Shi Lang watched as the students left the school. He went back into the building to finish his work and a teacher from the advanced class asked, “Teacher Shi, what do you think will be the outcome of the duel tomorrow?”

The young general did not care and with a faint smile he said, “May the best one wins.”

The man thought Shi Lang had given up, and said, “Indeed, the advanced class is the best.”

Shi Lang shrugged his shoulders and did not bother to correct the man. It was not his place to do so, because the result tomorrow will speak for itself. The man saw this and packing his stuff he left the staff room. Another teacher asked, “Teacher Shi, I wonder if you have given up on your students?”

Shi Lang shook his head and replied, “That is not true, I am not a person, who would give up on my students.”

The man continued to ask, “Then why did you not correct him?”

Shi Lang smiled and said, “The result tomorrow will be based on the ability of the two students. Thus, it is undecided who will win. So, why should we increase the tension unnecessarily? Despite the result, this will be a good opportunity to motivate the students to work hard. Am I wrong?”

The man shook his head and said, “Indeed, what you said is correct, but just like the students, the teachers also compare to each other. The students wish for you to teach them, while the teacher wishes for his class to win and show that they were not inferior to anyone, even without your guidance.”

Shi Lang nodded as he leaned back in his chair and said, “I understand what you mean. However, I have no intention to take over anyone, especially the advanced class. As a child, I was a problem student, and as a teacher, my class is of the problem student. I believe that the problems they have are not their own fault.”

The teacher nodded and said, “Indeed, in the past, people used to think that weak students were a problem, but as teachers, it is our duty to find that one aspect they are strong at and then provide them with correct guidance. This is the only way a child can retain his or her uniqueness and become a pillar of society.”

Shi Lang nodded and the entire staff room began to boil with positive vibes. Time passed and Shi Lang came to his home, today Tao was there to welcome him. Under the care and nourishment of his mother and aunt, the little one has come out to bloom like a lily.

He smiled when he saw her curious face. She had been picking up words from the conversations of the elders around her and was able to form better sentences. He walked inside the house after changing his shoes and sat down on the couch. He saw her gazing at the Television, watching a comedy cartoon.

He smiled and asked, “Do you like this show?”

Tao nodded, and Shi Lang patted her head gently. The girl turned to look at him and said, “Where you go?”

Shi Lang replied, “School.”

“School?”, whispered Tao.

Shi Lang nodded and said, “It is a place where people learn new things. It can also make them strong.”

Tao opened her eyes wide and asked, “Tao go to school?”

Shi Lang ruffled her hair and said, “In a few weeks, when Tao is big enough.”

The schools in the Federation formally admitted children when they were six or above. Also, before she attended school, Tao needed to cover up her basic knowledge points. For this, Shi Lang thought of a little plan, that was going to teach her quality education in the least amount of time. He manipulated his communicator and approved a pending purchase order for the simulation pod.

This pod was going to be Tao’s classroom. After placing the order, he tickled Tao out of nowhere, and the girl burst up laughing. The two played with each other till Luna called them for dinner. Shi Lang held the little girl and slung her over his shoulder, she was panting. This demon did not stop till she was in tears and out of breath.

Luna scolded Shi Lang for his behavior and Tao nodded, she said, “Nana, Lang bullied Tao. Lang no food.”

Luna understood her meaning and said, “Brat, you dare to bully my princess, you will not get any food. Shoo.”

Shi Lang was surprised, he wanted to say that his mother will spoil Tao too much when the little girl gazed at Luna and said in a flurry, “No, no, Lang hungry pain stomach. Give food, Tao funny.”

She meant to say that if Shi Lang was not given food to it his stomach will ache and she was only joking. Luna nodded and said, “Only my Tao is wise, look at this guy, so big yet so troublesome.”

Then she served them with food and the two people ate with relish. Later, Luna tucked in the little girl and told her a bedtime story. Shi Lang stood by the door, as a child he did not get to hear the bedtime stories so often. It was more like once a week and that too could be forgotten if the two people decided to work overtime.

He walked up to his mother and hugged her from behind while placing his chin on her shoulder. Luna was sitting on a stool at the side and sensing his action she recalled the days when Shi Lang was a child, she patted his cheek while telling the story. Tao smiled at the two of them before she slowly fell asleep.

Shi Lang and Luna returned to their room and the young man slept with a light heart after a long time. The next morning he stood up from the bed and after breakfast, he teased the little girl and went to school but only after telling his mother not to let Tao go out. As he planned to take her with him later.

…

Shi Lang reached the school and found that the students were basically flying off the ground in anticipation. He could tell that they wanted to see the problematic students suffer humility. Shi Lang went straight to his class after clocking in. He found Theseus standing below the podium and speaking about how the class must act today.

He said, “I know that you are all dissatisfied, but remember when we go out there, we represent the whole class and the face of our teacher. We are not supposed to start trouble, however, if somebody crosses the line, then deal with it in a manner that does not make you look lowly. Understood?”

Shi Lang nodded at this and said, “You all, think of it as an instruction from me. When you go out and meet provocation, stay calm, do not lose your temper, because you will get your chance one day soon.”

The class was silent but Shi Lang still saw them nodding slightly to his words. Soon, Quo Lina arrived and was surprised to see Shi Lang on the podium, she asked, “Teacher, am I late?”

Shi Lang chuckled and shook his head, he said, “Come in, I just arrived early to check if Theseus was going to wear a cheer leading uniform out there.”

The class burst into laughter, and the tension in the air dissolved. Shi Lang timed it nicely because Quo Lina was seriously scared at this. She had never fought with people at such an official event. Shi Lang sighed, she was not going to get a grip on herself at this rate and will lose. Shi Lang said, “You are scared of the duel? Facing that student? Then if I showed you a scene that could kill you, what will you do? Is all the hard work you put in for so many years a waste?”

Quo Lina heard his words and lowered her head. Shi Lang said, “You can think of it as a chance. If you can break past your limits, then you will be the victor of today’s duel. Just calm down, and remember what you are taught and learned.”

The girl nodded, but there was not much change. Shi Lang and the whole class tried to cheer her up but she grew more anxious. Suddenly, Shi Lang slapped the tabletop in front of him and said, “Look at me.”

Instinctively Quo Lina gazed him right in the eyes, and then she froze, her face turned pale, and a cold sweat began to form and drip from her forehead. Her body shivered. She was shocked by the scene in front of her, and her heart was screaming only one thing, wake up and face it.

Soon, she joined the war going on. When she was done with it, she was missing a leg, a hand, and one eye. However, she was satisfied, that they have won the war at this point. Suddenly, a snap sounded in her mind and she found herself standing in the classroom.