“Alright, that’s it for today’s lesson!”
Ling Xiaoyou cheerfully closed the book and wiped all the writing off the blackboard.
What’s this, being a teacher isn’t so hard after all.
Maybe I’m actually a genius perfectly suited for teaching students!
Maybe when I get stronger in the future, I should try taking on a few disciples for fun too?
Ling Xiaoyou pondered, not noticing Xiaoyu’s strange expression.
Xiaoyu kept her head down, staring at her notebook.
If you looked closely, you’d notice her pupils were unfocused—clearly not fully conscious.
Who am I, where am I, what am I supposed to be doing?
The three great philosophical questions swirled in her mind, and it felt like her small head was stuffed full of glue.
Feels like… my brain is going to explode!
“Alright, class is over now, Xiaoyu, you can get ready for bed.”
Ling Xiaoyou patted Xiaoyu on the head, speaking softly.
“…Oh!”
Xiaoyu’s response was delayed, and it wasn’t until Ling Xiaoyou gently pushed her toward the bathroom that she started her bedtime routine in a daze.
Ling Xiaoyou had no intention of watching Xiaoyu wash up.
She returned to Xiaoyu’s bedroom and looked at Bai Shuanglian, who was putting away the blackboard.
“It’s late. Once we’ve said goodbye to Xiaoyu, let’s head back.”
Bai Shuanglian used magic arts to blow the chalk dust into the trash, then looked at Ling Xiaoyou and nodded.
“Alright.”
While waiting for Xiaoyu to finish washing up, Ling Xiaoyou glanced at Bai Shuanglian and suddenly asked,
“Hey, how long do you think it’ll take Xiaoyu to master this cultivation technique?”
“Not sure.”
Bai Shuanglian shook her head.
“Honestly, for a second grade student whose mind isn’t even fully developed yet, this stuff is way too deep and complex.”
“It’ll probably take a lot of time and effort.”
“True.”
Ling Xiaoyou nodded, putting her hands on her hips, full of confidence.
“But with the two of us teaching her, Xiaoyu will definitely pick it up fast!”
“Even if your teaching skills are a bit lacking, I can make up for it!”
Bai Shuanglian glanced at the proud Ling Xiaoyou.
She thought about mentioning how Xiaoyu almost fell asleep earlier, but decided against it.
After saying goodbye to a still-groggy Xiaoyu, the two left Xiaoyu’s house.
By now, the moon was high in the sky—already midnight.
Ling Xiaoyou walked ahead with her hands behind her back, gazing at the few stars above.
She thought to herself.
“By the way…”
Bai Shuanglian’s voice came from behind.
Ling Xiaoyou turned around but didn’t stop walking, moving backwards as she asked,
“What’s up?”
At Ling Xiaoyou’s question, Bai Shuanglian hesitated, then looked at her and asked,
“What do you think of me as a teacher?”
“You… Hmm, not bad.”
Ling Xiaoyou wasn’t sure why Bai Shuanglian suddenly asked this, but she gave it some thought and replied honestly.
“Not as good as me, but still pretty decent. Sometimes you fill in things I forget to explain.”
“If you practice more, you could become a great teacher.”
Bai Shuanglian nodded, then tried to sound casual.
“Then, how about I practice with you?”
“Practice with me?”
Ling Xiaoyou eyed Bai Shuanglian suspiciously.
Even though she seemed a bit uneasy, her usual calm expression gave nothing away.
“Yeah. I don’t really have any other friends—you’re the only one I can think of.”
Bai Shuanglian nodded.
“Hmm, fine. I guess I can’t say no to you.”
Ling Xiaoyou felt it was a bit odd, but Bai Shuanglian’s words made her seem a little pitiful, so she decided to help her out.
For some reason, Ling Xiaoyou felt a small sense of delight, probably just because Bai Shuanglian had come to her for help.
She convinced herself, then looked at Bai Shuanglian and asked,
“So, can you teach me anything?”
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to teach me how to slay demons and exorcise spirits?”
Bai Shuanglian felt a bit relieved that Ling Xiaoyou agreed.
She wasn’t good at making up excuses, and if not for Hong Lingyan’s request, she would have told Ling Xiaoyou the real reason already.
“Of course not.”
Bai Shuanglian shook her head.
“You know that we Exorcists have a fire-type spell that’s especially effective against spirits, right?”
“I actually do know that!”
Ling Xiaoyou nodded, pinching her small chin as she tried to remember.
“I think it’s called… Yang Flame, right?”
“That’s right. I can help you increase your resistance to the Yang Flame spell.”
Bai Shuanglian paused, then continued.
“That’s a kind of teaching too, isn’t it?”
“Huh?”
Ling Xiaoyou didn’t pay much attention to the rest of Bai Shuanglian’s explanation.
She stared at Bai Shuanglian in disbelief, looking her up and down.
Was this person sick or sleep-deprived? Why else would she say something like that?
“You’re telling me, as an Exorcist, you want to help me—a spirit—build resistance to the very Yang Flame spell Exorcists use to deal with spirits?”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Bai Shuanglian nodded.
“Aren’t you worried that once I have resistance, I’ll go off and cause trouble?”
Ling Xiaoyou asked again.
“I trust you.”
Bai Shuanglian didn’t say much, but those words landed softly in Ling Xiaoyou’s heart, stirring up gentle ripples.
Ling Xiaoyou was touched.
She hadn’t expected Bai Shuanglian to trust her.
Still, she tried to act nonchalant, pouting.
“Hmph, who knows what you’re really thinking!”
“Then…”
A slender white hand gently took Ling Xiaoyou’s smooth little hand.
Bai Shuanglian looked at her, Ling Xiaoyou’s small figure reflected in her eyes.
“Do you want to feel what’s in my heart?”
At those words, Ling Xiaoyou instinctively glanced at Bai Shuanglian’s chest.
The memory of that soft, cloud-like sensation in her hand flashed back—impossible to forget.
Instantly, her cheeks turned bright red.
She quickly shook her head.
“N-no! It’s fine! I believe you, okay!”
With that, Ling Xiaoyou pulled her hand away, coughed lightly, and said, “Enough of that—let’s talk about how you’re going to help me train my Yang Flame resistance.”
“How do you plan to teach me?”