Strength

[You have learned "Favonius Swordsmanship: Royal"]

The sky was gray, and it was roughly dusk.

After Eula's careful instruction, Li Qiuzhi could just about use the Rite of Progeniture. He had also begun learning how to combine it with Favonius Swordsmanship, successfully taking his first steps into Eula's unique sword style.

"It looks like you've got a decent grasp of it." Eula nodded slightly.

Li Qiuzhi wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Phew... that's because you're such a good teacher, Eula."

"Hmph, spare me the flattery."

Eula lifted her fair face slightly, speaking in a haughty tone that sounded rather displeased.

[Eula feels favorably toward you. Gained 75 friendship points. Current friendship level: Lv. 3 (25/300)]

Sorry, your feelings have already betrayed that expression of yours. Li Qiuzhi looked at Eula with some amusement.

With Eula's current friendship level, they could now be considered good friends. He was another step closer to the maximum level.

"That's enough for today. Our Reconnaissance Company finishes its break tomorrow, so we'll be heading out again. I'll check on your progress during my next break. Don't let my swordsmanship go to waste!"

Eula folded her arms beneath her chest, easing some of the fatigue from standing so long. With her fair face turned toward Li Qiuzhi, her words were full of sternness.

It seemed that if he really did neglect his swordsmanship, she would hold another grudge against him.

I couldn't neglect it even if I wanted to. Li Qiuzhi silently thought, but aloud, he said:

"Don't worry. I'll make time to practice every day."

Come to think of it, if he could temporarily join Eula's Reconnaissance Company, wouldn't he be able to spend time with her while fighting monsters to farm experience points?

Li Qiuzhi considered whether the idea was feasible.

In the end, he decided it probably wasn't. After all, the Knights of Favonius had their own rules and regulations. He couldn't simply tag along because he wanted to, so making such a request would put Eula in a difficult position.

It wasn't realistic, and it might even hurt Eula's opinion of him. Their relationship wasn't exactly unbreakable yet.

"All right, I'll be going, then."

Eula smiled. Her legs, clad in black over-the-knee leather boots, parted as she took a step to the right. Just as she was about to turn, Li Qiuzhi called out.

"Wait, Eula. There's something else I'd like to ask you for help with," Li Qiuzhi said, stopping her.

"Hmm? What is it?"

Eula looked at him with her beautiful eyes.

"Well, lately I feel like I've gotten stronger, but I still don't know exactly where I stand. So I'd like you to help me test my strength."

Li Qiuzhi explained what he had in mind.

"Oh? Should I take that as a challenge?" A ripple of interest stirred in Eula's mirrorlike eyes, and the Cryo Vision pinned at her right shoulder flashed faintly.

"...Uh, don't get the wrong idea. I really just want to see how strong I am."

Li Qiuzhi spoke helplessly. As evening approached, the weather had cooled a little, and even the Breath of the Anemo Archon blowing past carried a slight chill. He hadn't expected Eula to tease him, too.

"All right. Throw a punch!"

Her metallic blue heels rested on the stone paving, and her snug black leather boots clearly outlined the gentle contours of her ankles. Eula held out her palm, signaling him to begin.

Looking at the pale blue palm of Eula's glove, Li Qiuzhi didn't hesitate. He threw a punch with all his strength.

Thud!

A dull sound rang out as his fist was caught. Through his skin, he felt a warmth and delicate softness that even her glove couldn't conceal.

Eula caught Li Qiuzhi's full-power punch. The sudden gust tossed her ice-blue hair about, but her right arm didn't budge. The force spread through her entire body, pushing her slightly backward.

Her shapely legs remained fixed in place without the slightest tremor, yet her blue metal heels scraped two short, shallow marks across the ground.

So steady!

Li Qiuzhi couldn't help marveling inwardly. He felt as though he had struck her entire body as one solid unit, rather than merely her palm.

"Not bad." Eula released the fist enclosed by her fingers and nodded like a teacher praising a student. "That's roughly equivalent to a full-strength axe swing from an ordinary Hilichurl Mitachurl.

"Hilichurl Mitachurls are very different from ordinary Hilichurls. They're warriors chosen from among a hundred members of their tribe. Without Elemental Potions or weapons, even two or three ordinary Knights of Favonius couldn't subdue one through strength alone."

After hearing Eula's explanation, Li Qiuzhi finally gained a clearer understanding of his own strength. His physique alone could rival a Hilichurl Mitachurl's, and with a weapon, he could probably defeat one easily.

That seemed like a pretty respectable level, though having Eula catch his full-power punch so effortlessly was rather discouraging.

"Eula, how does my strength compare to yours?" Li Qiuzhi asked curiously.

"Get ten times stronger, and you could give me a run for my money at arm wrestling."

Eula folded her arms beneath her chest again and answered readily, looking rather pleased with herself.

"..." Li Qiuzhi had nothing to say.

After helping Li Qiuzhi test his strength, Eula left the Training Ground. Tomorrow, she would resume her duties with the Reconnaissance Company, so she needed to brief her teammates on their assignment beforehand.

Once Eula left, only Li Qiuzhi and Ellin remained at the Training Ground. Ellin was practicing her swordsmanship just as diligently against a wooden dummy nearby.

Li Qiuzhi remembered that he still hadn't completed the commission from Sanborn, the owner of the Fishing Tackle Shop. After practicing swordsmanship for so long, he was tired and hungry. He needed to find something to fill his stomach.

Then, after a short rest, it would be time to act. Lucaer would presumably be home by then.

"Miss Ellin, you've been practicing for a long time. Aren't you going to take a break? You should balance work and rest." Li Qiuzhi greeted Ellin on his way out.

Hearing someone call her, Ellin stopped swinging her sword and wiped her sweat with the back of her hand. She looked over and realized it was the young man from Liyue whom the esteemed Captain Eula had spent the whole afternoon teaching.

Of course, Ellin wasn't jealous. Captain Eula occasionally gave her pointers on swordsmanship, too, just as she had today.

"You look like you've only just started learning swordsmanship. Are you planning to take part in next year's knight selection, too?"

Ellin walked over with her wooden practice sword and asked curiously.

Hearing her question, Li Qiuzhi shook his head.

"You can tell from my appearance that I'm from Liyue. Why would I take part in the knight selection?

"Miss Eula just happened to see me working on my swordsmanship at home. I was so bad that she couldn't bear to watch and wanted to give me some pointers. That's why I came here this afternoon."

"So that's why?" Ellin's eyes widened slightly as she exclaimed in surprise, "Captain Eula really is a Knight of Favonius worth looking up to. She's truly admirable!"

"...Uh, it's not quite like that. We're actually friends," Li Qiuzhi said.

At that moment, Ellin seemed to think of something, and her eyes brightened as she said:

"Right, I've been practicing swordsmanship for ages, but I've never actually fought anyone. Would you like to spar?"

Thanks to "Mysterious Value Bro" and "Not Particularly Very Particular Willfulness" for their tips of 100 coins!