, the atmosphere was somewhat stifling. Li Bufan silently lit the fire and cooked, while Ping'an sat obediently on a little stool, sneaking glances at his brother from time to time.

At the dinner table, Li Bufan still ate like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds, but Ping'an ate rather slowly. At last, he set down his chopsticks and softly broke the silence. "Brother... I'm sorry."

Li Bufan paused, lowering his chopsticks. "Silly little brother, what do you have to apologize to Brother for?"

"I... I shouldn't have argued with them yesterday..." Ping'an lowered his head, his voice becoming even softer. "I embarrassed you."

Li Bufan's heart ached. He set down his bowl and looked seriously at his brother. "Ping'an, you did nothing wrong. The ones at fault were those people who judge others by their clothes and speak maliciously. You defended Brother. Brother is happy, and proud of you. Remember, though we may be poor, our aspirations must not be short. Our bones must be hard, but there is no need to fight ignorant children for the fleeting pleasure of winning an argument. True confidence comes from here." He pointed to his heart, then clenched his fist. "And here."

Ping'an seemed to understand only part of it, but his brother had not blamed him. Instead, he had encouraged him, making him feel much better. He nodded vigorously. "Mm! I'll remember it, Brother!"

Just after dawn broke, Li Bufan got up. Today, he did not immediately put on his old training clothes. Instead, he fetched clean water, washed up carefully, combed his hair neatly, and tied it efficiently behind his head with a blue-green ribbon.

Then he opened the wardrobe and took out the Second-Class Guard uniform issued by Lin Manor, which he had never worn before: a blue-black fitted outfit, thick and crisp, its edges embroidered with simple Cloud Patterns in dark thread. It was understated, yet radiated competence. He put it on carefully, tightened his belt, and hung the Hundred Refinements Steel Saber at his waist.

Finally, he adjusted his collar in the reflection of the washbasin. The water showed a youth utterly different from his former self. His clothes fit him perfectly, accentuating his tall, straight frame and vibrant bearing. Long-term martial training had given him a well-proportioned body filled with strength. With the dust washed away, the heroic air between his brows flourished, his eyes sharp and clear. He was, astonishingly, a rare handsome young man with a heroic spirit!

Ping'an was awakened by the rustling sounds. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up and looked blearily at his brother. The instant he saw Li Bufan's attire clearly, his eyes flew wide open, his little mouth opening wide enough to fit an egg inside. All sleepiness vanished!

"B-Brother?!" he cried out, his eyes seeming to sparkle with stars. "You... you look so handsome! You look amazing! Brother, are you dressing up so nicely because you're going to find me a sister-in-law?" In the little fellow's simple understanding, putting on new clothes and dressing smartly probably meant going to meet a prospective bride.

Li Bufan burst into laughter at his brother's words. He walked to the bedside and rubbed Ping'an's messy hair. "What nonsense are you thinking about at such a young age? Brother is going to work at Lin Manor. There's an operation at the manor today, and we were ordered to be fully prepared so as not to disgrace Lin Manor. Perfect timing—I'll send you to school in grand style on the way!"

This small lie both explained why he had changed clothes and took care of his brother's feelings.

"Really? That's great!" Ping'an immediately grew excited. He climbed out of bed at once, washed up at top speed, and his little face shone with excitement and pride.

The brothers went out and each ate a steaming bowl of Yangchun Noodles from a roadside stall. Sure enough, they attracted quite a few gazes along the way. Li Bufan's brand-new guard uniform, representing Lin Manor's influence, stood out particularly sharply in this district where commoners lived.

"Oh, look at that young man. He's a guard from Lin Manor, isn't he? What a fine spirit!"

"He looks so young, yet he's already so promising!"

"Isn't that the Li Family's eldest son? Wearing that outfit, he looks like an entirely different person!"

"His little brother is with him too. Look how proud that little fellow is..."

Most of the passersby's pointing and hushed comments carried envy and admiration. Ping'an stayed close beside his brother. Hearing the words around him, he held his little chest high, unable to hide the joy and pride on his face. Yesterday's unhappiness had long since been cast beyond the nine heavens.

As they neared the Academy, they indeed encountered those children from yesterday again. Seeing Li Bufan transformed, brimming with heroic spirit and carrying a steel saber at his waist, they all froze. Surprise and a trace of fear appeared on their faces. They stopped from a distance, no longer daring to come forward and utter a single idle remark.

Neither Li Bufan nor Ping'an looked at them, as though they did not exist. Ping'an merely lifted his little head even higher, like a proud young rooster.

At the Academy entrance, Li Bufan stopped and adjusted his brother's collar. "Go on, little brother. Study well."

"Mm! Got it, Brother! Go do your work!" Ping'an replied happily, his voice loud and clear. He waved at his brother, then turned and skipped into the Academy as though the wind had sprung beneath his feet.

Watching his brother's cheerful back, Li Bufan's lips curved into a faint smile.