Upon hearing that the next stage's task was ten thousand swings, Sam's face darkened. A thousand swings had taken two to three months, so ten thousand would take two to three years. Though he felt a pang of regret, he ultimately had no choice but to accept reality.
In this world where the strong survive, mere Foundation Establishment cultivation wasn't enough to truly save him. He still faced the threat of Jack Phoenix's covetousness.
"It seems I can't afford to slack off even a little," Sam muttered, his gaze darting deep into his mind.
Within his mind, a character panel appeared:
Name: Sam
Age: 18
Skills: Fire Draw, Fire Control, Sword Slash
Strength: Foundation Establishment
Looking at the panel, Sam nodded.
"Silly boy."
Just as Sam was about to continue practicing, a low, mumbling voice came from behind him.
He turned around to see Lily Eastwood lying beneath a shady tree, clutching a candied hawthorn stick. Her skin was flawless, jade-white, and the dappled sunlight gave her face a luminous glow. Dressed in a blue skirt with white sleeves embroidered with patterns, her eyes sparkled, her mouth small and delicate, with a sly smile.
Sam shook his head slightly. He didn't mind Lily calling him a fool. She was blunt and spoke without much regard for others' thoughts, but she was kind-hearted. Of course, the most important thing was that she was Lily Eastwood—beautiful and lovely.
Seeing Sam ignore her, Lily felt a bit angry. She stood up, hands behind her back like a little adult. "Hey, silly boy, it's wrong to always practice the same sword technique. You're a disciple of Foxfire Mountain Lodge; you should focus on fire control, not swordsmanship."
Proudly, she added, "Our fire control techniques are the best in the world."
Sam just smiled and continued his practice. Furious, Lily put her hands on her hips. "What a stubborn, foolish donkey!"
Sam glanced at her and smiled, "Then you must be a gentle, beautiful, and lovable little donkey."
"I'm not a gentle, beautiful, or lovable little donkey," she retorted, taking a bite of her candied hawthorn, enjoying the sweetness lingering in her mouth.
Realizing something, she turned back abruptly, hands on her hips. "You silly boy! How dare you call me a little donkey?"
"You just said I'm a gentle, beautiful, and lovable little donkey," Sam teased.
Lily paused, realizing she had fallen into his playful trap. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes sparkled with a mix of annoyance and amusement.
Suddenly, Sam stepped closer. His sweat-soaked clothes carried a masculine scent, and his deep gaze made Lily's heart flutter. "Lily Eastwood," Sam whispered.
Her hand holding the candied hawthorn tightened slightly. "Really, I like the cute Lily so much."
The air seemed to still at that moment. Lily's eyes widened, a blush spreading across her face. She quickly turned away, her hands clutching the candied hawthorn. "Don't...don't say that. If you say that again, I'll never talk to you again."
Embarrassed by the confession, she stumbled over her words. Despite the fluster, she couldn't deny the warmth his words brought her.
"I like... Lily the most," Sam repeated softly.
Startled, Lily bolted away, stammering, "I just remembered I have something to ask my sister. You... you silly boy, just keep practicing."
Without waiting for a response, she hurried off, blushing and flustered, like she was fleeing. In her rush, she stumbled but quickly regained her composure, sprinting away with newfound determination.
With Lily gone, Sam sighed in relief. Finally, he could focus on his practice without distractions. Straightening up, he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and continued his training.