Morning sunlight stretched across the training grounds of Tianshui Academy.
The academy's main training field stood beside the vast lake that supplied the school with its natural spiritual moisture. Thin layers of mist drifted over the water, slowly dissolving as the rising sun warmed the surface.
Students had already begun their daily training.
Streams of water floated through the air as young spirit masters practiced their control techniques beneath the watchful eyes of instructors. Occasionally the surface of the lake rippled as stray bursts of spiritual energy disturbed the calm water.
But today, attention across the academy had shifted.
Not toward the training fields.
But toward a single figure walking quietly along the stone path beside the lake.
Lin Huang.
His pace was unhurried.
His posture relaxed.
Yet what truly caught the attention of the students gathered nearby was not the man himself.
It was the small creature sitting comfortably on his shoulder.
A fox.
Or at least something that looked like one.
Its fur shimmered faintly beneath the morning light, a soft crimson color that contrasted sharply with the pale blue uniforms worn by the academy's students.
Behind the fox, ten small tails swayed slowly in the air.
The creature sat with its arms crossed, its expression carrying a faintly annoyed look as it observed the academy grounds.
Several nearby students immediately began whispering.
"Look…"
"What is that?"
"Is that a spirit beast?"
By the time Lin Huang reached the edge of the training field, a group of seven young women had already gathered nearby.
They were clearly older than most of the academy's students.
Their spiritual presence was also noticeably stronger.
These were the students chosen to represent Tianshui Academy in the upcoming Elite Spirit Master Tournament.
At the center of the group stood a young woman with long pale-blue hair that flowed almost to her waist.
Her presence was calm and dignified.
Even among the talented students surrounding her, she stood out naturally.
This was Shui Bing'er, the captain of the Tianshui team.
Standing beside her were the other members of the team.
The energetic Shui Yue'er, whose curious eyes were already focused on the fox perched on Lin Huang's shoulder.
Near her stood the quiet and observant Xue Wu, her expression thoughtful as she watched the newcomer.
The remaining members of the team were also present.
Yu Hairou.
Qiu Ruoshui.
Gu Qingbo.
Shen Liuyu.
Each of them carried the steady aura of experienced spirit masters who had spent years training together.
Yet at this moment, their attention had all shifted toward the same thing.
The fox.
Shui Yue'er tilted her head slightly, unable to hold back her curiosity.
"…Is that a spirit beast?"
Her voice carried across the quiet training ground.
Lin Huang stopped walking.
He looked at the group calmly.
Then glanced briefly toward the fox on his shoulder.
Honghong did not look pleased.
Her ten tails swayed slowly behind her as she observed the students with narrowed crimson eyes.
Lin Huang sighed softly.
Then answered.
"It's my pet."
For a moment, the entire training field fell silent.
Several of the girls blinked in surprise.
Shui Yue'er stared at the fox again.
"…Your pet?"
Lin Huang nodded calmly.
"Don't pay too much attention to what she says."
The fox slowly turned its head.
Its crimson eyes locked onto Lin Huang.
All ten tails froze in place.
"…Pet?"
Honghong's voice carried a dangerously calm tone.
For a moment it looked like she might bite him immediately.
Instead, she crossed her arms and turned her head away with a sharp hmpf.
"Humans really have poor judgment."
The girls froze.
Several of them looked at each other.
Then back at the fox.
Shui Yue'er blinked.
"…Your pet can talk."
Lin Huang answered without hesitation.
"Unfortunately."
Honghong's ears twitched.
One of her tails smacked lightly against the back of Lin Huang's head.
The tension in the training field immediately broke.
Several of the girls couldn't help laughing quietly.
Even the normally calm Shui Bing'er showed the faintest hint of amusement.
But her attention quickly returned to Lin Huang himself.
Because while the fox was unusual…
What she sensed from the man standing before them was even stranger.
His spiritual presence was incredibly calm.
Almost too calm.
Standing near him felt… comfortable.
The spiritual energy of the surrounding area seemed to flow more smoothly.
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer.
Then she spoke politely.
"You must be Mister Lin Huang."
Lin Huang inclined his head slightly.
"That would be me."
Shui Bing'er gestured toward the team beside her.
"We are the students representing Tianshui Academy in the upcoming tournament."
Lin Huang looked at the group quietly.
His eyes moved across each of them in turn.
Analyzing.
Observing.
Honghong leaned forward slightly on his shoulder, her crimson eyes scanning the group as well.
"…Their control is rough."
She murmured softly.
Lin Huang's lips curved faintly.
"That's why we're here."
The training field grew quiet after the brief laughter caused by Honghong's reaction.
The fox remained perched on Lin Huang's shoulder, clearly annoyed.
All ten of her tails swayed slowly behind her.
Lin Huang glanced at her.
Then sighed softly.
"…Come here."
Before Honghong could protest, he gently lifted her from his shoulder and held her in his arms.
Several of the girls blinked in surprise.
Honghong immediately crossed her arms.
"You called me a pet."
Lin Huang calmly began stroking the fur behind her ears.
Her ears twitched.
She tried to maintain her offended expression.
"…Would you prefer I explained what you really are?" he asked quietly.
Honghong paused.
Her tails stopped moving.
She understood the meaning immediately.
If Lin Huang revealed her true nature here…
The entire academy would descend into chaos.
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…You're hiding me."
Lin Huang nodded calmly.
"I'm preventing unnecessary problems."
Honghong stared at him for a moment.
Then spoke flatly.
"Your wives?"
Lin Huang answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
Several of the girls nearby exchanged confused looks.
Honghong sighed.
"…You're worried I'll burn your harem down."
Lin Huang looked thoughtful.
"That is a realistic concern."
Honghong leaned forward.
Chomp.
She bit lightly into his shoulder.
Lin Huang didn't react.
"You're being unreasonable."
Honghong released him and crossed her arms again.
"You owe me."
Lin Huang already knew.
"…Food?"
Honghong nodded immediately.
"Cook for me."
Her eyes gleamed slightly.
"Properly."
Lin Huang sighed.
"…You're exploiting me."
Honghong looked satisfied.
"Yes."
With that settled, Lin Huang placed her back on his shoulder.
This time she allowed it, though she still looked slightly smug.
Only then did Lin Huang turn his attention back toward the girls.
"Now then."
His calm gaze moved across the seven students.
"Show me your training."
The team quickly demonstrated their techniques.
Water attacks.
Ice techniques.
Movement abilities.
Control skills.
The display was impressive.
But Lin Huang remained silent while observing.
Honghong leaned forward slightly.
"…Their control is messy."
Lin Huang nodded faintly.
"Yes."
When the demonstrations ended, the girls returned.
Shui Bing'er spoke calmly.
"This is how we normally train."
Lin Huang shook his head slightly.
"You focus too much on techniques."
The girls blinked.
"What do you mean?" Shui Yue'er asked.
Lin Huang raised three fingers.
"Cultivation has three pillars."
"Breathing."
"Meditation."
"And digestion."
"Digesting herbs and resources properly."
He continued calmly.
"Without these three foundations, your cultivation remains unstable."
The girls listened carefully.
Then Lin Huang added something unexpected.
"You also lack basic body conditioning."
The girls looked confused again.
"Body conditioning?" Shen Liuyu asked.
Lin Huang nodded.
"Strength."
"Flexibility."
"Balance."
"Breathing control."
He gestured toward the ground near the lake.
"Sit down."
The girls hesitated.
"…Sit?" Shui Yue'er repeated.
"Yes."
They slowly obeyed.
Lin Huang stepped forward and demonstrated a seated posture.
Back straight.
Legs crossed.
Hands resting lightly on the knees.
"Align your spine."
"Relax your shoulders."
"Control your breathing."
The girls tried to copy the position.
Almost immediately, several of them began struggling.
Yu Hairou frowned.
"This is… uncomfortable."
Shui Yue'er tilted her head.
"…Why do we have to pose like this?"
Then Lin Huang demonstrated another posture.
A stretching movement that extended the legs and opened the hips.
To someone unfamiliar with it…
The posture looked somewhat unusual.
Shui Yue'er blinked.
Then whispered quietly to Xue Wu.
"…Is this really cultivation?"
Xue Wu hesitated.
"…Why does it look like a dance pose?"
Nearby, Yu Hairou's face turned slightly red.
"This posture is strange…"
Honghong watched from Lin Huang's shoulder.
Then snorted.
"You humans really do think strange things."
The girls froze.
Lin Huang glanced at them calmly.
"Focus."
"These exercises stabilize your body and breathing."
"At first they feel strange."
"But they improve cultivation efficiency."
The girls reluctantly continued trying the positions.
At first their movements were awkward.
But after several minutes…
Something changed.
Shui Bing'er's breathing gradually slowed.
Her circulation stabilized.
She opened her eyes slightly.
"…My soul power feels smoother."
Yu Hairou blinked.
"…Mine too."
Even Shui Yue'er looked surprised.
"…It's actually working."
Honghong tilted her head slightly.
"…Not bad."
Lin Huang watched them calmly.
Once their breathing stabilized, he gestured toward the lake.
"Now that the body is stable…"
"…we begin proper cultivation."
The morning breeze moved gently across the surface of the lake beside Tianshui Academy.
Ripples spread slowly across the water as sunlight reflected across the training grounds. The mist that had hovered over the lake earlier had mostly disappeared now, leaving the surface calm and clear.
The girls remained seated where Lin Huang had instructed them.
Their earlier confusion about the strange postures had already begun fading.
Because the results were undeniable.
Their breathing had stabilized.
Their circulation felt smoother.
Even the flow of their soul power had become calmer.
Lin Huang observed them quietly.
Honghong remained perched on his shoulder, her ten tails slowly swaying behind her as she watched the students with mild curiosity.
"…Their breathing is still uneven," she muttered.
Lin Huang nodded faintly.
"That's the next step."
He stepped forward slightly.
"Now we begin the first pillar of cultivation."
His gaze moved across the group.
"Breathing."
Shui Yue'er tilted her head slightly.
"…But we were already breathing."
Lin Huang shook his head.
"Not correctly."
He gestured toward the lake.
"Watch the water."
The girls turned their attention toward the calm surface of the lake.
The water moved slowly.
Small ripples spread outward whenever the wind passed across the surface.
Nothing forced the movement.
Nothing resisted it.
It simply flowed.
Lin Huang spoke calmly.
"Water never fights its own movement."
"It flows with the environment."
He inhaled slowly.
The spiritual energy of the surrounding environment moved gently with his breath.
The change was subtle.
But noticeable.
The air around him seemed to move more smoothly.
The moisture from the lake drifted naturally toward him.
Then he exhaled.
The movement of energy remained stable.
Controlled.
He looked back at the girls.
"Breathing determines how spiritual energy enters your body."
He demonstrated again.
Slow inhale.
Calm exhale.
"Most cultivators breathe incorrectly."
"They force energy into their meridians."
His gaze shifted toward the lake again.
"But water does not force."
"It flows."
Shui Bing'er watched carefully.
She slowly adjusted her breathing to match the rhythm he had shown.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Gradually, her breathing synchronized with the environment.
The moisture in the air around the lake made the process easier.
Her spiritual power began moving more smoothly through her meridians.
Lin Huang noticed immediately.
"…Good."
Shui Bing'er opened her eyes slightly.
"…I can feel it."
The others quickly followed her example.
Yu Hairou tried the breathing rhythm.
At first it felt strange.
But after several attempts—
Her circulation stabilized.
"…My breathing feels lighter."
Shui Yue'er inhaled again.
"…The spiritual energy enters more easily."
Xue Wu nodded slightly.
"…And it doesn't feel forced."
Honghong watched from Lin Huang's shoulder.
"…That one learns quickly."
She nodded toward Shui Bing'er.
Lin Huang didn't respond.
But he had noticed the same thing.
Shui Bing'er had adjusted to the breathing technique faster than the others.
Her natural affinity with water made it easier for her to understand the rhythm.
Lin Huang spoke again.
"This is only the first step."
He raised one finger.
"Breathing."
Then a second.
"Meditation."
And finally a third.
"Digestion."
Shen Liuyu frowned slightly.
"…Digestion?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"The ability to absorb and refine resources."
He explained briefly.
"Spirit herbs."
"Energy residues."
"Toxins."
His gaze moved across the group.
"And even the resentment inside soul rings."
Several of the girls looked shocked.
Qiu Ruoshui blinked.
"…Soul ring resentment can be purified?"
Lin Huang nodded calmly.
"With the correct digestion method."
The girls exchanged surprised looks.
This was knowledge none of their instructors had ever mentioned.
Lin Huang continued calmly.
"But digestion requires stable breathing and meditation."
He gestured toward the lake again.
"That is why we begin here."
The girls nodded slowly.
They were beginning to understand.
Honghong leaned slightly against Lin Huang's neck.
"…You're teaching them quite a lot."
Lin Huang answered quietly.
"Only the basics."
Honghong smirked.
"…Your basics are ridiculous."
Lin Huang ignored the comment.
Instead, he turned his attention back to the group.
"Now we move to the second pillar."
He looked toward the calm lake.
"Meditation."
The wind softened as the morning progressed.
The surface of the lake beside Tianshui Academy remained calm, disturbed only occasionally by gentle ripples spreading outward across the water.
The girls were still seated in their positions near the edge of the training field.
Their breathing had become far steadier than before.
Even Shui Yue'er, who had initially struggled with the rhythm, had gradually begun to synchronize her breathing with the slow movement of the air.
Lin Huang observed them quietly.
Then spoke again.
"The second pillar of cultivation."
He raised a finger slightly.
"Meditation."
The girls straightened slightly, paying closer attention.
Lin Huang gestured toward the lake.
"Close your eyes."
They hesitated only briefly before obeying.
Even Shui Yue'er complied without complaint this time.
Lin Huang's voice remained calm.
"Do not try to control your soul power."
"Simply observe."
He paused for a moment.
"Listen to the water."
The girls focused their senses.
The faint sound of wind moving across the lake.
The quiet lapping of water against the stone edge of the shore.
The subtle movement of spiritual energy within the air.
Lin Huang continued speaking softly.
"Water never resists its environment."
"It adapts."
"It flows."
He glanced briefly toward the lake again.
"When water encounters an obstacle, it does not fight it."
"It moves around it."
His gaze returned to the girls.
"Meditation is the same."
"Do not force your mind to become calm."
"Allow it to settle naturally."
Several minutes passed in silence.
The only sound on the training field was the quiet rhythm of breathing and the gentle movement of the lake.
Gradually, the girls began to feel the effect.
Their earlier tension faded.
Their breathing deepened.
The flow of soul power within their bodies stabilized even further.
Yu Hairou frowned slightly.
Then relaxed again as the sensation spread through her meridians.
"…My circulation is smoother."
Xue Wu nodded faintly without opening her eyes.
"…Mine too."
Shui Yue'er tilted her head slightly as she sat cross-legged.
"…It feels like the water is moving with my breathing."
Honghong watched the group from Lin Huang's shoulder.
"…Their concentration improved quickly."
Lin Huang nodded faintly.
"They have talent."
But his gaze lingered briefly on one particular student.
Shui Bing'er.
Among the seven girls, she had entered the meditation state the fastest.
Her breathing was completely synchronized with the natural rhythm of the lake.
The faint moisture in the surrounding air gathered subtly around her.
Her soul power moved smoothly through her meridians.
Even the temperature of the air around her began to drop slightly.
Honghong noticed it as well.
"…Interesting."
Lin Huang remained silent.
He did not interrupt the meditation.
The girls continued focusing.
Time passed quietly.
Then something subtle happened.
Tiny particles of frost began appearing in the air around Shui Bing'er.
At first they were barely visible.
But gradually they began drifting slowly around her body.
Her spiritual presence remained calm.
But something deeper had begun responding.
The faint outline of a phoenix-shaped aura flickered behind her for a brief moment.
Then disappeared.
Honghong's ears twitched.
"…Did you see that?"
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"Yes."
But he did not interfere.
Because Shui Bing'er was still meditating.
Her mind was quiet.
Her breathing steady.
And somewhere within that calm state—
She had begun touching a deeper understanding of her element.
The lake rippled gently beside them.
And the air around Shui Bing'er grew just slightly colder.
The faint frost around Shui Bing'er gradually faded as her meditation came to an end.
She opened her eyes slowly.
For a moment she remained silent, clearly sensing the subtle changes in her spiritual circulation.
The flow of soul power within her body had become noticeably smoother.
Even the control of her ice attribute felt… clearer.
She raised one hand slightly.
A thin ribbon of frost condensed in the air above her palm.
The ice formed smoothly.
Without the usual turbulence in her spiritual power.
Shui Bing'er blinked slightly.
"…It's easier."
Around her, the other girls were also opening their eyes.
Several of them looked surprised.
Yu Hairou stretched her shoulders slightly.
"My breathing feels much steadier."
Shui Yue'er inhaled deeply.
"…It's like the spiritual energy enters more naturally."
Xue Wu nodded quietly.
"The circulation doesn't feel forced anymore."
Honghong leaned forward slightly on Lin Huang's shoulder.
"…Not bad."
Lin Huang stepped forward calmly.
"The second pillar stabilizes the mind."
He raised one finger.
"Meditation."
Then he raised another.
"The third pillar stabilizes the body's ability to absorb resources."
"Digestion."
The girls looked curious again.
Qiu Ruoshui tilted her head slightly.
"…Digestion?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
He walked a few steps closer to the group.
"Most cultivators consume spirit herbs to increase cultivation."
Several of the girls nodded.
That was common practice.
"But most of them absorb those herbs inefficiently."
Lin Huang continued calmly.
"Energy residues remain in the body."
"Toxins accumulate in the meridians."
"And over time…"
He glanced briefly toward them.
"…those impurities interfere with cultivation."
The girls listened carefully.
This was not something most instructors explained in detail.
Lin Huang continued.
"A proper digestion method solves that problem."
He demonstrated by placing one hand lightly over his lower abdomen.
"When absorbing spirit herbs, your body must refine the energy gradually."
"Allow the meridians to process it."
"Remove toxins."
"Stabilize the remaining energy."
Yu Hairou frowned slightly.
"…But refining herbs like that takes a long time."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
"Normally."
He paused briefly.
"But the correct digestion method accelerates the process."
The girls exchanged surprised looks.
Shen Liuyu spoke up.
"…You said it can also purify resentment from soul rings."
Lin Huang nodded calmly.
"The principle is similar."
"Soul rings carry emotional residue from spirit beasts."
"If the body and mind are unstable…"
"That resentment lingers."
"But controlled digestion can calm it."
Several of the girls looked thoughtful.
That concept was entirely new to them.
Honghong flicked one of her tails slightly.
"…You're teaching them quite a lot."
Lin Huang ignored the comment.
Instead he gestured toward the training field.
"But digestion alone is not enough."
He looked at them carefully.
"Your bodies are not strong enough to support efficient cultivation."
Shui Yue'er blinked.
"…We're spirit masters."
Lin Huang shook his head.
"Yes."
"But your physical conditioning is insufficient."
He pointed toward the open training area.
"You rely too heavily on soul power."
Yu Hairou crossed her arms.
"…So what do you suggest?"
Lin Huang walked toward the open ground.
"Stand."
The girls followed his instruction.
Lin Huang demonstrated a new stance.
Feet slightly apart.
Knees bent.
Back straight.
"This strengthens balance and leg stability."
He held the posture calmly.
"Maintain this position while controlling your breathing."
The girls copied the stance.
Within seconds, several of them began struggling.
Shui Yue'er groaned softly.
"…My legs are shaking."
Honghong snorted.
"…Weak."
Lin Huang ignored her again.
Instead he demonstrated another movement.
A slow stretching motion that opened the shoulders and spine.
"Flexibility improves energy flow through the meridians."
The girls followed carefully.
Some of the poses still looked unusual.
But after a few minutes—
They began to understand.
Their breathing remained steady.
Their circulation stayed smooth.
And the connection between body and spiritual energy became clearer.
Xue Wu spoke quietly.
"…Our techniques might become stronger if the body supports them better."
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"Exactly."
He looked at the group.
"These are the foundations."
"Breathing."
"Meditation."
"Digestion."
"And physical stability."
Honghong rested her chin lazily on his shoulder.
"…Your 'basics' are ridiculous."
Lin Huang looked toward the lake.
"…They're just fundamentals."
Behind them, the water rippled softly beneath the afternoon wind.
And the training of Tianshui's team had only just begun.
The training field slowly returned to a calmer rhythm after the body exercises.
Several of the girls were still adjusting to the unfamiliar movements Lin Huang had shown them. Even something as simple as maintaining balance while controlling their breathing had proven far more difficult than expected.
Shui Yue'er leaned slightly forward, hands resting on her knees.
"…My legs feel like they're about to fall off."
Yu Hairou nodded in agreement.
"I didn't expect standing still to be this exhausting."
Lin Huang remained calm.
"That means the muscles you rarely use are being activated."
Honghong, still sitting on his shoulder, flicked one of her tails lazily.
"…In other words, you're weak."
Shui Yue'er puffed her cheeks slightly.
"That's easy for you to say!"
But despite the complaints, none of the girls denied the results.
Their breathing was steadier.
Their circulation smoother.
And their control of soul power noticeably more stable.
A faint breeze drifted across the lake.
From the nearby pavilion beside the water, a soft melody began to rise.
Several members of the idol group were practicing there.
A guqin rested across Tian Ling'er's lap while Ming Mei softly adjusted the strings of another instrument. Mo Xue stood nearby humming quietly, her voice blending with the gentle sound of the lake.
The melody carried lightly across the training field.
Shui Yue'er turned her head.
"Oh right… the performance group is practicing again."
Honghong's ears twitched.
"…Music?"
Lin Huang's gaze shifted toward the pavilion.
He listened silently for a moment.
The melody was simple.
But calm.
The sound of the strings blended naturally with the rhythm of the lake.
One of the idol girls noticed Lin Huang watching and smiled curiously.
"Do you know how to play an instrument, Mister Lin?"
Shui Yue'er immediately looked interested.
"Oh? You play music too?"
Lin Huang answered simply.
"A little."
Several of the girls exchanged excited looks.
"Really?"
"Then play something!"
Lin Huang hesitated briefly.
Then stepped toward the pavilion.
Tian Ling'er politely handed him the guqin.
"Please."
Lin Huang sat quietly beside the lake.
Honghong settled comfortably across his shoulder again, her tails draping behind him like a crimson fan.
For a moment he simply rested his fingers lightly on the strings.
Then he began to play.
The melody that followed was soft.
Slow.
Yet each note seemed to resonate naturally with the surrounding environment.
The sound of the guqin blended perfectly with the movement of the lake.
The breeze shifted slightly.
The water responded with gentle ripples.
The spiritual energy in the surrounding air grew calmer.
More harmonious.
The girls quickly noticed the difference.
Shui Yue'er blinked.
"…The air feels different."
Xue Wu looked toward the lake.
"…The spiritual energy is stabilizing."
Even Yu Hairou felt it.
Her breathing unconsciously synchronized with the rhythm of the music.
Honghong glanced down at Lin Huang.
"…You're using artistic intent."
Lin Huang continued playing without answering.
The melody flowed like water.
Each note carried a subtle layer of comprehension.
Not a technique.
Not an attack.
But something deeper.
A reflection of the natural rhythm of water itself.
Nearby, Shui Bing'er had unconsciously closed her eyes again.
The earlier meditation state returned naturally.
Her breathing synchronized with the music.
The moisture in the air gathered slowly around her.
Tiny particles of frost began forming again.
The girls around her noticed.
"…Look!"
The temperature around Shui Bing'er dropped slightly.
Behind her, the faint outline of a phoenix appeared once more.
This time the image was clearer.
The Ice Phoenix responded to the harmony of the music.
Honghong tilted her head slightly.
"…That girl again."
Lin Huang's fingers moved smoothly across the strings.
He had noticed as well.
Shui Bing'er's comprehension of water and ice was responding to the artistic rhythm.
The frost surrounding her grew slightly stronger.
Then gradually stabilized.
Shui Bing'er opened her eyes slowly.
A faint layer of frost formed across the surface of the lake directly in front of her before melting again.
The girls stared in amazement.
Shui Yue'er whispered:
"…Was that an epiphany?"
Shui Bing'er looked at her own hands quietly.
"…I think so."
The music slowly came to an end.
The final note faded into the quiet sound of the lake.
Lin Huang lifted his fingers from the strings.
The spiritual energy in the area slowly returned to normal.
Several of the girls looked at him with new expressions.
Shui Yue'er leaned forward excitedly.
"You said you only knew a little!"
Honghong snorted.
"…That's what he always says."
Lin Huang stood calmly and returned the instrument to Tian Ling'er.
"Thank you."
But across the training field, one pair of eyes had been observing everything carefully.
The headmaster had arrived quietly.
And she had seen enough to understand that the man standing beside the lake was far from ordinary.
The final note of the guqin faded slowly into the quiet breeze drifting across the lake.
For a moment, no one spoke.
The faint frost that had briefly appeared on the water had already melted, leaving the surface calm once again.
But the atmosphere around the training field had clearly changed.
Several of the girls were still looking at Lin Huang with wide eyes.
Shui Yue'er leaned forward slightly.
"You said you only knew a little."
Honghong snorted softly from Lin Huang's shoulder.
"…That's what he says about everything."
Lin Huang simply ignored the comment.
He placed the instrument gently back in Tian Ling'er's hands.
"Thank you."
The idol girl bowed slightly, still clearly surprised.
"You're welcome."
Before anyone could continue speaking, a calm voice sounded from behind them.
"…That was quite an unusual display."
The girls immediately straightened.
They turned toward the voice.
Standing a short distance away near the edge of the training field was a tall woman wearing the formal robes of the academy.
Her presence was calm but authoritative.
This was the headmaster of Tianshui Academy.
Her long hair shared the same pale-blue tone as several members of the Shui family.
She stepped forward slowly.
Shui Bing'er spoke first.
"Headmaster."
The woman nodded once.
Her gaze moved briefly across the students before settling on Lin Huang.
"…Mister Lin."
Lin Huang inclined his head slightly.
"Headmaster."
She observed him quietly for a moment.
Then introduced herself.
"My name is Shui Linlong."
Her eyes flicked briefly toward Shui Bing'er.
"A member of the Shui family."
The connection was obvious.
Shui Bing'er remained calm, though her expression showed quiet respect.
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"I see."
Shui Linlong turned her attention toward the lake where the frost had appeared earlier.
"I arrived just in time to see the result of your music."
Her gaze returned to him.
"That was not ordinary playing."
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"It was simply music."
Honghong muttered quietly from his shoulder.
"…Liar."
Shui Linlong allowed a faint smile.
"Perhaps."
She then glanced toward the students again.
"I also saw your training earlier."
Her tone carried clear interest now.
"The breathing technique."
"The meditation."
"And the physical conditioning."
The girls shifted slightly.
Shui Yue'er rubbed her legs again.
"…Physical conditioning…"
Shui Linlong ignored the complaint.
Instead she continued speaking to Lin Huang.
"Your methods are unusual."
Lin Huang answered simply.
"They are basic techniques where I come from."
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"Your sect must have very different teachings."
Lin Huang nodded calmly.
"It is… somewhat isolated."
That explanation seemed reasonable enough.
Shui Linlong looked toward the training field again.
The girls had already begun repeating the breathing and posture exercises Lin Huang had shown them.
The difference in their control was already noticeable.
Her expression grew thoughtful.
"…Your methods could improve our academy's training."
Lin Huang said nothing.
Shui Linlong turned back to him.
"If you are willing to remain here for a time…"
"…we would welcome your guidance."
Lin Huang considered the offer briefly.
Then answered calmly.
"I would not stay for free."
The headmaster's lips curved slightly.
"That is fair."
Lin Huang gestured lightly toward the academy grounds.
"Your academy has talented students."
"But the training environment is inefficient."
Shui Linlong raised an eyebrow.
"Inefficient?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"You lack specialized training facilities."
He began listing them calmly.
"Rooms for reaction training."
"Rooms that develop speed."
"Rooms that sharpen perception."
"And controlled environments for cultivating elemental attributes."
The headmaster listened carefully.
Such facilities did not currently exist within the academy.
"…You can construct such places?" she asked.
"Yes."
Lin Huang's answer was simple.
"But I would require materials."
"What kind of materials?"
"Spirit herbs."
"Soul gold coins."
"And access to your academy's cultivation texts."
Shui Linlong considered the request.
The price was not small.
But neither was the potential benefit.
Finally, she nodded.
"…That can be arranged."
The girls nearby immediately brightened at the news.
Shui Yue'er whispered excitedly to Xue Wu.
"Did you hear that?"
Honghong leaned slightly closer to Lin Huang's ear.
"…And dinner."
Lin Huang sighed quietly.
"…I remember."
Honghong looked pleased.
The lake shimmered softly beneath the late afternoon light.
And for the first time since Lin Huang had arrived in this era…
The future of Tianshui Academy had begun to change.