Night of the Broken Gliph

The continent was divided into North and South with the Bloody War Frontier.  

With a comfortable climate and arable lands, many nobles settled down in the South. As time passed, the South eventually developed into a monarchy. 

This was why many large cities could be found in the South. 

At the tip of the South, there was a metropolis called Southary. 

Southary was the commercial core for villages and towns around it. Not only were trades and auctions conducted here, but it was also close to numerous danger zones that attracted many gliphers and gliphists to adventure in. 

These were the reasons why the City of the South was extremely prosperous.

Chui Yim followed closely behind Chui Tin. His eyes screamed curiosity as he inspected his surroundings. He might have been human in his past life too, but this was literally a whole new world. The architecture, fashion and lifestyle of this world was nothing like the Sallow Continent. 

“Follow me closely if you don’t want to be kidnapped,” Chui Tin tried to scare Chui Yim, only to receive a sneer in response. 

They were currently on Southern End Avenue, the city’s main street. It was bustling with activity, but this wasn’t where Chui Tin was heading.

He walked past Southern End Avenueand made a few turns, finally arriving in a back alley.  

As soon as they entered the alley, the father and son pair were greeted with loud chattering and laughter. The alley was just as alive as the main streets, only that it was full of children and teenagers in uniform instead of adults. 

This backstreet, Learner’s Street, might not be a main street of the city, but it was equally important. 

Just like its name, the alley was for anyone willing to learn. All the institutions in Southary were located here. 

Chui Yim glanced down the street. There was nothing other than schools to be seen. What’s worse is that there are at least ten of them! I’m getting a headache just by looking at them! 

“This is City of South’s Learner’s street. There are a total of thirty-six institutions here, and all of them teach mostly the same stuff. Most children start schooling at six.” Chui Tin turned to Chui Yim with a broad smile on his face

“Here, we are usually tested for our aptitude for cultivation at six. If by the age of twelve we are still deemed unsuitable for learning gliphism, we’ll have to give up on cultivating and live as a commoner. Of course, most people in this world are such commoners.

“Here where gliphers rule, one must understand gliph even if you cannot cultivate. It might help you survive if you accidentally get on the bad side of a glipher or gliphist in the future. 

“This is where you’ll be for the next six years of your life,” Chui Tin said, smiling even with his eyes. 

“Six years?” Chui Yim repeated as he stared down the street dumbfoundedly.

Some students were having the time of their lives playing catch, while some were absorbed in their books…

This is nothing but…

A street filled with immature kids. 

I’ll have to spend my next six years here? 

Realising this, Chui Yim grabbed Chui Tin’s shirt abruptly. “After some serious thought, I’ve realised that becoming a glipher or gliphist doesn’t suit me. Being a doctor suddenly sparks my interest. Let’s go home so I can learn to be a doctor from you.” 

Hearing this, Chui Tin couldn’t help but smile. It actually made the surrounding girls and ladies squeal. “We can’t do that. This is mandatory for every Southerner. Didn’t you hear what I said? Here, where gliphers rule, one must understand gliphs even if you don’t cultivate.

“Numerous careers and productions have gliph as their foundation.” 

“A glipher hunts gliphic beastsfor materials, and as a professional hunter, they must know which part of the Geast is best to be tattooed onto gliphers. If you work as a herbalist, you need to know what plants are best for gliphs. If you’re a chef, the skill of making gliph meals is necessary if you want to become successful. Oh, even a coachman needs knowledge of gliphs too! Or you won’t know which places are suitable for entry, and which aren’t. 

“In short, gliphs rules the world. So you must study them. 

“But what’s most important is that I, your father, have already paid the school fees. I’ll break your leg if you refuse to attend the lessons.” Chui Tin beamed as he patted Chui Yim’s shoulder.

A smiling Chui Tin making such comments sends chills down my spine. Chui Yim shuddered. 

---

“Then I’ll have to trouble you, Sir,” Chui Tin spoke warmly to the middle-aged man standing in front of him while holding his hand tightly. 

The middle-aged man was huge. He was about one hundred ninety centimeters tall, almost half a head taller than Chui Tin, who was about one hundred eighty centimeters tall.

What was weird was the black cloth wrapped around both his arms, leaving nothing other than his fingers exposed. 

“Mr Chui, it’s fine. He might be a day late, but there won’t be too many problems. As for his accommodation, our academy’s dorm is fine, right?” 

“Yes, yes. The dorm is fine,” Chui Tin answered warmly, not letting go of the man’s hand. “He’s a tough guy; anyplace is fine for him. He can even stay at the woodshed if there aren’t any other options.” 

Wow, he’s like a brand new person, huh? Chui Yim watched this scene with his jaws wide open. I thought that you were the most loving father?

“However, he’ll be returning home during weekends and holidays.” Chui Tin caressed Chui Yim’s shiny bald head while giving him a loving stare. “He’s such a filial child. He just told me that he’s interested in being a doctor, and that he’d like to learn from me. As a father, I definitely need to pass on my skills to my child who has such interest.” 

Chui Yim was stupefied. 

Why do I feel like I’m being sold? 

Hearing Chui Tin, the man frowned. “Gliphism is already such a broad and profound study that your whole life might not be enough to understand it fully. Are you sure it’s good for him to juggle so many things at the same time?” He meant it well, as focusing on too many things simultaneously would result in overall mediocreness, rather than being exceptional in one.  

“Haha, this isn’t a big deal. My child is a genius, after all.” Chui Tin laughed. 

“Hahaha…” The man laughed awkwardly as he turned his attention to Chui Yim. As an experienced teacher, he was used to parents having blind trust in their children’s capabilities. “Come with me then, boy.” 

Chui Tin squatted down, smiling from ear to ear. “Learn well, okay?” 

All Chui Yim did was look at him dazedly. 

To the teacher, Chui Yim was acting like this because he couldn’t bear to part with his father. Thus, he reached for the boy’s hand and said, “Come on, let’s go to class.”  

Chui Tin sent Chui Yim off in smiles.