Let me teach you a good lesson

"Class time?

Ah, as expected, Master is still a bit biased.

These two are his real disciples—am I just picked up off the street?

Hmm… actually, I really was picked up halfway.

So envious. The Heavenly Sword Emperor was utterly envious. How blissful it must be to receive guidance from Chen Chang'an!

'Master, may I listen in as well?' The Heavenly Sword Emperor looked at Chen Chang'an with hopeful eyes.

Hmm?

Listen in?

'Fine, if you want to.'

'Great! Then let’s go to my place. It’s quiet, secluded—perfect for you to guide them properly,' the Heavenly Sword Emperor said excitedly.

Seeing his enthusiasm, Chen Chang'an was momentarily stunned. What are you so happy about?

'Ancestor, my friend is injured. Can I bring him along?' Chen Yunxuan asked.

'Friend?'

'That one over there?'

'Yes, him.'

'Alright, bring him.'

Chen Chang'an and the others followed the Heavenly Sword Emperor to his residence—the forbidden grounds of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Once there, Know-It-All regained consciousness.

Seeing Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu both alive, he let out a sigh of relief.

'You’re both alive? That’s a miracle.

I thought by the time I woke up, you two would be corpses.

Did we escape the Heavenly Sword Sect?

Wait—don’t tell me you wiped out the entire sect?'

Know-It-All rambled on the moment he woke up. Chen Yunxuan gave an awkward smile and said, 'We’re still in the Heavenly Sword Sect. The Heavenly Sword Emperor is right here.'

'Holy—!'

Chen Yunxuan’s words made Know-It-All leap up in fright.

The Heavenly Sword Emperor is here?

Which one?

Only then did Know-It-All notice two unfamiliar figures nearby. So, which one was the Heavenly Sword Emperor?

'Um… which of you two is the Heavenly Sword Emperor, Senior?

My apologies for my earlier thoughtless words. Please don’t take offense.' Know-It-All hurriedly bowed in apology.

'No matter. I won’t hold it against a junior,' the Heavenly Sword Emperor replied indifferently.

'Many thanks for your magnanimity, Senior Heavenly Sword Emperor.

And this is…?'

'My ancestor.'

Chen Yunxuan’s ancestor? Chen Chang'an?

Know-It-All’s eyes lit up with excitement. 'You’re Senior Chen Chang'an?

This junior, Wang Budiao, pays his respects!'

Wang Budiao?

What kind of name is that?

But that surname—descendant of Wang Tianji?

'Are you the one Tianji Pavilion assigned to keep an eye on Chen Yunxuan?'

'Well… to be honest, yes. But my feelings for Brother Chen are genuine, pure as gold! Heaven and earth bear witness, the sun and moon can testify! I—'

Know-It-All’s speech made Chen Yunxuan cringe. Seriously, what kind of nonsense is this?

'Enough, enough. Got it. Go stand over there.'

Chen Chang'an, equally uncomfortable, waved him off impatiently.

Know-It-All obediently retreated to the side, quietly observing the scene.

'Now, it’s your turn.'

At Chen Chang'an’s words, Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu straightened up, expressions turning serious.

'You think you’re so brave, huh?

And you—think you’re so righteous?

Are your brains filled with nothing but crap?

Did you two ever consider what would’ve happened if I hadn’t shown up today?

Is your life worth so little that you’d throw it away so casually?

You’re so single-minded, so frugal—using all your talent for cultivation and none for common sense, is that it?

Stand up straight!'

Chen Chang'an’s roar made even the Heavenly Sword Emperor flinch. Damn, what’s going on?

This is 'class time'?

This is terrifying! Since when is Master this furious?

Earlier, he’d been envious. Now? The Heavenly Sword Emperor quietly thanked his lucky stars it wasn’t him getting lectured.

Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu stood there, faces burning with shame under Chen Chang'an’s relentless scolding.

'Ancestor, but in this kind of situation, I—

You always said cultivators must charge forward fearlessly!'

'I meant in cultivation! But if you’re dead, how are you supposed to charge anywhere?

I get that you felt guilty, but did you ever stop to think about the right choice?

The real choice was to get stronger first, so you’d actually have the power to do what you wanted!

Reckless bravery is just stupidity in disguise.

If you can’t win, run. If you can’t run, fly.

The first rule of surviving the martial world?

Stay alive!

You need to know when to advance and when to retreat—when to be bold and when to be sneakier than anyone else. Got it?

You, a mere Void Refinement cultivator, barged into a sect with a Great Emperor sitting at the top.

Chen Yunxuan, did your brain get squeezed out by your ass?

Did topping the Human Ranking go to your head?'

The verbal onslaught left Chen Yunxuan wishing the ground would swallow him whole.

Even the Heavenly Sword Emperor was taken aback by Chen Chang'an’s harshness—but he had to admit, the points were valid.

Nearby, Know-It-All struggled to suppress his laughter.

'Senior, you’re absolutely right! I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t listen!'

'Shut it. This doesn’t concern you.'

'Right away!'

After finishing with Chen Yunxuan, Chen Chang'an turned his gaze to Ye Zhiqiu, who stiffened under the scrutiny.

His forced composure couldn’t hide the tension in his face.

'If his brain got squeezed by his ass, did yours get crushed by a door?

Oh, so you’re the loyal friend, huh? Hear about this mess and rush over to help?

How is that any different from suicide?

Do you even know what you should’ve done?

Not joining him in this madness—but dragging him away! If persuasion failed, knock him out. If you couldn’t, trick him!

All you had to say was, 'This is Ancestor’s order,' and he’d have followed without a word. None of today’s danger would’ve happened.

Weren’t you supposed to be the smart one? Where’s that cleverness now?

The calm, collected Ye Zhiqiu?

Did you leave it all back at Qingyun Sect?

Like a blind bear picking corn—grab one, lose the next?

He’s arrogant, but you? You’re worse.

Thought you were invincible, huh? Planned to swoop in and look cool?

Tell me—what’s so cool about being dead?

You aiming for 'Most Stylish Corpse'?

Both of you—stupid, brainless, impulsive, incapable of weighing pros and cons, no sense of timing.

Human Ranking first and second?

Pah!

Do you two even understand what you did wrong?'

'Yes! Yes, we do!' Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu stood rigid, nodding frantically.

'Then tell me—what exactly did you do wrong?' Chen Chang'an demanded.

Huh?

What did we do wrong?

Wait—class just ended and now it’s a pop quiz?

What if we get it wrong…?'

Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu exchanged glances, each waiting for the other to speak first.

"You're the senior disciple, you go first."

"Since I'm the senior disciple, I'll graciously yield the opportunity to you, my junior."

"No, no, senior brother, you first."

"Don’t stand on ceremony—after you, junior."

Watching the two of them go back and forth, Chen Chang’an nodded in satisfaction. They… had finally learned to be shameless.

Still, they were far from matching his own level.

This was a long road—they still needed more tempering.

"Enough. You have one day to think it over carefully. Tell me tomorrow exactly where you went wrong."

"Now get out of my sight."

"Yes."

Chen Chang’an’s words made Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu heave a sigh of relief—finally, they were free.

"You, come here."

"Huh?"

The Heavenly Sword Emperor had been enjoying the spectacle when Chen Chang’an’s sudden command left him bewildered.

"Master, I didn’t do anything wrong!"

"I just joined the sect!"

"Am I at fault too?"