Sometimes in life, no matter how hard one tries, one may never get what they truly desire.
Sometimes, opportunities appear within reach, only for fate to snatch them away.
And sometimes, the obstacle isn't fate at all — it's another person who simply refuses to let you live in peace.
This was exactly the situation Liam Osbert found himself in.
All Liam ever wanted was a quiet life — peace, stillness, the comfort of the afternoon sun, and the calm breeze brushing past him as he lay on the grass. But apparently, that was too much to ask for. Because there was one person — one very persistent person — who refused to let him have it.
That person's name was Edmund.
And at that very moment, Edmund's familiar voice echoed across the field like a curse sent from the heavens.
"Hey! Liam!"
Liam's relaxed expression froze. His eyelid twitched slightly, and for a brief second, the serene world he had been enjoying shattered into tiny pieces. Slowly, he turned his head toward the source of the voice.
Running toward him, as expected, was a young man with short brown hair, a fair face, and bright green eyes. Edmund's robe was slightly wrinkled, and he looked as if he had run all the way from the training grounds without stopping once.
"Hey, Liam!" Edmund shouted again as he got closer, his breathing slightly heavy but his enthusiasm completely intact. "Let's spar again today!"
Liam stared at him in silence for a moment. Then, he let out a long, drawn-out groan that seemed to come from the depths of his soul.
"Ughhhh… Edmund, leave me alone. Go find someone else."
Edmund blinked innocently, as if the idea hadn't even occurred to him.
"But no one wants to spar with me," he said, his voice filled with genuine confusion.
Liam raised an eyebrow. "There are training dummies in the training hall," he said flatly. "I'm sure they'd love to spar with you."
Edmund frowned, crossing his arms. "That's not the same! The feeling just isn't right when it's not a real person. There's no excitement!"
Liam slowly turned his head away, closing his eyes as if trying to erase Edmund's existence from his reality. He took a deep breath and muttered under his breath, "Why me?"
He had only been at the Floating Cloud Sect for a little over a week, and somehow, this was his biggest problem. Not cultivation, not competition, not sect politics — no. It was Edmund. A human embodiment of noise and persistence.
Liam finally opened his eyes again and gave Edmund a long, tired stare — the kind of stare that said, you are the reason peace has abandoned me. His gaze carried subtle contempt, but Edmund, blissfully unaware, simply smiled.
How did things end up like this? Liam thought back with mild irritation.
The situation between him and Edmund had begun rather simply. Within the Floating Cloud Sect, outer disciples were encouraged to practice diligently. After all, most people could grasp the basic principles of a martial technique within a day or two of hard work. But even then, there were still vast differences in how deeply one understood the technique.
On the very first day, Edmund had impressed everyone. He had fully grasped the basics of his chosen sword technique and was already standing at the edge of the intermediate realm of mastery. For an outer disciple, that was extraordinary. Word spread quickly among the other new recruits, and Edmund became the center of attention for a short while.
Naturally, many people challenged him, eager to test their own skill or earn some recognition. And to be fair, Edmund accepted every challenge with enthusiasm — though he lost quite a few of them along the way. Still, his effort and energy made him somewhat popular.
But then, one fateful afternoon, Edmund happened to stumble upon Liam training alone.
Liam, at the time, had already reached intermediate mastery of his own sword technique. His movements were precise, fluid, and efficient — nothing exaggerated, just clean execution. Edmund had stood there for several minutes, watching in awe. The sight had apparently changed him forever.
Most people, upon seeing someone far stronger than themselves, might have felt envy or frustration. But not Edmund. No, Edmund had instead developed a deep admiration for Liam. In his mind, Liam had become the perfect training partner — and possibly his role model. From that day onward, Edmund had challenged Liam to a spar every single day.
At first, Liam ignored him. Then, he tried to avoid him. But Edmund was persistent. He would show up in the morning, the afternoon, or even during mealtime. The man had a talent for appearing at the worst possible moments.
And now, here they were again.
Liam sighed deeply, sitting up and brushing the grass off his sleeves. "You really aren't going to leave me alone, are you?"
Edmund grinned widely. "Of course not! We're friends, right?"
Liam's face twitched slightly. Friends…? That was a strong word for someone who had ruined his afternoon naps for an entire week.
After a long moment of silent defeat, Liam finally stood. "Fine," he said in a resigned tone. "Let's just get this over with."
Edmund's eyes lit up instantly. "Really? You mean it?"
"Yes, yes," Liam replied, waving a hand dismissively. "Before I change my mind."
Edmund laughed cheerfully. "Haha! I knew you wouldn't refuse! Come on, I found a good spot for sparring — nice and quiet!"
Liam muttered dryly, "It won't be quiet once you start shouting."
But Edmund had already started walking ahead, waving for Liam to follow. "This way!"
Liam stood for a moment, staring at Edmund's back as he ran off excitedly. For a brief second, he considered pretending to faint or slip away unnoticed. But he knew from experience that Edmund would probably just drag him there anyway.
With another sigh — one that carried the weight of resignation and mild suffering — Liam followed.
They walked across the open field, past a few stone paths and small trees, until they reached a secluded area behind one of the training halls. The place was quiet, surrounded by rocks and patches of grass, and hidden from view. It was, admittedly, a good spot for a sparring match.
Liam stopped a few paces away, glancing around the area. "So this is where you've been dragging me every day, huh."
Edmund smiled brightly. "Of course! It's perfect, right?"
Liam couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Perfectly annoying."
Edmund didn't hear him — or perhaps he just ignored it. He unsheathed his practice sword and pointed it toward Liam, grinning from ear to ear. "Alright! Let's begin!"
Liam looked at him for a long moment, then sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that day. "You're really not going to stop until I beat you, are you?"
Edmund nodded eagerly. "Exactly!"
Liam raised an eyebrow. "You have been beaten. Multiple times."
"Then I'll just keep challenging you until I win!"
Liam closed his eyes briefly, muttering, "I regret ever showing you that technique…"
Edmund only laughed.
And so, once again, peace was nowhere to be found for Liam Osbert, the man who only wanted a quiet life — yet somehow ended up with the most talkative sparring partner in the sect.
The two of them stood opposite each other, the wind blowing gently between them, swords in hand.
The match was about to begin