Chapter 104: I NO LONGER SEE YOU AS MY OLDER BROTHER

Li Wei’s expression changed the moment Li Hanye questioned him. The anger that had been visible on his face disappeared, replaced by an innocent expression that looked so natural that the disciples nearby could not help but stare. He quickly lowered his hand and looked at Li Hanye as though he had been wrongly accused.

"I did not do anything, Brother Hanye. Yanyan suddenly became angry with me and started saying all sorts of things. I only reminded him that I am still his older brother, but he refused to listen."

The shamelessness of his response surprised the bystanders, especially those who had witnessed the incident from the beginning.

They had watched Li Wei grab Li Yan by the chin before striking him, yet he had managed to present himself as the innocent party the moment Li Hanye arrived. The disciples exchanged uncertain glances, and their attention shifted toward Li Yan as they wondered whether there was some part of the confrontation they had not understood.

Li Yan noticed their reactions but did not bother defending himself. The Li family had already become dead to him in his heart, and he had no intention of wasting his time trying to defend himself.

Whether they believed Li Wei or assumed that he had caused the confrontation made little difference to him. He had entered the Rewards Pavilion for another reason, and he was not going to let Li Wei distract him from it.

Li Yan turned away from them and walked toward the keeper of the Rewards Pavilion. His master had told him to come here and familiarize himself with the mission system, so he intended to ask about the available missions, the points he could earn, and the things those points could be exchanged for.

The sooner he understood the system, the sooner he could begin using it to help with his cultivation.

He reached the counter and was about to greet the keeper when someone suddenly caught his hand.

Li Yan sighed inwardly as he felt his wrist being pulled. He was not deaf, and his ears worked perfectly well, so he could not understand why people kept grabbing him whenever they wanted his attention. If someone wanted him to stop, they could simply call his name.

"What do you wa—"

Li Yan did not finish speaking before Li Hanye pulled him away from the counter.

He had no choice but to follow, although the irritation building inside him was becoming harder to ignore. He had only come here to make a few inquiries, yet he had not even managed to speak to the keeper before being dragged away again.

Watch Li Wei’s expression switch from innocent to vengeful as he stormed away from the pavilion.

Li Hanye continued walking until they left the busier part of the pavilion and reached a quiet sitting area beneath a large oak tree. Several stone seats had been arranged around the tree, and the shade made the place considerably quieter than the main hall. Li Hanye finally released Li Yan’s hand and motioned for him to sit.

Li Yan sat down, though he remained guarded. He had already made his feelings toward the Li family clear, and he could not understand why Li Hanye insisted on involving himself in matters that no longer concerned him.

Li Hanye reached into his sleeve and brought out a small porcelain container. He opened it, took some ointment from inside, and gently rubbed it over the swollen area on Li Yan’s cheek.

"Why would you let that bastard hit you?"

Li Yan did not answer immediately. He knew exactly what Li Hanye was asking, but there was no simple answer that would make him understand his decision. Li Yan had not remained still because he was incapable of fighting Li Wei. His problem was that he did not have enough strength to guarantee the outcome of such a fight.

Li Wei was an inner sect disciple, while Li Yan had only recently entered the sect as an outer sect disciple. His current cultivation could allow him to deal with people weaker than him. If he wanted to fight Li Wei, he needed to make sure that he had the upper hand before making a move. Otherwise, he would only give his opponent another opportunity to hurt him.

There was also the matter of the sect’s rules. His master had just reminded him that unauthorized fights were prohibited, and Li Yan had no intention of receiving punishment over Li Wei. He had already been given enough things to accomplish without adding another problem to the list.

Li Hanye continued rubbing the ointment over his cheek while waiting for an answer. "You should not have let him treat you like that. Even if you did not want to fight him, you could have come to me. I would have dealt with him."

Li Yan listened without responding. That was precisely the problem. He did not want Li Hanye dealing with his problems, nor did he want to depend on someone from the Li family whenever another member caused trouble. He had already decided to walk his own path, and allowing Li Hanye to intervene every time something happened would only make that decision meaningless.

Li Hanye seemed ready to continue, but Li Yan had no intention of listening to another explanation. He stood up from the stone seat and looked down at him.

Li Hanye’s hand stopped when he realized that Li Yan was leaving. "Yanyan, I am only trying to help you."

Li Yan’s expression did not change. "I do not need nor want your help ."

His answer made Li Hanye pause, perhaps because he had expected anger or rejection instead. Li Yan did not deny that his older brother was trying to help. He simply did not want that help.

"You should not involve yourself in my affairs anymore," Li Yan continued, his voice remaining calm despite the irritation he felt. "Whatever happens to me is my business. I will deal with it myself, and I do not need you stepping in whenever someone causes trouble for me."

Li Hanye frowned as he watched him. "Yanyan, you are still my younger brother."

Li Yan lowered his gaze for a moment before looking back at him. There was no anger in his expression, only a firm decision that Li Hanye could not change by repeating the same words.

"That may be how you see it, but I no longer see you as my older brother. I have already said this before, and I do not want to repeat myself."

He turned toward the path leading back to the Rewards Pavilion, intending to return to the keeper and finally ask the questions he had come here to ask. He had no reason to remain beneath the tree discussing something he had already settled in his heart.

Li Yan did not turn around as he said this. Please do not intrude on my business next time. As I said before, I no longer see you as my older brother, so ignore me when you see or hear anything about me..."