Chapter 47: The Benefits of Being a Prodigal Son

After lunch, the sound of a train's whistle came through the window, and the once serene environment grew noisy. Leaning back on the sofa to digest his meal, Feng Xue tucked the scroll into his robe and said to Liu Yunxi, who had just finished washing the dishes:

"You look like a ring!"

"So next time you turn into something, can you at least warn me first?" Liu Yunxi, now resting in Feng Xue's palm, complained with a hint of irritation. Feng Xue shrugged:

"Whether I'm warned or not, you still change. If I have to bend down to pick you up every time, it's easier just to let you change outright."

"..." Liu Yunxi took a deep breath and fell silent. Feng Xue adjusted the scroll in his arms and prepared to leave.

According to the Spirit Binding Spell, after establishing a spirit pact, one should transfer the spirit to a bracelet, pendant, or other portable item for easy summoning—but Mo Ying's attachment was too strong. Even getting her to step out for simple tasks required a mix of rewards and discipline; making her leave the scroll would take more time and conditioning.

Fortunately, the scroll was only as long as a forearm, so carrying it was no more cumbersome than carrying a dagger. Feng Xue didn't press the issue.

After casually asking a passerby for directions, Feng Xue arrived at the largest martial arts academy in Lu County.

Though called the largest, it was no bigger than a Sihe Academy. Since it was already afternoon, the courtyard was nearly empty—only a few neatly dressed youths stood at the entrance. Seeing Feng Xue's refined attire and dignified bearing, they immediately recognized him as some wealthy young master and greeted him with practiced smiles.

"Young Master, welcome. Are you here to learn boxing, or to hire someone?"

Feng Xue was momentarily surprised, then understood: whether studying literature or martial arts, the goal was ultimately to acquire a skill for livelihood. In that light, an academy offering hired services was no different from a university hosting job fairs.

But that was none of his concern. Since this was a business open to the public, he didn't hide his intent:

"I'm interested in martial arts, so I'd like to buy a few Foundation Skills to study at home."

Hearing Feng Xue's casual tone, the greeter instantly realized he was rich but clueless. He gave a subtle hand signal to a companion behind Feng Xue's back and led him into the courtyard:

"Young Master, you've come to the right place. Our Hua Family Martial Arts Academy is the most renowned in Lu County. Our headmaster is a famed figure in the Southeastern Martial World—just half a step away from the Flow Realm. His Flow Cloud Palm is famous far and wide! Enrollment is fifty cash per month, but that only covers basics: strengthening the body, nourishing essence, and stabilizing qi. To learn Flow Cloud Palm, you'd need to…"

"I said I only want to buy a few Foundation Skills. We can talk about anything else later." Feng Xue cut him off. Through his elevated shoulder-level view, he'd already noticed the greeter slipping around to the back courtyard to alert the headmaster.

But he didn't care. He continued:

"Just the basics—nourishing essence and stabilizing qi. I recall there's also 'stabilizing qi and fortifying spirit.' Do you sell that too?"

"Young Master, you don't understand!"

As the greeter was thrown off by this question, a voice suddenly rang out from the courtyard. Though distant, its enunciation was crystal clear—not loud, not intrusive—as if precisely calibrated to reach Feng Xue's ears at the ideal volume.

Just from this, Feng Xue knew that even if the "half-step to Flow Realm" claim was exaggerated, the man's strength was no trivial matter.

At least not the kind of fraud like Qiu Qianzhang, who relied on tricks to deceive the world.

The voice came fast, and the man moved just as swiftly. His strides appeared small and unhurried, yet in the blink of an eye, a man in his early thirties, with a lifespan of seventy or eighty years already spent, stood before him. After the greeter bowed respectfully, the headmaster continued:

"Martial training isn't like taking the imperial exams, where memorizing texts is enough. A slight misstep can cause injury. Every academy requires new students to endure one or two months of physical conditioning—strengthening bones and sinews—and learning basic knowledge before formal instruction begins. Though your body is healthy, you haven't yet…"

"That's why I'm here to buy the basic knowledge—not your famous Flow Cloud Palm. Just the fundamentals: what nourishing essence and stabilizing qi means, how to stabilize qi and fortify spirit, and how to condition the body. Whether I actually train is something I'll decide after studying."

Feng Xue interrupted again. His tone made no distinction between the headmaster and the greeter. The headmaster, far from being offended, sensed something:

Judging by the man's words, he had only mild interest in martial arts—not deep. The headmaster's desire to profit instantly faded. Such "prodigal sons of wealthy families" were precisely what martial academies feared most.

Just look at his hands—smooth, untouched by hardship. This was a pampered rich boy. If taken in, he'd likely never endure hardship. If treated leniently, he'd learn nothing and cause trouble. If pushed hard, his defiant demeanor meant he'd resist discipline. Even if you fooled him, his family wasn't stupid—they'd likely cause more trouble than profit.

For a man like this, the only option was to sell him basic textbooks and let him study alone. Once he understood the hardship, his interest would vanish.

Realizing this, the headmaster made his decision:

"Then as you wish, Young Master." He turned to the greeter:

"Bring one set of the beginner's textbooks—every type!"

"Yes!" The greeter straightened his back and sprinted toward the back courtyard. The headmaster turned back and explained:

"Though each academy specializes differently, their basic textbooks are nearly identical. You may browse them freely. But if you intend to train, you'll need someone knowledgeable to assist. Even if mispracticed, these Foundation Skills aren't dangerously flawed—but they'll still bring hardship."

"Naturally." Feng Xue still looked indifferent. He casually pulled a leather wallet from his pocket—clearly expensive.

"Give me a price."

Though Feng Xue spoke generously, the academy owner knew how to earn money. He didn't raise the price, treating him like a regular student:

"For Foundation Skills, we only charge for copying. Fifteen cash per book. We have four: 'Moving Stance,' 'Still Stance,' 'Body Forging,' and 'Nourishing Primordial.' Plus one overview titled 'General Outline.' We'll round down—seventy cash total."

"That's a huge difference from the price of Xuan cultivation techniques. But since these are like calisthenics and fitness principles, maybe it's about right?" Feng Xue mentally compared it to the standard one-guan price of magical scrolls, yet kept up his prodigal rich man persona. He pulled out a five-hundred-cash banknote:

"I don't have smaller bills. Keep the change."

Why keep an unruly spirit ghost instead of just replacing it?

Because that's the normal process.

Just like taming beasts or training hawks—you can't expect them to obey without adjustment·education, no matter how many times you switch.

It's a sentient being with self-awareness. Whether AI or something else, it has self-identity. To enslave it, resistance is inevitable.

Even if you buy a pre-trained one, it won't necessarily obey you, because the trainer wasn't you. There's also the risk of it being recalled or counter-controlled by its original owner.

As for buying one without self-awareness… sorry, they don't exist.

Because a completely irrational entity that follows only commands is what we call a Virtual Spirit. Not only do they have drawbacks, but anyone who possesses one won't sell it. This is evident: spirit mediums sell Spirit Binding Spells, but never teach Virtual Spirit techniques.

In short, unless you're binding a willing Zijiazu ancestor, adjustment·education is unavoidable.

Mo Ying may seem resistant, but her personality is soft and her obsession clear—easy to handle. Another ghost might be worse. What if you get one who'd rather die than obey? That's a true money pit.

By the way, spirit ghosts are like AI. Their obsession is their factory setting. Adjusting·educating a spirit ghost is like feeding it data until it fits your usage habits.

Using someone else's trained model isn't impossible, but it's never as smooth as your own.





(End of Chapter)