Part 3
Chen He’an was surprised and delighted. “That’s great. His talent is indeed very high.”
“Old Chen, he used purification on me.”
Xiao Shan secretly glanced at Luo Shizhen, who had recovered and was cleaning up the training room, and said awkwardly:
“Didn’t they say that the initial purification ability can only be used on a lover?”
Chen He’an paused, then laughed. “Who told you that?”
“It’s written in the textbooks. Didn’t those three Purifiers only use their abilities on their lovers?”
Chen He’an laughed gently. “I told you before, don’t skip culture classes. Although improving combat power is important, culture classes are equally important.”
Xiao Shan suspected he was being scolded for being uncultured, and he had evidence.
Chen He’an didn’t wait for his response and explained directly:
“It’s not that purification in the early stages can only be used on lovers. It’s that those three Purifiers only dropped their instinctive defenses and developed trust and emotion for their lovers.”
Xiao Shan suddenly understood.
He didn’t ask why those three Purifiers only developed emotions for their lovers.
Just look at himself. He had been enrolled for a while, but regarding the other twenty-seven classmates, Xiao Shan hadn’t developed any friendship with them. If he had any thoughts about these classmates, there was only one:
—He found everyone annoying and wanted to beat them until they knelt and sang “Conquest.”
It wasn’t just Xiao Shan who thought this way. Newly awakened individuals were basically at the peak of their desire for conquest. At this time, unless there was an unexpected situation, it was impossible for them to talk calmly like ordinary classmates.
Thinking about it, yesterday, when Xiao Shan spoke so peacefully with Lu Qiujin and Rong Nian because of Luo Shizhen, it was actually the first time since they met.
Chen He’an continued on the other end of the phone:
“Shizhen being able to use purification on you means you treat him well. He has developed trust and fondness for you in his heart, so he doesn’t repel your Qi. Naturally, he can use his ability.”
“This child really is a surprise. It’s the first time seeing such a gentle personality among Awakeners. Your batch of Awakeners is truly lucky to meet a Purifier like Shizhen.”
Xiao Shan lowered his eyes. Lucky?
Actually, he had always refused to treat his own pollution. After all, his ability was the Metal Element among the Elemental Users.
Metal Element had always been aggressive, so his Qi was naturally violent.
Also, because he was newly awakened and couldn’t control it well, even if he went to Eternal Day, the energy users there would likely reject his Qi.
No one liked being feared. After going a few times, Xiao Shan didn’t want to go anymore.
His end should be the same as most Awakeners: constantly polluted in battle until, before mutating, he solved himself.
But Luo Shizhen had cleared his pollution… without any rejection at all.
Xiao Shan’s hand couldn’t help but touch the side of his neck. The physique of a Metal Awakener was strong, and the wound where the pollution had been removed was already healing rapidly.
It seemed that the slight touch of Luo Shizhen brushing past still lingered there.
He lowered his voice. “So he doesn’t like me?”
Chen He’an’s voice was as gentle as ever, not surprised at all by Xiao Shan’s question:
“How long have you known each other? How could he like you? Shizhen hasn’t opened his heart to romance yet; he just treats you as a trusted friend.”
Xiao Shan’s mood became inexplicably more complicated.
But his mouth still said, “That’s good. I’m a straight man. Even if Awakeners repel the opposite sex, I can’t accept men.”
Chen He’an just smiled silently.
“Alright, hanging up if there’s nothing else.”
Xiao Shan hung up the phone.
At this moment, Chen He’an was sitting in his office, holding his phone in one hand and the student training plan for this quarter in the other.
He put down the phone. The man opposite him looked up.
“That newly enrolled Purifier can help people purify so soon? Not bad.”
Chen He’an smiled. “This child is very special and kind-hearted. The Principal means to try and see if he can form a team with this batch of students.”
Sui An laughed too, leaning back in his chair, hands resting casually on the armrests, revealing a lazy nonchalance.
“Guarding against me already? I just asked. I didn’t say I wanted to poach him for our team. Purifiers usually have weak combat power, which doesn’t fit our team’s standards.”
“However, that new student has great charm. I heard it—something about like or dislike. Oh my, the sourness of puppy love. Truly envious. I probably won’t have any hope of romance in this life.”
Chen He’an lowered his head to continue reading the training plan. “They are just children; it’s not about romance.”
Sui An looked at him bowing his head and raised an eyebrow slightly, as if thinking of something. But he said nothing and changed the subject.
“This batch of students is rare. Five Elemental Users of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth gathered together. School has started for a while; why hasn’t the school been demolished yet?”
“It’s been demolished three times already. The current buildings are rebuilt,” Chen He’an said. “That’s why we need a high-level Awakener like Captain Sui to hold the fort.”
He stamped the combat plan and handed it back to Sui An.
“After all, Elemental Users always like the same thing and never stop fighting over it.”
“The Principal said if the building gets demolished one more time, he’s going to jump off the building.”
Sui An took it casually and passed it to his deputy.
“Tell the Principal to rest assured.”
The man, still wearing his combat uniform, appearing even more tall and upright with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, stood up and led his people out.
He dropped a sentence:
“A bunch of little cubs won’t be able to turn the sky upside down.”
Xiao Shan was a bit embarrassed.
It turned out the misunderstanding was caused by him not studying culture class properly.
There was also a feeling he couldn’t quite describe. He hadn’t expected that Luo Shizhen, who had only known him for two days, had already developed trust in him akin to a lover.
It was as if someone held their everything in front of him—sincere and genuine.
Treating me as a friend…
Xiao Shan had no friends. He didn’t have any before awakening, and certainly not after.
Friend—
He savored these words in his heart. That sour, slightly happy feeling became thicker and more complex.
“Luo Shizhen.”
After speaking, Xiao Shan realized it seemed to be the first time he called this kid by his name.
Luo Shizhen, who was burying his head in cleaning up the mess he just made, immediately turned his head. “Big Brother!”
Xiao Shan opened his mouth and awkwardly spat out a sentence: “Are we friends?”
“I guess?”
Luo Shizhen wasn’t very sure, after all, he positioned himself as a lackey.
But Big Brother and lackey seemed to be a friend relationship too?
If he couldn’t figure it out, he wouldn’t think about it. He flashed a brilliant smile. “You accepted me as a lackey, so you are my Big Brother!”
He ran over to Xiao Shan屁颠屁颠 (pldian pldian – eagerly/happily) and handed him a towel. “Big Brother, wipe your sweat.”
“Big Brother, don’t worry, I will be filial to you!”
Xiao Shan took the towel but lost his temper at Luo Shizhen’s words.
“Don’t use words randomly! You aren’t my son. We are peers, peers understand?”
“Okay, I remember.” Luo Shizhen chuckled carelessly.
Xiao Shan looked at his silly smile, and his expression softened.
While wiping his hair, he pretended not to care and said, “Alright, alright, go rest.”
“Okay Big Brother! Big Brother, what time do we start training tomorrow?”
Xiao Shan: “We have classes tomorrow. I’ll make three hours in the evening to spar with you.”
Luo Shizhen immediately nodded happily. “Thank you, Big Brother!”
His gaze stuck to Xiao Shan’s body again.
“Big Brother, how long do I have to train to become like you?”
Xiao Shan looked down at his robust body, then at the expectant Luo Shizhen.
“It’s a bit difficult to train to be like me.”
Luo Shizhen was a bit disappointed. He really liked this kind of visibly strong body. Grandma once pointed at a renovation worker in town and said having muscles and strength makes a good man.
But he trained very seriously, yet he only had four abdominal muscles, and his arms hadn’t grown that thick.
Seeing Luo Shizhen look disappointed, Xiao Shan thought he was afraid of being bullied in school, so he felt a surge of heroism.
“What are you afraid of? If you can’t achieve it, you can’t.”
Thinking carefully, Luo Shizhen sticking to him so much must be because he was scared as a newcomer.
Thinking further, he was the only person Luo Shizhen could rely on in the school.
As for Chen He’an, he was completely thrown to the back of Xiao Shan’s mind.
Chen He’an was a teacher; he couldn’t be in the same dorm as Luo Shizhen, eating, living, and sleeping together every day like him.
Xiao Shan remembered the nice texture when he pinched Luo Shizhen’s cheek just now, so he reached out and pinched it gently again.
Seeing Luo Shizhen look up at him with confusion, appearing both worshipful and dependent on him.
And, he was a straight man, so he probably didn’t fall in love with him. Straight Man Xiao Shan laughed and decided to accept this lackey.
He promised:
“I’ll cover you from now on. With me here, no one in the school can bully you.”
Luo Shizhen’s eyes lit up with surprise, circling him like a puppy.
“Really, Big Brother!”
“Big Brother, you’re so good!”
“Thank you, Big Brother!!”
Xiao Shan was in a good mood.
It wasn’t until he returned to the dorm and received a message from Lu Qiujin asking if he had successfully shaken off Luo Shizhen that he remembered he had originally planned to make Luo Shizhen give up through hard training today.
But it didn’t matter. If the plan changed, it changed.
Xiao Shan: [He’s pretty good. Luo Shizhen is my lackey from now on. Don’t mess with him.]
Lu Qiujin: [?]
Lu Qiujin: [What happened?]
Xiao Shan: [None of your business. Anyway, don’t bully Luo Shizhen. Don’t think I don’t know; in the whole dorm, you have the most bad ideas. Last night you stared at him for a long time.]
Lu Qiujin: [If you’re sick, take medicine.]
The next second, it showed he had been blocked by Xiao Shan.
In the study, Lu Qiujin laughed out of anger.
He could see that brainless fool Xiao Shan’s attitude toward Luo Shizhen was softening.
But he didn’t expect that in just one day—no, less than one day—Xiao Shan would actually approve of Luo Shizhen.
Luo Shizhen—
Lu Qiujin recited this name in his heart. At this moment, he was truly a bit curious about this new student.
Xiao Shan threatened Lu Qiujin, and his mood improved even more.
He used to make harsh remarks, saying if he beat someone crippled, he’d make them his lackey.
But this was truly his first time being a Big Brother.
It felt… pretty good.
Having a lackey rely on him so wholeheartedly, being so obedient and earnest.
Xiao Shan decided to work harder to improve his strength. After all, he wasn’t alone anymore; besides himself, he had to protect Luo Shizhen.
This good mood lasted until class the next day.
The school curriculum was divided into two main categories: Culture Class and Tactics Class. Each dorm was divided into a group.
Today’s class was Tactics Class. It was an old rule; students just returned from holidays needed to have their training checked to see if they had slacked off.
“Just follow me closely later. Stay behind me. Don’t be afraid; the teacher will be watching from the side and won’t let students get too hurt.”
“Remember the moves I taught you yesterday. Don’t dodge if attacked. Improving combat power relies mainly on actual combat.”
Xiao Shan had learned how to be a good Big Brother without a teacher. While walking, he instructed Luo Shizhen on various precautions for the Tactics Class.
Rong Nian stared at the two inquiringly, wondering why their relationship became so good all of a sudden.
Lu Qiujin followed unhurriedly behind, his gaze occasionally landing on the two.
Luo Shizhen listened seriously, wishing he could take a notebook to write it down.
“Big Brother, should I use full strength then?”
“Big Brother, how do you even know this?”
“I’ve memorized it all, Big Brother. I definitely won’t embarrass you!”
Xiao Shan felt refreshed by every “Big Brother.” Just as he was about to reach out and pinch Luo Shizhen’s face, a cold voice came from behind.
“Shizhen.”
Luo Shizhen turned immediately. “Chu Xiao!”
He happily ran to the back. “I knew you would come too!”
Chu Xiao naturally raised his hands to press on his shoulders, looking him up and down. Seeing no injuries and a face full of joy that didn’t look bullied, he relaxed slightly.
Ahead, Xiao Shan’s smile faded. He stared at their interaction with beast-like eyes.
“Luo Shizhen, what are you doing?”
Luo Shizhen, who was happily letting Chu Xiao pat him, remembered then. He affectionately pulled Chu Xiao over to introduce him.
“Chu Xiao, this is the Big Brother I recognized, called Xiao Shan. He is so nice, takes special care of me, takes me training, and even massaged me.”
The softness that had just risen on Chu Xiao’s face instantly turned cold again.
“Big Brother, this is Chu Xiao. We grew up together. He is my best friend.”
Xiao Shan stopped smiling completely.
Lu Qiujin, watching this scene, let out an inexplicable laugh.
Qin Yinian popped out from somewhere: “Yo! So lively, so many people.”
Rong Nian patted his leg, feeling the atmosphere becoming somewhat scorching, making him feel a bit dry.
Although Sirens could go ashore, they were aquatic beings after all and were a bit intolerant to heat.
Among everyone present, only Luo Shizhen was unaffected and still looked happy.
He looked at the two expectantly, thinking, Chu Xiao and Big Brother are both so excellent, and everyone is a classmate.
Maybe they can all become good friends together.
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