C18 The Little Brother Wants to Raise Me

Zhang Heng couldn't help but want to tease Guo Yuan when he saw his expression.

Luckily, since he didn't have any luggage or clothes, and more critically, since he was low on funds, having Guo Yuan's support put his mind at ease.

"I could buy clothes, but my finances are a bit tight lately. Is there any way I could make some money?" Zhang Heng inquired.

He knew he couldn't depend on Guo Yuan forever, despite the comfortable life Guo Yuan could provide. He needed to find a way to earn his own income.

Guo Yuan became slightly anxious upon hearing this.

"Why does my big brother need to find ways to make money? Isn't it enough that I have money?" he said, holding Zhang Heng's hand.

"But I can't depend on you forever," Zhang Heng responded.

This gave Guo Yuan pause. He was wealthy, and so was his family. He could live well without working a day in his life, but Zhang Heng's situation was different.

"Why not? There's enough money in my family for several lifetimes!" Guo Yuan blurted out.

Indeed, that was true.

Guo Yuan's family owned a spirit mine and was exceedingly wealthy. Money was the least of their concerns.

"If your family found out they were supporting me, would they be okay with that? After all, the money may be in your hands, but it's still your family's wealth, not just yours," Zhang Heng reasoned.

That was the reality. Guo Yuan might be able to support Zhang Heng for generations, but ultimately, it was his family's wealth, not solely his.

Even if Guo Yuan was willing, it would still depend on his family's approval.

Moreover, Zhang Heng didn't want to be dependent.

Guo Yuan hadn't considered this before. He had grown accustomed to using his family's wealth without earning it himself, and his family didn't seem to mind.

Zhang Heng's words prompted him to reconsider.

"Even though you say that, my family doesn't expect much from me. And the money it would take to support you is trivial; there's no need to report such expenses to them," Guo Yuan explained.

Upon hearing his words, Zhang Heng realized their conversation had run its course. Continuing the dialogue would likely lead to more awkwardness, so he chose to remain silent. He then took the opportunity to explore the villa on his own, wandering through the space until he found a room to settle into. The room was a stark contrast to his dormitory—like comparing heaven to earth—and, refreshingly, it was free of any overpowering scent of sweat. Zhang Heng found the new environment exceedingly comfortable.

He had struggled with the atmosphere of his previous accommodations, but he figured he could have managed to study there for three years if necessary, simply by enduring it. However, with such a pleasant environment now available to him, he couldn't fathom why anyone would choose to live in less appealing conditions. This thought crossed Zhang Heng's mind as he leapt onto the bed, relishing its softness. "This bed is really soft," he remarked.

The memory of being falsely accused of sleeping on someone else's mat earlier that day still irked him. But the comfort of his current bed far surpassed the dormitory's mat, and this realization brought him a sense of deep satisfaction. He had his new "little brother" to thank for this turn of fortune. With a contented sigh, Zhang Heng closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Later that night, the sound of knocking roused him. "Why is Guo Yuan looking for me at this hour?" he wondered. The peaceful environment and the absence of noise allowed him to keep his Spiritual Sense open, so he could hear Guo Yuan's approach. Rising from the bed, Zhang Heng opened the door and leaned against the frame, greeting him with a lazy, "Good morning, Guo Yuan." He was well aware it was likely the wee hours of the morning—far too early for pleasantries. But as a guest, he felt compelled to maintain a courteous demeanor, so he greeted Guo Yuan with a smile.

"Oh, right, I forgot to mention—you shouldn't make it so obvious that you're short on cash!" Guo Yuan blurted out anxiously. The conversation they'd had before Zhang Heng fell asleep had left Guo Yuan pondering for quite some time. It eventually dawned on him that Zhang Heng might be low on funds, which made him worry that trouble was brewing. In his concern, he had rushed to Zhang Heng's room to find him.

"Ah?" Zhang Heng was somewhat bewildered.

"When you were talking to me earlier, I didn't consider that point. Later, as I was trying to sleep, I felt that something was off, and it wasn't until just now that it clicked," Guo Yuan explained.

"Why is it a problem for others to discover I don't have any money?" Zhang Heng was perplexed.

But his drowsiness vanished in a flash, and he straightened up, ready to get some answers.

Guo Yuan approached Zhang Heng's room, glanced around, spotted a chair, and sat down.

"Do you understand anything about our academy?"

Zhang Heng scratched his head, realizing that he wasn't very familiar with it. Well, it wasn't that he was completely ignorant, just that his knowledge wasn't quite accurate.

He began tentatively, "Mu'an Academy, once the strongest academy a century ago."

From what he knew, Mu'an Academy had been the pinnacle of excellence a hundred years prior. He hadn't anticipated that it would have degenerated to its current state. Logically, the academy should have been thriving, but upon arrival, he was shocked to find it in such disrepair.

Guo Yuan nodded empathetically and prompted, "What else do you know?"

"It was supposedly used to annihilate Fiend Beasts by the champions of the four great academies using the ancient Magic Array of Mu'an Academy. That sounds impressive, right? I just can't fathom why the school has fallen into such disrepair," Zhang Heng inquired, still puzzled.

"Indeed, your understanding is correct, but there are details you might not be fully aware of," Guo Yuan responded.

Guo Yuan then shared all the knowledge he possessed.

As it turned out, it was precisely this issue that caused the academy's Spiritual Energy to wane, leading to its current dilapidated state. Unable to regain its former glory, the academy gradually lost the respect of others.

This decline led to its current state of disrepair, with the academy now filled with individuals of lesser strength. Furthermore, the population of the academy had become a hodgepodge of characters, creating a chaotic environment.

Zhang Heng had not anticipated that an academy once so formidable could have deteriorated to this extent. This was beyond anything he had imagined.

In the grand scheme of things, the tide of fortune can shift dramatically over the course of thirty years. It's important to remember to never underestimate an academy, nor should one ever underestimate an individual. As history unfolds, time inevitably marches on, and the future remains an unwritten chapter, its outcomes unknown to us all.