Chapter 52

## Chapter 52. First Day at Work (1)

"…With that, I conclude my words of advice and once again welcome all the new instructors."

With the end of Luo Junxiang's long speech, the welcoming ceremony for the new instructors at the Blue Dragon Academy concluded.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!

The existing instructors and the students gathered in the grand training hall applauded for the ten new instructors. With hundreds of people, it was quite a spectacle.

"Representative of the new instructors, Zhuge Xiaoying! Thank you to the instructors and students of the Blue Dragon Academy."

Chak!

When Zhuge Xiaoying, who had joined as the top of this batch, took the lead and made a bow, the nine people behind her simultaneously bowed and said,

"Thank you!"

The neatness of their movements brought a pleased smile to Luo Junxiang's face, and the new instructors proudly lifted their heads.

"Then, finally… just one more word of advice…"

Of course, there were those who couldn't do so.

I barely suppressed a yawn that was about to escape and muttered,

"Exactly how many times is this the end? Why are there so many procedures?"

Seeing my annoyed expression, Yue Lianhao, who was standing to my right, poked my side and whispered,

"Brother! Manage your expression! The students are all watching."

"You should do it more. I'm already so well-known that there's no need for more management."

As I yawned openly, I saw Nan Gongshou's eyebrows twitching from where he was standing in front.

…This is interesting, should I do a bit more?

"Just a little more, brother. The welcoming ceremony at the Blue Dragon Academy is relatively simple. Some places do it all day."

This time, Ming Riwu, who was standing to my left, dressed neatly and with his hair oiled, shook his head.

"Anyway, these orthodox guys. They love formalities."

"Whoever hears you might think you're not orthodox."

"Of course, I am orthodox from birth, to the bone."

Just my past life was from the Blood Sect. My past life.

Anyway, while we were grumbling, all the events concluded, and the students who had filled the training hall dispersed.

A short while later, a few of the existing instructors walked over to us.

"Teacher Zhuge Xiaoying."

"Ah, yes!"

At Nan Gongshou's call, Zhuge Xiaoying stood at attention with a sharp expression.

Nan Gongshou, with his usual cold expression, said,

"Teacher, you will be working with me from today. Pack your things and follow me."

"Ah, yes. I understand!"

After finishing his words, Nan Gongshou turned his body.

Zhuge Xiaoying picked up the large book she had placed in the corner, held it to her chest, and hurriedly followed him.

'Sigh. I can see a tough road ahead.'

But perhaps I was the only one thinking that, as the other new instructors looked at Zhuge Xiaoying's back with envious eyes.

Surprisingly, the next person called was Yue Lianhao, who had ranked second in the entry exams.

"Teacher Yue Lianhao."

"Yes!"

"Teacher Yue Lianhao, you will be working with me."

The person who called Yue Lianhao was a middle-aged man with a military-like appearance and a square jaw. Given that he called the second-ranked person, he must be a senior instructor, either in terms of seniority or skill, second only to Nan Gongshou.

Then, the names of the new instructors were called out one by one in order of their exam results.

"Teacher Jin Yixie?"

"I'm here!"

"Teacher Xue Shuyan."

"Yes?"

"Teacher Ming Riwu!"

"Give me any task!"

The Blue Dragon Academy is much larger than I thought.

It's so vast that it's easy to get lost and wander around aimlessly, and there are many different buildings.

Therefore, it is a tradition at the Blue Dragon Academy that for the first month, existing instructors pair up with new instructors in groups of two to help them adapt to the academy.

And usually, the senior instructor is assigned based on the new instructor's specialties and major…

'What a joke. They're just picking in order of exam results.'

By now, eight people had been called and left, leaving only me and Guo Doyong.

And only two instructors were left in front of us.

Cold sweat was already running down my hands.

'Can't be… It can't be, right?'

Swallow.

Swallowing, I turned my head to look at Guo Doyong. Just then, Guo Doyong was also looking at me.

'It can't be…'

'It won't be…'

We gave each other a look of encouragement with trembling eyes.

The probability is fifty-fifty.

Surely this academy wouldn't start by giving me such a huge challenge…

"Teacher Guo Doyong."

"Yes, yes?"

"Can't you answer properly?"

"Yes!"

The person who called Guo Doyong was Deputy Head Guo Tiewei.

Sighing deeply, Guo Tiewei looked at Guo Doyong with a complicated expression.

"You will be working with me."

"Yes…"

With a face like he was being led to the slaughterhouse, Guo Doyong left, and now I was the only one left.

'No…'

My expression was as bad as Guo Doyong's.

Because the last instructor standing in front of me was…

"Follow me."

"…Yes, Grandfather."

Because it was Ma Jielian, the student supervisor of the Blue Dragon Academy and my maternal grandfather.

Seeing my sour expression, Ma Jielian's white eyebrows twitched.

"Why? Don't you want to work with me?"

"Haha. No way. I'm just so happy that I couldn't manage my expression for a moment."

With my answer, Ma Jielian clicked his tongue and turned his body sharply, sending a chill through the air.

"If you're just going to say things you don't mean, just shut up and follow me."

"…Yes."

I answered respectfully and timidly followed Ma Jielian.

'Damn. I'd rather work with Nan Gongshou.'

For the next month,

I would be working with the student supervisor.

* * *

"You will be a teacher in the Student Guidance Department from today."

"…."

"All teachers should know this, but especially teachers in the Student Guidance Department need to know every corner of the academy. Why do you think that is?"

"To avoid getting lost in the lecture halls…?"

"That's obvious."

With my answer, Ma Jielian clicked his tongue and then, with eyes as cold as a reptile's, said,

"To catch those who hide in corners to smoke, drink, or engage in improper relationships! You need to know every corner of the academy to catch them."

I was so surprised by the unexpected answer that my mouth dropped open.

'This has nothing to do with teaching, right?'

At this point, it seemed closer to being a detective catching criminals than a teacher.

As if sensing my thoughts, Ma Jielian straightened his posture and looked at me directly.

"Being a teacher is not just about teaching martial arts. It's also about guiding students to the right path and correcting them if they go astray. Why did you apply to the Blue Dragon Academy?"

"To become a top teacher…"

"And another reason?"

"…To become a good teacher."

With my sincere answer, Ma Jielian nodded and said,

"A good teacher is someone who guides students to the right path and, if they go astray, helps them get back on track."

Even the same words carry different weight when spoken by someone who has worked in one place for decades.

"That's why I specially asked the Head to assign you to the Student Guidance Department."

"…Yes?"

I don't want to hear that…

"Stop talking and follow me. It will be faster to show you while explaining."

…And so, I spent the whole day following Ma Jielian, memorizing the map of the Blue Dragon Academy in my head.

"This is the Light Body Training Ground. It's set up with various environments to practice light body techniques. Do you see that trap over there?"

"Yes."

"Sometimes, people hide in such traps to smoke. Remember that."

"…."

"This is the Student Council building. Don't let your guard down just because they're part of the Student Council. These guys have brought alcohol into the academy more than once."

"…."

"This is the Club Federation building. It's a major surveillance target. Most improper relationships happen here. If you catch them in the act…"

"If I catch them?"

"You can punish them on the spot."

"…."

"Over there is the Seclusion Training Hall. It's mainly used by senior students when they need enlightenment or personal time. Occasionally, some hide cigarettes or alcohol and bring them in… if caught, they receive a punishment of doubling their seclusion training."

"…."

Damn! This old man is a devil!

By the time we had walked around the entire academy with the bloodless student supervisor, it was already dusk.

"It's evening time."

We went to the student cafeteria and sat in the center.

No one dared to come close to us.

Even the other instructors sat far away.

"Is there anything you're curious about from what you saw today?"

Even during meals, Ma Jielian sat straight, his eyes shining brightly as he picked up his chopsticks.

If I casually answered "No," he would definitely scold me, so I thought carefully before answering.

"Not right now. I'm still processing it in my head."

"…Ask if