Mastering the Breathing Technique (Thanks to Little Qingji's Great Victory for the Alliance Leader Patronage)

Night, the woods behind the village.

Sylutia stood quietly with her eyes closed in a forest clearing beneath the moon. Silver moonlight fell upon her, casting a faint halo over her hair and dress, tranquil and faintly sacred.

She first slowly adjusted her breathing, gradually seeking out the subtle rhythm of blood within her body. Then she immersed herself in it bit by bit, synchronizing her breathing, heartbeat, and consciousness. A strange sensation spread through her entire body.

The condition of every part of her body gradually surfaced in her mind—from the sensation of her skin, to the presence of her muscles, the movements of her internal organs, and finally the faint sound of blood flowing. Everything became clearer, little by little.

She had never felt her body so vividly before, as though she had taken control of it for a second time. Fresh, delicate sensations came from every part of her. It felt strange at first, but she quickly adapted. Her perception became sharper, and her control over her limbs improved.

Sylutia opened her pale blue eyes and looked up at the branches and leaves above her. Her fingers slipped nimbly through a gap in the foliage, plucking an unripe flower-fruit from among the dense leaves without touching a single leaf. The feeling was rather wondrous.

It was like a table tennis match. When the other side hit the ball over, even if you knew you should return it, your wrist might not necessarily keep up with your vision. Sometimes you would swing at empty air, or be unable to tell exactly where the ball would land on the paddle.

Brain: I think I can catch that ball.

Hand: No, you can't.

But once her perception and control of her body improved, she could, in that fleeting instant of reaction, precisely make the ball land on whichever point of the paddle she wanted. She could control the force better as well, producing unexpected effects—whether backspin, reverse spin, or even more unusual moves.

Breathing... adjusting the rhythm... sensing the rhythm of blood... synchronizing and immersing...

Within the sea of her consciousness, that dense, fine crimson network completed another cycle. The power of Aspect Power within her blood also increased slightly during the process.

"Breathing Technique" completion +6

After completing the cycle, Sylutia slowed her breathing and withdrew from that strange state. A faint soreness then rose from all over her body.

This was all she could practice today. Otherwise, she would accumulate hidden injuries. She checked her progress.

[Breathing Technique Lv.0] (Blood Law): An ability that has yet to take shape. Current progress (24/100)

She had completed three cycles of training today, increasing her cultivation progress by 12, 6, and 6 respectively. At this rate, it would probably take another week to fully master it.

After finishing her Breathing Technique training, she picked up the wooden sword resting beneath the tree and recalled the basic techniques Frien had taught her during the day, practicing her swings.

At first, her movements were slow. She continually adjusted them, making the flow of force smoother. This was where the benefits of the Breathing Technique showed themselves. With greater control and perception of her body, she could detect the minute differences between movements and continually correct herself based on them.

If an ordinary person learned swordsmanship without the guidance of a qualified teacher, they could at most learn the rough shape of the movements. They would have the form but not the substance, making it difficult to truly enter the discipline. In the end, it would become a kind of performative swordsmanship.

Only with the instruction of a qualified teacher, combined with actual combat and constant correction, could one gradually find the methods of exertion and techniques best suited to oneself through years of hard work. Then one had to become familiar with them, carve them into muscle memory, and only then could one become a master swordsman. The process took as little as five years, and as long as more than a decade.

"Basic Swordsmanship" proficiency +12

Basic Swordsmanship Lv.0: A skill still being learned. Current progress (36/100)

After practicing through the entire sequence once, Sylutia felt somewhat tired. She blinked and checked her progress, thinking that if she worked a little harder, she could probably reach Basic Swordsmanship Lv.1 tomorrow.

Right, her [Identification Pupil] could not see other people's attainments in skills and techniques. It could only be used to observe her own progress. Perhaps she would need to raise her Aspect Power rank before she could further enhance this ability.

She had gained quite a lot today. Contentedly she put away her sword and walked with light steps toward the little house where she lived.

Pushing open the door, through which a faint glow of lamplight could be seen, Sylutia entered the room and found that Talia had not yet gone to sleep. She was lying beside the table, staring listlessly at the candle. Only when Sylutia entered did she suddenly raise her head, her eyes immediately filling with delight.

"Tia's back." Over the past two days, the two had grown much more familiar with each other. At the girl's request, Talia had begun addressing her more casually rather than using honorifics.

"Mhm."

The girl nodded, walked over to the chair opposite Talia, and sat down. Stretching out her legs, she gave a small stretch. The graceful curve of her slender waist was fully revealed, and her languid appearance unintentionally gave off an indescribable charm that left Talia staring for a moment.

"Hm? What is it?" Seeing Talia frozen in place, Sylutia waved a hand in front of her and tilted her head curiously. Her silver hair and blue eyes were especially captivating.

"Nothing." Talia lightly bit her lip, forcing herself to wake up a little.

"Tia, did you just finish practicing swordsmanship?" After dinner earlier, Tia had told her she was going to practice with her sword.

"Yes. Since I'm wandering outside now, it would be better to learn some means of protecting myself." Sylutia folded her hands on the table, then rested her head lightly against one arm as she gazed at the quietly burning candle before her.

"Tia works really hard."

Talia was not nearly as diligent. Whatever she did, her enthusiasm only lasted three minutes. If something was too dull or boring, it was hard for her to stick with it. That was why she admired people who could endure boredom and study. Her sister Winnie and Tia both happened to be that sort of person.

Inspired by Tia, Talia felt that she should also properly study the Breathing Technique tomorrow. If she truly learned it, that would be amazing. Even those big fellows in the village would not be able to beat her.

Thinking of that scene, Talia nearly snickered to herself. But in Sylutia's eyes, she simply looked a little silly.

What was this child thinking about now? Sylutia shook her head and leaned against the table to rest. She did not feel like moving either, though she still had to bathe later. Sigh.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, in the forest clearing.

Sylutia and Talia sparred with wooden swords, crisp clashes ringing out in bursts.

Bang, bang, bang...

The two wooden swords collided from time to time with each swing.

In another exchange, Sylutia nimbly adjusted her footing and lightly evaded Talia's attack. Then her blade turned, flicking the wooden sword from Talia's hand.

The flung wooden sword traced an arc through the air before stabbing diagonally into the grass.

"Wah, what was that technique just now? My sword suddenly flew away." Talia was both curious and excited.

"This... I just did it on a whim." In truth, Sylutia could not explain why she had done that just now. Inspiration had simply struck. She had felt that doing it that way would knock the sword away, and that she could do it easily, so the movement had naturally happened.

"Tia is amazing~" Talia praised her sincerely.

Over these few days together, Talia had clearly sensed that Sylutia was the kind of person who was very smart and exceptionally gifted. She learned everything quickly.

"Can you teach me, Tia~?"

She had begun to learn how to act spoiled around this girl. If the other young men in the village saw her like this, they would likely be struck dumb, because Talia was normally practically one of the boys, and occasionally even fought with people her own age in the village.

"I can try." The girl thought for a moment and decided to give it a try.

"Okay!~"

Talia picked up the wooden sword again and slowly practiced according to the method Frien had taught.

"No, that isn't how you exert force in this movement." The girl shook her head. Though it looked similar, Talia's execution was far too different in the details.

"Hold still first. I'll help you adjust it." She walked over and held Talia's upper arm and forearm, correcting each tiny movement one by one.

"Like this..."

...(Talia's "Basic Swordsmanship" proficiency +1)

"Yes, straighten your legs and use your waist..."

...(Talia's "Basic Swordsmanship" proficiency +1)

"It should be like this. Watch my movements..."

...(Talia's "Basic Swordsmanship" proficiency +2)

About two hours later, Talia sat beneath the tree in exhaustion, her wooden sword tossed aside.

"Huff, huff, I'm so tired..." Though she said she was tired, her eyes were full of excitement and exhilaration.

"I think I found a few tricks. Tia is amazing, you teach even better than Sir Frien!" She meant every word.

The girl beside her was somewhat pleased as well. Holding up her skirt, she slowly sat down.

"If you keep practicing like this for another five or six days, you should be able to learn Basic Swordsmanship." Talia's swordsmanship proficiency had increased by seventeen points today, bringing her current progress to (24/100).

"Mhm, mhm (^o^)/~" If she had not been out of strength, Talia would have shouted in celebration.

"I'm going to tell Grandpa. From now on, I can become an amazing adventurer too!"

When she was little, she had heard Grandpa tell countless thrilling tales of his past adventures. She could recite all those stories by heart—"dealing with Corrosive Slugs in a noble's city sewers," "climbing Wind-Howl Mountain to burn down Grey-Feather Vulture nests," "battling Venom Lizards in the forest." Even now, there were still several dark green Venom Lizard scales in Grandpa's cabinet.

"Tia, listen, my grandpa went to so many places back then..." Talia enthusiastically began telling the girl about the old village chief's glorious exploits.

"It really does make one yearn for it." Looking up at the bright sunlight filtering through the leaves, Sylutia also imagined that kind of thrilling adventuring life. Like the countless games she had played before, with their monsters, labyrinths, and battles, it had always been so alluring.

If she had the chance, she wanted to travel around as well. Through opportunities offered by quests, she wanted to see this vast and wondrous world properly.

The seventh day.

Sylutia had already become a familiar face in Linden Village. Nearly every villager knew this unusual girl, exceptionally beautiful, gentle, and kind, and they all liked her. If not for the enormous difference in their status, quite a few young men would probably have stepped forward to court her and compete with one another.

"Alright, you have all trained enough." Carrying a wooden spear, Frien slowly walked before the group.

"Of all of you, the two who practiced Basic Swordsmanship and Spearmanship the best have already mastered them. If the others still do not know them, you can ask those two for guidance later." As he spoke, he turned and swept his gaze over the crowd again.

"As for learning the Breathing Technique, there is no need to force it. If you truly cannot learn it, then eat a little more and train your strength and agility. That can increase your power too." Of the young people he had taught this time, only Sylutia had learned the Breathing Technique.

"I will be leaving tomorrow. If your strength improves in the future, come find me in Three Towers Town. After passing my assessment, those who qualify can join the patrol. If you become even stronger, there will also be a place for you in Baron Holin's cavalry."

Compared to ordinary work in the village, the patrol received much better treatment, along with a little gray income. The cavalry was even more so the backbone of Baron Holin's forces, responsible for handling all kinds of sudden incidents throughout the territory and occasionally receiving rewards from the baron.

"Sir Frien, are you leaving?" one of the trainees asked.

"That's right. I'm setting out tomorrow." He nodded and planted the butt of his wooden spear into the ground.

"I've recuperated here for a week, and my fracture has more or less healed. It is time for me to return and report to Baron Holin. As for that Crimson Wolf, I know you are all worried it might return."

"However, I cannot stay in the village forever. After all, I am responsible for the safety of the roads between the various villages and towns throughout the baron's territory."

"With the village barrier in place, I believe it will not rashly attack again. If you truly cannot rest easy, go to the Adventurers Guild in Scorched Stone City and post a bounty notice there. I believe someone will come deal with it."

"Alright, training ends here today. Dismissed!"

After everyone dispersed, Frien found the silver-haired girl at the back of the group, and the two spoke beneath a tree.

"Miss Tia, you are going to Scorched Stone City, correct?"

"Yes, Mr. Frien." The girl's voice was soft and pleasant.

"This time, I will be heading back to Three Towers Town, and we will be traveling the same way for part of the journey. But we will have to part at River Stone Town. At that point, you can travel with a merchant caravan and continue on to Scorched Stone City. The market there is prosperous and many people come and go, so you should be able to find some clues."

"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Frien."

"You need not be so polite. You helped quite a few of my men that day. I should be the one thanking you. This sword is for you." As he spoke, he took a short sword he had prepared earlier from behind the tree and handed it to Sylutia.

"Take it. Use it to protect yourself on the road. The village blacksmith cannot forge such a fine sword."

Taking the sheathed short sword, Sylutia expressed her thanks once more.

[Refined Iron Sword] (Quality: Good): Forged from iron with skilled craftsmanship. Currently well maintained.

Drawing the short sword from its wooden scabbard, Sylutia tried swinging it. It was somewhat heavy, but no problem to use.

"Your strength is still insufficient, so you cannot use a sword that is too heavy. Fortunately, you have already learned the Breathing Technique. Use it to train, and your stamina will gradually catch up. You will be no weaker than the sturdy young men your age." Frien was still quite satisfied with this temporary student of his.

"If you can advance further and reach the second level of the Breathing Technique, many strong soldiers will be unable to compare with you in explosive power and speed."

"As for the third level of the Breathing Technique, I do not know the specifics. But I have seen those knight lords. They could easily lift wild boars and lions larger than themselves, and casually crush a person's bones."

"I see." Sylutia nodded, indicating that she would train hard afterward.

"You probably do not know anyone in Scorched Stone City. Here is a letter of introduction from me. You can give it to Miss Mailin at the Adventurer Guild. She is a distant niece of mine and we are on good terms. She should be able to help you."

"Alright, there is no need to thank me again. If you have the chance in the future, you can come find me in Three Towers Town. Baron Holin's Castle is there, and I will be stationed there permanently."

Although Frien told Sylutia not to thank him, waves of warmth and gratitude still rose in her heart. What he had given her might not be precious, but they were all things she desperately needed at the moment, solving far too many problems.

"If I have the time, I will certainly visit you in Three Towers Town."

The day of parting was drawing near. That night, Sylutia found it difficult to sleep. She had only just grown familiar with life in the village, yet now she had to leave for another unfamiliar place. But as Frien had said, it would be difficult to grow if she remained in the village, and there were not enough resources here. If she wanted to seek opportunities, she could only go somewhere larger.

Turning slightly in bed, the girl gathered some of her hair together to keep it from being pressed flat. Over the past few days, she had also learned how to care for this beautiful yet troublesome long hair.

On the other side of the room, Talia lay on the wooden boards, sleeping soundly. Every so often, she mumbled a few incoherent words in her dreams, apparently fighting monsters and eating delicious food. Sylutia had already grown accustomed to it.

Tomorrow. She would set out tomorrow. Raising a hand, she looked at her slender, delicate fingers as some information surfaced in her mind.

First came the Fate Disk wreathed in invisible Thread and radiating a halo. At its center was [Sleeping Maiden], framed by silver vines. Of the three empty slots below it, one had been filled. A Card with a pale red border appeared there now, fine dark red veins imprinted around its edge like silently flowing blood.

Within the Card was a vague black human figure whose outline resembled the girl's. Inside it, a pale red heart beat to a strange rhythm. Several blood vessels extended from it into the black figure, and threads of vivid scarlet occasionally flowed out and in.

[Breathing Technique Lv.1] (Blood Law): Uses breathing to regulate the flow rate of blood, thereby driving and enhancing the strength and reaction speed of the entire body. This ability places a burden on the heart and body and cannot be used for prolonged periods (recommended: no more than 1 minute per day); (Completion 56/300)

Even after learning the Breathing Technique, her completion continued to rise steadily each day. In roughly another dozen days, she would be able to enter the [Breathing Technique Lv.2] stage. This left Sylutia somewhat confused, because according to Frien, the farther one progressed, the greater the difficulty of cultivation. One might practice the same cycles as usual every day, yet one's cultivation progress would not move in the slightest.

For this very reason, Frien's Breathing Technique had been stuck at the second stage for nearly ten years.

Forget it. There was no point thinking about it. She currently knew too little about Aspect Power to figure out the reason. She could only explore it later.

As for the swordsmanship and spearmanship she had been taught, she had mastered them rather well.

Basic Swordsmanship Lv.3: The fundamental techniques of using a sword, the foundation of combat. Current progress (125/900)

Basic Spearmanship Lv.2: The fundamental techniques of using a spear, the foundation of combat. Current progress (246/300)

She had learned both especially quickly, and while teaching Talia, she could gain some progress herself. She just did not know whether there was some kind of limit. After all, no matter how formidable Basic Swordsmanship became, it was still Basic Swordsmanship.

With these things, Sylutia touched the sword scabbard beside her bed, and at last felt a measure of security in her heart.

Huff. She should be able to sleep well now. Tomorrow, she would leave for Scorched Stone City.

Her body curled slightly as she lay on her side, silver-snow hair slipping over her neck and shoulders. At some point, she drifted into a peaceful dream...