"My name is Ifa Zenith. I was the former head of the Mount Hua sect. In the United Military, before my retirement, I held the rank of Deputy Commander. From this day forward, you shall address me only as Grandmaster."
I nodded in solemn agreement with every word left from the old man's mouth as if there were a spring attached to my neck.
Master Leo had gone off to greet some of his old friends from this place, leaving me in the kind care of my new Grandmaster.
The sight around me was breathtaking. The surroundings seemed like they were plucked straight from a Chinese martial arts novel.
Towering ancient trees, their branches stretching towards the sky, cast dappled shadows on the moss-covered ground.
The air was crisp and carried a faint scent of pine, invigorating and pure.
Ahead of me, the cobblestone-covered path going upward with intricately carved stone lanterns by the side.
As we ascended, the view only became more captivating. The mountain revealed its true beauty, with mist-covered peaks that seemed to touch the sky.
Since the path wasn't covered in snow and was made of
cobblestone instead, climbing was easy.
And as we climbed higher, the path slowly began to widen until it looked as if we had entered a bustling little city.
Wooden housing structures surrounded us, a thick layer of snow piling on their roofs.
The street lamps cast a soft, welcoming glow that pushed back the encroaching darkness of the coming night as people filled up the street.
Almost everyone was dressed in the distinctive red and black robes of Mount Hua, and all of them carried a variety of weapons â mostly a jian or a tang dao.
One thing I noticed was that wherever the old man went, people bowed their heads in reverence, a zealous spark appearing in their eyes as if they had seen their idol.
As we walked deeper into the settlement, the old man informed me that we were entering what he called the Training District.
There were training halls nestled among the mountain's natural beauty here. It was an awe-inspiring sight.
They were constructed from dark wood and adorned with intricate carvings that told stories of legendary battles and revered masters.
The sound of swords clashing and the hum of mana filling the air, as disciples honed their skills in the ancient arts was like a beautiful symphony.
"Isn't this place just beautiful?" The old man put on a smug smile and gave me a proud look over his shoulder as if he were the one who made everything here.
"It's alright," I replied with a nonchalant shrug, trying to look as disinterested as possible.
The old man chuckled. "You'll come to appreciate it during your stay here, little one."
Little one?! I'm not little! â was what I wanted to retort with, but then I realized that this old man... was a giant.
Even Leo had to crane his neck to meet the old man's gaze, and I found myself doing the same. My master and I weren't short, so this old man had to be around 6'10 - 6'11.
Yeah, scratch that, to him, everyone in this world probably did seem like a "little one."
With a resigned sigh, I followed the old man as he led us to a particular training hall.
This one was larger than the others in the vicinity, and there wasn't a single person training in sight.
Like the rest of the halls, this one was also crafted from dark wood, strengthened by elven magic runes to ensure that even the most formidable mana users couldn't crack its floors or walls during practice.
Also much like the rest of the halls, intricate carvings covered its walls on which a variety of weapons hung â from swords and spears to staffs and shields.
"This is my private hall. Only my disciples are allowed to step foot in here," the old man told me.
"It's empty," I remarked.
"Exactly," the old man affirmed with a nod. "You'll be my first disciple in ten years, and also my last."
For some inexplicable reason, a heavy feeling settled in my heart the moment the old man uttered those words.
The old man removed the coat draped over his shoulder and hung it on a clothes hanger by the entrance as he continued: "A long time ago, I made a promise to train fifty disciples in my lifetime. So far, I've trained forty-nine, including your master, the God of War, Leo Kurogami."
He paused briefly, taking a deep breath, then selected two sheathed swords from the wall and tossed one in my direction.
As I caught it, the old man added:
"Each of my disciples has left their mark on the pages of history." He pointed to the engravings on the wall and continued, "These are the tales of their heroic deeds. If you look closely, you'll see your master's name appears more often than any other. He was the most exceptional and driven of everyone I've taught... and I expect nothing less from you."
Great, no pressure at all.
"Now, take out your sword and attack me using Martial Aura. I believe your master taught you that?" the old man instructed.
I glanced at the tang dao gripped in my hand before turning my gaze back to the old man. "He did, but I'm not proficient with swords."
"Then you've already disappointed me once," the old man grinned and enveloped his sword in a thick layer of azure mana.
The mana coalesced around the blade of his tang dao, enhancing its sharpness and strength. It was definitely True Martial Aura.
Kwish, Swish-!!!
My eyes widened, but before I could voice my hesitation, the old man disappeared into thin air and reappeared right in front of me the next moment.
His sword was pulled back as if he was about to thrust it at me, but I didn't give him an opportunity to attack.
"What the-?!" I quickly unsheathed my sword and swung it towards the old man in one fluid motion, aiming for his neck without a moment's hesitation.
Thud-!!!
"....Huh?"
Thwaaam-!!!
But before my sword could connect with the old man, my world turned upside-down in an instant.
It took me a split second to realize that I had been flipped, and in the next second, I crashed violently onto the unforgiving ground, landing on my neck.
"Arghhh!" I groaned as I rolled around, clutching my neck. It didn't feel like I had broken a bone, but it was so painful!
After a few moments, I understood what had happened. While my focus was on his sword, the old man had deftly used his leg to sweep me off my feet.
Not only did he misdirect me, but his movements were so precise that I didn't even realize what was happening until it was too late.
And above all, the speed at which he moved! That speed reminded me of Leo...
The old man looked at me with an amused smile. "Get up, little one.
I'm going to enjoy this."
...Tch! It seemed that his speed wasn't the only thing he shared with Leo. His sadistic streak was the same as well, huh?
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