Brainwashing

Chapter-Eleven: Brain Washing

Ning Chen crossed his arms, his attention drawn to the word "family" spoken by the school elder. Deep within, he couldn't help but sneer to himself.

*"How fitting of a school elder. The first lesson isn't on combat or common knowledge of Gu worms—but on family loyalty."*

*"Hahaha. The reason is obvious—it's to strengthen the younger generation's sense of belonging to the family. Ridiculous."*

Having lived three lifetimes, Ning Chen was a man of profound experience. He understood his family elders and clan leader all too well.

In fact, he had employed similar strategies in his past life.

*"Family is the foundation of our clan. Our surname is Gu Yue, and Gu Yue is our family..."* the school elder droned on.

Ning Chen listened to the speech, his eyes slowly closing. He felt no sense of attachment to the family. 

For him, the long-winded rhetoric of the school masters was a waste of time. Instead, he decided to focus inward, warming the air orifice to improve his strength as quickly as possible.

His spiritual consciousness delved into the air orifice, commanding the emerald sea of true energy to strike against the thin membrane enclosing the orifice.

*Wow... Bang...*

The waves of true energy surged and crashed against the barrier. As his energy depleted, it replenished itself, allowing him to repeat the process again and again.

Meanwhile, the school elder's words flowed incessantly, growing ever more fervent, righteous, and impassioned.

His voice inspired the young, impressionable students in the room, most of whom were fifteen or sixteen years old. His fiery rhetoric stirred their hearts, kindling a sense of zeal and ambition.

"So, are you willing to sacrifice your life for the family? Answer me!" the elder roared, his fervor reaching its peak.

The room erupted with cries of "Willing!" The thunderous voices seemed to shake the very walls, drowning out everything else.

The elder's sharp gaze swept over the flushed, passionate faces of the students. He felt immense satisfaction. His plan had worked—until his eyes landed on one outlier.

"Alright, excellent! Let's... wait." The elder's voice trailed off as his eyes locked onto the back row.

There, seated by the window, was Ning Chen.

Ning Chen sat still, his eyes tightly shut, his breathing steady and measured. The elder wasn't concerned about what Ning Chen was doing—what irked him was the boy's complete indifference to the fiery passion engulfing the classroom.

*"It's so noisy!"* Ning Chen thought irritably as the enthusiastic cries of his classmates reached a fever pitch. Instead of joining the fervor, he focused on his training, channeling his true energy to nourish the air orifice.

Even amidst the noise, he managed to strengthen and replenish his energy reserves. His practice was undeterred.

The school elder's frown deepened, his hawk-like eyes narrowing on Ning Chen. Displeasure built up within him until it spilled out in a loud rebuke:

"Gu Yue Ning Chen, what are you doing?"

Ning Chen had noticed the elder's piercing gaze earlier but had deliberately ignored it. Now, hearing the question, he smirked inwardly, opening his eyes slowly and calmly.

There was no panic or fear in his expression. He simply met the elder's angry gaze with quiet composure.

"What's the matter, School Elder?" Ning Chen asked evenly.

"Answer me, Ning Chen. If the family were in crisis, would you sacrifice yourself for it?" the elder demanded.

"Of course," Ning Chen replied smoothly, his tone devoid of emotion. "As Gu Yue Ning Chen, I would do so without hesitation."

The elder's frown deepened. Though Ning Chen's words were flawless, an inexplicable unease gnawed at the back of the elder's mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something disingenuous about the boy.

But he had no grounds to press further. "Alright, then. Let's return to the lesson," the elder concluded reluctantly.

Ning Chen nodded subtly, signaling his understanding. Only then did the elder continue.

"As new Gu Masters, many of you lack the ability to wield your Gu worms effectively. Thus, we'll begin with hand-to-hand sparring," the elder announced. "Melee combat is an essential skill in battle."

The room buzzed with a mix of emotions. Some students, like Gu Yue Qing Shu, were brimming with excitement, their fighting spirits ignited. Others, however, were nervous, fearful of the inevitable injuries.

Sensing the apprehension, the elder added reassuringly, "This sparring is voluntary. It's not mandatory."

A collective sigh of relief spread through the room.

Ning Chen, however, felt no interest in the activity. To him, sparring was a meaningless exercise—it lacked the life-or-death stakes that truly tested one's mettle.

But he knew he couldn't afford to stand out any further. To maintain his cover, he decided to participate, blending in with the others.

The students shuffled out of the classroom, making their way to the arena behind the school. It was a simple square platform made of solid stone, with no defined borders.

The elder addressed the group again. "Don't worry. This is just a sparring match. No one's life is at risk—I'll personally ensure that. Those who wish to participate, raise your hands now."

Gu Yue Qing Shu raised his hand first, followed swiftly by Gu Yue Chi Shan and Gu Yue Mo Yan. Their confidence was evident as they prepared to face off in combat.

Like a lone chicken amidst a flock, or a dragon lost in a sea of fish, Ning Chen stood out—though he had no intention of participating. Since the competition was voluntary, why waste his energy?

For fleeting vanity? Hah! Such trivial matters held no appeal to him.

*"Strength reigns supreme. Strength is everything,"* Ning Chen thought with calm conviction. *"This competition does nothing to bolster mine. Why bother?"*

He remained where he was, watching in silence as others stepped forward to the stage. His gaze was detached, observing without emotion.

"Wait, I want to join too," a resolute voice interrupted his thoughts.

Ning Chen turned, mildly surprised. It was Gu Yue Hao Yu.

He raised an eyebrow. Judging by appearances alone, Gu Yue Hao Yu seemed nothing more than a delicate beauty from a modest background. Yet here she was, squeezing through the crowd with determined steps, ascending the stage with fiery resolve. Her eyes shimmered with unwavering spirit.

The school elder, nodding slightly, announced the pairings for the matches. "Perfect, four competitors: Gu Yue Mo Yan versus Gu Yue Hao Yu, and Gu Yue Qing Shu versus Gu Yue Chi Shan."

He left the stage after outlining the competition's objectives. Ning Chen was indifferent to Gu Yue Hao Yu's martial skills but found himself mildly curious about Gu Yue Qing Shu.

The first match began: Gu Yue Qing Shu versus Gu Yue Chi Shan.

"Let the competition start!" The elder's voice rang sharply through the venue.

At the signal, Gu Yue Qing Shu launched forward like a green serpent. His movements were rapid and unpredictable, his feet tracing an arrow-like trajectory as he closed in on Gu Yue Chi Shan. Each step felt calculated, weaving strange patterns that disoriented his opponent.

Gu Yue Chi Shan, however, was no novice. With powerful arms raised to guard his vitals, he braced himself. His stocky frame clearly marked him as a strength-based fighter—but such bulk came at the cost of speed.

Qing Shu's fist shot past Chi Shan's arms, landing a sharp jab against the "numb tendons" at his elbow joint. Chi Shan's arms tingled, his strength faltering.

Seizing the opportunity, Qing Shu stomped decisively, propelling himself forward. His leg struck Chi Shan's abdomen with the force of an arrow splitting the clouds.

*Bang!*

The muffled impact reverberated across the arena. Chi Shan crumpled mid-air before landing in the ring, his body curling like a fallen insect.

The match was over.

"Gu Yue Qing Shu wins," the elder announced with a tone of subtle admiration. The boy's victory within five moves was a testament to his raw talent.

The elder's sharp eyes glinted approvingly at Qing Shu's prowess.

Before the murmurs in the crowd could subside, Qing Shu turned toward the elder and spoke. "Elder, may I request a challenge?"

"Oh? You have someone in mind? Very well. Choose."

Turning to Ning Chen, Qing Shu bowed slightly, a polite smile on his face.

"Fellow Classmate Ning Chen, I would be honored to receive your guidance."