High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Chapter 431: Chapter 431: Transfer

Principal Zhang chimed in, "Old You is a distinguished guest here at Honghe First Middle School. The Qiao Family has been a tremendous help this time. Not only did they send over three excellent young teachers, but they also convinced a veteran like Old You to come oversee things. With him here, the quality of our school’s Martial Arts program is sure to reach a new level."

"You flatter me, Principal Zhang." You Sicheng shook his head. "I’m just an old soldier. I’ll teach these kids what little I can from my experience on the battlefield. At the very least, they’ll learn what a real fight looks like and won’t just be practicing flashy, impractical moves in the training hall all day."

Xu Wuyi actually agreed.

He had seen too many students who, despite excelling in school, would fall into a panicked disarray the moment they set foot on a battlefield.

The chasm between theory and practice was one of blood and fire.

"Xu Wuyi." Principal Zhang looked at him. "How long will you be back for this time?"

"If you have the time, I’d like to invite you to give a talk to the kids in the Martial Arts program. You don’t have to give some grand lecture—just tell them about your experiences at Star Martial and what you’ve seen on the front lines. To them, that’s more valuable than any textbook."

Xu Wuyi considered it, not refusing right away.

"I can try," he said. "But I’m not good at giving lectures."

"It’s not a lecture, just a chat," Principal Zhang said with a smile. "Kids love hearing stories, and you did a great job with your last speech, after all."

The last speech had been for the entire student body. This time, it would just be for the Martial Arts students. Principal Zhang was clearly hoping he would share his thoughts on martial cultivation.

For the next half hour, Xu Wuyi chatted briefly with the other teachers in the office.

The two younger teachers were graduates of East River Martial Arts University, making them semi-locals. The middle-aged female teacher came from a top high school in Xingjing, a key instructor transferred over by the Qiao Family through their connections.

You Sicheng wasn’t a man of many words. He mostly listened, only occasionally interjecting with a couple of sentences about specific details from actual combat.

After the meeting, Principal Zhang left to handle other matters, and the two young teachers went to prepare for their classes.

Only Xu Wuyi, You Sicheng, and Teacher Wang remained in the office.

"Come on, let’s go sit at my place," You Sicheng said, standing up. "The school assigned me a dorm room."

Xu Wuyi nodded and, along with Teacher Wang, followed You Sicheng out of the administration building.

The staff dormitory was an old, five-story building behind the main academic building. You Sicheng’s room was at the far end of the first floor; it wasn’t big, but it was kept very clean.

A bed, a desk, two chairs, and a simple bookshelf. On the wall hung a photograph of You Sicheng in his military uniform from when he was young, as well as a picture of his daughter.

"Have a seat." You Sicheng pointed to the chairs, then sat down on the edge of his bed.

After a moment, Teacher Wang tactfully spoke up. "I’ll let you two talk. I still have a lesson plan to write, so I’m going to head back."

After he left, the room fell silent.

You Sicheng stared at Xu Wuyi for a long while before finally speaking. "You’ve seen the news from the front lines, haven’t you?"

"I have," Xu Wuyi said. "Operation Thunderbolt. The results were significant."

"The cost was steep, too," You Sicheng said in a low voice. "I may be retired, but I still have some old comrades in the military. I got word yesterday that in the first wave of the offensive alone, four of our Grandmasters were severely wounded. Many more suffered minor injuries."

Xu Wuyi’s heart sank.

Four Grandmasters.

’Those were the Federation’s peak fighting forces. Each one was cultivated with innumerable resources. To think they could be severely injured even when they were prepared for a fight...’

"But this is a war we have to fight," You Sicheng continued. "Grandmaster Yue and the others can’t have shed their blood for nothing. Since the Celestial Wolf Civilization dared to launch a sneak attack, they must be prepared to be annihilated."

A vicious glint flashed in the old man’s eyes.

It was the kind of gaze that only belonged to someone who had truly been on a battlefield and witnessed life and death.

"Old You, what made you decide to come to Honghe First Middle School?" Xu Wuyi changed the subject.

You Sicheng was silent for a few seconds.

"My daughter... she wanted to be a teacher once," he said slowly, as if forcing each word from his throat. "She was accepted into a teachers’ college, but before she graduated... she... went to the battlefield."

Xu Wuyi said nothing.

"At my age, I can’t go to the front lines anymore. But I have to do *something*." You Sicheng gazed out the window, where a few students were walking by, books in hand, laughing and talking.

"Teach these kids, help them avoid some of the wrong paths, so that if they end up on the battlefield someday, maybe a few more of them will survive. That’s what I can do now."

Xu Wuyi suddenly understood.

You Sicheng hadn’t come to Honghe First Middle School just to contribute in his old age; it was something more, a form of spiritual entrustment. He had channeled the memory of his daughter into a sense of responsibility for these students.

And as fate would have it, he had ended up at Xu Wuyi’s alma mater.

What You Sicheng left unsaid was that he was also very curious to see what was so special about the high school that had produced a Genius like Xu Wuyi.

"Right, there’s something I have to warn you about." You Sicheng turned back to him, his expression growing serious. "With the war at this stage, the Celestial Wolf Civilization will resort to anything."

"I’ve heard that Werewolf Squads have already tried to infiltrate the Federation’s mainland. They’ve all been intercepted so far, but it’s a dangerous sign."

Xu Wuyi nodded. "I’ve seen the analysis on that."

"Your parents are in Red River, right?" You Sicheng asked.

"Yes."

"Have you considered moving them?" You Sicheng asked bluntly. "A small city like Red River has limited defenses. If Werewolves really did manage to infiltrate, the military might not be able to respond in time."

Xu Wuyi gave a wry smile. "I’ve thought about it, but I don’t know how to bring it up."

"Just tell them the truth," You Sicheng said. "But don’t scare them, obviously. Just say that things are tense on the front lines, and suggest they go live in Xingjing for a while until the situation has stabilized."

He paused before adding, "If you need, the Qiao Family can help make arrangements. They have secure residences in Xingjing and more than enough security."

Xu Wuyi thought for a moment. "I’ll think about it."

"Don’t take too long," You Sicheng said. "In a war, no one knows what tomorrow will bring."

The two of them talked for a little while longer before Xu Wuyi got up to take his leave.

By the time he left the staff dormitory, it was already evening.

The setting sun bathed the campus in a golden light. The final bell rang, and students streamed out of the buildings, heading for the school gates.

Xu Wuyi stood by the side of the road, watching the young faces.

Most of them didn’t have high Life Energy Levels. Some might go their whole lives without ever setting foot on a battlefield.

But they were also a part of the Federation—the very people Martial Artists were fighting and dying for on the front lines.

’I need to make a decision soon,’ Xu Wuyi thought.

He walked out of the school gates and headed home.

...

After dinner, Xu Wuyi didn’t retreat to his room to cultivate as he usually did.

He sat on the living room sofa, staring at the romance drama on TV, but his mind was a million miles away.

His father was brewing tea while his mother knitted a sweater, her head bowed in concentration. It was a long-standing habit of hers—she always said knitting helped calm her mind.

The atmosphere in the living room was tranquil, but Xu Wuyi knew the words he was about to speak would shatter that peace.