A Phoenix Will Perch on a Wutong Tree in My Home, Strength is the Root of Everything!

"No, Teacher Zhao, if you have something to say, just say it. Don't just sigh and stay silent!"

Qin Qi asked.

"Do I even need to say it? Don't you know yourself?"

"During that sparring match earlier, you were quite impressive, quite formidable, taking on a dozen or so people at once."

"But have you thought about the consequences of doing that!"

Teacher Zhao looked at Qin Qi. Although her words were scolding him, her eyes were filled with concern.

"Consequences... Could it be that those guys are holding a grudge and planning to ambush me in the middle of the night?!"

Qin Qi immediately thought of this. If it were him, he would definitely resort to bludgeoning and sneak attacks.

If you can't win head-on, you naturally have to resort to sneak attacks.

"No, it's not that."

Teacher Zhao looked at Qin Qi with a strange expression. How could this child think of such things?

This is an academy, not a criminal underworld.

"What I mean is, those sixth-grade students are all children of nobility or merchant families."

"They were previously inclined to befriend you, and you should have taken the opportunity to build good relations with them to establish your own connections."

"But now that you've beaten them all up like that."

"How can you still associate with them, and how will you build your network?"

Teacher Zhao knew that Qin Qi was a Work-Study Student with no background or resources. She had hoped that if Qin Qi could build good relationships with those noble children, he would have more connections in the future, making things easier when he encountered trouble.

"Is that all?"

Qin Qi looked at Teacher Zhao and asked.

"Yes, that's it. Even though you're still young, the earlier you start building connections, the better," Teacher Zhao said.

"Teacher Zhao, you scared me. I thought something major had happened."

"This trivial matter is not worth worrying about at all."

Qin Qi laughed. When Teacher Zhao started with a sigh, he really thought something serious had occurred.

So it was just this.

"A trivial matter, student Qin Qi!"

Teacher Zhao's expression turned serious. "Do you know how difficult the path of a Spirit Master is?"

"Having talent doesn't mean you'll always have smooth sailing. You cannot be so reckless just because you are gifted!"

Teacher Zhao truly couldn't bear to watch Qin Qi go down the wrong path; she genuinely hoped he could go further and last longer!

"Teacher Zhao, trust me, nothing will happen."

"Not only will nothing happen, they will likely be even more polite to me."

Qin Qi said with a smile.

"I am not joking with you," Teacher Zhao said sternly.

"If you don't believe me, come with me to the cafeteria. If I'm right, you treat me to a meal."

"If I'm wrong, then whatever you say goes," Qin Qi said.

"Treating you to a meal is fine, but Qin Qi, this is truly not child's play; it concerns your future."

"Alright, alright, I know. Teacher, just come with me."

Without waiting for Teacher Zhao to start her lecture, Qin Qi pulled her by the hand and led her out of the office, heading toward the cafeteria.

"Such great strength! Such speed!"

Teacher Zhao was startled by the sudden pull, but then her expression turned to one of surprise.

Qin Qi's strength and speed were not at all what a six-year-old child should possess!

"Hey, I'll go with you, won't I? Slow down, no running in the school," Teacher Zhao said, looking at Qin Qi with a sigh and a gentle tone.

In no time at all, they arrived at the cafeteria.

At this moment, those sixth-grade students who had been defeated by Qin Qi had already recovered and were sitting in the cafeteria, eating and chatting.

As Qin Qi and the teacher stepped onto the second floor, the moment they appeared, everyone's gaze converged upon them.

Teacher Zhao looked at the students around her. She didn't know why she felt a bit nervous, as if she were nervous on Qin Qi's behalf.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine."

Qin Qi smiled and strode toward the food service window.

"Junior, what would you like to eat? My treat."

"Junior, I have some cupcakes here. Would you like one?"

"Junior, you really have impressive skills. This senior admits defeat wholeheartedly. Let's spar again when you have time."

Those sixth-grade students held no hatred for Qin Qi, nor did they ostracize him; instead, they were even more enthusiastic.

They took the initiative to pay for Qin Qi's meal and even invited him to visit their homes.

"Thank you, seniors, but I've already arranged to eat with my teacher, so I apologize."

Qin Qi exchanged a few polite words before pulling Teacher Zhao to a corner table to sit down.

"Teacher Zhao, how about that? I wasn't wrong, was I?"

Qin Qi said with a smile.

"This... how could this be? Aren't they even a little angry?"

Teacher Zhao looked at those sixth-grade students, who were usually so arrogant, her eyes filled with confusion.

To have been provoked like that and yet not show a hint of anger, instead taking the initiative to show goodwill—what was going on?

"Teacher Zhao, you were right about one thing earlier: these formal students come from wealthy or influential families."

"Precisely because of that, they have long since learned how to interact with others and read the room."

"They only associate with people of their own social standing; others simply cannot squeeze into their circles."

"They are befriending me for no other reason than that they value my talent and my future."

Qin Qi spoke while eating his meal.

"Don't talk while you're eating; you'll choke. Either eat properly or speak properly."

Teacher Zhao frowned as she watched Qin Qi, and she spoke up.

"Alright, I understand."

Qin Qi nodded and swallowed the food in his mouth.

"And if I want to build connections, what I need isn't to curry favor with them, but to demonstrate sufficient strength!"

"How does that saying go? 'Plant the parasol tree, and the phoenix will come to nest.' As long as I perform well enough, there will be countless people wanting to build a relationship with me."

"Conversely, if I'm not strong enough, no matter how hard I try to please or cater to them,"

"In their hearts, I will always just be a Work-Study Student, an errand boy, and I will never be looked up to."

Qin Qi saw this truth clearly: the prerequisite for having a good relationship with others is that you are on the same social level.

A true dragon will not live among loaches, a cat will not be friends with a mouse, and a wolf will not play with a sheep!

"It seems that this time, it was I, the teacher, who was wrong."

Teacher Zhao looked at Qin Qi, and she suddenly felt that his small figure had become imposing.

His youthful face had also become resolute. She had been blinded by the so-called connections, But Qin Qi had seen the essence at a glance: only with strength do you have connections; without strength, everything is just empty talk!

The most recent example was that Grandmaster.

"Teacher, you've admitted defeat, so I'll count this as my win. You owe me a meal."

The food Qin Qi was currently eating was gathered from the offerings of others; aside from the rice he served himself, everything else was a gift.

Therefore, the meal the teacher owed him had yet to be used.

"Yes, yes, yes. By the way, didn't you get a Gold Spirit Coin earlier? Why do you still look so poor?"

"At the very least, buy yourself a decent set of clothes."

Teacher Zhao looked at the still-patched clothes on Qin Qi and spoke.

"Hmm..."

Qin Qi fell silent. It wasn't that he didn't want to buy them; he was truly broke. After buying some medicinal herbs with that one Gold Spirit Coin, it was all gone!

Spirit Masters earn money quickly, but they spend it even faster!

"And you've got a grain of rice on your face. Eat slower when you're eating."

Teacher Zhao reached out with a handkerchief to wipe his face, chattering on and on.

"Teacher Zhao... you're giving me the feeling of a nagging old mother."

Qin Qi looked at Teacher Zhao and said.

"Old... old mother!"

"Who are you calling an old mother? I'm only in my twenties; at most, I'm just an older sister!"

"How could I possibly be an old mother!"

Teacher Zhao immediately bristled. Although she had been a teacher for a long time and had developed the habit of taking care of people and lecturing them, She was still a young lady in her twenties!