Chapter 986 - 544: Teacher and Student, a Predestined Bond (Double-Length Part 2)

Taking a deep look at Xu Chang’an, who was feeling guilty, Li Zhibai gently rubbed her temple with her fingers.

Tongjun, oh Tongjun.

Even Xu Chang’an could see through her little thoughts, and she actually managed to persuade him to stand by her side.

To be able to persuade Xu Chang’an to whisper in her ear, it can only be said that Tongjun indeed has some skills.

"The reason?" Li Zhibai stared at Xu Chang’an.

How could Xu Chang’an not realize that he had been exposed? He smiled awkwardly but still didn’t speak.

He was concerned about Li Zhibai and Zhu Pingniang’s relationship because he had seen Li Zhibai enjoy the rain alone before and felt... the teacher might be a bit lonely, so he thought she needed someone close.

Zhu Pingniang seemed good enough.

But how could he explain it with such a reason?

A mere student overstepping to care about Li Zhibai, does she even need his concern?

Just asking for trouble.

So he couldn’t open his mouth at all.

"...You."

Seeing Xu Chang’an’s guilty appearance, Li Zhibai understood everything, and a strange sensation gradually spread in her heart... Probably, as the lady known as the Hidden Immortal, she hadn’t felt what it was like to be cared for in such meaningless matters in a long time.

Chang’an lost his manners.

But the anger she should feel was completely absent, even... there was a hint of comfort.

Indeed.

Li Zhibai thought to herself that she had completely lost the mindset of a ’teacher’ in front of Chang’an, and perhaps, she really had a bit of a mother’s temperament, so... the matter of becoming his teacher should be put on the agenda, rather than the slipping image of a teacher.

In the mundane world, they say once a teacher, always a parent.

This saying still holds true, and even Li Zhibai had to admit that although she’s a woman, the way she treated Xu Chang’an before was more like a strict father than a nurturing mother.

Her strict seriousness, is it the image of a father?

In contrast, someone who jokes with Chang’an, cares about his mood, seems carefree yet is meticulous to the extreme like Tongjun... is more like a mother, right?

So it’s understandable why the child would be closer to the mother and speak in favor of Zhu Tongjun.

Thinking this, Li Zhibai suddenly froze.

Something’s not right.

Why is it that when she and Xu Chang’an meet, they’re not discussing his issues, but hers?

Such a thing was absolutely impossible in the past.

You know, Xu Chang’an had been her student for so long, and if it weren’t for Yun Qian’s appearance, he wouldn’t even know her name, just her deeds.

From this, it can be seen that in the past, their conversations would only revolve around Xu Chang’an.

But now...

Li Zhibai suddenly found herself becoming the center of the conversation.

What does this change signify?

Does it mean she has become more approachable—

Or is it that she too has become a woman who wants to be cared for and valued by others?

From never needing to be worried about, to needing it... Li Zhibai for a moment didn’t understand if it’s her becoming weaker, or if Chang’an has grown up.

Perhaps she has fallen and wasn’t as invincible as she thought.

Sigh.

"...?"

Hearing Li Zhibai’s inexplicable sigh, Xu Chang’an was slightly stunned.

"Teacher? What’s wrong."

"It’s nothing." After calming down, Li Zhibai asked unhurriedly: "So... what was bothering you earlier, Ms. Yun’s talent?"

"Haven’t you already figured it out?" Xu Chang’an’s eyes twitched slightly.

His little thoughts were laid bare by Li Zhibai as if there was no need to hide anything at all.

"I guess you are worried that her inspiration will be like yours, unable to absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, stuck at Open Source, neither advancing nor retreating." Li Zhibai said, then asked: "Is that correct?"

"Absolutely correct." Xu Chang’an nodded: "The inspiration for speed of absorbing Spiritual Power isn’t everything, but... you know my past experiences."

He doesn’t want Yun Qian to go through the pain he once endured—although Yun Qian might not care about her cultivation speed at all.

Yet often, it’s because Yun Qian doesn’t care that Xu Chang’an values it all the more.

"You think more and more deeply than I imagined." Li Zhibai glanced at the plum blossom embroidered on her sleeve and spoke: "Is this the duty of a steward?"

"The steward doesn’t handle these things." Xu Chang’an said.

"I thought so too." Li Zhibai responded.

Chang’an is not raising a young lady but rather raising a daughter; he’d probably even worry when there’s a crease on Yun Qian’s clothes.

"Teacher, the steward doesn’t handle these." Xu Chang’an slightly tilted his head, his eyes brushing over the clouds in front of the bright moon, speaking seriously: "It’s a husband’s concern... You tell me, how can someone as unruly as me not be careful and detailed, to live up to her affection?"

A useless, rule-breaking steward, if he can’t do his best and lets Yun Qian down, he’d best jump into the sea and start over.

"Husband..." Li Zhibai, seeing the young man speak such words before her, felt he had matured a lot.

However, Li Zhibai tapped Xu Chang’an’s head with her hand calmly, saying: "Such words, saying them to me is useless."

That’s why Xu Chang’an is found lacking.

He speaks romantic words to Yun Qian; he lacks the courage in front of Yun Qian but is uninhibited in front of me, the teacher.

Oh.

Li Zhibai quickly realized that Xu Chang’an is uninhibited in front of her because he... isn’t shy at all and doesn’t care about face.

"After all, you’ve long lost face with me." Li Zhibai waved her hand lightly, and then a ruler appeared out of thin air.

Li Zhibai tossed the ruler to Xu Chang’an, and after he caught it, he looked at Li Zhibai.

Xu Chang’an thought that the teacher still saved him some face.

Yes.

Xu Chang’an’s previous words somewhat treated Li Zhibai as an ’emotional trash can,’ just as he would listen to others’ troubles, Xu Chang’an also needed someone to confide in, and Yun Qian... there were many matters he didn’t want her to worry about.

So he needed the teacher to untie the knots.

However, throwing his negative emotions at the teacher is somewhat disrespectful, but Li Zhibai wouldn’t really get angry, so... she let Xu Chang’an do it himself.

Xu Chang’an gripped the ruler and hit his palm hard, then returned the ruler to Li Zhibai.

As he watched Li Zhibai retract the ruler, he thought that the teacher was indeed a gentle person.

The students have grown up; it’s not appropriate to reprimand them anymore.

Face must be saved.

"Do you know why I let you reflect?" Li Zhibai looked at him.

"I know." Xu Chang’an stretched out three fingers.

Presumptuously caring for Li Zhibai, deserved a hit.

Supporting Zhu Pingniang, deserved a hit.

Complaining to the teacher, deserved a hit.

"There’s one more." Li Zhibai’s glance shifted slightly, and then as if guided by an invisible thread, Xu Chang’an raised another finger, adding another mistake.

Li Zhibai looked at him: "What do you mean by, people like you who are unruly, most deserve a hit."

Her student is the best student in the world.

So, this self-deprecating mistake is, in Li Zhibai’s heart, the only fault that makes her care.

Xu Chang’an: "..."

He looked into Li Zhibai’s eyes, and after a long time, he smiled, clenching his fingers into a fist.

The teacher is right.

He said he was unruly; wasn’t he just implying that the teacher didn’t teach well, which truly deserved a hit?

"But it’s also my fault." Li Zhibai suddenly spoke, making Xu Chang’an’s eyes twitch, and he immediately replied: "That’s not reasonable."

Li Zhibai thought if she, as a teacher, could have given Chang’an confidence earlier, he wouldn’t always think about problems from such a humble, Inner Disciple perspective.

Her student.

Even a bit of arrogance wouldn’t be harmful.

Compared to self-deprecation, arrogance is a blessing.

"If there’s anything, I will handle it for you." Li Zhibai swept her sleeve, letting the plum blossom on the sleeve brush past Xu Chang’an’s collar: "That’s what a teacher should do, you understand?"

"If there’s anything you want to say, just say it, I’m listening." Li Zhibai was prepared to listen, ready to hear her student’s grievances.

"It’s just some matters about my young lady." Xu Chang’an sighed.