Insight!

"...?"

"...?"

"Wait, wait..." Fulvio's eyes widened in shock as he said:

"The Rockheart Contemplation Technique? Is that the method I think it is—the one Pops spent most of his life working on, the one that can temper your mental will?

How long have you even been here?

And he's already taught you his most treasured inheritance?

Even if you're VIP students, isn't this a bit too soon?

Also, what the heck is a contemplation technique? Shouldn't it be called imagining something real?"

"Uh!" Teresa grimaced beside him and said irritably, "What Pops taught us was clearly mind-imagery!"

Merlin gave them a strange look. "Don't they mean the same thing? They're just different names.

Both involve preserving an image in your consciousness and contemplating it over a long period of time, using up mental energy to temper your mental will."

The siblings pursed their lips together. Then, in unison, they said:

"How can they mean the same thing? The names are different, so how can you call it our family's inheritance?"

Merlin's eyes filled with speechless exasperation. He felt rather worn out, but just then, Fulvio stroked his chin thoughtfully before turning to Merlin and asking:

"Let's not get into the name you changed for now. I changed mine too, so we're even.

Why don't you start by explaining your situation in detail?"

So Merlin told them how he contemplated a lynx and was consequently affected by its playful nature.

Teresa looked at Merlin in surprise. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, then she gave an exasperated scoff.

"Another unorthodox one. Even more unorthodox than Fulvio. You're imagining an animal? At least he changed from a mountain rock into a sea wave."

Fulvio shot her an annoyed look. "You won't even call me big brother anymore?"

But he immediately looked back at Merlin, a flash of surprise in his eyes. "So that's what's going on! You must have studied lynxes in great depth!

You've practiced until it sank into your heart and mind. No wonder you were affected."

As he spoke, he glanced at his younger sister, then smiled.

"I think I understand what your problem is, Merlin.

Just like my silly sister, who imagined Sea Swallow Mountain. A few times at sea, she even went to watch storm swallows flying through the storm.

She told me those storm swallows really did look like the mountain behind our dojo, as if it were about to spread its wings and soar.

And my sister only succeeded in imagining it a little while ago."

"Our family inheritance, in a nutshell, is imagining something in your consciousness with your mind and spirit—in other words, what you call contemplation.

Although it can temper your mental will, mental will is also very closely connected to the heart."

As he listened to Fulvio's explanation, a light flashed in Merlin's eyes. A sudden, instinctive understanding came to him, and he picked up where Fulvio left off:

"Mental will can actually be considered the outward manifestation of the heart. By contemplating a lynx to temper my mental will, I may have gone too deep, or perhaps I failed to hold fast to my human identity. That let the influence seep inward from the outside and affect my heart.

And since appearances stem from the heart, I ended up feeling as though I was being affected without even realizing it."

Merlin didn't notice the astonishment on the faces of Yol and the others. He continued speaking as if to himself:

"Contemplation uses something external to temper one's mental will, thereby training one's heart more deeply.

Rather than tempering mental will, it's more like using your own mind to struggle against something external, sharpening and strengthening yourself in the process.

The influence can go both ways, but you have to realize that for yourself."

As Merlin continued, his eyes began to shine.

"While contemplating to temper myself, I also have to keep myself in mind at all times. I want the benefits contemplation brings, but I also have to reject its harmful influence.

People really are greedy.

But human greed is also the strongest drive that pushes us toward greatness."

Merlin's eyes shone as he finally understood the matter that had been troubling him.

At that moment, he felt that he had gained a deeper understanding of his [Lynx Contemplation Technique].

His mental state seemed much more relaxed, and his convictions seemed firmer as well.

With a thought, the Equipment Slot interface appeared before him.

As expected:

[Basic Lynx Contemplation Technique]: Through communicating with others, you had a flash of insight and grasped the essence of contemplation. From this moment on, as you practice contemplation to temper your mental will, your heart's resistance to outside influence will increase slightly.

The Lynx Contemplation Technique had risen in level, and a flash of surprise passed through Merlin's eyes.

"Can a skill specialty gained through my own realization be improved through further insight and training?

That makes sense. That's how it should work.

So after beginner comes basic? What comes after basic? This is getting more and more interesting!"

Fulvio looked at Merlin's spirit and bearing, which seemed to have undergone some marvelous change. A trace of envy flashed in his eyes, and he couldn't help exclaiming:

"I think I understand why Pops taught you this method so early. You're really a remarkably quick learner!"

"I imagine you gained quite a bit from it!"

A smile appeared on Merlin's lips. He humbly shook his head. "Actually, I have you to thank for pointing me in the right direction, Senior Brother. Otherwise, it would've taken me a lot more time and effort to figure it out!"

Fulvio immediately waved his hand, looking exasperated.

"What did I point you toward? I didn't do anything! This is all because you're clever."

Yol looked at Merlin with delight. "It seems you've figured it out!"

Merlin nodded, then smiled. "It seems the saying 'a good teacher produces good students' really is true!"

Teresa burst out laughing at that.

"If you've got a way with words, then say more! I'm starting to think you're pretty amusing."

As she spoke, she looked Merlin up and down, and a glint appeared in her eyes.

"Since your comprehension is so good, how about sparring with me? A deep understanding of sword principles is great, but you can't neglect your swordsmanship either. After all, on the high seas, might makes right!"

Her eyes gleamed with anticipation. She had been watching Merlin for some time and had realized that Pops' new student wasn't as simple as he seemed.

She couldn't help wanting to test him.

Merlin hadn't had a chance to speak when Fulvio cut in. Looking exasperated, he said:

"Don't even think about picking on my junior brother, Merlin. How long has he been learning the sword?"

But then a smile tugged at his lips. "Can I call you Merlin? How about a spar with your senior brother?"

Merlin's gaze shifted slightly. He had just seen Fulvio in action, and he was quite a bit stronger than Teresa. Still, Merlin gave a small nod and smiled.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Brother."

Fulvio laughed, then said, "Just call me Fohr from now on. With the comprehension you just showed, I'm sure it won't be long before you're as strong as my little sister.

We can spar and exchange ideas regularly from now on, and help each other grow."

Teresa narrowed her eyes, her gaze turning hostile.

"Who do you think you're looking down on, Fohr?"

"Let's go to the training ground outside. They have practice weapons there. I don't have a suitable sword with me right now," Merlin said to him.

Fulvio laughed.

Teresa, ignored, darkened her expression.

Before long, the four of them reached the pavilion in the outdoor training ground.

Fulvio placed his rapier on the weapon rack, picked up a practice rapier, drew it from its sheath, and gave it a few swings.

"It's a little light, but it'll do. I won't use my Hua Lang to bully you. It's a Good Fast Sword, after all."

Merlin glanced at his sword, then picked up a katana and held it in his hand.

"Then I thank you, Senior Brother."

The two quickly took their places in the training ground.

Yol, Lami, and Teresa stood beneath the pavilion, watching the two men face each other from five meters apart, both ready.

"You don't look worried about your junior brother at all, Yol," Teresa said, turning to her with curiosity.

The corners of Yol's mouth lifted in a gentle smile. For a moment, her beauty left Teresa slightly dazed. This woman really stands out.

But Teresa quickly shook her head and turned her attention back to the two men in the training ground.

Yol shook her head, the smile still on her face. "Of course I'm worried, but Merlin isn't weak. I believe in him."

Lami, standing beside Yol, stared at the two in the training ground without blinking. She chimed in:

"Brother Merlin is really strong! As strong as Sister Yol! He won't lose to your big brother!"

Teresa laughed. "You're Lami, right? I saw you this morning. You're a very hardworking little girl."

While the three of them chatted,

in the training ground,

Fulvio met Merlin's gaze, a hearty smile on his lips.

"Merlin, you can attack first! Let's start by letting me see how strong you are."

Merlin smiled. "You're joking, Senior Brother Fohr. What skill do I have? I've only been learning swordsmanship for a short time!"

"But since you sincerely want to give me the first move, I won't hold back."

As soon as he finished speaking,

Merlin's eyes focused in an instant.

He bent his knees, gathering strength, and leaned forward slightly. Then he pushed off the ground and charged toward Fulvio.

The five-meter distance vanished in the blink of an eye. Merlin gripped his sword in his right hand, appearing right in front of Fulvio.

At that moment, his katana swept out from his right side in a diagonal upward cut—a rising diagonal slash.

"Wh..." Fulvio's eyes suddenly contracted. Almost as soon as Merlin charged at him, he instinctively raised his rapier to block the diagonal slash.

Clang—

A dull metallic clang rang out, like the sound of a sledgehammer striking steel.

Fulvio's eyes widened. Faced with the sudden burst of brute force, he was sent staggering backward.

Merlin took a deep breath. Then he moved again, charging toward Fulvio once more.