Chapter 47



Nora looked around the place after entering.

The Quinn School of Martial Arts was located in the heart of New York. The fact that they could occupy such a large building for their martial arts gym in a place like this showed how deep and solid the Quinn School of Martial Arts’ track record was.

The disciples in the gym were divided into several classes and were currently shouting loudly as they trained. Which part resembled the ‘withered and dying’ state that the old man had claimed he had?

So, hearing that he was trying to trick her again, Nora pricked up her ears and said, “Tell me what the secret is and then I’ll decide.”

Quinn was speechless.

Everyone else was begging to be taken as a disciple, so why was it so hard for him to find a successor? He had finally found that woman’s daughter after so much trouble and on top of that she was a talented girl, but all she did was sleep!

Fortunately, these two children inherited her good looks.

Quinn’s gaze shifted to Cherry and he thought again of Pete, who was at the martial arts gym.

To be honest, it was true that the Quinn Martial Arts School style suited the boys better. After all, there was no one as talented as little Nora.

After weighing the pros and cons, he suddenly realized that taking Pete on as a disciple might seem like a better deal? And safer?

So, Quinn coughed and said, “Forget it, I’ll tell you no more.”

“…”

Nora knew this would be the case. After that, she accompanied Quinn to the inner courtyard where she lived.

Quinn was wearing a white martial arts uniform. Despite his advanced age, he was lean and wiry. Although his voice was rough, there was a sense of careful attention within him. If it were not so, he would not have become a master of the art either.

As the two of them entered the inner courtyard, Quinn looked at her, reached out and gestured. “Come, let’s see if you’ve made any progress lately.”

As he spoke, Quinn went on the offensive.

Nora quickly stepped back and evaded the attack. Then, she counterattacked and began sparring with Quinn.

Every move and every action carried a subdued but sharp and fierce momentum.

The pair had a good time sparring. Towards the end, even Nora broke into a light sweat and felt refreshed.

When they finished sparring, Quinn loosened her wrist muscles and commented, “To think you can achieve a skill level like this despite slacking off. You’re a real freak. If you practice well, I’m sure you’ll surpass me.”

Nora emitted an “Oh” and replied dispassionately, “I’ll be able to surpass you too when I’m your age.”

“…”

Quinn was so dumbfounded by her response that he couldn’t be bothered to be angry anymore. However, he couldn’t help but ask pointedly, “You really have no intention of Cherry taking up martial arts?”

Nora shook her head. “There is no need for her.”

She had practiced martial arts back then to train and strengthen her body. However, Cherry was healthy and had always been strong and sturdy since she was a baby. Besides, Cherry was a little princess. The way her aunt had raised her had made her a very delicate child who could not stand any discomfort.

If Nora forced her to practice martial arts, she would probably burst into tears and start wailing.

So why bother?

Seeing how stubborn she was, Quinn could only give up. He complained, “Why do you also have your mother’s temper?”

His mother…

Nora’s interest was suddenly piqued. She asked, “Old man, do you know my mother, can you tell me about her?”

Quinn stroked his white beard and smiled as he replied, “Your mother? She’s a legend in New York!”

Nora was taken aback.

Quinn pointed to the patio table. Nora followed him and walked over. Although she was cheeky whenever she spoke to him, after sitting down, she dutifully picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of tea.

Quinn sat down on the bench and took a sip from his teacup. “During your mother’s younger days, she was incredibly talented and brilliant, she was known as the most talented woman in New York. At the time, many people were proposing to your mother, and the Andersons were the flashiest. Even the Hunts thought it would be an honor to have her marry into the family. Unfortunately, she turned down the number one family in the end. Heh heh, she had a decided personality, all right. I, for one, don’t think much of the Hunts, especially that Irvin disciple…”

Quinn and Irvin always argued when they met.

Nora listened with great interest. When she realized Quinn had finished his tea, she poured him another cup and pressed, “So?”

Quinn let out a “hmph” and continued. “At that time, I had just achieved some success in my training and had made a name for myself in the circle. I wanted to take a disciple and was interested in your mother. However, she didn’t want to and turned me down…. After that, she disappeared.”

At this point, Quinn stroked his beard and said, “And why did she suddenly run away from home? I don’t know. Some say she was kidnapped for her beauty and imprisoned, but that’s nonsense. Considering how fierce she was, who could have kidnapped her?

“She came to me two years later. She asked me to take you as my disciple once you were five or six years old, and to train your body for you. At the time, she said she was dying.”

Quinn sighed and said, “By the time I found you with the information she gave me, she was already gone.

However, you don’t have to be sad. Although your mother only lived a short twenty years, her life was exciting and fulfilling. She had a life well lived. But if you talk about her life, she did let someone down.”

A curious Nora joined in. “Who?”

Quinn put down his teacup. “Have you heard of the Smiths of New York?”

Nora shook her head.

All she did each day was sleep, so she didn’t know much about wealthy and influential people like them.

Quinn said, “The Smiths and the Hunts are equally powerful, and they were vying for the title of number one family back then. The former head of the Hunts was actually inferior to that Smith guy. Your mother was also engaged to that Smith guy in the end, so when I heard your last name was Smith, I thought she was pregnant by him, but alas, she was not. Speaking of your father, he’s a typical male chauvinist pig. Your mother was so demanding all her life, why did she marry a scumbag like him in the end?”.

Nora had no words for that. She, too, was equally bewildered.

“We’re digressing. Anyway, the head of the Smiths at the time was a very ambitious man. With him at the head of the family, the Smiths came close to overtaking the Hunts. But when your mother later disappeared, he fell into an irreversible depression. This stabilized the situation, the Smiths and the Hunts returned to equal rank. Then, when Justin Hunt took over the family, he led the Hunts to completely overtake the Smiths and become the real number one again.”

Quinn shook his head. “That Smith kid is considered their oldest. After he retired, he got a nephew of his to lead the Smiths. Besides, he’s still unmarried even now.”

Nora was shocked by what she heard. “Indeed, my mother had let him down.”

Quinn strongly agreed with her.

Nora suddenly asked, “What’s his name?”

Quinn smiled and replied, “Ian!”.

Ian Smith?

She suddenly thought of the company her mother had left behind. It was called Idealian Pharmaceuticals….

Then Quinn spoke again. “By the way, I heard that she became seriously ill recently. It looks like she won’t be able to live beyond this year. What a shame. He was quite a hero back then.”

When he finished, Quinn got up and said, “All right, you can rest here for a while. I’ll go take a look at what the two kids are doing.”

He had seen Cherry and Pete meeting secretly just now. He felt like hurrying up and taking Pete as his disciple.

After Quinn left, Nora sat and thought hard about her mother’s past. However, she suddenly realized something with a start.

The two children?

Who was the other one besides Cherry?

She stood up abruptly and headed for the martial arts gym at the entrance.

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