Daily life of a teacher in the martial arts department

The ritual could be completed at any moment, and Ye Jiaofang in his human form was already struggling to handle it. If he were to become the progenitor, the situation would be even worse.

Ying Qin Guan didn't hesitate for long. He picked up the sword box, tried to gather his inner energy, and launched a killing move into it. Sure enough, it was like a mud ox entering the sea, with no reaction whatsoever.

“Ying Qin Pass.” P.S.’s voice came through the earpiece. “It may be a little late to ask now, but… are you ready?”

Ying Qin Guan did not answer. He circulated his internal energy and walked into it.

-

Meanwhile, at the pillar of light 120 kilometers away, Hiyomaru Tansakura and Fengyunke also arrived at the pillar of light. Their situation was similar to that of Yingqin Pass; once the pillar of light engulfed them, nothing could be seen.

The military had initially considered disrupting the ceremony after it began. After all, martial artists are essentially powerless to protect others when facing area-of-effect (AoE) attacks. Of course, Ye Jiaofang did have one advantage; his Dimensional Slash could barely negate some AoE damage. But without that massive pillar of light, he wouldn't have been able to complete the ceremony under the military's firepower.

But this pillar of light simply exists, and once the ritual begins, it cannot be interrupted. Unless the person presiding over the ritual dies, which is why Wang Qiushui insisted on fighting Ye Jiaofang in the first place. If they fight now, Ye Jiaofang will be inside the pillar of light, meaning he will be immune to damage from outside the circle and will have to fight inside, which will restrict him even more severely.

Like Ying Qin Pass, they tried it but to no avail. Without further ado, they exchanged a glance and entered the pillar of light as well.

As soon as she entered, a chilling killing intent descended. Hisumura Tan's whole body was covered in goosebumps. Following her instincts, she took a step forward and narrowly avoided a rapidly slashing sword light, which gave her time to observe the environment inside the pillar of light.

The entire world inside the pillar of light had turned a blood-red color, with countless crimson cracks spreading across the ground. Several corpses lay on the ground, all killed by sword energy that had severed their bodies. They must have been the people who had entered earlier. About five meters above the ground, a huge red iron door was suspended in mid-air, with several chains with a cold, metallic texture wrapped tightly around it.

The iron gate trembled incessantly, the chains rattled, and bloody dust fell from it constantly, as if something terrifying was about to break free and regain its freedom.

Just seeing this iron gate filled Himura Dan's heart with a huge gloom. The iron gate exuded an extremely ominous and terrifying aura, like the nemesis of all life.

Shifting his gaze from the iron gate, Hiyomura Tan's eyes widened to discover that the space inside the pillar of light was far larger than it had appeared from the outside. From the outside, the pillar of light appeared to be a large circle with a diameter of about ten meters, but once inside, the interior space was much larger, likely exceeding five hundred meters in diameter. Ye Jiaofang stood in the center of this circle, expressionless, seemingly in no hurry to act—a highly unusual behavior. If Hiyomura Tan's eyes were Ye Jiaofang's, he would have acted immediately… He quickly looked around, only to find that there were absolutely no materials whatsoever that appeared to be needed for the ritual; the area was completely empty.

Himura Tansaku did not recognize Ye Jiaofang as Tang Shige, whom he had met that day—the two looked completely different. Although they both had a pair of purplish-red pupils, it was not a particularly rare or special color.

Hisumura Tanzaku wanted to report this information, but there was no response from the other end of the earpiece... it was malfunctioning.

This phenomenon, along with the enormous space inside, led Himura Tanzaku to speculate that the interior of this pillar of light might be another unknown space.

Himura Tan's Sakura had never heard of such a thing before, but since it was related to the progenitor, he felt it was normal and not unacceptable. However, this meant that the normal way of destroying a ritual—that is, destroying the materials corresponding to the ritual—would not be applicable.

"All rituals in this world have one thing in common..."

Feng Yunke's voice suddenly rang out, calm and steady. As he spoke, he slowly assumed a fighting stance.

Himura Tansaku suddenly realized what Fengyunke was about to say. He remained silent for a moment and also drew his sword.

Each ritual has different ways of ending it, but some methods are universal. For example, destroying the offerings for the ritual, or killing the person conducting the ritual.

"Is that you...?"

Ye Jiaofang's voice was calm, but tinged with a hint of disappointment.

"So, he went over there... How pitiful."

"Pitiful?" Hishimura Tan's voice rang out, despite his deep hatred for Ye Jiaofang. However, this wasn't a good time to act. Both sides wanted to stall for time: Ye Jiaofang wanted to wait until the ceremony was complete, while Hishimura Tan's side wanted to wait until Ying Qinguan arrived. But overall, Hishimura Tan's side was more focused on stalling. Because Ye Jiaofang, simply by standing there, exuded a terrifying, suffocating aura.

What puzzled Himura Tan's eyes even more was Ye Jiao's words... "Poor thing," was he referring to Ying Qin Guan?

"Why... say such strange things?"

"Don't misunderstand." Ye Jiaofang said calmly, the two of them looking at each other from hundreds of meters away. "I'm not saying he's pitiful, or rather, he's not the only one who's pitiful."

"He was truly pitiful when he encountered that prepared thing. Afterwards, even if he managed to get here, he wouldn't be at his peak anymore. So I was pitiful too. Then, although that guy was prepared, facing a martial artist of my caliber, he was bound to suffer a severe beating, so he was also pitiful. Finally..."

Ye Jiaofang remained indifferent as he slowly drew a black Tang sword, his entire being radiating killing intent.

"The most pitiful ones are, of course, those of you who are about to die."

Chapter Fifty-One: A Great Dream Turns to Nothing

"Big brother... how long are you going to sleep?"

Ying Qin Guan opened his eyes and saw the familiar yet unfamiliar wooden roof. The morning sunlight shone through the gaps, and he was slightly startled. The wooden bed beneath him creaked.

His mind was a little confused. He turned his head and saw his fourteen-year-old sister. Like Ying Qin Guan, she had inherited the best genes from her parents. Although she was young, she had already grown into a graceful young lady. Because she had learned to read and write with Ying Qin Guan at the storyteller's house, she had a refined air that other country children did not have.

"Ah..." Ying Qin Guan groaned, feeling an inexplicable throbbing pain in his head, as if it were about to explode. He got up, sat cross-legged on the bed, and patted his head.

Before him was a cramped room of about ten square meters. Besides a wooden bed, there was only a simple wardrobe, and a few scattered items on the floor. That was all; it was the house he and his father had built together years ago.

"...Sorry." Ying Qin Guan came back to his senses and said to his younger sister, "It feels like...I had a very long dream."

He remembered everything... Yesterday, Ying Qin Guan went to town with the teacher who taught him to read. The teacher was a storyteller who taught Ying Qin Guan to read. Occasionally, when needed, he would call Ying Qin Guan along to do odd jobs. Ying Qin Guan had been running around all day yesterday and was now back, feeling quite tired. His sleep quality didn't seem to be very good either.

The younger sister sighed and said, "Compared to this, older brother... you should talk to Mom and Dad about what to do with that book. One hundred coins is no small amount."

Ying Qin Guan recalled the incident with a headache. Yesterday, when he accompanied his teacher into the city, he overheard two men dressed as spies chatting in the inn. They were talking about an army heading towards Southern Qin. But it didn't seem like an army, because they weren't carrying any weapons. It was more like... logistics?

Their tone made Ying Qin Guan inexplicably uneasy. He had harbored a martial arts dream since childhood, and yesterday, for some unknown reason, he had gone to great lengths to buy a Qi Cultivation Manual. Such manuals were commonplace in the city, and few could actually master them. But for Ying Qin Guan, it was a near-death experience, and he still couldn't afford it. Luckily, he met a kind young lady… I think her name was Fu Hanwen?

Ying Qin Guan shook his head again. It was clearly something that happened yesterday, but it felt as distant as a past life to him.

"Answer me!" the younger sister said. "How do you plan to explain this? This thing is completely useless. If you have this money, why didn't you use it when you were buying New Year's goods the other day?"

"It's alright." Ying Qin Guan quickly put on his linen clothes and got out of bed. If his younger sister had only inherited their parents' good genes, but was essentially still a village girl, then Ying Qin Guan was practically a genetic mutation. Even in Ze Yang's unappealing linen clothes, her extraordinary temperament was undeniable.

He smiled and said, "My parents will definitely forgive me."

"Yes, yes, as long as you agree to go with the matchmaker to meet a woman, they will forgive you no matter what."

The younger sister sighed. It had been the same for the past two years. No matter what mistakes Ying Qin Guan made, as long as he promised his parents he would go to meet a girl through a matchmaker, everything was forgiven. Back in Qiyao, Ying Qin Guan was just considered a very handsome guy, nothing more. But here… it was like a tornado destroying a parking lot; matchmakers practically wore down the doorstep of their house. But Ying Qin Guan didn't seem to have any intention of doing so. Two years had passed, and there was still no word from him.

Ying Qin Guan grabbed the Qi Cultivation Manual from the bedside table. This was the book he had bought for one hundred coins. When he touched the book, he felt a strange tremor in his heart, as if everything would be different as long as he opened the book, and his fate would undergo earth-shattering changes. This feeling puzzled Ying Qin Guan. Just as he was about to open the book, his mother's irritable voice suddenly rang out from outside the house.

"Ying Qin Pass, come out here dead!"

—Damn it, they called me by my full name.

Ying Qin Guan felt a chill run down his spine. There's a kind of murderous aura in the world called when your parents call you by your full name. It seems this matter can't be resolved by one girl alone; he'll have to see at least two.

He didn't bother to open the Qi Cultivation Manual, which could have changed his fate, and casually tossed it on the bed before rushing outside.

"Coming, coming... Mom, what's wrong with you?"

Ying's mother looked quite displeased, and she cursed, "Why did you spend money to buy that thing?!"

Ying Qin Guan, attempting to bluff his way through, laughed and said, "People always have to pay a price for their choices..."

These words sounded rather literary and philosophical. Just then, the younger sister walked out of Ying Qin Guan's room and calmly betrayed him.

"What my brother means is that the money was wasted, and there's nothing we can do about it."

Ying Qin Guan's words left Ying's mother somewhat confused. But her younger sister's words were crystal clear, and Ying's mother immediately flew into a rage.

"You do nothing productive all day long! Wouldn't it be better if you got married sooner? Your father and I would be at ease. Look at you, you don't even have a wife, and you can't save any money. You just squander it like this, what kind of person are you?!"

Ying Qin Guan, true to his name, displayed his ability to fight back against the odds, retorting, "How can this be considered reckless spending! I have my reasons for buying it!"

Ying's mother was so angry she almost died. Just then, Ying's father walked over and said, "Alright... what's done is done, and the money can't be returned. There's no point in saying anything more. Ying Qin Guan, come here. This time, Aunt Li is going to introduce you to a good girl. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Ying Qin Guan initially intended to slip away, but upon hearing Aunt Li's name, he hesitated. She was his teacher's wife, and in Southern Qin, literate people were few, and literate women even fewer. Aunt Li was one of them; she was educated and his younger sister's idol, so her standards would likely be exceptional. Having spent so much money this time, he couldn't avoid her. Rather than relying on others for introductions, he decided to go with Aunt Li to see her.

With this thought in mind, Ying Qin Guan agreed to the matter and put the Qi Cultivation Classic out of his mind.

"Go to Teacher Liang's house by yourself. She will be waiting for you there. Don't wander off. You're really not young anymore," Ying's father instructed. Teacher Liang was the schoolteacher who taught Ying Qin Guan to read, and Aunt Li was his wife. The two of them were the only intellectuals in the village.

Ying Qin Guan nodded, and the little sister beside him shouted, "I want to go too!"

"Go to hell!" Mother Ying said irritably. "If you can't read today, stay home and help me with some chores."

The younger sister immediately looked at Ying Qin Guan with teary eyes. Ying Qin Guan had no sympathy for the guy who betrayed him. He went back to his room, changed into his only decent set of clothes, and went out to Teacher Liang's house.

Chapter Fifty-Two: A Fleeting Dream (Part Two)

Ying Qin Guan's village was small; it was just a short walk to Teacher Liang's house. Actually, according to the customs of Southern Qin, he should be addressed as Mr. Liang. But the term "teacher" was also used outside, and it was slowly influencing Southern Qin.

"They're here." Aunt Li greeted them. Although she was plain-looking, the difference between her and Ying's mother was immediately apparent. She smiled and said, "You're a lucky child, born with a beautiful face. I'll introduce you to someone this time. Treat him well and don't neglect him."

Ying Qin Guan said, "Definitely, definitely..."

Seeing that Ying Qin Guan didn't care, Aunt Li continued, "This time it's completely different. She's a girl from the city. Her father was just like you back then, a poor boy who was separated from his beloved. Later, he met a benefactor, traveled abroad, and saw a lot of the world. Now he's back in Wuyang City, a very influential figure. His family is incredibly wealthy, with overflowing granaries. It's such a good family. If it were someone else, no matter how good-looking they were, they wouldn't be able to get in. Luckily, that gentleman is experienced and has achieved success himself. If you're willing, you might have a chance!"

Ying Qin Guan listened and felt it was unreliable; the idea of ​​marrying someone of equal social standing wouldn't change even in a thousand years. Besides, this was a strong point of discussion in Southern Qin. Hearing this, Guan not only lost interest but also began to have second thoughts, saying, "Aunt Li, I don't think this... is quite right. Besides, if such a girl really existed, why would she be interested in me?"

"She occasionally listens to storytelling at the teahouse, and your teacher knows the teahouse's storyteller. Over time, your teacher and I have also helped in some ways. Although your family is poor, you are hardworking, have a good temper, and are literate—and you learned to read much faster than your younger sister. You might have a chance to pass the imperial examinations someday. After a few times, she's started to have some interest in it..."

—Aunt Li's words were quite tactful, but there were actually many reasons. The most important was that Ying Qin Guan was indeed handsome. Other reasons included the fact that the girl's father had been separated from his beloved because of this in his younger years, and had also traveled abroad, experiencing new ideas. Most importantly, he already had an eldest son who could inherit the family business, so why wouldn't he let his younger daughter go out and pursue love?

—However, the pursuit of love is quite ridiculous. This can hardly be called the pursuit of love. In the Southern Qin region, women are expected to stay at home before and after reaching adulthood. Where would they find the opportunity to date and cultivate feelings? Sometimes, it's all arranged by parents and matchmakers. If someone looks decent, that's it. So, many relationships only begin to develop after marriage. Love is a luxury that shouldn't exist in this era, and elopement is so distant that it can only exist in the stories written by poor scholars.

Ying Qin Guan was born in this era and was naturally influenced by its ideas. Clearly, the gentleman who had been abroad was too open-minded, and Ying Qin Guan couldn't accept it. He shook his head and refused, saying, "I don't think it's suitable... forget it."

Aunt Li said, "This matter has already come to my attention. You have to go, whether you like it or not, Qin Guan. Your teacher Liang and I don't have children, so you're like our child. You need to understand that this might be your only chance in this life to change your social class. Some things are placed in front of you, and if you don't cherish them, you'll lose them in the blink of an eye. You might think this is marrying into the family, but let me tell you, it's not. That girl has an older brother; she doesn't need to find a husband..."

—In the Southern Qin, the act of marrying into another's family is self-evident.

Aunt Li paused slightly, then said, "Speaking of which, Qin Guan, you're not young anymore. You rejected her again without even meeting her. What kind of person are you looking for? You are good-looking, but do you really want to find a princess through that?"

"Haha...you're joking." Ying Qin Guan was a little embarrassed and even used honorifics, but he knew in his heart that he couldn't escape this question. What kind of person was he looking for? He had no answer at all. His peers had already settled down and started families, but he was still having unrealistic dreams.

In the end, Ying Qin Guan glossed over the topic and went with the other party to meet the girl. She was of average appearance, of suitable age, and spoke in an ordinary manner, but the claim that she came from a wealthy family was probably true. Ying Qin Guan met her once and sensed her attitude. He felt that if he was willing and her family was indeed as Aunt Li had said, then... it should be possible.

While talking to the other person, Ying Qin Guan felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had met someone similar before—someone from a similarly well-off family and with a free marital status… But did he know such a person? It seemed not.

As night fell, Ying Qin Guan, Aunt Li, and Teacher Liang and his wife returned to the village together. Teacher Liang used to tell stories there, and sometimes he would stay out too late, and the roads would be dark and slippery, so he would stay there overnight.

Such an important matter could not be decided lightly. After returning home, Ying Qin Guan helped his parents cook a meal and then did some farm work. When he returned to his room, it was already late at night. He saw the book on cultivating one's inner energy. However, it was late at night, and Ying Qin Guan picked up the book, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately did not choose to light a candle.

Perhaps it was because he was too tired, or perhaps it was because his father told him that he planned to go fishing the next day and he didn't plan to stay up too late, as winter mornings can easily wear down one's will.

So Ying Qin Guan put the book back.

This time, when he picked up the book, the feeling that it would change his destiny had vanished. Instead, when he put the book down, he felt a strange sense of peace, like curling up in a blanket in the dead of winter—an unparalleled sense of security.

Ying Qin Guan placed the book on the bedside table, closed his eyes, and in the blink of an eye, another day had passed.

Because it was winter, there was less farm work, so the younger sister and Ying's mother learned to do some needlework, while Ying Qin Guan and Ying's father went to the lake to catch some fish. They brought several bamboo baskets and planned to place them in suitable locations.

On the way, Ying's father asked, "What do you plan to do with that thing?"

Ying Qin Guan was slightly taken aback, then realized that he was referring to the Qi Cultivation Classic.

"How to handle this... I'll practice it when I have time."

"We can't do anything reckless," Ying's father said in a low voice. "Yesterday I went into the city and asked someone to consult a martial arts master. These martial arts techniques and internal energy cultivation require a teacher's help. If you practice on your own, you'll run into problems."

"No, it won't happen," Ying Qin Guan said. "That martial arts instructor just wanted someone to join their martial arts school, so he said that. He's just practicing from a book; what problem could there be?"

"You should know what you're doing." Ying's father's voice was low. He was always a man of few words and rarely interfered in matters concerning Ying Qin Pass.