Teacher

"Hehe." Fang Ling grinned as he stopped in front of them.

"Teacher, Shimu, I'm Fang Ling—the one who showed you the Spirit Hall certificate earlier."

Seeing that both of them were still utterly bewildered, he hurriedly explained.

"Director Ou said he was introducing me to Teacher Tianyang as your disciple."

"Oh..."

Lin Tianyang rubbed Fang Ling's head and turned toward Director Ou. "Director Ou, you?"

Director Ou smiled faintly. "Haven't you always said you wanted a combat prodigy as your disciple?"

"Fang Ling is a genuine prodigy. Though his methods are still rather unrefined and he can be a little too ruthless when he strikes, his innate combat sense is extremely high, and his reactions are incredibly fast."

"That prosthetic leg doesn't hinder his movements either. He's remarkably agile—a truly excellent prospect."

"Good!" Lin Tianyang was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately said, "I trust your judgment."

"Then I'll take him as my disciple."

"You get back to your work. It's getting late, so I'll take him to eat first and find him somewhere to stay."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the couple led Fang Ling toward the dining hall.

While they ate in the dining hall, the two introduced themselves to him.

Teacher Lin Tianyang spoke first. "Lin Tianyang. Martial Soul: Flowing Wind Blade. Twenty-eight years old. Currently a Level Forty-six assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor."

The gentle and beautiful Shimu followed, rubbing Fang Ling's cheek with a soft smile.

"My name is Shu Manyun. I'm twenty-six. My Martial Soul is the Emerald Flower, and I'm a level thirty-two Healing Soul Elder."

"Little Fang Ling, introduce yourself."

Fang Ling was not timid either and replied loudly.

"My name is Fang Ling. I'm from Fasinuo Province, Notting Academy. I used to be a beggar, and I'm nine this year."

"My Martial Soul is a sickle. I have one Hundred Year Spirit Ring, and my Spirit Skill increases nerve reflexes by twenty percent."

"A beggar?" Lin Tianyang was somewhat startled.

Shu Manyun pinched Fang Ling's cheek, a flash of heartache crossing her face. "When did your leg break?"

Fang Ling had prepared answers for all sorts of questions. "Before I awakened my Martial Soul, I think. I don't remember clearly."

"You killed that Fallen Spirit Master by yourself?"

Lin Tianyang was especially concerned with the fact that Fang Ling had killed a One-Ring Fallen Spirit Master above his level.

"Of course!"

Pride filled Fang Ling's face.

"Using the forest's complex terrain and the obstruction of all those vines and branches, I killed him easily."

Lin Tianyang even stopped eating. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Did you have a teacher before? Have you learned combat techniques or methods of that sort?"

"No. I practiced all my techniques by myself."

Fang Ling shook his head. "Ever since I enrolled, I spent more than a year practicing alone in Muddy Forest before I started seeing results."

"I killed that Fallen Spirit Master not long after I began seeing results."

A year?

Lin Tianyang was even more astonished. This youth whom Director Ou called a true combat prodigy had only trained by himself for one year?

What kind of talent was that?

Fang Ling did not know what they were thinking. Seeing their shock, he secretly rejoiced.

"After that, I trained for another year or so, but I couldn't feel much improvement. That was why I thought of coming to an Intermediate Spirit Master Academy that specialized in combat for systematic study."

Shimu attentively placed some food onto Fang Ling's plate. "What supported you through all that training?"

Fang Ling pondered for a moment. "Um... that feeling?"

"I used to be a beggar. I've experienced the hardship of having no control over my own life, so I want to control my destiny and become the strongest in the world."

"I want to stand at the peak of this world!"

"My Innate Soul Power is only Level One, but I refuse to accept my fate. I believe in myself!"

"As long as I train, train, then pursue it tirelessly and fight with perseverance, I'll definitely make it!"

A persona. That was the persona he needed to build if he wanted to improve quickly.

Fang Ling's forceful words made Lin Tianyang feel ashamed.

If I had such lofty ambitions too, and had known to cultivate seriously from childhood, I would surely be in a very different place now.

Shimu glanced at her husband. "Aren't you afraid of hardship and exhaustion? Aren't you afraid of getting hurt?"

Her voice was gentle, like a babbling spring, making people feel at ease.

"I'm not!"

"As for getting hurt?"

Fang Ling cautiously glanced at Shu Manyun. "I've been injured so many times that the healing Soul Masters at Notting Academy are about to blacklist me."

"They've warned me over and over."

"Every time, I promised them sincerely. And every time, I didn't want to get hurt either, but my body just wouldn't listen to me. What could I do?"

He spread his hands, expressing his helplessness.

That had been a problem during the early stages of practicing his Body Technique. Later, once he wrapped himself in old cotton clothes, things improved greatly.

"Hehe!"

Both of them could not help laughing, though they also felt a pang of sorrow.

The few words he spoke revealed dozens, perhaps hundreds, of uninterrupted days of cultivation.

After a brief silence, Shimu spoke.

"You little fellow have talent and perseverance, unlike the one beside me."

"Man Yun, what are you saying?" Lin Tianyang had been feeling reflective as well.

But after hearing that, he could not pretend he had not.

"Hehe." Shimu let out two crisp laughs.

Lin Tianyang pulled her over, wrapped her in his arms, and quickly defended himself.

"Fang Ling, don't listen to your Shimu's nonsense. Your teacher is talented too—very strong!"

Shimu's mouth was covered, and she mumbled, "I never said you weren't strong. I only said you weren't hardworking enough."

"I'm not hardworking enough?"

The two stared at each other with wide eyes, and Shimu refused to back down in the slightest.

Lin Tianyang sighed and was the first to concede.

"Fine, I really wasn't as hardworking as little Fang Ling. I didn't even make it past the Preliminary Competition in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition."

"But was that my fault?"

"It was the captain who didn't work hard enough!"

"He was a Soul Ancestor. If he didn't fight his hardest, was he expecting me, who had not even become a Soul Elder at the time, to carry us?"

Fang Ling watched as the topic gradually went off the rails.

The two chatted idly about the Soul Master Competition, then drifted to embarrassing things they had done as children.

From their conversation, Fang Ling could tell they had grown up together.

The way they exposed each other's embarrassing pasts was truly amusing.

Fang Ling listened with great interest, but he had not slept well since setting out on the road. Drowsiness now washed over him, and he could only tap the table to remind them.

"Teacher, Shimu, I still haven't found a place to stay."

"Oh, right, I forgot." Lin Tianyang, who had been engrossed in talking with his wife, smiled awkwardly.

As if trying to make up for it, he hurriedly said.

"Come on, come on. I'll take you somewhere nice to stay."

After turning through the academy several times, the couple brought Fang Ling to a cluster of courtyards surrounded by woods.

They were not large shared dormitories like those at Notting Academy, but individual small courtyards.

This academy is really rich. The students here get to live somewhere this nice?

Fang Ling could hardly believe it, his eyes full of doubt.

Lin Tianyang seemed to notice his surprise and smiled as he explained.

"This is the Teacher Dormitory, and there are still vacancies."

"The academy has plenty of money. You're my student, and an extremely rare combat prodigy. Watch me get you a room."

Holding his wife's hand, he brought Fang Ling to the entrance of a quiet courtyard.

He pounded hard on the door and shouted, "Manager Wang, come out! Tianyang needs to see you!"

Before long, a hunched old man emerged.

His voice was hoarse as he grumbled, "I'm not dead yet. Why are you shouting so loudly?"

A bright smile immediately appeared on Lin Tianyang's handsome face. "Manager Wang, isn't the term starting soon?"

"What?"

"I found a genius disciple. The Teacher Dormitory never fills up anyway, so help arrange a room for him."

"This is the Teacher Dormitory. You know the academy's rules."

Manager Wang did not refuse outright.

Lin Tianyang took out a bottle of wine from his Soul Tool and handed it over.

"Uncle Wang, help me out. When my father returns, I'll talk to him. Fang Ling is a true genius—a Spirit Scholar who can kill a One-Ring Spirit Master above his level. He can't be treated like those mediocre people."

Hmm? Teacher has connections?

Fang Ling sensed something unusual in the exchange between the two.

Tomorrow is Tuesday. Please remember to keep reading.

Little Octopus offers his thanks here.