Situ Xuan was thoroughly confused.
For the past few days, the atmosphere in the training ground had been suffocating. Ever since that specific day when he had requested leave and missed a single night of special training, the way Long Xiuyuan looked at him had been more than a little strange. It was a gaze filled with complexity, hesitation, and a weird sort of intensity.
Various speculations flashed through Situ Xuan's mind as he took a break, sitting on the bench.
He replayed the events of the week. There was Long Xiuyuan's flickering gaze whenever they made eye contact. There were the weird, prolonged pauses when the teacher spoke, as if he wanted to say something but swallowed the words back down. And most concerning of all, there was the sudden, unreasonable increase in force during their sparring sessions.
These anomalies swirled in his mind like scattered puzzle pieces waiting to be assembled.
Situ Xuan grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat that was drenching his neck. The rough fabric scraped against his skin, grounding him in the moment. He thought to himself, Could it be because of that day's leave? Is he angry that I skipped class? But that doesn't make sense. With his personality, he wouldn't hold a grudge over such a small matter for this long. He's strict, but he isn't petty.
Then, a darker thought intruded.
Or perhaps...
Situ Xuan's pupils suddenly constricted slightly. His hand froze, the towel hanging halfway around his neck.
He found out?
The thought made his spine stiffen, a chill running down his back that had nothing to do with the cooling sweat. He had never mentioned to anyone the matter of drawing the Black Heart Evil Qi into his body. That was his deepest secret.
The origin of the Black Heart Baleful Palm was far too special, and it was dangerous. Its method of breakthrough was vastly different from traditional Spirit Master cultivation. It involved absorbing negative energy and refining the body in ways that the Spirit Hall or the Federation might deem heretical.
If Long Xiuyuan had noticed some clue...
Situ Xuan's heart raced for a second, but then he immediately dismissed the guess. He shook his head, relaxing his shoulders.
Impossible. No matter how sharp Long Xiuyuan is, his cultivation level is limited. He is a Spirit Master at the Spirit Ancestor level. While that is strong, he shouldn't be able to sense the existence of Evil Qi, especially when it's hidden deep within my meridians.
Besides, Situ Xuan knew his teacher's temperament. If Long Xiuyuan had really discovered something unusual or dangerous about his cultivation, he wouldn't be sulking about it. With that guy's direct and military-style personality, he would have questioned Situ Xuan immediately. He would have dragged him to the infirmary or the principal's office, demanding answers instead of observing him secretly while hesitating to speak.
So, if it wasn't the secret technique, and it wasn't the skipped class, what was left?
Situ Xuan's gaze unconsciously drifted toward the faculty dormitory building visible through the high windows of the training hall. He thought about the man's age, his retired status, and his recent mood swings.
"Ha!"
Situ Xuan suddenly let out a light laugh. The gloom and worry between his brows were instantly swept away.
"So that's how it is!"
All the clues instantly connected in his brain. Long Xiuyuan's sudden change in attitude, his hesitant behavior, the heavy sighs, and the hidden testing during training—it was clearly a typical reaction after a romantic setback!
His homeroom teacher had definitely been dumped!
It all made sense now. The frustration, the anger taken out on the punching bags (and Situ Xuan), the distracted looks. It was even possible his girlfriend had cheated on him, leading to this strange mix of anger and depression.
"So our 'Devil Coach' has these kinds of troubles too..."
A playful, mischievous smile curled at the corner of Situ Xuan's mouth. It seemed that his accidental leave that day had happened to coincide with some 'special moment' in Long Xiuyuan's life, and the man was now wallowing in misery.
This realization put Situ Xuan in an excellent mood. The fear of his secret being exposed vanished, replaced by a sense of superiority. He casually draped the towel over his shoulder and decided that the next time Long Xiuyuan cast that strange look his way, he would definitely show some proper 'concern' for this coach's love life. It was the least a good student could do.
"But..."
On second thought, he remembered the force Long Xiuyuan deliberately increased during training yesterday. A kick that usually would have been pulled was delivered with full force.
Situ Xuan's smile gradually froze. "This guy wouldn't be venting all his frustration from being dumped onto my training, would he? That's just petty."
Night fell over the campus. The artificial lights of the training ground hummed overhead.
Situ Xuan stood in the center of the arena with his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes revealed a hint of depth and seriousness—this was the expression he usually only showed when thinking about major life events or complex combat strategies.
Long Xiuyuan stood not far away, arranging some cones for agility drills. He glanced over and saw his student staring at him. Long Xiuyuan's brow twitched. He wondered why this kid was so quiet today. Usually, Situ Xuan had a retort for everything. Something wasn't right.
He was about to speak, to order the boy to start running laps, when he saw Situ Xuan suddenly raise a hand.
"Teacher Long," Situ Xuan said. His tone was heavy, filled with a mixture of understanding and pity.
"..." Long Xiuyuan paused. His eyelid jumped, giving him an inexplicably ominous premonition.
Situ Xuan took a deep breath. He walked slowly up to his teacher, stopping just a few feet away. He curled the corners of his mouth into a smile that looked comforting but was actually full of gossip and suppressed amusement.
"In life," Situ Xuan began philosophically, "being dumped is inevitable. It happens to the best of us."
Long Xiuyuan froze. "...?"
The air instantly froze in the training hall. The hum of the lights seemed to get louder in the silence.
Seeing no reaction, Situ Xuan thought his teacher was just putting on a brave face to maintain his dignity. He reached out and patted Long Xiuyuan's broad shoulder earnestly.
"There are plenty of fish in the sea, Teacher. Why pine over a single flower? With your qualifications—retired military, decent strength—finding someone better won't be a problem! Don't let it destroy your confidence."
Long Xiuyuan stood there like a statue for a full second. Then, his pupils slowly widened. They didn't fill with sadness, but with an absurd sense of fury.
"What the hell are you talking about?!" he roared.
Situ Xuan calmly withdrew his hand to avoid being bitten. He gave Long Xiuyuan an 'I understand, you don't have to hide it' look.
"Stop pretending," Situ Xuan said gently. "Lately, you've been so harsh during training. You're always distracted when you talk, looking at me with those sad, angry eyes. It's obvious you were dumped and you don't know how to handle the emotions."
Long Xiuyuan's brain stalled for a rare moment. He couldn't process the sheer audacity. Then, veins began to bulge on his forehead as he squeezed the words out from between his clenched teeth.
"You... think I was dumped?"
Situ Xuan nodded, his smile confident. "Teacher, this kind of thing can't escape my eyes. I'm very observant."
Long Xiuyuan stared at him fixedly. The silence stretched out, thick with tension. Then, suddenly, Long Xiuyuan laughed.
"Heh. Hehehe."
But that smile looked like... a sign of an impending nuclear explosion. It was the smile of a predator looking at a very stupid prey.
"Situ Xuan."
"Hmm?"
"Your training volume is doubled today."
"..."
Situ Xuan's benevolent smile gradually stiffened on his face.
Long Xiuyuan leisurely flexed his wrists, cracking his knuckles one by one. "Oh, right. And after the physical training, I want you to go straight into combat sparring. No protective gear today."
Situ Xuan's mouth twitched violently. "Teacher Long, calm down. Rationality is key. I was just concerned about you..."
Long Xiuyuan smiled brighter. "Add another five hundred push-ups. Now."
Situ Xuan: "...Holy crap?"
Situ Xuan liked the feeling of becoming stronger. He enjoyed the rush of adrenaline during a hearty battle.
But that didn't mean he was a masochist. He got tired. He felt pain. Normal people don't like looking for abuse for no reason!
An hour later, Situ Xuan was slumped against a concrete pillar in the corner of the training ground. His muscles felt as heavy as if they had been filled with liquid lead. His arms were trembling so badly he couldn't even make a fist.
Sweat soaked his training uniform completely, dripping off his nose and forming a small puddle on the ground beneath him. He gasped for air, his lungs burning.
He glanced sideways at Long Xiuyuan. The teacher was standing nearby, drinking water from a bottle, looking completely refreshed. Situ Xuan suddenly felt that the face, which usually looked somewhat handsome and rugged, was exceptionally punchable right now.
"What are you looking at?"
Long Xiuyuan put down his water bottle. A smug curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Can't handle just this much training? And you call yourself a genius?"
Situ Xuan's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed with difficulty. His throat was dry and raw from the heavy panting.
"Teacher... you're... abusing your power... for a personal grudge..." he wheezed.
"I'm only ten years old," Situ Xuan added, trying to play the age card. "This is child abuse."
"Nonsense."
Long Xiuyuan walked over with a light step, his black training pants reflecting a matte finish under the lights. "Teacher is helping you build a solid foundation. Pain is weakness leaving the body. Besides, with your look and that hulking build, no one would believe you're ten even if you reported me to the Federal Court."
As he spoke, a nearly childish, smug light flickered in his eyes that Situ Xuan had never seen before. It was the look of someone who had won a petty argument.
Situ Xuan couldn't help but roll his eyes. He tried to move his fingers to make an international gesture of insult, only to find that even this simple movement made his bicep muscles twitch in protest. He gave up.
Long Xiuyuan squatted down in front of him. Suddenly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a leather wallet.
Situ Xuan reflexively shrank his neck back against the pillar. He thought the other man was going to pull out some new portable training equipment to continue the torture.
Instead, he saw Long Xiuyuan flip the wallet open. Holding a yellowed photo between his fingertips, the teacher waved it in front of Situ Xuan's eyes as if showing off a trophy.
"See this?"
Long Xiuyuan's voice was suddenly as light and happy as a teenager's. "This is a photo of me and A'yun in sixth grade."
Situ Xuan squinted, trying to focus his blurry vision.
In the photo, two children in school uniforms stood under a cherry blossom tree. The colors were faded, but the image was clear. A little girl was angrily pinching the boy's ear, pulling it hard. The boy being pinched—though his features were immature—had those signature sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. It was clearly a young version of Long Xiuyuan.
"She's pinching your ear and you're still this happy?" Situ Xuan asked, his voice hoarse.
Long Xiuyuan suddenly pulled the photo back like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "What do you know! This is an expression of love! It shows intimacy!"
He pulled out a new photo from a different slot in his wallet like a magic trick.
"This is a photo of us after we both got into East Sea Academy."
The girl in this photo had grown into a graceful young woman. She was captured in the middle of hitting Long Xiuyuan on the head with a thick textbook. Young Long Xiuyuan was grinning like an idiot, clearly enjoying the attention.
Situ Xuan suddenly felt his eyes ache. He quietly turned his head away, not wanting to deal with this blinding display of affection.
"And this one," Long Xiuyuan continued, entering full bragging mode. He grabbed Situ Xuan's head and forced him to look at a third photo. "This was when she accepted my proposal last year..."
In the photo, a gentle woman shyly held out her hand. Long Xiuyuan was sliding a ring onto her finger. Situ Xuan noticed that Long Xiuyuan's hand in the photo was shaking so much it was a blur.
"So..."
Situ Xuan struggled to digest this information. His theory about the breakup had been completely wrong. "You aren't dumped. You're happily engaged."
"Exactly," Long Xiuyuan huffed.
"Then... the reason you've been looking at me strangely lately..." Situ Xuan frowned.
Long Xiuyuan's face suddenly changed. The happiness vanished, replaced by that familiar annoyance. He remembered the 'truth' he had recently discovered.
He stuffed the photos back into his wallet fiercely. "Is because you kid actually went to do extra training with Wu Changkong!"
Situ Xuan blinked. "What?"
"Don't play dumb!" Long Xiuyuan snapped. "I saw the bruises. I saw the technique changes. You went to that ice-block for pointers!"
"My student doesn't need anyone else to teach him! Especially not that guy from Class Five!" Long Xiuyuan declared, his voice full of possessive pride.
Situ Xuan opened his mouth, suddenly feeling his throat hurt even more. He should have known. This wasn't about romance or secret evil techniques. This was about professional jealousy.
This tsundere teacher's logic couldn't be fathomed with common sense at all.
"Teacher..." He weakly raised a hand in surrender. "I was wrong..."
"Wrong about what?"
Long Xiuyuan stood before him with hands on his hips, his back to the overhead lights, casting a grand, imposing silhouette.
"I shouldn't have doubted your relationship status..." Situ Xuan said sincerely. "And even less should I have said you were dumped..."
"And?" Long Xiuyuan pressed.
"I shouldn't have... sought out Teacher Wu for a sparring session in private..."
Long Xiuyuan snorted. The anger seemed to drain out of him with the admission. He squatted down again and suddenly grabbed Situ Xuan's right wrist.
Situ Xuan instinctively wanted to pull back, but his sore arm was immediately wrapped in a gentle surge of Spirit Power. It was warm and soothing, seeping into his aching muscles.
"Listen up," Long Xiuyuan said with a stern face, focusing on channeling his healing Spirit Power to help relieve the boy's muscle fatigue. "I don't care what secrets that family fist technique of yours has. But since you are my student, don't even think about slacking off. If you want to fight strong opponents, I'll find them for you. You don't need to go running to others."
Feeling the warm airflow on his arm, Situ Xuan suddenly felt his nose tingle. The pain in his body began to recede.
He muttered, "Who told you to suddenly ramp up the training volume lately... I thought you hated me."
"That was for your own good!" Long Xiuyuan slapped him on the back of the head, though the force was much lighter than usual. "With your current physical strength, ordinary training isn't enough to make you improve. You have to break limits."
Situ Xuan looked up, meeting Long Xiuyuan's rarely serious gaze. Those eyes, which were always full of banter or strictness, were now clear and earnest.
"Teacher..."
"What?"
"The photo..." Situ Xuan pointed to Long Xiuyuan's wallet, which was still sitting on the floor where he had dropped it to grab Situ Xuan's wrist. "It fell out..."
Long Xiuyuan scrambled to pick it up, dusting it off frantically.
He heard Situ Xuan's low chuckle from beside him: "You and the Teacher's Wife are a good match."
Moonlight spilled through the glass dome of the training ground, shining upon the teacher and student in the quiet hall.
Long Xiuyuan put away his wallet carefully. He glared at Situ Xuan with a mock-ferocious look. "If you've rested enough, get up! I'll walk you back to the dorms!"
"Eh?" Situ Xuan was pleasantly surprised. He blinked. "No extra training today? I thought I had 200 more sit-ups."
Long Xiuyuan turned his back to him to organize the scattered training equipment, his voice muffled as he picked up the cones.
"There's class tomorrow... don't die on my training ground... it would be too much paperwork."
Situ Xuan slowly stood up, leaning against the pillar for support until his legs felt steady. Looking at Long Xiuyuan's upright back, he suddenly felt that this night was exceptionally warm, despite the cool air.
"Teacher..."
"What now?!" Long Xiuyuan barked, throwing a towel into the bin.
"Tsundere is out of style, you'd better be careful."
"Get lost! Walk back yourself!"