Eternal Night - Chapter 8
"No need. I've already said, what you need to practice is the feeling. When someone stands in front of you, they will move, and that movement will create a feeling of your breath. You don't need to practice accuracy to know where they are."
The man in blue was a very good teacher, Xinghun affirmed once again. He recalled the shooting coach who taught him in his previous life. He had also told him the same thing: "The target is in front of you, but you're not aiming at the bullseye. Instead, you're trying to feel the position of the bullseye relative to the crosshair in your hand. Only in this way can you reach the level of hitting the target without aiming."
The principles are all interconnected, and Xinghun grasped a new level of understanding.
"Master, are all the children who came with me the same as me? Learning different martial arts from different masters?" For the first time, Xinghun thought of 99 and the other three children.
“Everyone has different potential, which is not apparent at first. Once you receive the Star Soul Jade Token, you become my disciple.”
What will Moon Soul learn? Rainbow Robe? And Sunlight and Eagle Feather? Star Soul tried hard to find some clues from their names. In the end, he gave up on all his guesses.
He tentatively asked again, "Does that mean all of Master's disciples are named Xinghun?"
The man in blue paused for a moment before replying, "They are all dead. Only if the previous Star Soul dies can you receive this jade token."
Will I die someday too?
"I hope I will never see that jade pendant again... Get up!" The man in blue's voice changed from a sigh to a stern one.
Xinghun was startled, yet felt a touch of gratitude. He was actually quite lucky to have come to this world. He had previously had 99 and his master in green robes, neither of whom wanted him to die.
However, he had to conceal his strength. The sooner he graduated, the sooner he would face danger. He didn't think he was foolish enough to rush to his death. As for his master in blue, he figured he would be happy to see him progress step by step.
In the dark underground chamber, he at least got along well with his master in green robes. The darkness and time there were enough for him to process the troubles brought about by reincarnation. Three years later, Xinghun thought to himself, "I'll just muddle along like this. I need to hone my internal strength, lightness skills, and hidden weapons. Only when I have enough resources to protect myself can I get rid of the name Xinghun."
"Starting tomorrow, you will go to your teacher's place during the day to practice calligraphy, reading, playing the zither, chess, and painting. In the evening, we will practice our skills again."
"Me alone? Or are there a lot of kids?" Xinghun laughed, almost forgetting that this was a school, a school that trains assassins.
"You must work hard, or the master will punish you!" The man in blue seemed worried.
His tone reminded Xinghun of the times he skipped school in his past life and was chased and beaten by his father, making him laugh even more: "Master, I'm most afraid of studying. If the teacher hits me with a board, can I use my lightness skill to run away?"
The man in blue couldn't help but laugh: "As long as you can escape."
"Were there any girls who went into the valley with me?"
After a long silence, the man in blue said in a dry, cold voice, "Yes... but their missions are ones you would never want to take on."
Xinghun was startled. The man in blue was staring at him with a ghostly gaze, making him feel that he could not hide even in the dark.
With a dry laugh, Xinghun changed the subject: "What kind of person are you, sir?"
The man in blue's usually calm and expressionless eyes showed a slight change, a radiance seemed to appear on his pale face, and his tone softened: "A very good person."
How good is it?
"versatile."
Xinghun rolled his eyes. Being multi-talented is good enough? He could become the top scholar by simply copying a few poems by Li Bai, Du Fu, or Bai Juyi. He wasn't concerned about going to school tomorrow; he was more focused on whether he could see 99 and the others, his heart filled with anticipation.
A beauty as beautiful as a flower beyond the clouds
Standing outside the bamboo house, the tinkling sound of a zither drifted in from inside. The man in green held Xinghun's hand and stood outside quietly listening for a while before whispering, "Go on, your master will come to pick you up from school this afternoon."
At this thought, Xinghun wanted to burst out laughing. Life in the valley was becoming more and more enjoyable; he wondered if the teacher there would glare and puff out his beard when angry. If he failed his exams, would Master Qingyi, like his father in his previous life, have to apologize and beg for forgiveness in front of the teacher?
Xinghun suppressed a laugh and tiptoed into the bamboo house. The melodious sound of the zither filled the air, enough to soothe the mind. He looked around at the house's furnishings and secretly admired it. The master here must be a sage-like figure. Thinking this, he suppressed his arrogance, lightened his steps, and stood at the door with his head bowed like a dutiful student.
"You are Xinghun?" The music stopped, and a gentle voice took its place.
Xinghun looked up in astonishment and saw the beautiful woman, his mouth agape: "Fairy Sister?"
The beautiful woman burst out laughing, her voice as melodious as the sound of a piano.
Xinghun stood there blankly, letting the beautiful lady's fair hands stroke his face. "Tsk tsk, this face... no wonder she sent it to me! From now on, I'll be your teacher. What did you call me just now? Your mouth is so sweet! Do I look like a fairy?"
Xinghun nodded, his eyes fixed on her. He couldn't be presumptuous with such beauty before him, but indulging his eyes was enough. He looked at her happily and said, "I like to call you Fairy Sister!"
"I like it too!" The fairy sister gently tapped Xinghun's forehead with her jade finger, and he became even more dizzy. "I didn't expect that the Green-Clad Monster could have such an adorable little disciple. From now on, stay with me and don't go back. I don't want to stay any longer and end up like your ghostly master."
The sweet, complaining voice sent Xinghun's heart soaring to the clouds. He let the beautiful man's delicate hands caress his face, his mind becoming even more confused.
Do you like me?
Xinghun nodded.
"You must listen carefully and learn diligently from whatever I teach you."
Xinghun nodded again. Suddenly, he heard Mr. Beauty's voice turn cold: "You've never been lustful since you were little, will you be able to resist beautiful women when you grow up?"
He snapped out of his daze, took two steps back, and became alert. His face still wore a sweet smile: "There is no woman in the world more beautiful than you, sir."
The handsome gentleman was taken aback by these words, and sighed softly: "I'm getting old, and you will get old too. By the time you grow up, I'll be an old woman."
Xinghun's head started to ache as soon as he heard these words. The women he met in his past life said the same thing, and the women in this life said the same thing. Women are such a hassle.
"Don't just stand there like an idiot, walk a few steps and let me see." The handsome gentleman's expression changed in an instant, and he ordered in a serious tone.
Xinghun was taken aback. Remembering that he had come to be an apprentice, he strode from one end of the room to the other, thinking to himself, "I can't possibly walk in a straight line here, can I?"
"Sigh, you can't even walk properly. This is how you walk." The beautiful lady swayed her slender waist and moved with delicate steps, making Xinghun swallow hard.
"You little pervert, have you seen enough? Go through it again once you've learned it." The beautiful man's voice was like the evening breeze of early summer, and goosebumps popped all over Xinghun's body.
He stared at the handsome man, involuntarily retreating to the doorway, his voice trembling. Pointing at the man, he uttered, "You... Cheng Dieyi!" He then somersaulted and ran out. A god? A monster! He wished he had wings to fly away.
His ankle tightened, his body was pulled back, and he fell heavily to the ground.