Mingchao: The Survival Journey of a Comedian

Chapter 51 This is the real nurturing (The End)

Pushing open the door, he was surprised to find Ji Yan nowhere to be seen.

You know, that guy is even more punctual than me; you can tell just by how early he gets up.

Could it be that my training this morning made the other person too tired?

Amidst a whirlwind of thoughts, he finally tiptoed to the other person's door and cautiously knocked. However, the room remained silent. Time slipped by unnoticed. Remembering the echo in his mind, he silently apologized and slowly pushed open the tightly closed door.

"Huo Huo...?"

The room was very tidy, with all the items arranged neatly around the room, and a strong smell of medicine wafted through the air.

There was a piece of paper on the desk, pressed down by a pen; that was the only messy spot, indicating the person had been hurriedly doing something.

However, his purpose was not there; he merely glanced at it before looking towards the bed.

As expected, the little child remained fast asleep in bed, quietly curled up in the corner, clutching the blanket tightly. Even when the door was slightly ajar, his sleep was undisturbed.

Sunlight streamed gently through the gaps in the curtains, falling softly on the child, though it seemed slightly dazzling, causing him to furrow his brow.

She then rolled over and hid deeper into the center of the bed, burying her face in the soft bedding to avoid the light.

She had changed into loose, comfortable pajamas, revealing her usually well-organized lifestyle.

"..."

My girlish heart is fluttering! Why doesn't he buy a camera?!

Is it too late for him to leave the room now, go buy a camera, take pictures, and then wake up?

Wait, I don't think I have much money on me? After all, it's still a while before payday.

—Damn money! That stopped his restless thoughts.

The first thing he'll do when he gets paid is definitely buy a camera! He'll have plenty of time to document things about her after that!

"……teacher?"

I was just about to go over and pinch their cheek when they weren't looking, but the next moment we just stared at each other, and I awkwardly hid my hand behind my back, coughing a few times as if I didn't care.

"Cough cough cough... It's time, I'll come and wake you..."

"I knocked but there was no response, so I pushed the door open and came in myself... I'm sorry..."

Seeing the panicked look in the other person's eyes, I felt even more guilty. After all, it's really impolite to have someone suddenly barge into your room while you're sleeping.

I've corrupted the child again.

"It's not the teacher's fault! It's my own fault for not keeping track of the time and causing you trouble..."

"I...I'll change my clothes and come out right away!"

Seeing the other person hurriedly grabbing their clothes and putting them on in a panic, he quickly waved his hand, indicating there was no need to be so nervous. Then, he stumbled out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Ji Yan watched as the other person left his room, his movements slowing as he quickly focused his attention on the desk. Fortunately, it hadn't been touched; the paper was still under the pen.

Relieved, I quickly put on my clothes, went to my desk, and stuffed the paper into the drawer.

"...How did I oversleep?"

"Ji Yan, you really are..."

He had seriously underestimated the side effects of overusing his resonance ability; he hadn't expected to lose track of time so much. He patted his head in annoyance and shook his head.

But he was somewhat relieved that the other person hadn't seen the note on the desk; otherwise, he wouldn't know what would have happened.

Meanwhile, Mo Wunian, who was waiting outside the door, was also busy, repeatedly practicing the standard swordsmanship of the Night Return Army in his mind, since he hadn't used it for a while.

Most of the time, he used his own sword technique, which was both highly effective and efficient.

Combined with his medical talent, he was practically invincible.

But unfortunately, the student I mentioned didn't exist.

It's definitely not possible to heal wounds simultaneously with mental energy like he does during a large-scale attack, fighting and healing at the same time.

"I probably will...after all, it was Xiaobai who taught me."

"Speaking of which, he's a general now..."

I don't know what her personality is like. Is she just arrogant, or is she really so proud that she looks down on any weak person?

The former is fine, but if it's really the latter, then it will be much more troublesome.

Ji Yan was destined to clash with his opponent. Given his personality as a student, he would undoubtedly lose if he were to encounter Ge Shu, who was still a general at the time!

It's not that he favors his own students, it's just... it's just that his personality makes him easy to bully!

He nodded in agreement, and after convincing himself, he turned to look at Ji Yan, who had already come out, and smiled. Then he led the other man back to the open space.

"Keep an eye on the heat."

"Let me first demonstrate to you a complete set of the Night Return Army's standard sword techniques."

"If there's anything you don't understand, I'll demonstrate it for you a few more times, and then you can try practicing it."

Standing in front of his opponent, recalling the sword techniques Xiaobai had taught him, he slowly picked up the wooden sword in his hand:

The sword's shadow moved swiftly through the air like flowing water, leaving trails of silvery white. Holding the longsword, he slowly closed his eyes.

With each breath, the tip of the sword trembled slightly; each swing was precise and powerful, each move embodying the essence of swordsmanship.

Slash, blade spin, sword thrust. Every movement was executed with utmost precision.

And this time he didn't add anything extra; he properly demonstrated it to the other party.

Finally, he deftly twirled his sword in mid-air and sheathed it behind him, opened his eyes, and exhaled.

Thankfully I haven't forgotten; I still have some recollection of it.

"Ji Yan, do you understand the essence of this sword technique?"

"Demonstrate it first, and I'll see if there are any problems."

Hearing the other person's voice, Ji Yan finally snapped out of his shock, nodded firmly, and imitated his movements, trying to swing his weapon as well. Although it looked a bit clumsy and stiff, he thought it was already quite good.

"Keep your feet firmly planted and lower your center of gravity to ensure the stability and fluidity of each movement."

"This sword technique is more defensive; it doesn't need to be so offensive."

Correcting the other's movements, he demonstrated the final thrust once more. Seeing that Ji Yan still seemed a little confused, he could only scratch his head.

"Ji Yan, this move, while offensive, also serves to defend your lower body."

"Your aggressiveness is too obvious, making it easy for someone to find a weakness that could cause you to lose your balance and get into trouble."

"...To be precise, this entire sword technique is primarily for defense."

"You have a strong desire to kill."

Unexpectedly, this seemingly innocent young man harbored such a heart. He nodded thoughtfully, then was stunned by what the other person said next.

"But...that's what I felt from my teacher."

"Although the movements were indeed defensive, the teacher gave me the feeling that he was trying to lure others into attacking him."

"They didn't care about their own safety at all."

Startled, he turned his head and met those golden eyes. He could tell from them that the other person hadn't lied—it was truly a mistake in his own words.

"..."

Well, maybe he used his original swordsmanship too much, and it affected this swordsmanship as well.

So, it turns out his deep-seated murderous intent was the reason? It seems I've wronged someone again!

"...Don't worry about that."

"This sword technique is primarily for self-defense; it's possible that the teacher's own sword technique influenced it somewhat."

"Just don't follow suit and learn bad habits."

Slightly embarrassed, he shifted his gaze to the side, then quickly turned back, gesturing for the other person to adjust their mindset and demonstrate again.

Sure enough, after his reminder, the opponent's swordsmanship looked much smoother and more comfortable. He nodded in satisfaction and prepared to have him do some basic training after the demonstration.

"Teacher, may I see the sword technique you originally used?"

Just as she handed the water bottle to the other person, a small hand gently tugged at her sleeve, golden eyes filled with pleading, causing her to pause in her actions. A hint of doubt arose in her heart, and she tilted her head.

"What, you want to see my original swordsmanship?"

"...It's not right for you."

"Is it really not possible?"

She was once again tempted by the other person's pitiful expression, and her heart was wavering.

What's wrong with just demonstrating it to him?! It's not like you'll lose a skin, why are you being so dramatic!

He closed his eyes and turned his head away from the other person, thinking that this would block their gaze and prevent him from softening. But the next moment, he felt someone hug him and nuzzle against him.

"teacher……"

"...just this once"

Men who know how to be charming have the best lives, and so do students who know how to be charming!

Helplessly, he ruffled the other person's long, blue hair, silently pulled it out, squatted down, and gazed at the other person, emphasizing one point.

"Okay, I'll say it once then."

"This sword technique is absolutely not suitable for you to learn right now; the risk level is too high."

"You just need to master the standard swordsmanship of the Night Return Army first."

This time, his tone lacked its usual relaxedness; he was earnestly emphasizing the seriousness of the matter to the other party.

Only after seeing the other person nod affirmatively did he stand up and pick up the wooden sword once more.

Standing in the wind, I calmed myself, felt the rhythm of the surroundings, and took a deep breath, looking straight ahead.

His first move was a swift horizontal sweep, the sword's edge almost skimming the ground. Though it was a wooden sword, it produced a whooshing sound that startled even the onlooker, Ji Yan.

However, the offensive did not stop there. After the sweeping motion, a swift thrust followed, the tip of the sword aimed directly at the vital spot on the chest.

A flicker of horror flashed in Ji Yan's eyes, and his body trembled slightly—this move almost completely exposed his left side, forcing his opponent to either retreat and defend or simply take the hit head-on.

But the other person's next action made him suddenly realize why that person was so vehemently opposed to him learning this sword technique:

The entire process was completely unprepared; every move was solely aimed at killing the person.

Either force your opponent to back down out of fear, or achieve your ultimate goal even at the cost of personal injury.

Either you die, or he dies.

"This sword technique is still the most comfortable to use..."

"...Avoid fire? What's with that expression?"

Sheathing his sword, he suddenly noticed that his student seemed a little off again. Looking closer, he was startled by the shock and heartache in the student's eyes. He could only scratch his head helplessly, momentarily at a loss for words to comfort him.

"This sword technique has almost no defensive openings..."

"Was this how the teacher looked when he went to the battlefield?"

"...Yes, that's right."

"But the teacher is experienced, so don't just follow their lead blindly."

"Mastering this sword technique requires more than just a lot of practical combat experience... it also demands a great deal of determination..."

He was only able to fully unleash the power of this sword technique after he had become accustomed to injuries.

Simply put, it's about taking life and death lightly and fighting if you disagree: the battles are exhilarating!

"……determination?"

"Uh... to put it simply, it's the reason you're working so hard."

"Isn't it true that you need motivation to move forward better?"

This kind of thing is indeed a bit difficult for him to explain. Based on his many years of experience reading online novels, he simply organized his thoughts and explained...

"Just like the reason you want to join the army, isn't it to protect the people around you?"

"It was this belief that prompted you to resolutely go to the battlefield at the age of ten."

"The same applies to sword practice; only with unwavering determination can one gain a firm grasp on everything."

I felt like I was making things sound increasingly far-fetched, and seeing how the child's eyes had changed after my rambling, I felt a pang of guilt.

"Actually..." You don't need to think like that. After all, as your teacher, I can still protect you.

"I see"

No, what do you know? No, how come you suddenly started practicing? No, the movements do look smoother than before?

Staring wide-eyed at Ji Yan as he began practicing again, I felt as if my perception had been altered once more.

So you've really figured out that determination makes you stronger, huh?!

This isn't a shonen manga/shonen novel, you know!

Fortunately, he had a very strong ability to adapt, and within seconds he realized the reality—becoming stronger was a good thing, especially since it was his student who was becoming stronger.

Seeing the person slowly stop and exhale, he leisurely approached and patted the other person's head.

"As expected of you, it seems I, as your teacher, will be overtaken by you if I don't work harder."

"You've found your direction, and your teacher is truly happy for you."

A general's talent is truly exceptional; even an ordinary person like him would have to admit defeat.

This kid has always wanted to protect others, and it seems that after my persuasion, that desire has only grown stronger.

"Um"

"I think I understand why I'm holding this sword."

He nodded silently, turning his gaze to the man who was smiling at him.

If before he only wanted to save the people around him... now he has one more person he clearly wants to protect.

The person who was deprived of so much, who gave everything, yet still wanted to give him everything.

"Then you can definitely do it."

"Until then, this sword in my hand will clear the way for you."

"Of course, we will protect everything you want."

Seeing Ji Huohuo with such lofty ideals at such a young age, he was happy for him, but also felt a little worried:

It's really too difficult to save everyone; it's easy to mess up your own mindset.

But if you shared some of the burden with the other person... perhaps things would be much easier.

Looking up at the sky, it was almost dusk. The afternoon had passed just like that. After packing up, he smiled and waved to Ji Yan, who was still lost in thought.

"Let's go! Tomorrow is a new day!"

"I'll arrange it for you then."

"And we'll be submitting the formal report in a few days. Have you finished altering your clothes?"

"...I asked my mother to help me revise it...it should still be in time, right..."

"Oh... I see..."

He kept muttering to himself the whole way, completely unaware that he had developed some rather strange traits.

Ji Yan didn't say much along the way, only raising his head to look at the person shrouded in the afterglow, finding it a bit dazzling.

He had anticipated this—he would take someone close to him as his teacher.

It will be the best decision he ever made in his life.