Great! I'm surrounded by villains!
Chapter 103 - 23: Mount Tai and the Big Dipper

Chapter 103: Chapter 23: Mount Tai and the Big Dipper

The current advanced class is tentatively set at five students, the top students from each of the four academies plus Yang Ping, all of whom have initially mastered their abilities and entered the stage of constructing barriers.

The advanced class adopted a small-class teaching approach, and before each class Duan Mingyuan would notify Ning Ruyue to inform the few of them of the class location.

"Sister Ning, what are these advanced class lessons like?"

As they followed Ning Ruyue up the mountain, Su Qin, who was at the very end of the group, asked somewhat apprehensively.

He was the head disciple of the Painting Academy, and like Xu Yi, a victim of the "New Practical Battle Movement." When he returned to the dormitory yesterday, his face was smeared with various colors of paint, and his body stained in a colorful mess. He’d hardly changed his clothes and caught his breath in the dormitory when he was severely hit by a sneak attack from his roommate, seeing stars and nearly landing in the infirmary.

His roommate’s explanation was that the dormitory, being a private place, should not be considered a public place for fights.

The secluded back hill made Su Qin’s heart inevitably filled with misgivings.

Teacher Mingyuan’s teaching method was too whimsical, forcing him to worry that once they reached the place, a dozen axemen might suddenly appear to assault them.

Su Qin wasn’t against practical lessons, but it was clear that the current mode of practical combat had its flaws.

All the head disciples of the academies had become targets, and among those who launched attacks on them, there were definitely some who harbored resentment from being bested in regular classes.

"You’ll know once we get there."

Ning Ruyue said indifferently.

She couldn’t wait for the others to lose heart and drop out of the advanced class, so that Teacher Mingyuan could devote all his class time to her alone.

These bookworms simply didn’t understand Teacher Mingyuan’s true talents.

She thought it over all night yesterday; if one day she returned to the Imperial Court to rightfully succeed her father, she would definitely employ the teacher as the Imperial Court’s National Teacher.

"Was this painting here before?"

The location for the first class was on a cliff on the mountain, with an ink painting floating at the most conspicuous spot at the edge of the cliff.

Compared to the paintings commonly seen around the Academy, this ink painting looked rather crude, with even the junior brothers and sisters from the Painting Academy boasting far more superior skills.

But in the Academy, as soon as one saw a floating painting, it meant they could enter and discover what’s within.

After exchanging glances, they boldly entered the world within the painting.

The moment they stepped into the painting’s world, an unprecedented sense of palpitation enveloped them; looking down, their ankles were immersed in pitch-black mist, which stripped the world of its color, turning everything they could see into stark black and white.

The mist beneath their feet seemed to be alive, ceaselessly gnawing at them.

Not far ahead, a dark figure stood amidst the mist, back turned toward them.

"...Teacher?"

Ning Ruyue, resisting the chill, tentatively asked.

"Heh heh, young Mingyuan, you’re still too green. Let this old man tell you something. If you swiftly gain the upper hand in a Barrier contest, you’ve laid the foundation for victory. Now, lament your ignorance..."

The earth-shattering laughter stopped abruptly as the figure turned around, both the shadow and Ning Ruyue’s group frozen on the spot. After a long while, the figure seemed deflated and asked in a muffled voice, "What are you lot doing here?"

"Teacher Mingyuan said to come here for class today."

"You bunch, go wait in the corner. Don’t get in the way here!"

Although the figure’s entire face was shrouded in the dark mist, the students collectively had the same thought—this person had lost his cool.

They saw the figure turn back around, resuming a lonely pose with his back toward the entrance of the painting.

Just then, Duan Mingyuan, with a Peach Wood Sword in hand, entered.

The familiar voice echoed throughout the space once more.

"Heh heh, young Mingyuan, you’re still too green..."

But this time the figure had learned his lesson; he casually glanced over to confirm the identity of the newcomer as Duan Mingyuan before continuing, "Let this old man tell you something. If you swiftly gain the upper hand in a Barrier contest, you’ve laid the foundation for victory. Now, lament your ignorance!"

Even the lines were memorized in advance.

For some reason, the students who were gazing at each other suddenly felt that this figure wasn’t quite as terrifying as before.

Chen Chou glared at Duan Mingyuan viciously.

After losing face yesterday, he had sat in a wooden hut and meditated all night long, his mind occupied with thoughts of how to regain his reputation today. Early this morning, he had left Ghost Prison and arrived at this advanced class classroom more than five hours early to set up a Barrier. Everything Duan Mingyuan and these academy disciples saw was the fruit of his painstaking efforts.

Including the opening speech he had just delivered, which he’d carefully scripted several times over.

But Chen Chou could never have imagined that he had mistaken someone else for his intended target.

This blunder had severely flawing what was supposed to be his flawless comeback. Fortunately, as an evil spirit without a physical body, he couldn’t be seen blushing, or else his beet-red face might have become an eternal humiliation.

All he wanted now was to immediately start a second fight with Duan Mingyuan to brush off this awkward situation.

"Let’s not rush,"

said Duan Mingyuan, "It took me some time to get this Peach Wood Sword just now. Classmates, this senior’s name is Chen Chou, and he will be your future assistant teacher."

"Hello, Assistant Teacher!"

The chorus of greetings somewhat discomfited Chen Chou.

Having spent hundreds of years in Ghost Prison, the monsters guarding it were unwilling to deal with him. Upon reflection, he realized he had never had a peaceful conversation with anyone and had no idea how to interact with people.

Duan Mingyuan continued to introduce him to the students, "Although this senior has a somewhat quirky temper, he is indeed a remarkable figure. He is adept in various Tricky Arts and is a luminary in the academic world. If you study diligently under him, you are sure to gain a lot."

Luminary!

At these words, Chen Chou’s eyes widened as he said, "Don’t think that flattering me with a few compliments would bewitch me!"

Despite his words, all the students noticed that Mr. Chen Chou couldn’t help but straighten his back proudly, crossing his arms over his chest, his tone barely concealing his pride.

It was obvious he was already bewitched.

Ning Ruyue thought Chen Chou couldn’t have made it any more obvious; he was clearly pleased, yet stubbornly maintained a fierce and terrifying facade.

He was a bit like the hedgehog monster on the mountain. Tease it a little, and it would curl up and puff out.

Ning Ruyue hooked her lips in a sly smile, setting the tone, "The illustrious reputation of Senior Chen Chou was something I, as a junior, had heard of long ago. It’s truly a great fortune to meet you in person now!"

Spurred by Ning Ruyue’s words, the other few students chimed in.

Chen Chou put on a stern face, "Don’t sweet-talk me, young girl. I’ve been living in seclusion under Qing Chi Peak; how could you have heard of my name?"

"It was the monsters on the mountain who spoke of you, Senior. Your fame has spread all over Qing Chi Peak."

"Is that so?"

"Indeed."

"Good! Good! Good! It seems the monsters on the mountain know quality,"

Chen Chou said thrice in succession, puffing up even more, "You few also have potential. If you have any questions in the future, don’t keep them to yourselves. Just ask me directly!"

This back-and-forth warmed up the atmosphere of the classroom.

Although it was their first meeting, there was a sense of regret for not having met sooner. The endless black mist also dispersed a great deal, and Chen Chou specifically cleared a space for the few students.

"Don’t move around, just sit here. The main content of the first lesson is to give you a direct understanding of a true Barrier duel."

Seeing the timing was about right, Duan Mingyuan finally settled the students and walked towards Chen Chou.

It wasn’t until he had walked away that Su Qin, sitting at the last row, could no longer restrain herself and, lowering her voice, voiced the doubt in her heart. She leaned close to Ning Ruyue, "Who exactly is this Senior Chen Chou?"

She often went to the monsters’ domain during the day to sketch; why had she never heard them mention this name?

"Who knows."

Ning Ruyue glanced at her.

"Ah?"