Chapter 118: Treating People as People

"Sir, there is still one thing I do not understand."

"Speak."

"Why did the Great Qian… become like this today?"

"You want to ask why, even though the Great Qian enjoys favorable weather, and every province is prosperous and wealthy, many commoners still cannot survive, right?"

The man's eyes were deep as dark pools. In the center, a spark of light flickered, like a tiny flame—faint, yet striking.

"Actually, the answer is very simple."

"Some people stand too high and cannot see the scenery below; gradually, they no longer treat anyone other than themselves as human."

"Some suggest managing livestock, giving them time to rest so they don't work themselves to death."

"Some suggest watering more, so that more and newer grass will grow next year."

"Yet no one suggests…"

"Treating people as people."

Listening to Xu Xi's words, Wu Yingxue stood frozen, unable to collect her thoughts for a long time.

That was the reality of the world, and also a cruelty difficult to accept.

[The girl's father was killed by a Great Qian Human Immortal]

[The girl's mother was forced by the Emperor to commit suicide with poison]

[The girl lost everything, lost all, uncertain of her path and future]

[But now, you see the familiar light in her eyes again, flickering with each blink, much like a newly born flame]

[Wu Yingxue decides to follow your footsteps and research the Cultivation Technique with you]

[You readily agree]

[From then on, the girl who had lost everything settled down in your home again]

[Wu Yingxue provided you with the incomplete imperial Cultivation Technique]

[Wu Yingxue provided you with the incomplete imperial Martial Skill]

[Wu Yingxue shared with you the martial theories she learned in her youth, as well as the principles of Qi and blood taught by Prince Dingyuan]

[The girl is young and does not understand profound martial principles, but she has high talent. During the time she researched the Yangyuan Technique with you, she often had whimsical ideas]

[Your speed of Martial Arts Evolution has increased]

[Heavenly Dao rewards diligence; your Persistence has been rewarded. You practiced martial arts day and night, through wind and rain, which allowed your strength to advance further, and your Protective Aura became more condensed]

[Your deduction regarding the Yangyuan Technique has undergone two transformations]

[However, the Yangyuan Technique after the two transformations is far from your envisioned goal]

[The girl falls into silence]

[You, accustomed to this, start the deduction again]

[The road is rugged, and the direction is unknown. You never believe that you can easily blaze a new path; you can only slowly grind out results with time]

[You comfort the girl, telling her not to be discouraged]

["Failure is the mother of success."]

[Listening to your comfort, the girl reignites her fighting spirit and repeats your words]

["Failure is the mother of success, its own mother."]

[Hearing the girl's slightly off-base words, you cannot help but fall into deep thought, doubting whether you lack teaching ability]

[The past loss has long since disappeared, and the past confusion no longer exists]

[The girl has returned to normal]

[Now, besides deducing the Yangyuan Technique, while Wu Yingxue lives at your home, she also does other things]

[She enters the kitchen, trying to improve the rough texture of the demon meat]

Clang, bang. That is the sound of a spatula colliding with a pan. Swish, clatter. That is the sound of demon meat tumbling.

[After the busyness, both Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue look at the indescribable charred object in front of them, both falling into a long silence]

["Yingxue, I think it is better if you enter the kitchen less in the future."]

["Sir is absolutely right."]

[The girl, with a very strong sense of self-esteem, does not try to show off this time, but obediently listens to Xu Xi's words, promising not to enter the kitchen in the future]

[Her culinary skills are so terrible that they far surpass the witch in Xu Xi's memory]

[Although there was no explosion]

[But that carbonized demon meat]

[Makes one shake their head repeatedly, unable to swallow]

[At least in Qingniu Town, where food is scarce, there is not that much food available for Wu Yingxue to practice her culinary skills]

[Besides Martial Arts Evolution, in daily life, the girl also spars with you]

[You suppress your Qi and blood, and suppress the existence of your Protective Aura, using strength equivalent to the Blood Exchange Realm to spar and compete with the girl, helping her consolidate and deepen her martial cultivation]

[At the same time, it is also to help yourself check for gaps and fill them, continuing to refine your Martial Skill]

"Ha!"

A sudden gale rose in the courtyard.

That was caused by the long spear whipping through the air.

The fiery red figure, like a real flame, displayed fierce aggressiveness. The long spear in her hand whipped out, the spear tip turning into a cold glint that instantly lunged forward.

"Ding—"

Xu Xi held a fine iron long sword, lifting it casually, deflecting the long spear's attack just right.

"Yingxue, again. Your speed is still not fast enough."

"Pay attention to the smooth flow of Qi and blood."

Listening to Xu Xi's teaching.

The heroic girl in red and white danced the long spear even more fiercely with both hands, wide open and closing, smashing, dropping, thrusting, and whipping. The whistling air waves formed by the spear tip sweeping through the air scraped white marks onto the floor tiles.

Bang! Bang!

Bang! Bang!

The shrill sound of blades and spears clashing rang out. It burst forth with surging wind and waves, blowing dust and sand into a whistle, making the leaves rustle wildly.

This sparring session lasted for a long time. Explosive air waves rose one after another, and the red halo of Qi and blood covered and dyed half the courtyard, fully displaying the aftermath of the clash.

"Si… Sir."

Wu Yingxue held the long spear, using the spear body to support herself. Panting heavily, sweating slightly, she asked Xu Xi: "What grade can I get this time?"

The girl had a very strong competitive spirit, far surpassing everyone Xu Xi had ever met, so much so that after sparring, the girl would always ask for Xu Xi's evaluation.

Xu Xi replied: "It can be considered a Grade C."

Grade A, B, C, D. Grade A is the best, B is second, C is passing. As for Grade D, it is the failure of failures.

"Grade C? I am still very far behind…", Wu Yingxue muttered to herself, her face showing a hint of dejection.

She desperately wanted to become stronger, to possess a higher Realm, to avenge her deceased parents, and also to let more people survive. She is now working hard towards these two goals.

[Time is something that passes by quickly if you are not careful]

[Three months passed quietly]

[Summer turned cool, and autumn arrived]

[The young princess has lived in your home for three months, researching the Yangyuan Technique with you for three months]

[In these three months, you researched 27 variations, of which 25 were completely unfeasible, and the last 2 had fatal limitations]

[Facing the coming winter, you feel deeply powerless]

[Ignore Bone Root]

[Ignore Comprehension Ability]

[Can such a Cultivation Technique really not be created?]

[You practice Martial Arts Evolution in the courtyard, continuously, from dawn until the moon rises, and from the moon setting until the dawn]

[The principles of the Yangyuan Technique, the imperial martial knowledge provided by Wu Yingxue, your own cultivation experience, and the figures of the people of Qingniu Town]

[Many things collided in your mind; you vaguely grasped something, but could not seize the key]

[The noise outside interrupted your thoughts]

[The Great Qian Tax Official responsible for levying taxes has arrived]