Daily life of a teacher in the martial arts department

She reluctantly stepped out of the group and squatted down in a horse stance to the side.

Ying Qin Guan mimicked Nocturne's mannerisms, turning his head to look at Fu Feihan with a sly smile, attempting to intimidate him with his imposing presence. However, the simpleton was truly fearless; Fu Feihan showed no fear whatsoever, instead appearing even more eager and excited.

Alright, Ying Qin Guan put away his imposing aura and strode away—since he was going to demonstrate for the students below, he naturally couldn't use the consciousness slash.

-

After class, he and several students went to the cafeteria. It's worth mentioning that Luo Shui was unsteady on her feet, and Zhong Hongyu helped her there. Zhong Hongyu felt that she wasn't in good condition and was a little worried. She asked Luo Shui if she wanted to go back to the dormitory to rest for a while, but Luo Shui got angry and said, "Even if my leg is broken, I still have to eat first!"

Ying Qin Guan greatly admired her spirit. He wished she could be like that when practicing basic skills. Luo Shui was probably the type who was "talented but didn't work hard"—this wasn't just a consolation, it was the truth, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to get into the Imperial Academy's martial arts department.

Chapter Fourteen: The Strongest Isn't the Divine General, It's Me!

It is a good habit not to talk while eating or sleeping, but no one in Class A of the second year, including Zhong Hongyu, followed this rule. Chatting and bragging while eating is a custom of the martial arts practitioners, and usually... it is about tearing each other apart.

But today is an exception... or perhaps not really an exception.

"I'm so pent up! I wanted to tell you this in class, did you all know? The Sword Saint declared he's going to challenge Kui on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month at Qike Mountain!"

It was Fu Feihan who brought up the topic again, but this time he was smarter and didn't ask Ying Qinguan, who was uncooperative, but instead asked Ju Qiuming.

Ju Qiuming remained expressionless, nodded slightly, and said, "My time is coming to an end; I have sought benevolence and have attained it."

—The "limit" here doesn't refer to lifespan, but rather the shelf life of peak combat power. It's very likely that the Sword Saint sensed he couldn't maintain his peak combat power and was about to drop a major realm. So, he issued the challenge at the last moment... However, if nothing unexpected happens, after this battle, this "limit" will very likely truly refer to his lifespan.

As the only surviving and peak-level deity of this era, Kui is undoubtedly the ceiling of combat power. If the Sword Saint were to challenge him, even if Kui did not actively kill the Sword Saint, the Sword Saint might fight to the death—he is old and frail, and his blood and energy are depleted, unlike a young man like Ying Qin Guan.

(If this book refers to the conferment of gods, unless otherwise specified, it assumes that the gods were conferred by force, namely martial artists, magicians, alien races, and alchemists.)

When young people fight, they only lose their minimum health; once it's gone, it's gone and it recovers in a while. But when older people fight, they lose their maximum health; once it's gone, it's gone, and no matter how good the doctor or how powerful the healing magic, it can't bring them back.

The Sword Saint, as the strongest human, is very likely to die in that battle... If an outsider were here, they might feel a little sad. But those here are all martial artists, their skill is extremely high, and they not only don't feel sad, but they also think it's a pretty good choice. Rather than growing old and dying at home, it's better to go all out and seek one last battle.

—Except for Zhong Hongyu... She frowned, looking somewhat confused, but ultimately said nothing.

"Speaking of which," Luo Shui began, her expression serious, "the principal said that any students in the Martial Arts Department who want to watch that battle can get special leave. It's rare for someone to do something like this. I've already bought tickets to the amusement park on June 6th; I'll take advantage of that to have a two-day holiday..."

Zhong Hongyu immediately gave her a death stare, but before she could speak, Luo Shui laughed and said, "Hey, I was just kidding."

Ying Qin Guan glanced sideways at Luo Shui. He had to admit, this girl's thought process was bizarre. While everyone else was wondering what kind of great battle this was, she actually wanted to use this opportunity to get two days off for free.

"Is that so?!" Fu Feihan, who was obviously unaware of this before, became excited upon hearing this. "Great! I'll have to go and see."

"There's no need to be too happy yet," Ju Qiuming said calmly. "Kui will respond to this matter directly; he may not necessarily accept the challenge."

Ying Qin Guan does not refuse any challenge, while Kui neither dodges, blocks, nor cultivates; he is not someone who accepts any challenge, or rather, he is not of any alien race.

So, if you think about it this way, the Sword Saint had no choice but to fight him, whether he wanted to or not. However, the Sword Saint's battle was purely about seeking self-discovery, breaking through barriers, or finding peace. It wasn't some kind of battle between good and evil, or deciding the fate of the world. If the other party didn't accept the challenge, and you went up to fight him head-on... that would really be a case of your character collapsing.

"That's true... but someone like Kui, who doesn't block or dodge no matter what kind of attack he faces, I think the probability of him refusing to fight is very small... What do you think, teacher?"

Ying Qin Guan paused slightly while eating, his voice sounding somewhat muffled because he was chewing.

"I don't know, I've never dealt with them... but if it were me, I would fight them."

After saying that, he hurriedly picked up his plate, his mind still on the board game arcade.

"I've finished eating, you two can continue your conversation."

Everyone stared blankly as he walked away. After a moment, Luo Shui's voice rang out softly.

"With the principal and Teacher Ying around, the board game store owner can at least buy two more houses."

-

In the board game arcade, Ying Qin Guan gradually evolved into a regularly appearing NPC. The number of students who have played cards with him there has exceeded three digits, though he hasn't appeared in the main story—incidentally, due to his incredibly bad card skills, endless foreshadowing, terrible card sequences, and his habit of endlessly reviewing and blaming others after losing, he's earned the nickname "Platypus." But that's all in hindsight; while playing cards, Ying Qin Guan is quite courteous and doesn't engage in any verbal attacks, so quite a few people still play with him.

— Mainly because he's not very good at the game. Honestly, who doesn't like playing competitive games with someone who's bad at the game, unless they're on the same team as you?

Ji Fa is in a worse situation. She's practically an army of ducks, like a demon descended from the sky. She's a real human chatterbox. Playing a game or two with her occasionally is quite fun, but playing too much... well, it's really deadly. She can launch into a short essay of anywhere from two hundred to five hundred words right off the bat, and with her terrifying speaking speed, it's truly a mind-numbing experience.

This has led to her being blacklisted by many students. Now, apart from hardcore card players like Ying Qin Guan and Jiu Yi who accept all comers, no one wants to play cards with her anymore.

At dusk, Ying Qin Guan and Jiu Yi were playing a 1v1 game.

—They play cards with extremely high intensity and for extremely long periods. So sometimes, while they're playing, everyone else leaves, leaving just the two of them to play 1v1.

Ying Qin Guan plays Kui—his skills aren't great, but his luck is truly remarkable; he draws divine generals far more often than anyone else, second only to Miss Nocturne.

Facing this general, who lacks skills that reduce stamina, increase damage, or stabilize out-of-turn damage, all one feels is despair. Are they really going to rely on a "drunken kill" or "lightning strike"?

Relying on his divine general's strength, Ying Qin Guan utterly defeated Jiu Yi, clicking his tongue and saying, "Is this all you've got? You're not good enough."

A # appeared on Jiu Yi's forehead. He wasn't a platypus like Ying Qin Guan. But Ying Qin Guan, relying on his fighting skills, was incredibly arrogant and sarcastic. The problem was, he was also weak, winning entirely through the sheer abysmal strength of a general. And even after winning, he still had to mock him...

Jiu Yi couldn't help but shout, "What are you so smug about? You're just relying on the Divine General, aren't you? If you're so capable, go play in a competition! Everyone bans the Divine General in competitions!"

Ying Qin Guan smiled arrogantly, like a hapless prince whose kingdom was destroyed and whose sister sacrificed herself to the sword.

"Even without divine generals, I, Ying Qin Guan, can still easily defeat Jiu Yi and kick Ye Qu! The strength doesn't lie in divine generals, it's in me, Ying Qin Guan!"

"Shit!"

"Want to try the Mind Slash?"

"wcn..That's alright then."

Jiu is indeed a talented person who became the head of the Imperial Academy in his twenties. He is flexible and adaptable, and is a real talent.

Ying Qin Guan nodded in satisfaction.

Just as they were about to start a new game, there was a knock on the door. A female classmate whom Ying Qin Guan didn't recognize poked her head in. Her hair was disheveled, her features were haggard, and she had deep dark circles under her eyes, indicating that she hadn't slept much in the past few days.

"Principal...would it be convenient for us to talk?"

Chapter Fifteen: Commission

Jiu Yi nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then went out.

Ying Qin Guan was shuffling cards inside, utterly bored.

The two found a secluded corner.

“Mingyin…” Jiuyi called out the other person’s name and said, “I’ve heard something about your grandfather’s matter recently… Is there a turning point?”

"Yes." The woman called Mingyin looked exhausted and said, "Kui responded to my grandfather's challenge... I had all sorts of fantasies before, but now they've all been shattered..."

Without a doubt, the grandfather this person mentioned was none other than the Sword Saint Mingjue.

She is a third-year alchemy student from the Kingdom of Sakura. She came to the Seven Luminaries Empire to study alchemy because it was indeed excellent. Her family has a distinguished history; she is the Sword Saint's most beloved granddaughter.

However, not long ago, news spread that the Sword Saint was going to challenge Kui... This really threw the little girl into a panic.

While it's said that top-tier individuals possess power akin to being deified, that's merely a flattering description. A deified being is a deified being, accomplishing feats beyond human capabilities, and is virtually unchallengeable, especially Kui, the only definitively surviving deified being of this era.

While the Sword Saint is hailed as the strongest human, this title is largely undeserved. Leaving aside figures like the nameless swordsman of Southern Qin, consider the Seven Luminaries Empire. Legend has it that the Director of the State Security Department graduated first in the Imperial Academy's martial arts department, then infiltrated enemy territory, completing numerous missions of the caliber of a top-tier soldier, earning him the title of "Sword of the Empire." If he hadn't retired to become the Director of the State Security Department, probably no one would know who accomplished those missions.

He alone is probably not much weaker than the Sword Saint... If the Sword Saint were young and at his peak, the Nephalem would likely be no match for him. But he's old now; the Sword Saint's cultivation method was too focused on killing, and his ability to maintain his health can only be described as tragic.

Fighting against Kui?

Certain death!

Mingyin wasn't a martial artist and couldn't understand this behavior at all. She wanted to stop it all... but she understood her grandfather, or rather, she understood the madness of martial artists. These people pursued strength and combat; this desire surpassed everything else. Making them stop fighting was just as difficult as killing them—because only by having the power to kill them could they be made to stop fighting.

Mingyin came here hoping to ask Jiuyi to think of a solution.

Although she was the Sword Saint's most beloved granddaughter, this kind of favor was similar to an emperor's favor towards his concubines. As long as the emperor wasn't a tyrant, he wouldn't allow his concubines to participate in politics, no matter how much he favored them. Of course, the Sword Saint wasn't some kind of ghost lord; this was just an example.

Meanwhile, Mingyin was far away in the Seven Luminaries Empire, with no one by her side. If she knew anyone who might have the power or connections to stop all of this, then it would only be the Dean of the Imperial Academy, Jiu Yi. Legend has it that he and the Director of the Anguo Division were classmates, graduating from the Martial Arts Department together. They even completed their graduation mission as a team and had a very good personal relationship.

“I think I understand what you mean…” Before Mingyin could speak, Jiu Yi interrupted her, saying softly, “I’m sorry, Mingyin, I am the Dean of the Imperial Academy, and Nephalem is the Director of the State Security Department. We are both very important and powerful figures in the Empire…”

"Kui is an alien race, the strongest alien race in the world, and an alien race that has been deified."

"The Sword Saint is the Sword Saint of the Sakura Kingdom, the strongest human. Most importantly, he is the Sword Saint of the Sakura Kingdom, not the Sword Saint of the Seven Luminaries Empire..."

Mingyin's face turned deathly pale... She wasn't a fool.

“Neither I nor Nephalem are alone, nor is your grandfather. Kui’s identity is extremely sensitive. We have no status or position to intervene in this matter. There are more political factors involved than you imagine. To put it another way, if the Sakura Kingdom doesn’t care about these things and wants us to stop the Sword Saint, then the question is, even the Sakura Kingdom’s royal family, who have known the Sword Saint for decades, cannot do this, let alone us, who are complete strangers to the Sword Saint?”

"Moreover, even if the Cherry Blossom Kingdom agrees, the Seven Luminaries Empire may not agree... As for stopping Kui, the Nephalem is indeed quite strong, much stronger than me, but when he gets to Kui, he won't last more than thirty moves."

Mingyin's face was deathly pale. She opened her mouth slightly, as if to say something, but in the end she could only purse her lips weakly. "I understand... I'm sorry to bother you, Dean."

As she spoke, she turned around and prepared to leave.

"Wait." However, Jiu also called out to her.

The other person turned around, a new light flashing in their eyes.

Jiu Yi looked in the direction of the board game hall, hesitated for a long time, and finally gave up. The Empire's attitude has always been very clear: it will not force or induce Ying Qin Guan to make any choice, nor will it make any choice for Ying Qin Guan that seems to be good for him.

He took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Mingyin.

"On Lopida Street, there's a general store... The owner is a very capable person. As long as you can afford it, he'll do any job. He has no political reservations, so you can commission him."

Naruto took the business card, somewhat hesitant. She didn't know the level of this Yorozuya (Odd Jobs Shop). But entrusting the battle between humanity's strongest and the world's strongest to such an unknown guy... she had no confidence at all.

But in the end, she bowed and said, "Thank you, Dean."

Jiu watched her leave, then returned to the board game store and told Ying Qin Guan, "That's enough for today."

-

Time passed day by day.

Sima, with a dark expression and silver hair, carrying shopping bags, opened Ying Qin Guan's door and put the items inside.

This is the fourth time... This is already the fourth time.

He was caught by Ying Qin Guan four times in a row, and each time he brought him something... What does this kid think he is?

He sighed, put the things down—some fruit and snacks that Ying Qin Guan had bought. Ying Qin Guan had said he could take some back, but he wasn't interested. His daily nutritional intake was meticulously calculated, neither too much nor too little. Coupled with regular checkups and physical modifications, he was confident that, barring illness or disaster, he could live to at least 120 years old… but he didn't know if the remaining hundred years would be enough to unleash his hatred.

Mu Nandong put the things down, but then he saw a small notebook on Ying Qin Guan's desk... There seemed to be writing on it.

【"This is.."】

He was a little curious and looked up. Mu Nandong wasn't one to pry into other people's privacy, but after spending time with Ying Qinguan these past few days, his illiteracy had left a deep impression on him. So he was quite surprised to see writing implements on Ying Qinguan's desk.

He glanced at it briefly, then looked away after realizing it was a diary. But his powerful dynamic vision and memory allowed him to clearly remember everything inside.

His face darkened further... He finally let out a cold snort and left.