Instructor, I Want to Train in Both Paths Too

"Teacher, I'm ready."

Yue Shen took a few steps back to put some distance between them, gripping his bamboo sword tightly as he watched Long Xingyu.

Getting thrashed while sparring with Long Xingyu certainly hurt, but Yue Shen had no choice. The experience rewards for challenging someone above his level were simply too generous. His self-control stood no chance against that temptation.

Besides, skill points would only grow harder to obtain later on, so he naturally had to milk this opportunity for all it was worth.

"We aren't practicing combat today," Long Xingyu suddenly said, shaking his head. "I don't know why you have so much combat experience, but it certainly saves me a lot of trouble."

"Then what are we doing today?" Yue Shen asked curiously.

"I'll teach you a martial technique I created myself," Long Xingyu said. "Do you know why I was able to defeat you yesterday?"

"Your footwork. I couldn't read it," Yue Shen answered honestly. "I assume that's the martial technique you created? Our previous instructor never taught us anything like that."

Long Xingyu raised an eyebrow. "Correct. This is indeed a martial technique I created myself. Your previous instructor certainly taught you well, but my Nine Dragon Steps aren't something just anyone can master."

"You're amazing, Teacher!" Not knowing what else to say, Yue Shen could only give him a thumbs-up and flatter him.

"..."

Long Xingyu fell silent for a while. "Don't call me Teacher."

"Yes, Teacher."

"..."

Long Xingyu changed the subject. "Tell me, I wasn't surprised that you blocked my first strike on your second attempt, but how did you block the next two?"

"With my bamboo sword..." At that instant, Yue Shen sensed a hint of murderous intent in Long Xingyu's gaze and immediately corrected himself. "I guessed."

Without a word, Long Xingyu raised his bamboo sword and slashed at Yue Shen.

Startled, Yue Shen immediately lifted his bamboo sword to meet the attack.

After they exchanged one strike, Long Xingyu began using his Nine Dragon Steps again.

This time, however, Yue Shen handled it much more calmly. At the very least, he didn't lose his composure as he had yesterday.

Not only did he easily block the first four strikes he had seen yesterday, but his proficiency with his own techniques also allowed him to push his record to the seventh strike.

"Pfft-"

Long Xingyu struck Yue Shen again, sending him stumbling back several steps.

"You weren't guessing." Long Xingyu wore a strange expression. "You saw through my Nine Dragon Steps."

"It's not that impressive." Yue Shen wiped the corner of his mouth. "Practice just makes perfect."

"Yue Shen."

"What is it, Teacher?"

"Did your previous instructor beat you often too?"

Yue Shen: "???"

"Forget it. Back to the point." Long Xingyu pressed a hand to his forehead, looking rather troubled. "I'll teach you the Nine Dragon Steps now."

"Really? Thank you!" Yue Shen was overjoyed. He hadn't expected to get the chance to unlock a hidden martial technique.

"Don't call me Teacher."

"I didn't..."

"..."

"The core of the Nine Dragon Steps isn't the changes in your footwork, but the rhythm of your attacks..." Long Xingyu began slowly. "Although the Nine Dragon Steps have many variations and are difficult for an opponent to figure out..."

"Ahem."

Long Xingyu glared at Yue Shen. "It's best not to use the Nine Dragon Steps repeatedly against the same opponent, because once they grasp the rhythm of your attacks, you'll be in considerable danger. The best way to prevent that is to make sure no enemy who sees you use the Nine Dragon Steps leaves alive."

Yue Shen didn't dare say anything. He merely raised a hand and quietly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Long Xingyu gave a cold laugh, then began explaining the essentials of the Nine Dragon Steps to Yue Shen.

This was where Yue Shen started to get a headache.

Why was learning a martial technique just as exhausting as sitting through classes in my previous life? Yue Shen could swear that he genuinely wanted to master the Nine Dragon Steps, but before he had listened for very long, his mind couldn't help wandering.

When Long Xingyu finished explaining and began gulping water from a flask, a mechanical notification sounded in Yue Shen's mind.

[Hidden martial technique: Nine Dragon Steps (7/100) (Locked; locked skills cannot be used)]

Yue Shen stared blankly at the entry in his skill list. Apparently, his learning efficiency was terrible no matter where he went.

What if Long Xingyu finds out that after all that explaining, this is all I learned... Yue Shen thought.

At that thought, a little cold sweat broke out on Yue Shen's forehead.

Fortunately, Yue Shen had his player panel. All he had to do was move his finger and invest skill points in the Nine Dragon Steps to unlock the martial technique.

And as soon as he unlocked the hidden martial technique, Nine Dragon Steps, he understood most of the essentials Long Xingyu had just explained.

This time, though, Yue Shen had learned his lesson. Unlike before, he didn't immediately max out its proficiency. He merely unlocked it, stopping at just the right point to avoid either being sliced up for Long Xingyu's research or getting beaten.

"Tired?" Long Xingyu asked with a hint of concern. "Time may be short, but expecting you to inherit my legacy in so little time really is asking too much."

Yue Shen nodded slightly, not daring to speak.

"Take a break." Long Xingyu also sat cross-legged on the ground and asked, "You chose to train as a Retribution Knight, correct?"

"Yes," Yue Shen answered honestly. After all, that was what both his records and his status panel said.

"Good." Long Xingyu seemed very satisfied with his answer. "Although I believe your talent should allow you to train in both the Guardian and Retribution paths too, mastering one might be better for you than being proficient in everything. This works out well, though. Once you inherit my legacy, you'll become the future leader of the Knight Temple's Retribution Knight branch."

"Too?" Yue Shen caught the key word and asked, "Does that mean someone can already train in both the Guardian Knight and Retribution Knight traditions? Who is he?"

"Yes." Long Xingyu nodded slightly, then considered for a moment before answering. "He's a genius whose talent surpasses even yours, an extraordinary genius unlike any other in the history of our Knight Temple.

"I know your innate internal spiritual power is eighty-nine, giving you the extremely rare divine shelter constitution. But his innate internal spiritual power is as high as ninety-seven. He possesses the legendary Child of Light constitution."

"Teacher, actually, I want to..." Yue Shen said quietly.

"Don't even think about it." Before Yue Shen could finish, Long Xingyu cut him off. "Do you think he can train in both Punishment and Protection simply because his innate internal spiritual power is high?"

Of course Yue Shen didn't think that, but Long Xingyu gave him no chance to speak.

"Wrong! It's because his mental power far exceeds that of ordinary people. His Child of Light constitution isn't what allows him to train in both Punishment and Protection."

Long Xingyu seemed to realize that he had become a little too agitated. After briefly composing himself, he adopted a gentler tone.

"As I see it, your mental power hasn't reached the level needed to support training in both Punishment and Protection. That's why I want you to focus on becoming a Retribution Knight."

Yue Shen pursed his lips without saying anything. If he hadn't gained a player panel after transmigrating, that would have been one thing. But since he had one, he was definitely going to train in both paths. Besides, choosing to train as a Guardian Knight as well didn't necessarily mean he would use its skills.

Yue Shen's philosophy was simple: he could choose not to use something, but he couldn't go without it.