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25.15% Learning To Live As A Cultivator / Chapter 81: Chapter Eighty One - I get involved in a fight

Chapter 81: Chapter Eighty One - I get involved in a fight

The Standings was a friendly competition between students within the three combative schools, held once a year. Friendly, as fights were not to the death. Anyone causing a death would face immediate expulsion. However, the Teachers seldom let things go so far and kept a heavy supply of Blood pills, False Recovery Pills, Bone Regrowth pills and various potions on hand to deal with the aftermath of the fights.

Second years and above were expected to participate. In truth, there was no label beyond being a First year, the only cap to learning in the school was age; once a student reached twenty eight, they would be expected to leave regardless of achievements (although most left before this). Only first years had restrictions and expectations set to their education and that was to allow them (or to force them) to settle into school and adapt to the way things were done here. This was also the reason that first years did not participate in the Standings, first years held onto their egos and grudges too firmly and 'accidents' leading to deaths were far more likely to occur. This wasn't to say that seniors did not have similar problems, but they were more aware of what would happen should they allow their emotions to overflow into combat.

The Standings would be held over a week period, within the outer schools and inner schools, though only the inner school on the last day. This last day, the top ten students of the outer school would fight the bottom ten students of the inner school, leading to potential shifts in occupants of both schools. It was probably needless to say that very few students would forfeit their battles in the inner school unless they had absolutely no choice.

There were three rounds of participation and battle points would be awarded for each round. On the fourth day, the students would be placed into groups depending on their points and fight for final rankings. For example, those with the highest points would be placed together in a group and would fight people in the same group. Those who lost would be placed by their final points, those who won would gain more battle points and continue fighting until their was one man standing, usually that person would be the highest ranked person at the end of the competition. There would be awards in points (as in the type used daily) given to students who ranked well, especially those in the top ten. Those who had improved vastly upon last year might also receive a small pot of points.

In the previous year, Pike had ranked ninth, while Bowyer had missed out on a top ten ranking and came in eleventh, in the inner school.

As first years, Sun and Jin Li could not participate in the Standings, they were expected to watch other students in the outer school battle it out to reach the top ten of their school, ready to face the inner school students. However, Pike and Bowyer had invited them to witness the inner school battles along with Leon. Their Teachers had not been surprised knowing how these two had caught the eye of inner school seniors, but the outer school students looked at both with envy and disbelief.

Sun was stuck facing a few of these students alone, seeing as Jin Li had disappeared again the day before.

"So, little Sun is above us now," one arrogant First year drawled as he and his fellows gathered around the smaller boy menacingly.

"Can't lower himself to sit in the outer school with the rest of us," another taunted.

"Well, there is this unpleasant smell..." Sun replied with a sigh.

The first student, who happened to be a from an infamous berserker sect, which focused on tempering body more than spirit, immediately retaliated over the comment, his fist flying forward. However, Sun saw it as if time had become stretched and slowed and dodged with ease. The boy's knuckles cracked the stone wall behind him. The second student grabbed the first's arm and hissed; "Bullen, do you want to be expelled?" It was one thing to exchange words of taunt, but if they were caught fighting in the corridors...

The first student glared at the second, before turning back to Sun. "You just wait until next season, during the inter school exchange! We'll see who stinks then!"

"Duh," Sun rolled his eyes. "First years can't participate in that event either." Bullen growled, his muscular body seeming to grow and shadow Sun more.

"You really should not rile Bullen up, you know," the other one sighed, dramatically. "Who knows what can happen during mock battles after all?"

"Oh? Do enlighten me," a voice drawled, lazily behind them. "What sorts of things can occur in mock battles?"

"Brats can become dead brats," Bullen replied, in a deep, threatening tone.

Jin Li glanced over his body, his eyes ranging over it with calculation, before a mocking sneer curled his lips. Then he turned his attention to Sun. "Are you done amusing yourself?" Jin Li asked him. Sun nodded with a bright grin. "Then lets get going, shall we?"

Before the other students could even protest, Sun had slipped out from amongst them and returned to Jin Li's side. He offered Leon, who was lurking in the man's shadow a curt nod, before ignoring him as well.

"Oi!" Came Bullen's angry grunt. "Who said you can walk away from me?" The youth was at the limit of his temper, which was clearly stupidly short and strode towards them, his fist curled at his side. He blindly swung at them, Sun danced naturally out of the way, while Jin Li grabbed the youth behind him and pulled him out of the berserker's path. Only he was a tad too late as Leon had kicked his leg out in surprise and the berserker's heavy weight had tripped over his foot and ankle.

The momentum and subsequent face plant, knocked the youth unconscious, while the students stared at him frozen for a moment. Leon groaned beneath his breath, his ankle throbbing in pain as footsteps suddenly broke into the silence. "What's going on here?"

"Teacher! Scatter!"


Chapter 82: Chapter Eighty Two - My ankle hurts

"I leave you alone for one day and this is what I return to?" Jin Li chided Sun with a sneer, his arm still wrapped around Leon's waist as the failing bullies ran down the corridor in their vain attempt to escape the Teacher's notice.

"But Jin Li," Sun whined, but was unable to finish what he was about to say.

Teacher Vane's eyes narrowed as he stopped before the remaining students, his eyes looking down his nose as he saw the large first year, Bullen spread eagled upon the floor and unconscious. "I want an explanation," he demanded.

Sun proceeded to give an honest, if not slightly embellished account of what had occurred, showing him proof in the form of the crack upon the stone wall.

"And how did he come to be like this?" Teacher Vane asked.

"T-t-t-tripped over m-m-my ankle," Leon's stutter worsened in the face of the sullen and intimidating teacher. That and his ankle really hurt. "W-when w-we were t-t-trying t-to g-g-get out of th-the way."

Teacher Vane recalled this student as one from the alchemy school, also remembering that he had been in this pair's company then too. He, himself, did not like Jin Li and Sun. He felt that they were too arrogant and brash with the eyes of other Teachers and seniors upon them in interest. He knew that it was only a matter of time until at least Jin Li, was transferred to the inner school and he personally could not wait for that day. However, he also knew that no matter how he disliked this pair, they also did not go around seeking trouble. The berserker, on the other hand, foolishly lived up to his reputation as being hot headed. Teacher Vane did not forget about the students who had fled the scene however. All of them would be receiving penalty chores for this misbehaviour.

"I will deal with this matter," Teacher Vane informed them. "However, if I find that there was more to it, do not expect to be unpunished." And with that, the man stepped over the prone form of Bullen and headed down the corridor.

"Let's go," Jin Li said, wanting to leave as well.

"W-w-what about him?" Leon asked, pointing to the berserker.

"What about him?" Jin Li returned and began to usher him along. Leon yelped as he placed his foot down, his ankle was just too much! Jin Li's eyes narrowed. "Show me."

Leon lifted his leg in order to remove his boot, but it was too tender and his eyes began to water. Jin Li knelt and carefully removed the boot instead, causing Leon to hiss. The ankle was quite swollen, even Sun winced and felt pity as he saw it. "I w-won't ever g-give them m-m-my p-pills," Leon joked as if such could be a retaliation against the ill treatment.

Jin Li sneered as he kneeled in order to carry Leon, insisting the boy get upon his back. "You should not be giving your pills personally out to anyone but me," Jin Li told him, lifting him as he felt the warm weight settle. There was a strange sort of satisfaction from having the youth rely on him once more.

"N-n-not even Sun?" Leon asked him as he held onto the other's shoulders. Jin Li felt that his ear had become itchy upon feeling the boy's breath close to it, but figured he could ignore it. He shrugged in response to Leon's query.

"I'll think about it," he allowed.

Sun's expression was that of someone wronged. "I'm not sure I want those pills," he said sullenly, crossing his arms as he followed them down the corridor to the portals. "Speaking of pills, can't you just take a blood pill or something to ease the injury?"

Jin Li's steps faltered slightly as Leon began to chuckle at himself for not thinking of that possibility. "No need for that now. We are already late. He can take it later," Jin Li decided half a breath later and continued to carry his alchemist upon his back.

*****

A few minutes later, the trio were guided by Bowyer to a set of empty seats, where Pike was standing like an intimidating guard, scaring others who might claim said seats away. "What happened to you?" Pike asked Leon, who was still sheltered upon Jin Li's back.

"There was an incident," Jin Li said, dismissively.

"Some students were unhappy that we are lucky enough to watch the Standings here," Sun explained in more detail.

"Your seniors haven't been keeping the first years busy enough," Bowyer said, coldly as Leon was lowered into one of the seats.

"Maybe we should show them how it is done," Pike suggested with a slightly wicked grin upon his face, to which Bowyer thrust his fist into his palm in response. "But first, we have to show our own how it is." They waved a quick fair well and descended the steps into the arena, where around fifty students were lingering, waiting to participate in their first battles.

Sun quickly enquired of a neighbour what had happened so far, as they had arrived a little late. That person gave an overview; the first round of the Standings was a free for all. Points were given based on how many people one person knocked off of the centre stage with bonus points for those who remained with in the stage after the time limit has ended. Of course, this sort of thing could be exploited, so if no people were removed from the stage, no points were given. If only one person was knocked off of the stage, then the bonus points were set at one point. It was in the best interests of those on stage to not only remove a lot of people, but to remain standing at the end as well.

The groups were roughly fifty people big and one group had already fought. Ten managed to remain on stage, receiving forty bonus points and points for those they had removed from the challenge. The current winner was on forty nine points, tenth place had forty, having dodged many, but won against none. Eleventh place had racked up fifteen, before being removed as a threat.

In the next group, Pike and Bowyer would scramble. Leon placed a blood pill in his mouth, which melted upon his tongue and he swallowed the mixture while waiting in anticipation for the fight.


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