The Obligations of the Elderly - Chapter 17

“Qiu Xia is truly outstanding! Honestly, such talent is a bit wasted in a small-town school like ours. If Qiu Xia is willing, he could easily transfer to a school in a big city. With his Initial Ability Assessment Level, he would be favored anywhere, and the family’s relocation and settlement expenses in a new city wouldn’t be a worry-just the scholarship alone would easily cover it…” Even the Dean was alerted and came out personally to greet Gong Si.

He subtly inquired about Gong Si’s age, and when he learned Gong Si was already eighteen, his voice held a hint of disappointment. But unlike Qiao Nan, he explained to Gong Si:

“Generally, if there is a High-Level Ability User among brothers, it’s quite common for other siblings with the same bloodline to also have abilities.”

“Of course, there’s another possibility: the family’s abilities might all be concentrated in a single person.”

Perhaps worried that Gong Si would feel disappointed, the Dean watched him carefully for a moment after saying this.

The Dean was someone who considered others’ feelings, and Gong Si suddenly felt reassured, even though the concern was unnecessary.

Thinking this, Gong Si smiled slightly, “Let Qiu Xia decide. If he wants to study here, we’ll stay. If he wants to go to another school, we’ll move.”

“I want to study here.” Without hesitation, Qiu Xia gave his answer directly. “I’ve always lived here as an ordinary person. Now that my identity has suddenly changed, I want at least my environment to stay the same.”

Qiu Xia also gave his reasoning.

“Is that so? We’re absolutely delighted to have you. But when you start searching for your paired Vessel, you will probably need to leave… Before that, it’s good to learn all the knowledge a User should master here. We’ll do our best to provide you with excellent teaching conditions.” Stroking his goatee, the Dean smiled.

“Next, Qiu Xia will need to wait here a bit longer to help make a student ID. As for the elder brother, you can go outside and take a look at Qiu Xia’s future learning environment.”

Gong Si nodded, “I understand. Don’t worry about me, I’ll just wait outside the door.”

With that, he pushed the door open and went out by himself.

This area seemed to be the teaching block. While Gong Si waited outside, every passing staff member glanced at him. Although their looks weren’t malicious, he still felt a bit uncomfortable.

He wasn’t used to being the center of attention.

So, when he saw a door at the end of the corridor, he walked straight over.

Opening the door, he found himself in a very familiar setting: a regular school corridor.

Of course, this was the main high school building; the place they’d just been was the staff office area, so naturally, the classrooms for students would be nearby.

Just one door apart, and the environment outside was completely different from inside. It was probably break time for the students; the corridor was crowded and noisy, with students chatting, laughing, and horsing around. They looked no different from students at any ordinary school.

This must be the Grade 11 classroom area. Gong Si saw a classroom not far away with a sign reading “Class 3, Grade 11.”

He felt more at ease among the students, even though his clothes clearly weren’t the school uniform. He didn’t wander far, just found a glass window near the door he’d come out of and stood there, so he could also see the scene below.

But just because he wasn’t looking for trouble didn’t mean trouble wouldn’t find him. Soon, he heard someone nearby shout loudly:

“Vice Class Leader!”

Gong Si was startled for a moment, since he was the vice class leader in his own class. But this wasn’t his school, so even if someone was calling out, it couldn’t be for him.

Thinking this, he still glanced in the direction of the voice.

With just one look, he saw a familiar face.

It was a boy with curly hair, tall and broad-shouldered, his hair slightly yellow and streaked with highlights, a few pimples on his adolescent face.

He looked rather carefree.

He did seem familiar, but…

What was his name again?

Gong Si frowned, trying to remember.

“Vice Class Leader, what are you doing here? Did you suddenly become an Ability User like me and come for the entrance test? So, are you a User or a Vessel? I can’t sense your Energy at all~ Is it too low? Our teacher just taught us today that when an Ability User’s ability is too low, those with higher ability can’t sense their Energy. Is that what’s happening with us?” The boy said to him arrogantly.
Ah… that annoying tone is familiar too…

Gong Si tilted his head. Since he didn’t understand, he simply asked:

“I know you. You’re the one who transferred this semester after discovering you’re a Vessel, right? But what’s your name again?” It really wasn’t his fault-this guy often skipped class, and when he did show up, he bullied classmates who didn’t hand in homework. He had that delinquent vibe, always going against the teachers and also against the class officers like Gong Si, especially targeting him. The reason… well, probably because the other class officers didn’t dare to deal with him, but Gong Si wasn’t afraid at all.

After he asked, Gong Si saw the other’s face flush red with obvious anger.

Ignoring his anger, Gong Si continued answering the previous question:

“I’m not low in ability-I simply have none at all. It’s normal that you can’t sense it.”

The other just snorted: “If it’s not you, then it must be your brother? I remember you have a few brothers.”

“So? Which brother is it? What’s his name? I couldn’t do anything to you at the old school, but now it’s different. I can take care of your brother. Do you know what grade of Vessel I am?”

Looking at Gong Si’s face, the guy showed a smug smile: “I’m a High-grade Vessel with potential. There are plenty of people in the academy who want to be my User. If I want to deal with someone, I don’t even have to do it myself~”

That infuriating attitude… Gong Si was still trying to recall his name.

“Ah, right, Wang Gongming. You’re Wang Gongming.” Gong Si finally dug up the name from his memory.

The other’s face turned even redder.

The group behind him looked ready to rush over, but suddenly, the door behind Gong Si opened: Qiu Xia came out.

A thin boy, not tall, with handsome features and a gentle, scholarly appearance.

Aside from being a bit too good-looking, he didn’t seem to have anything special about him. Yet the moment he appeared, Wang Gongming immediately knelt down.

The people beside Wang Gongming also stopped at once, large beads of sweat rolling down their foreheads. They stared at Qiu Xia as if seeing a monster.

The once lively corridor instantly fell silent; everyone’s gaze turned toward-

Qiu Xia!

For a moment, the corridor was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Only the soft sound of Qiu Xia closing the door could be heard.

After closing the door, Qiu Xia stood beside his older brother.

“What’s wrong, brother…” His voice was gentle and not loud.

However-

“Thud,” “thud”-several sounds in succession, and Gong Si saw people in the corridor kneeling one after another.

All those kneeling were pale, looking as if they might faint; those who didn’t kneel had sweat pouring down their foreheads, also struggling to endure.

“Hehe, Qiu Xia, you just Awakened and can’t control your Energy yet. This Energy is too strong; whether Vessel or User, anyone whose ability is lower than yours can’t bear it and will collapse. I forgot to mention it earlier, but our school has never had such an outstanding User before.”

The Dean’s voice came from behind the door. The door opened again, and the Dean walked out, unconcerned by the scene outside, smiling as he spoke to Qiu Xia.

“But since you’ve come out on your own, you might as well meet your future classmates.

These people in front are seniors one grade above you, but that’s only in academic terms. Ability User courses are calculated separately according to your progress, so as long as you’re on campus, you’re all classmates.”

The Dean first introduced the students outside to Qiu Xia, then introduced Qiu Xia to everyone:

“This is Gong Qiuxia, who is here today with his older brother to complete the enrollment procedures.”

“His initial ability test result is Special-A Grade Dominator. All the Vessels who want to be his partner, do your best~”

For the first time, Gong Si felt he could distinguish between Vessels and Users.

Looking at the mix of fear and longing in the eyes of some, including Wang Gongming, and the awe on the faces of others, Gong Si realized for the first time the possible cruelty of the world beyond ordinary people.

A cruelty tied to class, and to birth.