"Brother Qi Lin?"
"Hmm?"
"Teacher Qi Lin!" Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue playfully, her eyes lighting up as she looked at him. "So how exactly are you planning to teach us?"
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but cast her gaze over as well.
One of the main reasons she agreed to train under Qi Lin was that ordinary methods simply couldn't help her resist the fate she was born into.
That was why she was willing to take a gamble, regardless of whether Qi Lin's method had flaws or not.
Qi Lin smiled. "Don't rush. Today, I'm going to teach you the most basic method of soul power control."
As he spoke, he led the three girls to a large tree and turned to Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu, why don't you demonstrate for them."
Xiao Wu stepped forward proudly, flashed a smug smile at Ning Rongrong, and with a thought, soul power gathered beneath her feet.
Before Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong's stunned eyes, she ran straight up the vertical trunk of the tree.
Reaching the top, she flipped nimbly in the air and landed gracefully like a falling feather.
"She… how did she do that?"
Qi Lin looked at the two girls and said with a smile, "That's just a small trick after mastering soul power control. Once you're proficient, there are even more advanced techniques."
"When your control reaches a certain level, your soul power can change at will."
"Just like…"
"—this!"
As he finished speaking, Qi Lin lifted two fingers slightly.
In the next moment, two strands of soul power shot from his fingertips like silk threads, instantly binding Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.
"Kyaa!"
Ning Rongrong let out a sudden yelp.
She couldn't help it—the position the soul power threads had tied them into was just too embarrassing.
Zhu Zhuqing, though silent, turned bright red, her pale cheeks flushed with shame as she glared at Qi Lin with a mixture of embarrassment and frustration.
Qi Lin quickly cleared his throat and dispelled the bindings. "Ahem… force of habit."
It wasn't really his fault.
His soul power control had reached a level where it responded almost instinctively to his intent, and he'd just subconsciously tied them up.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong exchanged a suspicious glance and then looked toward Xiao Wu.
Force of habit?
Do they do this sort of thing often?!
Just imagining the scene made their faces flush again.
Shameless!
Xiao Wu widened her eyes in disbelief and stared at Qi Lin.
Habit?
But Brother Qi Lin never tied me up like that before.
Don't tell me he's been secretly training this with other girls?!
He better not be sneaking behind my back!
Qi Lin, after retrieving the threads, smiled and said to the girls, "This is what comes from mastering soul power control."
"Soul power can shift in any way you want—it can expand, shrink, lengthen, shorten, harden, or soften."
"Ah!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed again, drawing everyone's attention.
"What now?"
"N-nothing!" She gave an awkward smile, face crimson.
She'd misunderstood… again.
(In the original story, Ning Rongrong is kind of dirty-minded. Probably read a lot of those kinds of books. Every world has them, after all.)
"If there's nothing, then stop shouting like that. Do you still want to learn?"
At this point, Teacher Qi Lin adopted the full demeanor of a strict instructor.
"I do! I do want to learn!" Ning Rongrong responded immediately.
"Then pay attention. Anyone who slacks off will be punished."
Qi Lin's tone was stern, like a proper strict teacher.
"Mm-hmm!" Ning Rongrong nodded eagerly.
Qi Lin resumed his lesson with Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, occasionally asking Xiao Wu to demonstrate again.
After about half an hour, he said, "I'll work with each of you one-on-one."
He turned to Ning Rongrong and said, "I'm going to inject my soul power into your body and guide yours to your feet. Try to feel it. After a few attempts, you'll get the idea."
Ning Rongrong nodded like a pecking chick.
Qi Lin placed his palm on her back and sent a strand of soul power into her body.
A tingling warmth spread through her, and she couldn't help but let out a soft moan under her breath.
In contrast, Qi Lin wore a serious expression as he skillfully used his soul power to guide hers downward, focusing it at her soles.
He reminded her, "Rongrong, remember this feeling. Practice it yourself later."
After the demonstration, he withdrew the soul power and repeated the process again.
Over and over, for a full thirty minutes.
Truthfully, this technique was extremely advanced. Without expert-level control, he wouldn't be able to pull it off.
"Thank you, Teacher Qi Lin."
As Qi Lin removed his hand, a trace of reluctant yearning flickered in Ning Rongrong's eyes, mixed with shyness and gratitude.
Qi Lin smiled gently. "It's nothing."
After all, Teacher Qi Lin was nothing if not dedicated to his students.
Understand now? This is what real, effective teaching looks like!
He then walked over to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Your turn."
Zhu Zhuqing was already prepared.
Qi Lin repeated the same procedure with her as he had with Ning Rongrong.
Another half hour passed before he withdrew his soul power.
Seeing the grateful joy on Zhu Zhuqing's face, Qi Lin chuckled. "Don't look at me like that. Teaching students how to cultivate is something I genuinely enjoy."
Of course, that only applied if the student happened to be a soft, sweet girl.
He could teach boys too… but it definitely wouldn't feel as satisfying.
As soon as he finished with the girls, he found himself face-to-face with Xiao Wu's sulky gaze.
"Brother Qi Lin, you never taught me like that."
Qi Lin scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "I couldn't help it. Back then, I didn't have the control I do now!"
"Hmph, fine." Xiao Wu pouted. She wasn't happy, but she wouldn't fight with Qi Lin over it.
Qi Lin rubbed her head with a smile. "Alright, after today's training, I'll give you a special treat as compensation."
"Really?!" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up.
After being spoiled by Qi Lin for years, she had become a little picky.
Even though she used to like the food at Nuoding's cafeteria, now she couldn't bring herself to enjoy it.
"Feeling better now?"
"Yeah!"
Just then, a head suddenly popped in from the side.
"What are you two whispering about?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
"Not telling you!" Xiao Wu crossed her arms and huffed.
"Hmph, stingy." Ning Rongrong pouted too.
Though she pretended not to care, deep down she was itching to know what they had been discussing.
This time, it was Xiao Wu's turn to look smug on the side.