Claiming the Throne of Gods, Starting from the Rebirth of Nezha

Nezha slept until noon the next day, kicking off all the blankets, sprawled out on the bamboo mat yet unwilling to get out of bed.

Beside the bed stood a slender girl in green clothes, gentle as a willow, named Cui Yu, the personal maid of Lady Yin.

Cui Yu, just sixteen years old, blushed at the sight of Nezha lying stark naked in bed, then reached out a finger to poke him.

"Time to get up, Nezha. Madam has invited Mr. Fan from East Village to teach you. The teacher is already here. If you don't go, you'll get a spanking."

"Not getting up, too sleepy."

"Are you not planning to eat later either, staying in bed like this?"

"Sister Cuiyu, you all go eat first. Don't wait for me."

At this age, Nezha naturally needs more sleep, especially after staying up all night last evening; he was worn out, and what Cui Yu said was heard but barely registered.

Seeing Nezha couldn't be shaken awake, Cui Yu sighed, then spotting a certain something exposed by his undignified posture, a mischievous idea popped into her head.

She pinched her fingers into an orchid shape and gave it a light flick. Nezha, who was dreaming of eating burgers and fried chicken, immediately jolted awake with cold sweat, leaping three feet high.

"Sister Cuiyu, what are you doing!"

"Who told you to stay in bed!"

Cui Yu rolled her eyes. Furious, Nezha wrapped the sheet around himself and pushed her out of the room: "Get out, get out..."

"Get dressed quickly and get up. I will tell Madam you are coming."

"Alright, alright, got it, how annoying!"

Cui Yu left quickly, muttering under her breath as she went: "This kid is small everywhere, but quite strong."

Inside, Nezha lay back on the bed, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling, wide awake.

Suddenly, he chuckled, realizing it had been years since he last felt like a kid, playfully quarrelling with 'adults' over sleeping in.

"Sister Cuiyu is only sixteen, I think. Mr. Fan, who is Mr. Fan?"

Nezha slapped his forehead, remembering.

Yesterday, in a moment of impulse, he told Lady Yin to bring the family tutor back because he wanted to study, so this Mr. Fan must be the teacher his mother hired.

After washing up, Nezha went to the front hall to greet his mother.

Seeing Nezha so gentle and courteous, Lady Yin couldn't help but feel overjoyed. She turned to the elderly man in blue sitting nearby, with a white beard, and said, "Teacher, this is my son Nezha, who recently started to understand, but he knows few words, an embarrassment to show."

Hearing this, Nezha thought the writing in this place was entirely different from simplified characters.

So, he turned to look at this Mr. Fan.

Mr. Fan sat in his chair, appearing to be in his late seventies or eighties, neatly dressed and clean, with a straight posture. As Nezha regarded him, he placed his teacup on the table. With just a glance, his keen eyes made Nezha uneasy.

His voice was deep, though a little lacking in breath.

Mr. Fan said, "When one is silent, it doesn't mean incapable, but remarkable once speaking. You have some potential."

Nezha pouted, clasped his hands, and bowed, "Greetings, teacher."

Though Nezha was still annoyed for digging himself into a hole, Mr. Fan noticed Nezha's indifferent demeanor.

He continued, "Yin Suzhi, you've raised three outstanding sons, truly exceptional."

"Teacher praises them too highly. Nezha is still young and needs your guidance."

"Though uncut jade, only by carving can it become a tool."

The sudden gravity in Mr. Fan's voice made Lady Yin nervous. She stood and bowed, "Please, teach him, teacher."

Nezha was curious about Lady Yin's attitude towards Mr. Fan, unaware that this Mr. Fan had once held office in Zhaoge and was also Lady Yin's childhood teacher.

Mr. Fan approached Nezha and asked, "Why did you stay in bed at such a late hour?"

Nezha lifted his head, under Mr. Fan's gaze, unexpectedly feeling the same sense of guilt as when he did something wrong in front of the old orphanage director in his past life.

He stared wide-eyed, speechless.

Mr. Fan continued, "Today is an exception, but from now on, every day at just past dawn, you will get up to study with me. If you're late, you'll receive ten strokes of the ruler! Did you hear clearly?"

"Mother, save me! I don't want to have early classes!"

"Early classes?"

Children have their privileges, which is making a fuss and seeking their mother.

But such tricks don't work on Mr. Fan, leading Nezha to rue his journey into the world of Divine Enthronement with dreaded morning classes.

Realizing it was futile, Nezha obediently performed the apprenticeship ceremony.

After the ceremony, they invited the teacher to dine, while the house servants helped Mr. Fan deliver three full carts of gifts back home.

Lady Yin stood holding Nezha's hand, watching the frail yet upright back of the departing teacher, her eyes gradually moistening.

Nezha asked, "Mother, what's the background of this Mr. Fan to have such airs."

Lady Yin rubbed Nezha's head, softly saying, "Mr. Fan is from Zhaoge, and was my teacher when I was young. He was also a court doctor, demoted to Chentang Pass as a commoner for criticizing the Great King's favoring of Daji and neglecting state affairs."

"Daji?"

Hearing this name, Nezha couldn't remain calm. In the various stories he heard in his past, Daji was a fox spirit, and also an unrivaled beauty capable of causing a kingdom's downfall.

"Yes, Su Daji, the daughter of Su Hu, Marquis of Jizhou. It was said she was a noble and elegant young lady, but after arriving at Zhaoge, became cruel and violent, as if she were a different person entirely."

Nezha asked, "Why does Mother say Su Daji is ruthless?"

As Lady Yin recalled, her face turned pale as she shakily responded, "This... these are not things for children to know. Just follow Mr. Fan for your studies from tomorrow."

Seeing his mother unwilling to elaborate, Nezha didn't press for more and simply nodded in agreement.

However, Lady Yin saw the perfunctory look on Nezha's face and kindly reminded him, "Remember to listen to Mr. Fan, or you'll definitely get a spanking."

"Got it, Mother. It's just studying."

Turning back into the house, Nezha sat for a while, grabbed Big Black, and discreetly slipped out the back garden gate, claiming a stroll to escape into the Chentang Pass tower.

Chentang Pass was indeed hot.

Gazing across the vast sky, the sun was like a blazing lid.

This was indeed: People's faces sweating beads dropping, while those leisurely avoid the heat with fans waving.

In seven years, Nezha had never ascended the city tower, and now that he did, he saw the city standing ten feet tall, looking down onto lush green willows, relaxed pedestrians walking in small groups.

Peering into the distance, two large rivers, rolling with waves, merged into the sea, which lay flat and peaceful, stretching endlessly.

Nezha took in the view, muttering to himself: "Chentang Pass truly is a land of talent."

He meandered atop the city wall, and the guards, seeing a boy not dressed like a common fisherman's child, dared not inquire, and thus sought others around for information.

Nezha saw them and laughed, "I am Nezha, son of the Chentang Pass General Li Jing. I'm just here for a breeze, carry on with your duties without minding me."

"Oh, it's the Third Young Master, the wind is strong on the walls, be careful not to catch a cold."

The patrol captain, a middle-aged man with a goatee, didn't know Nezha, but he recognized the black dog from the General's Mansion. He bowed slightly, moving aside ostensibly but actually standing guard nearby.

Nezha, noticing this, simply chuckled and continued enjoying the breeze atop the wall.