Chapter 24: The Xue Family

Soft, supple petals and leaves drifted down in a gentle flurry.

The girl wore white silk socks, covering her ankles, yet Li Guanyi still felt the cool, jade-like texture; the instant he realized, he released his grip—Xue Shuangtao recoiled like lightning, her right foot touching the ground as if shocked, unsteady, stepping backward with rapid, tapping steps.

Then her body swayed sideways, barely steadying herself by bracing against her battle bow.

Her almond eyes were filled with panic, her face faintly flushed.

Xue Shuangtao saw her younger brother and the shy, handsome boy, took a deep breath, and feigned calmness:

“...Mr. Li?”

“You’ve arrived.”

That kick came too fast; Li Guanyi, having never learned any body technique, could only block and press down—and now he felt awkward: “Just playing with the young master.”

At that moment, Xue Changqing, just stunned by his sister’s glare, snapped back to awareness.

He realized he had walked straight into a trap.

He sprang up as if springs were attached to his buttocks, shouting:

“Y-you—you’re that teacher?!”

“You’re not even much older than me!”

The boy behind him had already pressed both hands onto his shoulders.

As he had expected, his lips slowly curled upward; amid the child’s terrified expression, he said gently: “Correct. I’m the one you’ve been avoiding—the new math tutor.”

“Come, class begins.”

Xue Shuangtao watched Li Guanyi half-carrying Xue Changqing toward the pavilion, took several quick, shallow breaths to restore her usual gentle, composed demeanor, ignored her brother’s horrified look of “Who are you, you’re not my sister,” and invited Li Guanyi to sit at the pavilion.

“This is the Listening Wind Pavilion.”

“Xue family members sometimes come here to enjoy the scenery. My elder brother, younger brother, and I would bring osmanthus cakes here during the Mid-Autumn full moon to watch the moon. Now, undisturbed, please begin teaching Changqing the basics. Changqing, pay your respects to the teacher.”

“I don’t want to!”

Xue Shuangtao, who had just resumed her gentle demeanor, let her gaze fall.

Xue Changqing bowed obediently: “Changqing greets the teacher.”

In their upbringing, the elder sister held supreme authority over her younger brother.

Xue Shuangtao’s voice remained soft and composed: “Please wait a moment, sir. I’ll change my attire—this military garb isn’t suitable for quietly studying mathematical texts.”

Xue Shuangtao nodded and turned away, her steps calm and quiet; after rounding a shrub, her pace suddenly quickened, and she finally ran into her private courtyard.

She rushed inside, tossed her battle bow onto the bed, kicked off her boots, yanked off the silk sock from her right foot, revealing a foot as white as jade, then flung the soiled sock onto the floor like tossing a snowball.

Her face burned with shame and anger.

Could it be she’d hired a lecher? Even if he had some skill, he was still a lecher!

But that kick had been hers to deliver.

The teacher had stepped forward without any body technique—he’d been seated cross-legged, with nowhere to dodge—and Xue Shuangtao felt both embarrassed and helpless.

She called out: “Ru Yun, Xue Mei.”

Two twenty-year-old maids answered in unison.

The girl said: “I need a bath.”

A maiden’s ankle being touched brought three parts shame and anger; yet she couldn’t beat the teacher, nor harm herself. After a pause, she huffed: “Burn—that silk sock!”

The two beautiful maids exchanged glances; though unaware of the reason, they smiled and agreed.

Bathing preparations were quickly made. As the eldest daughter of the Xue family and the most favored, her bath vessel was a seven-chi-long, three-chi-wide, one-chi-three-cun-high [Jian], adorned with tiger beasts and large rings. The two maids poured in water at the perfect temperature, infused with herbs to soothe muscles and bones.

Xue Shuangtao sat in the [Jian], thinking of today’s incident.

More troubling still: her true, unrefined self with her brother had been witnessed by the newly hired math tutor, shattering the graceful, composed image she presented to outsiders—this inexplicably stirred her shame and irritation, yet she saw no good solution.

Unable to resolve it, she gave up, hugged her knees, and sank deeper into the water.

Glub glub glub.

Maid Xue Mei laughed: “The miss is sinking again.”

“Last time was when her pet sparrow flew away after she forgot to trim its tail feathers.”

The other maid, Ru Yun, smiled: “It’s fine. A bath will soothe her spirit.”

………………

Li Guanyi and Xue Changqing stared at each other.

Earlier, maids had brought snacks: six kinds of dried fruits, six kinds of fresh fruits, six kinds of pastries, and a pot of freshly brewed tea. Li Guanyi sipped tea and asked: “Why don’t you like math?”

Xue Changqing said: “Because it’s useless!”

He glanced around, seeing his sister hadn’t come, and spoke with childish, blunt candor: “Look, I’m telling you—I don’t need math. Don’t teach me. Just take your pay and we’ll chat and snack for an hour. Done!”

Slacking off for pay?

Without the bronze tripod, he might have accepted it.

But Li Guanyi needed to teach this child math so he could meet the old man and complete the bronze tripod’s jade essence—so he firmly rejected it, saying calmly: “No.”

The boy, about seven or eight, looked at Li Guanyi and said:

“Is it because the pay’s too low?”

“I’ll double it!”

Behind the bushes, Xue Shuangtao, now changed, lifted her gaze slightly. Her eyes and ears were exceptionally sharp; she moved her steps slowly, frowning slightly. Many tutors had been driven off by Xue Changqing’s antics—children of great families saw too much, and though young, they were unexpectedly mature in certain ways.

Previous math tutors who tried to cheat the family had all been expelled.

The young Xue Changqing waved his small hand confidently: “How much did my sister offer you? I’ll give you double!”

Li Guanyi smiled: “I’m afraid you can’t afford it.”

Xue Changqing declared boldly: “How much?”

Li Guanyi replied calmly: “Priceless.”

Xue Changqing’s face fell. Li Guanyi said: “Miss Xue helped me reclaim my elder’s belongings. I owe her a debt. Little one, don’t waste your time—this math, you must learn.”

Xue Shuangtao, listening from afar, felt a pang of embarrassment.

Such unwavering integrity.

She had secretly called him a lecher—had she wronged him?

With internal Qi flowing, she walked normally toward them. Only then did Li Guanyi hear her footsteps; he turned slightly and saw Xue Shuangtao had changed into a pale yellow robe.

Blue sash, jade pendant hanging low. Since she wasn’t going out, her hair ornaments were fewer, her appearance delicate and charming.

Seeing his sister, Xue Changqing, who had just been disrespectful to the new tutor, instantly became obedient.

Li Guanyi, seeing this, asked again: “If not math, what do you like?”

Xue Changqing answered confidently: “Of course archery, horsemanship, and martial arts!”

Xue Shuangtao felt a headache coming.

She was powerless now—if she scolded him, it would do no good, and she’d have to comfort him afterward. She explained to Li Guanyi: “Forgive us, sir. Our Xue family’s ancestral martial art is unmatched archery. Changqing has watched our elders since childhood and has always wanted to learn it. But he’s only eight—archery is too difficult for him now, so we hope he first masters the other five arts of the gentleman.”

Xue Changqing sat there, arms crossed, sulking.

Li Guanyi thought for a moment, then said gently: “What if math could make your martial arts vastly stronger?”

Xue Changqing said: “I don’t believe it!”

Li Guanyi smiled: “If you don’t believe it, shall we go to the training ground and see?”

Xue Changqing hesitated, then grew eager at the thought of practicing at the training ground:

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Li Guanyi turned to Xue Shuangtao: “Miss Xue, is that acceptable?”

Though puzzled, Xue Shuangtao nodded: “We leave it entirely to the teacher.”

The Xue family’s archery practice was not held in the usual training ground, but indoors—first, to prevent injury from insufficient skill, and second, because beginners learn better in windless environments, progressing gradually before moving to outdoor practice.

Many Xue family members trained here.

Seeing Xue Changqing and Xue Shuangtao arrive, they were curious, especially when Xue Changqing changed into archery attire and pulled out a bow—crowds gathered around.

Li Guanyi smiled: “Show me your skill—take a shot.”

Xue Changqing, proud, nocked an arrow and shot straight—it was clear he was a master’s son, with poise—but being young and weak, his technique was flawed, and the arrow missed the target. The Xue family had many archery secrets, but none were taught to children so young.

Around them, Xue family members smiled.

Li Guanyi silently counted the time until the arrow landed.

Someone shouted the distance the arrow had traveled.

After asking about the bow’s draw weight, the arrow’s mass, Xue Changqing’s height, and other details, he had him shoot several more times, mentally calculating the approximate data he needed, verifying twice, and gradually becoming confident.

Just a simple projectile trajectory estimation—a high school physics problem.

Only air resistance made it less precise than textbook calculations.

But estimating a rough range to hit the target was possible. By adapting to the child’s interests, he could spark his curiosity in math—then teach him naturally, and in next month’s progress review, gain access to the old man to complete the bronze tripod’s jade essence.

Xue Changqing grew frustrated missing the target. Xue Shuangtao stared at Li Guanyi, puzzled—how could math possibly enhance martial arts? Others had heard the boy’s challenge and gathered in large numbers, eager to watch.

Li Guanyi sat cross-legged on the ground and said calmly: “Bring me paper and ink.”

“Then I’ll tell you exactly how to do it.”

………………

At the center of the Xue mansion stood a pavilion, before which lay a pond. The White Tiger’s spiritual form lay quietly beside the water, watching the spring breeze ripple the lotus pond. A tall, white-haired elder sat before the pond, holding a handful of fish food, as koi swirled beneath.

A steward hurried over.

The elder watched the koi and smiled: “The math tutor Xue Shuangtao brought today has arrived—how is he? Can he teach that boy?”

The steward said: “I just heard the news.”

The young master has gone to the training ground.

The old man furrowed his brow slightly: “You study numerology—why go to the training ground?”

The steward replied: “They say that master has claimed numerology can enhance the young master’s archery.”

The old man paused mid-motion, intrigued: “Numerology aiding martial arts?”

“Interesting.”

After a moment of silence, he scattered all his fish bait into the pond and said softly:

“I’ve never heard such a claim. Let’s go.”

“I’ll go see for myself.”

The old man rose, and beside him, the White Tiger manifestation lazily yawned, stood up, and followed behind him toward the training ground.

(End of chapter)