Su Bai's Bastard Uncle / Someone... Gave It to Me?

D-Class Magical Beast, Long-Eared Rabbit?

After hearing Niu Jun's explanation, Su Bai pictured a magical beast that looked much like an ordinary domestic rabbit.

Long-Eared Rabbits were also familiar to ordinary people, since most of the magical beast meat eaten by relatively well-off families came from them.

Long-Eared Rabbits usually stood two meters tall and were about five meters long. They were the weakest of all magical beasts, considerably weaker than the Iron-Horned Sheep, another D-Class Magical Beast. A Genin could usually hunt one alone.

However, the "Genin" here did not mean a weakling like Su Bai, who had only just raised his Chakra Level to 1 card and hadn't even mastered a D-Rank Ninjutsu.

Long-Eared Rabbits usually had around 80 cards of chakra. It was true that having more chakra didn't necessarily mean being stronger, but powerful ninja never lacked chakra!

The students who had just finished the college entrance exams simply didn't have that much chakra, so they could only rely on ninjutsu and skill to hunt Long-Eared Rabbits.

Even so, the failure rate was very high. Niu Jun just hadn't told Su Bai, for fear of undermining his confidence.

"Now that you understand, I'll pay out of my own pocket to give you a D-Rank Ninjutsu. Consider it my advance thanks for bringing honor to the school."

As he spoke, Niu Jun turned and took five scrolls from the bookcase behind him, placing them on the desk.

"Principal, you..."

"Haha." The stiff lines on Niu Jun's face shifted as he managed a smile. "These aren't school property. They're my personal belongings. Pick one."

As the longtime principal of Yangcheng No. 1 High School, Niu Jun hoped the school would keep improving and that every student could receive resources from the Federal Government.

At his age, after decades of weathering every hardship, what kind of scene hadn't he seen? Honors no longer mattered to him. He just wanted Yang City to produce a few more strong people.

Su Bai looked at the Ninjutsu Scrolls on the desk but didn't move.

Each scroll could only be used once. They hadn't been written by humans; they were obtained from magical beasts in Secret Realms, after risking one's life in battle. Every scroll was precious!

Even the lowest-grade D-Rank Ninjutsu Scroll cost over a million Federal Coins. That was why Su Bai, despite knowing the system would reward him handsomely for completing its task, hadn't considered doing it just yet.

He couldn't get ninjutsu on his own, and neither could his parents!

"Principal, thank you!" Su Bai's eyes grew a little misty.

But he didn't refuse the principal's kindness. He simply made a note in his heart of this favor!

At that moment, he suddenly felt a sense of belonging... a sense of belonging to Yangcheng No. 1 High School!

Chapter 16: Su Bai's Bastard Uncle

"Hey, have you heard? Su Bai apparently doesn't have to attend classes anymore."

"I heard. They say the old principal saw how talented he is and wants him to focus on intensive training these next few days!"

"I'm so jealous. The principal actually took a liking to him. I wish that were me."

"Can't be helped. He suddenly made a breakthrough and went from a bad student to one of the top students!"

Back in the classroom, the students were chatting excitedly about some news they'd heard from who knew where. Lin Hu's eyes widened as he listened.

"Man, I understand this bro less and less..."

By then, Su Bai, the subject of his classmates' "concern," had already been given an early vacation. He was supposed to have five more days of school and only get time off during the final week before the college entrance exams.

But now that he had received a Ninjutsu Scroll from Niu Jun, Wang Hai had specially approved him to go home and focus on practicing ninjutsu. If he had questions, he could call Chu Yuan for advice.

Before leaving, Su Bai had also asked Chu Yuan about chakra extraction. And Chu Yuan, a strong fighter who often battled magical beasts, had cleared up his confusion in just a few words, giving him plenty to think about.

Chu Yuan also thought highly of this "junior." They exchanged phone numbers, and Chu Yuan's willingness to look out for him was clear from the way he spoke.

Sitting on the bus, Su Bai patted his backpack in satisfaction. Inside was the Ninjutsu Scroll he'd chosen—Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!

"Even though I really wanted to choose the Body Flicker Technique, what I'm lacking more right now is an offensive ninjutsu!"

Of the five scrolls Niu Jun had given him, two were Genjutsu Scrolls, including the Body Flicker Technique and Headhunter Jutsu. Su Bai had dismissed the Genjutsu ones outright. His mental strength was still too weak, so practicing Genjutsu wouldn't be worth the effort.

The remaining scroll was Shadow Shuriken. He didn't want that one either, since shuriken in this world were just as useless as they were in the original. They were no good for anything except dealing with weak opponents.

Just imagine: humans facing magical beasts dozens or even hundreds of meters tall, tossing a couple of shuriken at them to scratch an itch? What a joke. They'd be better off firing off a burst from an AK.

Every ninja had to practice the Body Flicker Technique, and Su Bai was no exception.

The Body Flicker Technique gathered chakra in the feet to allow movement as swift as a gust of wind. The user moved so fast the naked eye couldn't follow, making it look to ordinary people as if the user had suddenly teleported.

The amount of chakra consumed depended on the distance and speed of the movement. All in all, it was a practical ninjutsu for both fighting and escaping.

If Su Bai already had an offensive ninjutsu... then he would definitely choose the Body Flicker Technique!

Unfortunately, he didn't, and the college entrance exams were fast approaching. If he wanted to get into Nine Provinces Academy, he had to defeat the Long-Eared Rabbit, and the key to beating it was having an offensive ninjutsu.

Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu was just what he needed. It made up for his current weakness and was an attack-focused ninjutsu.

The user burrowed underground with Earth Release. When the user launched the attack and emerged, cracks appeared in the ground. It was used to ambush opponents and avoid their attacks. Against ninja far weaker than the user, it often ended the fight in one move: the target's entire body was dragged underground, leaving only their head above the surface.

And if the target couldn't escape, they became "meat on the chopping board," completely at the attacker's mercy.

Like the Body Flicker Technique, this technique's range and speed were both affected by chakra. The more chakra the user put into it, the greater the speed and range of the attack!

It was a fairly impressive D-Rank Ninjutsu...

Having made up his mind, Su Bai stopped hesitating. He'd chosen it, so he might as well practice it properly. He'd have plenty of opportunities to get the Body Flicker Technique later.

With that thought, Su Bai closed his eyes and waited for the bus to reach his stop.

About an hour later, the bus's announcement sounded.

"Ding. Happiness Residential Complex."

Su Bai's eyes snapped open. He hopped off the bus with nimble movements and hurried toward home, taking the steps two at a time.

He soon reached his front door. Just as he was about to knock, he heard a heated argument inside.

"Look, brother-in-law, why send someone to college when you don't have the money? You might as well have Su Bai go work at the factory with you." A sleazy voice rang out, dripping with disdain. Su Bai recognized it as his good-for-nothing uncle by marriage, Zong Cheng!

"Zong Cheng, shut up! Do you want Xiaobai to end up as useless as us? Now that Xiaobai has finally shown this kind of talent, you're not supporting him—you're putting him down!" Another woman's voice snapped at Zong Cheng. It was his second aunt, Lin Xiumei!

Zong Cheng said, "I never said he shouldn't go to college! The problem is that his parents don't have the money, right? Besides, graduating from college doesn't mean he'll get a good job. There are several college graduates who play cards with me every day. How much better off are they than I am?"

"Don't talk nonsense! Those people chose to waste their lives. How could Xiaobai turn out like that? Keep running your mouth and get out! Don't come to my sister's house again!" Lin Xiumei seemed to have reached the end of her patience. She dropped all pretense and cursed him out!

Then Su Bai's mother, Lin Xiu'e, spoke up. "All right, all right. Both of you, calm down. I only asked you here today to talk it over. If you have money, you can contribute some. If not, we'll figure something else out. It's okay."

"That's right. Since Zong Cheng doesn't agree, Xiumei, don't insist. We know you mean well," Su Jianhong said helplessly. He didn't want Lin Xiumei to get angry at that bastard Zong Cheng over his family's affairs.

"That bastard's been the same for two lifetimes!" Su Bai cursed under his breath outside the door.

Zong Cheng had been a bastard both before and after Su Bai's transmigration. He spent all day playing cards and gambling, never coming home. His second aunt and cousin had cried over it countless times, but he never changed.

Things had been all right in his previous life. Society had been more stable, and his second aunt and cousin had managed well enough on her wages alone.

But this life was different. After the magical beasts invaded, everyone except ninja had to earn their money through hard labor. His second aunt's family was struggling, too.

A few years ago, his cousin had fallen ill and needed money for treatment, but Su Bai's bastard uncle by marriage had taken the money and gambled it away. His second aunt had been so furious she'd nearly taken her own life!

Zong Cheng's many misdeeds made Su Bai hate him. He felt indignant on behalf of his second aunt and cousin!

It was just that he was a junior in the family and couldn't speak up for them...

Knock, knock, knock!

Su Bai knocked hard on the door, interrupting the argument inside.

"Xiaobai? It's so early. Why are you back?" Lin Xiu'e asked in surprise after opening the door for him.

Su Bai stepped inside and smiled. "School's let out. I only have to go back once in a few days."

"So soon?" Lin Xiu'e muttered, but she didn't ask why.

"Second Aunt, Uncle Zong."

Su Bai greeted Lin Xiumei and Zong Cheng politely. The two of them had still been at odds, but they quieted down when they saw him return.

"Hehe, it's been a few months, and Xiaobai seems to have grown taller," Lin Xiumei said warmly as she came over and compared their heights.

Zong Cheng merely gave a faint "hm" through his nose, not even bothering to greet him.

Su Bai smiled and paid no attention to it. He started chatting with his second aunt.

Chapter 17: Someone... Gave It to Me?

"Xiaobai, show me the Three Body Technique! I've never seen anyone perform ninjutsu in person," Lin Xiumei said with the curiosity of a little girl.

"Sure."

Su Bai smiled and stood up, walking to the middle of the living room. His parents, his little sister, and Zong Cheng all turned to look.

"Second Aunt, watch closely. This is the Transformation Technique."

Poof!

A puff of white smoke appeared, and he transformed into Su Xiaoxiao.

"How amazing!" Lin Xiumei clapped.

"Su Xiaoxiao" spoke in a clear, bright voice. "This is the Substitution Technique."

After leaving some chakra on a wooden chair nearby, "Su Xiaoxiao" formed hand seals. With a poof, she switched places with the chair and transformed back into Su Bai.

"Impressive, impressive!" Lin Xiumei continued to clap. The more she watched Su Bai, the more wonderful she thought he was.

"And lastly, the Clone Technique."

Su Bai formed the hand seals for the Clone Technique. With a poof of white smoke, two copies of "him" stood in the middle of the living room and said to Lin Xiumei, "Aunt, that's the Three Body Technique."

"Wow! Sis, our Lin family's going to have a ninja!" Lin Xiumei exclaimed, hugging Lin Xiu'e.

"You're too old to be so excitable," Lin Xiu'e said with a smile, chiding her younger sister.

She was happy, too. Her son was incredibly talented and had achieved the dream she and Su Jianhong had failed to realize: becoming a ninja!

"Don't worry, Sis. I'm his aunt, so I'll definitely contribute to Xiaobai's college tuition!" Lin Xiumei pulled out her phone and was about to transfer the money right there. "I don't have much, but I can give you 10,000 Federal Coins, Sis."

"Good, good. 10,000 is plenty!" Lin Xiu'e said with delight. She and her younger sister, Lin Xiumei, were very close. She knew her sister would have given more if she didn't have that bastard Zong Cheng for a husband.

Su Bai was touched, too. They were just an ordinary family, and 10,000 was a generous amount to contribute toward his college tuition. But he didn't need it anymore.

Su Bai was among the top students in the whole school—indeed, aside from Xia Xueqing, no one was stronger than him. His 100,000 scholarship was all but guaranteed.

"Aunt, I..."

"Give it here!"

Just as Su Bai was about to turn her down, Zong Cheng snatched Lin Xiumei's phone and shoved her onto the sofa.

"You wretched woman, didn't you tell me you had no money when I asked you for some last time? Where'd this money come from?"

"You bastard, give me my phone!"

Lin Xiumei rushed to grab the phone from Zong Cheng, but in no time, Zong Cheng had transferred the money to his own account.

"Y-you, give me my money back! That was my money!"

"What do you mean, your money? We're married. We can both manage the money. I'm not letting you give your sister money!"

Zong Cheng tossed Lin Xiumei's phone back to her and turned to leave.

Lin Xiumei slumped onto the sofa, holding her phone and crying quietly.

"Wah, I worked so hard to save that money. Could you stop squandering it? You've gambled away all the money at home. What will our daughter and I do?"

"That was just bad luck. It won't happen again. Just you wait. I'll make you twice as much in a bit!"

Zong Cheng didn't care. As soon as he had money, his gambling addiction took over. All he could think about now was going to the gambling hall to play cards.

Su Jianhong rolled up his sleeves, furious enough to glare and bristle.

"Zong Cheng, you've gone too far. Give Xiumei's money back!"

Even without the fact that the 10,000 was a gift from Lin Xiumei to Su Bai, Su Jianhong couldn't stand by and let Zong Cheng squander it!

"None of your damn business!" Zong Cheng said with disdain. "Get out of my way!"