Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 142 Murong Ruyan's Substitute Teaching

Murong Ruyan was indeed Zhang Chengdao's disciple with the highest cultivation level besides Chang Ping'an.

But he does have a terrible temper, and he's almost always angry—a one-sided anger that usually keeps him calm.

Ever since Chang Ping'an took on the burden of being the "senior brother," he always felt that he had a heavy responsibility to take care of his junior brothers and sisters, and he also felt that he should urge everyone to cultivate in a timely manner. So every time he faced Murong Ruyan, he would either praise her intelligence to encourage her, or earnestly urge her to cultivate diligently.

Both of these statements sounded rather sarcastic to Murong Ruyan, but she also knew that Chang Ping'an didn't mean it that way...

That made me even angrier!
As for Xu Ying, Murong Ruyan naturally sensed that the manager did not like her, so she did not like Xu Ying either. When they met, they would only nod to each other. After so long, they were just "nodding" acquaintances. Unless a third person was present, the two would only nod to each other as a greeting.

When it was Xu Wen's turn...

Xu Wen was also successfully targeted by Murong Ruyan, who blamed his wild cursive script...

"Hmph! Just trying to attract attention!"

Murong Ruyan, who firmly believed that regular script was the proper way to write, had always disliked Xu Wen, this arrogant young man. And because his surname was Xu, she was even more annoyed. For this reason, she even used her superior literary skills to ask Zhang Chengdao to exempt her from the classics class.

Furthermore, she looked down on the Anche siblings because of their humble origins and timid nature. The other disciples who joined her during the White Stone Martial Arts Tournament were also deemed too incompetent and foolish to warrant her attention.

Thus, aside from not daring to act rashly in front of her master Zhang Chengdao, Emperor Ruyan successfully isolated everyone in the sect by her own power.

Only the third junior brother, Ye Shuyun, was able to talk to Murong Ruyan because of his gentle nature and his lack of concern for her.

Therefore, Murong Ruyan's reputation has indeed always been bad...

"Why is it Second Senior Sister teaching today?"

"She's so fierce, isn't she supposed to be ruthless killers...?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down!"

"But Second Senior Sister is so pretty..."

"My mom says the prettier the woman, the more ruthless she is! The prettiest aunt in our village can really beat up her husband!"

"You're not allowed to talk nonsense!"

"Where did our senior brother go? I haven't seen him since this afternoon!"

……

Amidst the cacophony of voices, Murong Ruyan, her face cold, picked up a scroll of "Elementary Qi Refining Book" she had bought from a bookstall and plopped down in the main seat.

She only learned in the afternoon that her eldest brother and third brother had gone on a long trip and that she was to come and help with the classes, so she hadn't prepared anything and could only buy a copy of "Elementary Qi Refining Book" to make do.

Since most of the disciples are illiterate and haven't had time to learn much literacy, I can just read them the "Elementary Qi Refining Book" at worst.

Thinking this, Murong Ruyan cleared her throat and said, "Senior Brother should have explained things very clearly in the previous lessons. Do any of you junior brothers and sisters still have any questions? Please feel free to ask."

As soon as Murong Ruyan finished speaking, the study fell completely silent.

"No doubts? Then have you all guided your Qi into your bodies?" Murong Ruyan asked expressionlessly.

Silence remained.

Murong Ruyan's face darkened immediately, and she patiently asked again, "Don't you even know your own cultivation level?"

After a long pause, Zhong Hui finally spoke up, trembling: "Senior Sister... I... I... I've already guided Qi into my body! I heard from Senior Brother that there's a 'body-nourishing formula' in the library that's very effective for tempering the body. Should I use it before or after taking the Immortal Dew Grass?"

Zhong Hui was initially a little scared and stammered, but looking at Murong Ruyan, he quickly recalled the scene when he met her at Lingyao Peak. She wasn't as fierce as the rumors suggested...

Of course, it wasn't like now, when my complexion looked so bad.

After receiving the gift (the iron sword), Zhong Hui genuinely felt that his second senior sister was quite nice. However, for some reason, he always felt that his second senior sister exuded a cold and arrogant aura that could kill someone with a single sword strike at any moment, which made him feel somewhat unconsciously afraid.

Murong Ruyan replied, "I have never used the 'Health Preservation Formula,' but upon careful consideration, I think that after tempering the body and unblocking the meridians, taking the Immortal Dew Grass would be more effective."

"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Senior Sister!"

Zhong Hui thanked him, and the study fell silent once more.

Murong Ruyan's face grew increasingly gloomy—

Why is it that when Chang Ping'an is giving a lecture, everyone is so cheerful, but when it's your turn, it's as if you're going to eat them alive? They all shrink back like quails and don't say a word!
If Huang Wu and Tang Xiaoyu were here, they might be able to say something, but as direct disciples, they don't need to attend the main classes. They can go whenever they want and not go whenever they don't want to. Most of the time, Tang Xiaoyu is in the library, and Huang Wu is engrossed in carpentry. So neither of them happens to be here.

Seeing that no one spoke, Murong Ruyan had no choice but to bring up her worst-case scenario that she had prepared in advance—

"Since you all have no questions, I will teach you the Three Sword Techniques today."

As she spoke, she carried the "Elementary Qi Refining Book" and took the lead out of the [Book House], leaving behind the words "Follow me" before leading the disciples to the square in front of the main hall.

"The Three Sword Techniques are the most basic sword moves, which are suitable for self-defense by cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage."

As Murong Ruyan spoke, she took out a pile of branches that she had prepared in advance from her Qiankun Bag, and pointed to the branches, saying, "If you don't have a sword, take a branch and use it first."

After saying that, she picked up a tree branch herself, weighed it in her hand to test its weight, and then continued, "In the world of martial arts, there are many sword moves, but they are just variations of slashing, thrusting, and parrying. The Three Styles of Swordsmanship are about these three moves."

As she spoke, she used the tree branch to perform several simple moves: chopping, stabbing, and flicking.

"No matter what sword technique it is, the first principle is speed. As long as you are fast enough, you can gain the upper hand. This is why in all martial arts, speed is the only way to win."

"Secondly, spiritual power. No matter how fancy or strange the moves are, they are not a threat if spiritual power is insufficient. Similarly, no matter how ordinary the moves are, as long as spiritual power is sufficient, even the simplest straight thrust will leave people helpless."

"Therefore, the Three Sword Techniques involve infusing spiritual energy into the sword, using the sword to unleash spiritual energy, and thus winning with just three simple moves..."

Murong Ruyan explained things in great detail, and gradually, everyone forgot her fearsome reputation and entered a state of learning, until...

"You're as stupid as a pig! Who taught you to use a sword like that?"

Ruyan's cool voice was very calm. Even when she was cursing, it sounded like she was reciting a poem. But the words she uttered made all the disciples unconsciously hold their breath and secretly peek towards the source of the voice.

(End of this chapter)