Senju Nawaki wore a look of humiliation, his lips pressed together in silence.
"You've pretty much learned it already, haven't you?" Junlin's timid voice rang out. "Playing the fool to maintain your relationship with Mother, acting like a spoiled child in hopes of getting more attention. You really are despicable, Nawaki."
"Heh heh heh... cough, cough..."
Senju Nawaki had been beaten so often that he had grown thick-skinned. He knew Junlin would never kill him for his Grand-Grandaunt's sake. Not only did he refuse to call Junlin "Uncle," he even mocked him.
"That's the pot calling the kettle black. Aren't you doing the same thing?" Senju Nawaki said quietly. "You pretend to be weak, pitiful, and helpless just to get more attention. But I only do it with Grand-Grandaunt, while you do it with everyone... ugh..."
The force crushing his back intensified, and the pain stopped Senju Nawaki from saying anything more.
Ever since he had encountered Junlin, Senju Nawaki's pain tolerance had been climbing steadily.
Even now, with his nervous system registering extreme pain, Senju Nawaki somehow did not immediately pass out.
Senju Nawaki had spent far too much time around Junlin in a short period.
Not a single encounter had left him with a pleasant memory.
Junlin, the child who had suddenly transferred into Kushina's class, claimed to be Yanbai's child. He was very polite and beautiful, seemingly frail yet sweet and adorable, with grades that ranked among the best.
A child like Junlin always received more affection and attention from adults.
And Junlin called Yanbai "Mother."
Senju Nawaki believed Yanbai deserved much of the credit for how Junlin had turned out.
With Junlin standing before him as a living example, Senju Nawaki firmly believed what Yanbai had told him.
Junlin was good-looking, "sweet and adorable," and powerful.