Maeve stood beside the central training mat, her hands resting nervously against the hilt of her blade as she looked back at Ethan's massive frame.
"Before we begin, we need to settle the ledger," said Maeve, her voice tight with caution. "How many sect points will this treatment cost me?"
"Since you are the very first client to have the courage to step forward, the procedure will be entirely free of charge," said Ethan, his face a calm, unreadable mask. "I only require one simple compensation from your end. Once the treatment is complete and your bottleneck is broken, you will assist me by spreading the word to every single cultivator you know. You do not need to invent elaborate lies or praise my name; simply tell them exactly what you felt inside this courtyard."
