By Virtue

Chen Nianyun listened to his friends at the table try to reassure him, and his expression lightened somewhat. He airily said, "Don't worry everyone, I won't take that little beast to heart. And recently I've started sensing the qi that the teacher spoke of."

When these words came out, the several daoist youths present were all shocked.

"My god, even now I don't feel anything, and it's only the fifth day! Brother Nianyun has already sensed the spiritual energy, this talent is too terrifying!" one student said enviously.

Yu Chuchu also looked at him with admiration and praised, "The teacher only started teaching us to sense qi five days ago, yet Brother Nianyun has already sensed it. He really is a prodigy of the Spirit Sword Branch."

"An exceptionally rare undying sword body is indeed formidable. Brother Nianyun will surely succeed Senior Brother in the future, becoming the new chief disciple of the entire Spirit Sword Branch."

After a little while the children were full of praise, and Chen Nianyun listened feeling quite proud. He smiled modestly, "We're all classmates, if you have any difficulties in your cultivation in the future you can look for me and we'll improve together."

"Haha then thanks in advance Elder Brother Nianyun," the children flattered him as they spoke words of praise to Chen Nianyun.

Chen Nianyun also felt quite pleased by this. For a time he threw his fear of Lin Xiaolu to the back of his mind, smiling as he responded to his little friends. But just as they were chatting merrily, a disturbance could be heard outside the room.

"Junior brothers, this is the Spirit Sword Branch's exclusive area, you can't come in," said one voice.

"Get lost, don't you know my big brother is the most powerful person in Emei now? Hurry up and get that country bumpkin Chen Nianyun to come see my big brother," said another arrogant voice.

"Oh, um..." said the first voice hesitantly.

"What oh um? Haven't you heard of my big brother Lin the Fierce!? Do you want me to smash up this private room or not! Go call him!" shouted the second voice.

Inside the private room, the chatting children were all shocked. The once noisy and bustling room instantly became deathly quiet.

Before long, an outer sect disciple dressed as an errand boy anxiously ran into the room. Bowing respectfully to everyone, he said, "Junior brothers and sisters, there's a junior brother surnamed Lin outside asking you to go see him."

Upon hearing this, the children's expressions soured, each looking constipated as if they hadn't gone for a month. Chen Nianyun's face alternated between green and red as he sat on pins and needles in the seat of honor, not daring to say a word.

Everyone was scared witless, not even daring to breathe loudly, some even looking up at the ceiling as if it were broad daylight outside.

"Chen Nianyun!"

Outside the room, Lin Xiaolu's tender voice rang out, "I'm going to count to three. If you don't come out, I'll come find you! When I find you I'll skewer you into candied haws and eat you!"

"One..." said the ten-year-old Chen Nianyun, trembling in fear. Beside him, the little girl Yu Chuchu also didn't dare to speak, stammering hesitantly.

"Two..." said the clear youthful voice again.

Upon hearing this, Chen Nianyun was both angry and afraid, feeling humiliated by his own cowardice. He slammed the table and rushed out, cursing, "You Lin, don't overstep yourself!"

Outside the private room were Dongfang Dan and Little Jade. Seeing Chen Nianyun and the other children come out, Lin Xiaolu, hands behind his back, coldly snorted, "Oh, you finally dared to come out?"

"You Lin, I didn't provoke you this time!" Chen Nianyun pointed at Lin Xiaolu and angrily said, "If you dare hit me, I'll tell Teacher to punish you!"

"That's right, punish you! Have Teacher expel you from the school!" Yu Chuchu clamored shrilly at his side.

Hearing this, Lin Xiaolu still just smiled disdainfully. The corner of his mouth curled as he lightly spat out a "go" at Yu Chuchu like yesterday.

Yu Chuchu choked at this, recalling her fate yesterday. She glared with her beautiful eyes but didn't dare move.

Seeing this, one of the Spirit Sword Branch students couldn't bear it any longer, but also didn't dare directly offend Lin Xiaolu. He could only try reasoning, "This is where we Spirit Sword Branch eat. What are you trying to do?"

Hearing this, Lin Xiaolu directly snorted in disdain, "From today on, this place is under my, Lin Xiaolu's control. All of you scram!"

"On what grounds!" Chen Nianyun clenched his fists furiously, "The second floor private rooms have always been for us Spirit Sword Branch students' exclusive use. What right do you have to drive us away!"

Hearing this, Lin Xiaolu chuckled, crooking his mouth. Just like yesterday, he lightly called out "come here" to Chen Nianyun.

Chen Nianyun's body shuddered in fear as he retreated several steps back.

"Hurry up and scram!" chubby Dongfang Dan fully exercised his role as little brother, arrogantly cursing, "If you don't scram soon you'll be carried out!"

"Dongfang Dan! You actually dare speak to us like this!" A Spirit Sword Branch student said in shock and anger.

"Oh? What wouldn't I dare?" Chubby Dongfang Dan stuck out his little belly and viciously kicked the student.

The student reflexively dodged, infuriating Dongfang Dan. "You dare dodge me?" He grabbed the child and headbutted him with his fat head.

"Wah...wuwuwu..." the eight-year-old was headbutted into loud wailing.

The people around them just watched, not daring to intervene at all.

Dongfang Dan rubbed his head, looking every bit the little overlord as he continued shouting arrogantly, "From today on, wherever Brother Deer says goes at the school. If you Spirit Sword Branch people come upstairs again you'll get beaten once for each time, beaten until convinced. Also!"

Dongfang Dan paused, looking at the students in front of him. "Tomorrow when you come to school, each of you must bring Brother Deer something good, like candied haws, kites, slingshots, marbles, crickets, etc. Anyone who doesn't bring anything will be like this stool!"

After saying this, the chubby boy viciously kicked the nearby stool.

"Ah!" The stool was unharmed, but the chubby boy's fat face turned white from pain as he hopped on one foot.

Seeing this comical scene, Lin Xiaolu was a bit stunned, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He coughed to cover up his awkwardness, then looked again at the furious but silent Chen Nianyun and others. Folding his arms arrogantly, he said:

"Your grandfather isn't hiding this from you guys. I plan to establish a gang at Emei, and I'll be the boss. It'll be called the Serve People with Virtue Gang. From now on every three days you have to pay me protection fees. Otherwise I'll beat you up. Now scram, don't disturb your grandfather's meal!"

"How is that serving people with virtue!" Chen Nianyun pointed at him in exasperation, "I'll go tell Teacher that you Remnant Star Branch disciples are beating up classmates and collecting protection fees!"

Hearing his shouting, Lin Xiaolu just smiled calmly, not saying anything. He only silently picked up a nearby stool.

This action greatly frightened Chen Nianyun and the other children again, all rapidly retreating backwards.

In the room, the boy held up the stool, an evil and arrogant smile at the corner of his mouth. "If you don't pay protection fees, I'll beat you. If you do pay protection fees, I'll protect you and stop you from getting beaten up by Lin Xiaolu. Will you submit?"

After saying this, he shouted again at the chubby boy at his side, "Dongfang Dan!"

"Brother Deer, I'm here!" The chubby boy immediately stood at attention.

"After school today, get me a brick and carve a big 'Virtue' character on it. From now on I'll bring this 'Virtue' character when I go to school. Whoever displeases me, I'll smack them with it. That's what it means to serve people with virtue!"

Hearing this, Dongfang Dan's fat face was full of worship as he loudly responded, "Yes!"