Daily life of a teacher in the martial arts department

"Too.."

Shuangling looked towards the basement. Gu Xuan's screams were gradually weakening, and the attack seemed to be over. However, this probably wouldn't be the last time.

-

How much are people willing to pay for freedom?

Throughout his short yet long life, Kui had been pondering this question.

His life was certainly short, lasting only a little over thirty years to this day.

However, for Kui, this was a long time. His thinking speed and dynamic vision had become so powerful that he could not control them. Even without concentrating, the world seemed incredibly slow to him, and he always had more time to think. But in terms of individual sensory time, the years he spent in his mind were longer than those of Ye Jiaofang and Wang Qiushui, and perhaps even longer than human history.

This might have been enough to make him a philosopher, but he didn't show that side of himself much.

Kui wasn't a born actor, but his remarkable ability to learn various skills at a speed that seemed genius-like to most people was due to his rapid thinking. In reality, however, his learning ability was only at an average level.

The same applies to calculation ability. Kui looks very fast, like a genius, but that's not actually the case. He also calculated for a long time.

Many things are completely different from what others see or guess.

To survive in this world is to hide everything in the shadows and conceal one's sharp claws.

Kui wasn't a born actor, but he was an excellent one. Time can make up for many innate shortcomings, especially when something is related to one's life, this ability naturally becomes outstanding.

That's how Kui fooled so many people.

His appearance, looks, abilities, and even fighting style are all extremely deceptive, easily leading people to mistake him for a simple-minded, big oaf. His fighting style, in particular, is widely criticized... but the persona built upon this foundation is indeed difficult to dismantle.

In this respect, Que was successful.

However, every eagle gazes at the blue sky from the moment it is born, not looking up, but looking down. Its innate genes etch the desire to conquer the blue sky into its soul, leaving an indelible mark.

The eternal pursuit of freedom will not change.

But what if the price is life?

That makes one hesitate. Kui has been thinking about this for a long time but has not been able to make up his mind.

In fact, the question he was pondering wasn't whether or not to betray, but rather which side to choose. If he chose the wrong side, there would be no second chance for him.

As for Ji Chaoge... that man is cunning and unfathomable. He's more adept at discarding someone after they've served their purpose than eating. But he's also displayed extraordinary ambition and magnanimity. If he succeeds, I should be able to gain my freedom...

On the human side, needless to say, no matter what they do, no matter how great their achievements, how much reward and fame they receive, the surveillance will never cease. As long as the progenitor exists, humanity will never truly trust the Lord; that's absolute. But the advantage is that humanity is much more stable... everything except freedom.

"Yes...you'll have everything except freedom."

Kui stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the dazzling lights and bustling city below.

Because he was born directly into human society, Kui doesn't have much of a sense of racial identity. It's worth mentioning that humans tried to brainwash him, but failed. Xiao is almost naturally immune to all brainwashing and hypnosis; he's practically a master of anti-scams. Therefore, what troubles him now isn't some lofty, righteous idea about how to ensure the survival and continuation of his race. What he wants... is either his freedom or his life—it's that simple.

Kui gazed quietly at the night sky, making his final decision.

Chapter Four: Undercurrents

As August draws to a close, summer has lost its intensity from just over two weeks ago, and practicing martial arts under the blazing sun is no longer such an unacceptable thing.

"A rare guest indeed." Jing Fang stopped and looked at Nineteen Xiu, who was waiting with his arms crossed on one side of the training ground. "What are you doing here?"

Theoretically speaking, Shijiu Xiu hadn't even graduated from the Imperial Academy yet; she was still considered Jing Fang's student. But as Shijiu Xiu's homeroom teacher, Jing Fang only saw this princess no more than five times a year. Now that they had run into each other at the martial arts arena, he struck up a conversation.

Nineteen Xiu looked at the training ground and pouted angrily.

Jing Fang looked in that direction and saw a red-haired girl practicing swordsmanship inside.

"Waiting for her?"

"Yes."

“That’s rare…” Jing Fang stroked his chin, looked inside as well, and said, “I have a vague impression of that child.”

Nineteen Xiu stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall, his face calm.

"how?"

Jing Fang's choice of words was very subtle and meaningful.

"I believe she can graduate from the Royal Academy at any time and enter the workforce in a related industry."

Nineteen Xiu couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Isn't there something you're missing?"

Jing Fang readily agreed, saying, "And it would be best to enter society immediately."

Nineteen Xiu sighed, said nothing, and looked inside.

What does it mean to "graduate from the Royal Academy at any time"?

This isn't exactly a compliment. Fu Feihan is so good at fighting now, and not long ago he even defeated Ji Fa, who was his teacher, in front of everyone. So his level is at least higher than half of the martial arts teachers. Would anyone say that his level is high enough and suggest that he graduate immediately?

No, everyone can see that he still has untapped potential... Back then, Nephalem didn't encounter a teacher of Ying Qin Guan's caliber, and he had already reached the top tier by graduation, not to mention Fu Fei Han, whose talent was slightly better than Nephalem's and whose education was much stronger.

However, for Zhong Hongyu, it became "immediately entering society".

The Imperial Academy is full of hard-working individuals, and while there are many emperors vying for power, few are as relentlessly dedicated as Zhong Hongyu. Her story is somewhat known within the martial arts faction, but everyone can see that her efforts are waning. Even a peerless master like Ying Qin Guan cannot effectively teach her.

Therefore, Jing Fang made such a high-EQ statement, and Shi Jiuxiu understood it as well.

“She’s a junior now.” Nineteen Xiu looked inside and said calmly, “I don’t think it makes much sense for her to stay in school for another year and a half. The school has already taught her everything it can. I plan to talk to her and recruit her into my team.”

Jing Fang was slightly taken aback; Nineteen Xiu's words had given him a lot of questions.

"No, no, no, why should she listen to you? What's your connection? And... your team? Haven't you been working on drug enforcement in recent years? Is she capable of that?"

“We have indeed maintained some communication.” Nineteen Xiu paused, then said, “I do intend to have her work with me on this project. Is there a problem?”

"No...it's not a big problem, it's just a bit sudden."

Jing Fang answered honestly that it's quite common for martial artists to work in drug enforcement after graduation. Not every martial artist has the ability to become a teacher at the Imperial Academy, or even go further like a Nephalem and become an overpowered superhero. And there aren't many jobs in society that actually require the martial arts skills of a martial artist.

—This refers to jobs related to one's profession. If you're talking about manual labor, then yes, martial arts practitioners can earn a lot due to their physical abilities. But after training for half their lives, how could they not do work related to their profession?

The vast majority of positions requiring "force" are government positions, and individuals certainly cannot possess a violent organization. Among these, the armed police are a major option. Darius himself started from the bottom in this line of work and climbed his way up step by step, which is quite inspiring. After all, no one initially saw his magic warrior skills, but unexpectedly, he actually made a name for himself in the end.

However, this was definitely sudden enough. Normally, students would only be admitted after graduating from their senior year. Zhong Hongyu had only completed a little over half of her studies when she was suddenly to be admitted. No wonder Jing Fang made such a statement.

"I feel there's nothing I can do about it, we're really short-staffed lately."

"They're all dead?"

"...Although people do die occasionally, it's not this many. They've been transferred away to get promoted and make money."

"Perhaps they don't want to continue in this position."

"It's only human nature."

"If none of us from the Seven Luminaries want to do this, what will the Chaotic Province be like?"

"...Are you an idiot? There's no one doing that over there. If a Nephalem went there, he'd get slapped three times in just a few steps."

—This is obviously a joke, but that's really the situation in Chaotic Province. Legend has it that the old men there sell AKs and drugs on the street.

Jing Fang turned his gaze to Zhong Hongyu in the martial arts arena and asked, "Will she go with you?"

"She is free... but I think she probably will be; she looks forward to change."

"...You say she's looking forward to change, but she doesn't seem like it at all. She practices like this every day, how does that seem like she's looking forward to change?"

"This is the fundamental difference in your thinking, teacher. To you, she practices like this every day without any change. But to her, she is seeking change by practicing like this every day... only she always fails."

Jing Fang seemed to understand but not quite. He didn't delve into the matter, because he was always the kind of person who could let things go as soon as possible. He casually said, "Okay, okay, to be honest, I don't really want her to go. After all, she's a girl, and it's really heartbreaking."

Shi Jiuxiu turned to the side; although she was a student, her posture was no different from a teacher's, far more mature than her peers. If she stood with Zhong Hongyu and Luo Shui, others probably wouldn't even think they were the same age.

She joked, "What about me? Aren't you going to feel sorry for me?"

"No need," Jing Fang said lazily. "You don't need me to worry about you. I knew it when you partnered with that madman Nephalem. You're both crazy, destined to be extraordinary people. There's no need for me, a mere mortal, to worry about you."

"You really don't know how to talk," Nineteen Xiu sighed. "At this moment, all you need to do is praise me as someone like the Third Princess."

"No thanks, your attempt to stage an accident is a bit outrageous."

"Haha..." Nineteen Xiu chuckled lightly. Just then, Zhong Hongyu in the training ground finished her routine. Nineteen Xiu stepped towards her, but after taking two steps, he seemed to remember something, turned around, and said to Jing Fang:

"By the way... if that's what you think, then there's no need to feel sorry for her. This child has a character that can be described as great."

Chapter Five: Undercurrents

A hazy figure pushed open the door, followed by a gust of cold wind and snow that rushed in instantly, but failed to change the temperature in the room in the slightest.

This is a tea room with a minimalist style. The walls on all four sides are made of Luoqing stone, which is poorly made and has many pits and bumps, making it look like a doghouse in the countryside of Nanqin. In the middle is a dusty table made of Qiyao fragrant pear wood, which is slightly more refined and has some human-like appearance. On it are two sets of tea sets, and the tea has been brewed, with fragrant steam rising from it.

The indistinct figure closed the door and then took a seat.

Just as the door closed, a hazy figure could be seen behind... an endless howling wind and snow, stretching on and on, with visibility less than ten meters, completely covered by a blanket of snow.

This teahouse is located in the Cocoons Mountains at an altitude of 6429 meters.

A teahouse at an altitude of 6,000 meters doesn't sound like a proper place... and it certainly is.

This tea room is like one of those specially recruited positions, reserved only for a select few.

Shortly after the hazy figure took his seat, the vortex around the tea room solidified, transforming into a young man in the blink of an eye.

The young man had short, black hair, wore plain black-rimmed glasses, and a light blue suit jacket, exuding a scholarly air.

"It's you." The young man spoke softly, calmly taking his seat. "If you're going to bring up that matter again, I suggest you don't say anything."

The hazy figure said, "I have indeed come here today for this matter."

"True freedom is not about doing whatever you want, but about not doing what you don't want to do, and being able to bear all the consequences of 'not doing what you don't want to do'... This sentence seems to be something you said to me. If not, I apologize, after all, it's been a long time. I quite agree with this sentence. Besides that, there's the definition that humans gave to our ancestors... Our ancestors were the freest creatures in the world."

The young man smiled and said, "So, I refuse."

"Of course you'll refuse," the hazy figure said. "I know that better than you do, but even so, I've come here. Do you think I'm the kind of person who knowingly continues doing something pointless?"

"Hmm... As far as I know, you're the most bored person to do something like this. And your methods of amusement are the most low-level. But judging from your tone now, the situation is indeed different... Okay, tell me about it."

Regardless, the hazy figure finally got a chance to speak. She said, "Changfeng, I understand your thoughts. You've always been neutral, neither helping me nor the likes of Xunjiang. But this time, the situation is completely different..."

The young man known as Changfeng interrupted the hazy figure, gently shaking his head.

"What's the difference? I know what you're trying to say. That Ji Chaoge is an amazing guy. He's the most likely person in thousands of years to rule the world. He might even achieve the unification of all races in the world... But what does that have to do with me? So what if he rules the world? Even if he becomes the ultimate artificial progenitor and brings the whole world under his control, it has nothing to do with me. He can't kill me."