Old Coach Master

"Teacher..."

"Sister Shamhat!"

"Uh, hello, sister..."

"No, little sister!"

"Sis... Sister..."

"Your voice is so quiet, and you still want to learn etiquette from me? I can't hear you."

"Little sister!"

"Add my name and say it again."

In the empty deep valley, the reddish-brown big cat hiding in the corner felt the veins on its forehead bulge, and its face gradually turned dark.

But in the end, under the smiling gaze of those golden-green eyes, Lin Xian, with a bitter lion-like face, took a deep breath and then tilted his head back and roared.

"Yes! Little sister Shamhat!"

"Mhm, good boy..."

The green-haired woman, dressed in a white priestess outfit, smiled and reached out to gently stroke the big cat's head. Her relaxed expression made her look incredibly content.

She looked just like a shepherd taming a wolfhound.

Shamhat, the sacred maiden of Uruk's temple, had once been assigned to the Fir Forest to tame the Enkidu, who was in a state of ignorance.

Legend had it that after six days and seven nights together, the divine construct weapon completely opened its heart, trusted and relied on this sacred maiden entirely, and awakened its human nature.

Furthermore, this divine construct weapon, covered in fur and living with beasts, reshaped its appearance based on Shamhat's template.

So yes, the facial features and physique of the green-haired woman before him were identical to the Enkidu in Lin Xian's memory.

In a sense, she was both the teacher who guided Enkidu into human society and the mother who awakened his humanity.

However, even during the Silver Age, when mysteries were more prevalent, human lifespans were still limited.

Therefore, Shamhat now was merely a ghost trapped in the underworld.

And to make up for not being able to accompany Enkidu for long in life, Shamhat remained in this valley after her death to watch over the sleeping child.

But now, she couldn't even guard Enkidu's slumber. She could only continue to wander and wait within this barrier until her soul was worn away by time and completely vanished.

Everything should have been like this.

It was just that, unexpectedly, a few months ago, this sneaky little fellow who came to investigate Enkidu's tomb accidentally caught Shamhat's attention.

After that, it was quite ordinary.

Whether it was to pass the time or to find some amusement, Shamhat began teaching him some knowledge and etiquette of the Mesopotamian world at the little fellow's pleading.

The sly brat, seizing the opportunity, simply started calling her Teacher and often came to ask questions that interested him.

"Go on, what do you want to know today?"

"Teacher, let's stick to lecturing, can you stop touching me?"

Lin Xian raised his paw and batted away the soft hand reaching for his belly and groin, rolling his eyes in annoyance.

Sacred maidens were special priestesses responsible for pleasing the gods, and in city-states, they even served as sexual educators. They were all seasoned veterans.

This teacher had completely overturned the gentle and elegant image Lin Xian had imagined from the Epic of Gilgamesh. She was much more troublesome than he had anticipated.

He didn't know if it was because she had been confined to the small valley for hundreds of years that she had changed like this.

In any case, the true past could no longer be traced.

When faced with a woman who constantly wanted to measure him, Lin Xian's usual approach was to keep his distance.

If not necessary, he tried his best not to approach her.

Shamhat seemed a bit bored and turned to sit on a rock.

From the purple yew jewelry box below, she took out a gem-encrusted comb and idly combed her ghostly long hair, her fair bare feet dangling lightly in mid-air.

Speaking of which, the purple yew jewelry box below and this gem comb were stolen goods he had won. After Shamhat spotted them, she immediately snatched them as a tutelage gift.

He felt like he'd taken a huge loss now.

However, based on Lin Xian's experience interacting with Shamhat, the woman's current body language and the surrounding atmosphere indicated that she was in a good mood.

He should seize the opportunity to have his lesson. He still had many things to do.

As the gentle breeze blew, Lin Xian, who hesitantly approached the rock, had to admit.

If she were quiet, this teacher truly possessed the air of a natural spirit, quite ladylike.

Unfortunately, she could move and speak.

"Teacher..."

"Forgot again?"

"Little sister..."

"Add my name!"

"Shamhat, my sister..."

Lin Xian's lips twitched. His iron stomach, capable of digesting dirt and Magic Crystals, was secretly aching.

The Ancient Snake hesitated for a moment, finally stabilizing its mind. It tossed down a few Rune stones, cast a barrier, and then cautiously leaned close to Shamhat's ear, whispering.

"I know of that place, but you're actually planning that?"

Saint Joan of Arc, who was combing her hair, paused. She turned to look at the big cat beneath the stone, her languid expression vanishing as her eyes narrowed.

"Aren't you afraid I'll report you?"

The Ancient Snake was calm, a slight smile playing on its lips.

"I can take you with me..."

"Tsk, I still underestimated your courage."

"Do you know the consequences? If He finds out, you won't even be able to remain a snake."

Shamhat indifferently continued combing her hair, her expression displaying a subtle, almost imperceptible shift.

Good, as long as she's wavering...

"Think about that person, unable to live freely, unable to die in peace, destined to be a tool for their entire life. Don't you want to help him?"

"Even if it's just to grant him release."

Lin Xian stood up and walked to the huge pit in the center of the valley, circling its edge and sighing.

Previously, there had been a flat stone platform and a coffin containing Enkidu's corpse here.

Shamhat fell silent, a shadow clouding her eyes.

"Little one, don't try to defy fate, or else..."

"Or else, you'll end up like you?"

Lin Xian sneered, finishing the latter half of his teacher's sentence.

Shamhat was startled, her expression freezing. Her gentle face suddenly gained a sharp, decisive edge.

"How did you know?!"

"Is that so hard to guess?"

Lin Xian looked up at the dark dome above, then lowered his head and muttered.

"A weapon only needs to remember its mission objective."

"Once it develops emotions, it will no longer be sharp. Its movements will falter, and it might even dare to disobey its master."

"You shouldn't have given him emotions, given him humanity."

Shamhat, the green-haired beauty, was stunned for a moment. She covered her mouth and revealed a bright smile, her eyes filled with emotion and nostalgia.

"I should indeed think that way, but I can't bring myself to do it."

"Long ago, my divine oracle was to guide the Chains of Heaven and bring back the Wedge of Heaven."

"But you don't know, the moment I entered the Fir Forest and saw that child, I was lost."

"There is nothing in this world more pure than those eyes; there is no breeze gentler than that soul."

"He carefully cared for the beasts in the forest, and he would be the same towards humans."

"Our King needs a companion to guide him, not a chain to bind himself."

"Moreover, people like us are destined to be without offspring. You wouldn't understand the joy of guiding a naive and lovely child to become a sage."

Then, the woman glanced at the big cat lying beneath the stone, listening to the story, and changed the subject, her expression tinged with disdain.

"Even though our encounters were so similar on both occasions."

"But why are you all black, full of schemes and poison, and not cute at all?"

Hey, hey, hey, if you have something to say, say it. Is it okay to personally attack someone?

Lin Xian, who had reverted to his Ancient Snake form with the support of his self-modified magic, was full of dejection.