"Put your hand down! Jin Tieguai!"
The countenance that was as that of the radiant sun became one of frost in such a little time, a look of worry overshadowed the faces of the disciples, knowing that the cause of the unyielding stance of their head teacher was the number one trouble maker of the GuBaiJin sect, Jin Tieguai. To make the whole matter worse, the source of the great discomfort usually sat in the first row at the middle seat. Therefore, there was no way for anyone to avoid looking at any of his antics even if they didn't want to and that also included Jin Caihe.
"Did you hear that?! Head teacher Jin just asked Jin Tieguai to lower his hand, let's see if he will listen. Who wants to bet?"
The other disciples that sat behind Jin Dongbin and the one that was at his left side tapped his back to say tell him that they wanted to bet on Jin Tieguai getting punished.
"Not me! I don't have any money left."
Jin Dongbin was the young master of the GubaiJin sect, who was looked upon with much reverence and whom many of the junior disciples flocked to, his fair jade skin an envy among his peers.
"Jin Huan! Is it only money that can be used in a bet?! How about the ink brush that mother gave to you for being the most promising junior disciple."
"No! not that! anything but the ink brush! Lady Jin had that specially made fr..."
"Enough of your griping! If you are not giving the ink brush what else will you be betting with?!"
The argument went on under hush breath, but that caught the gaze of Jin Caihe.
"Young master Jin?"
Jin Dongbin had a graceful look, unassuming in the way he carried himself with much poise and eloquent in the way he talked.
"Yes, head teacher Jin."
The young master of the GuBaiJin sect had a steadfast look and none could fathom what lay beneath the calm exterior.
"Could you finish what Jin An had to say?"
That was when Jin Dongbin elegantly stood up from where he sat on the hassock, as all the eyes of his peers was trained on the young master of the GuBaijin sect. While this was going on, Jin Tieguai still had his hands raised in the air.
"Head teacher Jin, Jin Tieguai hasn't placed his hands down, what am I to do?"
"Jin Tieguai, if you don't put your hand down! You will have to kneel in the morning dew, holding the foot rock above your head!"
"Please Head teacher Jin, don't be angry with Jin Tieguai. I'll answer the question if he is allowed to speak, should either of us get the answer wrong, I'll receive the due punishment."
What Jin Dongbin meant was that whether he or Jin Tieguai answered wrongly, he will go through the same punishment as his classmate in the event it was Jin Tieguai and not him that didn't get it right.
"For the sake of Sect leader Jin, I will let you have your way this once."
"You are most kind head teacher Jin. To answer the question, there are three realms in the universe, the realm of cultivation, the human realm and the heavens."
"That's young master Jin for you, now Jin Tieguai will know his place and stop causing us any more trouble in class.
"Really? Young master Jin, that is your answer?!"
"Yes, head teacher Jin, am I wrong?"
The eyes that looked at Jin Caihe was one that lacked deceit and mirrored much confidence. Meanwhile those of the head teacher's was marked by utmost disbelief that such a simple question was not given the proper reply. This forced Jin Caihe of the GubaiJin sect to call on Jin Tieguai, who shot out of his seat as though pricked by a pin.
"Heavens, human and demon!"
The presumed troublemaker said everything in one breath, making the whole class and head teacher stare hard at him with heavy dislike, but the one whose hatred surpassed all of them was the cultivator that was held in high esteem, the young master of the GuBaiJin sect, Jin Dongbin!
"Prepare to receive your punishment, Young master Jin."
There was a lukewarm tone behind the message of Jin Caihe to his student, which went with the look in his eyes when staring at those of Jin Dongbin.