Cultivation Fever 27 Distrus

"Yin Xue?"

"Many thanks, Chairman. Oscar Schwarz, qi force 286, affinity 100%... Soul Becoming World const.i.tution."

The warbling hum of the teachers was more inquisitive this time.

"Well, I'm sorry to tell ya that I've got no idea what this const.i.tution is. What I can tell ya…"

Yin Xue stared at me intently, and I felt pinp.r.i.c.ks all over my body, like hundreds of needles piercing every surface.

"Is that this kid faked 'is results."

Panic shot through me, and angry murmur surged among the teachers. Wu whipped his head towards me, grinding his teeth, sending me a murderous look.

"Now, before ya get all up in arms, it's probably not what ya think. As far as I can tell from over 'ere, his qi force is closer to 1000 than 200."

I expected the teachers' anger to turn to surprise, but most of their expressions stayed the same.

"Big bro…" Davide whispered behind me in a pained voice."

"As for why he's got so much qi force, well. Chairman Liu, do ya know any more?"

The teachers turned to Chairman Liu.

"All I know is what he showed me. Oscar Schwarz, would you care to pa.s.s your doc.u.ments to us?"

I nervously withdrew my ident.i.ty card and pardon from the ring and saw the teachers' expressions morph into distrust. Pa.s.sing them over to the nearest teacher, I stepped back.

The teachers slowly handed them round the table, inspecting the doc.u.ments one by one.

"As you can see," Chairman Liu continued, "Oscar Schwarz has obtained a pardon of the highest order. You can rest a.s.sured that he has neither illegally cultivated nor faked his const.i.tution."

The teachers nodded in agreement, but the distrust did not leave their faces.

"Chairman if I may?"

"Continue, Yin Xue."

"I'd like to add that this kid 'ere is not a body cultivator. In fact, I doubt he would even pa.s.s common entrance with his body's qi."

"Thank you, Yin Xue, now. Raise your hands if you wish to be Oscar Schwarz's mentor."

Not a single hand went up The teachers looked uncomfortable, scratching their heads or looking away.

"No-one? In terms of qi force and affinity, he is the strongest scholar we have seen in years."

Still, not a single hand was raised. Some teachers even made a conscious effort to hide their hands.

"Chairman Liu, may I?" Wu asked.

"Please go ahead."

"Forgive my rudeness Chairman, but you know exactly why we don't want to teach this little upstart."

Wu's eyes locked on to mine, showing a seething hatred.

"Of course, there's the obvious. We aren't particularly used to teaching soul cultivators, and we barely know about his const.i.tution. But that's not what's important. What's important is his personality."

Some teachers gently nodded in agreement.

"Anyone who would hide their strength like that is far too calculating. And there's his background too. If he can get his hands on a pardon like this, he is from a family with great influence."

"Wu Lei, we do not discriminate against n.o.bility," Chairman Liu interjected.

"Forgive me Chairman, but this is important," Wu continued, "his background and const.i.tution show that he's never had to struggle, and probably never will!"

"Chairman, this school provides great opportunities for those hard done by. We believe in effort over all. This calculating, arrogant, ent.i.tled brat does not belong here!"

"Here here!" a teacher called out in agreement.

Chairman Liu tried to hush the teachers with a wave of his hand, but for once, it didn't work. An angry roar built up in the room.

Wu sat back, a sinister smile creeping across his face. Anger surged into my chest.

None of this just came to me! I worked hard for my cultivation all day and all night for 8 years! I endured so much pain… and my family weren't n.o.bility! It was Helga who gave me that pardon!

I tried to calm myself, and barely managed to suppress my rage.

I could understand where they were coming from. The facts that lay in front of them painted a bad picture.

I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I said something, it would either reinforce my arrogant image, or reveal that I was a rebirth cultivator.

I toyed with the idea of telling them the truth about my strength. Unfortunately, that would only show that my family was powerful enough to get the emperor's seal on a forged doc.u.ment!

Saying nothing was the best option, but it was far from ideal. I couldn't think of anything to say to change their opinions. I just had to stand back and hope for the best.

Chairman Liu's voice pierced the tense atmosphere.

"To not give a scholar a mentor would be an unprecedented event. I cannot begin to imagine what it would do to our reputation." Chairman Liu paused, and sighed.

"I do not wish to force any one of you, however…"

"Forgive me Chairman, but I don't think that's gonna be necessary."

Yin Xue's voice surprised me. What solution had he come up with for this strange situation?

"Enlighten us," Chairman Liu instructed.

"Well, I'm a teacher too, right?"

Silence fell upon the room.

"Yes, that is correct."

"So, I can also be a mentor?"

"Well," Chairman Liu hesitated, "that is technically true. But you are our head librarian and your cultivation is… somewhat lacking."

"Isn't that perfect?"

He had everyone's attention now.

"Sure, this kid might be a little ent.i.tled p.r.i.c.k. But what better way for him to prove himself than studying under little ol' me?"

The teachers seemed pensive, considering this option.

"Of course, I can help show him some suitable techniques. But it'll be all up to him to learn them. If he gets strong, all's well that ends well. If he doesn't, it'll prove that yer all right."

"That is certainly an interesting proposal. I find it to be satisfying, and it appears," he looked around the room, "that the rest of this committee do as well."

n.o.body objected, not even Wu. He looked slightly irritated that I got a mentor at all, but not enough to stir up another row.

"Given the strange nature of this mentors.h.i.+p, I will also ask for your opinion, Oscar Schwarz."

Yin Xue's lack of strength didn't bother me. In fact, I valued his knowledge greatly. However, something still didn't seem right.

My actions and situation had clearly struck a strong negative chord in nearly all of the teachers. So why was Yin Xue so unaffected? Why had he offered this mentors.h.i.+p?

There had to be something else he wanted from me. Something he wasn't telling everyone. Unfortunately, I wasn't in a position to reject his offer on such a flimsy basis.

A questionable mentor was better than nothing. I wasn't young and impressionable; I would be able to discern if he posed a real threat to me.

I resolved myself and made my decision.

"I will gladly take Mr Yin as my mentor."

The instant those words came out of my mouth, an eerie expression formed on Yin Xue's face. This would be an interesting relations.h.i.+p.

"Then it is so. Chosen mentors, please accompany your students to your residences. Ire licet."