370 Teacher Zero (2/2)

Zero grumbled. ”I didn't get myself into anything I can't solve... I just need some advice. Due to circumstances, I'm now a teacher but I don't know how to be a good teacher. Just yesterday, I lost my temper at my student and now they're terrified of me. They won't even let me speak and will only apologise profusely when they see me. How can I fix my mistake?”

The physician nodded. ”Fixing a mistake has nothing to do with being a teacher. Tell me, what is the primary job of a teacher?”

Zero smiled. ”It's to guide the student on the right path and impart their knowledge. I don't think I've been a very good student but now I'm required to become a teacher. Shifu, I don't know what to do.”

Listening to Zero's genuine concern at the expectations others have placed on him, Hua Tuo sighed. He ordered his hospital assistants to take over while he took a break and continued the conversation outside, away from the hustle and bustle.

”Every teacher has a different teaching style. Most teachers started off as a student too and they tend to teach in the way that they were being taught or the way they learned best. The teaching method is not as important as being able to be completely transparent with your student. Since you know you've made a mistake, fixing it should be the right thing to do. The most important thing between a teacher and a student is trust. If the student cannot trust a teacher, nothing you teach will go to their heads. If a teacher doesn't trust the student, no matter how brilliant the student is, they will never reach their full potential.”

Zero thought about it and Hua Tuo explained how he didn't always know if what he did was right. In fact, Zero was thrust so unexpectedly in Hua Tuo's hands at the start that Hua Tuo didn't know what to expect.

”It was only through time that we spent together and through observations that I understood you better and knew how I could help you become your best. All I did was offer you guidance and resources, you did everything else on your own and worked hard to become a doctor that the world cannot replace. As a teacher, I'm definitely proud to have such an outstanding student. It only means that my efforts were not in vain my and poor hut not destroyed for nothing.”

Zero laughed uneasily as Hua Tuo reminded him about the trouble he caused his teacher in the past. It was true. Compared to what Princess Dorothy did, Zero was more troublesome to handle but Hua Tuo never once complained about having him as his student or given up on him. The physician has lost his fair share of temper more times than Zero can count on one hand because of Zero but even when Zero screwed up big time, Hua Tuo was always there.

”I think I understand now. I will try again tomorrow to fix my mistake and apologise for losing my temper. Communication has always been the key between teacher and student, it should never be one-sided. Thank you, shifu!”

Hua Tuo smiled and told Zero that he was going to head back to work. Zero didn't stop his busy teacher and bade him a good night as well. The call ended and Zero put his communicator away. He felt bad for losing his cool in such a manner when he found out that the princess was destroying herself. Mana and qi are never meant to be cultivated together. Even for Zero, if it weren't for Tanya and her sisters' expert help to create both channels in his vessel so that they don't intertwine with each other, cultivating and practising magic at the same time will cause the body to erupt from built-up pressure. It was his fault for not expecting it or explaining it before he flew into a rage. The princess was also probably not aware of the risks and Zero can only be thankful that he found out sooner rather than later. He would hate explaining how he turned Princess Dorothy into a corpse instead of a great beauty by the end of the month.

For now, Zero worked on making arrangements to catch the princess and make his apology. This time, he wasn't going to put up airs. He wasn't going to do it as the arrogant elven healer, he was going to do it as Zero, the doctor.