Time Skip [Bonus]

The wind was cold before dawn.

Quinlan stirred awake with the girl pressed lightly against his chest. Feng breathed softly, her face peaceful and serene instead of being bratty for once. He shifted, careful not to wake her, and gently placed his robe around her bare shoulders before rising to his feet.

The plateau stretched silently and endlessly beneath the stars.

Despite it not being morning yet, Quinlan felt energetic. He wanted to get ahead of the day and get some reps of his own choosing in before the old man came out and began instructing him.

As such, he began to move.

Push-ups. Squats. Pulls on jutting stone. Lunges across uneven earth. The weight of his limbs did not burn this time around. His breathing was steady, controlled. There was no mana, no Qi-enhanced strength. Only raw effort, guided by discipline. His body was getting accustomed to the heavy strain it was put under each day.