The First Day of Training

An entire morning!

Yang Tian listened carefully to every word Balza said. Then the training began.

Weighted running, for example, was the most common exercise, one that could improve a knight's endurance and stamina.

Keeping at it over time could stimulate the body's metabolism and flush out some impurities.

"Very good. All of you managed to make it through the morning."

"The morning lesson is over. You can go home, have lunch, and rest for a while. This afternoon, we'll begin the practical training you've all been looking forward to!"

Balza swept a stern gaze over Yang Tian and the other young children before speaking.

At last, the boys breathed a sigh of relief.

"Whew, the training got harder again. Five extra laps around the field, and we had to carry those heavy packs..."

The children began to grumble helplessly.

Still, if they wanted to stay, they would have to put in even more effort.

"Yang Tian!" Li Jieyuan called out to stop him.

Yang Tian paused. He had been planning to find the instructor and borrow some books to study.

"What is it, Brother Jieyuan?" Yang Tian asked, looking at him.

They had already been dismissed, so there was no need to call him Captain Li anymore.

"This was your first training session, and you did well. I hope you keep it up!"

Li Jieyuan gave him a friendly smile and some encouragement.

Yang Tian nodded. Having an adult's soul did not make him look down on these boys. Li Jieyuan had handled this well.

"I will, Brother Yuan!" Yang Tian nodded, then waved to Li Jieyuan. "I'm heading off now!"

With that, he slung his wooden sword over his back and left.

It seemed borrowing books could wait.

This was only his first day. He would get familiar with things before looking for a meditation method. Perhaps Uncle Ba would know something.

But would he teach him?

Yang Tian did not know, but he was determined to win over this unusual older man.

On the way!

"Little Tian, here!" A little girl in red seemed to have been waiting especially for Yang Tian. She pressed a tempting, bright red berry into his hand.

"Mom said we should share good things with our friends. Little Tian, I took an extra Red Berry this time!" the little girl said with an innocent smile.

Yang Tian smiled faintly too.

"Yes, little Yaya is a thoughtful girl. But you have to ask your mom for this. You can't take it secretly!"

Yang Tian patted the little girl's head, feeling content as he spoke.

Kindness brought its own rewards. Whenever he had candy, he would give her a piece. He had never expected to receive a rare Red Berry in return.

"Hehe, Little Tian, my mom watched me take it. Don't worry!"

"Then I'll take it! I'll catch you a red dragonfly another day!"

"Okay! Yaya is going home now..."

After saying goodbye to the little girl, Yang Tian looked at the Red Berry in his hand and smiled sweetly.

"I'll take it home for Grandma to try. It's been a year since she last had one!"

Murmuring to himself, he continued home with his wooden sword on his back.

He also helped his grandmother walk and carried her things.

With twelve points of spiritual power, Yang Tian's strength was no longer comparable to what it had been two years ago.

Once home, he ate a simple meal.

"Grandma, Aunt Ya's family gave me this Red Berry. Here!"

"Silly child, Grandma doesn't like..."

"Little Tian doesn't like it either, but you always say we shouldn't waste food. Shall we have half each?"

"All right, all right!"

In the end, the old woman could not refuse. This child was kindhearted and never ate meat.

Now, even with a delicious berry, he insisted on sharing it with an old woman like her.

Ordinary families might not get to eat a Red Berry even once a year. Having enough to fill their stomachs was satisfying enough. How could they afford the luxury of tasting a bright red, tart, tender berry?

After lunch, Yang Tian returned to his simple room and prepared to take a nap.

"Grandma, I'm heading out!"

He still had training that afternoon. Yang Tian did not want to be late, nor could he afford to be.

Waving goodbye to his grandmother, he put his wooden sword on his back and headed toward the Odin Sub-Temple again.

Beside the small town stood a hill, visible at a glance.

That was Mount Odin, where ferocious magical beasts were said to roam.

Yang Tian did not dare go there, as he did not yet have the confidence to venture into such a place. Long Haochen's home was very close to it, since the area was remote and relatively quiet.

"That child!"

"As long as he's happy. If he can become a knight someday, I'll..."

The old woman watched her grandson leave and murmured to herself.

She was afraid-afraid that if Yang Tian became a knight, he might one day suffer what had happened to her son and daughter-in-law.

She was also afraid of making Yang Tian worry!

The old woman was torn. All she wanted was for Yang Tian to be healthy and safe, but he was so sensible that she could not bring herself to stop him.

Once that child set his mind on something, he would not change it.

At the Odin Sub-Temple, a dozen or so children gathered once again.

After roll call, they stood before ten solid wooden posts.

"Now, I'll teach you some simple sword techniques!"

"First is the simple Thrusting Sword. Your thrust must land in one strike, and your sword hand must be steady! Next is Chopping Sword. Keep your stance firmly grounded and put power into your chop!"

"Finally, there's Rising Sword. This requires more technique. You'll have to find the right balance of strength and speed yourselves!"

Balza carefully explained and demonstrated each of the three techniques once.

When he finished, Balza looked at the boys and said sternly, "Good. From now on, these three techniques will be the main focus of your afternoon practical lessons!"

"Once you meet the standard, I'll teach you a Squire skill!"

Yang Tian felt a little stirred when he heard that.

But Yang Tian knew that meeting the standard might take until the end of the year.

Still, it was a skill, and one that would not come easily.

They might only begin sparring with one another in the second year. The third year would be devoted to preparing for the examination, focusing on raising their spiritual power. Once it reached one hundred, they could go to the Branch Temple to take the Squire examination!

For Yang Tian, there was still plenty of time!

Next, the boys each chose a wooden post.

Yang Tian chose the one beside Zhang Hu. The boy was proud and would not interfere with him.

Thrust! Chop! Rising Sword!

Yang Tian began to practice.

Balza then went around, carefully giving each student guidance.

When he reached Yang Tian, he nodded at the measured force of his chops.

This child isn't like the others, who only chop with brute force. He's grasped Rising Sword quickly too!

Balza was deeply astonished, but it never occurred to him that Yang Tian had an adult's mind-or, to put it another way, mental strength unlike that of an ordinary person.

"With Rising Sword, you can vary your force. Against stronger enemies, we need to conserve our strength and strike accurately!"

"Yang Tian, well done. Keep working on controlling the shifts in force, and you'll do even better!"

Balza still offered a couple of pointers.

He had high hopes for Yang Tian.

Yang Tian nodded and thanked him respectfully. "Thank you for your guidance, Instructor. I'll work hard to improve!"

Yang Tian suddenly remembered bamboo swords and iron swords. Long Haochen seemed to have trained that way.

"Little suck-up!" Zhang Hu muttered beside him.

He simply felt that Yang Tian was drawing too much of the instructor's attention, which displeased him.

After all, he ranked second, with thirteen points of spiritual power.

If not for Li Jieyuan, he would have been first-a genius certain to pass the Squire examination someday.

Then it was his turn to receive guidance.

"You're using too much force. Your foundation in spiritual power may be good, but only someone who possesses strength and can control it is more than a brute!"

The instructor immediately grew stern, his attitude completely different from how he had treated Yang Tian.

The instructor was judging their performance, not playing favorites.

Last was Li Jieyuan, whose control over his strength was somewhat lacking.

After correcting them one by one, Balza set them to their day's practice.

Time passed, minute by minute.

Yang Tian was utterly focused. When someone concentrated on a task, time always slipped away unnoticed.

Soon, lessons were over, and the exhausted children left one by one.

Only Yang Tian remained on the training grounds.

And Balza.

Yang Tian needed to borrow books and ask about meditation methods to lay the groundwork for awakening his internal spiritual power.

After all, a person's external spiritual power had its limits. Internal spiritual power would be the main source of improvement in the future.

For that reason, Yang Tian had to plan and manage every step carefully.

But would this instructor, Balza, know any meditation methods?

Damn, sorry! Inspiration struck, and I ended up writing over 2,300 characters. I really wanted to finish it all in one go. Next time, I'll stick to a thousand characters-no more. Haha.