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Time exhibits a dual nature.
When attending class, it seems endlessly punctuated by the repetitive "zawa zawa." Yet while reading a novel, it gets repeatedly erased by the "Crimson King," unnoticed by you.
Much like now, despite not skipping chapters, you suddenly realize time has jumped forward several months without your awareness.
"Pitter-patter!"
In the bathroom, amidst the sound of water, flawless feet, akin to white jade, stepped lightly on the smooth floor. Clear streams flowed down those slender legs, cascading gently.
After rinsing for a while, Fu Hua turned off the faucet, pulled open the glass door, and walked into her room completely naked.
No steam escaped. Despite the cold winter, she took a refreshing cold shower to awaken her senses.
As a result, the reflection staring back at her in the full-length mirror appeared exceptionally vivid to Fu Hua's eyes.
"Whew..."
Fu Hua touched the face in the mirror, somewhat dazed.
Five thousand years had passed. She remained ageless and immortal, but the people around her and memories within her heart inevitably slipped away.
This felt more like a curse than a blessing.
For a moment, Fu Hua stood silently, then picked up a towel to dry herself. Piece by piece, she dressed until the mirror finally reflected a composed woman clad in a gray trench coat and jeans.
At that instant, all worries and confusion dissipated, leaving behind only eyes as tranquil as ancient wells—unchanging like the sky and sea throughout eternity.
She stepped out, making her way to her classroom.
In front of a large podium and rows of desks arranged in a fan shape...
Fu Hua taught while the orphanage children listened attentively. Occasionally, adults would join them as well—like Einstein, who attended with scholarly intentions.
Fu Hua glanced over her students below. Today, only the kids were present, no adults—even Zeke was absent—which wasn't unusual considering his role as an Anti-Entropy Enforcer kept him busy.
It never crossed Fu Hua's mind that the invitation to come down from the mountain would come from an Anti-Entropy Enforcer.
However, during a call with Otto several months ago, despite the slightly peculiar expression on his face upon seeing Zeke with her, he acknowledged it as part of their deal, effectively dispelling all of Fu Hua's doubts.
The bond between an Anti-Entropy Enforcer and the Schicksal Archbishop seemed unbreakable. Fu Hua didn't bother unraveling any potential conspiracies or schemes at play; she simply knew that if someone sought knowledge, she was more than willing to share her martial arts expertise.
With the goal of nurturing more forces against Honkai, there was no reason for her not to support this endeavor.
"Today, we'll review the fundamentals of Taixuan Sword Qi. It comprises five aggregates: Heart, Form, Intent, Soul, and Spirit, each representing an aspect of Honkai Energy utilization. Mastery of only one aggregate can lead you astray; mastery of all five grants extraordinary prowess. I encourage you to strive for the latter. Therefore, let's delve deeper into this subject once more. This knowledge serves as both an entry point and the core essence of Shenzhou martial arts..."
Fu Hua lectured while her students listened attentively.
Since Taixuan Sword Qi is deeply rooted in Shenzhou culture, she taught in Mandarin.
Below, Kiana had achieved a solid grasp of Mandarin due to Zeke's fluent influence, having privately practiced extensively.
Sin followed suit with similar proficiency.
Bronya, being a genius with an IQ of 180, naturally found learning languages quite effortless.
Raiden Mei, hailing from the Far East—a region influenced by Shenzhou culture—had already mastered Mandarin early on, thanks to her elite education.
Wendy, seated in her wheelchair, wasn't just a prodigy S-rank candidate in combat but also academically gifted, making Mandarin acquisition equally easy for her. (As for the original character? Well, years spent as a disabled experimental subject led to severe isolation, rendering even her innate talents useless—an unfortunate circumstance not entirely her fault.)
Thus, the ones truly struggling were Seele, Rozaliya, and Liliya. However, Zeke didn't have high expectations for them; their role was mainly to accompany others during lessons, so it wasn't much of an issue.
Fu Hua diligently taught, while most students attentively listened and absorbed her explanations.
Suddenly, another sound mixed with Fu Hua's clear voice:
"zzZ~"
"zzZ~"
"(???)~zzZ!"
No doubt about it—it was Kiana.
She sat upright, back straightened, holding a pen as if taking notes, eyes wide open. But her motionless posture and unmistakable snores told the whole story.
Rozaliya and Liliya seemed similarly drowsy, though not quite as conspicuous as Kiana.
"..."
The entire class fell silent just as a white-haired boy entered the classroom.
He headed directly towards Fu Hua but paused upon passing by the immobile Kiana. Raising his hand, he swiftly brought it down with force.
"Bam!"
Kiana's face slammed into the steel desk, leaving a distinct human-shaped dent when she lifted her head.
Kiana looked around blankly.
"What's wrong? Is class over? Is it dinnertime?"
Zeke sighed heavily, visibly exasperated.
"Bang!"
The same scenario unfolded with the same loud noise, leaving an even deeper dent in the table.
Fully awake now, Kiana clutched her sore face and leaned back guiltily.
"Well, um... just occasionally! Only sometimes! I've been reflecting on my actions..."
Zeke glared at her icily for a moment before turning towards Fu Hua and suddenly thrusting his palm forward.
"Boom!!"
Accompanied by a deafening explosion, a powerful shockwave spread throughout the classroom, prompting the girls to shield themselves instinctively.
Fu Hua countered with the same move, albeit caught off guard, stepping back as astonishment flickered across her face:
"That's the force technique of the Inch Heart Fist. How did you manage to learn it? Have you already grasped its essence?"
"Nope. The concept of 'essence' is too abstract; I don't quite understand it."
"Then how were you able to execute such a potent punch?"
"Whatever you do, I simply mimic it; that's not difficult. I may not grasp this 'mindset' concept, but I can understand your body and Honkai Energy flow. Once emulating reaches a certain level, it looks like this. I sought you out to get your opinion: is there anything needing improvement?" Zeke asked mildly.
Fu Hua opened her mouth, momentarily speechless, feeling as if her entire worldview was crumbling amidst such absurdity.
"You just follow what I do? Is that how martial arts are understood?"
While replicating physical techniques might be possible, comprehending principles and achieving mastery were distinctly personal insights, varying from person to person!
Yet, Zeke had indeed managed it.
Facing the youth's gaze, filled with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Fu Hua hesitated briefly before stammering, "Th-that...that seems quite good. Y-you...you should try grasping your own understanding of intent, delving into the essence of the five aggregates?"
"Sure. Just let me know when we have another practical lesson. I've got other matters to attend to; continue on without me."
Zeke turned and walked away.
As he passed Kiana, his sidelong glance held no emotion, sending a shiver down the white-haired girl's spine. The chill instantly dispelled all traces of drowsiness within her.
If you sleep again, I'll kill you.
Zeke didn't say it outright, but Kiana understood his unspoken message.
"Why waste life sleeping when death brings eternal rest? I get it now, Zeke."
Kiana rubbed her hands together with a sly grin as she watched him walk past her. She sighed in relief, feeling like she had narrowly escaped execution.