025: A Malady That Demands a Spanking to Feel at Ease
The Randolph couple departed. As they left, Emma’s hands were wrapped tightly around her husband’s arm.
This was because Li Cha had told her, "Mrs. Emma, with your assistance, Mr. Randolph has essentially recovered. However, he will still require your close attention; if you notice anything amiss, feel free to come to me at any time."
Emma was not entirely sure if she had been swindled. Yet, upon waking up, she felt her husband had become gentle, and the look in his eyes seemed to have returned to what it was over a decade ago—filled with affection. This could hardly be a bad thing. Therefore, Emma decided to follow the doctor's orders.
At the same time, the craftsman Randolph received news that the sorcery performed this time had been quite successful. Perhaps it was an illusion, but he felt that Emma had become more beautiful and was more prone to smiling—and she looked even more beautiful when she did. Suddenly, his heart began to beat wildly, and he felt an overwhelming urge to... go home and have a spirited "battle" with his wife.
...
"Ding-dong"~
Notification: Congratulations on completing the craftsman Randolph’s commission [Restore Affection]. Experience +45%, Silver Coins +5. You have gained the favor of the Randolph couple, and your Mental Power has slightly increased.
...
A 45% experience reward was quite decent. The 5 silver coins for the consultation were already in hand; Randolph had been very prompt with payment. As for the favor of the couple, it was safe to say Li Cha had made friends with them.
The final increase in the Mental Power attribute was a pleasant surprise, as the system had not previously mentioned that completing commissions would provide attribute rewards. Even more surprising was that Li Cha’s attack power had increased by another 2 points.
Well, that made sense. With improved mental focus, Li Cha could concentrate better during combat, naturally allowing him to dish out more damage. The slight boost in Mental Power manifested for Li Cha as his surroundings appearing slightly clearer than before. Furthermore, the hour-long treatment had left him mentally drained, but now, his head felt much lighter.
Back at the clinic, the young girl, Wendy, stood with her hands on her hips, scrutinizing Li Cha.
"Are you really a doctor?" Wendy asked.
"Of course," Li Cha replied. "I have a professional license. However, I am a psychologist; my scope of practice covers psychological ailments."
"Then look at me," Wendy challenged.
Li Cha glanced at the girl, who had once again padded her chest with a pair of small 'C' cups, and said, "It is quite obvious that you are also a patient. You suffer from a condition called 'feeling uncomfortable unless pinned down and spanked.' Don't worry, I am very skilled at treating this ailment. Would you like to try it? I guarantee a cure within ten minutes."
Upon hearing this, Wendy promptly scampered away.
She knew all too well that the man across from her had absolutely no sense of chivalry. Last night, when Wendy went home and looked in the mirror, she could still see the handprint on her backside. However, she still maintained that Li Cha was a fraud.
Just as Li Cha had not known Wendy for only a day, the reverse was also true. When they first met, Li Cha had been in a pathetic state, even using bedsheets to wipe his body. A high-class doctor would be a high-income individual in any city; there was no way he could have been living in such misery. Furthermore, it was common knowledge that doctors loved cleanliness. As for Li Cha’s room, it was a standard bachelor’s den—Wendy had even been the one to wash his smelly socks yesterday.
"Hmph." The girl let out a small, cold snort. "A fraud is a fraud. Sooner or later, he will be exposed, and then he can wait for his bad luck."
Once Li Cha was arrested, Wendy would no longer have to suffer by coming here every day.
...
At the recruit training ground located beneath the inner city, Li Cha was, without any surprise, knocked to the ground by Freya once again.
Freya, the mentor and instructor of the recruit training ground, walked over to Li Cha in her familiar military boots and shook her head. "This is the third day I have been teaching you, and your performance is as abysmal as ever."
Li Cha nodded. In truth, he wanted to say: "No kidding! I’m still a single-digit level. You’re asking me to challenge a Level 30 high-tier elite—not even in thirty days, let alone three, would I be able to stand!"
However, compared to the first day, Li Cha’s sparring time had been significantly reduced. Yesterday and the day before, he couldn't even remember how many times he had fallen. Today, after the twentieth time Li Cha hit the dirt, Freya declared the sparring session over.
But because the sparring time had been cut, the next segment shifted to pure physical training. Li Cha put on the gear that wrapped him tightly, along with a backpack that reached half his height.
Full-load running, five-kilometer target. Before long, Li Cha decisively purchased more stamina.
There was a piece of bad news here: his stamina had increased in price again.
[Li Cha’s Stamina] had started at 10 copper coins per hour, then rose to 12, and now it was 14 copper coins per hour. Li Cha had only just learned that once an item was on the shelf, the damn system still retained the power to change the price anytime, anywhere, and without limit.
You scoundrel!
If it were his temper from his previous life, he wouldn't buy from such a black-hearted merchant even if he were a dog! But since the full-load running was more relentless than a dog, Li Cha had no choice but to temporarily set aside his prejudices.
After the second task was finished, Li Cha took off the full set of gear, looking as if he had been fished out of water.
"I’ll give you five minutes to rest and adjust," Freya said, "and then I will teach you swordsmanship."
Swordsmanship... swordsmanship, my foot. By the time he stood up again, Li Cha was trembling all over. It wasn't fear; it was pure, unadulterated rage. If it weren't for the fact that recruit training truly granted experience, attributes, and skills, Li Cha would never have let her treat him like a sacrificial lamb.
As time passed, Li Cha’s ideas about the trading system grew. Regardless, with his financial resources—excluding [Freya’s Time]—he had absolutely no pressure buying anything else. If he faced her head-on, he certainly wouldn't be a match for a Level 30 high-tier elite. But when it came to strategy, he really wasn't afraid of this emotionless woman.
...
"Alright, let's begin."
Basic sword techniques. Because they were basic, they were simple.
Cleaving, stabbing, thrusting, and lifting—every move was simple and clear. And though the basic sword techniques were simple, they contained infinite variations. They say that only with a solid foundation can one build a high-rise; as the person experiencing it, Li Cha could fully feel the progress of his own strength.
One strike.
Another strike.
And another.
Freya would occasionally correct Li Cha’s movements, and occasionally she would crack her small black whip. Time flowed by, bit by bit, amidst these sounds.
"Ding-dong"~
Notification: After rigorous training, your experience +32%. Your Strength and Constitution attributes have slightly increased. Your [Sword Weapon Mastery LV0] proficiency +5. You have comprehended [Basic Swordsmanship LV0 (1/100)].
[Basic Swordsmanship LV0]: When wielding a sword, Attack Power +2%, Attack Speed +1%.
...
Because he had bought an extra portion of stamina today, Li Cha was sitting on the ground when the training ended. Looking at his attack power, which had soared to 67 points, Li Cha suddenly had the illusion that even an 18th-level Flame Knight would be nothing more than this.
Of course, he knew it was just an illusion. A true Flame Knight would be astride a warhorse, clad in heavy armor, gripping a long spear, starting with a burst of sky-high flames, and then launching a lethal charge with lightning speed. Facing such an opponent, Li Cha wouldn't even have the chance to run away.