### Chapter 6 — Sword Practice
The next morning, Ryan woke with a faint smile still lingering on his face.
The previous night's walk with Serena had been enjoyable, but what interested him more was what the AI Chip had discovered during their time outside the camp. Several plants had shown weak medicinal properties. Nothing particularly useful yet, but the AI Chip had recorded all of them, and with enough samples and sufficient time, even ordinary herbs might reveal unexpected uses.
More importantly, Ryan now had another method of cultivation: the dual cultivation breathing technique. It was not enough to replace his family's optimized breathing technique, but the two methods complemented each other perfectly. His normal breathing technique could only be practiced once a day before additional training became harmful, while the dual cultivation technique placed a different strain on the body and could therefore be practiced separately.
That meant Ryan could cultivate twice in a single day.
And Serena was not the only possible partner.
Ryan had already begun considering her three friends. They were pleasant enough, trusted him, and, unlike most noble youths, had never caused him trouble. More importantly, he had spent enough time with them to realize that their feelings toward him were genuine.
He had no intention of rushing anything, but if things continued as they were, he wouldn't mind having them become closer to him in the future.
For now, however, there was another matter.
Swordsmanship.
Ryan stood in a clearing outside the caravan with four young women facing him. Serena stood at the front, while Elena, Mira, and Clara stood beside her.
Elena was a graceful girl from a baron family with long brown hair and a lively personality. Mira, the daughter of another count family, was quieter than Elena but considerably more serious. Clara's family possessed a small noble title, and unlike Mira, she was cheerful and talkative, perhaps the least capable of hiding her feelings whenever Ryan was nearby.
Each of them held a training sword.
Ryan looked over the four girls.
"Before we begin, understand one thing."
They straightened.
"This isn't about looking impressive."
Ryan pointed toward their swords.
"A sword is a weapon used to kill. If your posture is wrong, your opponent won't care how beautiful your technique looks. They'll simply cut you down."
The girls nodded seriously.
Ryan had already developed a favorable opinion of them. They weren't lazy, they were willing to listen, and most importantly, they genuinely wanted to become stronger. That was enough for him to teach them properly.
"Begin."
The four girls moved simultaneously, and steel clashed as Ryan watched carefully. At the same time, the AI Chip began recording their movements.
[Beep!]
[Analyzing sword techniques.]
[Analyzing posture.]
[Analyzing footwork.]
[Analyzing attack patterns.]
Ryan's eyes moved between the four girls.
"Stop."
They immediately froze.
Ryan walked toward Elena.
"Your grip is too tight."
He stepped behind her, his chest pressing against her back as he reached around to adjust her hands on the sword. Elena stiffened slightly as she felt the hard outline of his arousal pressing against her lower back, but she made no move to pull away. Instead, she leaned back into him slightly, her breath hitching.
"If you hold the sword like this," Ryan murmured against her ear, his lips brushing her hair, "your wrist will become stiff. You won't be able to change direction quickly."
He kept one hand on hers, guiding her grip, while his other hand slid up her side, over her ribs, and settled on her breast. He squeezed gently, kneading the soft flesh through her training tunic, his thumb brushing across her nipple until it hardened beneath his touch.
Elena's face turned crimson, a soft whimper escaping her lips as she melted back against him. "I... I understand," she breathed, making no attempt to remove his hand.
Ryan kept his palm pressed against her breast for several long moments, enjoying the weight of it, the way she pushed into his touch. Then he finally released her, stepping back slowly and letting his erection drag against her back as he withdrew.
"Your right foot is also too far forward," he said, his voice calm as if he hadn't just been fondling her. "You're putting too much weight on it."
The AI Chip immediately confirmed his observation.
[Correction recommended.]
[Current stance reduces movement efficiency by 8.7%.]
Ryan nodded.
"Move it back slightly."
Elena followed his instructions, her legs trembling slightly, her face still flushed.
"Like this?"
"Exactly."
Ryan stepped away, his eyes dropping to the visible dampness forming between her thighs before moving to the next girl.
"Try again."
Elena swung, and the sword cut through the air much more smoothly, though her breathing remained ragged. Her eyes kept darting to Ryan, filled with longing.
"It feels different."
"Because you're no longer fighting against your own stance."
Ryan turned toward the others.
"Mira, your attacks are too predictable."
Mira blinked.
"Predictable?"
"You always pull your shoulder back before attacking."
Ryan walked behind her, pressing his body flush against hers. He reached around to guide her sword arm, but as he did so, his other hand dropped to her hip, then slid around to cup her ass cheek firmly. He squeezed the soft flesh, his fingers digging in possessively as he ground his hard cock against her lower back.
Mira gasped, her body going rigid before melting into his touch. She bit her lip to stifle a moan as he kneaded her ass, his hand staying there, fondling her through her trousers while he spoke.
"It's small," he murmured against her ear, "but your opponent will notice it after seeing it twice."
Mira immediately looked embarrassed, though her eyes were dark with arousal.
"I didn't realize," she whispered, pushing back subtly into his hand.
"That's why we're practicing."
Ryan gave her ass one final, firm squeeze before releasing her, his fingers trailing slowly across her curves as he stepped away.
He turned toward Clara.
"Your footwork is the biggest problem."
Clara's expression immediately fell, though her eyes were bright with anticipation.
"My footwork?"
"You move too much."
Ryan stepped behind her, pressing close. He reached around to adjust her arms, but his hips pressed forward, his hard length settling between her ass cheeks, separated only by the thin layers of their clothing. He rocked slightly, letting her feel his size, his heat, as he positioned her.
"Every time you attack," he continued, his voice steady despite the intimate contact, "you take two unnecessary steps. You're wasting energy and making your movements easier to predict."
Clara's face was burning red, her breath coming in shallow pants as she felt him pressed between her cheeks. She made no move to escape—instead, she pressed back against him, a small whimper escaping her lips as she felt his hardness against her most intimate place.
Ryan kept himself there, grinding slowly against her as he adjusted her stance, his hands moving over her body under the guise of correcting her posture. Finally, he stepped back, leaving her trembling and flushed.
"I'll fix it," she promised, her voice breathless.
Finally, Ryan looked at Serena.
She immediately raised her sword, her eyes sparkling with challenge.
"What about me?"
Ryan smiled and moved behind her, pressing his body against hers as he had with the others, his hands moving to her waist. But before he could slide them upward, Serena turned in his arms, facing him.
She dropped her sword and reached up, her hands threading through his hair as she pulled his mouth down to hers.
Their lips met in a deep, hungry kiss that lasted for long moments. Ryan's hands moved to her hips, pulling her flush against him as their tongues tangled, the sound of their passionate kissing filling the clearing.
Serena moaned into his mouth, her body arching against his, clearly uncaring that the other three girls were watching.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Serena smiled up at him with possessive satisfaction.
"That's how you correct my posture," she said softly.
Ryan chuckled, his eyes warm with affection. "Noted."
From the side, Elena, Mira, and Clara watched with undisguised envy, their faces flushed and their bodies aching with need. They had felt Ryan's attention, his intimate touches, but Serena had his kiss, his passion—the promise of so much more.
Ryan looked at the four girls, his gaze lingering on each of their flushed faces, the visible arousal in their eyes, the way they pressed their thighs together to relieve the ache he had left.
"Again," he commanded.
They repeated the movement, and this time Ryan watched every movement while the AI Chip continuously analyzed them, though his thoughts remained on the women before him and the pleasures that awaited.
[Elena: left shoulder rises prematurely during horizontal slash.]
[Correction recommended.]
[Mira: excessive movement before thrust.]
[Correction recommended.]
[Clara: center of gravity unstable during retreat.]
[Correction recommended.]
[Serena: counterattack timing delayed by 0.21 seconds.]
Ryan gave them corrections one after another, though each time he adjusted them, his touches lingered longer, grew bolder. By the end of the session, all four girls were trembling with unfulfilled desire, their training clothes damp with sweat and other moisture, their eyes following his every movement with hungry devotion.
"Enough," Ryan finally said, raising his hand.
The girls lowered their swords, all four breathing heavily for reasons that had little to do with exertion.
Clara dropped onto the grass, her legs spreading slightly without her realizing, revealing the wet spot on her trousers.
"My arms are going to fall off," she said, though her eyes remained locked on Ryan.
Elena laughed, though her voice was husky. "You complained yesterday too."
"Yesterday Ryan wasn't touching me like that," Clara whispered, her face flushing deeper.
Ryan smiled, his gaze sweeping over them with warm appreciation.
"If you think I'm distracting now, wait until tomorrow's lesson."
The girls exchanged glances, their expressions nearly identical—anticipation, desire, and the hope that he would indeed be even more distracting.
Ryan looked at the four girls.
"You've improved."
The girls immediately became attentive, though their thoughts were clearly on other things.
"Your basic movements are still rough, but you're learning quickly. If you continue practicing like this, you'll become considerably stronger."
Mira smiled, her eyes dropping to the obvious bulge in Ryan's trousers before returning to his face.
"Because you're teaching us."
Ryan shook his head.
"The AI Chip helps me notice your mistakes, but you're the ones doing the work."
The girls exchanged glances.
Elena smiled, her hand unconsciously moving to her breast where he had touched her.
"Even so, we're grateful."
Clara nodded enthusiastically, her thighs pressing together.
"If we had to figure all of this out ourselves, we'd probably spend years making the same mistakes."
Ryan smiled.
"That is exactly why I want you to keep practicing."
His gaze passed over the four girls, lingering on each of them with promise.
He had originally only intended to teach them enough to protect themselves, but after spending more time with them, his thoughts had changed.
Serena was already someone he cared about, while her three friends had gradually become people he enjoyed having around. They were loyal, respectful, listened when he spoke, and were willing to improve themselves—and clearly, they were willing to submit to his touch, to crave it.
Ryan found that increasingly attractive.
Perhaps, in the future, they could become more than simply Serena's friends.
He wouldn't force anything. There was no need. Time—and his hands—would decide that.
For now, he simply wanted them to become strong enough to survive the journey ahead.
And eager enough to come to his bed when he called for them.
Ryan looked toward the swords in their hands.
"Rest for a while."
The girls obediently sat down, though their eyes never left him.
Ryan, meanwhile, looked toward the AI Chip.
"Record all four sets of sword movements."
[Beep!]
[Recording complete.]
"Compare their current movements with their first attempts."
[Analysis complete.]
[Elena: movement efficiency increased by 14.2%.]
[Mira: movement efficiency increased by 11.8%.]
[Clara: movement efficiency increased by 17.6%.]
[Serena: movement efficiency increased by 9.4%.]
Ryan nodded.
Not bad.
He then looked at the four girls resting together, their faces flushed, their bodies still trembling with the memory of his touch.
"Tomorrow, we'll continue."
Clara groaned, though her eyes were bright.
"Tomorrow too?"
Ryan laughed.
"Of course."
Serena immediately smiled, her hand reaching up to touch her lips where he had kissed her.
"I'll be here."
Elena, Mira, and Clara exchanged glances, their expressions nearly identical. None of them wanted to admit it aloud, but training under Ryan had become something they looked forward to with desperate need.
And Ryan had no objections.
The stronger they became, the safer they would be.
And the more they wanted him, the more enjoyable his nights would become.
That alone was reason enough to continue.