Green Snake Clan

​​At the sound of Zhao Xunan's words, the Li brothers' eyes dimmed. They'd long known the truth—they'd stayed away not out of indifference, but lingering resentment.​

"Other academies dare not take you, but the Martial Arts Academy has no such qualms!"

Zhao Xunan grinned, painting a vivid picture of the academy's splendor—slightly exaggerated, but compelling. Then his smile softened, and he spoke with earnest gravity:

"A lineage spanning millennia, open only to those fated. Board and lodging are free, and the path ahead? Limitless."

"Knowing you're entering the Martial Arts Academy—do you grasp how fortunate you are?"

The brothers' faces lit up, tears welling. They dropped to their knees, pressing their foreheads to the ground in a deep bow:

"We're unworthy, yet blessed beyond measure to join the Martial Arts Academy. We pledge ourselves to you, Master!"

"Rise, rise!" Zhao Xunan laughed, helping them up. Zhao Ping'er, watching, scoffed inwardly—this flowery speech was straight out of a romance tale, the kind that lured innocent girls into trouble.

She ushered the brothers to gather their gongs and props, then asked gently:

"How many in your family? How long have you traveled to Jade Capital?"

"Only us two, Master. The Outer Three Mountains are harsh—beasts roam freely. To live past thirty is a blessing."

"Our parents passed when we were eight. Village elders raised us. This journey… they scraped together every coin."

"The village is a year's trek from here, over mountains and rivers."

Their voices softened, tinged with a quiet joy. Zhao Xunan pressed: "Why not return home now?"

The Li brothers exchanged a glance, then shook their heads.

"We've seen too much. If we rise to power, we'll bring the whole village out. The Outer Three Mountains… it's hell compared to other provinces."

Zhao Xunan nodded. Loyalty like this was rare—he'd found gems.

"Foreigners in the Outer Three Mountains all have fiendish blood. Which clan do you belong to?"

"Dragon Clan!" Li Qingfeng blurted.

Zhao Xunan's eyes sharpened.

"Eight hundred li of the Outer Three Mountains' Cold Marsh is home to the Green Snake Clan. Scales on their arms and necks—they're said to be descendants of the Human Emperor."

"Ever since the Human Emperor severed the Celestial Path, fiends couldn't return to the heavens. The Outer Three Mountains resent the Green Snakes."

"Without a Human Emperor artifact in your clan, you'd have been wiped out."

The brothers hung their heads.

"Now you're in the land the Human Emperor once ruled—all here carry his blood. Yet before me, you dare not speak the truth?"

Zhao Xunan's words held weight. The Human Emperor had thousands of consorts and countless descendants; after five millennia, all humans in the Great Qin could claim kinship.

The brothers wept, kneeling again:

"Green Snake disciples pledge to you, Master. We've… finally come home."

Watching them sob, Zhao Xunan felt a pang. He helped them up, and the sight of this "master-student" bond made Zhao Ping'er roll her eyes.

"These past days, I've been reading Techniques of Persuasion," she muttered. "Your smooth-tongued ways? They're straight out of the books. Truly, you're unmatched!"

"Discard those tattered blankets. The academy has fresh ones. Let's go home!"

Zhao Xunan waved grandly. The Li brothers nodded eagerly, hoisting their loads and trailing him.

"Master—who's this girl?" Li Qinglin asked, eyeing Zhao Ping'er's flowery dress.

"A teaching assistant. Think she's pretty?" Zhao Xunan teased.

"…Can I speak plainly?"

"Of course."

Li Qinglin grinned. "She's decent-looking, but dressed like a peacock. Silly as a goose!"

"CRACK!"

A bolt of lightning split the sky, zapping Li Qinglin. He jolted, face smudged black. The brothers stared, shocked, as Zhao Ping'er glared, furious.

Turns out, this "peacock" knew magic.

"Two lessons you must remember," Zhao Xunan said, hands clasped behind his back as they walked.

"Lesson one: Never judge by appearances. The unremarkable may be a peak of the mortal realm."

"Understood!"

"Lesson two: Never mock a woman. Only praise. Got it?"

Li Qinglin nodded vigorously, eyeing Zhao Ping'er, who was already scowling.

The carriage rumbled along newly paved stone roads into the Martial Arts Academy. The Li brothers gaped at the renovated halls—ornate, spacious, grander than any of the Great Qin's eight academies.

They were given a room, with servants from the Ministry of Works tending to their needs. The next day, Zhao Xunan began their lessons.

First topic: Breaking Free of Mortal Dust, Entering the Immortal Path.

"Master—we're just common folk. Starting with immortal techniques… isn't this too ambitious?" Li Qingfeng asked, clutching his new manual.

Divine cultivation techniques were priceless. To receive one so casually… it felt surreal.

"The Martial Arts Academy is different," Zhao Xunan said simply.

Earlier, he'd discovered The Record of Yin-Yang Harmony, a treasure of cultivation. It taught step-by-step foundation-building—perfect for warrior-born disciples like the Li brothers.

"Other martial academies hire fighters or low-level masters. Here, you'll learn from immortals."

"Your talent is rare. With effort, your future is boundless."

"With the mid-term exams a month away, you must push yourselves. Do not shame the academy—or your village's hopes!"

The brothers bowed, resolve hardening. To enter this academy, to train under such a master… it was a blessing beyond measure.

Zhao Ping'er, peeling garlic at the door, scoffed. The academy had four people total—two students, her, and Zhao Xunan. None were "immortals" except him.

Still, the Li brothers threw themselves into their studies. The Record of Yin-Yang Harmony was a martial artist's dream—detailed techniques even for ninth-rank grandmasters, building from the ground up.

With Zhao Xunan's guidance, they progressed rapidly. Within days, they'd reached the ninth rank of martial grandmasters. Zhao Xunan beamed:

"My disciples grow so swiftly—this master is truly proud!"

"…A beardless brat acting as an elder. Shameless."

Zhao Ping'er muttered, but Zhao Xunan heard. He lunged, sleeves rolled up.

She yelped, dropping her garlic and fleeing. Zhao Xunan chased, fuming—when he caught her, he'd wring her face till it swelled.

With the cook gone, the three shared a meal with the workers. The renovation was nearly done; the workforce had shrunk from two hundred to fifty.

A Ministry of Works clerk, munching on flatbread and lamb ribs, said:

"Master Zhao, this academy is a hidden gem. Without the renovations, I'd never have known Jade Capital had such a paradise."

Zhao Xunan, also munching, glanced around. The renovated academy, lush and serene… it felt like home.

"A place this size, with just you lot? Waste. Won't you recruit more students?"

The clerk handed him a bowl of hot lamb soup.

Zhao Xunan sighed. "The Li brothers were hard enough to find. Good students? They're rarer than gold."

"Plenty of commoners, though. Grab a hundred, and you're set!"

The clerk knew the streets. Zhao Xunan frowned—it was true. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Master—guess what I brought back?"

Zhao Ping'er popped out, holding flatbread she'd stolen.

"Know it's you. At least you're good for a laugh."

He grabbed her face, twisting. She yelped, but the workers laughed—daily bickering was their entertainment.

The Li brothers ate quietly, avoiding the chaos.

"Ping'er, what's that you're hiding?"

Zhao Ping'er froze, then whistled. From the reeds emerged a shy girl in a pale pink dress, clinging to her.

"…Ping'er, you kidnap strays, but a child?!" Zhao Xunan gasped.

The girl's attire screamed nobility. Kidnapping in the Great Qin carried the death penalty—even if accidental, Zhao Ping'er faced imprisonment.

"Just found her, Master. She's a martial literati!" Zhao Ping'er said, rolling her eyes.

Zhao Xunan's doubts faded. He knew her well—she rarely lied. Still, a ten-year-old martial literati?

"Xiao Nuo'er, show the Master your token."

The girl, Xiao Nuo, fumbled with a token at her waist. Zhao Xunan's eyes widened—it wasn't Great Qin's design.

It bore the crest of the Ancestral Court Empire, the oldest human nation, once the center of the world. Even now, its name commanded respect; all kingdoms recognized its titles.

"Master—can women take martial literati exams?" Li Qinglin asked.

Zhao Xunan nodded. "The Ancestral Court allows women in both civil and martial exams. For millennia, heroines have served as generals and ministers—half the empire's legends are theirs."

He turned to Xiao Nuo. "Where are your family? Why are you alone?"

"I don't know, Master." Xiao Nuo clung to Zhao Ping'er's skirt, trembling. "I was asleep in the carriage, then… I woke up outside. Sister found me, so I followed."