Ling Xiao braced himself and began to spin a tale. "Teacher, as you know, I've been a Celestial Vein Master since I was a child and was always mocked for it..."
Shangguan Yutong's expression softened, a flash of sympathy in her eyes. She let out a soft sigh. In truth, she was very fond of her student, Ling Xiao, otherwise she wouldn't have been so protective of him. 'Aside from his constitution as a Celestial Vein Master,' she thought, 'this student of mine isn't inferior to anyone in any other way. In fact, he's much stronger.'
"Then, one time, I met a mysterious old man who asked me if I wanted to become strong." Ling Xiao watched Shangguan Yutong's expression as he spoke. Seeing that she seemed to believe him, he continued, "Of course I said I did. He gave me a book that contained medical arts and... the sword technique I used today. He also told me... to burn the book after I memorized it, and to never let another person see it. I'm also not allowed to mention him to anyone else. He said he doesn't like people knowing about him."
Shangguan Yutong shot Ling Xiao a look with her star-like eyes. His story sounded quite real, so she had no way to doubt it. Such things weren't unheard of; many reclusive masters had similar eccentricities. Hearing that the old man had forbidden Ling Xiao from telling anyone, yet he had chosen to tell her, made Shangguan Yutong feel quite gratified. At least her affection for him hadn't been in vain.
Shangguan Yutong's elegant brows relaxed, and she sighed softly. "So that's how it is. In that case, forget it. I won't press you any further. To be honest, I was just worried about you. Do you realize that the sword technique and cultivation technique you displayed today, especially that stumble... Although most people think you were just incredibly lucky, there are discerning eyes out there. Don't take everyone for a fool, or you'll suffer for it sooner or later!"
Ling Xiao tilted his head and thought for a moment, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. 'Sooner or later?' he thought. 'I'd also like to see, sooner or later, just how strong the experts of this world truly are!'
Shangguan Yutong continued in a grave tone, "Ling Xiao, don't take this lightly. You're still young and don't quite understand what a potentially god-level sword technique means to a Martial Artist. Let me put it this way: the Empire's protectors are actually two Sword Grandmasters, and the cultivation techniques they use are merely Middle Tier of the Celestial Level, the same as your father's. If they were to find out your sword technique is god-level, do you think they would ask you for it, or would they try to take it by force? Even if the people of the Lanyue Empire just ask, what about people from other nations? They might not dare to do anything openly, but what about in secret?"
Ling Xiao broke out in a cold sweat as he listened. He had already considered the matter to be quite serious, but he never imagined it would be to this extent. Still unconvinced, he retorted, "How do you know the Empire's protectors are Sword Grandmasters? Aren't Demon Swordsmen supposed to be rare on the continent? And Demon Sword Masters even more so..."
"Hehe..." Shangguan Yutong suddenly looked at Ling Xiao and giggled, her beautiful face radiant. "You really are just a child, after all," she said with a smile. "When people say they're rare, they're talking about proportion! This continent is immense, with a population of over ten billion. Even if there's only one for every ten thousand people—that's rare enough, isn't it? That would still be more than a million of them! And what about the non-human races on the periphery of the human nations? The Elf Race, the Beastman Race, the Dragon Race, the Sea Race... even though they barely interact with humans and we live in peace, can you really say they don't have any experts? Besides, not everyone is like a young student, itching to hang a sign on their chest announcing what tier of Sword Master they've reached. Your father, General Ling, for example—his prestige among Martial Artists comes more from his Middle-Tier Celestial Level sword technique than anything else!"
"So... that's how it is." Ling Xiao slowly let out a breath. He wasn't disappointed in the slightest; on the contrary, he grew excited. 'I knew it,' he thought. 'How could a continent this vast not have any true experts?' This was also the first time he'd heard from Shangguan Yutong about races other than the Human Race. He wasn't particularly surprised, since the Cultivation Realm wasn't entirely populated by humans either. He was just a little curious.
"Do you understand now? When it's time to hide your true abilities, you absolutely must! Ling Xiao, that old man who gave you the book was likely from one of the ancient families. There are many such families on the continent. They remain aloof from worldly affairs and rarely interact with ordinary people, but they possess a formidable power that no one can ignore." Shangguan Yutong's tone suddenly became very serious. "So, before your strength has truly improved, you should fight as little as possible. But if you're forced into a situation with no other choice, I trust that you... possess the ability to kill in a single strike!"
Ling Xiao's heart skipped a beat. 'Just who is Teacher Shangguan Yutong?' he wondered. 'How could she even see through that?!' Although he was inwardly shaken, he didn't let it show on his face and slowly nodded. "Teacher, I'll remember. Also, while I'm away, could you please help me look after two girls, Chunlan and Qiuyue? Actually, if they're willing, they could enroll at the Imperial Academy."
Ling Xiao didn't have a strong sense of social hierarchy, and he could also sense Chunlan's and Qiuyue's feelings for him. However, at this moment, his main focus was on improving his own strength.
A smile crept into Shangguan Yutong's eyes. 'No wonder people say you have a soft spot for beautiful women. It's really true!' she thought. She then said with a smile, "Alright then. While you're gone, I'll get those two little lasses settled in at the academy. I'll let them audit classes, but I won't place any restrictions on them. How does that sound?"
"In that case, thank you, Teacher!" Ling Xiao said in a heavy voice. "By the way, Teacher, about this Fine Willow Sword..."
"Hmph, just take it and use it!" For some reason, a blush suddenly crept onto Shangguan Yutong's pretty face. She said, somewhat huffily, "I don't want it anymore."
"Huh..." Ling Xiao scratched his head, not understanding what she meant. This wasn't an ordinary weapon; it was an Enchanted Weapon worth over a hundred thousand coins! "But why?"
"When I say I don't want it, I mean it! Why so many questions? Now, get going! There's a young lady who's been waiting for you outside for a long time!" Shangguan Yutong pushed Ling Xiao toward the door, inwardly cursing, 'You little hooligan! You used the poor Fine Willow Sword to strike Wulan Tuo in *that* place... How could I ever use it again?!'
"Ling Xiao... remember, no matter what happens in the future, you can always come to me for help!" Shangguan Yutong said with a charming smile, looking at him as he stood in the doorway.
"I'll remember." Ling Xiao held the Fine Willow Sword. He had really taken a liking to this blade; its lightness and elegance were a perfect fit for his current style.
With a grateful look on his face, his eyes as clear and bright as a pool of autumn water, Ling Xiao said, "Thank you, Teacher. I'll be going now." With that, he turned and left without looking back.
After Ling Xiao left, Shangguan Yutong's expression grew serious as she thought to herself, 'This guy... he's really something else! After suffering such a huge setback, he didn't sink into despair. Instead, he's come back even more resilient, and his demeanor is more composed than ever. Strange... how could a person like that have been outsmarted by Xie Xiaoyan?'
Ling Xiao walked out carrying two swords, only to see two people sitting on a bench across the way, under a grove of trees. It was none other than Yisha and a pouting Mary.
Ling Xiao's performance today had far exceeded the expectations of everyone who had come to watch. No one could have imagined that this man, once seen as a disgrace, possessed such formidable strength.
It was only then that some people realized: below the rank of Sword Master, Ling Xiao was no weakling! He was someone perfectly capable of defeating them!
Because of this, many students shed their usual lazy attitudes and began to train diligently, much to the surprise and delight of many teachers at the Imperial Academy.
"Ling Xiao... you-you're okay, right?" Seeing Ling Xiao, Yisha's face lit up with joyful surprise. She shot to her feet, but grew shy again as she neared him, asking with a slight stammer.
"Can't you see he's perfectly fine? Hmph. Teacher Shangguan herself was looking after him!" Mary remarked sourly from behind them.
Ling Xiao ignored her and said to Yisha, "I'm fine. By the way, here's your sword back."
Yisha gave a shy smile. "You haven't even used it yet."
Ling Xiao gave a gentle smile. "Using this sword on a person like that would have sullied it..." 'He could only apologize to Teacher Shangguan's Fine Willow Sword.' He didn't want to hurt the feelings of this girl, whom he had a rather good impression of. This feeling was new to him. Perhaps after merging with the original Ling Xiao's soul, he had inherited some of that tenderness toward women.
"Ah... hehe." Probably thinking of Wulan Tuo's miserable state, Yisha couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle, a blush immediately spreading across her cheeks.
Speaking of humiliation, Wulan Tuo was the one who had truly suffered a massive disgrace today. At that very moment, inside the Wulan Clan estate, Hai Tian was watching with a guilty expression as a middle-aged man with an ashen face paced back and forth in the living room—Wulan Xiong, the Clan Leader of the Wulan Clan.
"Clan Leader, it was all due to my carelessness. I never expected that brat to be so vicious, which led to the young master's injury. This is all Hai Tian's fault."
"Elder Hai, you are being too hard on yourself. I am just worried about my son. Sigh... that place, you know... this is... goddammit!" Duke Wulan Xiong, so agitated he couldn't find the right words, actually swore. This was an extremely rare occurrence, which showed just how furious he truly was.
Hai Tian's expression was also grim. After all, the boy had injured Wulan Tuo right in front of him—a man famous for many years—and had then retreated completely unscathed. For the ruthless Elder Hai, the whole situation was like a bad joke, yet it had actually happened.
"I know you had your reasons, Elder Hai, so please don't blame yourself too much." Wulan Xiong was, after all, a man who had led his clan for many years. He finally managed to compose himself and spoke to Hai Tian with an apologetic tone.
"Clan Leader, the Imperial Academy is truly a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. That female teacher undoubtedly has power on par with mine. And back then, when I was about to move to kill that Ling Xiao brat, I suddenly felt an aura lock onto me—an aura that sent a shiver down my spine. I can guarantee that if I had attacked, I would have been the first one to die..." Hai Tian said with a bitter smile, a flicker of fear still visible in his eyes.
"Imperial Academy..." Wulan Xiong gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury. "I just hope my son is alright. Otherwise, Ling Family... don't you dare think the Wulan Family is afraid of you!"