"Do you want to take a break...?" Kazuha asked kindly as he watched Xiu Yuan, who was drenched in sweat.
"I can still... do two more sets..." Xiu Yuan rasped, his whole body trembling.
"I mean, your sweat is mixing with the rain outside, and the puddle's almost reached me."
Xiu Yuan looked at the puddle when he heard that, then got up.
"Then I'll do two more sets outside." Xiu Yuan wiped the sweat from his face and smiled faintly.
"Uh... I'm not trying to chase you away. I just don't understand why you're working so hard. Is it your wish?" he asked.
"..."
Xiu Yuan fell silent for a moment before continuing, "No matter how powerful something from an outside source makes you, it can never compare to strength you cultivate yourself. If someone can give it to you, they can take it back."
Who could have imagined that a tea set would cost him every skill he had?
Still, he didn't regret it. At least he hadn't learned that lesson too late.
The system could give him things, so naturally, it could take them back. He couldn't blame it. He could only blame himself for failing to think it through sooner and relying too heavily on the system.
It was fine. There was still time.
"Hmm... you're right. A Vision symbolizes a mortal's wish to keep moving forward, while we samurai have always drawn our confidence from the blades in our hands."
"If you want to grow stronger, I could teach you swordsmanship," Kazuha said confidently.
"I know a little of that already. We could spar later."
Even though the Demonbane Sword had been reclaimed, he had retained some of his grandmaster-level swordsmanship.
That was largely because he had fought Monsters in the forest for two days