Whoever knows best is the teacher

Lu Li declared proudly, "An old man once told me I had extraordinary bones and a surge of energy bursting through the crown of my head. I was clearly a one-in-ten-thousand martial arts prodigy!"

"...Is that so?"

"Absolutely."

"In that case, once I finish this commission, I will teach you this technique."

With that, Jianxin turned to the two soldiers. "Officers, would there be any issue with me proceeding this way?"

"Well..."

"Is there a problem?" Lu Li asked.

"The clearance you presented is the highest level, so it is permitted under the regulations..."

The soldier who spoke silently reflected, With that level of clearance, he could even lead troops out of the city...

However, Lu Li did not really understand what the highest level of clearance meant, so he paid it no mind.

"Let's go."

"Yes."

The instant they left the city, a system notification sounded.

[Ding! Option two completed. Obtained B-rank skill: Blood Blade Technique.]

[Blood Blade Technique Lv. 1: Use blood as a blade. A vicious blade technique with blood-red blade energy and overwhelming killing intent. Every strike draws blood.]

In an instant, the various moves of the Blood Blade Technique appeared in Lu Li's mind, as though he had become a martial artist who had practiced bladework for decades.

What a brutal blade technique...

It really didn't suit his refined, dashing, effortlessly graceful persona!

Still, having it was better than not. He had bought a Mingyu earlier, so this worked out perfectly.

After they left the city, Jianxin explained why she had come out and whom she was looking for.

"So you want to go to the Midnight Rangers' camp in Desorock Highland to find a retired soldier's relative?" Yangyang asked.

"That is correct, Miss Yangyang."

A Piao asked, "What is your relationship with the person you're looking for?"

"I do not know Zhiyuan personally. On my way down the mountain, I met his relative, Grandpa Zongye. He was searching for his grandson alone, but he seemed to have lost his own way as well."

"It was far too dangerous for an elderly man to be out there alone, so I escorted him to the nearest city, Jinzhou City, before deciding what to do next once he was safe."

Yangyang smiled faintly. "You didn't know him at all, yet you protected him the entire way and brought him safely into the city."

"You're a good person."

Jianxin replied modestly, "Grandpa Zongye and I only made it all the way to Jinzhou thanks to the help of many kind people."

Along the way, Lu Li summoned the Rocksteady Guardian and sat on the Guardian's arm. A Piao willingly climbed aboard as well.

He had to admit that sitting on the Rocksteady Guardian's arm was quite comfortable, except for the hard surface digging into his backside.

Watching Lu Li summon the Echo, Jianxin said in amazement, "It seems that elderly gentleman you mentioned was telling the truth."

"Naturally!" Lu Li said smugly.

"Jianxin, where did you come from, and where are you going?"

Lu Li was a little curious about her background.

He thought Jianxin's eyes were special-so clear, so pure and full of spirit.

"I used to live on a nameless mountain. My master adopted me when I was little, and taught me all my skills."

"Then why did you come down the mountain?"

Lu Li felt that Jianxin's setup was a little like those masters who descended from the mountains in novels from his previous life.

They learned everything there was to learn on the mountain, and then their master told the protagonist, "Child, you're invincible now. Go down the mountain."

"My master said I didn't know how to love others."

"Love others?" Lu Li asked in confusion. "I know the answer to that one!"

He wrapped an arm around A Piao's shoulders. "For example, I love A Piao very much! And Yangyang! And Chixia! And Bai Zhi! And Jinhsi! And Sanhua!"

A Piao said, "...I won't allow you to love that many people."

Yangyang said, "...Thank you for liking me."

Jianxin smiled. "Not that kind of love. My master meant 'saving a troubled world and showing compassion to its suffering people.'"

"I see. So you mean helping the world and caring for others?"

"Exactly. My master once said that the highest practitioner finds the Way among armies, the middling practitioner finds the Way in cities, and the lowest practitioner finds the Way in mountain forests."

"One must not merely practice esoteric arts, nor simply retreat into the mountains. Instead, one must attain spiritual liberation and physical improvement through life in real society. That is what it means to both aid the world in the present and transcend the ordinary to attain sagehood."

Understanding dawned on Lu Li. "Doesn't that mean I'm already half a step from sagehood?"

"How so?" A Piao asked, puzzled.

"Yesterday, a man named Aalto paid me two million Shell Credits for information."

Yangyang said, "Huh? He bought information from you? But you don't know much about Solaris either. What information could you sell?"

"Exactly! So he paid two million for a lesson!"

"It'll make him truly realize that money can't solve every problem! It'll teach him that being rich doesn't make him all-powerful!"

"Ah, there really aren't many merchants with a conscience like mine left in this world."

A Piao shook her head. "More like a heart of ice..."

Yangyang looked thoughtful. "Someone who can spend two million on information probably doesn't need that money... Hmm... It should be fine..."

Jianxin said, "So there is also this way to help the world? Making someone who relies solely on money to solve problems realize that money isn't all-powerful. I have learned something!"

Lu Li nodded in satisfaction. "Good, you're teachable. Jianxin, you still have much to learn."

Jianxin said admiringly, "I never imagined you had such a generous heart, young hero. You truly are a chivalrous man who cares for all the people of the world."

"My master once said that whoever knows best is the teacher. I believe your breadth of heart surpasses mine, young hero Lu, so I wish to take you as my master!"

Lu Li laughed heartily. "I'm not worthy, not worthy at all. But since you're so determined, and I do have a soft spot for talent, I suppose I shall reluctantly accept you as my disciple!"

"Master!"

With that, Jianxin prepared to perform the formal ceremony of discipleship.

Lu Li's expression suddenly turned solemn. "Ah! You mustn't!"

Jianxin looked at Lu Li in confusion.

"Jianxin, these are merely formalities. As your master, I don't care about them."

"What I care about is whether you can spread this spirit of mine throughout Solaris. To judge someone, don't look at what they say. Look at what they do. That is my second lesson for you!"

"Master!"

His figure grew ever more imposing in her eyes, as though the radiance emanating from him could illuminate the entire world. At that moment, he seemed like the reincarnation of a legendary sage.

She realized that she still had a long road ahead and much left to learn.

She silently resolved to work even harder to cultivate herself and her heart, so she would not disappoint Lu Li.

Suddenly, she remembered that her master had asked her to teach him the technique for seeing a thousand miles away.

Her master could set aside his status and humbly seek instruction from his disciple. What a rare and precious quality that was.

Jianxin's heart filled with respect, and her understanding of the phrase "whoever knows best is the teacher" rose to a new level.

She understood that true masters were not those who clung to preconceived notions and refused to accept new knowledge, but those who could keep learning and improving.

Her master's actions were undoubtedly the finest illustration of "whoever knows best is the teacher."

Jianxin decided to turn that respect into action. She would put even more care into teaching her master and pass on everything she had learned without holding anything back!

Lu Li noticed that Jianxin's gaze grew brighter and more admiring by the moment. He scratched his head, having no idea what she had imagined...

Just then, the system's voice suddenly rang out in Lu Li's mind.

[Ding! Jianxin's intimacy has reached 80!]

"???"

"Wait, seriously! You're that easy to fool? A Piao's intimacy hasn't even reached 80, and you've already gotten there?"