Priyanka didn't hesitate for a single second. She clasped her hands together, a deep, genuine respect shining in her eyes.
"There is nothing to think about, Senior! I accept all your conditions. I want to take the full course!"
Kirish was internally stunned. He hadn't expected her to agree so easily to such a steep price.
A wave of triumph washed through his mind, but his face remained a mask of cold, professional indifference.
He maintained his strict 'Senior' persona, giving nothing away.
"Very well," Kirish said calmly. "I will bring the digital contract tomorrow. We will train for one hour every day so that you can absorb the technical nuances effectively."
After brief instructions, Kirish excused himself and headed home. Once he was out of sight, Priyanka rushed back to the training dummy he had used. She pulled up the machine's history log.
[Log: 7 'GOOD' strikes | 8 'OK' strikes]
Priyanka stood frozen.
She remembered her father telling her that anyone who could consistently land four 'Good' and five 'OK' shots was on the verge of becoming a C-Rank Martial Artist.
Looking at Kirish's score—achieved while he was clearly injured—she became convinced: 'He must be a B-Rank Martial Artist at the very least!'
She had no way of knowing that Kirish had never had a formal lesson in his life.
It was all the magic of the System's inherited experience.
Walking home, Kirish was calculating his gains. His mission was to earn 100,000 W, and this single course would cover a third of it (30,000 W). If he could find just two more students like her, his mission would be a breeze.
However, caution was his priority. He didn't want fame. Popularity brought scrutiny, and scrutiny led to people asking questions about his sudden growth. If the secret of the 'System' was ever leaked, his life would be over.
Upon reaching his room, he used his portable AI interface to draft a digital contract.
He embedded strict non-disclosure clauses, ensuring Priyanka couldn't speak of his identity or the specific "Original Root" techniques to anyone else.
Suddenly, his stomach growled. The hunger of a Level-1 Cultivator was no joke. He remembered the bag Miss Anjali had given him. He pulled a box from the fridge and opened it to find fresh, aromatic sweets.
Within minutes, the box was empty.
"Thank god for Miss Anjali," he muttered, feeling the energy return to his limbs. "I would have starved before my first paycheck."
Kirish fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. The recovery medications worked best during rest, knitting his torn muscles back together.
When the first rays of the morning sun filtered through his window, he woke up feeling refreshed.
His small apartment was compact but functional—kitchen, toilet, and bathroom included. He showered and checked the time. He had given Priyanka a 10:00 AM slot, and it was currently 8:00 AM.
He decided to have breakfast at the Martial Hall cafeteria.
Looking in the mirror as he changed, he noted his physique. There was no bulky, showy muscle; instead, his body looked lean and balanced.
He cared about 'Internal Strength' more than aesthetics. All the pain from the previous day had vanished. He was in his prime.
The heat hit him the moment he stepped outside.
On Blue Orbit, both summer and winter were lethal. In ancient times, only the strongest survived, but now, technology had tamed the planet.
A massive shield of Runes floated over every city and village, maintaining a habitable climate 24/7.
Kirish took public transport and arrived at the Jyanti Martial Hall.
Inside the cafeteria, Priyanka was already waiting, her eyes darting toward the entrance every few seconds.
She was vibrating with excitement. Her father was an expert in the 'Light Axe,' but even she could see that Kirish—who was much younger than her father—executed the art with a precision that was miles ahead.
The moment Kirish entered, Priyanka jumped up. "Hello, Senior! How are you today?"
Kirish nodded. "I'm fine. Let's get to work. I've made some specific updates to the contract; you should read it thoroughly."
He placed his wrist-device on the table and activated the Virtual Mode. A transparent holographic screen flickered into life between them. Priyanka read the terms carefully. They were strict, but fair.
"Senior, I'm ready!" she said, a determined smile on her face. They both signed the document with their digital signatures. The transaction was logged.
Will Kirish's first training session live up to Priyanka's sky-high expectations? Or will the 'Original' version of the Light Axe prove too difficult for her to handle?
[To Be Continued...]
Story Progression Summary:
Current Rank: Level-1 Cultivator (Blue Star Orbit).
Qi Rating: 1,800.
Financial Status: 30,000 W Contract Signed (Payment Pending).
Mission Progress: 30% of 100,000 W Goal.
Next time: The first lesson begins! If you want to see the specific technical differences between the 'Original' and 'Modern' Light Axe, let me know in the comments!