Jingliu was cold.
Beautiful.
And she carried the unmistakable air of someone with countless stories behind her.
She was the kind of person people couldn't help but admire.
Under different circumstances,
Ayaka wouldn't have minded spending time getting to know this aloof sword immortal—learning about her past, learning about her swordsmanship.
There was nothing bad about that.
Just... not right now.
Especially after seeing Jingliu walk straight toward her.
Ayaka's expression nearly collapsed.
She was only one step away from blurting out,
"Please don't come over here!"
"There's no need to worry."
"In swordsmanship, I may no longer be his equal."
"But when it comes to teaching others..."
"I have several hundred years more experience than he does."
Jingliu noticed Ayaka's stiff expression.
Unfortunately...she completely misunderstood it.
She simply assumed the girl felt nervous around this unfamiliar "teacher's wife."
"Your foundation isn't as good as my other diligent student."
"So it's only fitting that I teach you."
Jingliu tried to reassure her.
In her eyes, this young lady clearly lacked the temperament of a warrior.
She looked every bit the noble daughter.
Still, since she genuinely wished to learn the sword, Jingliu was willing to teach her.
"I-I..."
"Then... thank you."
Ayaka thanked her, completely against her own will.
Meanwhile, inside her heart, she was screaming:
"I don't want a female teacher!"
Upon hearing Jingliu's evaluation, Chiyo couldn't help feeling delighted.
Wasn't Jingliu basically saying she had talent for learning?
Unlike Kitsune Saiguu, she wasn't the scheming type.
Nor did she possess Ayaka's hidden motives.
She was the most straightforward person present.
Naturally, a compliment like that made her genuinely happy.
"Master~"
"Chiyo truly wants to become stronger."
"You have to train her properly."
Kitsune Saiguu immediately fanned the flames.
While everyone else was occupied, she could go deal with that pink-haired fox.
Better get rid of Yae Miko now, so she wouldn't ruin tonight's grand plan.
"Such a crafty little fox."
Although Su Ran had no idea what Kitsune Saiguu was plotting, he accepted anyway.
He wasn't some demon.
He certainly wasn't going to train Chiyo so hard that she'd have to crawl back to bed tonight.
When it came to teaching others, he and Jing Yuan shared the same philosophy.
As long as the student enjoyed learning, that was enough.
Whether they truly mastered it afterward...wasn't his concern.
Fortunately, as a former general, Chiyo already possessed an excellent foundation.
She was also honest and earnest, without Kitsune Saiguu's hidden agendas.
Even her movements were far more precise than Ayaka's.
She learned quickly.
Although she hadn't fully mastered everything, the outline was already there.
The teacher was happy.
The student was happy.
Almost everyone was satisfied.
Everyone...
except Ayaka.
Quietly, she found herself envying Chiyo.
Wasn't there a saying—
"The crying child gets the milk?"
She might not be as lively as Lady Kitsune Saiguu...
but she certainly wasn't as overly obedient as Lady Chiyo either.
"Calm your mind."
"Su Ran wouldn't want to see you accomplish nothing."
Jingliu didn't understand Ayaka's true reason for learning the sword.
But her stern reminder successfully pulled Ayaka back to focus.
Although she could no longer enjoy Su Ran's close personal instruction, Ayaka herself possessed an exceptionally determined heart.
She truly wanted to learn something impressive—something that would make Su Ran look at her with admiration.
Since she couldn't obtain what she originally wanted, she simply gritted her teeth and devoted herself to training.
At the very least, she wanted him to see her results.
Watching Ayaka become serious, Jingliu nodded in satisfaction.
Jing Yuan had also come from a prestigious background.
Yet back then, she had never seen such unwavering determination in him.
As long as this girl continued to work hard, even if she never became a legendary figure, she would undoubtedly become a master swordswoman.
Among the three students, Jingliu actually thought the highest of Ayaka.
Kitsune Saiguu was only here to liven things up.
Chiyo was being taught by Su Ran.
But Ayaka… was her student.
How could she possibly turn out poorly?
"How about a competition?"
A thought suddenly crossed Jingliu's mind.
She immediately looked toward Su Ran.
"What kind?"
His cold girlfriend was actually taking the initiative to challenge him.
Naturally, he was interested.
"We're each teaching one student."
"Let's set a one-month deadline."
"After that..."
"Have them spar."
"We'll see whose teaching is superior."
She calmly laid out the wager.
Deep down, she still wanted to defeat Su Ran at something.
"...Wait?"
"I'm fighting Lady Chiyo?"
Ayaka pointed at herself, wearing a completely bewildered expression.
Seriously?
Me? Fighting Chiyo?
This was someone who had followed Lady Ei into battle during the Archon War!
A member of the oni race, naturally gifted with overwhelming physical strength.
How was she supposed to fight that?
With what?
Her head?
"Interesting."
Su Ran admitted, he was tempted.
The only problem was...
Jingliu was teaching Ayaka.
While he was teaching Chiyo.
Wasn't that just stacking cheat codes on top of cheat codes?
Chiyo's foundation already far surpassed Ayaka's.
She had survived the Archon War.
In terms of raw ability, she completely outclassed Ayaka.
And now, she also had him as her teacher.
Wasn't this just bullying?
He understood Jingliu's competitive spirit.
But...could one month really transform Ayaka enough to defeat Chiyo?
That sounded like the sort of impossible miracle only an Emanator of Erudition with countless hacks could pull off.
Was Jingliu being a little too confident?
It reminded him of March 7th challenging Fu Hua.
"Only one month?"
"One month is enough."
Jingliu had no intention of asking for more time.
She couldn't exactly request ten years.
If that wasn't possible, what difference was there between one month and one year?
"...Fine."
Su Ran accepted the challenge.
Still, both girls mattered to him.
He really couldn't bear the thought of Ayaka being sent into a duel against Chiyo after only a month of training.
If he had to choose, he admittedly felt a little closer to Ayaka.
"How about we switch students?"
"I can practically make cheat codes."
"That would be even more unfair."
Jingliu shook her head.
"No need."
"I have confidence."
Ayaka: "...I don't. And for the record... I still don't want a female teacher!"
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