Sister's Teacher

Su Xianling looked at Chu Heng. Judging by what he had shown so far, his Martial Soul excelled at long-range attacks. Those attacks were fast and packed a punch. If he could also move quickly, he could keep putting distance between himself and his enemies, attacking without ever letting them get close.

Su Xianling frowned slightly. Then she froze.

Wait...

Wasn't that exactly what I did?

Su Xianling blinked. Only then did she realize that Chu Heng's future path overlapped considerably with her own.

Didn't that mean I could teach him many of the techniques I know? I could even take him to meet my teacher someday.

At the thought, Su Xianling's eyes lit up.

Given her teacher's personality, he would surely take an interest in a little fellow like Chu Heng, whose Martial Soul was unusual and who had both talent and good character.

He might even take Chu Heng as his disciple on the spot.

The more Su Xianling thought about it, the more promising it seemed. But then her expression stiffened.

Wait. If my teacher takes Chu Heng as his disciple, won't Chu Heng become my junior fellow disciple?

Su Xianling's face changed.

No!

Absolutely not!

How could the little brother I'd worked so hard to raise suddenly become my junior fellow disciple? I'd be getting a raw deal!

But... Su Xianling frowned again. Apart from her own teacher, she truly couldn't think of anyone better suited to guide Chu Heng. She could teach him some basic techniques for now, but as he grew stronger, she couldn't keep figuring out how to teach him through trial and error.

The more she thought about it, the more torn she became.

Forget it.

I'll deal with it later.

Next time I go back to see my teacher, I'll take Chu Heng along. As for whether he takes Chu Heng as a disciple, I'll figure that out then.

"Sister?"

Standing beside her, Chu Heng watched Su Xianling's expression change again and again, utterly puzzled.

What was she thinking about?

"Did something happen?"

At the sound of his voice, Su Xianling came back to herself. She glanced at him, narrowed her eyes, then walked over and slowly crouched in front of him.

"Little Chu Heng..."

For some reason, hearing her call him that sent an inexplicable chill down Chu Heng's spine.

"Wh-what?"

Su Xianling smiled at him.

"Would you like... to find a teacher?"

"Huh?"

Chu Heng paused.

Did Sister want me to become her disciple? But hadn't she said before that she didn't care about making our teacher-student relationship official?

Could the talent I'd shown lately have finally won her over?

His eyes brightened at the thought, and he immediately answered with a grin.

"If you're going to be my teacher, Sister, then of course I'd love to!"

"Hahaha..."

Su Xianling couldn't help covering her mouth as she laughed. But she quickly pulled a stern face and gave him a look of mock displeasure.

"Who said you could make your sister sound so old?"

"Huh?"

Chu Heng looked completely innocent.

Su Xianling laughed again.

"I'm not asking you to become my disciple. I'm asking whether you'd like to become my teacher's disciple."

"Your teacher?"

Chu Heng was taken aback. That answer was not what he had expected. He thought through the prominent figures in Spirit Hall, but he genuinely couldn't guess who Su Xianling's teacher might be.

Could he be a Soul Douluo? Or perhaps a Soul Saint?

Then again, anyone capable of teaching a disciple as young and powerful as Su Xianling had to be skilled at both cultivation and instruction, whatever his standing might be.

An opportunity like that could only be a good thing.

Chu Heng studied her expression. Once he saw that she was sincerely asking for his opinion rather than mentioning it in passing, he hesitated briefly, then nodded.

"You've been so good to me, Sister. I'm sure your teacher is a good person too."

Su Xianling burst out laughing again.

"You've got that wrong. My teacher..."

She deliberately drew out the words.

"He's terribly serious, and so set in his ways. Just because I made one little mistake, he sent me to Nott City."

At that, Su Xianling gave a soft huff.

"He even said I wasn't allowed back until I reached level sixty."

Clearly, even after all this time, she still held a grudge over it. But a moment later, she smiled again.

"Still, that's how I came to meet you. Looking at it that way, it wasn't such a bad deal. I really am lucky."

Chu Heng grinned along with her, then ventured a question.

"So who exactly is your teacher, Sister?"

Su Xianling paused. After a moment, she sighed softly.

"My teacher... doesn't like showing himself in public. You'll know who he is when you meet him someday."

Her teacher had specifically warned her not to reveal his identity casually while she was out in the world. So even with Chu Heng, she couldn't say much right now.

Seeing that she didn't intend to tell him, Chu Heng didn't press her. He simply nodded.

"All right."

He would meet the man eventually. There was no hurry.

"Well then."

Su Xianling reached out and patted Chu Heng on the shoulder.

"I'm still a long way from level sixty. Until then, you can train with me."

Chu Heng's face lit up.

"Really?"

"Of course."

Su Xianling nodded.

She had also planned Chu Heng's training over the past while. Most of the time, though, they had trained separately. She had only guided him now and then, adjusting his training according to his progress.

Now Su Xianling had changed her mind. Since Chu Heng's Martial Soul had so much in common with her own, she could pass on many of the techniques she had learned. Rather than leave him to slowly work things out alone, it made more sense to keep him by her side while he trained.

That might slow her down a little in handling other matters, but it didn't matter. Apart from her own cultivation, most of what she did was help the Spirit Hall Branch in Nott City with its affairs.

Doing a little less would cause no real problems.

"Yes, Sister!"

Chu Heng agreed without a moment's hesitation.

After all, ordinary Soul Masters might never get the chance to meet a talent like Su Xianling, much less receive personal guidance from her. For Chu Heng, this was an opportunity too rare to pass up.

"Good."

Su Xianling nodded in satisfaction.

"Now that you've obtained your first Spirit Ring, there's no need to rush off. We'll stay here a few more days. Use the time to get familiar with your first spirit skill."

A slight smile touched her lips.

"After all, once we leave the Soul Hunting Forest, you won't find so many ready-made 'targets' to practice on."

"Okay!"