"It's been a long time since I've felt this kind of excitement…"
Liam Maxwell stood on the platform, arms crossed as his gaze followed the lone figure still running across the vast field.
"Damn it, these little bastards…" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head with a faint sigh. "Getting old really does suck."
"Oh? Even the ever-youthful Instructor Liam is starting to feel old now?"
The gentle voice sounded so sudden that Liam blinked in surprise.
He turned—
Selena Redwood stood beside him.
Her presence was quiet, almost imperceptible, as if she had always been there.
"Mentor Selena!" Liam's face immediately lit up. He chuckled, rubbing his beard. "What brings you here? Don't tell me you came just to watch me train these little brats… or is it me you're interested in? Heh, seems like fate is smiling on me today."
Selena's expression turned cold instantly.
"Instructor Liam," she said flatly, "you truly never learn to control that mouth of yours."
"Haha, fair enough," he laughed, completely unfazed. "But you still haven't answered. What brings you here?"
She didn't respond directly.
Her gaze drifted toward the field.
"Was it necessary to push them this hard on the first day?"
Liam raised both hands slightly.
"Hey, don't look at me like that. I swear, this time it's not on me," he said, nodding toward the running figure. "See that kid? He chose this himself. One hundred and twenty laps… just to help everyone avoid punishment."
He clicked his tongue.
"Back in my day, I was the top of all the groups in my batch. First training session, I barely managed a hundred laps." A faint grin tugged at his lips. "But this kid… he's already at one hundred and sixteen."
Selena's eyes, clear and calm like still water, shifted toward Jason.
"One hundred and sixteen…"
On the field, Jason's steps had begun to falter.
His clothes were soaked and then dried again by the wind. His lips were cracked. Every step looked like it carried the weight of collapse.
Yet he kept moving.
His consciousness was fading.
Only will remained.
"This one…" Selena murmured, "his gaze is unusually steady."
She paused briefly before adding, "You intend to make him the chief of this group, don't you?"
Liam shrugged.
"He doesn't need me to push him there. The others already look up to him." He coughed lightly. "I mean… with a little guidance."
Selena gave him a faint look.
"If you want to complain about me, just do it directly. We've known each other long enough."
Liam laughed awkwardly.
She shook her head slightly, then said,
"I have no objections. He can be the chief."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and left, her figure gradually disappearing into the distance.
Liam watched her go, scratching his cheek.
"…still as cold as ever," he muttered.
For a moment, his usual rough expression softened.
Then he shook his head again.
"Hopeless…"
—
A sudden eruption of cheers broke out across the training grounds.
"He did it!"
"One hundred and twenty laps!"
"He actually did it!"
Liam's attention snapped back to the field.
At the finish line—
Jason collapsed.
Before his body could even hit the ground, dozens of students rushed forward, catching him.
They quickly removed the heavy iron armor from his body.
Then—
In their excitement, they tossed him into the air.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
"He's insane!"
"He really did it!"
Liam's eyelid twitched.
"Are you idiots trying to kill him?" he barked as he leapt down from the platform, striding over. "Throw him one more time, and he'll fall apart before he even gets to rest!"
The students froze, immediately lowering Jason.
A few looked sheepish.
A female student rushed forward, glaring at the others.
"Are you all stupid? What if something happened to Brother Jason?"
The girls quickly gathered around him, their expressions filled with concern.
"Brother Jason, can you hear me?"
"Are you alright?"
The male students stood off to the side, exchanging helpless glances… along with more than a little envy.
Jason, however, had no reaction at all.
His consciousness had already slipped away.
Especially after being tossed around just now—
He was completely out cold.
Utterly spent.
—
Some distance away—
Stephen stirred faintly.
A soft fragrance drifted through his senses.
It was gentle… warm… like lying in a field of blooming roses beneath the sun.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"…smells nice…"
Half-asleep, he shifted slightly, turning onto his side.
Elsa froze.
Stephen's head rested on her lap.
For a brief moment, she went completely still.
Then—
A faint flush crept up her cheeks.
Almost imperceptible.
Her brows twitched.
And the next instant—
She lifted him and tossed him aside.
Stephen hit the ground face-first with a dull thud.
Dust filled his mouth.
He coughed, blinking awake in confusion.
"What did I even do…?" he muttered, pushing himself up.
His mind was still hazy.
Someone caught me earlier…
He frowned slightly.
I'll have to thank them later…
Before he could think further, the commotion around Jason drew his attention.
Stephen stood up, dusted himself off, and stepped forward to help.
Together with a few others, they carried Jason toward the infirmary.
—
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of medicinal herbs.
Three large wooden tubs had already been prepared, filled with steaming herbal liquid.
"Put him in carefully," Liam instructed.
Stephen helped lower Jason into one of the tubs.
"Good. Now you—get in one too."
Stephen didn't hesitate. He climbed into the second tub, the hot liquid instantly soaking into his aching body.
A third tub stood nearby, partially hidden behind a curtain.
A moment later, Elsa entered.
Without a word, she stepped behind the curtain.
Liam's voice followed immediately, sharp and cold.
"Don't even think about peeking. I'll beat you within an inch of your life."
Stephen blinked, then frowned slightly.
"What kind of person do you think I am…" he muttered. "I'm not some lecher."
He exhaled slowly and leaned back.
The medicinal liquid seeped into his skin, carrying a warm, tingling sensation.
"Circulate your breathing. Absorb the energy," Liam said from the side.
Stephen closed his eyes.
Following the instructions, he focused inward.
The soreness in his muscles began to ease.
The fatigue… slowly faded.
Time lost its meaning.
And before he realized it—
He had completely sunk into cultivation.