After the scolding from my father, I made my way to the training hall.
I'm not really a bad guy, despite what everyone seems to think of me.
I just can't stand arrogant scum who gained their power through blood and suffering without ever earning their high status.
If I were king, I'd purge this land and destroy every criminal, rich or poor.
I headed toward the training hall to work on my swordsmanship.
As I entered the hall, all the other kids training there turned to look at me. A long, uncomfortable silence filled the room. Everyone hated me because of my constant provocations.
But suddenly, a young girl about 1.45 meters tall broke the silence and walked toward me.
"Oh, the youngest son of the king is here. Since you're already here, why don't we have a little sparring match in front of everyone?"
Cloe, Snow's cousin, challenged me provocatively.
I grinned wickedly and drew my wooden sword from its sheath.
"Alright, dear cousin. But don't go crying to your father when I humiliate you in front of everyone."
"Just you wait," Cloe hissed and sprinted toward Snow.
As Cloe ran in my direction, she swung her worn wooden sword in a vertical arc toward my body.
*"Shuu!"*
The powerful force of her swing created a rough sound in the air.
I anticipated her attack and parried her blow.
Before she could react, I ducked low, slid to her left side, and slashed horizontally across her back with my wooden sword.
"Ahh… Damn it!"
Cloe stumbled two steps backward to catch her breath.
But before she could exhale, I interrupted her and struck her shoulders with the flat side of my sword.
---
**Twenty minutes later.**
She was out of breath. She stood unsteadily, her legs weak. Her thin eyebrows were soaked with sweat.
I think that's enough.
Smiling and drenched in sweat myself, I approached her and extended my hand.
Cloe lifted her head, looking at me in confusion. She resembled a bulldog struggling to breathe.
She forced a stiff smile onto her face. Straightening her posture, she now stood upright.
"I didn't think you could be this decent," she said, smiling as she extended her arm as well and looked at me… oddly.
But before she could reach my hand, I swiftly moved my hand to her face and slammed her head devilishly into the ground, making her horse-like face smash against the filthy floor.
She instantly lost consciousness.
All the other nobles in the training hall glared at me with contempt and irritation.
I can't blame them. Imagine a hated figure being given the chance to fail miserably in a fight… and then winning. For that person, it's a great victory, but not for the rest.
"Never shake hands with an opponent," I whispered into the ear of my unconscious cousin.
In a room full of tense stares, it's hard to focus on training. So, I decided to work on my cultivation instead.
I walked through the clean pathways toward the garden.
While strolling, I noticed the heavenly clouds scattered across the sky. For some reason, I felt as though I'd forgotten something.
After long contemplation, I gave up and ignored the clouds.
At last, I arrived. Before me was a rather large garden filled with various flowers.
Thankfully, I'd been helping out in this garden since I was four years old.
According to the Book of Cultivation, one's class is determined by the field in which they are most active.