The National Teacher Returns

Li Qinglin was not a god after all; despite his meticulous calculations, he overlooked one thing.

Or perhaps he simply wasn't thinking about it and hadn't considered it at all.

Although the Blazing Flame Array was located in the outer palace, once the fire started, it would naturally spread to the inner palace. The Western Wasteland Army was not all crowded in the outer palace square; they had long been dispersed by Mang You to various key locations. As soon as the fire started, the remnants of the army ran in, killing and looting.

The palace guards were no match for these remnants of the Western Wasteland army.

Many palace guards, palace maids, and concubines, unaware of Li Qinglin's scheme, reacted with "It's over, the country is doomed" upon seeing the fall of Lihuo City and the burning of the royal palace. As a result, they began to loot the palace's valuables and flee.

If nothing unexpected happens, all of Li Qinglin's family members will either die or flee in this calamity, including his only child.

Inside the Eastern Palace, a young woman of ordinary appearance but elegant demeanor, dressed in palace attire, stood by the window, holding a toddler girl in her arms. Looking at the firelight outside and listening to the cries and curses of war, her expression was filled with gnashing hatred.

"Some people might say that your father was a hero. But to you and me, he was just a bastard."

The young woman gave a bitter laugh, turned around and waved her hand, hanging a white silk ribbon from the beam.

Screams erupted as eunuchs outside the palace were hacked to pieces. Several remnants of the Western Wasteland army stormed in, brandishing their swords and laughing wildly, "Found them! These are Li Qinglin's Queen and Princess!"

The young woman didn't even have a chance to hang herself; she silently took a pair of scissors and held them to her neck.

The Western Wasteland soldier, his eyes bloodshot, laughed wildly, "Die! Even if you die, we'll strip you naked and hang your corpse outside the city. And this little girl, I'll take her and sell her to a brothel in the Western Wasteland to be a 'slim horse'—she's been coming here every day since she was a few years old, hahaha..."

The young woman trembled as she watched helplessly as the soldiers from the Western Wasteland rushed in to snatch the child.

The little girl, just over a year old, sat to one side, her big eyes calmly watching the vicious soldiers, without crying.

"I hate that look in your eyes! Just like your deadbeat father!" The soldier from the Western Wasteland was furious and was about to slap the child across the face.

Suddenly a strong wind howled past, and the slap missed its mark. The child was taken away by an invisible force and drifted all the way out of the palace.

Turning her head, she saw a young man in a blue robe riding on flames, heading straight into the palace. In a flash, the man stood in front of the Queen and handed her the child.

The Queen paused, taken aback. "You..."

The soldier from the Western Wasteland brandished his sword and roared, "Who are you?!"

The newcomer slowly turned his head, not looking at the Western Wasteland soldiers, but casting his gaze on the raging fire not far away, a hint of sorrow in his eyes. After a moment of silence, he said in a low voice, "Qin Yi, the Nanli Kingdom Teacher."

The Wolf Tooth Clubs whistled through the air, and before the soldiers of the Western Wasteland could react, their heads were all smashed open, and they died on the ground.

The Queen held her child and wept bitterly.

The child nestled in his mother's arms, his big eyes fixed on Qin Yi's thin back without uttering a word.

Many people have forgotten that Southern Li has an Imperial Preceptor, but Qin Yi really is the Nanli Kingdom Teacher.

The return of the Imperial Preceptor easily quelled the chaos.

With overwhelming military power over ordinary soldiers and the revered status of the Imperial Preceptor of Southern Li, he reorganized the guards and contacted ministers both inside and outside the capital in less than half a day, completely stabilizing the entire Lihuo City.

Before Qin Yi entered the city, seeing the city gates fall and the palace ablaze, his heart sank. Anyone would have assumed the city was doomed. He clung to a last shred of hope, wondering if there was still a chance to save Li Qinglin and his sister and escape.

Upon entering the city, they realized things weren't as they seemed. The royal palace was ablaze, yet the entire Lihuo City was only in disarray with a few remaining soldiers. Some ministers were even leading their retainers in resistance and trying to quell the chaos. It didn't look like a city under occupation at all. Only after rescuing the inner palace and contacting the outer court officials did they learn of Li Qinglin's entire plan from the Prime Minister.

Then I met Minghe and received Minghe account.

"So, in his heart, I really was just a friend?"

"In fact, Li Qinglin... was not an emperor; he was always a warrior at heart."

Qin Yi remained silent for a long time before saying in a low voice, "The loss of a friend in the Northeast has indeed fulfilled your divination, but I don't know where the celebration will come from."

Minghe shook her head and did not answer.

Qin Yi stared at her for a long time, but he didn't really know what kind of answer he wanted.

Minghe has the absolute ability to turn things around; saving someone's life is a piece of cake, and she could even directly help destroy the Western Wasteland. But Qin Yi knows he can't blame Minghe for inaction, because all of this really has nothing to do with her.

In her eyes, there was no right or wrong Southern Li and Western Wasteland; she was merely an observer, a witness to a period of history.

Moreover, Li Qinglin might not even want to be rescued by anyone. For a soldier, dying in glory is far better than being old and weak, lying in bed.

But Qin Yi still felt a little uneasy and couldn't help but say, "Daoist, you've observed so much, but I don't see that you've gained anything. You've only achieved the Heart of the Harp Perfection so far, and you still haven't crossed this hurdle."

"Yes," Minghe. "Once this matter is settled, I will return to my sect for seclusion and should achieve a breakthrough. In addition, your sword formation has greatly inspired me, and my understanding of formations will surely reach a higher level. I owe you a favor."

Liusu Su snorted.

Qin Yi said, "My cultivation is inferior to yours, but I still believe that your so-called 'experience in the mortal world' is fake. Without personal involvement, it's like learning from books—it's ultimately superficial."

Minghe asked curiously, "Fellow Daoist, I haven't had this idea before... Judging from your words, it seems you've gained some insights from your trip to the Rift Valley?"

"I did not go there seeking enlightenment. It's just a pity that everything I did was in vain, so let's not talk about it."

This is outside the outer palace ruins. After saying this, Qin Yi ignored Minghe and slowly walked into the ruins.

The fire has been extinguished by the authorities. The square is littered with charred corpses, making it impossible to tell who is who. Soldiers are quietly cleaning up the area.

Snow was still falling from the sky, and soon the square was covered in a blanket of white.

Qin Yi hesitated for a long time before finally stopping. Where he stood, a charred gun was faintly visible in the snow.

He bent down and gently stroked it, wiping away the charred blackness to reveal the silver sheen inside.

He had already obtained the Increase Lifespan Pill, but it was no longer needed—even if he returned early, it would be meaningless to Li Qinglin. In the final moments of his life, Li Qinglin knew very well what he wanted.

Qin Yi knew he admired him greatly; compared to Minghe, Li Qinglin was the one who truly lived life to the fullest.

His view on the choice between Immortal Dao and worldly achievements was slightly biased towards the latter. Although he himself was a lazy bum who didn't belong to either side, it didn't stop him from appreciating the latter more.

Therefore, he made friends in the southwest and traveled with those of his kind.

The Queen, carrying her child, approached and, looking at the gun in front of Qin Yi, asked in a trembling voice, "Imperial Preceptor... is... is this it...?"

Qin Yi couldn't bear to brush away the snow from the corpse clutching the gun. After a long while, he knelt down and held the child's shoulders. "This is your father's gun. Remember, he was the greatest king in the history of Southern Li."

The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached the ruins, then they all reined in their horses and fell silent.

Qin Yi stood up and turned to look. It was Li Qingjun, her battle robe stained with blood.

The two stared at each other silently for a long time before Li Qingjun suddenly jumped off her horse, rushed over, and hugged Qin Yi tightly.

She used almost all her strength, so much so that Qin Yi's Body Tempering Completion, felt some pain. But he didn't say anything, only gently stroking her hair and feeling her trembling body.

Qin Yi knew she wanted to cry, but she didn't cry out loud.

More than two months have passed, and this innocent girl is no longer the same. She is now the pillar of Southern Li and can no longer easily show any weakness on the outside.

Li Qingjun hugged him tightly for a long, long time before collapsing as if exhausted. She leaned against him and whispered, "I can only take a day or two at most to stabilize the situation in the capital, bury my brother, and support my niece's ascension to the throne. At the same time, I'll prepare for War Preparation and launch a direct counterattack on the Western Wasteland. Will you... will you go?"

"Go," Qin Yi replied simply and clearly.

He was not a mere spectator like Minghe.

He is Li Qingjun's lover, Li Qinglin's friend, and the Imperial Preceptor of Southern Li.

For whatever reason, he would be happy to erase the Western Wasteland from Southern Li's bedside.

This is the best opportunity.