章 36: The Nature of Humanity
Lin Xi limped alongside Bian Linghan as they traversed the rainbow-hued medicinal valley, making their way to the old bamboo house at the end of the terraced fields.
Although new subjects were introduced daily, the specialized training for Windwalkers persisted without interruption.
On the opposite hillside, the newly cultivated terraced fields of the Apothecary Department had been completed, now adorned with various tender sprouts.
Were there an ocean, the scenery of this rainbow valley would undoubtedly rival the picturesque Provence depicted in art books.
"You are ten moments late compared to your usual time."
From the woods behind the old bamboo house, the one-eyed black-robed instructor expressed his dissatisfaction. Upon turning to see Lin Xi's furrowed brow and limping gait, a chill flickered in his solitary eye. "What transpired?"
"I was struck by Instructor Xu. He insisted that I demonstrate what he calls martial skills—methods of killing that are faster and stronger. In the end, despite my efforts, I couldn't even graze the hem of his garment," Lin Xi said with a bitter smile. The sting from Xu Shengmo's willow branch, particularly the blow to his ankle, had been quite severe, causing each step he took to resurface the heart-wrenching pain of that moment.
"Even with the cultivation of a Grand Soul Master, you might not touch his hem, let alone in your current state," the one-eyed black-robed instructor remarked, his expression growing frostier as he scrutinized Lin Xi. "Why do you endure this punishment without a hint of resentment in your eyes? Are you so inherently placid that you lack any fighting spirit?"
Curiously, Lin Xi looked at the instructor and replied, "I do not comprehend your words, but I believe that the more stringent a teacher is, the greater the benefits for the student."
The one-eyed black-robed instructor regarded the youthful and fragile Lin Xi and Bian Linghan with a cold laugh. "I truly do not know if you are merely self-comforting or foolish. Do you truly believe that Xu Shengmo regards you differently because of your chosen status and your association with Bian Linghan in this special course?"
"Why not?" Lin Xi paused, slightly taken aback. "The student indeed thinks so."
The one-eyed black-robed instructor cast a glance at Lin Xi. "Xu Shengmo and I have never been aligned, and our paths diverge significantly."
Lin Xi hesitated for a moment before awkwardly asking, "Is there... personal vendetta within the academy?"
The one-eyed black-robed instructor scoffed, "Wherever there are people, there will be strife, much like the natural divisions among you—earthlings, silver spoons, and border savages. In the few days since entering the academy, have you not noticed the clear boundaries formed by your backgrounds and personalities? Even among the new students of the Truce Department, this is evident, let alone across the entire department and the whole Qingluan Academy."
Lin Xi's brow furrowed even tighter.
The instructor's words were not difficult to comprehend; indeed, in the past few days, small cliques had naturally formed among the new students of the Truce Department, with Li Kaiyun, Tang Ke, Hua Jiyue, and Bian Linghan being among those he was closest to. However, as a sanctuary of honor and dreams, he had originally believed that every instructor's intentions were noble, and both Mu Qing and this seemingly fierce one-eyed black-robed instructor had left him with good impressions. If Xu Shengmo were merely to criticize him because he was chosen by the one-eyed black-robed instructor, his opinion of Xu Shengmo would undoubtedly plummet.
"Teacher Tong, what caused the rift between you and him?" After a brief moment of contemplation, Lin Xi inquired earnestly.
The one-eyed black-robed instructor picked up a black bow, slinging a quiver of arrows across his back, and began to shoot with precision, each arrow striking the red center of the targets in the forest with a rhythm and grace that left a profound impression on Lin Xi and Bian Linghan. The lesson had already commenced, yet he did not conceal the truth, explaining coldly as he shot continuously, "Xu Shengmo and I come from different backgrounds; I am also of humble origins, while he hails from privilege. His talent and cultivation have always surpassed mine. However, we both earned two identical badges, one of which I received even before him. Our greatest divergence lies in our fundamentally different perspectives on matters. Alongside Professors Qin and Vice Dean Xia, I have consistently opposed one of his proposals. This is the primary reason for the clear boundaries between him and me, as well as among some instructors and professors at the academy. Most professors who disagree with us do not possess his narrow-mindedness."
Lin Xi observed every subtle movement of the one-eyed black-robed instructor, including the gentle flick of his fingers on the arrow's fletching as it was released. He furrowed his brow and asked, "What kind of proposal has led to such irreconcilable differences?"
"He advocates for the teaching of living subjects," the one-eyed black-robed instructor replied coldly. "He wants students to engage directly with enemies, to assassinate prisoners and captives. According to his belief, the most authentic killing will enhance the students' skills."
Both Lin Xi and Bian Linghan were taken aback, exchanging glances. "There is some merit to this proposition," Lin Xi inhaled deeply and said, looking at the one-eyed black-robed instructor. "Especially in the Truce Department, since most will eventually face the most brutal of slaughters... Such methods could indeed cultivate more formidable students. So, Teacher Tong, why do you oppose this proposal?"
"Our reasoning is quite simple. In battle, killing an opponent is understandable, but using captured foes for classroom slaughter lacks any sense of honor and seems rather cruel... Xu Shengmo and his supporters deem us overly compassionate, yet we believe this is human nature, as even the dean has previously opposed this notion." The one-eyed black-robed instructor paused, looking at Lin Xi and Bian Linghan. "The dean once said that even the weapons of slaughter produced by Qingluan Academy must retain a semblance of humanity, understanding that they do not kill for the sake of killing."
"Are you attempting to subtly alter this world with your beliefs?" Lin Xi thought of the middle-aged man he had never met, a silent, bitter smile forming on his lips. "It seems there are quite a few who stand with him... Why are you sharing this with us? Are you not concerned we might suspect you of trying to sway us?" After shaking his head, Lin Xi looked directly at the one-eyed black-robed instructor.
The one-eyed black-robed instructor scoffed disdainfully, a genuine sneer surfacing on his face. "I merely want you to understand that whether they are instructors at Qingluan Academy or high-ranking officials in the Yunqin Empire, they are all flesh-and-blood individuals with their own desires and perspectives. Within both the academy and the empire, factions arise from power struggles and self-righteousness. I do not care which faction you choose to join in the future; I only hope that the students I personally teach retain a sense of humanity in their hearts, and approach each individual with caution and skepticism, for this can enable a Windwalker to survive longer."
Both Lin Xi and Bian Linghan recognized the goodwill in the one-eyed black-robed instructor's words, and in the tranquil woods, they both bowed earnestly. "We are grateful for your teachings."
The one-eyed black-robed instructor ceased speaking, and Lin Xi and Bian Linghan naturally each took up a black longbow. "By the way," Lin Xi suddenly recalled something, smiling as he said, "Could it be that Instructor Xu harbors grievances against you, hence his disdain for this bow and arrow? During today's martial arts lesson, he mentioned that any weapon should be seen simply as an extension of the body, akin to one's own limbs, except for arrows, which are foolish objects that lose control once released."
The one-eyed black-robed instructor curled his lip in disdain, too proud to offer any commentary.
Lin Xi continued with a smile, "Teacher, is it true that at Qingluan Academy, we have no techniques to speak of? Are we merely honing the simplest methods of evasion and attack through relentless combat?"
"That is merely his assertion," the one-eyed black-robed instructor retorted with a cold laugh. "If that were the case, just wait until he teaches you the Qingluan Twenty-Four Forms in the next lesson. These forms inherently comprise numerous actions for combat, and when it comes to wielding weapons, how to draw a sword swiftly or strike from the most difficult angles is indeed a technique."
"Very well, one last question." Having grown familiar with the instructor's temperament, Lin Xi nodded obediently and asked earnestly, "If you and Instructor Xu were to engage in a life-and-death confrontation, who would emerge as the more formidable?"
"In this Qingluan Academy, should we face each other unexpectedly, his chances of killing me would be somewhat greater. However, outside... should I wish to kill him, my chances of success would be significantly higher." The one-eyed black-robed instructor furrowed his brow, gazing deeply at Lin Xi as he spoke slowly.
Lin Xi smiled faintly, choosing not to prolong the conversation and instead focusing intently on repeating the actions of drawing the bow, nocking the arrow, and controlling the string.
However, this time, the one-eyed black-robed instructor coldly stated, "From this moment onward, you may release your arrows."
"Can we officially shoot arrows now?" Lin Xi felt a surge of joy, a sense of pride swelling within him. "It seems my archery practice has progressed quite well."
"To achieve the utmost precision in striking, it is not only essential to maintain an accurate bow posture; more importantly, one must control the vibrations of the bowstring and their subtle effects on the arrow's flight, while also perceiving how the changing wind influences the arrow in motion. In a windless environment, among ten border soldiers, perhaps only two would consistently hit the target within a hundred paces."
The one-eyed black-robed instructor did not notice Lin Xi's pride; he merely stated a fact with calmness. "Wind can cause arrows to deviate, but a Windwalker must learn to remain unaffected by the wind, using it to their advantage."
"Whoosh!"
As he spoke, Lin Xi's first arrow was released, striking the lower half of the target directly in front of him—if it were a person, it would have hit their foot.
Lin Xi chuckled softly, feeling no embarrassment, and once more focused intently on drawing the bow, nocking the arrow, and controlling the string.
One after another, the black feathers of the arrows soared through the wind in the forest.
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