Volume One: Another World Chapter Twenty-Eight: I’m Such a Diligent Learner

Qingshan fetched two meditation mats from the side. “Come, sit and let’s talk. Now that you’ve mastered the movements, I’ll explain in detail how spiritual energy flows through your meridians. You can use this to temper your channels.”

Ah, but… aren’t all my meridians already open? Li Yu recalled the system’s evaluation of his Thunder Vein bloodline: “Perfect and immaculate within.” Moreover, this sword technique only seemed to become truly lethal at the sixth level, when paired with released spiritual force. For him, it appeared to serve little purpose.

Qingshan glanced at the youth and immediately knew what he was thinking. He spoke, “You’re at the eighth tier right now. While this sword technique emphasizes cultivation and self-cultivation, if you master it, you could easily take on four or five martial artists of your own rank single-handedly!”

Li Yu immediately focused his attention. “Teacher, go on. I’m listening carefully.”

...

After watching Li Yu leave with Qing Anqi, who had come looking for him, Qingshan sighed to himself, So he’s a friend of the Princess. No wonder his comprehension is so exceptional—not only did he pick up the sword forms at first glance, but even the meridian flow was grasped instantly.

As it was lunchtime, he decided to lock up his classroom and head to eat.

“Wait a moment,” said a hand that stopped the door just before it closed. A man in black robes squeezed inside.

“Master Qingyi?” Qingshan was a little surprised. There were few in the Qing clan who didn’t know Qingyi—his very presence was almost a symbol of Duke Qingheng himself, always handling matters for him without a hint of personal bias.

“I ask, you answer. Spare me the chatter,” Qingyi said. “What do you think of that boy’s talent? Do you believe he’s learned swordsmanship before?”

“Unmatched talent!” Qingshan paused to recall. “He’s never studied swordsmanship. I sense that he’s never even touched a sword before.”

From the way Li Yu chose and handled the sword, it was clear he was an outsider unfamiliar with the weapon.

“You should still teach him. I’m just asking as a matter of routine,” Qingyi explained. He knew his reputation within the clan was not the best, so he tried to avoid causing any negative impact with his presence.

“Of course, sir.” Qingshan nodded, thinking to himself, But I doubt I can teach him anymore. That boy already mastered the Lady’s Buddhist Sword; next time he comes, he’ll probably seek out someone else for a different art.

A faint sorrow struck Qingshan: People do say comparison is the thief of joy; I’ve spent half my life studying this sword art, and yet he mastered it after just one lesson.

...

On the road, Li Yu and Qing Anqi walked side by side, with Xiaocui trailing half a step behind.

“How much of the sword technique have you memorized? If there’s anything you’re unsure of, I can teach you!” Qing Anqi offered enthusiastically.

Though they had separate teachers, the selection process took place in the same hall, so Qing Anqi naturally knew what Li Yu had chosen. As it happened, she, too, had studied the Lady’s Buddhist Sword and had been practicing it for two years already.

“No need. I’ve mastered it all,” Li Yu replied with a broad grin.

Want to be my teacher? Maybe in your next life!

Qing Anqi refused to believe him. “Impossible! Show me a few moves!”

She had needed two days to memorize the sword forms and three more to grasp the energy flow, earning a week of praise for it. Once, the son of a clan elder tried to boast he’d learned the sword in a day, but Qing Anqi had scoffed at him without mercy.

Li Yu hesitated. “...” Just because you say ‘show me’, I’m supposed to perform? What am I, a street performer at the village gate?

Qing Anqi curled her lip. “Afraid? Caught you in a lie!”

“I’ll just recite the energy circulation for you. Then you’ll know if I’ve mastered it.” Sighing at her smug expression, Li Yu repeated Qingshan’s explanation verbatim.

You brought this on yourself—now let me show off a bit.

What Li Yu didn’t know was that reciting the circulation method directly was an even greater blow. It meant not only had the teacher acknowledged him, but he had learned so quickly that there was time to explain the meridian flow as well. If time was limited, the instructor would usually focus on reinforcing sword forms, not discussing the intricacies of meridian routes.

Injuries to the meridians were grave matters for cultivation. Anything meridian-related was treated with utmost care. And for those who could afford private instruction at great cost, none of the teachers would ever be careless or joke about such things.

Qing Anqi, annoyed, gave Li Yu’s calf a hard kick and ran off ahead in a few quick strides.

Strange. Why do I always feel the need to tease her? Li Yu wondered helplessly.

Perhaps it was his nature. Li Yu was never rude to strangers, but with those close to him, he sometimes couldn’t help but tease or poke fun. Qing Anqi had once saved him, and she was so pure-hearted that he instinctively saw her as someone dear.

“Find your own way home!” Qing Anqi called from afar. She even used a leg technique to speed up, vanishing around the corner in the blink of an eye.

“She runs fast,” Li Yu commented, squinting after her shrinking figure. He turned to Xiaocui. “You’re not going to run off too, are you?”

Xiaocui shook her head. “Young master, my duty is to look after your meals and daily needs.”

In other words, she wouldn’t be running anywhere.

“She really is just a child…” Li Yu sighed. It wasn’t as if she was the only one who knew the way home—what was the point of running off?

Xiaocui lowered her head slightly, not daring to comment.

...

Perhaps it was because Qing Anqi had joined them, but there were far more dishes at lunch than usual. Not that her appetite was especially large, but she was a picky eater.

Qing Anqi sampled only a little of each dish, yet insisted that nothing be left uncooked. After the meal, most of the table remained untouched.

Ah, the evils of capitalism. Li Yu suddenly realized he, too, was succumbing to the seductive comforts of capitalism, about to enjoy a life of having everything handed to him.

That afternoon, after Qing Anqi had meditated in the next room for a while, she prepared to arrange her studies.

“Li Yu, are you sure you’re not coming? I’m telling you, the afternoon classes are really interesting!” Qing Anqi tempted him.

Li Yu: “...”

Such blatant temptation, and all you can say is ‘really interesting’? There’s no sense of immersion at all—how am I supposed to be enticed?

“Suit yourself, then. I’ll go to the library alone,” Qing Anqi huffed.

“I need a nap. I didn’t sleep enough this morning,” Li Yu yawned, stretching as he turned back towards his room. Suddenly, he froze.

[Ding. Check-in location updated: Library.]

The check-in was updated?

“System, has the check-in in the Imperial Capital refreshed? Is the original task canceled?” Li Yu asked. Back in Stone Village, while chatting with Old Mu, the system had activated his first check-in task in another world after Old Mu mentioned the Imperial Capital. But the journey was too far, so he’d never had the chance to go.

[The check-in task at the Imperial Capital still exists.]

Li Yu’s expression flickered. He’d expected the check-in task to be stuck for a long while, but today it had suddenly refreshed—a revelation. This made him realize he could have more than one check-in task at a time.

More importantly, Li Yu began to suspect he understood the system’s criteria for assigning check-in tasks.

On Blue Star, his two check-ins were at the restroom and the city library. In this other world, the two were the Imperial Capital and the library. Setting aside the restroom, the other three had something in common—they were all places people had mentioned to him.

“So, the system assigns check-in tasks based on places I know about or have been to? System, is that right?” Li Yu asked.

[...]

Fine. Once again, he was met with silence.

“Anqi, wait up!” Li Yu called to Qing Anqi, who was already stepping out the door. “I’ve thought it over. As such a diligent student, how could I miss this? I’m coming with you!”