The Lawrence Family's mansion.
Ryan finished his spar with Eula and glanced at Noelle, whom he had forcibly dragged over to avoid cleaning.
He walked to the side and whispered to Eula.
"Tomorrow night, I might not be able to make it!"
Eula raised an eyebrow: "What? A date?"
"You're going to run off to see someone and ditch me. I'll hold a grudge!"
Ryan was speechless at her words.
What are you thinking about all day?
You're addicted to fighting me, aren't you!
Can't I have some private time?
He had originally wanted to tell Eula, "Don't tell Amber."
But thinking about it, saying that would make it sound like he was doing something unspeakable, so he decided against it.
Lest they overthink it.
It was just a typical after-school fight scenario for young people; he'd finish it early, wrap things up, and go home early.
If the other party kept the news secret, not many people would know.
"Noelle!"
"You look uncomfortable. Tomorrow, I won't drag you along! After your training, head back to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters early!"
Ryan thought of the trouble with the arranged fight, so he sent Noelle away in advance.
Lest she sweep through everyone with her Vision if a fight broke out.
"Okay!" Although Noelle agreed readily, her gaze towards Ryan was peculiar.
It seemed the Claymore side had given him a wooden plaque! Was this sudden conversation related to that?
She kept this matter in her heart.
Hesitating whether to go and observe Ryan's clearly hidden secret.
After a casual chat, they parted ways and went home.
That evening, Ryan read for a while.
Thinking about tomorrow's event, he found it quite exciting and new, so much so that he couldn't sleep.
He had only had an arranged fight once when he was a child before his Transmigration, wrestling in a muddy field in the rain.
It was a one-on-one, and he won.
Tomorrow, he didn't know how many people the other side would bring.
Should he make some preparations?
However, his youth was gone; he was no longer a child.
Now, with a Sword in hand, he was invincible, so it seemed no preparation was needed.
Any preparation would weaken his Aura and break his state of mind.
The Dao of martial arts is courageous and strong, fearless and powerful.
It's about fighting with willpower!
The hot-bloodedness of boys is most suitable for tempering my martial heart and martial intent.
If there's an unexpected situation, he'll resolve it.
He placed the wu feng sword by his bed and lay down to sleep.
His thoughts quieted.
No dreams in sleep, no breath in exhalation, like a divine turtle resting.
One hour could restore a full day's energy.
In the early morning, birds chirped.
Fischl still hadn't returned from her adventure commission to bring him breakfast.
Today, there was only one serving of fisherman's toast prepared by Amber.
"Phew!"
He took a breath of the cool Anemo wind, practicing the Knights' breathing technique.
His entire lungs felt clear.
Without even panting, he arrived at the Training Field.
Tai Chi for health, military exercises for intent, Favonius Bladework for chopping wooden stakes.
After one set, the other trainers arrived one after another.
The Claymore trainers looked at their field, where a wooden stake stood in the middle, inscribed with the Teyvat common script for "War."
"This kid, he really dared to agree!" Glancing at Ryan, who was looking over, a man picked up his greatsword and cut the stake.
The character "War" split into two.
"Instructor, we lost our spar yesterday and went back to reflect. We hope to intensify our training. Ideally, we'd train with the Sword users, learn their training strengths, and foster camaraderie together!"
A very good suggestion, concealing insidious malice.
As long as Ryan's stamina was depleted, they would endure some suffering.
A hundred exhausted people couldn't beat one tired person.
Moreover, he had secretly instructed his Family's dietitian to prepare a hundred servings of Northern Smoked Chicken for stamina recovery.
During the time they pretended to leave, they would eat it in the small grove by the side gate, replenishing their stamina with the faint energy from it.
Many people, full of stamina, taking on one person.
The advantage is mine!
The Instructor, hearing the trainers voluntarily ask for abuse, happily waved his hand.
"Bring out the sandbags!"
"Tie them to their hands and feet, and carry them on their backs."
"Weighted running, weighted Sword practice!"
Many people's faces fell after putting them on.
What a terrible idea.
Which idiot suggested this!
After a morning of training, their bodies ached terribly, and their hands, feet, and legs were so heavy they couldn't lift them. Their hands trembled even while holding a knife and fork to eat.
"Quickly tell the Instructor to make the afternoon a bit easier!" A group of people passed by the man, complaining in unison.
"We can't take it anymore! We don't know if Ryan is tired, but his hand holding the chopsticks looks very steady."
"We need rest! We need massages!"
The man's hands and feet also ached, and he looked dejected: "How was I supposed to know that increased training would be like this? I thought it was just cutting a few more stakes and practicing Sword forms a few more times."
"How about! We postpone the duel?" Someone suggested in a low voice, and many people's eyes lit up.
"You say postpone, and it's postponed? Next time, it might not be possible to gather so many people. If something we've agreed upon changes, wouldn't that make that outsider look down on us!"
"I'll notify my Family. After we succeed, everyone will get another meal of Northern Smoked Chicken."
In the afternoon, it was slightly more relaxed.
The trainers breathed a sigh of relief.
Ryan, however, felt that the morning's training intensity was just right.
It could really push the body's potential.
The afternoon was a bit too easy.
Thin, transparent wood shavings peeled off from under the blade.
Cutting wood was like cutting tofu.
Smooth, effortless, without the slightest resistance.
The Instructor's requirements were finally met.
"Noelle, I'll see you to the carriage!"
After a day of training, Noelle looked conflictedly at the clean Sword training area and the piles of wood chips in the Claymore area.
Her maid's soul urged her to clean immediately.
Looking around, she felt uncomfortable.
Ryan pulled Noelle, who took three steps and stopped for three, around the corner and pushed her into the carriage.
He handed over the Mora and shouted to the coachman, "Knights of Favonius Headquarters!"
"Make the horse run faster!"
He waved, said goodbye, and pulled down the carriage curtain.
Returning to the Training Field where everyone had dispersed, he sniffed his nose!
"It smells so good!"
"I feel like someone's eating chicken!"
"How about, for dinner tonight, we also order a few portions from Good Hunter?"
Ryan sat cross-legged on a wooden crate, waiting.
The streetlights of Mondstadt lit up, and the aromas of various dishes wafted in the wind.
He couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
"Why aren't these challengers here yet? Don't tell me they secretly went to eat first? Ditching me?"
Ryan frowned, able only to drink the tea provided to the trainers nearby to fill his stomach.
"Ryan, true to your word, truly admirable, worthy of a future Knight."
"Our people are all here! Are you ready?"
The man secretly wiped the oil from the corner of his mouth, leading a sparse group of people through the side entrance, reeking of meat.
My goodness! That's not good martial ethics!
Ryan looked at the Claymore trainers who had been dejected when they left but were now full of energy upon their return.
The other party had clearly eaten dinner secretly, and the food they ate was no ordinary fare.
He angrily took another sip of tea!
Life Qi surged.
"Duel: the victor takes everything from the vanquished!"
"I don't ask you to bring much, but without any stakes, it doesn't meet the requirements for a duel!"
Ryan took out a piece of paper.
"Morax's sacred contract, signed jointly by both duelists, stipulating the stakes."
"Once the contract is made, those who break their word shall suffer the punishment of eating stone!"