One month had already passed and Regan had settled into his routine. Getting up early in the morning, spending all day in horse stance in a remote corner of the courtyard and taking mind-bogglingly fruitless reading lessons with Old Tong.

The thing that amazed him most was the rapid increase in the strength of his body. When he began his training with Heshu, he couldn’t even maintain the stance for thirty minutes. At the end of the month though, he could comfortably remain in the same for the entire day. Regan suspected that it had something to do with the food with spirit ingredients that Tong mentioned but there was no way to prove it so he left it at that.

The thing that amazed him second most was the near zero progress of his literary skills. No matter how much Tong tried, Regan couldn’t grasp the alphabets. He couldn’t just remember them, at all. This frustrated both him and Old Tong to no ends but kudos to Tong’s diligence, he patiently came and taught the same thing again and again every single day.

He had become fast friends with Tong, sort of. The old man sure liked to talk and talk he did. He told Revan all sort of things about the kingdom, the four major Dukes, the minor nobilities and so on. He also told him things about the Phoenix family. They were one of the major Dukedom albeit now in decline. Still, Tong would beam with immense pride and joy when speaking about his master.

Their “conversation” led him to identify the mysterious girl he had met in the garden as Rune Phoenix, and yeah, she really was her grandfather’s granddaughter, which was to say, the Duke’s granddaughter. Speaking of her, Revan hadn’t gone to visit her after the first time. Not because he didn’t want to (he wasn’t particularly fond of her though), it was just that Heshu had increased his training so much that he simply couldn’t muster enough energy to move about in the manor.

“That’s enough,” Heshu spoke.

Already?

“We only have two months remaining and though your body leaves much to be desired in terms of strength, we will have to proceed onwards,” he eyed Regan coldly as if being weak were his fault.

Yeah, fuck you too old man.

“I will next demonstrate a set of fist moves. I advise you to observe with your complete attention, I am not as patient as Tong is,” he said.

Regan scoffed. By now the entire manor was aware of his disastrous reading skills, Heshu was no exception.

“This is the first set of phoenix fist skills, it’s called phoenix claws,”

Heshu got into the stance and executed a series of jabs, punches and defensive moves. It was absolutely entrancing to see such fluid movements. Regan, being a martial artist himself could properly appreciate the fluidity and viciousness of the moves. But there was this small little problem.

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It’s too fast!

Indeed, Heshu’s skills were extraordinary and his speed was to the point that Regan found it hard to follow.

“Your turn,” he said.

Regan just stood there expecting Heshu to slow down the moves and demonstrate it once again.

“We don’t have all day, you stupid piece of …”

He held his tongue. As a servant of the manor, he was supposed to address Regan as young master. But he had never once done so. Regan didn’t mind. However, not addressing him with proper respect and calling him a stupid piece of whatever were two entirely different things.

“Sigh… alright, I will demonstrate it once again. Follow my movements,”

This time, Heshu slowed down a bit. Unexpectedly, Regan was able to follow it quite well which kind of surprised the old butler.

“Hmph, seems like you have some talent after all. You are to repeat these steps for the entire day. I’ll check on your progress in the evening.”

Heshu left as he always did. It seemed like he had no time to deal with a random person who was suddenly adopted into the phoenix household.

Regan began practicing. The phoenix fist arts, or the phoenix claws, as Heshu named it was profound in nature. Regan understood it as much. The martial art that he had practiced since his childhood had enabled him to see through most of the moves. Why hands were moved the way they were moved or why they stayed where they stayed, everything had a reason behind them.

His old master had drilled the nature of asking questions and thinking about every move in him. According to him, it was the basics of the Ryu, the martial arts that he had taught Regan on earth.

Dragon arts, phoenix arts… all pretentious names. As if Dragons and Phoenixes would ever need fancy movements to strike.

Regardless of his thoughts, he had to practice to the Phoenix Claws. So he got on with it, with surprising results.

In the royal palace, King Robert was quite grave as he discussed his schemes with his advisor Ricard.

“What is the meaning of this? They gave their precious Phoenix name to a village boy? Has that old monster finally gone mad?”

“Your majesty, my spies report that the boy is currently practicing the Phoenix Arts. Apparently, master Heshu is teaching him himself.”

This alarmed the king to no ends.

“But he has never taken a disciple before? What could be the meaning of this?” King Robert mused.

“My spies reported that it was a direct order from the Duke himself. It is indeed strange your majesty. Although he lives there as a servant of the house, Heshu is most respected and the strongest in terms of Martial skills after perhaps the Phoenix Defender himself. Not even the Duke dare order him around,” Ricard reported.

“Then why is he teaching this boy?” Robert asked angrily.

Ricard bowed his head, “This servant does not know your highness.”

King Robert was a very regal looking man. With royal robes and a strong muscular build, he looked more like a warrior than a king. Other times, he exuded an air of magnificence and awe to those in front of him. This time though, he was filled with anxiety and suspicion.

“Ricard, send a message to Duke Fael. At the time of the Royal Hunt, he is to ask for the usage of the legacy stone.”

“The Royal treasure, your highness?” Ricard asked suspiciously.

“Indeed, once Duke Fael asks for its usage, other three Dukes will be compelled to do the same.”

Comprehension dawned on Ricard’s face, “I’ll send the message immediately your highness.”

Ricard bowed and excused himself.

“Cheap tricks will not save you this time Duke Renne,” Robert gave a self-satisfied laugh.