When a Home Has a Parasol Tree, the Phoenix Will Come to Roost; Strength Is the Foundation of Everything!

"Come on, Teacher Zhao, if you have something to say, just say it. Don't just sigh and stay quiet!"

Qin Qi asked.

"Do I really have to spell it out? Don't you know?"

"You were so impressive during the sparring match, taking on more than a dozen people by yourself."

"But have you thought about the consequences?"

Teacher Zhao looked at Qin Qi. Though her words sounded like a scolding, her eyes were full of concern.

"The consequences... Could those guys be holding a grudge and planning to throw a sack over my head in the middle of the night?!"

Qin Qi immediately thought of that. If he were in their shoes, he'd definitely sneak up and club someone over the head.

If you couldn't beat someone head-on, of course you'd attack by surprise.

"No, that's not it."

Teacher Zhao looked at Qin Qi strangely. How had this child even thought of that?

This was an academy, not a gang!

"I'm talking about how those sixth-year students all come from noble families or merchant families."

"They were trying to befriend you before. You should have gone along with it and built good relationships with them, so you could develop your own connections."

"But now you've beaten every last one of them."

"How are you supposed to get along with them now? How will you build your network?"

Teacher Zhao knew Qin Qi was a Work-Study Student with no background or resources. She had thought that if he made good connections with those noble children, he would have another network to rely on in the future, and things would be easier when trouble arose.

"That's it?"

Qin Qi looked at Teacher Zhao and asked.

"Yes, that's it. You're still young, but the sooner you start building connections, the better."

Teacher Zhao said.

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

"This little thing isn't worth worrying about."

Qin Qi laughed. When Teacher Zhao had sighed, he'd thought something major had happened.

So that was all?

"A little thing, 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 everything will always go smoothly. You can't be so careless just because you're talented!"

Teacher Zhao truly couldn't bear to watch Qin Qi go down the wrong path. She sincerely hoped he would go farther and last longer!

"Teacher Zhao, trust me. It'll be fine."

"Not only will everything be fine, they'll even treat me with more respect."

Qin Qi said with a smile.

"I'm not joking with you."

Teacher Zhao said sternly.

"If you don't believe me, come take a lap around the cafeteria with me. If I'm right, you can buy me a meal."

"If I'm wrong, then you can say whatever you want."

Qin Qi said.

"I don't mind buying you a meal, but this really isn't a game, Qin Qi. It concerns your future."

"Okay, okay, I know. Just come with me, Teacher."

Before Teacher Zhao could launch into a lecture, Qin Qi took her hand and pulled her right out of the office, heading for the cafeteria.

"What strength! What speed!"

Teacher Zhao was startled when he suddenly pulled her up, but then her face filled with surprise.

Qin Qi's strength and speed were nothing like those of an ordinary six-year-old child!

"Fine, I'll go with you. Just slow down. No running in the school."

Teacher Zhao looked at Qin Qi, sighed, and spoke gently.

They reached the cafeteria in no time.

The sixth-year students Qin Qi had defeated had already recovered. They were sitting in the cafeteria, eating and chatting.

Qin Qi and his teacher went up to the second floor. The moment they appeared, everyone's eyes turned toward them.

Teacher Zhao looked at the students around them. For some reason, she felt a little 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 serving window.

"Junior, what do you want to eat? It's on me!"

"Junior, I've got some little cakes here. Want one?"

"Junior, you're seriously impressive. I accept my defeat completely. Let's spar again sometime!"

The sixth-year students didn't hold a grudge against Qin Qi or ostracize him. Instead, they were even more enthusiastic than before.

They eagerly paid for his meal and even invited him to visit their homes.

"Thank you, seniors, but I've already made plans to eat with my teacher, so I'm sorry."

Qin Qi politely declined a few times, then led Teacher Zhao to a corner table and sat down.

"Teacher Zhao, how about it? Was I wrong?"

Qin Qi asked with a smile.

"This... How could this happen? Aren't they angry at all?"

Teacher Zhao looked at the sixth-year students, who usually held their heads high. Her eyes were full of confusion.

He had provoked them like that, yet they weren't angry at all. They were even going out of their way to be friendly. What was going on?

"Teacher Zhao, you were right about one thing: those regular students all come from wealthy or influential families."

"That's exactly why they learned early on how to deal with people and read the room."

"They only socialize with people from their own circles. Outsiders can't get into their social groups at all."

"They're only being friendly to me because they see my talent and my potential."

Qin Qi spoke as he ate.

"Don't talk while you're eating. You might choke. Either eat properly or talk properly."

Teacher Zhao couldn't help frowning at the sight of Qin Qi eating as he spoke.

"Okay, I understand."

Qin Qi nodded and swallowed the food in his mouth.

"To build connections, what I need isn't to curry favor with them. I need to show them that I have enough strength!"

"What's that saying again? When a home has a parasol tree, the phoenix will come to roost. As long as I prove myself, there'll be countless people who want to get close to me."

"On the other hand, if I'm not strong enough, then no matter how hard I try to please them and cater to them..."

"In their eyes, I'll always just be a Work-Study Student, a lackey running errands for them. They'll never think much of me."

Qin Qi understood this principle clearly. The prerequisite for building a good relationship with someone was that you had to be on the same level.

A true dragon wouldn't live alongside a loach, a cat wouldn't be friends with a mouse, and a wolf wouldn't play with a sheep!

"It seems I was the one who was wrong this time, after all."

Teacher Zhao looked at Qin Qi and suddenly felt that his small figure had grown enormous.

His childish face now seemed resolute, too. She had been blinded by the idea of connections, but Qin Qi had seen the truth at a glance: strength brought connections. Without strength, everything was empty talk!

Wasn't Grandmaster the most recent example?

"Teacher, you admit you lost, so that means I win this time. You owe me a meal!"

Qin Qi was eating the food other people had given him. He'd served himself only the rice; everything else had been brought over by others.

So he still hadn't claimed the meal his teacher had promised him.

"Fine, fine. By the way, didn't you get a Gold Soul Coin earlier? Why do you still look so poor?"

"At least buy yourself some decent clothes."

Teacher Zhao looked at Qin Qi's clothes, which were still patched, and said.

"Um..."

Qin Qi fell silent. It wasn't that he didn't want to buy any. He really didn't have the money. He'd spent the whole Gold Soul Coin on some medicinal herbs!

Spirit Masters made money fast, but they spent it fast, too!

"And there's a grain of rice stuck to your face. Eat more slowly."

Teacher Zhao took out a handkerchief and wiped Qin Qi's face for him, chattering on and on.

"Teacher Zhao... You're giving me the feeling of a mother hen."

Qin Qi looked at Teacher Zhao and said.

"A mother... hen!"

"Who are you calling a mother hen? I'm only in my twenties. At most, I'm your big sister!"

"How could I possibly be a mother hen!"