Fang Zheng's and Mo Bei's problems had just begun.
As the two of them were about to leave that day, they were blocked at the gate by Fang Yuan.
Both of them stiffened. It was clear that Fang Yuan was not here for the other students- no, he was here for these two specifically.
"Where do you two think you're going? Your work isn't done yet," Fang Yuan said. "So, both of you draw straws to see who stays behind."
Neither Fang Zheng nor Mo Bei called Fang Yuan 'sir' but he didn't care for titles- he did want their work done, however.
'Why is this happening?' Mo Bei thought ten minutes later. 'I'm standing outside of Fang Yuan's dorm room like I'm his guard dog!'
Fang Yuan had told them both that the students needed extra help with their problems, and as such, one of them was going to be staying behind for four hours after class was over.
"I don't care how you decide it," Fang Yuan said dismissively. "Draw straws or fight each other to the death- either way, I expect to see one of you outside of my dorm room in ten minutes. That's where the students know to find me."
Mo Bei gritted his teeth. In this position, there was nothing he could do other than waste four hours of his life. He couldn't cultivate, or sleep, or eat, he just had to stay there and wait for people to approach.
Behind him, Fang Yuan was snoozing away. He had spent part of the night cultivating, and this was his 'break time' as he so called it.
"If there's an emergency, feel free to wake me up," Fang Yuan told Mo Bei. "And by the way, there are no emergencies."
The next day it was Fang Zheng's turn.
'Why am I here like this when I could be home with Cui-Cui?' he thought to himself as he glanced behind himself to see his brother cultivating. 'Or, I could be cultivating!'
With this, both he and Mo Bei would fall even further behind Fang Yuan!
Needless to say, Mo Bei's family had not been oblivious to the fact that Mo Bei was coming back from the academy late every other day. Once she found out, Mo Yan was enraged.
"That Fang Yuan! He goes too far- why haven't you complained to the academy elder?"
"Because despite his young age, he has greater foresight than you do," Mo Chen said plainly. "What has Fang Yuan done wrong? You would be dragging our own family name through the mud."
"But grandfather- how can-"
Mo Chen waved his hand, silencing her. "As part of the clan, one must obey its rules. One cannot learn to lead without learning how to follow first. In the future, just like you, Mo Bei will be tasked with joining groups in order to complete missions. He will also have to listen to a superior then- the team leader. As an elder, he will have to risk his life in missions, during that time, coordination is key. He will have to listen to the clan head during that time. If he cannot follow simple directions, what effect will it have on our family's prestige?"
"Isn't this going too far though?"
"He is," Mo Chen said. "But only slightly so. What do you think will happen if Mo Bei complains? You are not seeing the bigger picture. Who appointed Fang Yuan as class president?"
"The academy elder- oh..."
"Yes, questioning Fang Yuan is like questioning the academy elder's authority," Mo Chen said. "And what justification will he give?"
Mo Bei, what is your problem? Yes, you have to work harder as vice-president, since when do benefits not come without burdens? What, do you think we're giving you extra primeval stones for nothing? No one forced you to take this position, you could've always declined it!
Such would be the response if a complaint was raised. Worse, it would make the Mo clan seem weak and feeble.
"Being a leader means that one also has to make sacrifices," Mo Chen said. "Right now, it is something as simple as this. In the future, it is fighting powerful beast kings for the sake of the village. It is best he learns this now. As for these demands being excessive, on holidays, who does everything? It is Fang Yuan, after all. And he has reportedly split the job duties- forty percent each to the vice-presidents and twenty to himself."
"Isn't that blatant favoritism to himself, to give himself lighter duties?" Mo Yan said.
Mo Chen shook his head. "I am the head of this household- do you see me sweeping the floors and arranging the cutlery at dinner? A leader has to delegate, and that is what Fang Yuan is doing. If he were demanding they stay overnight, or even on holidays, it would be too much- but this is still within reasonable limits."
The academy elder for that matter, was actually not taking too kindly to things. What Fang Yuan was doing up till that point was fine to some extent, but the issue was that he was taking time away from Fang Zheng to cultivate.
It was a way for him to suppress his rivals, and the academy elder wished to do something about it. The issue was that he had to be impartial, and so as he couldn't say anything to Fang Yuan, who was sticking a toe out of line but no more, he instead spoke to the general students and told them to stop bothering the vice-presidents with nonsense. Also, if they didn't know how to climb trees, to stop trying to do so unless they had an appropriate gu worm.
The simplest solution for Mo Bei and Fang Zheng at that moment would be to resign.
But could they?
No. Much like the monkeys, despite sensing danger and losing, they couldn't let go of their positions.
For Mo Bei, his family would lose far too much face for him to walk out.
For Fang Zheng, backing out would disappoint Aunt and Uncle, and more importantly, it would be an admission to himself that he still couldn't deal with his elder brother.
They could resign, yes, but their pride and honor would not let them.
As for Fang Yuan, pride and honor were nothing to be concerned about, though it was what bound Fang Zheng and Mo Bei to this situation.
Among all of this, the happiest person was Chi Chen. He had been quite disappointed that he hadn't gotten a position. Now, it seemed as if he had dodged a bullet as the others were wound up in their duties, meaning there was a chance now for him to rush ahead of those three. With them slowed down, he actually had a chance.
There were still opportunities in the future, after all. Next would be whoever got to Rank 1 Upper Stage.
'I'm not out of the race yet!'