Free Web NovelChapter 2: Chapter 2: Home Visit
Cang City Suburbs,
By a small lake on the border between the southern and western districts, Teacher Li stopped the car, slammed the door shut, then pointed to a Sword Hall by the shore and asked Su Yu beside him:
"This is the Sword Hall where your brother works, right?"
"Yeah. My brother’s been working here for over a month. There are only a few Sword Halls in Cang City, so this should be the one."
Su Yu nodded.
Although, since he lived at the school dorms, he had never actually been to this Sword Hall before.
After hearing this, Teacher Li took a careful look at the Sword Hall. The first thing he saw was a large, flat-roofed building. The door was a sliding type made of wood, and hanging above it were a national flag and a wooden plaque engraved with the words, "Discipline and Forbearance."
"This place is pretty remote."
"If you’re going to stay here, be careful at night."
"Heh, how would those guys know I’m in a place like this? Don’t worry, I’ll definitely take care of myself." freewebnovёl.ƈom
Su Yu waved his hand dismissively, speaking as he adjusted his hair to cover the mark on his forehead.
Teacher Li smiled and said no more. In truth, it was just a casual comment. He walked straight to the Sword Hall’s entrance and knocked on the wooden door,
producing a crisp KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
A moment later, a young man’s voice called out from inside, "Just a second," followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. The footsteps were heading right for the entrance, and then, with a SLIDE, the wooden door was pulled open from within.
A handsome, well-built young man in his twenties stood inside. He was momentarily taken aback when he saw Teacher Li’s face, but then his eyes fell on Su Yu at his side, and a happy smile immediately spread across his face.
"Yu, you’re back?"
"This must be the teacher you mentioned on the phone, right?"
Li Yu put on the "gentle smile" that was a standard tool for teachers and quietly observed the young man before him.
"Brother Su, right?"
"My name is Li Yu. I’m your brother’s homeroom teacher. I hope I’m not bothering you by coming for a home visit today?"
"Ah, Teacher Li, please, come in and talk."
Su Xing stepped back and pulled the wooden door fully open, allowing Li Yu to get a clear view of the Sword Hall’s interior.
First, there was an entryway, like a genkan, that led to a training hall. The training hall was spacious, with a floor-to-ceiling window on both the left and right sides. Sunlight streamed in through these two windows, falling onto the light-blue rubber-matted floor and forming several golden trapezoids of light.
In the center of the training hall was a table with several cups of tea on it. A white-haired old man sat there silently, sipping his tea and constantly blowing on it to cool it down.
"And this is?"
Li Yu asked, gesturing toward the old man drinking tea.
"Heh, he’s the Hall Master."
Su Xing gave a simple introduction, then asked, "Teacher, how has my Yu been doing in school?"
"Su, your brother has the look of a clever kid. I’m sure he’s doing just fine."
The Hall Master took a sip of tea, his left eye glancing over Su Xing’s group as they slowly entered. His gaze finally settled on Su Yu as he spoke slowly.
"Heh, the Hall Master is right. Su Yu is indeed the smartest student I’ve ever seen. It’s not just me; the teachers for all his other subjects adore him. His grades are at the top of our school."
Teacher Li didn’t seem to mind. He found an empty spot, sat right down, picked up the teacup in front of him, and took a sip before speaking.
Su Yu, who had been sitting quietly to the side, couldn’t help but puff out his chest with pride upon hearing Teacher Li’s words.
Even though Li Yu wasn’t really his teacher,
his academic performance and his talent with the sequence were indeed exceptional. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
Normally, Su Yu didn’t care much about being exceptional. But when Li Yu brought it up in front of his beloved older brother, Su Yu suddenly felt an emotion called joy welling up in his eyes.
When he saw Su Xing’s happy smile,
Su Yu felt that all his hard work studying and striving to become stronger had been worth it.
"That’s really amazing."
Su Xing couldn’t help but say with deep emotion after hearing Teacher Li’s words.
He didn’t really know much about his brother’s grades. After their parents died in a car crash, his younger brother had suffered a severe mental breakdown and spent several years in a psychiatric hospital before recovering. Ever since then, Su Xing’s only goal had been to work hard and give his brother a good life.
As for grades and all that... it just wasn’t important.
Still, Su Xing felt a genuine joy hearing how capable his little brother was.
"Yes, Yu is indeed very capable."
Li Yu nodded.
But his tone didn’t seem to be referring to academics.
"Brother Su, the purpose of my home visit today is to discuss something with you. Because your brother’s grades have been so good recently, our school is planning to send him to the Capital City in two months to attend a special study group."
"To the Capital City?"
"The Capital City is a long way from Cang City."
Su Xing’s brow furrowed at Teacher Li’s words, and he continued:
"A study group? What kind of program is that? I’ve never heard of it."
Hearing Su Xing’s question,
Li Yu, as if he had prepared for this all along, pulled a thick stack of documents from his coat, handed them to Su Xing, and said, "Brother Su, your brother will be studying with top students from schools all over the country. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
After looking them over,
Su Xing turned his gaze to Su Yu, who had remained silent, and asked:
"Yu, this is your decision. Do you want to go?"
"I do."
Su Yu nodded firmly.
He knew that in two months, it wouldn’t be some bullshit study group. It would be a true bloodbath, a battle where many would die. But he wouldn’t—couldn’t—lose.
He had to win.
It was the only way to protect his brother.
"Alright."
Seeing Su Yu’s determination, Su Xing nodded in agreement.
"That’s great! Then we..."
Just as Li Yu heard Su Xing agree and was about to say more, a ringing phone suddenly shattered the harmonious atmosphere of the "home visit."
He glanced at his phone screen.
The caller ID showed just three words: "Little Calamity Star."
"Li Yu, where are you? Get back here! The Spiritual Sect folks in northern Cang City are on the move!"
He answered calmly. Hearing the woman’s voice on the other end, he just laughed out loud and said:
"What? You’re going into labor?! That’s wonderful news! I’m on my way, I’m on my way!"
"??? You son of a..."
Ignoring the reaction on the other end, Li Yu hung up the phone and turned to Su Xing with an apologetic smile.
"Brother Su, I’m so sorry."
"I was hoping to chat a bit longer, but as you heard, my wife’s going into labor."
Li Yu gestured to his phone, then gave Su Xing an apologetic bow.
"Teacher Li, you’re being too polite. Why don’t I see you out?"
Su Xing nodded understandingly.
Family comes first.
Su Xing didn’t think there was anything wrong with Li Yu’s behavior.
It was just that the last words from the other end of the line had sounded a bit... agitated. ’Has she already started pushing...?’
"Heh, no need. I wouldn’t want to trouble you."
"Student Su, you need to keep studying hard at home. I’ll come check on your progress when I have time. Also, try not to go out too much during the summer break. Be careful."
’Be careful?’
Watching Teacher Li’s retreating back as he headed out the door, Su Xing acutely picked up on those two words. ’Be careful... Be careful of what?’
...
Li Yu left the Sword Hall and got into his sports car.
He recalled Su Xing’s appearance and situation, then slowly shook his head. Taking out his phone, he opened his contact page for Su Yu, thought for a moment, and changed the contact name from "Su Yu" to "Little Liar Who Deceives His Brother."
"Your brother seems to be an ordinary person."
"When I was talking with him, aside from him being physically strong, I didn’t sense any sequence energy or any signs of an impending awakening."
"The situation is urgent this time. The Spiritual Sect is causing trouble in the north, so I have to go back immediately. You just stay here with your brother and focus on your growth."
When Su Yu didn’t reply for a while, Li Yu started to feel uneasy and typed again:
"Su Yu, you are the highest-ranked sequence user to appear since the sequences began in our Xia Country. You are very important to us! If you want to protect your own life, if you want to protect your brother, then you must train as hard as you can!"
"Remember the trip to the Capital City in two months."
"You should know what’s going to happen then."
This time,
Su Yu replied quickly.
Just seconds after Li Yu mentioned protecting his brother, Su Yu sent back a reply:
"Don’t worry. I will definitely train hard."
"Heh, what a doting little brother. I’ll come by to check on your training progress when I have time. Remember to delete this chat history after you read it. Don’t let your brother see."
With that, Li Yu put down his phone, started the engine, and stomped on the gas, peeling away with a VROOOM.
