“Uh?”

  Suddenly, Sharv’s cousin sister’s eyes opened. She found herself lying in her own house.

  There were bandages wrapped over her wounds.

  ‘Did that bastard... really do this?’

  She tried to get up, but then a voice stopped her.

  “Hey, hey! don’t get up, just lie down.”

  A girl’s voice reached her ears.

  She turned to see another girl resting on the other bed. Her body also had injuries, though not as deep. That girl was none other than Varsha.

  “Wh-who are you?”

  Varsha raised her eyebrows while looking at her.

  ‘She’s so different from her cousin brother.’

  Her brother, Sharv calm but ruthless in nature. Whereas this sister of his seemed respectful, dignified.

  In answer to her question, Varsha said.

  “Ah! Don’t worry, I was the one who dressed your wounds. Actually, I'm a physician and your brother saved me from some bandits. So I thought I’d repay his favor by helping you.”

  “I see...”

  “...”

  “...But did my brother really help you? I’m only asking because… he’s a different kind of person, you see. If you’ve met him, maybe you know what I mean...”

  ’Yeah, I understand that too.’

  Varsha could understand, after all, you don’t often meet such a strange person...

  Sharv’s sister turned her gaze toward the place where her father, Sharv’s uncle had been lying dead.

  But now, there was nothing there.

  “...Over there, that...”

  “Your father’s corpse was rotting there, so your brother burned his body and performed the funeral rites.”

  Varsha pointed toward a table, where there was a golden urn covered with a red cloth, and said.

  “His ashes are kept there.”

  Looking at her father’s ashes, her eyes welled up a bit. But she held back her tears and asked Varsha.

  “Where... where is my brother right now?”

  “Your brother is right now...”

  ***

  Atikansha stood frozen, as if the ground beneath her feet had slipped away.

  From afar it might not have been clear, but from up close, she was certain.

  ‘It-It’s him!!!’

  That face, that smile... Atikansha could never forget it.

  Even though five years had passed and the little boy had grown up, she could still recognize him.

  She could never, ever forget that face. Her heartbeat began pounding wildly.

  Pound! Pound! Pound!

  Finally, gathering her courage, she asked the boy,

  “Wh-why have you come here?”

  “Me here?... Just felt like walking over. Hmm... Actually, Why don’t we go inside and talk, Manor Mistress? Out here, people might gather around.”

  When she looked around, she saw her people approaching. She had no choice but to invite Sharv inside.

  Because Atikansha feared that perhaps her son might also come here and witness this scene.

  Inside the manor, Atikansha and Sharv sat facing each other. Neither said anything.

  Sweat ran down Atikansha’s forehead, while Sharv’s face remained calm. For a long time, neither spoke, until Sharv finally asked,

  “I have a question for you.”

  Flinch!

  Atikansha stiffened for a second and asked,

  “W-What kind of question?”

  “Nothing special. Just tell me who that old spear-wielding martial artist was who came to your manor, the one you gave a cart to. Who exactly is that man?”

  Atikansha gulped, as she asked,

  “B-But why do you want to know about him?”

  “...You don’t need to know too much. Just understand this, I have a grudge against him. That man damaged something very precious to me.”

  “...”

  “And you kind of helped him by giving him your cart. But I have nothing against you personally, so just tell me, who he was?”

  “...T-That person... I don’t know who he is...”

  As soon as she said that, Sharv lept forward and grabbed her by the neck and lifted her feet off the ground.

  “Ughh!”

  “So that means I should assume you’re involved too?”

  Atikansha didn’t say a word, just tried to pry his hand off her throat.

  “If that’s the case, I think I should destroy you, and your entire family. So tell me, should I do that?”

  ‘!!!’

  Atikansha’s face turned pale. She had already been terrified, and now she was even more frightened.

  Tears began falling from her one remaining eye.

  She was afraid for her son and hearing those words, she grew even more worried. Because she knew this boy could do exactly what he was saying.

  In fact, he had already done such a thing once before, five years ago. Atikansha cursed herself for deciding to help that old spear martial artist.

  ‘If only I hadn’t helped that old asshole... this trouble wouldn’t have come back to me!’

  Sharv tightened his grip on her neck, and her breathing began to falter.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  But just then...

  Tak!

  From the ceiling of the room, a figure suddenly dropped down. He slammed his palm forcefully into the left side of Sharv's body and caught him off guard.

  And... Sharv’s body was sent flying, hitting the wall behind him.

  Thud!

  This was no ordinary attack, but a martial arts technique—the Five Lotus Sword Manor’s own technique.

  ‘Nine-Moment Lotus Technique: Lotus Palm Strike.’

  “How dare you lay a hand on my mother!!!”

  The one who struck Sharv was none other than Atikansha’s son, Adarsh.

  “A-Adarsh?!”

  The truth was, Adarsh had never left the manor. He had been hiding inside it all along.

  He had found his mother’s behavior suspicious ever since she had seen that boy’s face. That’s when a thought struck him:

  “Could he... be that boy?”

  He didn’t know for sure if this was the same boy or not.

  But from his mother’s reactions and their conversation, he realized enough, this boy was someone who wants to harm their family right now.

  But he was not going to let that happen.

  “But Adarsh! Why did you come here?! I told you to go somewhere else, right? Then what are you doing here?!”

  “Mother, don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

  Tears started flooding from Atikansha’s eyes.

  ‘Why did you come here…’

  Atikansha broke down from the inside. If her son couldn’t be saved, then what would be the point of her living any longer?

  “Mother, you don’t have to worry. I am strong...”

  “...Sob! Sob!... Yes, I know, Sob! but he…”

  “Don’t worry about him, I’m here...”

  “Sob! Sob!”

  “I don’t know if you can sense it or not, but that boy doesn’t have any internal energy. He’s just an ordinary human. And I am a martial artist. So you don’t need to worry.”

  Adarsh said this, and Atikansha had also already sensed that this boy didn’t have any internal energy.

  But still… She didn’t know why, her heart was telling her to stay away from him, to not provoke him.

  ***

  “Brother really didn’t need to do all this… With time, I could have slowly recovered on my own.”

  “I told him that, but he just wouldn’t listen.”

  “Haa! My brother is just like that.”

  Sharv’s younger sister, whose name was Anvi, kept chatting with Varsha.

  Varsha also enjoyed talking to her, but there was one thing that kept bothering her.

  It was internal energy.

  She could feel internal energy in Anvi, but in her brother, Sharv… she couldn’t sense any at all.

  In the end, she decided to satisfy her curiosity and asked Anvi,

  “Tell me something, Anvi. Does your brother not have internal energy?”

  Anvi paused, hesitated a little, and said,

  “I suppose you’ve already sensed it…”

  Varsha immediately spoke.

  “Yes, I couldn’t feel any internal energy from him. Has he never learned martial arts? Looking at you, I can tell, you’re a martial artist, but your brother…”

  Anvi replied.

  “Yes, my brother has never learned martial arts, and yes, he doesn’t have internal energy either.”

  “What do you mean? But he saved me from bandits, the White Frost Bandit Group, no less…”

  Anvi explained to Varsha,

  “I mean… Look, internal energy is Prana(1), which is scattered everywhere in the air... And then there is this place in our body where these prana is stored–called Chakra(2) right?”

  Varsha nodded, as Anvi continued :

  “If there’s no chakra, then there’s no place for the prana to be stored in the body. Hence, no internal energy;prana would be there...”

  “Yes, exactly.”

  “The thing is, my brother, unlike normal people, simply can’t cultivate or say gather prana in his chakra at all since birth.”

  “What...Since birth?!”

  “Yes… he’s tried many times, but it never worked. It’s not like he doesn’t knows the real method, or a good breathing technique. He does, but the prana, it won't flow in his nadis(3) to form a chakra. So, there's no literally, presence of prana in his body.”

  “...”

  Varsha didn’t know what to say. So Sharv REALLY had no internal energy? But then, how did he fight off those bandits?

  ‘External energy?’

  That was the only thought coming to her mind. Internal energy is where a person cultivates internal energy;prana that’s one path.

  External energy, on the other hand, is where a person trains the physical body.

  But martial artists consider external energy weaker than internal energy, because after a certain point, external energy cannot be improved any further.

  Internal energy, however, can be cultivated for an entire lifetime, and even then, one might never reach its true limit.

  It has far greater potential for growth than external energy ever could.

  “Yes, you’re thinking correctly. He’s only ever trained external energy, all his life.”

  Anvi told Varsha.

  Martial artists also train external energy, but nowhere near as much as internal energy.

  Now, recalling Sharv’s fight with the bandits, Varsha realized now—he never once any fancy martial art moves.

  He simply; punched, kicked, dodged, thrust, slashed, and swung sword, defending himself all the while.

  These were all basic attack and defence moves, which even normal people knows.

  But he did it with such intensity that every single move was absolutely perfect. As if someone had taken the knowledge straight out of a manual and imprinted it directly into his body and mind.

  “But that doesn’t mean brother is weak.”

  Hearing Anvi’s words, Varsha snapped out of her imagination and looked at her.

  “He is really strong, it’s just that even with external energy, he has always defeated me in fights. His presence of mind, and combat skill are far greater than any martial artists I've fought with.”

  “...Really?”

  “Yes, absolutely.”

  ***

  Atikansha and Adarsh were still talking when suddenly a voice cut through their conversation.

  “So, this martial arts and your son are still alive? I thought both of them ended five years ago.”

  Flinch!

  Hearing this voice, Atikansha’s face went pale, as if struck by lightning.

  Sharv, dusting off his clothes, stepped forward again and looked toward Adarsh.

  ‘Strong…’

  Adarsh really was strong, at least stronger than that bandit leader. His internal energy was far more refined than that bandit’s.

  ‘Looks like this won’t be easy…’

  In combat, Sharv usually let his enemies attack first.

  While dodging, he observed their moves carefully, found their flaws, and then struck back through the gaps in between with proficiency.

  But here, the tables turned. Adarsh struck first but, suddenly. And Sharv didn’t see it coming.

  Hence, the attack landed.

  His body suffered a small bruise to the side from that palm strike, and he doesn't knows about the movement of his opponent right now.

  In short, the situation was not favorable for him at all. However, this made Sharv realize something else.

  ‘I am, very weak…’

  If it went on like this, he would never be able to take revenge for his uncle’s murder. He must grow stronger, no matter what.

  “Who exactly are you?”

  “...”

  “You’re speaking as if you were there five years ago…”

  “There’s no need to waste time with words. I know what you’re trying to do drag out the conversation until the other guards and martial artists arrive, so they can catch me easily and then interrogate me.”

  “...”

  Adarsh said nothing, because his exact plan had already been seen through by this man. Adarsh then asked him,

  “Who are you?”

  “Me?… What, didn’t your mother tell you?”

  “...”

  “Tch! Tch! No matter, I’ll tell you quickly: five years ago—a 13-year-old slave, your mother’s eye, your uncle’s death, Five Lotus Sword Manor engulfed in flames, slaves destroying the manor… and etc, etc...All of that shit, was done by me.”

  “...”

  “I think that’s enough, isn’t it?”

  Hearing this, Adarsh’s anger shot up to the seventh heaven.

  The very person responsible for the hatred he had lived with all these years was now boasting of his deeds, as if he had accomplished something great.

  Thinking this, Adarsh clenched his fists tightly and drew his sword from his back.

  “No! Adarsh, stop, don’t do this…”

  His mother shouted, but Adarsh didn’t listen. Right now, his eyes were locked on the enemy before him.

  Bam!

  Adarsh stomped on the ground beneath him and lunged straight at Sharv with his sword.

  “I will cut you down!!!”

  Sharv looked at him calmly, and just as the sword was about to strike...

  Swish!

  Sharv dodged out of its path. The blade passed so close to him that only a leaf could slip through the gap.

  But Sharv had avoided it.

  “Arh!”

  Adarsh swung again with his sword, but Sharv dodged each attack like a drifting leaf.

  And with every strike, Sharv carefully observed Adarsh’s every movements. Adarsh was growing restless. Not a single strike was landing on Sharv.

  He stopped using simple attacks and began attempting something different.

  ‘Nine-Movement Lotus Technique: Red Lotus Cut!’

  But just then, in between his formation...

  Bang!

  "Ugh!!!"

  Until now, Sharv had only been defending. Suddenly, he countered. A simple punch—straight into Adarsh’s stomach.

  Pak! Thud!

  The punch sent Adarsh crashing into the wall, behind him.

  He couldn’t believe his eyes. That punch, without any internal energy, how could it hurt him to this extent?

  “Cough!”

  He vomited blood. That punch carried immense power.

  “Adarsh!”

  His mother cried out. She couldn’t bear to see her son in such a state.

  Atikansha started running toward Adarsh, but before she could reach him, Sharv was already there.

  He grabbed Adarsh’s hand and twisted one of his fingers backward until it broke.

  Crack!

  “Arggghh!!!”

  Unable to bear the pain, Adarsh screamed. Tears welled up in his eyes from the agony.

  When he looked at Sharv in rage, what he saw made his heart tremble.

  He saw something terrifying...

  A smile.

  A very unsettling smile, which seemed as if it could reach till Sharv's ears, like a crescent moon.

  No human could smile like that but Adarsh was seeing it with his own eyes, right now.

  Flinch!

  ‘W-what…T-the fuck is this!’

  Sharv then looked at Atikansha and spoke,

  “Now then, tell me who that spear martial artists was... Otherwise… who knows, maybe today your beloved Adarsh will end up crippled.”

  “N-No, please don’t…”

  Crack! Crack!

  “Arghhhh!!!”

  Sharv twisted another two of Adarsh’s fingers backward and broke them. Without saying a word, he reached for the fourth finger.

  Atikansha dropped to her knees and spilled everything.

  “I-I’ll tell you… I’ll tell you. It was an old spear martial artists—known in the world as the Black Spear King. The White Frost Bandits were the ones who brought him to me. Apart from that, I know nothing else. I only gave him one of my carts in exchange for money. My family had nothing else to do with it. So please, let my son go!”

  ‘?!’

  White Frost Bandits?

  He remembered, the dying bandit had mentioned the White Frost Bandits. That meant they were involved too.

  Sharv let go of Adarsh, who collapsed onto the ground.

  Thud!

  “If you had opened your mouth in the beginning, none of this would have happened, Manor Mistress.”

  1. PRANA (?????) –

  Qi/Ki/Chi they are also termed as vital life force and have the same work as Prana.

  2. CHAKRA (????) –

  3. NADIS (????) –