These hands of hers can do many things, but when she gently clenches them, all she can grasp are meaningless singularities that serve no purpose.
She canât cook delicious meals for her husband because she canât hold a knife properly.
She canât transcribe novels for him because his handwriting is more beautiful.
But it seems these hands will be useful in the future, because she wants to try the things Xu Changâan has attempted, just as she mimics his handwriting.
Yun Qian looked at Li Zhibai and asked softly.
"Do you often use the ruler to hit his palm?"
"Do you often use the ruler to hit his palm?" Yun Qian asked.
"... Ah." Li Zhibai was taken aback.
After Yun Qian asked this question, not only Li Zhibai, but all the girls who heard it were stunned.
Li Zhibai never expected Yun Qian to ask such a question.
Could it be that Changâan complained to Yun Qian about her?
That shouldnât be...
But what Yun Qian said wasnât wrong.
As a teacher, although Changâan was smart, he was not yet able to understand everything at a glance in front of her, so she indeed used to hit Xu Changâanâs palm many times.
Even now, she occasionally uses "palm slapping" to "threaten" Xu Changâan... But ultimately, Li Zhibai never intended to bully him. It was just that this act of punishing a child with a ruler was just too effective for someone as sensible as Changâan.
Sometimes saying things repeatedly doesnât help as much as having him obediently extend his palm to receive a ruler hit.
The key to the ruler lies in the word "rule".
Although Changâan hasnât shown any potential to become a monk, after enduring one painless ruler slap, similar mistakes will not occur on him again.
"... Ms. Yun, I wasnât..." Li Zhibai was about to explain something when Yun Qian gently pressed her hand.
"Think about it, then talk to me." Yun Qian said softly.
Li Zhibai: "..."
She was momentarily bewildered.
What does Ms. Yun want her to think about?
How to slap Changâanâs palm?
Zhu Pingniang: "..."
She was speechless as well... In fact, her gaze was somewhat evasive.
At this moment, although Zhu Pingniang didnât know what Yun Qian wanted to say, surprisingly, she felt that Yun Qianâs âquestioningâ was quite pressuring.
âCould it be that Iâm feeling guilty like a thief?â
Tch.
She wasnât actually a thief, so why feel guilty?
Miss Lu stood by dumbfounded, still lost in admiration for the beauty of Yun Qianâs fingers, the most impractical one among them.
Only Wen Li remembered the novels Yun Qian had read and the thought process she displayed when alone with her, and sighed softly with some understanding of her sisterâs thoughts.
Maybe... it was a bit laughable?
But on Yun Qian, it didnât seem funny at all; instead, it felt natural.
Up to now, aside from Xu Changâan, Wen Li was the girl who understood Yun Qian best and could follow her train of thoughtâwithout exception.
Coincidentally, she wasnât fond of speaking either.
"..." Li Zhibai didnât know what she was supposed to think about.
The ruler?
Slapping the palm?
It was often used.
Because itâs effective.
Ever since she started using the ruler, Li Zhibai hadnât noticed Xu Changâan making the same mistake twice.
For a teacher, itâs hard not to have a profound impression of this student, hard not to like him, especially since Muyu Peak almost never accepts outside disciples, and Li Zhibai is practically in a state of freeloading at the Sword Hall.
Think about what kind of disciples Li Zhibai has mentored over the years?
Whether itâs Zhu Tongjun from the Hehuan Sect or Sikong Lixu from the Profound Sword Bureau, both are candidates for sect leader positions. The only one who isnât is Wen Li, and when it comes down to it, Wen Liâs talent far surpasses the other two, and as a half-demon, sheâs also "training with skills already acquired."
So, many things donât require much explanation from Li Zhibai. She only needs to point out a general direction or give guidance at a critical moment, and they will find their own path without her needing to say much.
This is also why Li Zhibaiâs relationship with them is distantâshe is very aware of her position, barely qualified to be called a teacher, but not a master, and she has never fulfilled a masterâs duties.
But Changâan is different.
When Li Zhibai taught Xu Changâan about cultivation, he was completely ignorant, with all his knowledge about the Cultivation Realm coming from storytellers, having no foundation.
Very clean.
As clean as a blank sheet of paper.
As clean as a glass of pristine water.
So, Li Zhibai uncharacteristically fulfilled the duties of Mr. Sword Hall and actually started teaching someone who knew nothing about cultivation, from the most basic breathing rhythms... And thus, she single-handedly shaped Xu Changâan into who he is today.
He is a blank sheet of paper, yet every line of drawing about cultivation bears Li Zhibaiâs mark; she could look at them for a whole day.
He is a glass of water, and now Li Zhibai doesnât need to taste it to know what ingredients she added, understanding what delicious flavor the water has become.
Moreover, this student is so clever that one "slap" is enough to enlighten him; once heâs been hit with the ruler, he wonât repeat the same mistake. Heaven knows how worry-free he is; a teacher is never afraid of a student making mistakes, for what purpose would a teacher serve if not for them?