After chugging down several more bottles of tasty wine, Jin Hennessy stored the rest in his liquor shed and gave face to his newly accepted disciples. “So you brats are still here?”

“Of course, we are, master. Now that you’ve accepted us as disciples. Please instruct us!”

“Very eager I see.” Jin Hennessy thought to himself as he observed his new disciples, ‘These damn brats are so annoyingly mischievous. I can’t believe that I was swayed into accepting them. This is all that damn brat’s fault.’ He gave bad eyes to Dam Son. ‘I should have never taught him the basics of Natural Verb Force. Now he has brought further nuisance to my doorsteps. I haven’t forgotten about those dangerous figures who trespassed onto my mountain for the sake of finding the Kismet Coin which that brat has stolen. He has turned me into an accomplice goddammit! I should be living my retirement in peace. Why do I have to be nurturing these brats? On the bright side, I will be regularly supplied with free liquor. So…’

Finished curating his thoughts, Jin Hennessy stood firm before his pupils, preparing to instruct them. “Ahem… Listen up brats. Don’t relax thinking that I’ve successfully accepted you just yet.”

“What do you mean, master?”

“If you wish to become my official disciples, you must first acknowledge the art of Raw Kung Fu. As such, you must not assimilate with any form of Word Fu Script for 3 months.”

“What, 3 months?”

“Why should we not assimilate with any scripts, master?”

“Do tell us?”

The students were puzzled by this bizarre order. They thought not being able to assimilate with any Word Fu Script for 3 months would dull their Word Fu abilities. On the contrary, this wasn’t quite right.

Jin Hennessy explained, “To become as powerful as I am which will never be possible for you lot. The closest in strength you can ever get to me is my big toe.” He wiggled his toes.

“Ahem… All jokes aside. You must first be well rounded in the basics before you can become a competent Word Fu Master. Depending too much on scripts isn’t the correct way to train yourself. This will only weaken your potential, making you quite incompetent. Mastering your inner Letter Force requires special treatment which doesn’t involve the distraction of script assimilation. Whenever a nascent Word Fu Master assimilates with scripts, they slightly alter their physiology by dealing small amounts of damage to their Letter Force Circulatory System. If not carefully treated, over time, these damages may lead to a fatal illness commonly known as Compulsive Letter Depletion Syndrome.”

“CLDS!” The students recalled Ms Enjoy taught them about this topic.

“Indeed, CLDS.” Jin Hennessy continued his explanation. “This illness is most common among Word Fu practitioners. To prevent your weak bodies from succumbing to this fatal disease, you will have to strengthen your inner and physical self. This is why as of now, none of you will assimilate with any Word Fu Script until 3 months have passed, during which, I will teach you the perfect art of Raw Kung Fu. This is my condition for accepting you as my disciples. Do you all accept?”

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“…” At first, aside from Dam Son, Xuan Li and Sugar Bun weren’t so keen on accepting Jin Hennessy’s proposal. But after recalling the impactful scenery where he kicked open the artificial clouds. They eventually agreed.

“Very well. Let me just make sure that none of you will be able to cheat behind my back.” Saying this, Jin Hennessy executed swift, unforeseen movements with his fingers. He blocked a specific alignment of his disciples’ internal flow. Moreover, he plastered an illusionary brand onto their backs. This mysterious sigil prevented them from successfully undergoing script assimilation. If they tried, then they would receive the shock of their lives.

“There, I’ve completely severed your link from assimilating with any form of Word Fu Script.”

“Teacher…” Sugar Bun acquired Jin Hennessy‘s attention to ask him about something important.

“What is it, fat one?”

“This thing that you’ve done to block our Internal Flow, does it also prevents us from trace activating other types of scripts which belongs to Wordsmith or Word Mage category?”

“Of course not. Do I look like some incompetent master? I wouldn’t dare cut off your link from learning other Word Masteries.”

“Oh, thanks for clarifying this for me, master.” Sugar Bun showed gratitude with a bow. However, Jin Hennessy disliked this formality.

“Stop bowing to me, brat. You can’t even manage to do it properly with that saggy gut blocking the way.”

“But, teacher this is how I am.” Said Sugar Bun while caressing his belly.

“Don’t talk back to me!” Jin Hennessy scolded Sugar Bun with his wiggling big toe. “Starting tomorrow, you will burn off all that fat! Now leave!”

“Yes, master. We will!”

“Thank you for showing us your benevolence, esteemed elder.” Xuan Li cupped his fist respectfully before turning to leave with Sugar Bun. Dam Son was about to follow them but was stopped by Jin Hennessy.

“You, stay behind. We have something to discuss.”

“Huh, alright.” Dam Son only followed his fellow disciples to the exit by the flight of stairs; wished them goodbye before returning to Jin Hennessy’s locale.

“What do you want to talk with me alone about teacher?” Dam Son’s innocent eyes made Jin Hennessy clench his fist and smack him on the head. “Ouch! What was that for?” Dam Son felt a burst of pain coursing throughout his head.

“Don’t play coy with me! You know exactly what you’ve done. Why did you bring those 2 brats along with you to my mountain?”

“Are you still upset about that?”

“Of course I am! Do you think any amount of liquor would make me satisfied for interrupting my piece?”

“But I’ve already explained the situation to you.” As he spoke, Dam Son made sure to protect his head from getting bruised again. “I told you that our institute currently has no suitable grounds for studying Word Fu Mastery. So I thought that I would introduce those 2 to you, seeing how you are very proficient in Martial Arts.”

“Ha-ha-ha! Yes, I am quite skilled aren’t I?” Due to the boost of praise he received from Dam Son, Jin Hennessy almost forgot to scold him. “Wait a moment. That doesn’t excuse your distasteful behaviour. From henceforth, make sure that you never bring another single soul to my mountain, got that?”

“Yes, teacher.”

“Stop calling me teacher! It sounds annoying!”

“Then how should I formally address you, mister?”

“Call me, Master Jin. And make sure you tell this to those other rug rats!”

“I will certainly do so.” Agreed Dam Son.

“Come join me inside. I wish to speak to you about the event that transpired this morning.”

“I’m right behind you, Master Jin.” Dam Son followed Jin Hennessy into his abode.