Commission

"Skills are a special form of attack. They rapidly consume the power within your body to strengthen your attacks. The higher a skill's proficiency, the more power it consumes and the greater its might."

As he taught Parr, John straightened up, clenched his right fist, and threw a powerful punch.

Whoosh...

The wind from his fist howled audibly. It looked incredibly powerful, and Parr felt that his small body probably could not withstand that punch at all.

"That was without using a skill."

John drew his fist back to his waist, took a deep breath, paused for two seconds, then threw another punch.

Bang! The air in front of John's fist exploded with a sharp crack, making Parr jolt. He felt that he could probably take this punch—and not even make a sound afterward.

Whoosh...

John exhaled, turned to Parr, and said:

"Little guy, that was Charge Punch. Throwing it at empty air might not show much, but I can tell you that this skill can at least double the power of your fist. At its peak, it can even increase it tenfold."

"It's that powerful?"

Parr copied John's movements and threw two punches, but without knowing the method, he could not produce that effect at all.

"Don't waste your energy. You won't get anywhere practicing like that."

John shook his head with a smile, stepped forward, and adjusted Parr's posture.

"Stand straight, then place one leg in front of the other and steady yourself. Relax your shoulders..."

John began instructing him. Practicing Charge Punch was not as simple as the straightforward demonstration John had just given. It required the power of the entire body to participate in order to unleash strength far beyond an ordinary attack.

Parr spent the entire morning learning Charge Punch under John's guidance. According to John, skills had to be practiced persistently, allowing the body to form the correct muscle memory. Then, with a flash of inspiration at the critical moment, the skill would be mastered.

In other words, learning a skill was not something that could be done in a short time unless one was exceptionally gifted. However, the facts proved that without the Status Panel's assistance, Parr was not some naturally gifted genius.

During a break, Parr sat on the ground and recalled Little Parr's experience learning the Wind Wolf Basic Breathing Technique and Sword Drawing Technique before he had transmigrated. Even for those two most basic skills, Little Parr had spent a full two months studying under Old Man Jack.

"So I'm not a genius after all!"

Parr looked up at the clear sky and let out a long sigh, then dusted himself off and stood up.

"It's fine! I still have my cheat."

"Uncle John, you said too much, and I can't remember it all. Could you write down the practice tips for Charge Punch?"

Parr moved closer to John. It was not that he could not remember! He had merely discovered that he seemed able to learn only skills recorded on paper through the Status Panel.

"Fine!"

John looked at Parr and thought it was a workable idea. Once Parr had memorized it, John would not have to waste so much breath explaining.

So John went back inside. More than ten minutes later, he came out holding a sheet of white paper covered in writing. It recorded the training method for Charge Punch, along with some of his own insights and experiences. It was extremely detailed.

"Here, little guy."

"Okay."

Parr took the sheet, and the instant he looked at it, a prompt for a learnable skill appeared on the Status Panel. His large eyes narrowed happily.

"Hehehe..."

John pulled an object resembling a pocket watch from his pocket. It was one of the rewards Kunna had given him, said to be a rare item made by the Elf Race for telling time. He checked the time, then reminded Parr, "Little guy, that's enough practice for this morning! Don't forget to eat and rest later!"

"Got it."

Parr answered without even raising his head.

Ding, a learnable skill has been detected. Spend 10 Mental Energy Points to learn it? "Yes!"

Ding, 10 Mental Energy Points have been consumed. Skill learned successfully.

The moment the prompt appeared, inspiration flashed through Parr's mind. Everything John had taught him that morning surfaced in his mind like scenes rushing past, and he closed his eyes in silence for a moment.

"I understand now."

Suppressing the urge to try it immediately, Parr looked at the Status Panel.

Charge Punch LV1 (A most basic unarmed combat skill. Activation cost: 2 Stamina. Charge time: 2 seconds.) Life Energy Points: 72 Mental Energy Points: 101 Ding, consume 10 Life Energy Points to upgrade Charge Punch LV1 to LV2?

"No!"

Parr closed the Status Panel and headed toward the dining area. It was not time to upgrade yet. He could claim to have learned the skill in a flash of inspiration, but if he raised its level another one or two levels, even he would find it hard to explain. Was he supposed to shamelessly tell John that he was a genius? How could that be? Was Parr that kind of person? No! He was a low-key person.

"I learned a skill in one second. I'm so low-key!"

After eating lunch, Parr rested for nearly an hour and a half before John hauled him back out. John might not seem very serious normally, but when teaching an apprentice, he was extremely dedicated.

"Come on, little guy, let's continue..."

As John spoke, he moved to correct Parr's stance again. However, Parr took a step back and scratched his head.

"Uncle John, I think I've learned it!"

"What?"

John dug at his ear, unable to believe what he had heard. So Parr repeated himself, "I think I've learned Charge Punch."

"Oh?"

This time, John heard him clearly. He looked Parr up and down, then stepped back several paces.

"Then show me."

"Alright."

Hiss...

Copying John's earlier movements, Parr took a deep breath, drew his fist back to his waist, paused for two seconds, then struck out fiercely.

Bang! The sound was not loud, but it was unmistakably there. A trace of surprise appeared on John's face as he stared at Parr as if looking at a monster.

"My goodness! You really learned it, little guy!"

John scrutinized Parr as though he were some kind of monster and asked, "How did you learn it? Don't tell me you learned it while eating."

"Hehehe, of course not."

Parr scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, though he looked rather pleased with himself.

"I learned it while sleeping. I took a nap just now, and when I woke up, I knew it."

"You little brat!"

John slapped the back of Parr's head irritably. Inwardly, he marveled at Parr's incredible Talent and felt a bit envious as well. He still remembered the hardship he had endured when learning it himself. He had practiced day and night for an entire week before mastering it.

"Hehehe..."

Parr simply grinned foolishly without replying. This was not the time to say too much. It was enough to grin like a smug little child, and then John slapped the back of his head again.

"Alright, stop laughing. Learning a skill isn't the finish line! Keep practicing this afternoon and increase your proficiency." John looked stern. He could not let Parr become complacent!

So Parr spent that afternoon practicing again, repeatedly using Charge Punch until he had thoroughly mastered the skill.

Another day passed just like that.

John and Parr had not spent these past few days idling around here. They were treating it as a brief rest stop during their journey, recovering from travel fatigue and spending time around people so they would not develop mental problems.

A few days was about enough. Once John confirmed that Parr had skillfully mastered Charge Punch, he prepared to leave and set out on the next stage of their journey.

That evening, the pair packed their belongings: Parr's large bundle and John's small bundle.

It was only on the day they surrounded and exterminated the cultists that Parr learned John's small bundle contained a suit of black light armor that could be folded slightly. No wonder it was so heavy. After packing up and resting briefly, the two planned to leave without saying goodbye under cover of night. Parr had actually wanted to tell Kunna, since they had eaten and drunk at her place for free for so many days. Leaving without a word really did not seem right.

However, John, who had not only eaten and drunk for free these past few days but also slept for free, was determined to leave without saying goodbye. In his words, he could not stand the atmosphere of parting, which was why they had to slip away.

At that, Parr rolled his eyes and muttered softly, "Scumbag! You just don't want to take responsibility for Kunna."

Smack! John heard him this time and slapped the back of Parr's head, defending himself as if it were perfectly natural.

"We were both willing. Neither of us needs to take responsibility for the other."

After saying something even more scummy, John slung his small bundle over his back and walked out of the room. He had already asked around. Kunna was attending a merchants' gathering in Azure Stone City tonight and was not here. It was the perfect time to leave without saying goodbye.

"Hmph!"

Rubbing the back of his head, Parr put on his large bundle and hurried after him. John insisted on leaving, and there was nothing Parr could do except follow.

However, the moment the pair stepped out of the back entrance of the Kunna Merchant Guild's compound, a figure in a luxurious white dress blocked their path.

"John, where are you going?"

Kunna looked at John, who was trying to sneak away at night, her beautiful eyes misty with tears. John became so awkward that he could neither advance nor retreat. "Hahaha, um... well... I'm taking the little guy out for a walk."

With an awkward laugh, John directly pulled Parr out from behind him and used him as a shield. Parr rolled his eyes from being yanked around.

"..."

A clever woman like Kunna naturally did not believe John's explanation, which was like covering his ears while stealing a bell. However, knowing the flirtatious nature of male Knights in the Wind Wolf Kingdom, she did not expose him. Instead, she wiped the corner of her eye and nodded with feigned calmness.

"I understand. But you won't be taking a walk tonight. I have an urgent matter that needs your help."

"What is it?"

John truly could not stand the atmosphere of parting, especially after being caught sneaking away by a woman, so he quickly picked up Kunna's topic.

"It's like this..."

Kunna did not ask John to go back inside. She explained everything right there, and Parr, caught between the two of them, heard it all as well. In the end, he summed it up: wasn't the Kunna Merchant Guild's main business transporting Lapis Lazuli?

Then where did the Lapis Lazuli come from?

The Lapis Lazuli Mines!

There were nearly a hundred Lapis Lazuli Mines of varying sizes in the Azure Stone Viscount Territory. Old Azure Stone Viscount had leased the mining rights to merchants in Azure Stone City and made a great deal of money.

The merchants hired people from the Azure Stone Viscount Territory to mine Lapis Lazuli, then transported the mined Lapis Lazuli to other noble territories for profit.

The people gained job opportunities as well.

Kunna owned several Lapis Lazuli mines herself, and the matter she wanted to discuss concerned one of them.

The Lapis Lazuli mine furthest from Azure Stone City, near the southern edge of the Azure Stone Viscount Territory, had run into trouble more than half a month ago. According to the people who escaped, a band of bandits had occupied the place.

When she had returned earlier, Kunna had received news from a Patrol Team Leader in Azure Stone City. She had paid the team leader five gold coins to lead people there and deal with the bandits.

But after so many days, even the cultists within the Azure Stone Viscount Territory had all been killed, yet there was still no news from that Patrol Team Leader.

So Kunna wanted John to go take a look. Once he resolved the matter, whether John stayed or left would no longer be her concern. It was also a way of giving John an excuse to leave gracefully.

John patted his chest and declared that there would be no problem, that he would definitely handle it properly. Then he grabbed Parr and ran around Kunna, as though afraid she would regret it if he moved a second too slowly.