Daily life of a teacher in the martial arts department

Feng Ruo bumped into Ji Li's arms, and the two collided head-on. She sobbed softly, "I thought I would never see you again."

"During this long night, I've had this thought many times too."

Looking back, Ji Li saw that everyone he had fought that night possessed the power to kill him, and had also engaged in a fierce battle with him. But in the end, through a resurrection and a clash of souls, he triumphed over them all.

Ji Li suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

"If this were the end of the story, it wouldn't be so bad; one could proclaim oneself invincible and lament that no hero could rival one's prowess. But what ends is only the journey, not my life."

"I will always be waiting for the next battle."

-

As evening fell, Ying Qin Guan finished reading the Travelogue of the Nameless Swordsman of Southern Qin. A sense of emptiness washed over him, as if a friend who had been with him for a long time had departed. He had first encountered this book when he arrived at the Imperial Court and had been following it ever since, for over a year, until its conclusion.

“This is absolutely outrageous…” Nephalem’s focus was particularly peculiar. “Zhao Yunxian writes so slowly, and this last reminder made me realize that this one night must have taken a year. So this book is set in heaven, right? One day in heaven is a year on earth.”

When this matter was mentioned, Ying Qin Guan thought of the joke about "this instruction lasting for half a year" and couldn't help but laugh.

"Ah, that girl is such a lazybones. It's hard to believe she was Mu Nandong's prized student."

"It's rather melancholic to see such a story end like this," Nefertari sighed. He was the first person to know Ying Qin Guan's identity and had walked alongside him all the way. So when he first saw this book, he felt a particularly strange emotion, pouring more feelings into it. He then said, "How about we go out for a drink tonight?"

"Are you serious?" Ying Qin Guan sighed, "I don't really care, I feel almost fully recovered, but... have you forgotten how you got back last time?"

“I’m not just a martial artist, but also a pretty good doctor. No one in the world knows my body better than me.” Nephalem laughed. “If I feel fine, then I’m fine. Besides, who hasn’t been young and reckless a few times? I regretted not climbing over the school wall when I was in college. Now that I’m in the hospital, I should at least fulfill that wish from back then.”

"Others climb over school walls, but you climb over hospital walls, huh..." Ying Qin Guan couldn't help but chuckle. Schools and hospitals aren't exactly two extremes, but schools are full of young students, while Nephalem's words just now made him seem like an old man on the verge of death. The stark contrast between the two created a strange sense of humor while also revealing a kind of vitality and positivity.

If an elderly person is truly old enough to be lying in a hospital and can still say what Nephalem just said, then their mentality is truly admirable.

The Nephalem asked, "How is it?"

Ying Qin Guan shrugged and replied, "Since you've put it this way, how could I refuse?"

"Let's go now... It's not lunchtime yet, but if we wander around outside, we'll get there eventually."

Ying Qin Guan and Nefertari did not hesitate either, and the two jumped out of the window and left.

Shortly after they left, Ahe, full of excitement, knocked on the door and came in.

"Hehehe, chicken soup...wait, where is everyone?"

-

Ying Qin Guan and Nephalem were unaware that they had escaped another human calamity and taken another step closer to becoming the progenitors of humanity. The two decided to go for a drink.

Ying Qin Guan's alcohol tolerance is very low, but that's actually the result of self-suggestion. When he first arrived at Qiyao, his alcohol tolerance was extremely poor; he would get drunk almost immediately, and this remained true for a long time. However, as time went on, his alcohol tolerance gradually improved. Now, it surpasses that of ordinary people by a considerable margin, but that's all; his alcohol tolerance still cannot match his godlike physique.

"Where should we get something to eat?"

"barbecue?"

"Barbecue? That sounds good. It's the season when the fish are at their fattest and most delicious. We can order two portions then."

People from Qiyao have a special fondness for loose fish. From street barbecue to five-star restaurants and even state banquets, loose fish can be found everywhere. No matter the occasion, the appearance of loose fish will never feel out of place or demeanor.

Nephalem hailed a taxi and took him to a place Ying Qin Guan had only heard of but never visited: the Throne of Heaven. This was the most bustling commercial district of the Seven Luminaries, a symbol of the region's prosperity, renowned for its various high-end restaurants and shops. Ying Qin Guan had been in the Seven Luminaries for so long, yet he had never been here before. His salary wasn't low, but spending money here was a bit of a stretch... However, Ying Qin Guan's reluctance to come here wasn't due to his salary. If it weren't for various incidents, he rarely even left the Royal Palace.

Although Ying Qin Guan had never been here before, he had heard about the high cost of living in this place, and joked, "Looks like you're planning to bleed a lot today."

The Nephalem laughed, "Do you think I'm Jiu Yi?"

"...I can't tell at a moment whether you're mocking Jiu Yi's modest income or praising his integrity and honesty."

"Both."

"His girlfriend is quite wealthy, isn't she?"

"Yes, she's the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Otherwise, how could she have so many socialite hobbies? They're quite a good match."

Upon hearing this, Ying Qin Guan, from the Southern Qin region and with a conservative mindset, switched to motherly mode.

"Speaking of which, Nephalem, you're not young anymore—"

"Stop! Stop!"

Bounty Doubling Statistics

—As of today, there are 22+2 chapters owed. According to the previous agreement, this will be doubled to 66+2 chapters, which is 68 chapters.

I owed a total of 73 chapters. Three months have passed, and it seems like I've paid back a lot, but it also seems like I haven't paid back anything... Actually, until early February, the plan was progressing steadily. I originally planned to pay back about ten chapters in the ten days of February, and in the end, I would owe a little over ten chapters, which would be easy to pay back. However, I forgot that this period was so special. I was visiting relatives like crazy, and not only did I not pay back, I even ended up owing a little more.

The will of Heaven is hard to defy.

Based on my experience, it will take a long time to pay off these 68 chapters. I'll try to finish them before the book is finished... but that's probably impossible. If I haven't finished them by the time the book is finished, I'll write them as side stories. In any case, the debts for this book will be settled in this book.

In addition, I've been publishing whatever drafts I have on hand during this period. I'll be stockpiling some drafts going forward to avoid any unforeseen circumstances. That's all.

-

Chapter 18: Each Person's Efforts

There's a strange feeling about Ying Qin Pass.

Every time he left the royal palace and chose to go out, he would encounter all sorts of acquaintances. If he hadn't met them outside, Ying Qin Guan would not have known that these people's range of activities was so wide. Among them, Nocturne was the most prominent. Random refresh was no joke.

This time, it is no exception.

Although they planned to have barbecue, things changed faster than planned. When they passed a restaurant, someone called out to Ying Qin Guan and Nefertari. When they turned around, they saw the owner, Nocturne, and the Yorozuya father and son, a total of four people.

Meeting is fate, so Ying Qin Guan and Nefertari entered that restaurant.

To avoid being asked how the two of them escaped from the hospital, Ying Qin Guan decided to preemptively ask, "And how did you all end up together?"

"We played mahjong at the Royal Courtyard for a while, and since it was lunchtime, we came to grab a bite to eat." The owner pushed up his glasses and chuckled. "It's not surprising that we're here, or that we've come together. But shouldn't you two be lying in the hospital right now?"

"I've been discharged from the hospital." Nephalem said without changing his expression, "This is the judgment of a senior doctor and a martial artist, and you should trust it."

"Really? I don't believe it!"

"What's the use of whether you believe it or not?" Nephalem waved his hand, called over a waiter, ticked a few boxes on the menu, and then handed it to Ying Qin Guan.

["Have you heard the story of the Director of the Anguo Division? On July 23rd, 174th year of the Seven Luminaries Calendar, the Director of the Anguo Division, a social parasite named Nephalem, left the hospital to forage for food and was carried back on a stretcher..."]

"That's really rude of you. What do you mean by 'going out to find food'?" Nephalem blushed. It seemed that everyone already knew about him being carried back after sneaking out to eat. He coughed and resorted to his low-level stubbornness, saying, "I was full and ordered the hospital to pick me up. You little pudding, don't talk nonsense if you don't understand."

"Ah, so that's how it is."

Shenxin held up the small blackboard, her little face filled with joy.

Yu Xietian was clearly much more conscientious, saying, "You should know what you're doing."

"Of course, you don't need to worry about that," Nephalem said casually. "But you two, you've made a small fortune, don't think you're set for life. With your spending power, I really doubt how long that money will last."

"It's nothing more than going back to my old ways. We'll talk about the future later."

"That's right!"

Seeing their nonchalant attitude, Nephalem was speechless, only managing a wry smile. Everyone has their own attitude towards life, and these things shouldn't be discussed too deeply—he knew this perfectly well. But every time he saw the two from the Yorozuya, he felt a little worried for them. After all, he had essentially kept them behind; otherwise, they would probably be wandering around like Himura Tanzaku and Kamui.

One by one, they're all troublesome, really... even though I'm already retired.

Nephalem sighed inwardly. There was still some time before the food was served. This restaurant specializes in bentwood cuisine, which comes from the small country of bentwood in the southern part of the continent. It is very particular and the speed of serving food can only be described as tragic. So the four of them would come to this restaurant before the mealtime and wait. If they did not make a reservation, they could only wait like this.

Nocturne pulled out a deck of cards from somewhere, and the group played for a while. Then, the staff brought over some free desserts and fruit to help them get through the long wait.

By the time the meal was over, night had fallen. The six parted ways. Nocturne and the owner went to do their own things, while Ying Qin Guan and Nefertari went to another restaurant to have some drinks—they were a bit too reserved with so many people around earlier.

Meanwhile, the Yorozuya continued their extravagant spending, displaying a nouveau riche mentality, and Nephalem's concerns were not unfounded.

For these people who have reached the pinnacle of their lives, life seems to be just like this: if something happens, they deal with it; if nothing happens, they enjoy the wonderful and free single life.

But for those who have not yet reached their peak, every second is precious.

The most hardworking of them all was Zhong Hongyu. Her level of effort was unparalleled. She went to bed at 11 p.m. every day and woke up at 5:30 a.m., when it was still barely dawn. Her roommate was Luo Shui. Sometimes when she woke up, Luo Shui was still awake, staying up late to read her novels.

This routine itself wasn't particularly terrifying; what was terrifying was that she maintained it consistently. Even on the day her father was arrested, she did the same.

Every single day, every single day...

She was actually a very unfortunate person.

If someone like her had lived in ancient times, she might have been considered a top-tier expert. Because she was so hardworking and diligent, in an era where cultivation methods were less refined, no one could quickly reach their peak. Therefore, hard work became paramount; when talent couldn't be quickly realized, whoever worked hardest became the most powerful.

But she was born in modern times, where the methods of raising children are too perfect. Martial artists can quickly reach their peak. Whether they work hard or not, the difference is at most a few months or a year or two. Those who fall behind can still catch up quickly.

And you're stuck there, watching others go further. Because your ceiling is set, while others' is limitless.

Modern methods of nurturing talent are more favorable to geniuses, but less so to ordinary people and those with above-average abilities. This is an inevitable trend, and it will only become more pronounced in the future. This is because nurturing methods are constantly being improved; even Ying Qin Guan occasionally optimizes his own methods.

Martial artists are inevitably becoming more elite, and their numbers will dwindle, a stark contrast to magicians. In ancient times, magicians were a noble and rare profession. However, in modern times, there are far more magicians and alchemists than martial artists.

As the sun set, Zhong Hongyu practiced a sword technique once more... a technique that even Ying Qin Guan, who had taught her, had almost forgotten. But Zhong Hongyu still practiced it every day, whenever possible.

The Separation and Union Sword... She had a feeling deep down that she would definitely need to use it, just like a gun that appeared in a short story.

—Why is it a short story? Because leaving plot holes unresolved is a fine tradition among novelists.

So she had been preparing for that day, which was actually an adventure, a gamble. What if that day didn't come? What if that day came and the sword technique was useless?

--have no idea.

These are questions that can never be answered, as martial artists believe. It has always been the same thing, from ancient times to the present, and no matter how time changes, how generations come and go, this will has never changed.

Chapter Nineteen: Through Their Own Efforts

That's strange...

Ji Qiuming suddenly threw a punch, his dark inner energy surging through, smashing the huge tree in front of him that would take two people to hug.

A tree that would take two adults to encircle... was smashed to pieces by a single punch, the violent internal energy tearing everything apart.

This is a forest, next to an unnamed town. Ji Qiuming occasionally comes here to test his cultivation results, but today's results are particularly amazing.

Or rather, the results over the past two weeks have become more and more astonishing each day.

【"Why.."】

Ji Qiuming exhaled a breath of turbid air, turned around abruptly, his inner energy surging. He threw another punch, the same punch aimed at a giant tree... and again, he smashed it to pieces with a single blow.

This is such astonishing destructive power; it doesn't resemble that of a modern martial artist at all, but rather that of an ancient one. However, Ji Qiuming's cultivation methods and techniques are clearly modern, and his fighting style is typical of a modern martial artist.