I returned that day without finding the underground library. Though I considered spending another day or two searching, I couldn't afford to waste any more time. I needed to prepare for the training camp.
***
Whoosh.
A fist, wrapped in a black glove, shot toward my face, blocking my view. It was as if night had suddenly fallen.
Whoosh!
I shook my head and stumbled back into the daylight before the darkness could swallow me completely.
The opponent's assault had just begun. The outstretched fist immediately seized my collar.
At that moment, I recalled the memories of being thrown down repeatedly over the past few days.
I felt stronger and more prepared now. This time, I didn't resist. Instead, I focused on the force pulling me forward, using it to execute a backflip and land gracefully.
Kayan smiled faintly after tossing me aside and remarked, "Not a bad way to break your fall."
"It is because you went easy on me, Sir Kayan," I replied.
He hadn't held onto my clothes the whole time, letting go halfway through. Had he not, I would've landed much less gracefully—on my back or my butt, for instance.
"It is a mock battle. No need to go all out."
He was right. This mock battle was meant to simulate real combat while helping us both improve. A close-to-real battle would have been ideal, but neither of us lacked practical experience. It was more productive to focus on shoring up each other's weaknesses.
A distant bell tolled, its somber tone signaling lunchtime—an unlikely sound for such an occasion. We lowered our guards simultaneously, the tension dissipating.
"Good work," Kayan said. "I gained a lot from this."
"I should be the one saying that."
It wasn't an empty compliment. Over the past week, sparring with Kayan had nearly erased the disconnect between my mind and body. Without his guidance, it would have taken me weeks longer to reach this point. Subtle adjustments demanded a skilled opponent, and Kayan had been exactly that.
In any case, I felt a sense of relief as though I had finally completed one of my homework assignments.
As Kayan walked past me, he glanced over his shoulder and remarked, "It starts tomorrow."
"Yes."
We were talking about the training camp. It started tomorrow, so I needed to get moving this evening. There was nothing more to do except eat lunch, pack lightly, and set off.
"Forty-three people are attending this camp," Kayan informed me as we walked.
"Is that a lot or a little?" I asked.
"More than last time, but about average overall," he explained. "And this group includes some exceptionally talented individuals."
"Really?"
"The third son of the Helvin family, the youngest daughter of the Rubieta family, the only son of Ranger Hyde—though he wasn't at the blessing ceremony..." Kayan listed them off thoughtfully.
I had a general idea of the people Kayan mentioned.
"And then there is the Goodsprings' third daughter," he concluded.
Seren's attendance was a bit of a surprise. As a Goodspring, she hadn't much incentive to join the Badnikers' training camp. In fact, given the relationship between the two families, participating would possibly be detrimental. It would seem like she was dissatisfied with the Goodsprings' curriculum or that it was lacking. This wasn't something that was recommended at the level of the family.
She must know this as well.
Though unconventional in many ways, Seren was far from foolish.
"I heard that a carriage is leaving for the training camp this afternoon," Kayan said.
"A carriage?" I asked.
"I was informed that you should only bring clothing and weapons," he explained. "Basic necessities will be provided there."
"I see."
It was convenient that Kayan shared the information without needing to be asked. Having a capable butler was a boon, and I could now understand why others in the mansion coveted his services. Few in the Badniker family could match his versatility.
It should be fine if I bring along the Seven Sins Sword.
I hesitated but decided to take it. I didn't use it as a weapon, and it resembled an ordinary dagger, so they wouldn't confiscate it.
The only other item I had was a magic tool from the Iron-Blooded Lord, but it looked like a simple ring. That shouldn't be a problem, either.
After eating, washing up, and changing into lightweight clothing, I was about to leave when a knock interrupted me.
"Come in," I called.
"Yes," came the reply, followed by an unexpected face.
"You are...?"
"I am Jane."
Right, that collector who had served as the marshal for my spar with Hector.
I hadn't forgotten him. It was just that his name didn't suit his appearance.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"The family head instructed me to deliver this to you, Young Master Luan," he said, extending a luxurious wooden box. It clicked open to reveal a red jewel.
"What is this?"
"It is a Spirit Jade," he replied.
"Spirit Jade? Oh— "
It was the elixir promised by the Iron-Blooded Lord. I studied the Spirit Jade, recalling that elixirs often took peculiar forms.
Is this edible? It seems too large to swallow, and chewing it might risk breaking my teeth.
"Then I'll take my leave," Jane said.
"Wait a moment," I called out.
Jane was about to leave, but he turned to me with a questioning look. He was a strangely rude yet polite fellow.
Were all collectors this eccentric?
"I need a bit more explanation. Did the family head say anything else?" I asked.
"Nothing in particular."
" Hmm... " I murmured, frowning.
Seeing my troubled expression, Jane added, "However, if you're asking for an explanation about the Spirit Jade, I can provide that."
"Please do," I urged.
"This is an elixir called the Spirit Jade, also known as the Manifesting Jade. It can only be obtained from a very small number of spirits."
"From a spirit?"
"Of course," Jane said. "Spirits don't have physical forms. Normally, you can't obtain anything tangible from defeating them, but there are exceptions, such as crazed spirits."
"What is a crazed spirit?" I inquired.
"Literally, a berserk spirit," he explained. "It's what we call spirits that have lingered too long in the realm of the living and materialized against their will. I've heard that a spirit gaining a physical body is akin to a catastrophic fall from grace."
Having a body is considered catastrophic?
The idea was hard to grasp, but then again, spirits weren't biological entities.
"Judging by its color, this Spirit Jade likely came from a high-ranking fire spirit. I heard that the family head visited the Tasmas volcanic region recently. Perhaps that's where he obtained it."
"How do I consume it? Do I just eat it?"
Most high-quality elixirs transformed into easily absorbable liquids or gels upon touching the mouth. Although this looked like a gem, it might still be surprisingly simple to consume.
"That would be the case for a normal elixir," Jane said. "But this one... I think you'll need to dissolve and digest it slowly."
"Ah, so like rolling an ice cube in my mouth?"
"Not exactly," he replied. "You'll need to use your mana."
Of course. I'd figured as much. I was just joking because his expression was so stiff.
Nodding, I said, "Thank you for the explanation."
"Then I'll take my leave," Jane replied, finally departing.
As soon as he was gone, I immediately grabbed the Spirit Jade and attempted to channel my internal energy, or mana, into it.
I gasped as my hand grew warm. The jade's hard, metallic surface started to peel slightly upon contact with my internal energy, and a surge of Extreme Yang Qi slowly seeped into me.
I now understand what Jane meant by dissolving and absorbing. This is amazing, I mused.
The Extreme Yang Qi emanating from the Spirit Jade was so pure that even I, who had mastered the First Fire Technique, didn't need to refine it further. I could absorb and assimilate the energy almost as it was.
There was more. Its benefits extended beyond merely enhancing my internal energy. As I channeled my internal energy into it, I gradually discerned its structure. The deeper I delved, the denser and more solid it grew. In other words, progressing further demanded greater internal energy and heightened mental focus to dissolve and absorb it.
From a broader perspective, the process of melting down the Spirit Jade itself would serve as a form of training. By the time I fully absorbed it, my overall strength and skill level would likely have improved significantly.
"Typical of the family head," I muttered.
He wasn't one to simply hand out rewards. He always embedded a means to grow stronger within them. This was a hallmark of his approach—placing the utmost importance on the growth of his descendants.
"Okay."
For now, I'd have to keep the Spirit Jade close. However, I wasn't sure how to store it properly. Carrying it around seemed to be the only option.
What if someone at the training camp asked what it was? I wondered.
"I will tell them the family head gave it to me," I decided.
***
I finished my meal, washed up, and changed into the lightest clothes I could find before leaving the mansion.
Outside, a large carriage waited at the front gate. The knight standing nearby smiled as he saw me approach.
"Hello, Young Master Luan!" he greeted warmly.
"Hello. Good evening," I replied.
" Haha . The sun hasn't set yet. Are you heading to the training camp?"
"Yes," I confirmed.
"You may board."
I nodded and stepped inside, only to find an unexpected face.
Ugh, Hector.
He wore an expression as though he'd seen something he shouldn't have, but when our eyes met, he simply rolled his.
"What?" I asked.
"What do you mean, 'what'?" he shot back.
"That's not the face you should make when seeing your youngest sibling," I pointed out.
"Y-youngest?" he stammered, turning his head away with a look as if he were chewing on bugs.
In hindsight, running into him wasn't surprising. As a fellow Badniker descendant, Hector also lived in the family mansion. It made sense that he'd be boarding the same carriage parked at the main gate.
I sat down across from Hector. Fortunately, the luxury carriage offered plenty of space.
What an odd carriage, I thought.
The seats were soft, and a pleasant scent filled the air. However, there were no windows—no way to see outside. If my senses were correct, the carriage should be soundproofed as well. It was the kind designed for escorting sinners.
The intent was obvious. They were keeping the training camp's exact location a secret.
As I mulled this over, the door opened slightly, and the knight from earlier poked his head in. "We'll be departing shortly. Did either of you forget anything?"
We both shook our heads.
"Understood. The journey will take approximately three hours."
"That is quite a long trip," I remarked.
I didn't know the Butterfly Forest's exact size, but if it took three hours in such a well-equipped carriage, the camp was likely as distant as a town or village.
This distance—or rather, the lack of knowledge about it—meant that returning to the main house on one's own would be nearly impossible.
"If you feel hungry along the way, please let me know. I'll get you a quick bite to eat," the knight said.
"Alright," I replied.
He bowed and left.
Have we already set off?
It seemed so, though the absence of the usual jostling made it hard to tell.
"You seem friendly with Sir Walter," Hector suddenly remarked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I paused, realizing that the knight's name was Walter.
"He's not a bad guy," I said casually.
"How can you tell? You have only been here for a short time," Hector pressed, his tone tinged with curiosity.
"Brother, are you mocking me?"
"N-no, not at all." Hector shook his head before adding, "Sir Walter is a member of the Iron-Blooded Knights. He's one of the proudest among them, enough to be included in the special unit selected by our uncle himself."
By "uncle," he meant Luke Badniker, the leader of the Iron-Blooded Knights.
"Ah, that explains it," I said, nodding.
"What do you mean?" Hector asked, confused.
"We sparred once. He was better than most of the other knights."
"Sparred?!" Hector looked utterly bewildered.
Over the past week, I spent most of my mornings at the training ground. Naturally, it wasn't reserved for me alone. Several knights watched me spar with Kayan, and a few, unable to resist their competitive instincts, challenged me to mock battles.
Seeing no harm in facing a variety of opponents, I accepted their challenges. Among the knights, Walter stood out as relatively skilled.
When I summarized the situation, Hector muttered bitterly, "So, you have earned the Iron-Blooded Knights' recognition."
"It's not that big of a deal. I just sparred with them a few times," I replied.
"That is recognition. They'd never fight someone they don't acknowledge," Hector said, his tone firm.
"Luan, I may have lost the fight, but the training camp will be different. I'll definitely score higher than you there," he declared, his expression resolute, as if he'd made up his mind.
I suddenly remembered how the Iron-Blooded Lord had instructed me to aim for first place.
Perhaps he told this guy as well?
It seemed likely, but I didn't press him for details.
After that, the conversation lapsed, leaving me to my thoughts. Memories of Eldest Senior Brother surfaced, followed by fleeting recollections of Spirit Mountain. Finally, an image of my master emerged, along with the words he had spoken on the other side of the mirror.
"Don't let your guard down," he had warned. "Remember this, Youngest Disciple. Had we not met today, you would've died a month from now."
A week had already passed since I'd heard those words. That meant I had roughly three weeks left before a major crisis was likely to strike. The training camp would last six weeks in total. In other words, I could die there.
I found myself staring at the carriage wall, suddenly wishing I could see the scenery outside.