Reincarnation of the Strongest Sword Maniac

My Disciple Got Bullied, So I Had to Teach Someone a Lesson!

Teacher, someone stole my spirit stones!”

Alexander paused with a piece of meat halfway to his mouth. Across the table, Ethan Valerian looked furious.

“How many?” Alexander asked.

“Two thousand!”

Alexander slowly put the meat down. “That’s unfortunate.”

“That’s all you have to say?”

“What do you want me to do? Cry?”

Ethan nearly slammed his fist onto the table. “I know who did it! Marcus Hale from the inner sect took my storage pouch yesterday. When I confronted him, he said someone like me should be grateful he didn’t take everything!”

Alexander picked up his chopsticks again. “Did you challenge him?”

“Of course! He defeated me in three moves.”

“Then why are you complaining to me?”

“Because you’re my teacher!”

Alexander nodded thoughtfully. “Excellent. You’ve finally remembered our relationship.”

Ethan brightened. “So you’ll help me?”

“No. I’ll charge you for a private lesson.”

“YOU—”

Alexander raised one finger. “However, I can offer you some free advice.”

Ethan immediately quieted down. “What’s the advice?”

“Stop being an idiot.”

Ethan stared at him. “That isn’t advice!”

“It is. You just don’t like it.”

Alexander finished his meal before standing. “Take me to him.”

Ethan blinked. “Really?”

“I want to see how someone managed to steal two thousand spirit stones from a person who talks this much.”

“Teacher!”

“Lead the way.”

Marcus Hale was a well-known inner disciple of the Azure Sky Sword Sect. He had reached Meridian Opening Level Eight and came from a family that supplied the sect with medicinal ingredients. His background made him influential among the younger disciples, and he had grown accustomed to getting what he wanted.

When Alexander and Ethan arrived at the inner disciples’ training ground, Marcus was surrounded by several friends. He laughed when he saw Ethan. “Look who’s back. Have you brought more spirit stones for me?”

Ethan clenched his fists. “Return my storage pouch!”

Marcus casually tossed the pouch into the air. “Come and take it.”

Ethan stepped forward, but Alexander stopped him. “Wait.”

Marcus looked at Alexander. “And who are you?”

“His teacher.”

Marcus burst out laughing. “This weakling found a teacher? What can someone at Body Tempering Level Three possibly teach him?”

Alexander glanced at Ethan. “Is he always this annoying?”

“Unfortunately.”

Marcus’s smile disappeared. “Watch your mouth!”

Alexander extended his hand. “Return the pouch.”

“Or what?”

“I’ll take it.”

Marcus laughed and threw the pouch toward Alexander. Alexander caught it effortlessly. “There. Problem solved.”

He turned to leave. Marcus’s face darkened. “Stop!”

Alexander stopped walking. “What now?”

“You think you can embarrass me and walk away?”

“You threw the pouch at me.”

“You’re an outer disciple! You have no right to interfere with inner disciples!”

Alexander looked around. “Interesting. I thought stealing was against the sect rules regardless of rank.”

Marcus’s friends exchanged glances. Several nearby disciples began whispering. Marcus had indeed taken Ethan’s storage pouch. He had assumed nobody would dare challenge him because of his cultivation and connections. Now, with an audience watching, he couldn’t simply back down.

“Fine!” Marcus said. “If you want to interfere, fight me. If you lose, you’ll kneel and apologize for insulting me.”

Alexander sighed. “Why does everyone want me to fight them?”

“Because you’re arrogant!”

“No. I’m tired.”

Marcus drew his sword. “Then I’ll make you regret coming here!”

Alexander handed Ethan the recovered storage pouch. “Hold this.”

Ethan stared at him. “Teacher, he’s at Meridian Opening Level Eight!”

“I can see that.”

“What if you get hurt?”

Alexander looked at him. “Then you’ll have to find another teacher. Make sure the next one charges you more.”

Ethan’s face twitched.

Alexander stepped onto the training platform. Marcus attacked immediately. His sword came down with enough force to make the wooden platform creak. Alexander sidestepped and let the blade pass. Marcus followed with a horizontal slash. Alexander blocked with his sword, then tapped Marcus’s elbow. The inner disciple’s next strike went wide.

“What are you doing?” Marcus shouted.

“Teaching you something.”

Alexander stepped forward. His sword moved once.

Clack!

Marcus’s weapon flew out of his hand and landed several meters away. Before Marcus could react, Alexander placed his sword against his chest. “Dead.”

Silence. The entire training ground stared at them. Marcus had lost in a single exchange after losing control of his weapon.

Alexander withdrew his sword. “You have more cultivation than me, but you rely on strength instead of technique. You also leave your right side exposed whenever you attack.”

Marcus’s face turned crimson. “Impossible! You must have used a hidden technique!”

Alexander pointed toward the sword lying on the ground. “Pick it up and try again.”

Marcus hesitated. He knew he had lost. But admitting defeat in front of so many disciples was unbearable. He rushed forward with his bare fist.

Alexander’s expression cooled. He stepped aside, caught Marcus’s wrist, and twisted it just enough to force him to his knees. “Your swordsmanship is poor, and now you’re attacking without a weapon?” He released him. “Do you have any other talents you’d like to demonstrate?”

Laughter erupted around the platform. Marcus scrambled to his feet, humiliated. “You’ll pay for this!”

Alexander returned his sword to its sheath. “Perhaps. But today, you should pay Ethan back.”

Marcus glared at him. Then he looked at the gathered disciples. With no weapon in his hand and no excuse that would restore his dignity, he reluctantly took out a pouch containing two thousand spirit stones. He threw it toward Ethan. “Take it!”

Ethan caught it. “Thank you!”

Marcus stormed away with his friends.

Alexander shook his head. “Next time, don’t let someone steal from you.”

Ethan grinned. “I knew you’d help me!”

“Don’t misunderstand. I was annoyed by his face.”

“That’s not very reassuring, Teacher.”

“Good. You should learn not to rely on me for everything.”

Ethan’s smile faded slightly.

Alexander continued, “You’re my disciple. I’ll teach you, but you need to learn to stand on your own feet. One day, I won’t be around to help you.”

Ethan looked down at the pouch in his hands. For once, he didn’t argue. “I understand.”

Alexander nodded. “Good. Your next lesson is tomorrow.”

“How much?”

“Two thousand spirit stones.”

Ethan’s expression shattered. “YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS!”

Alexander walked away, smiling faintly.

Later that evening, a servant from the Blackwood Family arrived at Alexander’s courtyard. “Second Young Master, your father has sent a letter.”

Alexander opened it. The letter was short. His father, William Blackwood, wanted him to return home for a family gathering in three days.

Alexander read it twice. In his previous life, this gathering had never taken place. At that time, the family had been too busy dealing with internal disputes and the aftermath of the attack. Now, with the immediate danger temporarily reduced, his father was trying to bring the family together.

Alexander folded the letter. “Tell my father I’ll return.”

The servant bowed and left.

Alexander stood beneath the tree, looking toward the distant mountains. He had changed many things already. His family was alive. His relationship with Elena was developing. Ethan was becoming a proper swordsman, and the sect was beginning to recognize his abilities.

But he couldn’t become complacent. The world was full of powerful clans and ambitious cultivators. If he wanted to protect the people he loved, he needed to grow stronger.

Alexander picked up his sword. “Three days,” he murmured. “Let’s see how much stronger I can become before then.”