Arknights: Studying medicine can't save Terra

The Grand Tutor visibly trembled.

Now, whenever he hears the phrase "still sharp as ever," he feels a tightness in his anus.

"Alright, seeing how miserable you are, I'll take you back to the barracks to rest."

Qi Yan felt somewhat unsatisfied.

The Grand Tutor shook his head and pleaded:

"Take me to the clinic first. I need some calming herbal medicine, otherwise I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep these days."

"Good good."

Seeing that the old man was truly tormented, Qi Yan had no choice but to obediently lead the Grand Tutor to the clinic where Huai Tianpei worked.

Because the Grand Tutor suffered such severe mental damage that he could barely walk, it was already completely dark by the time the two of them slowly arrived at the clinic.

The door to the clinic was ajar, and a pale yellow light shone through the gap.

Qi Yan stepped forward, familiarly pushed open the door, and called out:

"Huaiwu Chi, I've brought you a client. Treat him well, and I guarantee your clinic's business will take off!"

"Young Qi, this isn't my clinic. I'm just an employee. What does the business have to do with me?"

Huai Tianpei's voice came from the inner room: "But you've come at the right time. You brought the patient in, and I'll take care of him for you. You help me get rid of this person."

Qi Yan pushed open the door to the inner room with curiosity and immediately saw Lao Li's roguish yet handsome face.

"Oh, Qi Yan... and the Grand Tutor too?" Old Li's casual expression immediately dropped when he saw the Grand Tutor arrive in person.

"Mr. Li, how have you been? I've been thinking of finding some time to see you these past few days to properly thank you for your contributions to the safety of Shuangcheng."

The Grand Tutor smiled politely at Lao Li, without putting on any airs of a Grand Tutor.

But Lao Li dared not neglect one of the Three Dukes, and waved his hand repeatedly, saying:

"I wouldn't dare. I only provided Wang with a body; I wouldn't dare talk about making any contribution."

While the two shrewd individuals were exchanging pleasantries, Qi Yan had already walked up to Huai Tianpei.

He patted the other person's shoulder, which was still wrapped in bandages, and asked with a smile:

"How has your injury been these past few days? The ceremony for the Grandmaster's retirement has been scheduled. We can't let him be gone and still be unable to fight."

Huai Tianpei looked somewhat distressed: "If I really have no other choice, I am not incapable of fighting."

"Don't be reckless." Old Li stopped his pleasantries with the Grand Tutor and advised his troublesome old friend, "In the last battle, not only were you injured, but the Grandmaster was also injured. Don't rush over and bother him."

"You've waited so many years, what's a few more days?"

The Grand Tutor also reassured him, "Even if the Grandmaster steps down, he won't have to leave Yumen immediately. You can rest assured and recover from your injuries."

Hearing both of them trying to persuade him, Huai Tianpei surprisingly changed his mind:

“What you said makes sense. If a grandmaster fights while injured, even if the fight is over, it won’t be satisfying. It certainly won’t be a pleasant fight.”

Qi Yan smiled but didn't say anything more.

Of the four people present, only Huai Tianpei, the martial arts fanatic, was kept in the dark.

Chongyue was indeed injured when he finished off Ya with a single punch.

In simple terms, that kind of injury is caused by overexertion, resulting in a muscle strain.

Old Carp rolled his eyes around and then said:

“Huai Tianpei, you’re busy working at the clinic every day with your injury, which is definitely not good for your recovery. If you ask me, you should write a letter to Longmen and ask Xiao Huaihu to come and take care of you.”

"I'm just injured, not crippled."

Huai Tianpei immediately felt humiliated.

Old Carp: "..."

He was genuinely annoyed by this guy whose mind was completely consumed by martial arts.

He's incredibly skilled at martial arts, able to learn by analogy just by watching others demonstrate, but he's completely clueless when it comes to understanding what people are saying.

The Grand Tutor sensed that there was some story behind this, and his gaze drifted subtly to Qi Yan, revealing an inquiring look.

Qi Yan spread his hands and frankly brought up the topic:

"Huai Tianpei, back then, in your pursuit of martial arts, you left your daughter Huaihu in Lao Li's care. Don't you feel even a little bit guilty?"

“I admit that I am a very bad father.” Huai Tianpei looked away slightly. “But because of my martial arts training, I really didn’t have the energy to take care of Huai Hu.”

Qi Yan suddenly said, "I'm a little curious."

Why do you practice martial arts? What is your purpose in practicing martial arts?

"What other purpose could there be in practicing martial arts?" Huai Tianpei asked, looking completely bewildered. "Naturally, it's to become stronger, to make my punches faster, more accurate, and more powerful, so that I can defeat all the enemies in front of me!"

Old Carp couldn't help but click his tongue softly.

He didn't think it was useful for Qi Yan to say these things to a martial arts fanatic. Ordinary people could understand, but Huai Tianpei was clearly not an ordinary person.

If Huai Tianpei could be easily persuaded, he wouldn't be called a martial arts fanatic.

Qi Yan didn't even glance at Lao Li, and continued to look at Huai Tianpei with a smile, saying:

"So, if you achieve that, if you successfully reach the pinnacle of martial arts, and even a grandmaster is defeated by you, then what will you do?"

I won't fantasize about things that haven't happened yet.

"Don't be nervous. I'm not like Lao Li, who will nag you about trivial family matters like a sutra," Qi Yan reassured. "Our topic this time is martial arts. Don't you ever think about the moves you haven't mastered yet, or imagine new derivative moves when you practice martial arts?"

Huai Tianpei remained silent for a moment, and seeing that Qi Yan seemed serious, he no longer avoided the question and spoke directly:

"Everyone says that the Grandmaster is invincible in the field of martial arts and has reached the true end. Some even say that the Grandmaster is martial arts itself."

But I never thought about any of that. I challenged the Grandmaster simply because he was strong enough. If I defeated him, it would mean I had taken another step forward, that the so-called ultimate level of martial arts doesn't exist, and that I must continue to cultivate.

"If that's the case, then there's really no need to go through all these detours."

"What do you mean?"

Seeing that Huai Tianpei didn't understand, Qi Yan pointed to himself and said:

"Why don't you skip the Grandmaster level and challenge me directly? According to your logic, your ultimate target is me."

"...You don't know any martial arts at all." Huai Tianpei shook his head vigorously.

Qi Yan looked disdainful, clenching his fists so tightly they cracked:

"Kung Fu is a killing technique. The essence of martial arts is to pursue how to defeat the enemy efficiently. So who can say that my fist, Qi Xiaobai's fist, is not a kind of martial art?"

Who dares to say that I, Qi Xiaobai, am not the man standing at the pinnacle of martial arts?

Chapter 929 'Where is Precyth?'

Huai Tianpei remained silent.

He felt that Qi Yan was spouting fallacies and heresies, but he couldn't refute them, and was even somewhat persuaded by Qi Yan.

No one stipulates that kung fu must involve countering an enemy's moves, and no one stipulates that killing an enemy with a single punch is not kung fu. After all, among these martial artists, there is also the saying that the greatest truths are the simplest.

However, if grandmasters are like a mountain weighing down on all martial artists, there is certainly no shortage of ruthless individuals who dare to challenge that mountain.

But considering that he could kill a giant beast with a single slap while chatting and laughing, he was more than just a mountain; he was definitely the sky covering the heads of all martial artists.

"Are you trying to make me feel hopeless using this method?"

Huai Tianpei said in a muffled voice, "Then you underestimate me too much. Even if you are the sky, I will try to make a hole in it!"

"You have backbone, and I like people like you."

Qi Yan gave a heartfelt compliment, then changed the subject: "But with your current level, even if I gave you thousands of years to cultivate, you still wouldn't have a chance to withstand my serious punch."

A person can climb a mountain by sheer willpower, step by step, but to reach the heavens, one cannot rely solely on oneself; external forces are essential.

"But those who practice martial arts pursue the goal of not relying on external things. No matter how powerful a divine weapon is, it is not as good as relying on one's own fists."

"I said your perspective is too narrow."

Qi Yan held up his index finger and waved it back and forth in front of Huai Tianpei's eyes: "Who said that seeking external power is only possible by using divine weapons? When you become an apprentice, aren't you also seeking external power?"

Upon hearing this, Huai Tianpei's brows furrowed deeply.

He immediately shook his head and said, "Qi boy, you're trying to play tricks on me again. Didn't I satisfy you enough by calling you 'Master' last time?"

“It’s not me, I don’t have the energy to teach you.” Qi Yan’s true colors were finally revealed. “But I can introduce you to Rhodes Island. You just need to mention my name to easily complete the onboarding process.”

On Rhodes Island, there lives a sleazy hooded man. He's the only person on this land who can pose a threat to me. If you can pass his test and become his disciple, there's a possibility you could achieve enlightenment through martial arts in the future.

"The hooded man? You mean that doctor?"

The one who spoke was not Huai Tianpei, but the Grand Tutor who was listening nearby.

When he heard Qi Yan place the Doctor in a position that could threaten him, the Grand Tutor really couldn't control his emotions, and his heart skipped a beat.

Qi Yan glanced sideways at the Grand Tutor, his tone devoid of any hint of joking:

"Let me put it this way: it's just that the Doctor has taken sides with this land because of certain events. Otherwise, he could have decided the destruction of this land with just one sentence."

The room fell into a deathly silence.

Even Huai Tianpei, whose mind was completely absorbed in martial arts, could clearly feel the pressure brought by Qi Yan's words.

Qi Yan seemed to feel that this was not enough, and pressed the Grand Tutor for more information:

"Guess how many world-ending crises Terra is facing right now?"

The Grand Tutor's eyelids twitched.

Lao Li and Huai Tianpei were completely at a loss for what to do.

Is this the kind of topic they should be listening to?

The Grand Tutor remained silent for a moment, but ultimately did not do anything impolite, such as driving away the host as a guest.

In front of Lao Li and Huai Tianpei, he replied, "Currently, I know of three types."

"Then guess which of these three crises is directly related to the Doctor?"

"...Sami?"

The Grand Tutor recalled the information that Extreme Realm had previously revealed to him: the doctor from Rhodes Island had been assigned by Qi Yan to personally handle the impending crisis deep within Sami.

As he was pondering, he heard Qi Yan say lightly:

"No, it's every kind."

Grand Tutor: "..."

He could only remain silent.

"The colossal stargate deep within Sami, the lost ruins in the ocean depths, the black stones that stretch as far as the eye can see on this land—can you guess how they were formed?" Qi Yan said with a sigh. "Be thankful that there are still people on this land that the Doctor cares about. If you offend me, at most you'll get a beating or die."

But if you offend the Doctor, you must be prepared to face true despair. Grand Tutor, you are a wise man; you should know why I am saying these things.”

The Grand Tutor took a soft breath.

He didn't answer Qi Yan's question directly, but turned to look at Huai Tianpei, cupped his hands, and said:

"Mr. Huai, could you please prescribe a calming medicine for me, with a slightly higher dosage? I might have trouble sleeping."

"Give me one too," Old Carp chimed in.

Huai Tianpei scratched his big head and muttered:

"I know, I know. Prescribe three doses of calming medicine, and make sure the dosage is as high as possible. I have to pull out the boss's most treasured secret. Now look what's happened. The wages were already owed for who knows how many years, and now we have to add another one."

Qi Yan's body trembled, and his gaze toward Huai Tianpei was filled with a sense of empathy and agreement.

Huai Tianpei felt Qi Yan's gaze and turned around to meet his eyes.

Without a word, the two understood each other instantly.

"you also……"

Just as the two were gazing lovingly at each other, the Grand Tutor stepped forward with a dark face and slammed a credit card on the table.

“Swipe my card, and I’ll help Mr. Huai pay off his debt.” The Grand Tutor glanced at Qi Yan again, hesitated for a moment, but still didn’t dare to neglect one thing for the other. “Qi Yan, I’ll also pay off your debt.”

While Huai Tianpei was still hesitating about whether to accept this kindness, Qi Yan gasped, a strand of his hair turning black, and before anyone could react, he had the credit card in his hand.