In the days that followed, Ming Yu's life settled into a routine between the dormitory, the classroom, the library, and the training grounds. Every morning, he received Fu Hua's instruction. In the forenoon, he studied cultural subjects. The afternoons were for either tactical theory or combat training, followed by time in the library or personal training, and then he would return to the dorms in the evening.
His daily life was both fulfilling and monotonous, but Ming Yu didn't dare to slack off in the slightest, because he knew that his time was running out. This was especially true now that Theresa had returned from Nagazora. She had returned with considerable injuries, which had Kiana worried for a good while. She was afraid that if something happened to Theresa, she would lose her lead on her stinky old man, as well as her only current relative.
Although Kiana and Theresa had only known each other for a few days, Kiana could clearly feel Theresa's concern for her—not because of her appearance, nor her potential, or any other reason, but simply because she was "Kiana." This was a kind of care she had only ever felt from Siegfried. Even if she didn't say it, she treasured this feeling in her heart.
Ming Yu's feelings upon seeing the returned Theresa were also quite complex, especially when he saw the faint Stigmata on her back. He didn't want anything to happen to Theresa either, but the Stigmata on her back was formed from Yae Sakura's life! Perhaps because Kallen had protected her five hundred years ago, Yae Sakura held a special reverence for the conviction to "protect." The reason she chose to sacrifice herself to save Theresa, aside from Theresa having Kallen's aura, was more importantly that desire to protect.
*Because you have someone you must protect at all costs, because you carry an unfinished mission on your shoulders, and because there is someone waiting for your return in the distance, I am willing to lend you my power. I will trade my life, the life of a lonely ghost, for yours, to help you fulfill your wish to protect.* This was probably Yae Sakura's sentiment, Ming Yu thought with a sense of helplessness.
Ming Yu shook his head, throwing his energy into even more arduous training. He knew in his heart that there was still a problem with Yae Sakura's Stigmata. Within it existed another will—the will of the Previous Era's 12th Herrscher, now known as Higokumaru. After Yae Sakura's will gradually weakened, that was when it would start causing trouble. But that was also Ming Yu's opportunity, a chance to obtain one of this world's top-tier divine weapons—a Divine Key.
Inside a solo training room at St. Freya, Ming Yu dodged a flurry of fists coming at him and launched a leg whip towards his opponent's abdomen. The girl in the blue training uniform precisely raised her left arm, blocking the blow with her elbow. The next moment, she used the force from her elbow to push Ming Yu's leg and body away.
His attack having failed, Ming Yu showed no sign of disappointment on his face. He understood the power of the girl before him; she probably wasn't even using a tenth of her strength yet. "Class Monitor is as strong as ever," Ming Yu praised, shaking his leg which was still aching a little from the counter-attack.
"Your progress is not small either, Ming Yu. You must have put in a lot of effort," Fu Hua said faintly, pushing up her glasses. "Well? Shall we continue?"
"Of course. I won't give up that easily. Even though I know you're strong, Class Monitor, I'd feel bad if I didn't give it my all." As Ming Yu spoke, he launched a new round of attacks.
Fu Hua placed her left hand behind her back and extended her right, easily blocking Ming Yu's kick while saying, "Trying to do the impossible, are we? Your perseverance is commendable. Then show me your full strength. Let me see what level you've reached!"
"As you wish!" Ming Yu shouted, turning to aim an elbow strike straight at Fu Hua's head. Using the inertia from his spin, his elbow cut through the air with a vicious wind.
Faced with this fierce attack, Fu Hua's eyes showed no ripple of emotion. With a slight shift of her feet, she took half a step back and easily dodged the blow, simultaneously delivering a swift and powerful hand-chop to Ming Yu's arm.
Crying out in pain, Ming Yu hastily retreated. His entire arm was almost numb. That one really hurt, Ming Yu sighed internally. Looking at Fu Hua, who remained calm and composed from start to finish, Ming Yu let out a loud shout and attacked again with both fists and feet.
Fifteen minutes later, Ming Yu was lying battered on the floor, panting heavily. Looking at the increased proficiency for the Basic Close-Quarters Combat skill on his status panel, a smile appeared on his face. Although training with Fu Hua was brutal, the rewards were proportional to the effort, and he had gained a lot. It wasn't just the increase in skill proficiency; his understanding of combat was growing by the day, and his sense of timing was gradually improving. This feeling of getting stronger every day was truly wonderful.
But looking at his other skill, Basic Swordsmanship, Ming Yu couldn't help but fall into deep thought. For the past ten-plus days, aside from using his tachi against enemies in combat training classes, he had not neglected his sword practice in his daily training. However, compared to the nearly two-hundred-point increase in Basic Close-Quarters Combat, Basic Swordsmanship had shown virtually no progress.
In the sparring sessions of the combat training class, Ming Yu's record was a mix of wins and losses, so winning or losing didn't affect skill proficiency gain. Honkai Energy points could also be obtained during combat and training, albeit much less than from killing enemies, but it was a considerable amount when accumulated over time. He had gathered nearly sixty points in the last ten-odd days.
This was even more apparent in his practice with Fu Hua. Although Ming Yu had never once beaten her, the exhilarating battles led to huge progress in Basic Close-Quarters Combat, to the point where it had now surpassed Basic Swordsmanship. And he had even added a full 132 Honkai Energy points to swordsmanship in the beginning! Now, his grasp of swordsmanship was actually worse than his close-quarters combat, which was something Ming Yu couldn't stand.
Unable to figure it out, Ming Yu had no choice but to seek help from the System itself. "System, come out and explain what's going on!" Ming Yu shouted in his mind.
"...Hmph. Only think of me when you run into trouble?"
Even without seeing the System's form, Ming Yu could hear the resentment in its voice. He felt a bit ashamed about this. Ever since he started to feel his System was unreliable, he had rarely paid it any mind. It seemed this had bred some resentment in the System.
"Alright, my bad. I'll be more mindful in the future. You're the best, System-kun!" Ming Yu said, not entirely meaning it.
Fortunately, the System didn't dwell on the matter and quickly provided an explanation: "Skills are a manifestation of the Host's abilities. The level and proficiency of a skill represent the Host's understanding and mastery of that ability. When the Host's understanding and mastery of that ability increase, the skill's proficiency will naturally increase."
"So, you're saying the reason my Basic Swordsmanship is like this is because my understanding of swordsmanship hasn't deepened?" Ming Yu said, as if a thought had struck him.
"Correct!" the System replied cheerfully.
Ming Yu felt a bit helpless. Having to comprehend swordsmanship on his own was a bit difficult. He had leveled it up by adding points; how was he supposed to comprehend it? For a moment, Ming Yu was at a loss.
Seeing Ming Yu's battered state, Fu Hua asked with some confusion, "Ming Yu, why are you working so hard? Your talent is excellent. Even if you practice at a steady pace, you'll become strong quickly. Why push yourself to this extent?"
Meeting Fu Hua's gaze, Ming Yu thought for a moment before saying, "Because I have things I want to protect!" At that moment, Ming Yu thought of Yae Sakura in the Stigmata, the Anti-Entropy that could attack St. Freya at any time, and Otto's plan. Only with power could he protect the things he wanted to protect.
If, when he first arrived in the Honkai world, Ming Yu's only thought was to survive, then after spending so much time with Kiana and the others, he thought more about how to change that ending.
Back in Nagazora, he had relied on his foreknowledge to plan his future, calculating everything. He had grasped Yae Sakura's feelings for Kallen, using the lie of "protection" in exchange for her guidance. Later, his encounter with Kiana and the others was also carefully calculated, all for the sake of becoming their companion and catching a ride to St. Freya.
After arriving at St. Freya, surviving was a simple matter for Ming Yu. As long as he kept a low profile and didn't participate in any high-difficulty missions, it wouldn't be impossible for him to live until the end of the world. But, for the current Ming Yu, that was far from enough. As the saying goes, once one's belly is full, other thoughts arise. After the threat to his life was removed, Ming Yu wanted more. He wanted an ending that he was satisfied with, to rewrite that imperfect story into the result he desired.
"Things you want to protect?" Fu Hua murmured. She extended a hand to Ming Yu on the floor and said, "Then keep working hard!"
"Yeah," Ming Yu said resolutely, taking Fu Hua's outstretched hand.