10: Chapter 10 Teacher He

It was nearly noon when Ye Yisong finally drifted awake. As soon as he opened his eyes, he looked at the fifteen Talismans laid out on the table. He had been too exhausted yesterday to tidy them up, but fortunately, this was his own courtyard; without the permission of the owner, others generally could not enter.

As for those who were not "general," there was no way Ye Yisong could stop them even if he wanted to. Take, for example, that shameless old man who would haggle over a single First-Grade High Grade Talisman after losing it.

Ye Yisong counted the Talismans on the table one by one, smiling happily: "One hundred, three hundred, three hundred... five hundred."

As he counted, Ye Yisong felt grateful to Ye Jiexin once again for giving him his first pot of gold. Although Ye Jiexin hadn't explicitly stated it, Ye Yisong knew this Storage Pouch was a gift from the old man for becoming a Second-Grade Talisman Maker.

In other words, as long as Ye Yisong turned them all into Talismans, he would make a small fortune. This was pure profit with zero cost; truly, to get rich, one had to keep fleecing these old guys.

A rough estimate suggested that the fifteen Second-Grade Talismans he made yesterday were worth about two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.

It was truly shocking once calculated. Ye Yisong's secret stash, accumulated over ten years, didn't even amount to this much. No wonder companies in his previous life were so desperate to poach technical talent; the value they created was immeasurable.

Ye Yisong calmed his excitement, then strode off toward the cafeteria with a jaunty gait. The familiar large bowl and familiar thick slices of meat were waiting, and he devoured the meal ravenously.

After eating, Ye Yisong headed straight to the schoolhouse where he attended cultural classes.

The schoolhouse had no flashy architecture; overall, it looked like the tile-roofed houses from his previous life—square and upright. Inside, there were three or four pavilions for the teacher to live in, along with some thatched huts for the attendants to rest while on duty. In the center was a large plaza with hundreds of desks, clearly the place where the Family Disciples studied in the afternoon.

However, it lacked a roof, making it quite uncomfortable on sunny or rainy days, though the teacher claimed this was a marvelous method for cultivating one's character.

But if the teacher could walk out from his room into the rain to preach this grand principle, Ye Yisong might actually believe him.

After greeting the attendant at the entrance, he went into the alleyway and saw a gray-haired old man lying on a rocking chair, basking in the sun.

This old man was Master He, the cultural teacher who had instructed Ye Yisong for ten years. Master He had been teaching at the Ye Family Clan for over a century.

After being won over by the old man, Ye Yisong had curiously asked many people about Master He's background, but no one knew where the Clan Chief had invited such a great expert from. His literary knowledge was so profound that it seemed there wasn't a question he couldn't answer.

Master He held a rather special status within the entire Ye Family, and his own strength had reached the Fourth-Grade.

Even more impressive was that over the past century, he had taught five Martial Artists with Fourth-Grade Mental Energy. Now, one had reached the Martial Sect Realm, one was a Seven-Star Martial Master, two had died young after being too arrogant following their Breakthroughs, and the last one was currently serving in the military.

Ye Yisong straightened his clothes, bowed respectfully to the sunbathing old man, and said softly: "Master He, Disciple Ye Yisong has come to report."

"Young Master Thirteen, it's truly not easy that you still remember this old fellow, isn't it?" the white-haired old man turned over and mocked.

"Teacher, please don't tease me. I've encountered several great happy events these past few days and was a bit overwhelmed, so I didn't come to pay my respects. I hope you will forgive me," Ye Yisong said while bowing again.

"Alright, don't act like a timid girl." Master He helped Ye Yisong up and continued: "Yisong, do you know why I mocked you?"

Ye Yisong replied: "Disciple knows. I achieved a minor success and became carried away, forgetting even the most basic etiquette. I was a bit too full of myself."

"You are teachable. Close your eyes, listen to me play a tune, and reflect on the changes in your heart over these past few days." After saying this, Master He walked to the zither and gently plucked a string, a low melody slowly drifting into Ye Yisong's ears.

Ye Yisong slowly closed his eyes, feeling the melodious zither music and reflecting on his actions over the past few days.

Obtaining the barrier-breaking pill from his father, breaking through his Bottleneck in one go to reach the Martial Artist Realm, ending ten years of restriction, and becoming a free bird yearning to fly into the outside world.

Then, breaking through to become a Second-Grade Medium Grade Talisman Maker with old man Ye Jiexin, and Awakening the 798, he suddenly felt he had the confidence to compete with the heroes of the world, even taking a jab at his Sixth Brother along the way.

Thinking of the fifteen Second-Grade Talismans in his Storage Pouch, with a vast fortune waving in the wind, he had become a bit conceited, harboring grand ambitions that the world was his for the taking, and had become a bit oblivious to how vast the world truly was.

Not to mention the outside world, even within the Family, there were dozens or hundreds of people who could crush him with one hand. As a mere Martial Artist, how did he generate such boundless arrogance in such a short time?

Was it the Awakening of 798? Or becoming a Second-Grade Talisman Maker?

Ye Yisong slowly opened his eyes. Recalling the shifts in his mindset over these past few days, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. It seemed that his overnight Breakthrough and sudden wealth had made him a bit unable to extricate himself.

"How is it? Have you realized it?" Master He stroked his beard and looked at Ye Yisong with a faint smile. "Kid, it seems those ten years of reading weren't in vain; you still know the heights of the sky and the depths of the earth. Many people achieve fame young and become conceited, ultimately meeting a dismal end."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master He. Disciple is deeply grateful," Ye Yisong said.

He knew the sadness hidden in Master He's smile. It was said that those two clan brothers who died young were also Disciples whom Master He had cherished dearly. After breaking through to Fourth-Grade Mental Energy, they were too arrogant and did not know how to restrain themselves, eventually being plotted against by hostile forces of the Family and dying unexpectedly.

When the news arrived back then, Master He's hair turned half-white overnight. The Family was also furious and sent three Martial Ancestors to investigate the matter, but they found nothing. They didn't know which bastard had plotted against the Ye Family like that.

These were two seeds of Martial Ancestors, the Legacy of the Family for the next few hundred years.

Master He took out a certificate and handed it to Ye Yisong: "This is your cultural class graduation certificate; you don't need to come here anymore. I heard you still insist on going to the Library these days—not bad. I hope you do not forget your original intention and continue to forge ahead. Go now, this old man wants some peace and quiet."

Ye Yisong felt inexplicably sad as he listened. Looking at the gray-haired old man who had taught him for ten years, he bowed deeply: "Disciple will never forget Teacher's teachings for the rest of his life!"

Holding the graduation certificate, Ye Yisong slowly walked out of the schoolhouse...

Watching this kid grow from a little tyke into a dashing young man, how time flies... I wonder if those old fellows are still alive.

...

Walking out of the schoolhouse, Master He's earnest teachings still echoed in Ye Yisong's mind. He had been too arrogant recently, faintly showing the shadow of those two clan brothers. Exposing everything to the outside was too dangerous.

Ye Yisong decided to begin secluded cultivation recently to let this current storm pass. Besides, he needed to calm his mind to make Talismans, further develop the 798, and prepare for the Martial Examination in three months.