Riding Knightly Combat Skills

Just as Strong Bro had described, Balason in February was damp and chilly.

Looking from the endless fields and farmlands of the suburban satellite towns towards the city, the city lights are all hidden in the fog.

This is a desolate place. Further ahead are crater walls hundreds of meters apart, and below that are sheer cliffs and deep valleys thousands of meters deep. Plate tectonics has squeezed out fine cracks, and the deadly high temperatures and toxic gases emanating from them make it difficult for humans to explore any more territory to the east.

The 1773 Arcane Library is here, and the Galahad Magic Academy is also here.

Countless scholars have taken root here, both above and below ground. The Azure Wolf guards this city, accompanying Ming De.

Starting from the station full of valves and steam, head towards the long street of Yuren Workshop, then take a low-carbon, zero-emission old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage. In just ten minutes, you will arrive at an old school campus with bells and drums ringing and flowers in full bloom.

Head towards the main gate of the university town, switch to a bicycle, and walk about 500 meters across the garden walkway. The two building complexes form a twin-tower architectural design. Find the location of the academic affairs office on the first floor of the left-hand building. The dean of students and Mike Tyson are discussing the gunsmith.

"Magic is elegant and intelligent. I don't understand why the BOSS would send someone like this to teach students how to stay fit." The director's name has already been mentioned earlier; it's Simmons.

At this moment, this elegant middle-aged man in a classic robe spoke to his old friend Mike Tyson.

"Now we need to add another course for him, which will be worth at least sixteen credits per year. Where will these credits be deducted from?"

Galahad uses a credit system, consisting of five years of secondary school and eight years of university. The standard age for admission is thirteen, and transfer students from the surface are also welcome. There is also a three-year adult university program.

Like Liuxing and Xiao Qi, they both attended adult three-year colleges, while Bailu was an eight-year transfer student. Graduating from Galahad would grant them a proper bachelor's degree. If they wished to stay at Galahad as teaching assistants, they could obtain a professorship or academician position based on their teaching and academic achievements and outstanding contributions in a certain field.

Credits are crucial for every child who enters Galahad School, determining whether they can continue their studies Harad.

Based on the enrollment age of thirteen, if you fail any courses in the first three years, you will be automatically assigned to the batch of students who will be employed after five years. In the mundane world, this is roughly equivalent to a vocational school, where you can learn a skill and then make a living.

Those who can complete eight years of study are considered to have graduated with a proper bachelor's degree. They can generally find a decent job in various industries in the underground world. Their senior classmates will also point out the way and help each other. This is a completely different social circle.

As for the three-year adult higher education system, it's at the very bottom of the Galahad hierarchy. In the eyes of wizards, only Mudbloods awaken psychic powers and venture into the underworld after reaching adulthood.

--These mud-blooded people, without parental background or family support, are already incredibly lucky to have come to Galahad. They come here to study only to fill in the gaps in their basic knowledge of the underworld. Trying to find valuable companions among these people is like looking for food in a garbage dump.

When it came to the issue of academic credits, Director Simmons was clearly caught off guard.

"We can't possibly take a little bit from other instructors and other courses and give it to this young man who's just arrived, can we?"

It's important to understand that academic credits represent power and are crucial for all schools of thought. Students will go to great lengths to earn those credits, and parents will forge deep friendships with teachers and professors for their children's future.

Bribing with money is a last resort, something Galahad's teaching team despises most. What truly matters is the convenience that power brings.

People not only experience birth, aging, illness, and death, but they also pass on their wealth and power to their children. Working in Galahad is almost equivalent to securing a prominent position in the Abyssal Railway casino, gambling on the future of one's children.

The friendship between teachers and students is indelible and will accompany the student's growth, becoming an immeasurable benefit in the future.

When teachers are young, they become the saviors of their students. This salvation can turn into special treatment for some students, or a teacher-student relationship that is half-hearted and half-heartedly accepted.

When teachers grow old, their students become their saviors, and this salvation translates into a high quality of life for the teachers—a form of retirement security.

Mike Tyson has a different interpretation of the power of this academic credit.

"--It's all in the wine."

This burly man was Galahad's potion-making teacher. He had a beautiful beard and often hired someone to groom it. At this moment, his eyes were glazed over, as he had been given the [Free and Easy Wandering] drug by the gunsmith, which had made him feel as if his soul was ascending to heaven and his soul was leaving his body.

Simmons, who was slender, stood next to the fat man and slapped Tyson's chubby face hard.

"Wake up!"

The mild toxicity of rum and bacteria numbed Mr. Tyson's pain receptors. He waved his wide sleeves, spewing out nauseating, pungent burps from his throat, and suddenly put his arm around Director Simmons's shoulder, wanting to make up for their years of brotherhood.

"Simmons, the old dean. The old dean has already given his approval, do you dare to go against his wishes? He's riding high now, everyone knows he's Lupin Hank, the master craftsman crowned during harvest season—you need to get other academicians and other teachers to write to him, and he'll use those letters to clean up his mess."

If this is the dean's intention, then Simmons would absolutely not dare to have any objections.

Taking sixteen credits from other courses and having the gunsmith teach them is easy enough, but what kind of course should he teach?

This stumped Simmons.

This is what's troubling him.

Judging from the gunsmith's resume, the basic skills this young man filled in for himself were unremarkable and had almost nothing to do with psionic abilities.

Aside from his exceptional Inspiration, he didn't explicitly state his methods of psychic communication or any ritualistic techniques to enhance his spiritual abilities. Even with just his divination skills, he could easily be offered a teaching position in occult-related courses. It's worth noting that numerous charlatans have applied to be instructors in this field, and two Fake Doctor in the school's history even managed to pass the audition.

Just as Director Simmons was worrying about the gunsmith course, scratching the few remaining strands of hair on his head...

Outside the Academic Affairs Office, Xue Ming made a phone call to Liuxing.

"Red Sister is a scary person."

"Ming Ge, slow down. I'm in class. Today the teacher is teaching half-wolf language, and I've been howling along for three hours to learn how to say 'I love you.'"

"Then I'll just say something casually, and you can listen casually too."

"Become."

Xue Ming calmly and unhurriedly recounted his experiences on the intercity express train to Liuxing.

She told Meteor everything, including the gifts she gave Daniel and Kaycee during their meeting and the content of her conversation with Strong Bro.

"Ming Ge, was this all arranged by Red Sister?"

"That's why I say she's terrifying. In the eyes of the two kids, she did them a favor. In Strong Bro's eyes, the gift went through my hands, thanks to Red Sister, and ultimately became a favor for Xiao Min. As for me—this housekeeper just came to Wumingshi and introduced me to these two little rascals as students, so we have a teacher-student relationship. She just opened her mouth and won over so many friends."

What does she mean?

"She asked for my help, although she didn't say it explicitly—but I think the veil and jewelry that Kaycee sent must have been carefully selected by her; they were things she had her eye on. And Strong Bro is also something she has her eye on. She certainly won't give up easily. Otherwise, wouldn't it be redundant for her to go through all that trouble to have me talk about this?"

Meteor: "Can't she just tell him herself? Is she really interested in Strong Bro?"

"Not necessarily, I'm just a little white rabbit," Xue Ming joked. "She's the big bad wolf. How can a little white rabbit understand the thoughts of a big bad wolf? I think the reason she's unwilling to say it herself is probably because of love."

Meteor: "She doesn't seem like someone who's love-struck."

Xue Ming: "No, no, no, quite the opposite. She's like someone in love—if she were really that rational, she wouldn't have gone to Strong Bro's house. I overheard Xiao Min talking to her dad on the phone; Red Sister has been to Strong Bro's house, more than once. She really likes Strong Bro and cares a lot about this father and daughter."

Meteor: "Ugh, my brain's overloaded."

Xue Ming: "Simply put, it's because Red Sister Hong is too proud to admit it. She's unwilling to compromise and thinks Strong Bro is too weak right now, so she hopes he can stand up for himself."

Meteor: "What we need to do is... make Strong Bro Qiang stand up for himself?"

"Yes," Xue Ming emphasized, "There's another point: I'm still not sure if this is her disguise—because she knows us very well. Every brother and sister in the Nameless Clan has a friendship that transcends life and death, but Red Sister is different. She has to perform some rituals, such as witnessing my wedding with Xiao Qi, or having me act as her matchmaker and witness her wedding with Strong Bro. Through these rituals, we can erase this bit of distance between us."

Meteor: "What if she's faking it?"

"I don't dare to think about it," Xue Ming. "If this love-obsessed persona is also a fabricated one—then she's truly terrifying."

Meteor felt a chill run down her spine. "Ugh! You wicked women are all cunning and scheming!"

Xue Ming: "I am a man."

Meteor got back to the point. "So, what do you plan to do?"

Xue Ming: "I think we should take it one step at a time. If all else fails, and we don't trust Red Sister, we still have the trump card of telling the teacher, right?"

Meteor: "That's right! Professor Victor is the best at dealing with bad women!"

Xue Ming: "I need to conserve my mental bandwidth and focus all my energy on learning and teaching. However, the arrangements Red Sister has made seem to be demonstrating her professional abilities; she's a formidable figure. I feel very reassured leaving the club in her hands."

Meteor: "To be honest, for such a big store, I always felt it was missing something. But after Red Sister came, everything was sorted out: the wine merchants, the food suppliers, the kitchen and bathroom gas and heating systems, and all sorts of other miscellaneous things. The job postings and a series of meeting procedures were all clearly arranged. It suddenly felt like it had a human touch. On the opening day, we already had about fifty people who had made appointments to come and support us for the anniversary celebration. They are our partners. It's really amazing."

Xue Ming: "This is good news."

Meteor: "Yes, her mind is all on her career."

Xue Ming: "Otherwise, why would they have entrusted Strong Bro to us?"

Meteor: "Us?"

Xue Ming: "You think I'm the only one? How am I supposed to revive this middle-aged, decadent man's second spring? Isn't it you who's going to do it?"

Meteor: "Hahahahahahaha."

Speaking of this--

--A carrier pigeon flew in from the bridge at the top of the Twin Towers, rushed into the administration office, and its feathers exuded a strong smell of workshop-made oils, glues, and paints.

Director Simmons, holding the dean's letter, rushed out of the room, clapping and cheering.

"Gunsmith! Gunsmith! The headmaster has arranged courses for you! He really cares about you!"

Regarding the old magician Lupin Hank, FE204863 could almost be considered his savior during the harvest season rituals.

--The arrival of Xue Ming was something Dean Lupin had been eagerly anticipating.

Xue Ming hung up the phone and quickly stood up. "What did Mr. Lupin say?"

Director Simmons read from the letter, "A letter of appointment personally written by Lupin Hank, a special guest of the Senate, to the anonymous gunsmith who undertakes the important task of teaching knightly combat, magic and defense. I am grateful for Mr. Jiang Xueming's sincere intention to travel thousands of miles without hesitation and for his kindness in nurturing students and educating young people."

"Knightly combat techniques?" Tyson, still not quite done drinking, seemed a bit out of his mind.

Xue Ming: "Defense of Magic Section?"

Simmons explained, "This Knightly Combat Magic Defense course teaches knightly combat skills. Like the ancient Six Arts of a Gentleman, archery, horseback riding, chariot driving, and so on. There's also physical fitness training like running laps and high jump, armored fencing, hand-to-hand combat, and boxing—which happens to be your strengths, Gunsmith Teacher. The Dean didn't give you a hard time; he investigated you! He cares about you!"

Xue Ming: "Where's the class schedule?"

Simmons: "You can arrange it yourself. If we were to handle this topic, it would be a nightmare for you."

That's quite an interesting point.

--It seems the teachers at Galahad aren't too welcoming of the gunsmith's arrival.

Simmons squinted and said sarcastically, "If I really asked you to teach Hohnheim the three elements, Inspiration abilities, and psychic rituals, that would be a waste of your talent."

Xue Ming took out her journal, preparing to make a simple time plan. "Okay, how much time do I have?"

"Eight large classes in total, sixteen credits." Simmons leaned close to Xue Ming and whispered, "Every single one of them has to be done properly, otherwise parents will complain—Gunsmith teacher, you need to be careful. If other teachers start gossiping behind your back, saying that you're slacking off and the students aren't learning anything real, they might even encourage parents to complain, since your credits are taken from other people's courses."

"Thanks for the reminder." Xue Ming still asked, "How much time do I have?"

"Don't rush, let's have a trial period first," Director Simmons kindly reminded him. "We'll have you lead Class 78 of the eighth grade for a month—then we'll expand the curriculum to the entire grade and all ages. What do you think?"

Xue Ming: "When does it start?"

Simmons: "Next Monday?"

Xue Ming: "Okay."

Simmons: "Is there anything else to prepare?"

Xue Ming: "You're right, you reminded me."

Simmons asked in confusion, "What? Did I remind you?"

Xue Ming said confidently, "This gentleman is proficient in the Six Arts, especially driving a chariot; I think he's excellent."

Simmons laughed awkwardly. "Should I prepare some teaching tools for you?"

Xue Ming nodded repeatedly, his eyes lighting up. "Yes, of course we want it! How many students are in Class 78?"

Simmons: "Fifty-five."

Xue Ming grinned, looking like a sunny, cheerful young man.

"Then let's get eight dump trucks. Four people per group, plus one teaching assistant, that's perfect!"

Simmons suddenly paused for a moment--

He saw the gunsmith teacher laugh heartily and leave, while the drunkard Tyson sidled up to him, peering curiously.

"Why is this kid so happy? What's going on?"

Simmons was suspicious, but in the end he filled in the list of teaching materials according to the gunsmith's instructions.

"His understanding of knightly combat techniques seems to be slightly different from ours."