Chapter 3: Three Moves

Three months later came the sect’s assessment of new disciples.

I hadn’t planned to go.

Until I heard the winner of each realm would be awarded five hundred spirit stones.

I changed my clothes immediately.

Not because I love money. I was only worried my disciple was short on resources.

Yes. A perfectly legitimate reason.

【Look how her eyes lit up at “five hundred spirit stones.”】

【Just say you’re broke. Don’t pretend it’s for your disciple.】

On the Foundation Establishment stage, Qin Lang won three matches in a row.

Three months at Heavenly Sword Peak had taken him to peak Foundation Establishment. His sword qi was as sharp as frost, and the whole square applauded without end.

Every time he sheathed his sword, he glanced toward my seat.

I sat chewing a spirit fruit and shook my head slightly.

“Sharp sword intent, restless heart. If he’s busy looking at the stands in the middle of a fight, sooner or later he’ll get stabbed in the face.”

I didn’t say it loudly. But with his cultivation, he heard every word.

In the fourth match he met an opponent who specialized in defense. He couldn’t break through the protective barrier no matter what he tried and finally won only by relying on his higher cultivation, his face pale.

【She called it.】

【Huh. In the original she only taught him how to cut people down. Nobody taught him to calm his heart.】

When it was Gu Chen’s turn on the Qi Refining stage, the square went quiet.

Three months ago, he’d been the skinny kid dragged out of the gate.

He was still thin, but his back was straight now, and his eyes no longer avoided anyone.

His cultivation was only at the ninth layer of Qi Refining.

Wen Changfeng frowned. “Junior sister, three months and he still hasn’t reached Foundation Establishment. Is the method not suited to him?”

“It suits him,” I said. “He’s laying the foundation of a house.”

Gu Chen’s opponent was at the same level and used a spear.

The moment the bell rang, the spear tip shot forward.

Gu Chen didn’t block. He stepped back half a pace and turned sideways, letting the spear graze the hem of his robe.

His wooden sword knocked the shaft aside.

The second move locked the opponent’s wrist.

On the third, the tip of the wooden sword was resting against his opponent’s throat.

Three moves. Almost no spiritual power spent.

The whole square was dead silent.

【???】

【THREE moves??】

【His spiritual power is weak, so he learned not to waste a single drop. What on earth is she teaching him?】

I hadn’t taught him anything.

All I did was make him sweep the fallen leaves off three hundred steps every morning without using spiritual power, and tell him to figure out how to save his strength.

Who knew he’d figure out how to fight instead?

Gu Chen stepped off the stage and walked straight toward me.

“Master.”

I tossed him a spirit fruit. “Reward.”

The corners of his lips curved up, just a little.

A few female disciples sitting nearby turned red.

【Oh my. The villain smiled.】

【He’s seriously handsome. The original wasted him.】

Qin Lang came over, his sword still unsheathed.

“Junior Brother Gu, do you dare to spar with me?”

Before Gu Chen could say anything, I answered:

“No.”

Qin Lang turned to me. “Is Martial Aunt afraid her disciple will lose?”

“I’m afraid you’ll lose.” I wiped my hands at leisure. “You’ve fought four matches and you have less than half your spiritual power left. He’s fought one. If I agreed, tomorrow you’d say I bullied you.”

“If you want to fight, do it at next year’s tournament, same realm, full strength. I’ll be the witness.”

Qin Lang pressed his lips together.

“Fine. I’ll wait.”

He turned away, his hand once again unconsciously stroking the black ring.

In that instant I heard a very soft laugh.

It wasn’t his.

It came from inside the ring.

On the way home, Gu Chen walked half a step behind me. He was silent for a long time before he asked:

“Master, if this disciple never has any talent, will you be disappointed?”

I turned around.

“I took you so you could live a decent life, not so you could help me show off.”

“Talent decides how fast you walk. How far you go depends on whether you’re willing to keep walking.”

Gu Chen tightened his grip on the wooden sword.

“This disciple understands.”

I didn’t know he would remember that offhand remark for many years.

Nor did I know that from that day on, what he wanted was no longer to prove he wasn’t trash.

It was to someday be strong enough to stand beside me.

【Wait. Wait wait wait.】

【I think something’s going off script.】