C28 I Am Such a Good Learner!

Qing Shan fetched two meditation cushions from the side and invited, "Let's sit and talk. Now that you've got the movements down, I'll explain the flow of spiritual energy through the meridians in detail. You can use this knowledge to strike at your meridians."

Ah, but... it seems all my meridians are already open.

Lee Yu remembered the system's assessment of his Thunder Bloodline: 'Impeccably pure within.' And this sword technique? It appeared to need Sixth Grade spiritual energy to be lethal, which seemed rather pointless for him.

Qing Shan glanced at him and immediately grasped the young man's thoughts, saying, "You're at the Eighth Grade now. This sword technique may be more about self-cultivation, but master it fully, and you'll have no trouble taking on four or five martial artists of the same rank!"

Lee Yu perked up, "I'm all ears, Teacher."

After watching Lee Yu and Qing Anqi depart, Qing Shan mused to himself, realizing she was a friend of the County Princess. It made sense why her insight was so sharp; she grasped the sword technique instantly and even the meridian flow with ease.

With lunchtime upon him, he intended to lock up his classroom and grab a bite to eat.

"Hold on a second," a hand caught the door as it was nearly closed, and a man in a black robe pushed his way inside.

"Lord Qing Yi?" Qing Shan was taken aback. Few in the Qing clan didn't recognize Qing Yi, whose presence was akin to an emblem of the County Duke Qing Heng, dealing with affairs dispassionately on his behalf.

"Answer me, no idle chatter," Qing Yi commanded. "What's your take on the boy's talent? Do you think he's ever practiced swordsmanship?"

"His talent is unmatched!" Qing Shan reflected briefly before responding, "He's never learned swordsmanship. I believe he's never even held a sword before."

Indeed, Lee Yu's approach to selecting and handling a sword betrayed his complete unfamiliarity with the weapon.

"You should continue to teach him. I was just asking out of formality," Qing Yi clarified, aware of his less-than-stellar reputation within the clan and keen to avoid any further negative impact from his presence.

"Yes, my lord," Qing Shan nodded, his thoughts turning inward:

I've got nothing left to teach him. That young man has already mastered the Gentleman Buddha Sword. Next time he comes, he'll likely seek out someone else to learn from.

A wave of melancholy washed over Qing Shan: it's truly maddening to compare oneself to others. He had dedicated half his life to this sword technique, only to find that someone else had grasped it after a single lesson.

On the road, Lee Yu and Qing Anqi walked shoulder to shoulder, with Cui trailing just half a step behind.

"How much of the swordsmanship have you committed to memory? If there's anything you're unsure of, I'd be happy to teach you!" Qing Anqi offered with bubbling enthusiasm.

Though their training sessions were separate, the selection of teachers took place in the same area. Qing Anqi was well aware of what Lee Yu had chosen, and as it happened, she too had learned the Gentleman Buddha Sword, having practiced it for two years.

"No need, I've got it down," Lee Yu said with a wide smile.

Thinking to himself: Dream on about teaching me, maybe in your next life!

Qing Anqi was skeptical: "That's impossible. Show me a bit of what you've learned."

She recalled how it took her two days to memorize the sword techniques and three more to understand the flow of spiritual energy, earning her a week's worth of praise. Previously, a clan elder's son had come boasting that he'd learned the swordplay in a day, only to be soundly ridiculed by Qing Anqi.

Lee Yu was at a loss for words. "..." You want a demonstration? I'm not some street performer.

Qing Anqi's lips curled slightly in challenge: "Scared to be caught in a lie?"

"I'll just recite the method for channeling spiritual energy, and you'll know whether I've learned it," Lee Yu said, exhaling a sigh before repeating what Qing Shan had taught him.

You've brought this on yourself; now watch me show off!

Unbeknownst to Lee Yu, his straightforward recitation of the method was even more demoralizing.

It implied that he had not only earned the approval of his instructor but also that he had learned quickly. Without sufficient time, an instructor would focus solely on reinforcing the sword techniques, rather than delving into the intricacies of meridian pathways.

Injuries to the meridians can severely impact one's cultivation practice. As such, anything involving the meridians is handled with utmost caution. And when someone is willing to spend a hefty sum of Contribution Points for one-on-one instruction, you can bet they're not from an ordinary family. No instructor would take such matters lightly.

Qing Anqi delivered a sharp kick to Lee Yu's calf before dashing back ahead of him.

It puzzled her—why did she feel the urge to put him down? Lee Yu couldn't help but feel a bit defeated.

Perhaps it was his nature; Lee Yu was never harsh to strangers. In fact, he was quite the opposite with those he was close to, sometimes playfully ribbing them. Qing Anqi had not only saved his life but was also incredibly innocent, prompting Lee Yu to instinctively treat her as someone dear to him.

"Find your own way back!" Qing Anqi called out from a distance, her speed increasing as she executed a special leg technique, disappearing around the corner in the blink of an eye.

"She sure can run," Lee Yu mused, squinting at her rapidly shrinking figure before turning to ask, "Cui, you're not going to run off too, are you?"

Cui shook her head: "Young Master, my duty is to attend to your meals and daily needs."

Her response implied she had no intention of leaving.

"Such a child..." Lee Yu remarked with a sigh. It wasn't as if she was the only one who knew the way; what good would her running do?

Cui bowed her head slightly, not daring to respond.

...

Perhaps due to Qing Anqi's presence, the lunch spread was more abundant than usual. Not that Qing Anqi was a big eater—rather, she was quite particular about her food.

Qing Anqi would only taste each dish, insisting on variety even though she ate sparingly. When they finished their meal, most of the dishes remained largely untouched.

The woes of capitalism, indeed.

Lee Yu had a sudden realization: he, too, had been seduced by capitalism's sweet lures, nearly succumbing to a life of utter dependence.

Later in the afternoon, after spending some time meditating in the adjacent room, Qing Anqi got ready to organize her study schedule.

"Lee Yu, are you really not coming? Trust me, this afternoon's class is going to be a blast," Qing Anqi tempted.

Lee Yu, your blatant attempt at seduction is one thing, but 'going to be a blast'? That's hardly compelling. How do you expect to spark any desire in someone to join you with such a lackluster pitch?

"Fine, if you won't come, I'll just head to the library myself," Qing Anqi huffed.

"I really need to catch up on some sleep; I hardly got enough this morning," Lee Yu said, stretching and turning to head back to his room, but he stopped abruptly.

Ding! Check-in location updated: the library.

The check-in has been updated?

"System, has the check-in for the Great Imperial Capital been refreshed? Is the mission void now?" Lee Yu inquired. Back in Stone Village, during his conversation with Elder Mu, the system had initiated the first check-in mission of the Otherworld when Elder Mu brought up the Great Imperial Capital. But due to the vast distance, Lee Yu never had the chance to go.

The check-in mission for the Great Imperial Capital was still active.

Lee Yu's expression shifted. He had assumed the check-in mission would be stuck for a while, but to his surprise, it was refreshed today. This revelation made him realize that check-in missions weren't one-offs.

What's more, Lee Yu started to piece together the logic behind the mission assignments!

On Blue Star, the two check-in missions were at a toilet and a city library.

In the Otherworld, the two missions were at the Great Imperial Capital and the library.

Aside from the toilet mission, the other three had one thing in common: they were all places others had mentioned.

"So, the basis for issuing a check-in mission could be places I know of or have visited? System, is that how it works?" Lee Yu asked.

...

Alright, the system is giving me the silent treatment again.

"Anqi, wait up," Lee Yu called out to Qing Anqi, who was already on her way out, "I've given it some thought, and as someone who loves to learn, I'll come with you after all!"