The First Teacher (Part 3)

"The feeling of disciplining disciples is really good. No wonder the master used to beat me," said Zhang San.

...

...

Wang Xiaoer crouched on the ground, holding his small head, listening to his master's teachings.

Zhang San said, "The story I just told you was actually meant to tell you something."

Wang Xiaoer looked up pitifully and asked, "Master, you said that this time I must think seriously."

Zhang San replied, "That is to abandon all notions of good and evil. We are assassins, and nothing more than assassins."

Wang Xiaoer rubbed his still sore head and asked, "What does that mean?"

Zhang San asked, "Let me ask you, what kind of person is the beggar I just mentioned?"

Wang Xiaoer said, "A bad person."

Zhang San asked, "And if I didn't know he was pretending or if he was just a poor person on the streets, what kind of person would he be?"

Wang Xiaoer naturally said, "A good person."

Zhang San said, "Isn't that clear? In this world, it is difficult for us to distinguish between good and bad people. Perhaps one day, you will receive a mission to kill a farmer in the field. Don't hesitate, go kill! Or perhaps, you will receive an assignment to assassinate a profiteering merchant. Again, don't hesitate, go kill!"

This passage overturned Wang Xiaoer's previous understanding of 'assassins.'

Or rather, it overturned the understanding taught to Wang Xiaoer by his father, Grey Lion.

Wang Xiaoer asked, "Do we have to kill even good people?"

Zhang San said, "The story of the beggar I just told already made it clear. In this world, it is difficult to distinguish between good and bad people. A farmer could be the former leader of a criminal organization, and a merchant could be the sole pillar of a family. Or perhaps, a farmer is indeed just a farmer, and a merchant is indeed just a merchant, but none of these have anything to do with us."

At this point, Zhang San pointed at Wang Xiaoer and asked, "For example, your father, has he truly never killed a good person?"

Wang Xiaoer thought for a moment and said, "My dad? I remember two years ago, there was one time when my dad...after completing a mission, he came home and cried a lot."

Zhang San continued to ask without any surprise, "Do you know why he cried?"

Wang Xiaoer shook his head and said, "I don't know, but that day he drank a lot of alcohol and went to bed early. In his dream, he said...he said he killed the wrong person."

Zhang San stated directly, "So, what I want to teach you is not that assassins can also be heroes or great chivalrous figures. The first lesson I want to teach you is that assassins are just assassins."

Wang Xiaoer asked, "Assassins are just assassins?"

Zhang San replied, "Yes. Your master, me, started following your master's master on missions when I was eight years old. Although it was just assisting or acting as bait, even back then, I understood this truth: assassins are just assassins, killing is just a means for us to survive in this world, no different from scholars selling calligraphy and paintings or farmers tending to their fields."

"Is there really no difference?"

Zhang San solemnly told his disciple, "There really is no difference. If you start trying to differentiate, you'll end up as exhausted as your father."

"But my dad is a good person."

"But your dad..."

Zhang San's words suddenly stopped because he realized something.

Zhang San realized that neither the old man nor the woman had mentioned this matter to him.

Looking at the naive child, Zhang San suddenly realized that he probably didn't know that his father had already passed away.

Zhang San asked cautiously, "By the way, where did your father go? Normally, with your father being so powerful, he shouldn't need to personally teach you, right?"

Wang Xiaoer smiled and said, "My father went out to sea. My mother said someone specifically invited him to go because there are demons overseas. So they asked many powerful people like my father to go and kill the demons. We just don't know when he'll be back."

Zhang San fell silent for a moment.

Wang Xiaoer, puzzled, looked at Zhang San and asked, "Master, what's wrong with you?"

Zhang San approached and touched Wang Xiaoer's little head, saying, "In any case, you must remember my words. A killer is just a killer. As a killer, you shouldn't care whether the target is good or evil. We don't know, and we can't control it. Only in this way, even if we've been killers for many, many years, we won't feel pain because we've killed many people."

It was the first time Wang Xiaoer had seen such a serious expression on Zhang San's face. He also understood the importance and quickly agreed.

Zhang San smiled, lightly patting Wang Xiaoer's head, suddenly feeling that this disciple was somewhat adorable.

Wang Xiaoer's eyes then wandered to the bandaged abdomen of his master.

"What are you looking at?" Zhang San asked.

Wang Xiaoer said, "Master, after cultivating your skills, can't you really be stabbed?"

"Do you still want to stab me?!"

Zhang San immediately gave Wang Xiaoer another punch.

...

...

The next day, just as the sky was bright, Zhang San decided to give Wang Xiaoer his second lesson - the art of disguise.

To be precise, it was a special technique called 'beautification' that originated from Huyu Country. This disguise technique was far superior to the one from Dawu Country.

As for why Zhang San taught disguise first instead of martial arts, Wang Xiaoer asked him this morning.

Zhang San replied, "Martial arts, it's useful, but not that useful."

Wang Xiaoer asked in astonishment, "Can martial arts be useless?"

Zhang San answered, "I didn't say it's useless, just not that useful. Simply put, our goal as assassins is to eliminate the target, not engage in fair duels. So, basically, we have four principles."

Wang Xiaoer asked, "Assassins also have principles?"

Zhang San said, "Of course. Remember them well. First, we are assassins, not heroes. So if we can disguise ourselves, we should. If we can wear a mask, we should. It's even better to practice how to control our voice. In short, we shouldn't let others know our appearance and voice."

Wang Xiaoer nodded and said, "No wonder we're learning disguise today."

Zhang San continued, "Second, if we can use poison, we shouldn't resort to sneak attacks."

Wang Xiaoer nodded, "That makes sense."

"Third, if we can sneak attack, we should avoid direct confrontations."

"That makes sense."

"Fourth, if we really have to engage in a direct confrontation, we can use lime powder, hidden weapons, traps—whatever we can use. Don't hesitate."

"Master... You're shameless."

"You know nothing. Poison, sneak attacks, lime powder—these are the traditions of our underworld."

At the age of eight, Wang Xiaoer didn't quite grasp the meaning of the word "tradition," but being naturally curious, he diligently remembered his master's four killer principles.

Next came the formal lessons.

However, within just a day of teaching, Zhang San was dumbfounded.

He unexpectedly discovered that this Wang Xiaoer... was actually a prodigy!