Thus, Li Zhibai took in Xu Changāan not out of kindness, but as a part of the rules... Even if it hadnāt been Changāan, but someone else, the result would have been the same.
This was the essence of the woman known as āLi Zhibaiā before she encountered Yun Qian and underwent change.
So...
Is she a good person?
"..." Li Zhibai chuckled slightly.
Look.
Even Changāan considers her a good person, so whether Changāan himself is a good person, what does it matter?
Li Zhibai quietly watched the dazed-looking young man in front of her... recalling Xu Changāan, who used to come regularly to the Sword Hall to clean before Yun Qian moved to the mountain.
At that time, he visited the Sword Hall daily, yet he couldnāt even see her face.
Back then, in her mind, Xu Changāan was on par with Wen Li ā although he was her student, just like Wen Li, he was merely a product of her role as Mr. Sword Hall... and according to the rules, the Sword Hallās teacher is only responsible for students up to the Open Source Realm.
Beyond the Open Source Realm, they would have their own masters, and she would no longer be involved.
That was how she thought of it.
Originally, under normal circumstances... Xu Changāan would have his own master just like Wen Li...
But how did things turn out like this?
Sometimes Li Zhibai couldnāt understand why. She hadnāt seen his face for so many days; she even thought him foolish when he came to clean by himself...
How did things fall to this state?
The rules, maybe.
Or the heartbeat of not interfering in othersā lives.
When Xu Changāan found her with hesitant eyes and said tremulously that Yun Qian might not be able to cultivate, it seemed at that moment, all her bottom lines shattered.
Thus, Li Zhibai wondered if her gradual change of opinion toward Xu Changāan was partly influenced by Yun Qian.
After all, it was after spending some time alone with Yun Qian, having her spirit kindled, that she first had the urge to want to be close to her at all costs...
Yun Qian seemed to possess a magical beauty that could make the cold, unfeeling Hidden Immortal happily call her āMs. Yunā over and over.
"No, itās not that." In Xu Changāanās confused eyes, Li Zhibai gently patted his shoulder.
It wasnāt her fondness for Yun Qian that altered her view of Changāan.
Rather, she liked Changāan from the start, which made her willing to patiently interact with Yun Qian, so it couldnāt be the other way around.
"Teacher... You should just say something." Xu Changāan was quite helpless.
When Li Zhibai asked him if he considered her a good person, she fell into silence, leaving only body language; how was he supposed to understand?
"Whatās there to say?" Li Zhibai blinked.
Was she supposed to tell Changāan that sheās not actually a responsible teacher and that her previous kindness was just because of the rules?
Such words, even Li Zhibai found it hard to speak, for she hadnāt been like that in personality for quite some time. Now... no loving mother would willingly bad-mouth herself in front of a child hoping for her affection, would they?
Thereās no such logic.
Teacher...?
Xu Changāan didnāt understand what Li Zhibai meant, yet he sensed that she didnāt think of herself as a good person... Still, he hesitated and didnāt ask further.
He didnāt know Li Zhibaiās past, so he wasnāt in a position to comment on it.
In this lifetime, he likely couldnāt repay her kindness.
By then, having repeatedly affirmed his position in the teacherās mind, Xu Changāan understood well that a bad person like him... would certainly maximize all benefits.
Facing the teacherās favoritism, he would eventually act presumptuously, certainly gaining more from her.
So, heās definitely not yet in the clear.
He sighed.
Speaking of repaying, he couldnāt even fully repay Zhu Pingniangās kindness, let alone the teacherās. Xu Changāan could faintly sense that Zhu Pingniangās tolerance for him was truly without limits.
"Have you thought it through?" Seeing Xu Changāan sigh, Li Zhibai asked.
"Iāve thought it through." Xu Changāan nodded.
After Li Zhibai said that, in her heart, āXu Changāanā was not defined as a good person at all; he was simply himself, after which Xu Changāan saw no need to struggle with being good or bad.
Frankly, he was just worried that in the future, he might do ābad thingsā for Yun Qian, perform some out-of-line actions... Such actions might disappoint Li Zhibai and result in losing the teacherās support... This thought was very utilitarian, yet unavoidable.
Hence, he took this opportunity to speak frankly with Li Zhibai, to gauge the teacherās thoughts. But at this moment, Xu Changāan knew contemplating good or evil was meaningless, for Li Zhibai liked him far more than he had imagined... This kind of affection, this bias... magnified his dark inner thoughts.
"Teacher, with you saying such things, in the future... I might really exploit your trust, acting fearlessly, doing as I please... What then?" Xu Changāan said helplessly.
"What does it matter?" Li Zhibai gently waved it off with a smile, "Thatās why, for someone like you to say such things... means youāre still a child."
"... C-child..." Xu Changāanās eye twitched.
"Teacher, Iāve been married for quite some time now."
"That doesnāt change the fact that youāre an ungrown child." Li Zhibai leaned against the window sill, thinking that only kids have such thoughts of exploitation... He indeed was naive.