Chapter 251: Twenty-seventh Episode: Chapter 2-2 (1/2)
Chapter 251: Twenty-seventh Episode: Chapter 2-2
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Late into the night, at Gabrielle Palace's ”Luxim I Gallery”, the crystal chandelier that was close to two meters in diameter was lit up. The décor of the gallery used red, yellow, and green as the fundamental colors and then gold leaf and silver powder were used to paint the walls and ceilings. The ground was spread with a brightly-colored painted rug. The entire room emitted an air of being bright and lively under the light.
The Luxim I Gallery was the most typical place to visit in the Gabrielle Palace. The paintings and sculptures collected here were none other than Titan's national treasures. Moreover, very few people could enter this gallery to appreciate these masterpieces handed down from generation to generation.
The existence of the Gabrielle Palace was extremely bizarre. This immense palace was placed completely under the Andrews after the death of Emperor Luxim I and his wife. However, the Morisettes still provided the enormous annual fees for the preservation of this artistic palace. It seemed that no one intended to use secular disputes to disturb the peerless sweethearts that were resting eternally there. Be it the Andrews or the capital nobles, both of them portrayed a nostalgic, humble attitude towards this palace.
Madam Vijdeline Van Sukhoi was probably one of the few people who held no concern at all for the Gabrielle Palace. She detested the complicated decoration, the luxurious and excessive court architectural styles, but there was bound to be some benefits to having a vast space! Her young Micath had reached a hyperactive age. The young lad's gift in his motor-based abilities had completely compensated for his deficiency in terms of language. Although his tongue still could not really abide by the commands of his brain, the movement of his limbs was as agile and swift as a young leopard that was about to enter its initial hunting stage.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Luxim I Gallery was a large terrace more than twenty square meters. Lamps had already illuminated the entire palace, but there was still some time left before Master Micath ended his evening classes. The energetic little lad was wearing a huge warrior uniform and waving his fist ceaselessly toward an innocent eastern master.
Assassin Thirteen was sitting on a statue on the terrace's railing. The old man had his back bent and was puffing away on his cigar. He had only fallen in love with this certain indulgence not long ago. Once exposed, he could never do without it anymore.
”That's not right, your hips should be a little stiffer!” It did not appear that there were any movements from the King of Assassins, but a small stone truck the young boy on the waist right after the old man's words. Little Micath jerked up at having been struck, and his lumbar spine immediately straightened. The fist that thrust out following it struck Mighty Fist Lee right on the belly. The eastern martial arts master actually stumbled backward a step after being struck by the little child.
Lee frowned and glanced at the seemingly idle old man, but there was nothing he could do about the old man. This was the disparity in strength and also the gap in their understanding. Although the boxing master had never admitted defeat verbally, he had long since expressed his utter admiration for the martial arts exhibited by Assassin Thirteen.
Despite both being easterners, the boxing master and the assassin had once had a natural difference in terms of their territorial area.
Mighty Fist Lee knew that Assassin Thirteen had come from a place called the Celestial Kingdom. That was the birthplace of martial arts, and the Celestial people referred to his motherland as Cochin. It was a tribal alliance country. According to the Westerners, it was still in the city-state system's disintegration stage. If one disregarded these inexplicable titles and only focused on the difference in martial arts alone... it was actually very clear. According to a Celestial martial arts master, even a tiny child could easily master Mighty Fist Lee's martial arts pattern.
”Left foot!” the Assassin Thirteen shouted again.
The boxing master was startled awake. He leaped up onto the pillar on the terrace in a hurry. With a thrust from both his legs, he freed himself from the attack radius of the young boy. Foolish Micath kicked his left leg out, panting. However, he could only watch helplessly as his opponent shot over his head like a raven shooting across the sky.
The boxing master who was in the air, suddenly felt his shoulder sag. When he landed, he realized that the assassin was steadying himself in advance using his shoulders. Mighty Fist Lee's face fell again. The boxer in the air felt his shoulder sinking. When he landed, he discovered the killer and Lynn standing on his shoulders. This was simply an incredible thing conceptually in martial arts. The old man was undoubtedly just smoking on the statue!
”That's it for today, lad!” Thirteen expressed a rare smile.
Young Micath adhered strictly to the etiquette of an apprentice. After respectfully saluting both his tutors, only then did he simply loosen up his muscles and bones.
”Come and have some tea!” Madam Vijdeline's warm shout came from the Gallery. Mighty Fist Lee was merely a servant that one had taken in. He acted as if he had not heard anything. However, it was the King of Assassins who caught his eastern mate's shoulders and sat him down on a sofa in the Gallery. The maids immediately served a bubbling hot black tea. Seeing the fervent, eager look in the noble madam's eyes, Lee accepted it silently.
Little Micath was drenched in sweat. He ignored the fruits that his mother brought over and sat down by Thirteen's side, with a face full of enthusiasm. Usually, he seemed to always be together with this eastern old man. He learned the old man's skill, imitated the old man's habitual movements, and even unintentionally imitated the old man's awareness in dealing with enemies! This was the most important of all! The awareness of a highly skilled martial art's master was the most precious asset.
Little Micath kicked out his left foot into the air abruptly and then spread his hands helplessly… this meant 'I had kicked, but the lizard had jumped away!' The Lizard was the nickname that the young lad had given Mighty Fist Lee. Uncle Oscar's knights had once given him a desert lizard as a pet. Mighty Fist Lee's movements closely resembled this creature that appeared lazy, yet attacked and dodged swiftly.
Thirteen smiled at the little boy. ”You couldn't tell that he was going to jump away?”
Micath shook his head. ”Who… who knew?”
Thirteen could only sit up on the couch. He knew that what the little boy meant was that who knew what the opponent would do next!
”Look carefully!” the King of Assassins took out a small stone from out of nowhere and then without any explanations, tossed it towards Mighty Fist Lee's shoulder.
The eastern boxing master had superb reflexes. He grabbed at the little stone single-handedly. However, Thirteen had another hidden intent. Another stone was already striking the boxer on the ankle. Mighty Fist Lee had no choice but to stand on a tiptoe. With a gentle flick, the stone immediately bounced up and the next moment, it was within his grasp.
”Can you see it now?”
Micath swallowed his saliva. He was deliberating how to express his opinions. ”The shoulder-”, ”the knee… joints... are really fast!”
”You're a genius, young lad!” Assassin Thirteen ruffled the young boy's hair fondly and Micath chuckled away; he did not laugh often.
”Every action of the limbs will move a series muscles and a series of joints! The upper body is the shoulders and elbows; the lower body is the knees and hip. Attacking and fending will definitely involve the pre-action of these four parts! You can understand the awareness of martial arts and that of the enemies as a kind of dynamic vision. Through the subtle changes in the enemy body's main pre-action site, determine the point of initiation and the target point. After that, you can signal your own body to make a choice. Either to cut off this action, or interfere with this action, or destroy the move…”
Little Cath affixed his gaze at the old man who was speaking frankly with assurance. His mother who was listening by the side was absolutely baffled. However, the young, lad who was unclear in speech, kept following Thirteen's words, nodding repeatedly.
”What is everyone talking about?” Countess Aeolia, whose face was a little pale, appeared at the doorway.
With a cry, Madam Vijdeline went forward to greet her. As a servant, Mighty First Lee also stood up respectfully. Only the old man and young lad were indifferent to the arrival of Andrew's Head of the Military Investigation Bureau.
”You should rest a while longer!”
***************
Vijdeline embraced the frail Aeolia. Her eyes were filled with reproach.
Aeolia waved her hand. ”I can't sleep. Lying on the bed, I felt waves upon waves of fear! I don't know just what is up with me!”
Vij could only force a smile. Who, then, could live the days in peace?
”Haven't you visited Sasha yet?”
”No!” Aya slouched against the couch. She cupped her hand over her forehead wearily. ”How is she?”
Vij shrugged. ”Thank goodness you're smart. Your rescue ploy has managed to retrieve her shattered soul from the God of Light! Antonia and Miss Fenrar are looking after her. There isn't anything to worry about. She has started to recover. The only thing now is to heal the psychological pain.”
Aya nodded and reached out her hand towards Micath who was sitting across from her. Even though the young boy had trouble communicating with others, his nature was extremely lovable. Since Aunty Aya had opened her arms, Micath, who was sensitive to others, immediately flung himself into them excitedly.
”What were you talking about with grandpa Thirteen?” Aya asked while planting a big kiss on Oscar's eldest son. The little guy was almost five years old.
”First move, against… against pre-action! Speed will do!”
”What?” Aya's eyes widened.
Thirteen suddenly broke into applause. He snatched the little boy up from the countess' arms and gratifyingly gave Cath's cheek a few heavy kisses. ”You know, little one? You are much more outstanding than your dad at the age of five!”
”Do you know what Oscar was like when he was five years old?” the King of Assassins turned towards the women in the room.
Aya shook her head. She enjoyed this topic as it made her feel greatly at ease.
Thirteen continued to gesture with his hands. He said that the five-year-old Oscar was a small, brutish animal who only knew to use his fist as if his brain was just there for display. The five-year-old little Oscar did not know how to show respect and honor his teacher and frequently joked about the old man's dignity. The five-year-old Little Oscar still could not tell right from wrong, often doing stupid things...
The old man had already described the Empire's Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette as a little rascal that had many problems. His childhood deeds caused Aya and Vij to roll with laughter.
After laughing, the face of Andrew's Head of the Military Investigation Bureau suddenly fell. She slowly pulled out a short piece of a wooden cylinder from her arms and used a scrutinizing look to size up Westland's King of Assassins.
”Hearing you put it that way… you love Oscar?”