This Year’s Assistant Instructors

Xinni and the others headed to the Old Immortal Cave that Shunlin had told them about.

“I did not know there was a fellowship cave in a place like this.”

When Jinhai said that, Shajun and Xinni nodded.

When the three of them reached the front of the Old Immortal Cave, they called inside.

“Haoxuen, Seiran.”

Then the two of them came out from the back of the cave.

“Hm? Senior Brother Jinhai, Senior Brother Shajun, and Senior Sister Xinni, isn’t it? Do you need something?”

“We came because there is something we want to ask you two.”

When Jinhai said that, Haoxuen and Seiran tilted their heads.

“Please come inside. We can at least serve tea.”

When Xinni and the others entered, they were surprised by the well-maintained interior of the cave. The part near the entrance was hardened with earth like an earthen floor, but farther in was a wooden-floored area laid with planks, and tables and chairs had been placed there. Not only that, there was even something like a sunken hearth.

“I can’t believe it has become this clean.”

The three of them seemed surprised. These were things arranged and renovated by Seiran’s father. Seiran placed a kettle filled with water over the fire in the sunken hearth.

“Senior Brother Kou is not here?”

Haoxuen nodded.

“Lately, he seems to be going to the library to investigate something.”

“I see. Then, what we want you to teach us is this.”

Jinhai asked about the role of assistant instructors. Haoxuen and Seiran explained what Kou had taught them in as much detail as possible. Partway through, Seiran brewed tea and handed it to the three of them.

After hearing the explanation, Xinni and the others let out sighs.

“That is impossible for us.”

Xinni let out a weak complaint.

“But if we imitate Senior Brother Yulong and the others, the new disciples will be pitiful.”

Jinhai said with a serious face. The new disciple for whom Jinhai had become assistant instructor was not from a wealthy family like Haoxuen.

When Haoxuen heard that, he advised them that it would be better to prepare a fur mat and a comforter before the full winter arrived. If he had not had the down comforter made with Man-Piercing Bird feathers, he might not have been able to endure Gyorei Cave’s cold winter. That was what Haoxuen thought.

After listening to Haoxuen and the others, Xinni thought that if she seriously intended to become an Immortal, she had to learn from an excellent teacher like Haoxuen and the others had. Xinni and the others belonged to other fellowships, so the deadline for choosing an elder or high disciple to study under had been extended. Even so, they had to choose within another year.

“Seiran, what kind of training are you doing?”

Xinni asked. She was curious about what kind of training Seiran and the others, who were receiving instruction from Kou, who was rumored to be a genius, were doing.

“In the morning, we train in the Broadsword Fox-Flame Technique and the Immortal Qi Body Control Art left behind by the founder. In the afternoon, we go to the demon realm to hunt Iron-Hard Wolves and Twin-Spear Deer, or read books in the library while also practicing alchemy and studying Immortal Secret Script.”

When Xinni heard Seiran’s answer, she felt that it was substantial.

“You are training in alchemy too?”

“Yes. We bought cheap alchemy furnaces and are training by spinning Iron-Hard Wolf thread from Iron-Hard Wolf fur. This training is for cultivating qi control.”

“Iron-Hard Wolf thread…… Why Iron-Hard Wolf thread?”

Shajun asked.

“Iron-Hard Wolf thread and Silver Goat thread can be used as materials for many things, and they sell for a high price.”

Haoxuen, who received no support from his family, explained that this income had become important to him. It might have been something Xinni and the others, who were children of wealthy families, could not quite understand.

“We are Taoist practitioners aiming to become undying beings. If we reach the Spirit Formation Stage, our lifespan extends to three hundred years. If that happens, our parents will die first, and we will continue living for a hundred or two hundred years. At that time, it will be a problem if we cannot earn money ourselves.”

Xinni and the others seemed to have never even thought about such a future. That showed on their faces, which turned pale.

“I never thought about it. What should we do?”

Jinhai murmured.

“What are you saying? You heard what Haoxuen said, didn’t you? Taoist practitioners have any number of ways to earn money. It is only a matter of whether or not we actually do them.”

Xinni said as if scolding him. At that moment, they sensed someone at the entrance of the Old Immortal Cave.

When I entered the Old Immortal Cave, Taoist practitioners whose faces I recognized but whose names I did not know were talking with Haoxuen and the others.

“Senior Brother Kou, excuse us for intruding.”

A female Taoist practitioner around fifteen years old greeted me, so I greeted her as well, and Haoxuen introduced the three of them. For some reason, the three of them seemed nervous, but as we talked, their nervousness disappeared.

“Oh, so you are this year’s assistant instructors. I think you will have a hard time, but do your best.”

“Yes, we will. We would like to ask you something. May we come here from time to time and ask questions about what we should do?”

Xinni asked, so I agreed as long as it was only advice. After the three of them left, I checked Haoxuen and Seiran’s qi levels. Their training had progressed, and they had reached the Sixth Tier. Moreover, their Lone Awakening Eyes had awakened, so they had become able to sense the qi around them.

“Because your Lone Awakening Eyes have only just awakened, you probably still do not understand them well. But if you continue using them, you will become able to sense people’s qi and yōma demonic qi from far away. In any case, keep using them.”

“Understood.”

“We will keep using them.”

Haoxuen and Seiran answered energetically. Next, I checked the two of them on the Broadsword Fox-Flame Technique. After changing their broadswords to Demon Spider Greatswords, they had become able to use White Flame properly as well. Ideally, it would be best for them to improve until they could use White Flame even with wooden sticks, but that would take time, so this was probably a passing grade.

“What do you two want to learn next?”

“Do you mean after the Broadsword Fox-Flame Technique?”

“That is right. You will continue training in the Broadsword Fox-Flame Technique, but it is about time for you to start a new martial art as well. However, Dragon Qi Sword Art is still no good.”

Haoxuen and Seiran discussed it and decided to train in Thunder Technique Fist. Swallowtail Swordsmanship was also raised as a candidate, but the two of them seemed to choose Thunder Technique Fist because they were uneasy about close-range combat and also poor at unarmed offense and defense.