I pull my fist backwards, hold it in for a while and then lightly strike the tree.
It leaves a little print on the tree but the tree itself doesn't budge.
I turn to look at Hwa.
She looked disappointed.
"That was just a warm up." I quickly try to cheer her up.
What's wrong with me, why am I trying so hard to impress a little girl.
I turn back to the tree.
This time I use some internal energy.
I strike hard and a resounding sound is heard.
She looked amazed.
The tree vibrates as leaves and little fruits fall down.
There was a deep fist imprint left on the tree.
"Awesome!" She voices out in excitement jumping.
I go over to her and pick her up.
"My father's punch never hit like that." She says in excitement.
"Does that mean you are stronger than my father?" She asks me.
I see, so her father was the owner of those fist prints and sword marks.
"Well, if your father is as strong or stronger than the Ximen's Grand Elder, then I'm definitely not as strong as him." I reply her.
"So if you and my father fought you would lose?" She asks further.
Ughhh, I forgot how annoying children can be with their questions.
"Naaa, I would win." I say to her confidently.
"But you just said you are not as strong as him." She says in confusion.
"Dont worry, maybe one day you'll understand what I'm talking about." I say to her with a fake smile.
"Hmmmm, ok." She says unsatisfied.
"Well then, can you teach me Martial Arts?" She asks with expectation.
Martial Arts?
Well I guess in the these world everyone would want to learn Martial Arts.
She has yet to activate her dantian.
Most likely because she's the daughter of an Early Peak Martial Expert who is almost never at home.
And he probably wanted her to live a normal life.
But in the Murim, to leave a normal life you would need to have some strength.
Here living a normal life is more expensive than living as a Martial Artist.
Why?
When living as a normal person among Martial Artist, the least of your problems would be being continuously bullied.
Even in the Orthodox Faction where they claim to be good and better than the rest, what truly speaks is Power.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to teach her something, but that's not my place.
Though I could teach her muscle training techniques.
"I don't really have any martial arts I can teach you right now, but if you are willing to learn and be persistent, I could teach you some techniques that could improve your strength." I say to her.
"Teach me! Teach me!" She cries earnestly in excitement.
"Ok ok." I say as I carefully put her down.
I proceed to show her some exercises.
I teach her push ups to strengthen her arms and chest.
I teach her squats, to train her glutes and thighs.
I teach her how to skip if she had a rope, to train her endurance, legs and thighs.
She seemed to be understanding the concepts.
She's a really good learner.
Well I think I should be going now.
"Well then Hwa, I should be going now." I say to her as I squat down to her level.
Though this body is just fifteen so I'm not that tall right now but Hwa is quite smallish.
"Oohhh?" She replies sadly.
I give off a little smile.
"So would you be coming to check on my progress?" She asks me.
"Unfortunately I would not be able to. I will be going somewhere far away so I most likely won't see you for a very very long time." I reply.
"Really?" She questions looking really sad.
But there was nothing I could do about it.
I can't keep involving myself with these people.
I believe I have done enough.
I give off a smile as I pat her head.
"Don't worry, if fate wills it, we will meet again." I say to her.
She seemed sad.
" I can't I just can't " I say as I resolve myself.
"Come, let me drop you off at your house." I say to her as I put forth my hand.
"Ok." She says as she comes into my arms.
I pick her up and I dash down the hill going towards her house.
I pass by some other compounds before reaching hers.
I drop her at her door step.
She turns to wave at me but I didn't even look back.
I just turned and left.
I move back to the Ximen Clan.
As I approach my courtyard I notice a commotion just outside the gate.
What could be going on.
I blend into the crowd to find out what was going on.
I get close to the front of my gate and I see it opened.
Sitting inside were the Grand Elder sipping tea alongside two other Elders, the Third and Fourth Elders.
Ximen Jong was seated at the right hand side of the Grand Elder.
The Fourth Elder sat next to Ximen Jong and the Third Elder sat at the left hand of the Grand Elder.
All three Elders appearance were that of old men.
The Grand Elder had most of his grey hair neatly packed at the back and the rest falling forward.
He had a short mustache.
He had a long beard starting only from his chin.
The Third Elder was bald on the head but had a very thick grey beard.
The Fourth Elder was not completely bald but was growing bald.
He had no beard or mustache.
There were four Late Peak guards standing with them.
One Martial Grand Master, which was the Grand Elder, I could not read his level, it was information known by everyone within the Clan.
Two Martial Masters, the Third and Fourth Elders.
Four Late Peaks.
And one First Rate.
"Wait, why am I analyzing them right now, who said I'm getting into a fight with them." I question myself as I smack my forehead.
"Hmmm, maybe they are here because of the gift I sent to Ximen Jong?" I wonder.
Well whatever they are here for, I have to ensure a fight doesn't break out.
Because forget about a Martial GrandMaster there is no way I'm taking on two Martial Masters.
I heave long sigh and squeeze myself out the crowd to the entrance of my gate.
I walk and shut the gate behind me.
Ximen Jong looks at me as I walk in.
I try to maintain eye contact with him trying to read what he was thinking as I kept walking.
I get closer.
"Good day honorable Grand Elder and esteemed Elders.
It is an honor to have you in this humble courtyard of mine, but, if I may ask, to what do I owe such a pleasure?" I ask with a smile on.