Let Me Be Your Guide

The angel shimmering with holy light slowly vanished behind Fang Zheng, and only then did the Old Bishop and Stone breathe a sigh of relief. Both were devout believers of the Holy Temple and naturally understood the lofty status an Angel held within it. Even if this Angel's personal strength might not match Stone's, her mere presence was enough to exert pressure. Moreover, this Grand Knight, though seemingly carefree in personality, was also a pious follower—even if he could defeat her, would he dare lay a hand on her?

That was, of course, impossible.

At the same time, their gazes toward Fang Zheng shifted considerably.

"Holy Spirit Protection..."

The Old Bishop clasped his hands tightly, staring fixedly at Fang Zheng. He had guessed this young man must have an extraordinary background, but he hadn't expected him to possess Holy Spirit Protection!

"This kid's got some skill."

Stone crossed his arms, nodding at Fang Zheng with a satisfied expression. It was rare to find someone who could make him come out on the losing end. Though it seemed the other had used a trick, this wasn't a duel or an arena match—real battlefield combat didn't care about fair play. So Stone felt no resentment toward Fang Zheng's counterattack; instead, he found the little fellow genuinely interesting.

"Whew..."

Sheathing his sword, Fang Zheng was drenched in sweat. That final counter had been pure luck—if he hadn't managed to unleash Holy Storm at that moment, he probably couldn't have forced Stone back.

But the biggest gain from this battle was that Fang Zheng had fully recognized the gap between himself and the strong of the Main World. He had originally thought that with A-rank proficiency in Royal Cross Swordsmanship, he could at least trade blows evenly. Yet in just one exchange, he was thrown into a perilous situation. If Stone hadn't been unfamiliar with his swordsmanship, Fang Zheng might not have even had a chance to win by luck. And that was with Stone voluntarily surrendering after his weapon was destroyed—Fang Zheng had no idea how things would have turned out if the fight continued.

Sure enough, the gap was still too wide.

Shaking his head to cast aside that fleeting melancholy, Fang Zheng looked at Stone and asked.

"Sir Stone, does this mean I've passed the assessment?"

"Haha, of course, you interesting little fellow."

Hearing Fang Zheng's question, Stone laughed heartily, showing no sign of frustration at being defeated.

"You've passed. It's been a long time since I've met someone as interesting as you... By the way, what's your name?"

"My name is Fang Zheng."

"Fang Zheng? Not only are you interesting, but your name is too—such a strange name is rare."

At Fang Zheng's answer, Stone chuckled, then paused to think before looking at him again.

"So, Fang Zheng, how about I be your Guide?"

"...Guide?"

Fang Zheng was clearly taken aback by this unexpected offer, but Stone nodded quite seriously.

"That's right. Well... to be honest, from our fight just now, I noticed that while you have some combat experience, your foundation isn't solid. And though the swordsmanship you've mastered is powerful, you can't use it flexibly. In my view, that's a real waste—such pure Sacred Power, if not properly utilized, is a crime against heaven. What do you think? I reckon this proposal isn't bad. After all, I'm not one of those old fossils who'll drone on about precepts in your ear every day. Stick with me, and you just need to learn to fight—simple, right?"

Impressive indeed.

Hearing Stone's words, Fang Zheng's expression shifted. He knew his own situation well—he had learned some basic self-defense moves back home, but they were essentially meaningless. After arriving in this world, he had been thrown into battle like a duck forced onto a perch, learning everything from scratch as a self-taught amateur.

Though Fang Zheng had read plenty of Wuxia novels where a skilled swordsman could judge an opponent's level at first contact, experiencing it firsthand was different.

On this continent, a Guide was akin to a mentor, and having one was a great honor.

So, should he accept this offer?

The answer was almost certain.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Sir Stone."

Receiving guidance from a powerful knight of this world was something Fang Zheng couldn't ask for more.

"Hm?"

Hearing Fang Zheng's reply, Stone widened his eyes and shot him a dissatisfied look. Fang Zheng wasn't stupid and quickly corrected himself.

"...Master."

"Good! Haha, excellent! I finally have a student. Let's see what Wala has to say now!"

At Fang Zheng's response, Stone laughed triumphantly. The Old Bishop rolled his eyes, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately kept quiet, merely casting a sympathetic glance at Fang Zheng.

...Wait, why are you looking at me like that? What did I do wrong?

Just as Fang Zheng was baffled by the Old Bishop's expression, Stone strode toward the door.

"Alright, kid! Get ready—starting tomorrow, I'm giving you special training!"

"Special training?"

Fang Zheng was stunned by Stone's cryptic words, completely at a loss.

"That's right. Clean your neck and wait—you're in for it!"

"Understood."

To be honest, starting special training right after joining the Holy Temple was a bit surprising, but in Fang Zheng's world, he was long accustomed to the swift, decisive actions of the military. So he was only slightly taken aback before quickly agreeing. Hearing this, Stone said nothing more, just waved at Fang Zheng and turned to leave.

The Old Bishop's expression shifted several times before he sighed helplessly and hurried after Stone.

"Stone! Stone!"

"Hm? What's up, old man?"

Hearing the Old Bishop's call, Stone turned to look at the elder behind him.

"You're really going to take that young man?"

"Of course, didn't I say so? Since he's my student now, he'll naturally come with me. And you saw it too—that kid isn't one of those flashy noble pretty boys. His swordsmanship is pretty good; in my estimation, he's at the level of an Intermediate Knight. He just lacks practical experience. If I give him some solid training, he'll definitely do even better."

"But even so..."

The Old Bishop clearly didn't agree with Stone's fanciful notion.

"You really intend to do this? You must know, that young man has already manifested Holy Spirit Protection..."

"That's precisely why I want to train him, old man."

Hearing this, Stone turned his head, his previously flippant smile vanishing abruptly, replaced by a grave expression.

"Fortunately, there are only the two of us in the Training Ground. Tell me, if those Cultists found out we have an Acolyte Knight with Holy Spirit Protection, what do you think they'd do?"

"This..."

Hearing Stone's question, the Old Bishop's expression shifted.

"You haven't forgotten the disaster during the Dark Fallen Moon, have you? The Holy Spirit Knight Order was nearly wiped out back then, and afterward we completely lost that formation. Though those chaotic Cultists also died off in droves soon after, for the Holy Church, that blow was nearly fatal."

"..."

This time, the old man didn't answer immediately. He fell silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh.

"Of course I haven't forgotten... That truly was a terrible period..."

"So now it's hard to find Holy Spirit Knights on the continent anymore, and even their legacy has dissipated..."

Speaking up to this point, Stone paused.

"I think he might be able to reclaim the Holy Spirit's legacy."

"After all that talk, do you really think I'd still agree to let him become your student?"

The Old Bishop raised his brows, glaring at Stone, who merely shrugged indifferently.

"Of course, I admit my methods can be a bit rough sometimes, but you have to admit, they work, don't they? He's still too weak. If he can't even protect himself, how can he grow?"

Hearing Stone's reply, the Old Bishop hesitated for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

"Fine... I'll agree to this. For now, I won't report this to the Central Bishop Council, and I'll ensure only the two of us know about it. Is that enough?"

"I'm counting on you, old man."

This time, a smile returned to Stone's face.

"Trust me, this is the right decision."