Chapter 10: Out of Retirement

"So that is how we got to this point?" 

The little girl nodded, and I gave a soft chuckle. 

"Let us keep on going," more and more cultivators poured outside the front gate. Swords, spears, bows, men and women all armed to the teeth. A simple red raspberry, with a little bit of stem attached to the fruit, strewn onto the chest of the matching robes. 

The little girl stepped back and watched as they bombarded me with weapons and numbers, but with time, only more unconscious bodies littered the ground. 

Soon, the small amount of disciples that were left crowded up the edge of the walls, hoping I would not move in their direction. 

My eyes darted around the location. I would not let them rest, "You will all be taken back in stretchers! Haha!" 

...

An old man, arguably older than me, sat before me. "I apologize for my disciples, Great Elder." 

"No, no, they meant no harm. It could have been avoided, but I wanted to test their martial capability first." 

The old man nodded with a smile and poured me another glass of tea, "how did my youngsters fare against Great Elder?" 

"They were at a good level, but you mustn't forget that martial arts sects are not only about martial prowess. You must be careful and remind yourself to focus on finding truth, seeking harmony, attaining peace."

"I will do my best to instill those teachings into those hot-blooded youngsters. And I see now that you have your own."

"Yes, this one is someone I've spent quite some time and deliberation choosing." 

"Did you find them randomly, Great Elder?"

"Yes, I did..." 

...

"Aish, what did I do to get such a bad reputation? Does everyone think I'm a senile old man who bullies children and is incapable of making rational decisions?" 

You should spend more time thinking.

I shook my head. Why think when you can be at peace making slightly worse decisions?

How does that logic even work?

"Aish, you wouldn't understand." 

Are we headed on to the next sect now?

Yes. "Red Raspberry seems to be doing better for themselves." 

What is the name of the next sect that we are going to?

Blueberry.

There is a continuing theme, old man. 

I shook my head and laughed. 

Let us continue your martial arts for a bit. 

Again, the little girl stood before me in her fighter stance. Her left arm was slightly lower than the right, and her shoulders and hips relaxed. 

"You go first this time," she watched my lips move, and so did she. 

Her stance switched places quickly, using a step forward as a disguise. Right foot forward and left foot swung inward with left arm down. 

I blocked with my right arm curled up and my left-hand palm to block the rest, "haha! you've got to do better than that!" 

She stepped back her left hip and right into the initial fighter position. She switched her legs again, brought up that left knee, but shot it down. the right hand came punching in, and I caught it with my left hand. 

But with the step in, the little girl was in an unorthodox stance and swung in the left kick again. 

"Still a tad bit too slow," I gave the little girl a wink and kicked off her body with my shin, which blocked the kick. 

Her face scrunched up, and she came running back at me.