"Then why were they ganging up on you? And what's this secret manual?"
The boy's eyes shifted before he finally sighed. "My name is actually Long Wu. I'm Long Xiaotian's illegitimate son. Lately, I noticed Father acting stranger and stranger, constantly demanding the secret manual from me.
"But he gave me that manual ages ago, and he never used to care about it at all. I realized something was wrong and fled as fast as I could.
"Uncle Ding was the only person who cared about me. Long Jue beat him to death for protecting me."
"I see. I can't be bothered to ask you for some secret manual. Just take me straight to that Martial Arts Alliance Leader."
"What?" Long Wu was stunned. "You mustn't, Innate Master! Dragon City is heavily guarded, with the Left and Right Guardians and the Four Heavenly Kings. Uncle Ding went through so much to get me out, and now we're going back? Wouldn't that make his sacrifice meaningless?"
"Just tell me whether you want to learn the truth and punish that Long Jue."
"May I ask why you're helping me so much?"
Tetsuhiro rubbed his brow, growing impatient. "Because I want to understand this place, and the Martial Arts Alliance Leader would undoubtedly know the most. Besides, I think your suspicions are right. Something's wrong with your father."
"I knew it! All right, then. With your strength, I couldn't escape you anyway."
Tetsuhiro nodded, tucked Long Wu under his arm, and flew south...
"Wow! I've never flown before. This is amazing!" Long Wu spread his arms in Tetsuhiro's embrace, happily looking around.
"I've never been this close to the clouds."
"Good thing I'm protecting you with 'internal energy,' or you'd be dead by now."
"Thank you, Innate Master."
"Just call me Uncle."
"Okay, Uncle. You're a good person."
"..."
Along the way, Tetsuhiro asked detailed questions about what Innate martial artists could do in battle.
Long Wu had never seen an Innate Master fight, but he had seen first-rate martial artists in action.
"They can casually break a twenty-year-old tree in half. At full strength, one man can fight thousands," Long Wu said with absolute certainty, as though it were happening right before his eyes.
"Your father?"
"Yes. When Nippon invaded, Father stopped 4,560 enemies all by himself.
"But their weapons and planes were too powerful. In the end, he was forced to retreat, and that's why he went to Southern Sky City."
Tetsuhiro nodded inwardly. Sounds like a real man. Sadly, things probably don't bode well for him now.
"It's a long way from the south to the north. How did you make it?"
Long Wu gave a bitter smile. "I begged wherever I went, and sometimes I did hard labor for people. But even then, they still caught me."
"When your whereabouts get exposed, either the enemy is good at tracking, or someone close to you sold you out. Think carefully."
"I think it was both. He is the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, after all. But now that you're here, Uncle, I don't have to live in fear anymore."
"You trust me that much?"
"Yes. I actually have a gift. I can sense whether people's intentions toward me are good or bad."
"No wonder you noticed something was wrong and managed to flee so far on your own."
"I did all right. Plenty of kind people helped me along the way. That's exactly why I never got close to them. Anyone who gets too close to me ends up suffering."
Seeing the light fade from Long Wu's eyes, Tetsuhiro felt an inexplicable pang of sorrow.
"You've got another ability you haven't told me about, haven't you? Can you influence my emotions?"
"I'm sorry, Uncle," the boy hastily apologized. "I really didn't mean to. I can't control it."
"All right. Just pay more attention to keeping your emotions in check."
"Okay."
After half a day of flying, they still had some distance to go.
Tetsuhiro decided to take Long Wu for a meal. "Keep your wits about you. You'll go by Li Taiyang. Don't talk too much, understand?"
"Of course."
To avoid drawing attention, they landed early and walked the rest of the way.
"Roadside Noodle Shop."
"Interesting. Waiter, two bowls of knife-cut noodles."
"Coming right up! This way, sir! Two bowls of knife-cut noodles!" the waiter called out as he wiped down the table and stools.
Since the shabby little shop was outside town, only one other man was eating there.
Judging by the saber at his waist and the thick calluses between his right thumb and forefinger, he was a skilled fighter.
"Your two bowls of noodles are here, sir!"
Smack! The man slammed his hand on the wooden table and bellowed, "Waiter! I ordered another bowl first! Why are you serving the latecomers before me?"
"Oh, sir, you've already had two bowls, and they've only just arrived. We have a business to run, don't we?"
Clang! His temper flared, and he drew his ring-pommel saber. "Are you looking down on me?"
"N-no, not at all. Please wait a moment." The waiter came over and timidly asked, "Sir, would you mind letting him have these noodles? I'll make you another bowl."
Tetsuhiro grew interested and waved generously. "Take them over."
"Certainly!" The waiter happily carried the knife-cut noodles over.
Smack! The moment he reached the man, a backhanded slap knocked him to the floor, spilling the noodles everywhere.
"Bastard! Who told you to give me someone else's rejects? Do I look like someone who lives on charity?"
The waiter lay on the floor, clutching his face and trembling as he sobbed.
"Uncle..." Long Wu was about to speak, but Tetsuhiro pressed him down and gave him a look that told him to stay quiet.
"..." An awkward chill settled over the shop.
The waiter kept whimpering on the floor. For a moment, the swordsman seemed at a loss, then simply shouted, "Owner! Get out here!"
A moment later, the curtain was lifted.
The owner straightened his clothes and strode out.
"Greetings, sir. What seems to be the matter?"
...Details omitted.
"I understand what happened. I'll make you another bowl right away. I'll cook it myself!"
"Get over here and help!" At the owner's scolding, the waiter scrambled into the kitchen.
"Hmph!" The swordsman snorted loudly at Tetsuhiro and sat back down. Instead of sheathing his saber, he laid it on the table.
Tetsuhiro knocked the chopsticks out of Long Wu's hand and whispered, "The martial world is a dangerous place. Taiyang, do you understand what you're seeing?"
"Only partly, Master."
Before long, not only had the swordsman's noodles been served, but Tetsuhiro's were also set before him.
"Gentlemen, running this little shop isn't easy, but we're all people of the martial world. Since I was at fault first, this meal is on me!"
"Excellent!" the swordsman cheered loudly, but he was the only one.
"Hey, friend. The owner is being so generous. It's one thing not to cheer, but why haven't you even thanked him?" The swordsman picked up his saber and turned to ask.
"..." Tetsuhiro replied calmly, "That's between you and him. I'll pay for my food. I don't need his treat."
Apparently offended, the swordsman approached with his saber, raised it, and snapped, "Brother, you're out of line. Don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
"Sir, you're making a terrible mistake!" The waiter rushed out, clung tightly to him, and tried to dissuade him.
"I'm making a mistake? Then die!" As though a signal had been given, the swordsman, the waiter, and the owner suddenly attacked Long Wu together...
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