CHAPTER 332: CHAPTER 330: JUST BECAUSE I’M YOUR MASTER

Ming Shuiyun stood nervously outside the door, rubbing her hands and occasionally tiptoeing and looking around, thinking about what she ought to say next.

As soon as the door opened, she immediately said, "Teacher Hongle—"

"Is it official business?" Le Yu interrupted her decisively and asked.

Ming Shuiyun shook her head, "No..."

"Then are you here to discuss poetry and the distant lands with me?" Le Yu blocked the doorway, calmly saying, "You said this afternoon you understood what I meant. I believed you... but you’re so disappointing. I don’t want to deal with you anymore. See you tomorrow—"

"Wait!" Ming Shuiyun extended her foot to block the door, half stepping into the room, "I have something to discuss with you."

"It’s too late. I’ve already taken a shower, and I never work overtime at night. Balancing work and life is a required course for adults, and I’m starting by refusing overtime... let’s talk tomorrow."

"It can’t be tomorrow!"

"What’s wrong, did you catch the disease of ’I’ll die if I don’t vent my anger on you tonight’?"

"I’m not angry, I, I..." Ming Shuiyun looked at Le Yu with a complicated expression, "... I just want to have a proper talk."

"Does it have to be now, here, must be said?"

"Yes!" Ming Shuiyun said resolutely, "It has to be now, here, must be said!"

"Why?"

"Because if I wake up tomorrow, I won’t have the courage anymore."

Ming Shuiyun’s gaze lowered, even though she was the master and he the servant, she didn’t dare to even look him in the eye, "For me, many things must be done with that burst of energy from the heart or I would miss the chance altogether."

"Teacher Hongle, you’re very capable, very decisive, swift in action, but I can’t do that. I drag my feet, even knowing what I should do, still need the world to make way for me."

Le Yu looked at the swirl of hair on Ming Shuiyun’s head, noticing she was nearly talking to her own toes.

Clearly wanting to say something brave, but it sounded like pleading.

Humble like a dropout holding a handwritten resume applying at a big company, or like Don Quixote charging forward knowing the other is a true giant.

Le Yu wanted to directly drive her away, completely implementing his "Sword Master Training Plan," but swallowed his words.

’Ice Blood Physique’ is truly cruel; it makes Le Yu cruel when he shouldn’t be, just because he harbors murderous intent; it makes Le Yu soft-hearted when he should be ruthlessly decisive, simply because he feels compassion.

Le Yu knows if he truly refuses this conversation, Ming Shuiyun will obediently leave, but in the future, Le Yu would only get an ordinary whiteboard-level Sword Master card [Imperial Princess, Ming Shuiyun], or maybe even a flawed gray-level card [Weak Girl, Ming Shuiyun].

The upside is Le Yu can fully unleash his abilities without worrying about the Sword Master dragging him down. The downside is, of course, the Sword Master would be of no help, unlike [Unity of Heart, Ming Shuangli] class epic hero-level Sword Master, who almost single-handedly carried Niruo, allowing Niruo to loaf and idle freely. Le Yu would be lying if he said he wasn’t envious.

Most importantly, although Le Yu was in the Imperial Academy teaching because of his master’s task, due to the educational propaganda he received in the previous life, Le Yu also disciplined himself with the character of a teacher, unable to turn a blind eye to Ming Shuiyun as a student. The spirit of professions like Weibo political commentator, Zhihu educator, and Mudan emotional master burned fiercely in him, and it’s time to show his true skills!

To cultivate a rare elite-level Sword Master, to fulfill his desire to teach, moreover to...

...reduce a silent adult.

The courage to tell others about mighty matters, but others don’t want to listen, don’t understand, don’t respect, instead thinking you’re just ’attention-seeking’, ’making excuses’, ’why do you have so many issues that others don’t’... Le Yu understands.

That’s why he’s increasingly reluctant to reveal his feelings, growing more silent.

Those emotions raging like wild beasts in youth are indeed trivial but not shameful. It’s just unfortunate he only understood this much later.

Looking at Ming Shuiyun, Le Yu fleetingly saw the shadow of Zero Machine—that silent adult seemingly manufactured on a production line. He sighed inwardly and said, "Let’s take a walk by the Meteor Lake, wait for me to change clothes."

During this brief moment, Le Yu already figured out how to resolve the current situation. Now Qian Yuya should be meeting with Qin Yueshi. Not letting Qian Yuya reveal Zhengwei’s death is currently the top priority. He’ll go to the bedroom to calm Qian Yuya first, then let Qin Yueshi leave with Qian Yuya afterward, while completing the life discussion with Ming Shuiyun tonight...

Separating problems simplifies things.

However, as Le Yu turned around, footsteps suddenly echoed in the stairwell causing Ming Shuiyun’s face to drastically change as she ducked into Le Yu’s room.

"It’s Lecturer Zhu Yan!" Ming Shuiyun immediately closed the door, looking terrified, "He’s coming up!"

Students aren’t allowed into teacher dormitories, let alone her, a female student, seeking a male teacher late at night—even if she’s a glorious imperial princess, even if their relationship is Sword Master and sword sheath, Zhu Yan wouldn’t show the least bit of leniency.

Yesterday, when Ming Chaoyan got caught sleeping in class, Zhu Yan punished him with standing, remedial lessons, and palm strikes, making Ming Chaoyan cry. Even Ming Shuangli behaves very well in front of Zhu Yan, not daring to step out of line at all.

"He lives here, passing by is normal." Le Yu shrugged, he wasn’t a student, didn’t plan to work here long-term, naturally wouldn’t fear the ’Fierce Tiger of the Academy’ Zhu Yan: "Wait until he leaves, then go downstairs and wait for me—"

Step.

Zhu Yan’s heavy, powerful footsteps halted outside in the corridor, and a moment later, Le Yu heard the sound of a cigarette being lit.

"...Ah." Le Yu suddenly recalled, "He seems to live on this floor; he usually smokes for half an hour after dinner before going back..."

Ming Shuiyun exchanged glances with Le Yu, then went to sit on a chair in the living room, saying, "Then there’s no need to go out; half an hour is more than enough to finish our conversation."

Le Yu glanced at the bedroom door and shrugged, "Alright. What do you want to discuss? Career, family, or ideals?"

"Us. I want to discuss our relationship."

"...What a peculiar way to put it." Le Yu leaned against the wall, folding his arms, "Hasn’t our relationship already been established? Do you still have any questions about it?"

Though Le Yu was willing to talk to her, he was merely giving her a chance to debate. If her statements were too immature or childish, she shouldn’t blame Le Yu for giving her a harsh lesson in reality.

"But our relationship shouldn’t be like this," Ming Shuiyun said softly, "I... I told my friend about you and me..."

"Your friend, that wouldn’t happen to have recently changed their surname to ’Ming’, right?"

"...Hmm."

"Great, you told your best friend about us, and now you’re planning to follow her advice to improve our contractual relationship—now I can only hope you didn’t vent about my special habits at your girlfriends’ gathering."

"Can you not talk like that!"

Ming Shuiyun suddenly exclaimed, "If you’re dissatisfied with me, just say it directly, why must you be so... so..."

"Because I’m not allowed to be dissatisfied with you—"

"Stop trying to fool me!" Ming Shuiyun shook her head, "If you weren’t really dissatisfied, you wouldn’t talk like this. You’re deliberately using this roundabout way to provoke me, to anger me, it’s even more uncomfortable than direct criticism."

"Because I’m just this sarcastic jerk." Leyu shrugged, "Born with a foul mouth, I’m sorry. You’ve just had some bad luck; I’m not the best in combat or social skills, but based on the current situation, I do feel confident I can be the best in teaching—although I haven’t even come up with what the eight wonders of the Silver Blood are."

Ming Shuiyun shook her head firmly, "No, you’re not, you’re just handling your relationship with me this way on purpose."

"Says who, I talk even harsher when I diss my sister, you don’t believe me? Go ask her, she can curse me with you all day long—"

"Because you want to protect her!"

Leyu’s body shook.

In the bedroom, Qin Yueshi’s body also twitched.

Qian Yuya pressed her ear against the door, listening intently to the conversation outside.

Leyu panicked, "Stop spouting nonsense—"

"I’ve long been prepared to burn myself out for my ideals, even if I die that night, I would only have regrets but not remorse." Ming Shuiyun stood up and met Leyu’s gaze, "You’re the same, the evidence is that you’ve deliberately built a wall to reject forming closer relationships with anyone, even distancing yourself from family. I don’t know the old you, but I’m sure you didn’t treat your sister like this before!"

"You’ve resolved to die alone, so you don’t want anyone to grieve over your departure, isn’t that right!?"

Grass (a plant).

Clearly the premises and arguments are wrong, but somehow the entire reasoning process is flawless—Leyu doesn’t even have to ask, he knows that Qin Yueshi in the bedroom must have misunderstood!

"What a load of bullshit!" Leyu waved his big hand, "I just want to use this way of talking to make you behave, don’t cause me so much trouble—like secretly telling my information to your best friends, it’s hard to guard against a traitor at home, alas!"

"Yes, of course, you’re doing it to make me behave." Ming Shuiyun said, "I know I’m not as excellent as Sister Shuangli, nor do I have anything special compared to others, I can’t help you much, I can only watch you fight from behind... but I don’t want that."
"What do you want then? Command me in battle? Give you four commands each round, ’Attack’, ’Defend’, ’Run’, ’Use skill’? Or shout before battle, ’It’s your turn, go Qin Le Yin’?"
"I said, don’t talk to me like this!"

Ming Shuiyun raised her fist, seemingly wanting to make a move, but after realizing the gap in combat strength, she lowered it, "I want to become your companion... a companion who shares life and death."

"Have you been reading some hot-blooded novels, getting all fired up?" Leyu sighed, "Since you’ve seen through it, here’s the deal, I can stop talking like that, but you obediently follow my orders and watch over me quietly from the side, I guarantee you can survive till the end—"

"Is merely surviving enough?"

Ming Shuiyun shook her head, "My father once told me, ’Is merely surviving enough? No, I want more’—if we can really win, I hope it’s a victory you and I achieve together."

"Do you think you can increase the odds of winning this game?" Leyu laughed, "Aren’t you overestimating yourself?"
"Yes!" Ming Shuiyun said stubbornly, "If you’re willing to open your heart and cooperate sincerely with me, it will definitely increase the chances of victory!"

Leyu squinted his eyes, his tone turning unfriendly, "You’re really looking for trouble—"
"If you treat your sister like that to protect her; then you’re treating me like this to use me, right?"

Ming Shuiyun stared at Leyu, who said nothing.

He still wasn’t used to lying.

"Your first wish is for me to despise you, so that when you make your second and third wishes, you won’t have any emotional burdens." Ming Shuiyun said softly, "At first, I didn’t understand why you would make such a wish, your behavior was completely irrational. But after listening to your first lecture, I gradually understood..."

"Just like Zhengwei Jing, you both possess a cruel yet terrifying tenderness. My friend warned me, you could face me with a more perfect approach, control me, guide me, you definitely could do it—to deal with a teenage girl, you must have a lot of methods, there’s no need to complicate it so much."

"The only reason is that you want me to hate you, right?" Ming Shuiyun looked up at Leyu, "Because you don’t want to deceive me with sweet words."

"Coincidentally, I don’t want to be kept in the dark either." She held out her hand, "Let’s have a sincere collaboration then—I’ll use you, and you use me. At the very end of this long journey, we will fulfill the original promise."

The room plunged into a brief silence.

Ming Shuiyun held her breath, her heart pounding wildly—she had done her best. No matter what, she didn’t want to stake all her chips on the sword sheath, she had to participate in this game personally.

Even if the future is an abyss, she would walk it herself.

Leyu extended his hand.

He messed up her hair.

"Go back to sleep." Leyu said calmly, "Don’t think too much about random stuff, you’ll realize how embarrassing what you said is when you wake up tomorrow."

Ming Shuiyun brushed off his hand, and asked, "Why do you refuse?"
"Why should I accept?" Leyu laughed, "Regardless of whether what you said is right or wrong, if you think you can change my decision with a few words, then you’re truly... underestimating me."

Ming Shuiyun gritted her teeth, staring at Leyu, and after a moment of silence said, "You can’t refuse."

"Why?"

Ming Shuiyun blurted out, "Because I’m your master!"

Wow!

In the bedroom, Qin Yueshi instinctively covered Qian Yuya’s mouth, the two exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and curiosity reflected in each other’s eyes.

Master!

Who would’ve thought there would be such hidden filth within the Imperial Academy!

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