25 The Way Of The Warrior #25

Karate Island

The Red Daisies Brothel

Sitting in the corner alone with a glass of rum, Kenward couldn't help but frown as he watched some young punk come into the brothel and start throwing money around, surrounding himself with women as he drank.

Kneward had grown accustomed to such people suddenly showing up and making a nuisance out of themselves. However, when he looked closely and realized the newcomer was casually drinking with one of the local dojo heads, he couldn't help but grit his teeth in frustration.

After spending three months in White Cub Town, not only did he fail to join any of the various dojos, but the masters didn't even give him the time of day to boot, treating him with dismissal and utter disregard.

The fact that some pretty boy could suddenly show up on the island and get along with one of the masters instantly enraged Kenward and filled him with frustration.

It had nothing to do with the women surrounding the young man, or so Kenward told himself as he got up and approached Cedric with an indignant expression.

"Hey, asshole, you're being too loud..." Kenward said, standing behind Cedric and putting a hand over his shoulder. "This Karate Island is a place where people come to learn martial arts. It's not a tourist spot for pretty boys like you to come and spend their money..." He added with a scowl.

"Give me a minute, darling," Cedric said, caressing the waist of the woman sitting in his lap, to which she smiled and got off. "Sorry about that, friend. I didn't realize I was making a nuisance of myself..." He politely and calmly added.

"How about I buy you a drink, and we put this whole thing behind us?" He asked, his tone sincere, as he picked up one of the unopened bottles on the bar and offered it to Kenward.

"How about you stop bothering the people here, get the fuck out of the island... and I don't beat the shite out of you instead..." Kenward said, scowling as he took the bottle, then opened it, and emptied its contents over Cedric's head.

Much to Kenward's surprise, the young man only laughed at his gesture, and before he could even process the situation, Kenward's head was being pressed against the wet floor with Cedric's foot over his head.

"Now look what you did..." Cedric said, putting more force into his foot as he pressed Kenward's head against the alcohol on the floor. "Do you think this mess will clean itself?" He asked with an annoyed expression.

"No, it fucking doesn't..." Cedric went on, answering his question without waiting for a reply. "These gorgeous ladies working the bar will have to clean it, you know...?" He added as he turned to the blonde woman previously sitting on his lap.

"Do you want to clean this guy's mess, darling...?" Cedric said with a calm smile, which the woman returned and shook her head. "Who do you think should clean it then...?" He asked, nodding in satisfaction.

"The one who caused it..." The woman replied as she crossed her arms and looked down at Kenward. "And I think he should apologize too...?" She added, albeit with some hesitation.

"You heard the lady, dipshit..." Cedric said, easing up the pressure on Kenward's head. "Now hurry and apologize and clean this shit up before I break your fucking neck..." He concluded, pausing as he waited for a reply.

"All-- alright..." Kenward said, stuttering in between coughs as he spat the dirty alcohol that got into his nose and mouth. "I'm sorry, ok? I'm sorry. I'll clean it up, so please let me go..." He concluded, and Cedric picked him up and helped him to his feet as soon as he finished his sentence.

"That's a good man..." Cedric said with a satisfied smile as he dusted Kenward's jacket. "Now... where were we...?" He added, ignoring the man's presence as he turned his attention back to the blonde woman and patted his lap.

...

Several hours later

"I must say, I liked how you dealt with that hooligan. You displayed the patience and discipline necessary to practice martial arts..." Liu Fan said, stroking his beard as he walked beside me.

"Simply because you can win every battle with your fist doesn't mean you should always resort to violence..." He added, instantly turning from a lecherous old fart to a grizzled martial arts master. "Though it is necessary at times..." He concluded.

"It wasn't that deep..." I said with a chuckle. "I didn't want to scare away the ladies, that's all..." I added, joining my hands behind my neck and leaning my head into it as I gazed at the starry night sky, feeling completely relaxed.

"Even so, knowing your way around the ladies is just as impressive and necessary to mastering martial arts!" Liu Fan said with a dismissive snort, much to my confusion.

"Is that so...?" I muttered, giving the old martial artist a skeptical look.

"Of course, it is so..." Liu Fan replied, nodding sagely. "Tell me, young man... why do you think men seek strength? Why do they endure the grueling challenges of the warrior path and learn martial arts?" He asked, his tone grave.

"To be able to defend themselves, and--" I replied, or at least I tried, but I had to swallow the rest of my sentence as the old martial artist promptly interjected, cutting me off.

"No!" Liu Fan passionately remarked with a huff, decisively waving his hand to the side. "Men become stronger to pick up chicks, and that is the truth of our world..." He added as he grandly spread his arms apart, sounding like a great scholar on a mission to spread the truth.

"Nothing is more attractive to a woman than a strong man, willing and capable of protecting her!" Liu Fan said, regaining his neutral tone as he flicked his beard. "Naturally, you may use martial arts to defend yourself and preserve your life, but let me ask you this..." He added, the intensity of his tone causing me to gulp.

"Is your life worth living if you didn't have a beautiful woman to warm your heart and bed at night?!" Liu Fan asked, and I could almost see an aura of light and reincarnations of Buddhas materializing behind him.

I barely held back a chuckle at how serious the old martial artist seemed, but I decided to play along anyway as I fell to my knees. I came here to learn martial arts, and if the looks everyone kept giving Liu Fan were anything to go by, he was the man to teach me.

"Teach me your awesome ways, master!"

...

One week later

"Is this really necessary...?" Cedric asked with a grunt of pain, having spent the past three hours standing on his index finger. "It's not like I'm gonna fight anyone with my finger..." He grumbled in annoyance as he watched Liu Fan leisurely enjoying a cup of tea before him.

"We've already been through this, Cedric..." Liu Fan said as he put down the teacup and stood up. "This exercise is not about building strength or endurance, which you already possess in abundance..." He added as he bowed down, put his finger on the ground, and stood on it.

Despite his questionable ideologies and having no students, Liu Fan was a master of martial arts and one of the best teachers on Karate Island, having graduated from Black Leatherback Town many years ago.

Ultimately, it was ideologies that prevented Liu Fan from getting students, but he didn't care or lower his strange standards even for the most talented and devoted martial arts students.

Many people came to Liu Fan seeking his guidance, but he shooed away anyone interested in learning from him after claiming they didn't have what it takes to pick up chicks, much to everyone's confusion.

"It's about learning balance..." Liu Fan said with a calm smile as he slowly leaned his legs and touched the ground with his foot while still standing on his index finger. "Without balance and flexibility, you will never be able to put your considerable strength to good use..." He added, his body twisting unnaturally as he got back to his feet.

"The Shaolin Kung Fu is a martial art that has been perfected and passed down from one practitioner to another throughout the ages..." Liu Fan said as he approached Cedric.

"Once you master it, you will not only be able to strike your opponent from any angle and position..." Liu Fan said, exerting an air of seriousness. "But your smooth, flashy moves will also smite the hearts of many a damsel who would bear witness to them..." He added, flashing a lewd smile as he caressed his beard.

"Ahem... so less whining and more training..." Liu Fan concluded, clearing his throat and regaining his solemn aura as he lightly flicked Cedric's foot, causing the young man to lose balance and fall to the ground instantly.

"What the hell have I gotten myself into...?"

...

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