"Scammer, a great scammer!"
The students shouted angrily on the school grounds, their voices ringing out against the walls.
Tyler raised his hands defensively, looking around in disbelief. "I'm not a scammer! I'm a teacher at this academy!" he protested with desperation.
He felt the weight of their accusations as the anger in their eyes stung, "You have to believe me! I would never cheat you! I only want to make you my student!"
His heart raced as he recalled the last directive given to him: he had to recruit at least ten students or he would be expelled from the academy.
But with no students so far, and a tarnished reputation, he feared the worst. Last year, he was ranked last in the academy's Teacher Qualification Examination, scoring a humiliating zero. He even received the very first zero score in the entire history of the academy.
Tyler wasn't from this world. In his former life, he had been an ordinary employee in a prosperous coastal city. After a promotion, he had moved to New York with his girlfriend, they were both eager to build their careers and start a new chapter in life.
After a few years of dedication, he was promoted from his position as a worker to the manager of the sales department. This promotion was a joyous occasion that inevitably brought hope and renewed enthusiasm to his spirit.
However, things did not go as smoothly as he had anticipated. A sudden, terrible incident struck his flourishing career.
Excelling at work often invited envy and jealousy from others, especially among those competing for a position that promised greater authority and wealth. As remarkable and hardworking as he was, he still lacked the experience to sense that something ominous was about to happen to him. In a competition against another director for the position of Executive Director, he was framed, leading to significant losses for the company.
As a consequence, not only did he fail in the competition, but he was also terminated from the company.
His bad luck did not stop there. Shortly after, his girlfriend dumped him. Unable to resist the temptation of money, she began to neglect him and became acquainted with wealthy individuals.
Eventually, when a rich man offered to move her to Paris and promised to secure her visa, she broke up with him and became that man's mistress.
Failing in both his career and love, he changed overnight. He completely lost his passion for life and sought comfort in alcohol every day. Sometimes, when he sobered up, the pain would be so immense that he would crouch in the corner of his room and sob all night.
One night, completely drunk, he stumbled out of a bar and into the street, only to be hit by a car. The screech of brakes and the feeling of his body flung into the air were the last things he remembered.
When he awoke, he wasn't in a hospital bed. Instead, he found himself in a shabby cottage, in a world that resembled the fantasy novels he used to read. A world where martial arts ruled, and strength determined everything.
But his new life wasn't what he had imagined. Instead of a powerful student ready to conquer the world, he was now a teacher—the weakest, most ridiculed teacher at the academy.And the worst part? The body he now inhabited belonged to the weakest teacher on campus. Instead of power and prestige, he found himself trapped in a role filled with mockery and despair, struggling to command respect from those he was meant to instruct His predecessor .
Just this week, students had walked past his class, giggling in mockery and hurting his pride.
He sighed. He had to recruit a few students before the week ended—he must. But how? Everyone avoided him like he had the plague.
Tyler stood up and decided to walk down the hall, unsure where he was headed. He just needed to escape the suffocating weight of failure that pressed on him in his office.
As he stepped into the corridor, his eyes caught sight of a young woman standing nearby. She was beautiful, with a lost expression, as though she wasn't sure where she was supposed to be.
Their eyes met, and before Tyler could decide whether to walk away, she inquired. "You are Mr. Ansel Smith."
Tyler's chuckled. Of course, she was looking for Ansel—the academy's star teacher. His classes were so popular that students often had to stand due to overcrowding. Ansel was the reason so many attended the academy.
But there was something about the way she spoke—like she didn't really know who Ansel was, at least not personally. What if this was his chance?
"You wish to become his student?" Tyler asked, feigning casual interest as a plan began to form in his mind.
"Yes," the young woman said with a nod, "I've heard that Mr. Ansel is the best teacher here. All of his students go on to achieve extraordinary things. Joining his class would be an honor!"
Tyler leaned back composed, "Well," he began slowly, "Mr. Ansel is indeed a great teacher. But... I think you might have the wrong man."
She blinked in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"I'm Tyler Whitmore, one of the academy's instructors." He smiled gently. "While Mr. Ansel's reputation is well-deserved, he's not the only one capable of shaping successful students. If you give me a chance, I could guide you toward greatness as well."
The girl shifted nervously, biting her lower lip. She wasn't sure what to make of his offer.
Sensing her hesitation, Tyler straightened up, leaning forward slightly. "Teachers are like tools," he continued, his voice calm yet firm. "What matters is how well they serve your needs. Even the most skilled instructor won't help you grow if their methods don't match your strengths. But with the right guidance, you could see rapid improvement."
"Oh really?" she replied, her voice edged with doubt. She took a small, uncertain step back.
Tyler walked closer to her slowly, his movements were deliberate and measured. "I can help you," he said confidently. "Let me assess your talents properly. We'll start with your bones, your spirit, and your personality."
The girl hesitated again, her feet shifting as she prepared to decline. "I... I don't want to trouble you," she murmured Clearly caught off guard by his presence.
"Nonsense," Tyler interrupted smoothly, moving around her with casual grace, his hands tucked into his pockets as he displays an aura of confidence. "Your eyes are full of energy. Show me what you've got. Display your cultivation."
Her heart pounded as she steadied herself, exhaling slowly before thrusting her fist forward. A powerful surge of energy burst from her, swirling and crackling through the room. It was clear she had mastered the basics of her cultivation.
Tyler's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Impressive," he muttered under his breath, recognizing her solid foundation. "Indeed, a genius."
For a moment, there was silence between them. The girl looked to Tyler for a response, expecting a reoly from her. Tyler hesitated as he struggled to find the right words.
"Oh well..." He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Your eyes, though... they aren't quite dangerous enough yet. With a bit more refinement, we can..."
"Excuse me?" she interrupted, her frown deepening as she squared her shoulders. "My eyes? These are my family's legacy. This is the first time someone has complained about them. People usually compliment me."
Tyler's face flushed briefly with embarrassment, but he quickly masked it with a chuckle. "I didn't mean it like that," he said with s lightheaded tone."I was just being ironic. I actually admire how your eyes shine. You believed me?" He laughed softly, though inside, he was scrambling to recover the situation.
The young woman crossed her arms, still skeptical about him, but somehow her stance softened slightly.
Tyler seized the opportunity, gesturing toward his office door. "Why don't we discuss this more in my office?"
Without giving her much time to respond, he opened the door and stepped inside, signaling for her to follow. The girl hesitated for a brief moment before stepping forward.
As soon as they entered, Tyler briskly closed the door behind them with a sly grin. He had her now, and there was no way he was going to let this chance slip away.
"So, tell me," she asked, nervously looking around the room, "how bad is my level, really?"
Tyler tilted his head, "You're incredibly gifted. With your abilities, it shouldn't be hard for you to dominate the freshmen," he said confidently. "But..." His voice trailed off.
He had lost all idea of what to say next,
Hearing herself described as a genius who could rise to the top of the freshmen, the girl blushed deeply and pressed on, "But what?"
Tyler sighed, "But…. Don't worry, you are in good hands. You have a very good energy and a genius thus need a compitenet teacher. And i am more than capable, rest assured.
Tyler sighed, he was about to say, for her kind of energy, it needs really needs an expert for a teacher but somehow, he quickly controlled his tongue.
Before he could finish, the girl unexpectedly dropped to her knees and kowtowed before him. "Please accept me as your student! I swear I won't disappoint you!"
Tyler's heart raced with excitement, but he maintained a calm, conflicted expression. "I prefer a quiet life," he said, pretending to be reluctant. "I don't take on students lightly."
"I'll follow every rule you set! Please, Mr. Whitmore, give me a chance!" Her voice wavered, but there was determination in her plea.
Tyler let out a deep sigh as he feigned reluctance. "I don't have many students, and my resources are limited. You might regret choosing me if....."
"What? The young woman hesitated "You don't have many resources?"
The resources a teacher could claim from the academy were directly related to the number of his students, the results of his students, and students related factors. These resources were of extreme importance, and without them, it would be difficult to advance one's cultivation.
As soon as he noticed her hesitation, he quuckly added, "OK, shall we begin the enrollment?"
He quickly shifted gears. "Alright, shall we begin your enrollment?" His tone was final as he tossed a tag onto the table in front of her.
The girl looked down at the tag in surprise. She hadn't expected him to move so quickly.
With a flourish, Tyler summoned a glowing orb of light to hover above his palm. "This is the Light of Enlightenment. If you can withstand its radiance for ten minutes, you will officially become my disciple."
The girl stared, dumbfounded by the sudden shift in tone. Tyler's movements had been swift, almost as if he had prepared everything in advance.
She stood there still dumbfounded, Ten minutes passed, and as the light dimmed, Tyler exhaled slowly. "Congratulations. From now on, you are my student." His voice softened. "What is your name?"
"Mr. Whitmore," she said respectfully, "I am Hailey Sinclair."
"Good," Tyler said with a satisfied nod. "Collect your bedding and books with your ID card, and find yourself a place to stay. We begin tomorrow."
"Yes, Mr. Whitmore!" Hailey bowed deeply before turning to leave.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Tyler let out a victorious laugh. "Hah! I've successfully roped her in!" he muttered to himself, grinning from ear to ear.