“From this, it seems that these stances are both for cultivation and for facing enemies. The first one is the Eye Sword—so what effects do the other stances have?” The basic footwork consists of five diagrams, each depicting a different footwork stance. Grace Miller tried each one and found that, except for the first diagram, the other four could be connected together. Practicing all four in sequence made his whole body feel a bit sore and weak, which was probably a sign of muscle training. After a few rounds, Grace Miller only felt refreshed in mind—though his body was exhausted, his mind was exceptionally clear.

Chapter 6: Permission

When practicing the first diagram of the basic sword technique together with the first diagram of the first level of Qi Cultivation, Grace Miller could clearly feel his body rapidly filling up, like a balloon. Looking in the mirror every day, he could see his cheeks gradually becoming a bit fuller, and his once pale face now had a hint of rosiness.

In the blink of an eye, five days of daily training in the woods had passed. Friday had arrived, marking the start of the weekend break. The more Grace Miller practiced the basic sword footwork, the more he sensed its endless variations and profound principles. If he were just an ordinary high school student with no combat experience, he might not have noticed these subtleties. But he was not an ordinary high school student—in his previous life, Grace Miller had been a Sanda enthusiast at a near-professional level. Naturally, his perspective was different from most. That’s why he could perceive the wealth of valuable techniques hidden within the basic swordsmanship.

The afternoon sunlight was orange-red, streaming through the classroom window and slightly dazzling. It was break time. The classmates were all cheerfully packing up to go home, and the whole classroom was filled with the clatter of people tidying up.

“Everyone, don’t rush off yet. Mr. Lee wants to say a few words, so let’s wait a bit after class,” the class monitor Laura Wright suddenly stood up and announced loudly.

Immediately, the classroom erupted in groans.

“Again? Oh no~~”

“It’s always like this, so annoying!”

“Someone’s waiting for me outside!!”

Grace Miller quietly packed his things into his desk drawer, his expression unchanged. Thomas Lee always liked to stall at these crucial moments, deliberately keeping the students in suspense. He’d been notorious for this kind of mischief in his previous life.

Before long, Thomas Lee strode into the classroom with a stern face. The room instantly fell silent. It had to be said, his authority as homeroom teacher was quite solid. Although no one particularly liked him, and he was famous for his stiff demeanor, whenever there was a conflict between students from his class and those from other classes, Thomas Lee would always side with his own students without question. This partiality made his authority in the class extremely strong and earned him their support.

Standing at the podium, he waited until the room was completely quiet before clearing his throat and speaking loudly: “Recently, there have been two vicious assaults in the area around the school. Some local punks and hooligans have been causing trouble everywhere. One of our students has already been injured and hospitalized, and at the neighboring No. 14 Middle School, there’s been one death and one injury. The impact is extremely serious. The criminals have not yet been caught. I’m giving advance warning to certain people—those who like to go to internet cafes and arcades—please restrain yourselves for now. It’s not too late to go after this period has passed. You must take responsibility for your own safety!!”

As Thomas Lee finished speaking, Grace Miller’s gaze unintentionally fell on a girl sitting diagonally in front of him, packing up her things.

He suddenly remembered that in his previous life, a girl in his class had quietly transferred away without any warning. Later, while having dinner with his parents, he overheard them chatting and learned that there had been a rape case involving a female student during that time.

Bathed in the sunset, the beautiful girl named Lily Scott looked gentle and serene, but there was a hint of determination in her features. After packing up, Lily Scott stretched lazily, her graceful curves accentuated in the process.

……

“Beep beep beep beep!!” A shrill electric bicycle bell sounded from far to near, accompanied by the friction of wheels on the ground, as a bicycle whooshed past Grace Miller and William Brooks, kicking up a gust of wind as it sped away.

“Damn! Are you looking to die, riding that fast!” William Brooks was startled, and when he came to his senses, he shouted loudly at the receding bike. All he got in return was the other’s triumphant laughter.

“Jack Robinson! Just you wait till Monday!!” William Brooks yelled, refusing to back down.

Because they’d been held back for a bit, by the time Grace Miller and William Brooks left, most of the students had already gone. The concrete road leading to the school gate was nearly empty.

Grace Miller walked with his hands in his pockets, not minding the heat, quietly walking side by side with William Brooks, a thoughtful look on his face.

“Hey, hey! Grace, have you gone off the deep end lately? You’ve been acting all mysterious and weird this week! You’re not borrowing novels, I haven’t seen you reading comics, you’re just quietly listening in class, taking notes, handing in homework, and you even finished today’s quiz before me. Are you… um… you know…”

William Brooks made exaggerated faces and spoke in a strange tone.

“What do you mean, ‘you know’?” Grace Miller asked in confusion.