Chapter 31
Denzel looked to be in his 20s or 50s, and he was dressed in a pristine white training outfit. Compared to others his age, he looked remarkably energetic.
Notably, the sword in his hand wasn’t a mere prop but a genuine sharpened blade that glinted under the sunlight, reflecting a silvery metallic sheen.
** wouldn’t say I’m particularly interested, but I was forced to train for a while when I was younger, thanks to my elders”
Ethan was telling the truth. Though he now possessed many skills, many were acquired under the coercion of his mentors on the mountain. Regarding weaponry, he was a true jack–of–all–trades, proficient in everything from swords to spears and beyond.
“Oh? So you’ve trained before. In that case, how would you rate my swordsmanship?”
“To be honest, it’s quite mediocre.”
Though his training had been less than voluntary, his innate talent was exceptional, as his mentors often remarked. He could grasp concepts quickly and surpass experts in their respective fields. For someone like Ethan, pointing out the flaws in Denzel’s technique was child’s play.
“Hmph! Don’t act like you know everything!”
A young woman who had been practicing martial arts nearby couldn’t hold back her annoyance. Ignoring Andres Dudley’s attempts to stop her, she strode quickly toward them.
“My grandfather has been practicing swordsmanship for over 20 years, and you have the nerve to call it mediocre?”
“Martial arts skill isn’t about how many years you’ve trained, it’s about the practitioner. Even if your grandfather had practiced for 30 or 50 years, my assessment would remain the same.”
“You!”
Violet Ziegler clenched her tists, her anger reaching its peak. Normally, anyone encountering her grandfather would go out of their way to flatter him, hoping to gain favor. But this man? He dared to criticize so casually as if he were some kind of grandmaster
Since you think so little of my swordsmanship, young man, why don’t you show me a few moves? Let me see what real skill looks like.”
“There’s no need for a demonstration. The sword techniques I’ve learned are genuine combat skills. Even a small mistake could cause injury. However, if you’re looking for guidance, I wouldn’t mind offering a few pointers,”
“You’re just boasting without shame. I can see that all you know how to do is talk big “That was the last straw for Violet. She closed the distance between them with two swift steps, her tists flying in a practiced routine aimed at him.
Andres, beside her, moved to intervene but was stopped by Denzel
“It’s okay. Let her test him. Let’s see if this young man is truly skilled or just putting on airs.”
“But Mr. Ziegler Senior, Ms. Ziegler has trained in martial arts since childhood. She may only be an external martial artist now, but she’s virtually unbearable among her peers!”
Andres was Violet’s instructor, and he had watch
watched her grow and hone her skills. He knew exactly how strong she was
Just days ago, she had spared with soldiers during a visit to a military base, holding her own against multiple opponents at once. That was the power of a martial
artist.
“Your Dragon–Tiger Fist lacks force. Your technique isn’t proper.”
The onlookers‘ concem that Violet might injure Ethan proved unfounded. She couldn’t even land a hir
Not
matter how tierce her attacks appeared, Ethan evaded them effortlessly, as though he could see right through her every move.
“This young man…”
Both Denzel and Andres were astonished.
For him to dodge every strike so easily, his skill clearly surpassed Violet’s by a wide margin. His earlier remarks were not baseless, after all
“So, you think 1 lack force? Fine! Let’s see how you handle this!”
Enraged, Violet pushed herself to the limit. She unleashed her fastest attacks, pouring every ounce of strength into her punches. She was more serious now than ever during her usual sparring sessions with her instructor.
Every ounce of her strength was being relentlessly squeezed out, all to defeat the man before her, who only knew how to boast and irked her to no end
