Night of the Broken Gliph

With the wooden badge in hand, Chui Yim entered the canteen with his nose in the air and got himself two first-class meals; they were free, after all. 

However, after taking a bite, Chui Yim couldn’t help but frown.  

This is such an average taste. 

It might be a first-class meal, but it’s still horrible compared to that man’s cooking.  

Hah… Chui Yim sighed. A phrase that he had heard in his past life suddenly came to mind: “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”  

I can really relate to that now! There’s nothing I can do since even the first-class meal tastes so bad.  

Chui Yim sighed and finished both meals. The food might not have been tasty, but he needed plenty of food and nutrition since he was still growing. Thanks to Chui Tin who always prepared his meals after his training sessions, he grew taller than others his age. 

Thus, Chui Yim licked both plates clean despite the taste for the benefit of his body.  

The next day. 

Chui Yim walked into the class to be welcomed with many praises and greetings, many people trying to curry favour with him. The awkward stares previously directed at him were nowhere to be seen. But to the class’s dismay, Chui Yim turned a blind eye to everyone like he did yesterday and went straight to his seat arrogantly. This angered the class, but they dared not do anything after remembering Chor Shing Chit’s words yesterday. 

“All of you, sit down.” Chor Shing Chit walked into the class slowly. 

After yesterday’s introduction, Chor Shing Chit didn’t even bother pretending to be nice. He just acted like himself, simple and straightforward. 

He even skipped the greetings and went straight to the class. “Today, I’ll be teaching you about Gliphism. But only the basics.”  

When Chor Shing Chit started his lesson, everyone perked up their ears. Everyone knew that this was an important lesson since Chor Shing Chit was teaching about Gliphism. Even if they didn’t eventually become a glipher or gliphist, it would help them find jobs in the future.  

“I mentioned yesterday gliphers and gliphists are different. Gliphers focus on their body, while gliphists focus on their mind.

“Thus, a gliphist does not need to train their body, but their mind instead. Other than that, a gliphists needs vast knowledge of various gliphs,” Chor Shing Chit said as he picked up a chalk.  

When he stopped drawing, there was a weird pattern on the blackboard.  

This stirred up the class, as they knew they might be looking at a gliph.  

Chui Yim studied the gliph closely. He didn’t recognise it as one of the gliphs Chui Tim drew for him. 

But it didn’t stop Chui Yim from guessing the gliph’s ability, as it was slightly similar to the Extreme Wind gliph that Chui Yim once saw, but the Extreme Wind gliph was way more complicated than this. 

“This is the Light Wind gliph,” Chor Shing Chit said. “It’s a common and basic gliph. Many gliphers without any background choose this gliph. 

“What makes gliphs complicated is that when they are tattooed at a different location or on a different chamber, they will give a different effect.”  

Chor Shing Chit was serious with teaching the children. Even though it might be beyond their comprehension, he still had to do his best.  

“Most people choose to tattoo the Light Wind gliph on their leg chambers to increase their movement speed.” He raised his right hand and pointed at his right palm with his left finger. “Let me give you an example. 

“If the gliph is carved on the palm of a glipher who excels in palm techniques,  the Light Wind gliph will allow him to make long-range wind attacks.

“But if it’s tattooed on the forearm, it will facilitate one’s forearm movement. 

“If the gliph is tattooed in between the fingers, one can even launch attacks powerful enough to bore a hole through golden travertine.

“The same gliph can perform many different functions. However, this is still only the One chamber rank. If the glipher is of a higher rank, he’d be able to coordinate the gliphs on his different chambers to produce different effects or perform different skills. 

“A gliphist needs to know all of this.

“That’s why I mentioned that a gliphist is one in a million. However, that’s actually on the upper side. In reality, there might not even be one gliphist in ten million people.” 

Chui Yim was taken aback by all the information. Why is this so confusing? 

“As for the part about using energliph to create gliphs in the air for attacks, you can only do that after you understand gliphs very well. I’ll stop here so you all won’t bite off more than you chew.” 

Chor Shing Chit scanned the class. “Being a gliphist is difficult. You might be powerful and needed by many gliphers, but you are still too weak physically to protect yourself and will require many gliphers for protection. 

“To be honest, unless you’re gifted, I don’t recommend anyone here to become a gliphist. There’s too much to learn. If any of you here were meant to become a gliphist, you’d have started learning about it at four or five; and learning how to draw them by now.

“But this is just my opinion, not the schools. I’ll observe your performances during these few years in school, and those who have the aptitude to become a gliphist can move on to higher institutions, organisations or sects.”  

Hearing this, all the students took a deep breath. 

Chor Shing Chit only briefly talked about the job of a gliphist, but he had sent the message of how rare a gliphist was. 

“Sir, I have another question.” Just then, a student raised his hand.  

Chor Shing Chit raised an eyebrow. He looked over to realise that it was Chui Yim. “What’s your question?” 

“Why don’t we become both a glipher and gliphist at the same time? Is there anybody who has done so?” Chui Yim stood up and asked. 

“Absurd!” Hearing this, Chor Shing Chit’s face fell. 

“Do you realise what you’re suggesting?” He scolded, pointing at Chui Yim. 

“Both routes require one to sacrifice his life to master it! Do you know that in some sects or powerful organisations, any glipher students who have the aptitude to become a gliphist will be punished heavily according to rules by his teacher if he expresses his will to do so?

“It’s a waste of time and talent. You will end up with nothing.” 

“Get this idea out of your head!” 

Some students were scared by Chor Shing Chit’s scolding, while Chan Ngou Tin looked at Chui Yim with a mocking expression. However, he didn’t see any reaction on Chui Yim’s face, and that ticked him off a little. 

“Oh, I see,” Chui Yim said and sat down.