First Lesson

Heaven-Bearing Estate.

As one of River City's few wealthy residential complexes, not only was its environment far superior to other areas, but its security was also exceptionally tight.

Even with Fang Xiong leading the way, the two of them went through three full rounds of inspection before they were allowed inside.

"River City's situation hasn't been very good lately. Quite a few Evil God Cultists are lurking in the shadows, so your first inspection will be stricter."

"If nothing unexpected happens afterward, the butler will record your information, and getting in will be much more convenient."

Fang Xiong said.

"I understand." Chen Yu nodded. Danger lurked everywhere in this world.

Martial Arts Madmen, evil cultists, interstellar pirates, and even the threats posed by the myriad races of the starry sky...

If he had power and influence, he would have wanted the security forces multiplied tenfold!

The two arrived before a villa deep within Heaven-Bearing Estate.

At the villa entrance stood an elderly butler with half-white hair, a straight posture, and immaculate clothing, watching the pair.

"Mr. Fang, I have been awaiting you for quite some time."

"Old Qin, no need to be so formal." Fang Xiong shook his head, then pointed at Chen Yu beside him.

"This is my student, Chen Yu. His talent with the blade is no less than mine, so he should meet your requirements."

At those words, a flicker of surprise passed through Old Qin's eyes as he looked at Chen Yu.

He knew Fang Xiong's talent very well. Fang Xiong was a genius seen perhaps once in three hundred years on Crimson Radiance Star and had even made a modest name for himself in the Demon Mountain Starfield.

For Chen Yu to receive such praise from Fang Xiong, his talent with the blade was self-evident.

"Mr. Chen, Mr. Fang, please follow me." Old Qin lightly gestured, his tone carrying a trace of respect as he led them through the gates behind him.

"Butler Qin, just call me Chen Yu." Chen Yu smiled. Such a formal form of address felt rather strange to him.

"Very well." Old Qin did not refuse and gave a slight nod.

The moment the three entered the house, a small, youthful-looking figure blocked their path, asking anxiously, "Teacher, which one of you is my teacher?"

A trace of helplessness flashed across Old Qin's face. He pointed to Chen Yu behind him.

"Young Master Luo Ming, this is your blade instructor."

Luo Ming sized Chen Yu up and down, disdain showing in his eyes. "He's my blade instructor?"

"He's only at the Body Tempering Fourth Stage. I'm already at Third-Level Body Tempering. How is he supposed to teach me?"

"How can someone this strong help me defeat Wang Tianxing? Wang Tianxing's sword instructor is a renowned martial arts genius in River City!"

Luo Ming sounded rather angry.

But Chen Yu did not mind. In fact, Luo Ming's temperament put him at ease.

He had been afraid of encountering some young master unwilling to endure hardship. Those were the truly difficult ones to teach.

No matter how good his teaching was or how gifted he was with the blade, there was nothing he could do if the other person was unwilling to learn.

The employer would not care about any of that. They would only care whether their child learned something, and that was when Chen Yu would get a headache.

A child like Luo Ming, someone who genuinely sought improvement in martial arts, would be much easier to teach.

"Whether one's realm is powerful is not the only standard for judging one's ability to teach," Chen Yu said proactively.

Luo Ming curled his lip. "I've never heard of a weak person teaching any good students. My father clearly isn't short on money, so why didn't he find me a martial arts genius?"

"If Wang Tianxing finds out my teacher is only at the Body Tempering Fourth Stage, won't I be too ashamed to ever hold my head up again?"

"This Wang Tianxing you mentioned—what level of Body Tempering is he at?" Chen Yu asked curiously.

"The same as me, Third-Level Body Tempering... But he has an impressive sword instructor. My blade techniques can't beat his, and I lose far more often than I win."

Luo Ming sighed, his face full of unwillingness.

"Then this is simple." Chen Yu immediately laughed. "Isn't it just beating some brat? As long as you listen to me, you're guaranteed to win next time!"

"Do you have any videos of the two of you fighting? Send me one, and I'll teach you how to win!"

"Really?" Seeing how certain Chen Yu looked, Luo Ming was skeptical.

Naturally, he had no shortage of videos of his matches with Wang Tianxing.

After every fight, he would study them for ages. Unfortunately, he could never figure anything out, and he would still lose the next time. That was why he needed a blade instructor.

While Chen Yu and Luo Ming were talking, Fang Xiong and Old Qin took the initiative to leave, handing the place over to Chen Yu.

This was a simple test before Chen Yu was hired.

If Chen Yu could not gain Luo Ming's approval, then that was Chen Yu's own problem. Naturally, he would not be hired as Luo Ming's instructor.

"Mr. Fang, the master asked me to remind you that River City may become unsettled soon. He hopes you will not interfere."

"After all, your situation..."

Before Old Qin could finish, Fang Xiong waved his hand. "Don't worry. I'm not paid by the River City Law Enforcement Bureau. Whatever happens has nothing to do with me."

"The master knows you won't act. He merely wanted to remind you." Old Qin smiled faintly.

"Oh, and the master specifically instructed me to tell you that, since it has been many years since you last met, Mr. Fang may visit him if you have the time."

"New Moon is also part of Crimson Radiance Star's jurisdiction, so there is no need to worry about overstepping."

"It's been nearly thirty years since I last saw that guy, hasn't it?" A hint of wistfulness appeared on Fang Xiong's face before he nodded.

"All right. I'll go when I have time."

Glancing in Chen Yu's direction and seeing that nothing was amiss, Fang Xiong prepared to leave.

Before departing, however, he said to Old Qin, "My student also came from a Biohuman background. His talent is good, but he lacks cultivation resources too severely."

"If possible, raise his compensation a little. With his talent in the blade, I believe he deserves that price."

Old Qin looked somewhat puzzled. He had not expected Chen Yu to hold such a high place in Fang Xiong's heart.

After all, Fang Xiong was famous for never asking anyone for help.

Still, he did not ask further and nodded with a smile. "Since Mr. Fang has said so, naturally there is no problem."

After offering his thanks, Fang Xiong decisively turned and left.

On the other side, after watching the video Luo Ming had sent him once, Chen Yu raised a brow.

"Oh, there really is an expert behind this Wang Tianxing."

"Kid, they've seen right through everything you've got. No wonder you lose every time."

Seeing Chen Yu still making fun of him, Luo Ming immediately got annoyed. "Stop talking nonsense! Didn't you say you could teach me how to win?"

"If I can't win next time, don't come back. I'll find a blade instructor myself!"

The more Chen Yu looked at the little fellow, the more he wanted to tease him. But remembering that his immediate priority was earning Luo Ming's trust, he suppressed the thought.

He puffed out his chest. "You don't need to waste any more time. In all of River City, I have the greatest talent with the blade!"

"Those so-called martial arts geniuses of River City are nothing but a bunch of trash before me. They merely lived in the era before I came into my own."

"Your realm isn't high, but your mouth sure is!" Luo Ming could not understand how someone at the Body Tempering Fourth Stage could be so arrogant.

Anyone who did not know better would have thought Chen Yu was already at the Body Tempering Peak!

"Listen carefully. Just learn from me from now on. If you don't win next time, I'll refund you directly." Chen Yu did not waste any more words.

Based on the footage Luo Ming had provided, he saw through Wang Tianxing's swordsmanship at a glance and also figured out how to break every move.

"This straight thrust has no variation. Don't dodge it. Sidestep in and close the distance, then hit him with a horizontal slash..."

"After that, he'll definitely retreat. His footing will be unstable, so strike hard at his lower body..."

"..."

In one breath, Chen Yu taught Luo Ming how to counter every move, even fully predicting how his opponent would react.

"Will this really work?" A trace of hesitation appeared on Luo Ming's face, but when he thought of Wang Tianxing's smug expression after every victory, anger rose within him.

"Fine. I'll trust him this once."