Improvement

"Two fists are for throwing punches, two legs let us throw some kicks, two palms help us grab finally knees and elbows used to surprise and also to give a deadly blow. Without foundation you are nothing. Strengthen your foundation. Observe your enemy. Learn to move fast with simple footwork. Attack how you should. Make your enemy kneel"

This is what I learned from William for a year now. Now we can be considered equal in terms of speed but for strength and endurance, it is a long journey to go. Wait I will tell you about my schedule

I would wake by morning 6 am and go to the training ground to meet my senior. Aah, it's Willaim. I have to run around the ground for an entire hour even if I am tired. After that, he would ask me to strengthen my foundation with the 'eight stances'. That will be so painful but he never let me rest.

After that, he would me for hand-hand combat for at least 4 hours until the afternoon. Then we go for our lunch. After that, I will have some rest for a few hours. That's my time to read books and fool around the town.

Then at 4 pm, I will have to go to the training ground again. This time I will have to help him with his spear. I would try to evade and dodge. In the beginning, I struggled more to evade his attacks. But thanks to William's advice and his encouragement. Now even William will find it hard to attack me....no ... thrust me. In terms of attack, William has improved a lot. Now he was perfect with all his 'Soul spear' techniques.

'Soul spear' is the basic technique which a spearman has to be trained since little. It includes thrust, slashes, sweeps and I don't have the knowledge about the other things. However, that's not the case with William.

As for my dagger skills, I don't have enough time to practice, also there is no one to teach me. But I have mastered the killing slash. When William trained his spear with me I would use my dagger to bravely.....try to defend myself. I didn't want to but William insisted. Then when he thrust a dummy for increasing his strength I would also stand in front of a dummy and puncture its vital points with my sharp, long, pointy dagger.

Over the days I spent in the beginner knight academy, I learned that William is not the only Spearman here but he is the only spearman who still learns the 'Soul Spear' technique. The other spearmen began with the 'Soul spear' technique but after they master it they learned other skills and techniques. But on the other hand, William set his goal to perfect his 'Soul Spear' technique.

But not to mention I also have learned how to flip, roll, dodge, and finally how to run on a wall. I never wanted to but after finishing his spear training he would drag me to a place where there is a huge wall and make me do my stunts. But it bore fruits after a year worth of training.

William knew I am a dual cultivator so he would seal my energy in the morning. This not only didn't allow me to help myself with magic during my physical training but it also improved my physical ability so that I don't have to rely entirely on my soul force.

After having all this for a day the worst part steps in. Which is the herbal bath. It should nourish the body and feel soothing. I don't know why the bath William prepared for me really hurts. He said it was the essence of 'flame scorching python.' I didn't know how he got his hands over the essence but I do know he took many risks for me. My agility and strength have improved now as of an average person thanks to the herbal bath but for endurance.... Let it be, but I am far more improved than my previous self.

When I am at the herbal bath it will automatically break down my energy seal which William used to seal my energy. So I will have to train magic all over the night.

After I got tired of practicing magic I will go to bed. Damm the dual cultivation is really tiring. I don't have a spell so I can only able to cultivate the spiritual essence in my body.

This is my schedule for a whole year. To see that I have to spend a whole year like this even I am a bit proud of myself. I won't let her regret choosing me. I also have to thank William for his patience and encouragement.

I went to meet William. It's evening now he will be in the training ground. One notoriously incompetent skill I have learned from William is being punctual. Even since he took me under his wing he always pushed me to be punctual. Anyhow, I am grateful for this friend of mine.

When I went to the training ground many young men and women were training in the ground. In a corner, there was a young man in a robe who was full of vigor but he was a little desperate. Yes, it was William. But today he looks more frustrated. 'Is he angry towards me but I am on time what can it be?' I can only think of what desperate situation he is in. I have never seen William be more frustrated.

When Lin Cian went near William. William started to attack.

He took his spear to thrust Cian ...ssh

Cian was not surprised at all he just dodged back and unsheathed his dagger... sceech

William charged ahead and throw a couple of thrusts... ssh.... ssh..... sssh.... ssh

Lin Cian either dodged or evade

After a little while, William changed the pattern. It suddenly changed from thrust... sweep.... slash..... backslash...charged attack.....

But Lin Cian was able to survive through the attacks. The other students started to laugh at him. But now one knew Lin Cian already surpassed everyone in terms of agility. In terms of brute strength, no one can be compared to William because his foundation is very strong so he can mostly adapt to anything but he lacks skill.

After a while of sparring at last when the attack from William was a little bit weaker, Lin Cian started his action.

First, he ran over to William but William looks like he was prepared and gave a sweep to his knees. But Lin Cian side-flipped over the spear and landed on the other side of the attack and kicked on William's knee because this is the opening which Lin Cian is waiting for. Of course, Lin Cian's strength is not enough to break William's defense but breaking the defense is not something he planned for. As soon as Lin Cian kicked the upper end of the calf muscle of William's left leg William thought that Lin Cian is trying to break the defense and acted accordingly. William tried to stomp the other end of the spear towards Lin Cian's face but Lin Cian slipped under the attack and took William's backside. Before William realize that he was trapped, Lin Cian stepped on William's belt as a balance and hold William's neck using his right hand and put his other leg over William's shoulder. Before even William could move Lin Cian pointed his dagger with his left hand in William's neck.

William is defeated.

Even though I am not strong based on Brute strength but for my cunningness, I am not the worst.

After the battle, Lin Cian gives William a parting gift.