"Master?!" Fyren's voice cracked. "What on earth are you doing?!"
Her voice trembled as if on the verge of tears: "Master, what are you doing here? Why did you barge into my room in the middle of the night?"
Herbert replied, "This fellow is being awfully sneaky. I feared he might harm my apprentice, so I came to keep a secret watch."
Fyren was on the brink of losing her temper.
"Is it... after what you saw earlier, don't you think you should take some precautions?"
Herbert shook his head. "I came to see you for a reason."
"What reason? Why keep watch by my bedside?"
Herbert let out a deep sigh. "This girl reminds me of someone. Back then, she was eighteen, and so was I. That year, peach blossoms bloomed at the village head like a riot of colorful clouds, adorning the sky. I was young and green, and she was innocent and pure..."
"Master, Master," Fyren interrupted, "your story can wait for another time."
Xena was so terrified that tears welled in her eyes. She pulled the blanket over her head: "Fyren, who is this person?"
"Oh, it's nothing—just my master."
"You have a master?"
"Never mind that." Fyren stood up. "Master, let's talk in the living room."
The master nodded, continuing absentmindedly: "This girl was eighteen, and so was I. That year, peach blossoms bloomed at the village head like a vibrant cloud, painting the sky... "
"Master, please—we can hear the story later!" Fyren pleaded.
Xena was sobbing now, burrowing deeper under the blanket. "Fyren, who is he?"
"Just my master, really."
"You have a master?"
"Don't worry about it." Fyren stood firm. "Master, let's move to the living room."
The master nodded again, muttering: "This woman's bust is even bigger than that girl from the other day."
"Master, your insight is keen, and your observations are sharp—I admire you. Now please, let's go to the living room."
The master spun around three times. "How does that feel?"
"Hurry up! Can't you understand?!" Fyren snapped.
In the living room, Fyren exhaled sharply, pressing her hand to her forehead. "Master, why didn't you give any warning before coming?"
"Master was worried about you."
Fyren was nearly livid. "Thank you for your concern, Master."
"Ah, I never thought that after wandering half my life and losing all hope, I'd gain apprentices as good as you and Otto. My life's one wish is fulfilled."
"Master, do tell us more."
"Not much else to say. Oh, by the way, what's this pair of underwear..."
Fyren snatched it away and stuffed it into her pocket. "It's nothing. Please go on, Master."
"About this underwear..."
"That's not what I meant. I'm asking about your purpose here. Please continue."
"Oh, right. I'd intended to teach you some martial arts. Suddenly, I realized we talked for ages the other day, but I never actually taught you anything. Master was too careless. The moment I arrived today, I saw that woman, and then she tossed over these underpants. About that..."
"Master! Let's forget that ragged thing. You plan to teach me something?"
"Good apprentice, Master has such fine apprentices as you two. This life is enough for me."
Fyren rubbed her forehead, thinking with a pang:
The master seems even more addled than before.
Damn it—according to the original plot, wasn't he Otto's sole master? Now I'm dragged into this too.
This man is crazier than Xena!
No, I can't learn martial arts from him. The mere thought is driving me mad. Better drop it.
"Master, it's our good fortune. You're too kind to us."
"Um, go on."
Herbert suddenly chirped: "Oh, apprentice's wife, get up quickly! Hahaha, yes—what an obedient, sensible child you are!"
"Thank you, Master."
Herbert nodded gravely: "I've made up my mind! Fyren, listen."
"Master?"
"Seriously, you two must have a baby soon. Understand? When the babe is one month old, I'll take him away. In eighteen years, I'll return him. I promise to raise him to be vigorous, sharp-eyed and sharp-eared, with peerless martial arts—invincible in the world!"
Fyren seethed inwardly:
[Am I insane? Give birth so he can snatch my child? What's this madman up to?]
Aloud she said: "Master is very kind to his disciples." Then she whirled to glare at Xena: "Go back."
"Ah, wait!" Herbert fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a dagger.
Short and unadorned, the blade lacked any exquisite carvings.
"This is the Qilin Dagger—a gift for my apprentice's wife upon our meeting."
Fyren reached to take it: "I'll hold it for her."
"Hand it over! Give it to the apprentice's wife."
"Thank you, Master!" Xena piped up. "May Master enjoy good health and a long life!"
"Um-hum. Be good, go along now. Oh, right—your undergarments are with Fyren. Remember to ask for them later."
Xena blushed, suppressing a giggle: "Yes, Xena knows. Master, please sit. Xena will take her leave."
"Um."
Watching Xena sashay away, Herbert stroked his beard. "What a fine bottom... What a charming girl!"
Fyren narrowed her eyes. Old coot! You almost blurted out the truth just now, you pervert!
Aloud she said: "Master, haven't you yet said what skills you mean to teach your disciple?"
"Little Monkey Fist!" Herbert declared. "But to practice my arts, you must first reforge your bones and tendons!"
"Reforge bones and tendons?"
"Precisely!"
"How does one reforge them?"
"First, I'll use overwhelming force to break every bone in your body! Shatter every tendon! Then I'll use a miraculous healing potion to mend you swiftly, combined with my unique internal energy—the essence of Xisui Jing—to make your entire skeleton and sinews heal anew! After that, you'll be—"
"Dead?"
"Whot? Master has a steady hand! I won't kill you."
"Then a cripple?"
"Only for a spell. You'll be as good as new in no time."
Fyren gritted her teeth: "Master, see here. I have vital matters tomorrow. If you break all my bones and shatter my tendons—"
"Shatter them!" Herbert slashed the air with his palm.
"Yes, yes—but after that, Master, I'm not afraid of hardship. The thing is, I still need to go to work tomorrow. There are heaps of matters at the company. If I end up crippled, everything will grind to a halt."
Herbert scowled. "Is company business more important than learning martial arts from me? Are you afraid of hardship?"
"No, no, not at all," Fyren stammered. "I just—"
"Shameless drivel! It's not up to you!"
Fyren sensed danger and whirled to flee. Could he escape Herbert's grasp?
Herbert snatched him like a chicken, flinging him onto the sofa. "Disciple, bear with it—Master will toughen you up!"
Fyren shrieked: "Master! No! I was wrong!"
Herbert bellowed: "Overwhelming force!"
All hope drained from Fyren. Who could have guessed the villain would be done in by a side character? He'd only tried to protect Otto, but this supporting role was crueler than the main villain! The plot had careened into absurdity.
Wait! The Acala Experience Card! Damn it, he had to survive this!
Just as he reached for his life-saving trump card, Herbert yelped. Fyren froze.
"Master?"
Herbert beamed. "Apprentice! Your bones... they've been reforged?!"
Fyren exhaled sharply. Thank god for Chloe—he'd slept through it. Otherwise, he might have perished at the hands of this madman. The Acala card could block one blow, but with Herbert's logic, one strike wouldn't suffice. He'd surely strike again to 'check progress,' leaving Fyren a vegetable while wasting a precious life-saver.
Chloe wasn't just his punching bag secretary—she was his good luck charm! Chloe, I love you! Fyren felt a lump in his throat.
Herbert hauled him up, prodding his muscles, taking his pulse. "Haha! Apprentice! Your potential is extraordinary! Indeed, your tendons are naturally gifted with strength!"
Fyren survived by a hair, forcing a smile. "Master, no need for reforging now, right?"
"None at all—this is better than anything I could do. Eh? You didn't have this foundation when we met. Did you find another master? Bring him out, let me size him up!"
Fyren rushed to say: "No, Master—you're my only master in the world."
"Ah, so you had a fortuitous encounter."
"Yes, a stroke of luck."
"Tell Master about it."
Fyren thought: How the hell do I explain this? That I slept with a girl, fooled around with my secretary, and got a side quest reward for reforged tendons?
He quickly changed the subject. "Master, did you visit my elder brother?"
"Oh, I went to his place first! He never sleeps—either meditating or training. I feared disturbing him might make him go berserk again! Or his room is full of people, men and women, plotting to conquer Crystalpeak City. So tedious. Not like here—peaceful, just you and your apprentice's wife canoodling."
Fyren thought: This isn't exactly a peaceful haven either!
"Big Brother has greater talent and a higher rank. He needs bone reforging more than me, Master!"
Herbert froze for a moment: "Hmm, you're right. His talent is exceptional. As for his bones, they were previously reforged, but the method was piecemeal—needs repeated refinement. I must help him."
Fyren smacked his thigh and dropped to one knee:
"Master! Your disciple begs you! Please assist Elder Brother! He has a noble heart and cares for the common folk. Without your true teachings, he can never fulfill his great ambitions!"
Herbert smiled, resting a hand on Fyren's shoulder. "To set aside rivalry and plead for your brother—such generosity moves me deeply. You're a good lad, and I was right to take you as my disciple."
Fyren seethed inwardly:
He wants to break every single one of my bones! Every last one!
Who the hell would compete with him?
Herbert smacked his thigh and stood abruptly. "Fine! I'll go to Elder Brother at once and help him reforge his bones! Help him become a great hero!"
"Your disciple thanks you for this favor, Master!"
"Wait for my good news."
With that, Herbert's figure vanished in a flash.
"Master? Master?"
Fyren's legs nearly gave way, and he collapsed onto the sofa.
"Christ, that scared the life out of me."
Then he sprawled on the cushions, laughing wildly: "Otto, Otto—here's a gift for you! Don't mention it! Master's gonna reforge your bones—you're in for a real treat. Hahaha!"