What do you mean I'm a cultivator?-Chapter 51

Quiet.

No commentary. No rapidfire commentary. No nudging elbows.

Just the soft rustle of trees outside and the creak of wood under his feet.

And then Cheng snorted.

Because somehow, the contrast between this cabin’s peaceful stillness and the endless commentary machine that was Qiu Yiren felt ridiculous. Like he was caught between two completely different realities.

He shook his head faintly and moved to light a small candle, muttering under his breath.

“Loudmouth.”

But his tone wasn’t annoyed.

Just... mildly entertained. Despite how different he was from Yiren, the excitement he had about cultivation almost matched his own.

Though Yiren was more interested in fancy martial moves than studying books and arrays, much like the majority of cultivators.

And so, despite his annoyance with just how much the boy could keep talking, he found that he couldn't really hold it against the boy.

And maybe. Just maybe. A little grateful.

Because, like a saying that he remembered hearing from somewhere, teaching is also learning. For whenever he tried to explain things to Yiren, he found himself questioning things he had thought he understood.

It was a welcome revision of material he knew. And more importantly. It was kind of fun to try to shove information into Yiren's brain, and seeing him let out sigh after sigh, and complaint after complaint.

It made him realise that perhaps he had been wrong in not interacting with his fellow outer sect members.

"Something to fix in the inner sect." Cheng mumbled, his hand closing into a fist.

It had been four months since the Hundred Year Gathering.

For Jiang Cheng, not much had changed on the surface. He still kept to himself. Still practiced late into the night. Still spent more time with array and sigil making than sleep. Not like he needed much of that anyways.

As he had read, even mid stage Qi condensation cultivators could shrug off sleep for days.

He’d broken through to the thirteenth level a month ago, right after completing another step of his plan.

Just a few years more, and Cheng was convinced he'd be ready to form a perfect foundation. No matter how many times it takes. Because if his plans were correct, He'd have all the time he'd need.

Today, Cheng sat cross legged in front of a half formed array, fingers smeared with charcoal, fingers twitching as he traced the last line onto the wooden block.

This was a side project of his. Whenever he'd get stuck with anything concerning his plans, these and other distractions were crucial to prevent frustration.

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This project, in particular, was his trying to see just how efficient he could make a block of wood.

Not in terms of strength or durability. But just how long and hot it could burn. SO far, there have been small successes. Around twice the time burning, and somewhat hotter.

Just as he was about to turn on the array, wondering if an array could be activated by a mortal with no Qi somehow. Perhaps if he-

Knock knock knock!

Three sharp raps on the wooden cabin door, followed immediately by a familiar voice.

“Cheng! I brought the swords!”

Cheng exhaled slowly. He didn’t even look up. “Leave them by the door. I'm busy.”

“You're always busy! Come on, Cheng! I brought two! One for you! One for me! It’s time for our weekly sparring match!”

came the cheerful reply. He could almost imagine the stupid smile plastered on Yiren's face. It was like the boy just couldn't make any other expression other than that.

Well, except if...jade beauties were involved. Cheng thought with amusement.

Cheng sighed. “If you insist.”

He stood, brushing his hands on his robes, and made his way to the door. Sure enough, Qiu Yiren stood there, grinning wide and holding two wooden practice swords. And of course, both were of Cheng's making.

It made him wonder just how many of his own creations were used to practice.

“Ready?” the boy asked, already bouncing on his feet.

“You do remember the last time we did this, right?” Cheng said as he took one of the training swords.

Yiren nodded vigorously. “Yep. You disarmed me in eight moves, and I hit the ground so hard my eyes were spinning! But I’ve been practicing! I even watched other seniors fight!”

“I'm sure you did.”

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"I sure did!" Yiren said with a grin, the sarcasm flying over his head.

They moved outside to the patch of packed dirt beside the cabin.

Cheng took his stance, sword loose in his grip, feet shoulder width apart.

Yiren mirrored him, his posture a little too upright, a little too eager.

“No Qi. Of course, you can use Qi, but I'll follow suit.”

Cheng spoke.

“Well, that wouldn't be fair!” Yiren smiled at Cheng and took a step closer.

Cheng shrugged once, wordless.

Then, he moved as well.

The first clash rang out sharp and light, wood against wood.

They circled. Yiren tried a feint, then a downward slash. Cheng parried it lazily and tapped him in the ribs with the flat side of the wooden sword.

“Too wide. Idiot.” Cheng murmured.

Yiren danced back, grinning. “I'll beat you this time!”

“I'm sure you will.” Cheng spoke

“I'm sure I will too!” Yiren spoke with a smile, making Cheng's eyebrow twitch.

Despite all that time spent around him, Cheng still couldn't wrap his head around Yiren's happy go lucky attitude. It was like his world was all sunshine and rainbows. Almost too much, if he were honest.

It was a laughable thought, but Cheng found it funny if somehow this was the cause of a physique. Perhaps the Eversmiling sun physique, he thought with a snort.

They exchanged blows again, this time longer. Yiren managed to catch Cheng’s guard once and land a solid tap against his shoulder.

"Haha! This is my comeback!"

Cheng said nothing, simply shifting, turning his body, sweeping Yiren’s sword aside with a flick of his wrist.

The wooden blade went spinning out of the boy’s hands and landed in the grass several paces away.

Yiren dropped to the ground with a thud, landing on his backside, laughing before he even fully hit the dirt.

“You’re amazing!” he said between breaths, leaning back on his hands, eyes sparkling.

Cheng exhaled through his nose and lowered his sword.

Some may have called this a waste of time. Why should he waste his time teaching someone who would likely not even make it to late stage Qi condensation?

Cheng, for one, thought that was the wrong way to look at it. It was an opportunity to learn through teaching. To brush up on his basics. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Cheng lacked combat experience. he was not a genius of the sword.

And most importantly. It served as a distraction. To dissipate the frustration of his plans not going exactly as he wanted. Sure, he might be talented with arrays. Able to think out of the box frequently. But he was no heaven defying genius.

He couldn't just write some chicken scratch and call it a supreme array. He needed consistency. Practice. But that came with frustration.

“Shut up.” he muttered, turning away, as he walked back to his cabin.

But his mouth twitched at the corner.

“And practice more while you're at it.” He spoke, feeling Yiren's smile behind his back. He could almost imagine it. That mouth splitting grin, as Yiren spoke.

"You got it, boss!"