Zhang Qingyuan took a nap in the carriage.
He slept for a full twelve hours. When he woke, he felt refreshed and clearheaded; even the air smelled much sweeter.
Fourth and Fifth sat together, chatting on and off.
Their eyes flicked toward Zhang Qingyuan from time to time before they resumed their conversation.
When he finally woke up, both turned toward him in delight.
"Junior Brother, you're finally awake! Hurry up and tell me what your plan actually is. Fifth and I have been guessing the whole way, and we still have no idea what you're trying to do. Do you know how agonizing that feels? My heart's itching worse than when I watch a pretty girl take her clothes off."
"He's the only one itching. I'm not."
"What kind of talk is that?" Fourth pointed at Fifth and tilted his head, demanding, "Don't tell me you're not curious at all!"
It would have been a lie to say he wasn't curious. It wasn't just Fourth; all their fellow disciples were curious about what Zhang Qingyuan intended to do.
But everyone had a different temperament. The difference was that Fourth was impatient and more curious than most, so he couldn't wait for the moment the mystery was revealed. He wanted the answer now.
Fifth ignored him and simply looked at Zhang Qingyuan.
Zhang Qingyuan stretched and looked at the impatient Fourth. "Give it another month. You'll definitely be able to tell what I'm doing."
"Oh, my dear Junior Brother, just tell me! Once you've told me, I can cooperate wholeheartedly. If you don't, what if I misunderstand what you mean?"
Fourth promptly changed tactics, urgently seeking an answer, but Zhang Qingyuan's response remained the same. "Wait another month. Just one month."
"Seriously!"
Fourth was speechless. It felt as though a cat were scratching at his heart.
Until the Tianyang Sect's transformation was complete, Zhang Qingyuan absolutely would not tell them the full plan.
There were two reasons. First, he feared they would talk about it outside, exposing his early advantage and preventing him from lying low through the initial construction phase.
He wasn't worried about spies in the sect. He was worried about big mouths.
Eldest Senior Brother was an honest man without any guile. It would be easy to coax information out of him.
Fourth Senior Brother had so many lady friends, and men who loved chasing women generally shared one bad habit: they liked to boast.
If he knew the whole plan and bragged after sharing the pleasures of fish and water with some girlfriend, everything would be ruined.
Although Fifth could be a little sharp-tongued, when it came to discussing serious matters, he was more clumsy than anyone.
As for Sixth, he was a real sneaky sixth.
Zhang Qingyuan knew that the only one likely to guess what he intended was Third Brother.
That was because Zhang Qingyuan had always felt that he hid his depths more thoroughly than any of their fellow disciples.
The phrase "great wisdom wears the guise of foolishness" had been coined for him.
But however clever Third Brother was, he would never imagine Zhang Qingyuan's ultimate goal.
Because the university town and vocational school models had never appeared in this world.
Third Brother might guess one aspect, but he would never guess the outcome.
And that was precisely the second reason.
The academy model had never appeared in this world. If he told them from the outset, he inevitably feared they might not accept it.
Some of his senior brothers were very rigid, especially the honest Eldest and the taciturn Sixth Senior Brother.
If he turned the sect into a vocational school, he feared Eldest would run off to weep before their founding patriarch.
He might as well use their current trust to pull the firewood from beneath the cauldron and make it a done deal.
Only once they saw success would they have the confidence to keep following him.
Holding the list, Zhang Qingyuan asked Fifth, "Senior Brother, who are we visiting first?"
Fifth pointed to the name "Lu Guying" on the list. "This man."
"All right."
Lu Guying was one of the three people Zhang Qingyuan had selected initially yesterday. Fifth had told him about the man.
Lu Guying was thirty-seven, a martial expert of the Eighth Rank who had roamed the jianghu.
His greatest feat was killing a Sixth-Rank expert while in the Eighth-Grade Realm.
Wielding the Lone Shadow Sword, he had once ventured through the Western Region. He had returned to the Eastern Realm five years ago and was now married with a child, living in a state of partial retirement.
On the afternoon of the following day, they finally reached Lu Guying's home.
It stood in the countryside fifteen kilometers outside Ripple Water City, with two or three rooms and a dozen or so mu of rice paddies outside.
Carrying several packages of pastries, two packages of rouge and face powder, and two skewers of candied hawthorn, Zhang Qingyuan knocked on Lu Guying's gate.
Inside the courtyard, Lu Guying was working at the forge. His face was somewhat weathered, with sparse stubble around his mouth.
Her wife was weaving, a beautiful middle-aged woman who still retained her charm.
Their son held a little pinwheel and ran around his parents in the courtyard, his face brimming with an innocent smile.
Hearing the visitors, the couple stopped working and looked at Zhang Qingyuan's group of three with puzzled expressions.
These were strangers, yet they had brought gifts.
"May I ask if you are Brother Lu Guying?"
Zhang Qingyuan cupped his hands in greeting, a friendly smile on his face.
Lu Guying returned the greeting and rose with a slight frown. "I am. May I ask who you three young heroes are...?"
"I am Zhang Qingyuan, the current sect master of the Tianyang Sect outside Fengyang City. I have come expressly to visit you, Brother Lu."
His scrupulous courtesy put the couple inside considerably more at ease.
The wife hurried over to open the gate. "Please, come in!"
"Thank you, Sister-in-law."
Zhang Qingyuan motioned for his two senior brothers to present the gifts, but the wife repeatedly declined.
Partly out of politeness, and partly because a grand sect master had come to visit bearing gifts-was he after their lives?
Although the Tianyang Sect had declined, it was still a sect, after all.
Their own family was merely that of an Eighth-Grade Realm rogue cultivator of the jianghu. They hardly deserved such treatment.
A sect master had arrived and treated him with such respect, and they were supposed to believe he wasn't after his life?
After entering, Zhang Qingyuan personally handed the candied hawthorn to their son.
"Here, go enjoy these."
As he spoke, he patted the boy's little head.
Unafraid of strangers, the child took the candied hawthorn and politely said, "Thank you, Uncle!"
"Take our son inside first."
"All right."
His wife led their son inside, and Lu Guying brought over three folding stools.
Not long after they sat down, her wife brought over a teapot and four large bowls.
"May I ask what brings you here today, Sect Master Zhang?"
Fourth and Fifth also watched Zhang Qingyuan curiously.
Lu Guying wasn't the only one in the dark. The two of them still only half understood.
They knew they had come to find a teacher, but why seek one outside, and why him?
Zhang Qingyuan lifted his tea bowl, took a sip, and smiled. "It's like this. Brother Lu, you probably know that our Tianyang Sect was glorious in the past, but has now fallen into a slight decline."
The three listeners kept their expressions unchanged. Who didn't know? A slight decline?
The whole damned thing was nearly gone, and he called that slight?
"Our generation is the thirty-ninth generation of successors." Zhang Qingyuan sighed and continued, "After our master passed away, unworthy though I am, my senior brothers nominated me as the new sect master.
"But once I became sect master, I had a responsibility to lead the sect to grow bigger and stronger. Even if I can't restore its former glory, I can't let it die out in my generation, can I?"
Lu Guying nodded and listened as he continued, "So, to expand the sect's influence, I thought we should recruit disciples widely.
"But teaching the disciples we recruit presents another problem.
"My senior brothers and I lack experience. When it comes to teaching, we fear leading our students astray."
Lu Guying began to catch his meaning and asked, "Your sect's Eastern Realm Sword Immortal, Zheng Jianxin, is already a Fourth-Rank powerhouse. Presumably, the other elders' martial arts are formidable as well.
"Whereas I am only Eighth Rank..."
"That's not how you should look at it." Zhang Qingyuan cut him off. "My Second Senior Brother may be Fourth Rank, but ultimately, he knows how to fight, not how to teach.
"I see you've already guessed. In truth, I took the liberty of visiting because I wanted to invite you to teach at our Tianyang Sect."
"Sect Master Zhang, you want me to serve as the Tianyang Sect's martial instruction elder, but I really am only Eighth Rank. Besides, the martial arts I practice aren't the Tianyang Sect's techniques. How could I possibly teach?" Lu Guying declined.
"Don't worry. We're inviting you to be our first-year martial arts teacher."
"First-year? Martial arts?"
Lu Guying's brows drew tightly together. He knew both terms, but couldn't understand them put together.
Zhang Qingyuan explained with a smile, "I want to develop the sect, but I feel the traditional method of taking disciples and passing on techniques has certain drawbacks, so I've made some improvements.
"The sect will have an entirely new teaching model in the future.
"Future Tianyang Sect disciples will no longer be divided into inner and outer disciples. We'll use year levels instead.
"Newly enrolled disciples will be first-years.
"They won't have any foundation in martial arts, so they'll need an exceptionally gifted expert with fully mastered martial skills to teach them."
Lu Guying was dumbfounded and looked rather lost.
"We're all martial artists. We know that when newcomers first step onto the martial path, they need to temper their muscles and bones, learn how to exert force through various basic moves, and gradually learn the skills involved in using those moves.
"Only after their muscles and bones have been properly tempered and they can use their moves proficiently can they study internal cultivation and produce internal power.
"And the first year is the year in which they go from knowing nothing to entering the Ninth-Rank Realm."
"I understand, but why seek me out?" Lu Guying remained rather reluctant. "Couldn't an ordinary person handle laying foundations and getting them into the ranks?"
"You're mistaken, Brother Lu!" Zhang Qingyuan raised a hand in objection. "How could that be the same?"
"What's the difference?"
Zhang Qingyuan said, "Only with good foundations will the disciples have greater room for future growth!"
"But I'm only in the Eighth-Grade Realm, at thirty-seven years old. Even by the end of my life, I'll probably struggle to reach Seventh Rank. With talent like mine, aren't you putting me to shame?"
"No! Brother Lu, don't belittle yourself." Zhang Qingyuan stood, his voice rising passionately. "You may only be an Eighth-Rank martial artist, but your achievements are there for all to see!"
His sudden outburst gave even Lu Guying a fright.
"You once killed a Sixth-Rank Realm expert while in the Eighth-Grade Realm! Who would dare look down on you?"
"Ah, that was purely a coincidence. Not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning."
Lu Guying demurred aloud, but Zhang Qingyuan could see the corners of his mouth trying to lift and his eyebrows trying to press down.
"How could it be a coincidence? It proves that your understanding and use of moves far surpass those of ordinary people," Zhang Qingyuan said earnestly.
"Exactly! Brother Lu, your martial prowess commands our admiration!"
Fifth joined in with repeated praise.
Zhang Qingyuan continued, "In the lower three ranks, or even below Sixth Rank, what matters most in a fight?
"We all know it's an understanding of martial moves.
"Before you can use powerful martial arts, or even before you can use domain-level martial arts, fighting has always been about who can land a blow on whom.
"So how do you hit your opponent?
"That depends on how you use the martial arts you've learned, and how you make the martial arts you perform more intricate.
"Whoever's moves are faster, sharper, and harder to predict can win more quickly.
"Otherwise, even a body full of True Qi is useless if you can't hit anyone or evade their attacks!
"And although you're only in the Eighth-Grade Realm, Brother Lu, you killed an expert of the middle three ranks who possessed True Qi. That is proof enough that your understanding and variations of moves have reached the pinnacle of mastery.
"I believe that only you can teach disciples with firmer foundations, greater room for development, and longer paths ahead in martial arts.
"As the saying goes, a towering building rises from level ground. Everything depends on its foundations.
"Without stable foundations, there is no development.
"Only with firm foundations can they stride smoothly into the clouds!"
The speech nearly left Lu Guying numb.
It filled him with pleasure, body and soul. He felt that Sect Master Zhang truly understood him. He really is my kindred spirit!
Unable to hide his excitement either, he said, "You're absolutely right, Sect Master Zhang!
"So many people say I killed that Sixth-Rank Realm expert through luck. I couldn't argue them down, but you alone have spoken what's in my heart."
"Exactly! What do they mean, luck? That was your ability!"
The words struck a chord in Lu Guying's heart, and he grew more talkative.
"Yes, I was born with obstructed circulation in my meridians. I'll struggle to enter Sixth Rank all my life.
"But so what?
"I wanted to prove that my talent in martial arts lay not in internal cultivation, but in moves and technique!
"Take that Sixth-Rank Realm man. Why was I able to kill him?
"Because he was too careless and too arrogant.
"He thought that because he could project True Qi, he was stronger than someone like me, who didn't even have any.
"But was that really the case?
"I proved that possessing True Qi doesn't mean you're necessarily stronger than someone without it.
"He had True Qi, but he still used all those powerful moves like shit, so even the saber light he projected twisted every which way.
"Meanwhile, I closed in bit by bit and slit his throat with my sword.
"If you ask me, some sect disciples these days reach for heights beyond their grasp.
"They think True Qi is powerful, so they neglect variations and applications of moves and practice only internal cultivation. In the end, they know nothing except how to project True Qi.
"Sooner or later, their arrogance will defeat them. That Sixth-Rank man who died beneath my sword is proof!"
"Brilliantly said!"
Zhang Qingyuan clapped his hands. Clap, clap, clap.
Fourth and Fifth clapped too, joining Zhang Qingyuan in applauding him.
People said that one measure of strength could overcome ten measures of skill, and that all technique was useless before absolute power.
That was both right and wrong.
Some people believed in absolute power, but before their power reached that absolute level, it was still skill that decided the contest.
A big fist was useless if it couldn't hit anyone.
My fists might be small, but if you couldn't dodge me or stop me from gouging your eyes and kicking your crotch, yours were still useless.
Zhang Qingyuan grabbed Lu Guying's hand and said, "That's precisely what I value about you. That's why I'd like to invite you to my Tianyang Sect, to build a solid foundation for those disciples who have strayed down the wrong path and lead them onto the right one.
"Think about it. In the future, your disciples could all be like you, killing opponents above their level while only at the Eighth or Ninth Rank. When they went out into the world, they'd all say they learned from you. Wouldn't that bring you honor?
"Instead of being like those big oafs, each brimming with True Qi, yet only knowing how to go pew-pew-pew with unremarkable martial techniques that can't hit anyone."
"Well..." Hearing Zhang Qingyuan invite him again, Lu Guying hesitated once more.
"Our ideals are the same. We're comrades who share the same aspirations!"
Zhang Qingyuan's ardent gaze fixed straight on him. Lu Guying could see that Zhang Qingyuan's eyes were full of sincerity!
But he still shook his head awkwardly. "But I have a wife and son."
"Five taels of silver a month, with food and lodging included. Once you've worked for us long enough, we'll even provide you with a home."
"It's not about the money."
"As long as you join the Tianyang Sect, you can study any of its martial arts you like. Even if you stop working for me in the future, you can keep using them, as long as you don't teach them to anyone else."
"It's not about the martial arts either."
"Then what are you worried about?"
"A man would die for someone who truly understands him. By rights, I should go with you, but if, in the future, something were to... you know."
Lu Guying's gaze shifted evasively, and he stammered as he spoke.
Zhang Qingyuan understood at once. He was afraid that if someone wiped out the Tianyang Sect, he would get dragged down with it.
"Don't worry. Once you join, all you have to do is teach. If outside enemies attack, you won't have to fight.
"If anything happens to the Tianyang Sect, you can turn around and leave. You absolutely won't be dragged into it.
"We'll sign a ten-year contract. All the terms, along with your pay and benefits, are already written down. You just teach; you don't need to worry about anything else.
"When it expires, you can keep working if you want. If you don't want to teach anymore, you can turn around and leave. We absolutely won't stop you.
"Five taels a month might not sound like much, but if you can train more students capable of fighting opponents above their realm, Brother Lu, there will be extra rewards.
"Also, if your son wants to practice martial arts in the future, teachers' children will receive priority admission."
Zhang Qingyuan said it all in one breath, then took out the contract and slapped it onto the table.
The two looked at each other. Finally, Lu Guying gritted his teeth. "All right, I'll sign!"