“Thank you for the advice, Mr. Shao. I’ll ponder on it.” The key was to determine what he should teach to benefit others.

Zhou You prepared the meal swiftly. Within half an hour, he pushed a cart loaded with food, followed by four tails wagging.

“I wondered why we changed our dining location today. It turns out we have guests.” Miao Miao recognized the two men, and with familiarity, she took a seat next to Zhou You. The other side, reserved for Shao Qi, remained untouched.

Miao Miao and her group had just watched Zhou You's instructional livestream. They went on a commenting spree, defending Zhou You against his critics. Feeling the adrenaline, Miao Miao looked at the two guests and asked, "It seems you two haven't sparred in a while, how about a match after dinner?"

Both agreed readily, hoping that with a stroke of luck, they might get some pointers from Zhou You, which would be a real gain for the day.

Zhou You added, "You can spar, but no one should get injured. I need their help later."

Miao Miao casually remarked, "What could they possibly help with that we can't?" Miao Miao and her friends had begun to see Zhou You as a kind of superior, mainly because they all secretly believed Zhou You was a potential partner for Shao Qi.

"Well, they aren’t the best fit either, but they'll do for now. You all are just too skilled."

Li Yunxi raised her hand silently, "What about me?"

Zhou You shook his head, "I'm afraid those with lesser skills might not grasp my techniques immediately. But you can join my livestream class tomorrow. If you lack credits, I'll cover the cost."

Li Yunxi quickly nodded, "I've already paid for today."

Each account on the livestream platform is strictly personal, so sharing isn't possible. Some, however, record the lessons and upload them online for free. Despite the criticism, many opt for these free versions.

When Shao Qi learned about this, he wasn’t too bothered. Piracy has been a perennial issue, and his primary goal was to promote martial arts to a broader audience.

Shao Qi suggested to Li Yunxi, "How about I find you a job? You can work as an assistant at the Martial Arts Association. They need a few more staff, and the working hours won't exceed four hours, so it won't interfere with your training."

Li Yunxi wasn't exactly short on money. Though her savings weren't abundant, Zhou You had entrusted her with the assets from the Dawn Squad, which was a considerable sum.

Shao Qi's job offer was more about getting her exposed to the outside world, balancing work and leisure, to avoid martial arts becoming an obsession.

"Thank you, Mr. Shao. Can I start tomorrow?"

"Certainly, I’ll take you there."

Miao Miao observed the pair, intrigued by the rare display of concern from Shao Qi, especially regarding a woman's employment. If it weren't for Zhou You being around, she might have suspected Shao Qi had taken a liking to Li Yunxi.

It wasn’t out of the question that a bit of jealousy was in play, given Zhou You's evident care for Li Yunxi.

After dinner, Miao Miao eagerly led the two contenders to the training grounds of the Heavy Sword Sect, now adapted for firearms and archery training, lined with targets.

"Who wants to go first? And what are the rules?" Miao Miao asked, shrugging off her coat.

Zhou You, curious about their abilities, suggested, "How about splitting into two matches? One hand-to-hand, and the other with weapons."

Miao Miao shot him a glare, "Are you trying to exhaust me?"

Qin Lifen quickly chimed in, "Then let one fight against me. I've been looking for a sparring partner."

They usually sparred among themselves, and knowing each other so well sometimes took the thrill out of it.

Miao Miao brandished her whip, pointing at Cheng Suyan, "Alright, I’ll spar with young Master Cheng."

Cheng Suyan's injuries had healed, but the scar on his face was a testament to the severity of his past wound. Zhou You cautioned her, "Avoid hitting his face."

Seeing her with the whip, Cheng Suyan knew she wanted a weapons match. He knew he stood little chance, but relished the idea of a sparring session since it had been a while since he last sparred.

Drawing his sword, he stood forward and said, "I beseech Miss Miao to show mercy."

Miao Miao retorted with anger, "Don't call me Miss, address me as Sister!"

Shao Qi escorted Zhou You to sit aside, and Li Yunxi served them hot tea and refreshments, making the duo look like esteemed elders evaluating disciples.

For the first time, Zhou You witnessed the swordsmanship of Wan Jianzong. The moves were intricate, rapid, and cunning, always aiming for an opponent's vulnerabilities. It was evident that it far surpassed the Qingfeng swordsmanship of Fei Jianmen.

"No wonder Wan Jianzong is a renowned sect. Their swordsmanship is truly remarkable," Zhou You commented.

"Indeed, many sects have evolved their martial arts to be more decorative than combative. What's the use if it's weaker than one's own skills? Wan Jianzong, as legends have it, is a hidden clan, their swordsmanship passed down through generations. Yet their disciples are forbidden to use it outside, almost causing its extinction. Who would've imagined that these techniques would come in handy in the years to come?"

"They're renowned for their fast, accurate, and ruthless swordsmanship. I suspect their ancestors were assassins, else why develop a sword technique specialized in killing?"

Zhou You nodded in agreement. He noticed the fierce momentum of Cheng Suyan's swordplay. Knowing he might be no match for Miao Miao, he went all out, several times almost piercing her.

However, Miao Miao was stronger and faster, and with her long whip, she had a clear advantage once distance was maintained.

Half an hour later, Cheng Suyan's sword was ensnared by the whip, and he had no choice but to concede, "Sister Miao... you truly are formidable."

Addressing her as 'sister' now felt quite natural.

The second round was hand-to-hand combat, not Cheng Suyan's forte. In just about ten minutes, he was pinned down, grumbling, "In Wan Jianzong, we are all swordsmen."

Miao Miao scoffed, "What if you're unarmed? Your physical prowess is lacking, probably weaker than even a novice fighter."