Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 119 - 98: Respecting the Elderly and Cherishing the Young II (Second Update)

Fortunately, these old lazybones aren't completely oblivious and stuck in their ways. They've just not been together for so long that they can't help but become overly excited. Soon, the old fellows restrained their excitement, standing silently on the sidelines, and some even used concealing immortal techniques to completely erase their presence—though this caused a few plump young girls to become anxious, as if unwanted gazes were lurking everywhere.

The special morning training session ended under this awkward atmosphere. When Bald Li Tingshu announced that everyone could take a rest, there was a collective sigh of relief, and Li Tingshu instinctively loosened his collar, as if he'd been suffocating all along.

However, before Li Tingshu could step down from the platform, an elderly figure appeared beside him.

"Hey, Tingshu."

Li Tingshu was startled upon hearing this—the old folks were only granted visiting permits and shouldn't be able to set foot in the venue.

Turning his head, Li Tingshu saw a kindly old man, and immediately prepared to kneel and salute seriously—because this old man was none other than his father-in-law, Li Minxing, who had actively facilitated his marriage with his wife.

Towards this father-in-law, Li Tingshu was extremely grateful, not only for giving him his daughter's hand in marriage but also for actively helping him find suitable cultivation techniques within the family. To say his gratitude was as deep as the mountains wouldn't be an exaggeration... therefore, this small violation could be overlooked.

Li Minxing cheerfully assessed Li Tingshu and said, "It's been a few days, and your cultivation has improved again. It was truly right to bring you into the sect back then."

Li Tingshu was touched: "Father-in-law treats me..."

"Oh, save the polite words; I'm not doing it for you, but for the sake of completing Nanqiu. But you indeed haven't disappointed anyone... look at you now, so full of energy. I told you before to wear a wig."

"..."

"It's really different with hair. Now when we go out, people will surely think we're brothers. Of course, that's also because I, this old man, have some secret anti-aging techniques."

Li Tingshu listened to his father-in-law boast with a bitter smile and asked, "Is there something you wanted?"

"I'm not looking for anything in particular, just wondering where that mysterious Wang Jiu and that girl Chaolu, who likes coughing up blood, have gone off to."

Only then did Li Tingshu realize that the old folks had probably come more for Wang Jiu and Li Chaolu than for him, Bald Li...

"Those two are in the Underground Sword Cave," Li Tingshu explained, "Mainly because Chaolu's cultivation sessions are too intense and distracting to others, so we just set aside a separate area for them to avoid mutual disturbances."

"Oh, the Underground Sword Cave? Isn't that a secluded room for a lone man and woman? No, I must immediately take people there to criticize them."

Li Minxing, true to his name, immediately set off with a group of old comrades heading toward the Underground Sword Cave.

Soon, 33 old grandpas arrived underground, and they were greeted by a bloody sunset.

Several people instantly turned pale and retreated to the corners to relieve themselves.

The remaining people, having seen their share of bloodshed, were better equipped to handle the grim scene, suppressing the queasiness in their stomachs, and stayed put.

A moment later, an elder with white hair and beard took the lead by angrily shouting: "Wang Jiu, what are you doing?!"

Being sternly questioned, Wang Jiu turned around and replied earnestly, "Please, uninvolved individuals, refrain from interfering with the training."

Li Shouyi was simply fuming: "What uninvolved individuals, we're all elders of the Li Family, seniors to this girl! You've beaten her into this state, and you still ask us not to interfere with the training?!"

At this point, Li Chaolu, having just completed a diffusion circulation, also woke up and defended Wang Jiu: "Great-grandfather, you've misunderstood. I'm just undergoing routine training. It's okay; I actually enjoy cultivating this way."

"What, this is routine training? You go through such torment every day, ayayay..." Li Shouyi felt both angry and pained, eventually focusing his ire back on Wang Jiu, "Look at the mess you've made! A perfectly good girl, now she's speaking nonsense, claiming she enjoys it. This is classic Sedgwick Pavilion Syndrome!"

A nearby elder quietly asked his companion, "What's Sedgwick Pavilion Syndrome?"

Someone explained, "Oh, there was once an emperor who particularly revered traditional morals, lamenting the decline of society and the loss of ancient values. So he had a group of sycophantic ministers gather a bunch of nonsensical so-called ancient texts and redefined traditional morals. Occasionally, he even decreed that people study the 'new traditional morals'... He claimed to have grasped the essence of these morals while other emperors ruled by virtue, he went further, ruling by decree, even renaming his palace Sedgwick Pavilion."

"And then what?"

"Then, quite a few people inexplicably liked this approach, they thought the emperor was comparable to ancient sages and willingly indulged in those absurd theories. These people were nicknamed Sedgwick Pavilion Syndrome, in simpler terms, masochists."

"I see, you're very knowledgeable, old friend."

...

On the other side, Li Shouyi was still accusing Wang Jiu in a mix of grief and anger: "When I first saw you in the Wind and Cloud Tower, I thought you were a good man, but I didn't expect you to be so perverted! Women, they're meant to be cherished, not tortured! Look at all this blood... If you like red so much, go buy some candles! Candles, understand? If not, I'll teach you!"

Before he could finish, a few old men hurriedly dragged Li Shouyi away, covering his mouth to prevent the old pervert from further embarrassing himself.

A moment later, the old men nominated a universally acknowledged nice guy to negotiate with Wang Jiu.

"Hello, Wang Jiu, I'm Li Minxing, sort of, Li Tianya's brother."

Wang Jiu glanced at him and reiterated, "Please, unrelated persons should not interfere with the training."

"This is an emergency, and according to the Inner Sect's management rules, it falls under exceptions. As Elders of the Li Family, we have the right to intervene in the training content," Li Minxing said calmly. "We did hear in advance about the training plan you arranged for Chaolu... It's quite unconventional, yet we didn't expect it to go this far. To be honest, no matter how we think about it, we can't see any benefit in causing such severe trauma to a cultivator. Furthermore, you've arbitrarily altered the operation paths of the Hundred Flowers Sword Qi, and similarly, we can't see any rationale for these modifications. Of course, we know that Fengyun and Lu Xin trust you completely... but no matter how great the trust, it can't surpass reason. Why don't you explain to us the reasoning behind your actions?"

His words were fair and even-tempered, not using power to oppress, and immediately eased the tension significantly.

Wang Jiu pondered for a moment: "You want me to explain the principles behind this training plan... but do you know about the [Wen's Law] regarding the refining of meridians with Sword Qi?"

The old men looked at each other, none had heard of it.

"Then how about the [Yin Xun Effect] produced by the irregular movement of fine Sword Qi?"

"..."

"About the [Glazed Formula] for calculating the adaptation of Sword Qi and meridians during Inner Refining Sword Qi?"

"..."

"The [Wind's Expansion] of Sword Qi waveforms?"

"..."

Wang Jiu spread his hands and said, "In this case, it's tough for me to explain the principles in detail; I can only tell you the conclusion: this way of cultivation maximizes Li Chaolu's efficiency at her current stage."

"Bullshit!"

A sturdy Elder couldn't hold back any longer and swore: "Listening to your nonsense, when I visited Heaven-Reaching City for an academic visit, I spent a month studying at the Saint Sect's Celestial Book Tower, and I've never heard of those ridiculous formulas you're talking about! Just making up terms to try and fool us? Do you take us old guys for idiots?"

Wang Jiu said, "That point would need an IQ test to determine. Hmm, have you heard of Vajra Subduing Demon?"

"Don't change the subject! We are seriously questioning your qualification to teach! You claim to have deep theoretical attainments, fine, let's test your Immortal Cultivation Theory. If you truly possess the abilities you boast, we'll be convinced and won't say another word about these matters, and we'll even help meet any special needs you have. But if you fail the test, proving you're just a sham, then don't blame us for being unreasonable when we're protective!"

By the end of Li Minxing's speech, he was already imposing, with the pressure of the Mountain-Overturning Realm bearing down.

Wang Jiu, however, remained unfazed and, after considering for a moment, replied: "You want to test my level in Immortal Cultivation Theory, but how do I confirm that you are qualified to assess others?"

Li Minxing's breath hitched, then he became furious: "You're saying that even I don't have the qualification to test you!? Fine, even if you look down on an old practical veteran like me, among us, there are many theoretical masters. Even the famously adept theorist of your generation, Li Jinglun, addresses us as seniors! Is that qualification enough!?"

Wang Jiu said, "Of course not, because no matter what qualifications you claim to have, I find it difficult to verify them at this moment, just like you have never heard of the many classical formula theories I mentioned. Such posturing doesn't resolve any issue."

"Then what do you want?!"

"It's simple, just present a test question on the spot. If you answer it satisfactorily, I'll recognize your qualification."

Li Minxing and the other old men were so angry they laughed, "Alright, we old codgers want to test you, and we have to be tested by you first? Fine, bring out any difficult problem and let us see."

Wang Jiu nodded: "Okay, I have an introductory test question from an old friend when he was accepting disciples, a very classic application problem."

With that, Wang Jiu picked up paper and pen, and started writing rapidly. His speed was so quick that he filled up an entire page in no time, then the second, and the third... Watching this made the group of old men feel a headache.

This guy, is he writing a question or a novel? How can a single problem's prompt be so complex that it's not even finished after ten pages?