บท 30: Rooftop Lunch

"What can I do? Who asked you to take all of dad's genes and none of mums." Li Tian rebutted while shaking his head. While his father looked very manly, he wasn't the most handsome man. On the other hand, their mother was truly an angel in a human's body. Both Li Mei and Li Tian looked more like their mother, while Li Xi looked like their father. It was why Li Tian had a handsome, but feminine-looking face that resembled Korean idols from Earth.

"Tsk, I would rather look like dad and be a cool and suave warrior."

"Wait till you can beat me in a fight before you call yourself a warrior."

"Ah? Beat you? The number one student in the school is easier to beat than beating you." Li Xi commented seriously. He knew how much of a cultivation devil his little brother was.

The two eventually climbed up to the rooftop, where Li Mei was seated with another guy and a girl. They all seemed to know each other as Li Xi waved at the group sitting in the corner of the roof deck.

"Come, let me introduce my brother. His name is Li Tian and he's turning 12 this year." Li Xi introduced Li Tian first before pointing at the two students sitting beside Li Mei. "The girl's name is Gu Mei Xuan. She's Li Mei close companion. The boy's name is Tang Rui Ming and he's my sworn brother."

"Nice to meet you, Li Tian." Both Gu Mei Xuan and Tang Rui Ming said their pleasantries to Li Tian.

"Nice to meet you too."

"Well, don't just stand around. Come sit beside me. Jie Jie (Big sister) went down early to buy our school's famous pork cutlet sandwich for you." Li Mei smiled adoringly at her little brother. Although her little brother was more talented than her, she harbour no ill intent for Li Tian. Rather, she still loved him just like when they were younger.

"Ah? You didn't get me a pork cutlet sandwich too?" Li Xi stared at Li Mei.

"You didn't give me any money, why should I buy for you?"

"Li Tian did not give you any money either, why did you buy for him then?"

"Well, he's my younger brother. It's my duty to spoil him!"

"Alright, alright. No more quibbling. Li Xi, I'll share with you my sandwich." Li Tian pacified the situation that was turning sour very quickly. He gave the two bystanders a knowing look. It seems both Gu Mei Xuan and Tang Rui Ming had seen the twins quarrel many times before.

Wanting to get to know Li Tian more, Tang Rui Ming asked Li Tian about himself. "Say, little brother Li Tian. I tried to ask Li Xi about you in the morning, but he told me that it was best to just ask you in person. How strong are you exactly?"

"How strong am I?" Li Tian nibbled on his delicious bread like a cute rabbit as he thought about the answer. "Well, I'm currently at the first layer of the Qi Refinement Realm."

"The first layer of Qi Refinement?!" Both Tang Rui Ming and Gu Mei Xuan who had no clue about Li Tian's cultivation were shocked.

"No wonder little brother Li Tian was able to get into the Class 3A. His cultivation was already comparable to the seniors in our best class."

"Heh. My little brother is just being humble." Li Xi placed an arm around his brother, "If he wanted to, my brother could definitely beat the number one Tyrant of our school."

Tang Rui Ming gulped down his saliva as he turned his head to look around the roof top. Li Tian could visibly see that he was worried that someone else would hear what Li Xi had said. "Wei! Can you talk a little softer about such a subject? Are you asking for a beating? If you want to joke, at least wait until we are out of school."

"Who is this tyrant you're talking about?" Li Tian got curious.

"The big mouth brother of ours is talking about the current number one cultivator in our school. His name is Jiu Lian Xiang and is nicknamed the Tyrant because of his oppressive behaviour." Li Mei audibly spoke softer, explaining the story of Jiu Lian Xiang. "Ever since he entered the school, he had managed to gather up many lackeys over time. When the school day is over, he would camp near the school ground and wait for unsuspecting young juniors in alleyways. If these juniors did not give him enough money, they would receive a thorough beating."

"Does the school know about this?" Li Tian's eyes focused. Bullying was extremely common even in his old high school on Earth. He had been bullied in the past and knew how damaging it was to a person's development.

"They do, but the students that were bullied do not dare to raise their voices."

"Let me guess." Li Tian recalled a familiar twelve-year-old boy who he had met recently during his CPT. "He is from the Jiu Family in Ningguo."

"Oh? Little brother knows about the Jiu Family?" Li Mei raised her eyebrows in surprise. Li Tian was normally uninterested in the politics of their city.

"Yes. I had a small scuffle with his younger brother in the past. It seems that the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. This Jiu Family must not be a good family."

"Mmm. I asked grandpa before about this family and even though he did not say much, I could see that our clan may have faced some inconveniences over the years thanks to them." Li Mei's facial expression worsened.

"So, what is this Jiu Lian Xiang's cultivation?" Li Tian asked.

"The last time his lackeys were bragging about how he had reached the third layer of the Qi Refinement Realm." Li Mei told Li Tian honestly. She looked at her little brother with strong belief, "Di Di (Little brother) I know you are strong. So, if that tyrant ever looks to you for trouble. Don't show mercy, alright?"

"Wei. Shouldn't you be convincing your little brother to not cause any trouble with Jiu Lian Xiang? Aren't you guys even worried about it?" Tang Rui Ming was very confused. Even Gu Mei Xuan was worried for Li Tian too.

Li Tian gave a reassuring smile to both. "I'll be fine. You guys just need to take care of yourselves. If he ever gives you guys trouble, you know where to find me."

"Sure thing, little bro!" Li Xi saluted Li Tian jokingly. He knew he could count on his little brother in situations like this.

"Also, there's no need to keep having lunch with me. I would like to make some friends on my own and I can't do so when I am eating with you all."

"Hehe, my antisocial brother has finally grown up and know now to make friends! Alright, this big bro will not stop you! Good luck!"

"Good luck!" With everyone's well wishes, Li Tian headed back to his classroom after lunch. Hong Yao was already back seated in his seat. Just now, Hong Yao offered to have lunch with him, but had to reject for his siblings. Next time, Li Tian would take up the offer. Hong Yao was going to be his first target to finishing his mission.

As good looking and cute as he was now, Li Tian was an awkward potato that never had any friends in his past life. Those that were friends to him when he was young, had disappeared as soon as he transferred to a different school. In high school, Li Tian was bullied and so, he never got the chance to make new friends there.

When the afternoon class was about to start, the Tyrant, Jiu Lian Xiang had entered the classroom. With perfectly gelled hair, a lean, muscular build, and gold-rimmed glasses, Jiu Lian Xiang exuded an air of privilege without saying a word about his background. Li Tian recognised him from the earlier introduction. The tyrant gave a side eye to his new little classmate. Smirking, he bumped into Li Tian's shoulder as he walked back to his seat. Li Tian couldn't care less about him. Just like Jiu Lian Xiang's little brother or cousin, Jiu Zhi Ming from the CPT, all these people were just insignificant figures in his life. If it weren't for the system's ridiculous penalties, they wouldn't have crossed roads in this life.

Afternoon class was as boring as the morning class. Li Tian had been called up once during English lessons. The fluent twelve-year-old gave his explanation on one of the poems they had to analyse. Everyone was knocked out of their chairs when Li Tian spoke better than their teacher. The teacher could only complain to her colleagues when she went back. She vowed to never call on Li Tian for lessons anymore.