"Compared to pure muscle training, what you're doing now is more like a spiritual trial."
Jack patted King's shoulder with certainty. His eyes radiated the confident glow of a success guru.
"Maintain your desire. Maintain that passion for not being mediocre. Persevere, and I believe you will have unexpected gains!"
After a bowl of carefully brewed chicken soup, King's expression indeed softened considerably. It wasn't that he believed he could become much stronger—it was mainly the genuine joy of hearing that he wouldn't have to increase his training volume.
"Alright, that's enough rest." Jack stood up and stretched. His bones let out a series of subtle cracks. "Let's go. We'll continue training on the beach. I'll go with you."
King: …
What kind of devil are you? I've been lying down for less than a minute.
Sunshine. Beach. Bikinis.
These beautiful words automatically transformed into sweat, exhaustion, and Jack's devilish smiling face in his mind.
A moment later, on the beach of Gold Coast.
Jack wore beach shorts and was shirtless. His perfect muscles gleamed healthily under the sun, attracting many discreet—and not-so-discreet—gazes.
King, however, was still in his signature black base T-shirt and hooded cardigan. Only his expression was one of utter despair. He silently pulled up his hood, trying to hide his face—which was clearly screaming "I'm tired, don't mess with me."
"The training environment here is really good. Fresh air, soft sand—helps alleviate joint pressure."
Jack patted King's shoulder and pointed to the Gold Coastline in the distance, which seemed to stretch to the horizon.
"King, you can start."
King: …
He felt his knees already beginning to ache faintly.
Just as King took a deep breath, preparing to grit his teeth and start running, two tall, stunning beauties in cool bikinis—fiery figures, charming smiles—walked over. The air seemed to carry a hint of sweet perfume.
"Hi, handsome. Do you mind if we join you?"
One of them—a cold, elegant beauty with long golden wavy hair and glowing white skin—spoke first. Her enchanting eyes looked at Jack without concealment, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
The other—a beauty with straight black hair and a slightly cool demeanor, healthy wheat-colored skin—also curiously sized them up. Her gaze lingered for a moment on King's exceptionally well-built muscles, earned through long-term training. She seemed intimidated by his fierce aura, then turned to Jack, a hint of hard-to-detect amazement and curiosity flashing in her eyes.
Jack was there to relax and vacation. He naturally wouldn't refuse such a beautiful encounter knocking on his door.
To be fair, thanks to a certain H-artist, the random beauties in this world were more stunning and outstanding than the last. For example, these two before him—especially the one with long black hair—made Jack's body tremble at first glance.
—Jeru? Jerusalem?
Jack's lips curved into a smile with a hint of laziness and playfulness. He casually extended his arm, naturally wrapping one arm around each of them. The gentle embrace caught the two beauties off guard, drawing out their playful complaints and low laughter.
"Of course not, two beautiful ladies." Jack's voice had a unique magnetic quality—deep, pleasant. "It's my honor to spend this wonderful afternoon with you."
His gaze lingered on their faces with both appreciation and proper decorum, fully displaying the charm and grace of a mature man.
King watched from the side, dumbfounded. His mouth slightly agape beneath his hood.
—Is this guy… so smooth and skilled at picking up girls too?!
The golden wavy-haired beauty's cheeks flushed slightly from Jack's unique masculine aura and perfectly timed intimacy. She giggled, her body softly leaning into Jack's arms.
"You're such a charmer, handsome~ My name is Alice, and this is my best friend, Tifa."
Upon hearing their names, Jack's body trembled again.
—No way. You really are them?
Understood. I'm going to dye my hair blonde right now.
Tifa, with her straight black hair, stiffened slightly when embraced. But feeling that the power from Jack's arm was not rough—but a gentle sense of control—her cheeks also flushed. She smiled slightly at Jack as a greeting. Her voice also carried a hint of coolness.
"Hello, handsome~"
"You can call me Claude."
King: ???
Jack smiled, then smoothly turned, familiarly embracing the two bikini-clad hotties and walking toward a nearby parasol and beach chairs. He settled them comfortably on the loungers.
"Though the afternoon sun is nowhere near as hot as you two, proper sun protection is still essential."
He conjured two bottles of what looked like high-end tanning oil from his shorts pocket.
"Would you like a professional technician's full-body tanning oil skincare SPA package? Since it's for two beautiful ladies, I can give you a 1% discount!"
(Pochi: That's right!)
"Ah, Claude—you're going to charge us?" Alice feigned surprise, covering her small mouth. Her fluttering big eyes were bright and captivating.
Tifa also smiled. "Exactly, exactly, handsome—make it cheaper~~"
Watching Jack surrounded by two beach beauties, King stood rooted to the spot. First, he felt a surge of indignation.
Why could Jack have women on both arms while he had to run himself ragged?
But then, he thought about it again—and relaxed. After all, he chose to stay at home precisely because he wasn't good at and didn't like such social situations. It was just as the saying went: No one helps me achieve my lofty ambitions; I couldn't climb up anyway.
Besides, those two fiery temptresses weren't his type.
"I still prefer girls who are more traditionally gentle. Wait… I understand…!"
Looking at Jack under the parasol not far away—already applying sunscreen to one of the beauties, occasionally eliciting peals of silvery laughter—a sudden realization and a strange sense of emotion arose in King's eyes.
"Jack… wants me to complete my training without distractions. Not to be tempted by these external sights and sounds. That's why he's sacrificing himself—to draw their attention away."
He clenched his fists.
"It's simply… incredibly thoughtful."
At this moment, King felt a fiery warmth surge in his chest. His body—which had been slightly fatigued from continuous deep squats, push-ups, and sit-ups—somehow became filled with explosive power once again.
He took a deep look at Jack's self-sacrificing back. Resolutely put on his hood. Under the scorching sun, he began running at a steady, high speed far exceeding his usual pace between the blue waves and white sand—each step demonstrating firm conviction.
In the shadow under the parasol, Jack was enjoying the company of the beauties and the delicate touch of their fingertips when he suddenly looked up as if sensing something.
His gaze pierced through his sunglasses, watching King's seemingly tireless running figure. He accurately captured King's stride rhythm—and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
King's aura… had grown stronger!!