Zhao Ya was already determined.
This time, I'll make this guy utterly humiliated!
With a flick of her wrist, she discreetly activated the Record Crystal hidden in her sleeve.
The Record Crystal could record both sound and images. Once she captured his nonsense "guidance," she would spread it publicly. Then, no matter how many mouths he had, he wouldn't be able to explain himself.
Let's see how you compare to Teacher Lu Xun then!
The thought made her eyes sparkle. She barely suppressed her excitement and fixed her gaze on Zhang Xuan, waiting eagerly for him to expose himself.
Suddenly—
"Ah!"
Zhao Ya jolted backward in fright.
Zhang Xuan had unknowingly stepped right in front of her. His hands were clasped behind his back as he slowly circled her once, then stopped—less than a foot away.
The warmth of his breath brushed against her face.
Her cheeks instantly flushed red.
From childhood to now, no man had ever stood so close to her. Her heart raced uncontrollably.
"What… what are you doing?!" she snapped, retreating another step.
"Relax," Zhang Xuan said calmly. "I'm just taking a look."
He shook his head slightly, then spoke in a leisurely tone:
"You're sick."
Boom!
Zhao Ya nearly exploded on the spot.
"You're sick! Your whole family is sick!"
She was on the verge of losing her mind.
This idiot—she demonstrated a martial technique, asked him to point out flaws, and he directly called her sick?!
"What nonsense is this?!" she fumed.
Zhang Xuan frowned, then smiled faintly.
"I'm talking about a bodily condition, not insulting you."
"I'm perfectly healthy!" Zhao Ya snorted coldly. "I think you're sick—mentally sick!"
She was furious.
Her punches exceeded one hundred kilograms—how could she possibly be ill?
Zhang Xuan didn't argue. Instead, he spoke evenly:
"You frequently feel pain at the Middle of the Chest and Great Palace acupoints. It worsens during full moons or cold, damp weather. Your body heats up, emotions become restless, and you struggle to calm your mind—even cultivation doesn't help. Am I wrong?"
As he spoke, he hesitated slightly, as if choosing his words carefully.
"In short… your internal state is unstable."
Zhao Ya froze.
Her face turned crimson in an instant.
"How… how do you know?" she whispered.
Every word was correct.
Recently, those two acupoints had been aching faintly. It wasn't unbearable, so she endured it—but during full moons, the sensations intensified. Her body burned, her emotions surged, and she felt an inexplicable agitation she didn't understand.
She was only sixteen or seventeen and completely ignorant of such matters. Embarrassed and confused, she had told no one—not even her closest friends or her father.
Yet Zhang Xuan spoke of it as if reading from a book.
How could he possibly know?
"I'm a teacher," Zhang Xuan replied calmly. "You demonstrated your fist technique earlier. I saw it."
Of course, it wasn't from her technique.
It was the Library of Heaven's Path.
As long as a flaw existed—physical, cultivation, or otherwise—the library recorded it all.
"Is… is there a solution?" Zhao Ya asked softly, her voice trembling.
Moments ago, she wanted to expose him. Now, she felt nothing but nervous anticipation.
"There is," Zhang Xuan said lightly. "Come to class tomorrow. I'll explain."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up.
She knew her condition well. It was getting harder to suppress, and she had been desperate for answers. Never had she imagined that the academy's so-called worst teacher would diagnose it so effortlessly.
"If you don't believe me, you can ask other teachers," Zhang Xuan waved his hand dismissively, maintaining an aloof, expert demeanor.
"No—no, I believe you!" Zhao Ya nodded hurriedly.
At that moment, she was completely convinced.
"Then…" Zhang Xuan glanced sideways. "Do you still plan on keeping that Record Crystal?"
"Ah!"
Zhao Ya stiffened.
Only then did she remember her earlier plan.
If that recording leaked—even a fragment—how could she ever face anyone again?
Kacha!
Without hesitation, she crushed the Record Crystal in her palm.
The fragments scattered across the floor.
Looking at Zhang Xuan again, Zhao Ya's gaze had completely changed.
This was no fraud.
He had seen through her hidden illness and even noticed the concealed crystal. How could someone like this have scored zero in the Teacher Qualification Examination?
So that's it… she thought.
He must be indifferent to fame and fortune. True experts are always like this.
In her heart, Zhang Xuan instantly ascended from "suspicious fraud" to peerless master.
"Take your identity token, collect your bedding and books, find your residence," Zhang Xuan said calmly. "Attend class on time tomorrow."
"Yes, Teacher!" Zhao Ya replied earnestly.
Just then—
Boom!
A thunderous sound erupted outside.
A shadow flashed like lightning, and a powerful aura swept into the room.
The floor creaked under the pressure.
"Young Lady!"
A middle-aged man rushed in, radiating formidable strength. He immediately bowed.
"Uncle Yao?" Zhao Ya was startled.
It was Yao Han, Chief Steward of the White Jade City Lord's estate.
Her friends had summoned him.
"Young Lady, have you—" Yao Han turned sharply toward Zhang Xuan, his face darkening. "Have you been deceived?!"
Zhao Ya frowned. "I've acknowledged Teacher Zhang as my master."
Too late.
Yao Han's expression turned grim. He stepped forward, glaring at Zhang Xuan.
"Return our young lady's enrollment immediately and apologize," he said coldly. "Otherwise, I'll report this to the Principal. You misled a minor into acknowledging you as her master!"
"Misled?" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "That's a serious accusation."
"Don't play dumb!" Yao Han barked. "Our young lady is a Heaven-chosen daughter. You are not qualified to instruct her. Return her immediately, or you'll be dismissed!"
"Uncle Yao!" Zhao Ya stamped her foot. "This was my decision!"
Yao Han paused, stunned.
"Did he… truly guide your cultivation?" he asked hesitantly.
"No," Zhao Ya shook her head.
Yao Han frowned deeper.
"Then—"
"Enough!" Zhao Ya interrupted, her face reddening. "Don't ask!"
Her reaction only made things worse.
Yao Han's gaze fell upon the shattered Record Crystal on the floor.
In an instant, his expression turned ferocious.
"Brat!" he roared. "What did you do to our young lady?! Believe me—I can kill you right now!"
Boom!
A terrifying aura erupted from his body. The air twisted violently, and the ground groaned under the pressure, as if it were about to collapse.
The room fell deadly silent.