Chapter 228 - Zero the Philosopher (1/2)
True to his prediction, Zero came teleporting in just as lunch was ready. The apprentice was slightly surprised to see the dark elf but didn't mind. In fact, a big smile broke out on his face. Hua Tuo left Mitchnew to entertain Zero who seemed interested in the martial arts practice.
”What is this new game?” he asked curiously.
Ruth wanted to snap at his student. Which part of this looked like a game to him? Then again, Zero it probably appeared like a game to the youth who had yet to see many things about the world.
”Get off me!” he hollered at Mitchnew who was sitting on his back, pinning him to the floor while she locked one of his arms with her knees and had his head in a tight elbow lock.
The assassin didn't look apologetic as she released her hold on the vampire. If anything, she didn't know how the Roth vampire was a respected warrior. He brought disgrace to the skilled fighters and Mitchnew was willing to bet that her husband and ex-student would easily hold his own against this young vampire. Still, she was highly interested in the strange fighting style in Lord Amon's book. Already, the ex-assassin saw potential in the weird art.
Zero caught sight of the martial arts manual and raised a brow. Was that how the martial art looked like? It seemed more like horsing around than actual fighting. He didn't know if sitting on top of his enemy would be effective. Given his small size, they would throw him off like a wild horse throwing off their inexperienced riders.
”It's a new fighting style that we're trying out. Martial art manuals sure are interesting,” Mitchnew smiled and took the opportunity to glomp Zero. Although the boy had matured into a teenager, he was still the right size and height for a cuddle.
Zero struggled for a while in Mitchnew's hold but gave up as soon as he started. It wasn't very often that the lady was very forward. Compared to Qin Yun and Coux, Mitchnew was not as bad... at least she gave him space to breathe. Like most elves, Mitchnew wasn't bouncy in the front so Zero didn't mind. Her long and straight white hair was usually tied up into a high ponytail while her doll-like bangs framed her youthful face so Zero wasn't always spitting hair when he was hugged.
Ruth got himself composed and glared at the lady who was choking him earlier. If people didn't know, they would have mistaken him for her younger brother. Both of them had white hair, red eyes and never aged. The only difference was how pale Ruth was and how tanned Mitchnew was.
The vampire wasn't the only one who caught on to the similarities. Zero did too after Mitchnew allowed him to leave. As Mitchnew and Ruth bickered, the young doctor giggled to himself. They made very good siblings even if they didn't know it. Already, Zero thought that he was blessed to have Ruth and Mitchnew as his unofficial brother and sister.
Still, the messy handwriting only pointed to one person. Zero raised a brow. Why would his shifu write poems all of a sudden? Also, most of them didn't make a lot of sense. It wasn't in his teacher's nature to word things so full of flowery language. Hua Tuo was a very straightforward person and this was more of Buddha's thing.
”Shifu, when did you pick up a new hobby? Also, this is terrible! ”Attacking a snake at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail. Attacking at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head. Attacking it in the middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.” Why couldn't it be simplified to ”Slapping wherever there is a spare hand”? The picture says it already... if the enemy doesn't limit all your limbs, you should use whatever is at your disposal to attack.”
Ruth and Mitchnew blinked. That was technically correct. However, as fighters, they knew that it was easier said than done.
Likewise, Hua Tuo was stunned speechless.
”Zero, that doesn't work very easily in a fight. Your teachers are trying to find a good way to create a special set of martial arts for you to practice. The book Lor Amon gifted you was created by marsupial demons who had a very different body structure to you. It's not the same.”
Zero didn't believe it and flipped through the book. Bob's translation made less sense than Hua Tuo's scribbles so Zero read it without comprehending the first time. After his teacher had written down the decrypted meaning of those strange stories, Zero was finally able to understand what it meant.
”Oh! I see... yes, I think I understand now. Actually, I don't think anything from this manual has to be changed. We can just practise it according to the teachings.”
Mitchnew didn't know where Zero got his confidence form but she found it interesting. ”Really? Can you demonstrate to us how one would use this move then?” the half-elf pointed to a picture depicting a ground rolling move that involved using the tail to whip the enemies above while spinning.
Zero studied it and the text beneath before nodding. Ruth offered to be the enemy in the position depicted and everyone watched as Zero lowered himself.
Ruth lunged in for a grabbing attack and Zero followed the instructions to duck low and spin on the ground. However, this was the end of the similarities from the book. With a quick movement, Zero did a side flip on his hands and threw his legs in a wide swing before tumbling to the ground and doing a second rolling kick with his hands supporting the weight of his upper half and his head pressed sideways into the ground.
Ruth jumped back with the extra range of the attack and Zero flipped upright again. He might not know how to fight but he'd been around Clowis and Leon to know some neat tricks. They often play wrestled and this was one of the skills he learnt. The trick to it was mastering the balance.
Mitchnew, Ruth and Hua Tuo were speechless.
”A gentleman waits for his revenge while lying low. At the sight of chance, flee like the rabbit and attack like the enraged wasps.”
Zero looked smug at his ability to memorise the movement's philosophy. However, nobody was ready when Zero added his own interpretation to the meaning.