Keira was confused.
She took a step back and asked James, âWhat did you just call me?â
James hesitated slightly.
Thinking about how his third uncle preferred younger women, and that the banquet in a few days wasbeing held in a secretive manner without much fanfare, he cleared his throat, stepped forward, andsaid, âIâve come to understand your relationship with my third uncle. Well, itâs fine if you donât want meto call you something so intimate in public.â
Keira didnât know what to say.
Before she could figure out the relationship he mentioned, she saw James turn to the gatekeeper andsaid, âThis is an elder of my family⦠No, sheâs a friend of mine. Be more respectful to her in the future.â
The gatekeeper immediately clasped his fist in salute. âSecond Senior Brother, understood!â
Then he turned to Keira with a fist salute. âI apologize,
youpnovelbin
lady. If you had said you knew Second Senior Brother earlier, I would have let you in. However, the
Freeman Sect really doesnât take temporary jobs.â
Only then did James look at Keira. âWhat temporary job?â
Keira coughed lightly, âI want to cooperate with the
Freeman Sect.â
âCooperate?â
James was completely baffled.
The gatekeeper immediately laughed. âMiss, what youâre proposing is just a one-time deal, notcooperation. Even if we assign a few people to protect you out of respect for Second Senior Brother, atmost itâs an employment relationship, right?â
Keira stopped short on hearing this. âSo what would qualify as cooperation?â
James explained, âActually, the Freeman Sect does accept cooperation from anyone. We just practiceown martial arts. If you really want to talk about a cooperative relationship, the only way would be foryou to join the Freeman Sect and become an İnner
Sect Disciple then we could perhans refer to it as a
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cooperation?â
Keira was dumbfounded.
Was this what martial arts families mean by cooperation?
She had thought it would be like with the Olsen family and the Davis family, where finding a projecteveryone could make money on was considered cooperation.
After pondering for a moment, she looked at James again. âSo how can one join the Freeman Sect andbecome an Inner Sect Disciple?â
This question rendered James somewhat speechless.
He coughed, lifted his chin, and said, âActually, itâs very difficult to become an Inner Sect Disciple. Apartfrom hard work acquired later, it mainly depends on natural talent. Those of us who wish to learnmartial arts are
sent to the Freeman Sect for Bone Assessment around
the age of three or four. Only those with exception innate qualities are taken in as Inner Sect Disciples
the Freeman Sect.â
James patted his chest, confidently saying, âOut of the seven Olsen brothers of our family, not even theeldes
was chosen only I was!â
Keira thought, âThatâs your family, not mine.â
Butâ¦
If the Freeman Sect only took in kids, she certainly couldnât turn herself into a three- or four-year-oldchild, could she? What was she supposed to do now?
The first person she thought of was Amy.
But that wouldnât do.
Amyâs personality was too gentle, and she wasnât cut out for martial arts; her bones were too thin andtoo soft, though she was quite good at dancing.
Keira was troubled. âHasnât there ever been an older person who was selected?â
âYes!â
James said, âOur senior sister, she was noticed by the Sect Leader when she was fifteen!â
Speaking of the senior sister the gatekeeper got excited too. âRight, our Sect Leader said that oursenior sister had an extraordinary foundation.
Although she was fifteen, she was especially resilient seemingly because she had been beaten up froma young age. As a result she developed an ironclad body.
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which is incredibly formidable. Sheâs a standout talent among our generation. Unfortunately, the SectLeader has been secretly training her, so none of us have seen what the senior sister looks like!â
Mentioning the senior sister, James also looked wistful. âOur Sect Leader said he planned to have thesenior sister come back to the Freeman Sect at the age of 23 to give us some guidance. By mycalculations, that time should almost be upon usâ¦â
The gatekeeper immediately got excited. âSecond Senior Brother, youâve practically fought all over theFreeman Sect unbeaten. When the senior sister
arrives, the two of you should have a match! See who is more powerful!â
Upon hearing this, James gave him a smack on the head. âWhat nonsense are you spouting? Howcould I compare with our senior sister? The Sect Leader said that she became a disciple at fifteen,became a mas by eighteen, and at the age of twenty, she almost bested the Sect Leader by half amove! I canât even defeat the Sect Leader yet, how could I compare wit
the senior sister? Donât stir up trouble for me! I know
my place!â
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The gatekeeper chuckled.
Keira, unable to contain herself as the two men chatted enthusiastically, interjected, âActually, myconstitution isnât too shabby either. Iâve been especially resilient to beatings since I was young. Couldyou take me to meet your Sect Leader?â
As soon as she said this, both the gatekeeper and Jameâs fell silent.
They both looked toward Keira in unison, twitching at the corners of their mouths as if they thoughtwhat she had just said was a joke.
Glancing at James, the gatekeeper coughed and said, âNot to put you down, but youâre over twenty thisyear, arenât you? No matter how skilled someone is, by that age their bones have set, and without asolid foundation, itâs no good. The legend of the senior
sister, being able to practice martial arts at fifter the Sect Leader said it was because she never had eto eat or wear when she was young, so her body fully developedâ¦â
Keira explained, ââ¦But I also started practicing ma arts when I was fifteen. Maybe thereâs a chance?â
Back when she had just started middle school, she left the Olsen family at the age of fourteen. Afterthat, she worked to earn money and met a martial arts master of her own.
While she was selling balloons in the park and reading books at the same time, a middle-aged mankept staring at her and then approached her.
âYoung lady, I can see that you have an exceptional foundation and a natural talent for martial arts.Why donât you become my disciple?â
At the time, Keira was almost ready to call the police, daiming he was harassing her, until he finallyagreed to pay her five hundred bucks for an hour of martial arts practice with him every day. That waswhen she consented,
She trained with him for four or five years, and
eventually, her master said he was going to wander world. He told her to keep practicing on her ownthat he would look for her when the right time car
Come to think of it, it had been two years since she last saw her master.
She didnât even ask for her masterâs name when he
leftâ¦
Keira then looked toward James. âJust take me to see him. We wonât know if itâll work or not until wetry.â
James wanted to refuse.
But then he remembered his uncleâs instruction from
this morning to be filial to his aunt, and he twitched at the corner of his mouth. âAlright, then follow me!â
James tossed the car keys to the gatekeeper and walked into the compound with Keira.
The Freeman Sect was vast, and as soon as they
entered, they could see martial artists practicing all around, with grunts and shouts echoing non-stop,oozing with masculinity.
After walking with James for about half an hour, they arrived in front of a bungalow. He said, âThe SectLeader is meditating inside. Iâll call him for you.â
Inside the room.
At that moment, Trevor Freeman, the Sect Leader of
the Freeman Sect, had tears streaming down his face. He was looking at a photo with his disciple,Keira, on his phone, sobbing uncontrollably.
Having been so picky all his life, he had only taken in one disciple, but how could she have drowned soyoung?!
Just then, he heard Jamesâs voice from outside the door, âMaster, Iâve brought someone to see you. Isit a good time now?â