Chapter 7

## Chapter 7. What is a One-Hit Instructor?

Information about the Blood Sect.

Non-responding guest Gao Zhuyue told us a story that could be considered confidential by the Martial Arts Alliance.

So I began to suspect him.

'Is he just a loose-lipped person?'

It would be easier to think so.

But it's unnatural for someone at the level of the head of the Martial Arts Alliance's investigation team to leak information so easily.

'What if he deliberately leaked the information?'

In the martial world, where all kinds of schemes and strategies abound, one must doubt every word, every minor gesture, and every action of the opponent to survive for long.

I observed Gao Zhuyue more closely and realized one fact.

'He is on guard against us.'

He placed his hands neatly on his knees, ready to act at any moment, and pretended to look around the room casually, but he was actually scrutinizing every corner.

'And his feet.'

He kept his feet loose, ready to use his specialty, lightness kung fu (or leg techniques) at any time.

'Why does he suspect us?'

Upon reflection, there were plenty of reasons.

A martial arts teacher from a small village, who had no nickname, had subdued a powerful expert from the evil sect.

Moreover, he had discovered that they were teaching evil sect martial arts to their disciples without even seeing it firsthand.

'But most importantly...'

No matter how much my father tried to hide it, if the opponent was a first-class expert, they would inevitably sense that my father was a highly skilled martial artist.

'He is certain that my father is hiding something. And that is true.'

If that's the case, the probability is high that Gao Zhuyue brought up the Blood Sect story to gauge our reaction.

Perhaps...

'He suspects that we might be minions of the Blood Sect?'

It might be a bit of a leap, but it was clear that Gao Zhuyue was suspicious of us.

Clack.

Gao Zhuyue put down his teacup and smiled gently.

His smile seemed quite meaningful to me.

"Good tea."

"I'm glad you like it."

The subtle tension in the air during this ordinary conversation.

Both of us were smiling gently, but Gao Zhuyue's eyes were much colder than when we first met.

"Mr. Bai's voice. The more I listen, the more familiar it sounds."

"Haha. It must be a common voice."

"Is that so..."

His words were gentle, but his questions were like an interrogation.

Father avoided eye contact and evaded the answer.

Gao Zhuyue still maintained his smile.

"Are we really not old acquaintances?"

"Haha. We might have met by chance in our lives."

I saw a drop of cold sweat form on Father's forehead.

At the same time, I recalled the complicated expression and sigh he had shown earlier.

'His expression wasn't good when he said the Martial Arts Alliance had sent someone.'

Father was definitely hiding something.

I couldn't figure out what it was, so I had to use my imagination.

If a first-class expert had a past that required hiding his nickname and living in a small village...

'A martial world public enemy?'

...But that's too far-fetched.

It's practically impossible for a first-class expert to become a public enemy in the martial world.

Well, at most, he might be a wanted criminal by the Martial Arts Alliance.

In any case, it's still a problem.

"Mr. Bai, may I ask which school you belong to?"

"It's a small place that you probably wouldn't know."

"Hehe."

"..."

The tension in the room gradually increased.

Squish.

Sweat trickled from my palms.

In the worst case, I might have to fight Gao Zhuyue.

'My fatigue from fighting the goatee hasn't fully recovered yet...'

I calculated the possible movements and scenarios in my head if a fight broke out.

The opponent is not just Gao Zhuyue but also the martial artists from the investigation team outside.

'Martial artists sent by the Jiangxi branch of the Martial Arts Alliance.'

I need to subdue Gao Zhuyue as quickly as possible before they burst in.

Then, I need to rush out and deal with the investigation team.

I lowered my head to hide the killing intent that might be visible in my eyes.

'If Father is really a wanted criminal by the Martial Arts Alliance and it's exposed here... I can't let anyone live.'

I've always prepared for the worst-case scenario.

As I was planning how to destroy evidence, escape, and what to do next in my head...

"Your face... I've definitely seen it somewhere... Hmm... Could it be?"

Suddenly, Gao Zhuyue's eyes widened.

It seemed he recalled something, and he slapped his thigh.

"Of course!"

I tensed my body, ready to act at the optimal path, lifting my buttocks slightly off the ground.

However, the worst-case scenario I anticipated did not happen.

Instead, the situation took an unexpected turn.

"I thought you looked familiar!"

Gao Zhuyue smiled brightly, as if all his doubts had been resolved.

The tension in his muscles relaxed, as if the caution he had shown was a lie.

In contrast, Father's expression grew darker.

Finally, Father sighed, as if he had given up.

'What's going on here?'

Soon, Gao Zhuyue answered my question.

He laughed brightly, as if he had met an old friend.

"It's you, Jade-Faced Scholar!"

...Jade-Faced Scholar?

I turned to look at Father, who was blushing and replied.

"It's been a while, Brother."

* * *

The two middle-aged men sat across from each other, passing the wine glasses back and forth.

"Hahaha! My friend, how long has it been!"

"Almost thirty years. I never imagined you would come as the investigation team leader."

"Why did you pretend not to recognize me earlier?"

"Leaving the academy like a fugitive and not contacting anyone for so long... I felt it would be shameful to acknowledge you first..."

"Shameful? We were that close! Saying that makes me feel bad!"

"Yes, I'm sorry."

Father scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

I watched Father with a bewildered expression from a distance.

Too much information came at once, leaving me dazed.

'At least we won't have to fight, which is a relief...'

Father turned to me and said,

"Introduce yourself again. This is my fellow student from the Qinglong Academy, a close friend like a brother."

"You're the son of that friend. Hehe! You're so handsome, I bet no one would think you're the son of Jade-Faced Scholar!"

"Brother, I'm almost fifty. That old nickname is a bit... embarrassing."

"Kukuk! In our time, if you didn't know Jade-Faced Scholar at Qinglong Academy, you were a spy!"

"..."

Gao Zhuyue laughed heartily, teasing Father, who was embarrassed.

...At least it's a relief.

I felt more relaxed and greeted him again.

"My name is Bai Shulong."

"Sure, sure. Come and sit down. I'll pour you a drink!"

It turned out that the two had been fellow students at Qinglong Academy over twenty years ago.

Qinglong Academy is one of the five major martial arts academies directly operated by the Martial Arts Alliance.

- Tianwu Academy in Hubei

- Xuanwu Academy in Shaanxi

- Baihu Academy in Sichuan

- Zhuque Academy in Hunan

- Qinglong Academy in Jiangxi

These five academies are the dream of any young martial artist in the righteous sects.

Of course, there is a hierarchy even among these five academies.

'When I was young, there was only Tianwu Academy. It seems they've expanded since then.'

Gao Zhuyue's smile didn't fade as he reminisced about old times.

"At Qinglong Academy, how many young ladies did your father set on fire? Even now, he's handsome, but back then, he must have been incredibly good-looking to have the nickname Jade-Faced Scholar!"

"Kuk! Brother..."

I've never seen Father so embarrassed.

Well, it is embarrassing to have such a nickname at almost fifty.

I asked Father, curious.

"Did you say you didn't have a nickname because you were embarrassed?"

"Kuk. It was a nickname given by my fellow students as a joke. It wasn't a proper nickname, so I said I didn't have one."

Excuse.

His face, red like a persimmon, lacked credibility.

"Really..."

A nervous laugh escaped as the tension eased.

I chuckled, and Father, with a red face, drank several glasses of wine in quick succession.

The night grew deeper.

The investigation team Gao Zhuyue brought had transported the evil sect members to the Martial Arts Alliance, but he stayed, claiming there was more to investigate.

Several bottles of wine were emptied, and the two martial artists' postures became more relaxed.

Then, Gao Zhuyue hesitated and asked,

"By the way..."

Staring at the wine in his glass, not at Father.

"...How is Yaobing?"

Mai Yaobing.

My mother's name.

Father smiled bitterly and replied,

"It's been a long time since she passed away."

"Finally, it came to that. Yes, her body was always weak."

"Yes."

An awkward silence followed.

To change the mood, Gao Zhuyue laughed loudly and said,

"Hahaha! I misunderstood you earlier! I couldn't remember who you were, so I thought you were one of the wanted criminals."

Gao Zhuyue admitted that he had even considered subduing us.

...If that had happened, I would have used lethal moves on him.

It's a good thing it didn't come to that.

"I almost got a beating."

"Hahaha! I almost got a taste of your sword skills again after so long!"

The conversation, which started with reminiscing about old times, gradually broadened in topic.

The stories of human life were the same for martial artists.

Most importantly, making a living was always the top priority.

"Does being a martial arts teacher pay well? You don't seem to be doing too well."

"We manage to get by with two people."

To be honest, it was tight.

In a small village like this, it's hard to charge high tuition fees, and after providing snacks for the kids, there's not much left.

The young-adult classes Father teaches are the only ones that bring in some money.

"Do you have to teach martial arts here? With your skills, you could teach at Qinglong Academy."

At the mention of "Qinglong Academy," Father's expression briefly stiffened before relaxing.

"This place is fine."

"My friend, things are different from when you were young. Even with supreme martial arts, you'll starve without money."

Mr. Gao is absolutely right!

"Moreover, the pay for academy instructors these days is not ordinary. Have you never heard that one-hit instructors at the five major academies can make a fortune?"

"Who am I to have such skills?"

Gao Zhuyue, frustrated by Father's modesty, thumped his chest.

"Jade-Faced Scholar's skills haven't dulled, have they? And with your looks, the female students would line up for you even now."

"Brother, you really..."

Father just smiled awkwardly at the half-joking, half-serious remarks.

But I couldn't just listen anymore.

"Excuse me, but..."

I had just heard something I couldn't let pass.

Now that I think about it, I've heard similar remarks before...

"What is a one-hit instructor?"