10 CHILD AT HEART 2 (2/2)
”Uh, my bad...” Lirzod slid his index finger on his eyebrow and flicked the drop of sweat which traveled in a projectile fashion, before ending up on the ground below them.
”You are right... And so was your mother,” The old man stroked his grayish beard which exposed the extra shades of color buried in it. ”Material wealth can buy many things but happiness, love, kindness and the basic emotions necessary for any being to live well aren't on its list. Those who pursue material wealth will never become a great hollow much less a great martial. By the time their eyes widen and see the real treasure of this world, their life's destination may no longer be in their sight.”
”By the time these maids come out of the estate they will lose sight of the things they held dear huh...” Lirzod felt strange. Just the thought of him overlooking the well-being of his people, made him feel uneasy.
”... If that was all there's to it, it's not as bad of a result as you may think,” The old man's words puzzled Lirzod.
”You mean?”
”Each of the maids who made it out will break the society in ways one can't entirely comprehend. They ruin the lives of honest husbands, split families, be a role model for young girls through their decorated mien, and through many other ways.”
”That's true. Women have too many weapons in store, tailor-made to work against men.” As a young master of the Faceless clan, he wasn't oblivious to the efforts girls made to get noticed by him, and the lengths they would go to get what they wanted.
”Indeed, women have many weapons in store, a lot more than a man does,” The old man said in a tone which shifted gears as he spoke. ”But men do not possess two important weapons that women have.”
”What are they?”
”One's the most powerful while the other is the most dangerous.”
”Hmm?” Lirzod's intrigue picked up.
”... The most powerful weapon of a woman is her voice.”
”Ha-ha, right...” Lirzod burst out into a laughter.
”This isn't a laughing matter.”
Lirzod covered his mouth with one hand, his skull with another. A second later, his legs closed the gap between them as well.
”Her voice is her most powerful weapon, but it's still not the most dangerous. Do you know what it is?”
”... It's gotta be their bust!” Lirzod didn't take much of a time to respond.
It was silent for a second, and not even wind made any sound.
BANG~!
A staff hammered down on Lirzod's skull from behind, and the old man materialized again. ”Foolish child! You must stop concentration on their body, and instead focus on their personality. Women are emotional beings, and they carry trouble along with them. As a man, if you want to become a great martial, you must know women from in and out!”
”That's what I was doing,” Lirzod pouted, as he looked away while rubbing his head. ”I was focusing on their outer self.”
The old man gripped his staff slightly, startling Lirzod. He tried to escape, but he lost all the control over his body. It moved closer to the staff. The old man gently placed it atop Lirzod's head and tapped slowly, ”Your 'outer self,' means their bodily appearance, but my 'outer self,' means their outward personality... Understand?”
”G-Got it...” Lirzod said.
”I'm not convinced,” The old man raised his staff high into the air.
”I got it! I got it!” Lirzod said out loud in a haste.
”Good. Now tell me, what's the most dangerous weapon of a woman?”
Lirzod paused a moment and began to ponder. ”It's...” He placed his index finger on his temple and tapped on it repeatedly. ”Is it...” He looked up at the old man's face which was hidden from view, by the hood, ”their walk?”
The old man gripped the staff tightly, but this time, he hammered it on Lirzod's buttocks, making him jump like a rabbit and squeal like a cat. ”You can't talk about anything other than their bodily parts?”
”Women's assets are the wonders of this world, worthy of every man's attention!” Lirzod didn't back down. The pain on his butt sure got his blood running hard. ”How can I not consider them to be consequential?”
The old man paused for a moment and sighed. ”I've seen many spoiled children... But you're one of a kind.”
Few seconds of silence passed. ”So... What's the answer?”
”It's their smile.”
”Smile?” Lirzod was puzzled. He for sure didn't expect that answer.
”If the curve of a woman's breasts can conquer a king, her smile can conquer his kingdom.”
Lirzod body froze right where he stood.
”It can destroy kingdoms, dissolve dynasties, end empires, sink continents, and bring the world to its knees.”
The old man's utterance shook up Lirzod, down to the deepest expanses of his imagination, where things ran wild, especially at the moment.