Daily life of a teacher in the martial arts department

"But on the surface, they are deserters who violated military orders... But were they wrong? Not at all. They are still outstanding soldiers, and their choice to withdraw is considered to be completely correct. You see, even the saying 'a soldier's duty is to obey military orders' can be an exception. How much more so everything else? Rules and words are dead, but people are alive."

"The so-called 'white lie' is the same; it depends on the psychological quality of the person involved and the circumstances at the time. Of course, you and I both know that this 'white lie' isn't the point at all. You want to delve deeper into the topic, or rather, that's what you really want to talk to me about... 'Is the truth really that important?' This question, of course, varies from person to person and from situation to situation. Some people feel that living a life of ignorance is a choice, but let me tell you..."

Mu Nandong's speech grew faster and faster; he wasn't usually a talkative person. Yet today, he spoke in rapid succession, as if a fiery fire raged within him. It burned from his heart, making his throat hoarse, his mind clouded, burning away the dust and filth from his soul, leaving no room for darkness.

"I must find the truth, I absolutely must!"

Chapter Sixty-Five: Losing Courage, Yet Still Having Courage (Part Three)

".."

The nocturne was silent; it departed.

Mu Nandong felt that immense sense of unease again... Nocturne, an unbelievable person. Even on a debate stage, facing an argument that was fundamentally unfair, one where the opponent could arbitrarily use political correctness to suppress her, she could still mount a counterattack. But today, but right now, she was having this disastrous performance...

That stiff opening made it easy to see through the subsequent topics and ultimate goal. Moreover, the examples given were terrible, like Jiu Yi's line, "You don't owe anyone anything"... While I wouldn't normally be bound by such things, I shouldn't have missed the point entirely.

It's one thing to be a dove, but even the Nocturne is like that.

This is so strange, it's like being given a brain-depressing debuff from a second-rate fan fiction novel.

".."

A glint flashed in Mu Nandong's eyes. He looked around, but remained silent.

In the following two weeks, a number of people came one after another.

Some of them were Mu Nandong's colleagues at the Imperial Court, some were alchemists from other places, and some represented certain forces. They all came to Mu Nandong to persuade him to accept the empire's offer of amnesty... but obviously no one succeeded.

The sense of unease that Mu Nandong felt kept piling up... It wasn't just unease; he sensed something else entirely. But he couldn't explain where these things came from, nor why the world was the way it was. He was powerless to dispel the fog of uncertainty... at least for now.

Another day passed, and Mu Nandong arrived at the library. This was his usual routine, so I won't go into details. The library staff were already used to Mu Nandong's punctual arrival.

As Mu Nandong passed a bookshelf, he noticed a large empty space... Looking further, he saw that it was one of the few bookshelves in the Royal Academy Library designated for reading "leisure books." The Royal Academy has always believed in the balance between work and rest; otherwise, they wouldn't have a board game arcade located directly on campus—there isn't one at the Academy of Truth, or rather, apart from the Royal Academy of the Seven Luminaries, where else would a proper university do this?

The same goes for this bookshelf specifically for displaying leisure books. It is changed every month, and some of the best-selling leisure books from corresponding partners are randomly refreshed according to the mood of the person in charge. For a long time, it was filled with the Travels of the Nameless Swordsman of Southern Qin. Zhao Yunxian could live off this book for half a lifetime. If he didn't live in Qiyao and instead went to a small village, he could live for three lifetimes.

Mu Nandong looked closely and saw that this month's recommended book was "The Travels of the Nameless Swordsman of Southern Qin: A Summer Without the Savior".

"Did this get a side story...?"

The name of the Nameless Swordsman of Southern Qin is known to everyone in the Seven Luminaries. After all, it's a top-tier hit IP in China. It's quite normal that people abroad don't know about it, but even someone like Mu Nandong, who doesn't care at all, would know about it in China... not to mention that Zhao Yunxian is his disciple.

Mu Nandong didn't recall having such a side story, but it wasn't surprising that Zhao Yunxian had suddenly written one, and he felt a bit curious. However, he didn't intend to waste time on such things and was about to leave when a sudden, overwhelming sense of curiosity arose within him... inexplicably. But it did compel Mu Nandong to change his course; he picked up a book and glanced at the synopsis.

"In the summer of the second year of the Black Dragon Calendar, Feng Ruo awoke from a dream."

It's a very brief introduction... but for those familiar with the Travels of the Nameless Swordsman of Southern Qin, just a few words are enough to pique their interest.

The phrase "Black Dragon Calendar" can basically be interpreted as Black Dragon completing the unification. Feng Ruo is the only female protagonist in the travelogue of the nameless swordsman of Southern Qin. Ji Li is also the kind of guy who flirts but doesn't marry, and the only female protagonist he has chosen is Feng Ruo. "Waking up from a dream" is also quite intriguing. Putting these words together, it's easy to let people have all sorts of wild ideas.

Mu Nandong casually flipped through a few pages and had a feeling... it was about the existence of butterflies.

Ji Li was suddenly devoured by the Existence Butterfly, and all traces of her disappear from the world. The Black Dragon then ruled the world. Feng Ruo, relying on the bonds formed before the world line shift, sensed something amiss and realized the various inconsistencies. She then took action, spending a summer to finally rescue Ji Li... Actually, Mu Nandong didn't see the end, and this first book didn't finish this long side story. But although the story's direction is unpredictable, the ending is inevitable. Since the main story is already finished, writing a side story to strengthen the female lead's self-reliant character, which wasn't fully realized in the main story, preventing her from becoming just a decorative figure, makes a tragic ending impossible. Therefore, the ending is entirely predictable.

Whether by coincidence or not, the pages Mu Nandong turned to were exactly the ones where Feng Ruo sensed something amiss and deduced that the world line had been altered by the Existing Butterfly. And Feng Ruo's feelings... were remarkably similar to Mu Nandong's current feelings.

It's too coincidental, too forced, isn't it? It's like a sophisticated urban woman leaving get off work late at night, walking for a few minutes, sighing that she's thirsty, and then turning around and finding a can of drink lying on the ground on the side of the street... How much courage does one have to dare to drink it?

Mu Nandong even felt like he was being treated like an idiot. Like that can of beverage that suddenly appeared, it was suspicious from head to toe... but precisely because it was so suspicious and so idiotic, it didn't seem like a trap. It was like the advertisement for a 25-year-old beauty seeking a child for a large sum of money; because it was so fake, it inexplicably seemed somewhat credible, which was a kind of rebound from rock bottom.

【“..”】

Mu Nandong remained expressionless as he placed the book back on the shelf. In truth, whether he speculated or not was irrelevant. Given Mu Nandong's personality, even if he was 70-80% certain, he wouldn't draw a conclusion without substantial evidence.

But a conclusion is a conclusion, and an idea is an idea... Now he has some ideas in his mind.

As he walked out of the library, Mu Nandong looked up at the sun. He knew this matter had two possible directions, and the one with the greater probability would soon see a turning point. As the saying goes, truth becomes clearer through debate; some things that can't withstand close scrutiny will be dealt with as quickly as possible once presented. Because otherwise, they will soon be exposed, just like those college students who only know how to apologize during their graduation defenses.

Mu Nandong's guess was correct; a turning point soon arrived.

PS: I'm adjusting my biological clock lately, so just one chapter today. I still owe one more chapter... I owe 49.

Chapter Sixty-Six: Losing Courage, Yet Still Having Courage (Part Four)

Thanks to a group of alchemy students who love to create fun, there are quite a few places in the Seven Luminaries Imperial Academy that can be called iconic buildings or scenes, such as the Alumni Hall, the Goddess Statue, the Supreme Mage Tower, and the Celestial Lake.

Among them, the red maple forest, which is red for nine months of the year, is naturally indispensable.

A romantic spot for couples, a prime location for sketching, and a rare opportunity to capture a nocturne – any snapshot here could become a computer desktop wallpaper. It's said that during the summer holidays, even martial arts film crews came here specifically to shoot scenes, resulting in the classic line, "You came, I came, you shouldn't have come, but I still came."

At the same time, this is also the shortest route for Mu Nandong to return to his dormitory.

Today, Mu Nandong finished his experiment very late, and it was completely dark. It was the time when "if any students haven't returned to their dormitories by this time, then they're not going back."

In the red maple forest, a gentle breeze rustles the maple leaves, which, when viewed from afar, resemble a dim sea of ​​fire.

Ying Qin Guan sat in a pavilion... Opposite him was Nefertari, a retired special agent who was a social parasite and only took money without doing anything. The two had plenty of leisure time, drinking together in the moonlight, with some food on the stone table... It is worth mentioning that Ying Qin Guan was already drunk and passed out on the stone table, while Nefertari was only slightly tipsy and was still eating.

Mu Nandong stopped in his tracks.

"Nephalem...at this hour, as someone from outside the school, do you still want to stay here?"

"How insensitive! I'm someone listed in the alumni hall, so what's wrong with staying a little late?" Nefertien shrugged. As an outsider, he wasn't really intimidated by Mu Nandong's intimidation buff and wasn't on the same level as that shameful dean. "What about you? Since we've run into each other, how about we grab a couple of drinks?"

Mu Nandong should have refused, regardless of whether the person who invited him was Ying Qin Guan or Ye Qu. He would not have accepted such a polite invitation without a special reason, but now, he sat down.

"I seem to recall Nocturne mentioning before that his alcohol tolerance is much lower than it appears." Mu Nandong said calmly, looking at Ying Qin Guan... The other man was already drunk and fast asleep, a stark contrast to Nephalem, who was only slightly tipsy. His alcohol tolerance was clearly much lower. "Now that I see it, it's true."

"Sometimes what gets people drunk isn't the alcohol, but the past."

When people have been drinking, their reasoning often carries a philosophical air, and Nephalem was no exception. He poured Mu Nandong a small glass and said with a smile, "It's not strong liquor, just a little bit to help you fall asleep."

"It might have some effect, but it will reduce sleep quality. If you want to sleep, it's best not to drink alcohol." Although Mu Nandong said this, he still picked up the glass and took a small sip. It was spicy and he couldn't drink it.

He frowned slightly... After a moment, he spoke up and asked, "I know a little about his past... It's all fake, isn't it?"

Nephalem chuckled and said, "Mr. Mu is indeed perceptive..."

Mu Nandong wasn't referring to Ying Qin Guan's true past, but rather the false identity Qi Yao had created for him, a flawless scheme orchestrated by the entire nation. Even if someone went to Ying Qin Guan's hometown to inquire about him, the enthusiastic auntie next door could talk about him for three days and three nights without finding a single flaw. Unless it was an ancestor with mind-reading or memory-enhancing abilities, there was no way to find a way.

There won't be any problems with Qiyao's side, but there will be with Ying Qin Pass. Many habits, common words, and catchphrases in life will expose their original lifestyle... Mu Nandong will naturally be able to see some flaws.

Mu Nandong's eyes sharpened as he looked at Nephalem; the other party's response had already foreshadowed too much.

"Want to guess?" Nephalem laughed. "His true identity, his true origin."

"...The moment you said that, all the remaining suspense disappeared."

"Judging from your tone, it seems you've had this suspicion for a long time." Nefertane wasn't surprised by Mu Nandong's calm reaction... If it was Mu Nandong who had guessed it.

"Gu Xinmo had some suspicions back then, but it was only just now that we confirmed it."

"So early..." This sentence surprised Nefertari a little. Mu Nandong had guessed, so he was not surprised, but so early... Gu Xinmo, he had a slight impression of that. Ying Qin Guan had just arrived at that time, right?

Mu Nandong remained calm and said:

“From Nanqin... literate, but without a proper education, living in poverty, residing in an area with limited access to information, right?”

“Hmm...that’s right.” Nephalem nodded and said, “In that case, you can probably guess that he’s been chasing after his past.”

"..." Mu Nandong remained silent. His silence did not mean he couldn't guess; it simply meant that there were some problems that had no other way to be faced except through silence.

Nephalem exhaled a breath of turbid air and said softly, "The Travels of the Nameless Swordsman of Southern Qin... Ji Li's life was very carefree. From his first appearance to his last, he always maintained an otherworldly demeanor, like a gentle breeze, solving all problems... Moreover, in order to reinforce his completely invincible persona, he glossed over his past suffering... Apart from the fact that Ji Li came from a scholarly family, we don't know what his original family was like, what happened to his parents, whether they were alive or dead, whether he had siblings, whether they were alive or dead... Nobody knows, and Zhao Yunxian never mentions it either."

"Of course that's fine. It's a novel, you can write it however you want. If she doesn't say anything or deliberately point it out, then it's good to be ignorant. But... reality is inescapable, and people don't spring from stones, you understand, Mu Nandong."

"Is this what they call chasing after his past?"

"Yes." Nephalem paused slightly, then asked, "What do you think should be done to resolve this situation?"

Mu Nandong slowly cast a cold glance... They've come, he sensed it, they've indeed come, so abruptly... They've come!

Like Jiu Yi, like Ye Qu, their ultimate goal is so obvious. Although the Nephalem use different methods, they ultimately arrive at the same destination, without a doubt, Mu Nan Dong sensed.

His expression was icy as he spoke.

"If you want to know, I'll answer you."

"If everything has settled down, then time will be the best antidote. But if it's not over yet, time is just a slow poison. To turn the poison into an antidote, you only need to add one ingredient: the enemy's heart's blood. Use a knife, a sword, a dagger, or a gun, whatever you need, to obtain that ingredient and truly save yourself."

Nephalem looked regretful and sighed, "There's nothing we can do about Ying Qin Guan; his revenge has already been taken..."

"Whether he avenged himself or not, I'm not sure." Mu Nandong reached into his pocket and took out a strangely shaped gun, pointing it at Nefertiti's head amidst Nefertiti's puzzled expression.

Mu Nandong raised his head slightly... This gun was "Courage," which he always carried with him.

"However, I have never avenged myself."

With a gunshot, the dream shattered completely.

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Losing Courage, Yet Still Having Courage (Part Five)

Mu Nandong opened his eyes again... He saw a familiar open space, and in the distance, he could vaguely see the outline of the Doomsday Base. He was indeed still west of the City of Truth, outside the Doomsday Base.

Everything that just happened felt like a dream.

After Ying Qin Guan emerged from the dream, he was in a daze for a long time, having spent several years there, even marrying and having children. Mu Nan Dong, however, was different. His character was more resolute, and he hadn't spent much time there, nor had he been bound by any particular attachments. Almost instantly, he broke free from the dream. He looked up sharply, and there stood the white-faced, red-nosed clown... without a doubt, he was the mastermind behind the dream.

"Oh... failed, how perceptive." The clown's body language is always exaggerated, and he always speaks with a strange, rising intonation... As the saying goes, there are no wrong nicknames, only wrong names.

Mu Nandong's expression was cold and stern. He did not try to escape. As he said before, there was no point in trying to escape.

"A terrible dream. Your design is like a third-rate college dropout's comeback after forty years of working in a field unrelated to his major. Absolutely awful."

"Well... since I couldn't fool you, I have nothing more to say." The clown shrugged, looking relaxed.

In the dreams he created, there were always key points that made people "lose their way," just like the Qi Cultivation Manual in Ying Qin Guan's dream. Logically speaking, after Ying Qin Guan burned it, he should have been forever asleep within it. But Ying Qin Guan only burned the Qi Cultivation Manual in his hand, not the one in his heart.

As for Mu Nandong, needless to say, Ying Qin Guan was somewhat manipulated by the clown, but Mu Nandong was simply ruthless... Jiu Yi and Ye Qu, their goals were very clear, which was to make Mu Nandong accept the empire's offer of amnesty—but the offer of amnesty was not the point, the point was actually 'letting go', or rather 'submitting'.

Submitting to authority, to worldly perceptions, to the opinions of others, to a perfect life that is good for oneself, one's father, and everyone else, thus abandoning the unwavering pursuit of justice in one's heart.

More than twenty years ago, the Seven Luminaries were under invasion. Mu Huai Ren escaped back for unknown reasons. Before the truth could surface, the Empire, under pressure from overwhelming public opinion, wanted to send Mu Huai Ren to the guillotine for desertion during wartime. That was a kind of 'submission'. How terrible! Even the gallows, which are the fairest, most ought-to-be-fair, and most unforgivable form of execution, had to submit to 'public opinion'. If P.S. hadn't stood up to endorse him, Mu Huai Ren's fate would have been unimaginable.

Now, the clown also wants Mu Nandong to submit... The consequences of submission are self-evident, but with 'Jiuyi' and 'Nocturne' failing one after another, Mu Nandong keenly sensed the flaw. Unable to drag things out any longer, the clown had no choice but to resort to his last trick, doing the opposite of what he intended. Instead of trying to persuade Mu Nandong to let go, he tried to find a way for Mu Nandong to persuade Ying Qin Guan to let go, and even set up a stage for this... However, Mu Nandong didn't fall for it at all. In the end, not only was he not tricked by the clown, but he even turned the tables on him by asking whether he had completed his revenge, performing it perfectly.

However, that was just a dream.

Meaningless.

There are many answers to why the progenitor was so powerful: controlling other races within his own lineage, possessing various strange and wondrous abilities, and having formidable combat prowess... the list goes on. But the most important factor was probably the progenitor's initiative.