“I’m leaving!” Samuel declared.

Before his words finished, he had already turned and left, allowing no room for negotiation.

Yuan Mo’s brows rose. Without him knowing, a smile of anticipation floated up onto his wrinkled face as he stared deeply at the disappearing back of the youngster, guessing the latter’s motives but being unable to come to a conclusion.

How long has it been since I felt this kind of emotion? Young friend, don’t disappoint me.

Heaving a long breath, Yuan Mo reclined back down while continuing to sunbathe leisurely, drinking his coconut tea with a straw.

Meanwhile, with heavy lodgings, Samuel made his way back to his lodgings, sinking into deep thought along the way. This old man… just what does he want?! Dad says there’s nothing called unconditionally generous for almost all people. It’s just a motive and how to reach it. From my understanding of him, besides acting like—actually, he might just be—a tea fanatic, he doesn’t do a thing without an objective. On the day just after when I arrived here, he made use of Zack and me to beat his opposition.

After that, he protected me to make sure I don’t get hurt, but more than that, to make sure his opposition can’t do anything to restore their lost momentum; they can only sit on the fence. Next, in the spar with Shi Mei, he probably was testing me while showing me how good his teachings are; classic case of a carrot and the stick.

In telling me of Shi Mei’s problem, he both aimed to intimidate me, while also getting his grandniece a new friend—sparring partner who wouldn’t—can’t run no matter how much she beats him. Damn, I’m a living punching bag. Tch! I bet going up that tower to talk when I came was also in his plans.

After that, he made me spar with that idiot Diego, completely roping me in; at the same time, he used me to pressure that boy, intimidating him with my father’s name. But his reaction after, I bet things went out of his predictions. Guess a meatball for a head has its uses. In any case, that boy as well, although I don’t think he’s as insane as that little girl with those seals and stuff, he’s powerful. I can’t beat him as I am currently. I need to get stronger to do that, and fast.

Mom was right. I wouldn’t know the meaning of strength unless I go out on my own; I need to broaden my experience or I’ll be what they call a ‘greenhouse flower’ or a ‘rich second-generation’, more or less trash. Never do I want to feel that way again.

Even then, this old man is reliable. He takes care of people close to him too well; I can’t help but admire that. But then today, what’s this old man aiming at? More like, how many things is he aiming at at once? Or am I overthinking too much and it’s all just a giant coincidence? Nah. Dad says there are no coincidences. Then…

A rare serious look crept up Samuel’s face. He rubbed his chin before an odd expression surfaced on his face.

‘Expected better of me’ means either the value he attached to me dropped or he just raised the bar. Hehe. Either way, I am also growing. I just need time. But damn, I feel I’ve been getting a bit too serious recently. Is this the mythological thing they call… ‘growing up’?! Am I getting old?! No! No, I’m not! I’m still as young as ever!

Samuel’s hand reached for his hair, pulling them outwards as he confirmed his hair didn’t whiten. Rubbing his hand over his face to confirm a lack of wrinkles, he heaved a breath of relief.

In any case, I’ll surpass this old man’s expectations, hehe.

Upon getting into the clearing around Yuan Mo’s cottage, Samuel’s brows jumped. His eyes landed on a young girl drenched in sweat, swinging a curved blade, its length tailored to her physique.

Feeling someone approaching, Shi Mei halted her actions immediately, unintentionally allowing Samuel a better look at the blade. Through the girl’s fingers, he peeked at a golden hilt, in the shape of a dragon’s open mouth, with scale-like black markings bringing the image to life. The hilt held onto a translucent white blade, a blurry refraction of the scene behind visible through the blade. Focusing on the scene, Samuel could make out thin golden lines etched onto the blade’s surface, barely visible because of the obstruction of the scene. On focusing closely, the lines seemed like moving water, giving a feeling as if the blade were alive.

Recovering from her shock, Shi Mei pushed the words out of her mouth, “W-what are you doing here?”

Raising his brow, Samuel replied, “Came back from training. What about you?”

“I… I… Uh…” Shi Mei stuttered, unable to answer.

Looking at the girl at a loss for words, Samuel gave her a meaningful glance as he asked, “Were you also training?”

“N-No! No, I wasn’t. I was just putting away this thing. I don’t know how this thing fell down into the backyard when I was training.” Shi Mei replied, her voice weak.

But you’re in front of the house. Your body is clearly sweating like you were training. And you’re still holding onto it. You’re practically screaming ‘yes I took this thing out to train’ and expect me to believe you aren’t? And didn’t I see you swinging it just now?

Narrowing his eyes, Samuel asked, “Then why were you swinging this when I came?”

“B-be-because I wanted to t-test it.”

“Alright. I’ll be generous and believe that. What about sweat on your forehead, arms and all that? Oh, and your breath too. It’s irregular.”

“….”

Samuel clapped his hands. “I know! You just came from training. And on the way, your eyes just so happened to land on it. Not feeling like leaving it there, you picked it up and brought along with you! But before putting it down, you felt it was a waste to put it down as is, so you swung it a few times to test. Right? Right?”

Her eyes wide with confusion, Shi Mei took a second to recover before hurriedly nodding her agreement. “Yes. Yes. That’s it!”

“Oh, really?” A toothy, evil grin surfaced on Samuel’s face.

Looking at Samuel’s smile, a restless feeling rippled through Shi Mei’s heart.