Master Yupow watched in his chair as Guso snored day and night after receiving his Inner Energy treatment.

Yupow was impressed despite the powerful attacks the boy had to endure, he surprisingly didn't take any damage that was too serious or life threatening, even his broken bones were not in any place of serious significance and could easily be mended with treatment and rest.

The kid was more durable than he expected, despite the Stonecrushing Stramo Clan not engaging in Artificial Genetic Modification practices, they still managed to achieve an unprecedented reputation as the physically strongest Clan in Volunterra, even more so than the Titan Hand Clan, or the King Beast Clan.

Generations of selective breeding made for a Bloodline that was to be feared even among the physically superior Races.

The Stramos were never to be underestimated, especially because of their fondness for Martial Arts, which only further complemented their already excellent attributes.

The fact that this kid beat a unit like Teloro, made Yupow contemplate on the effectiveness of Kemoro’s Combined Fighting Method.

It only further cemented on why he had so much respect for his dear friend despite being stronger than him.

“How far can you take this method Kemoro, or maybe the better question is, how far can you take this method young Guso?”

Suddenly the light inside the house disappeared and the room turned into darkness.

An alarmed Yupow channeled his energy and glowed as bright as a star taking a formidable looking battle stance.

“Who is it! Who's come looking for trouble! I warn you there are few who are a match for me.”

“Hahahaha yes, yes don't think I don't know of your skill Yupow, despite your best attempts of avoiding my sight I can still see right through you. Don't think you're beyond my jurisdiction, only the weak hide like rats. Someday my will, will be your destiny Yupow, I just came to give you that little message don't be so tense hahahaha!”

“It couldn’t be…. No! It is! It's you! What do you want, Seeier!? I have no business with you.”

“ Did you forget Gusos one of mine, I only came to make that clear to you, don’t forget as long as your with him you might as well be one of mine as well, hahaha no matter soon you will know of a little surprise I have for you and the rest of your coward friends, enjoy your so called freedom while you have It Yupow, Master of the Inner Breath, Hahahaha!”

“Do what you will, my destiny is my own, I have no fear of you, one day you will face justice as well, even now you are not a Sovereign of your Domain, it is no secret many of the Ultos are beyond your control, keep on spouting all the lies you want, one day your little charade and game will end, and true peace will reign in this land.”

“Oh dear Yupow you sure do have a sharp mouth and an inquisitive nose, but remember that knowledge almost always leads to madness and doom, poor naive Yupow I can't help but like you and your foolish spirit, always striving for the Heavens but lost and trapped in the vicissitudes of Mortality, a tragic story you are, even those Cultivators have a better sense than you, for now i'll leave you and Guso with a little present so you dont say I’m a rude guest hahahah, see you at your funeral Grand Master Yupow Hahahaha!”

The lights came back to the room and everything returned back to normal.

Everything except Yupow who stood there sweating like he had just experienced a terrible fright.

But after some time he managed to calm down and sit down again.

He decided to let go of the worries that had come his way and focus on his current responsibility.

He noticed two markings on the floor of his home, they were black in color and in the shape of flowers.

Yupow scoffed in annoyance.

“Inheritances,… you think I want your crap, who do you think I am?” A stream of yellow energy flooded the floor area of where one of the markings was, erasing it from existence, with a faint scream heard in the distance.

Just as he was about to do the same to the next one he suddenly stopped himself and looked at Guso.

After some time he withdrew the yellow energy and leaned back on his chair in comfort.

“As of right now you're going to need all the help you can get, your Spirit is strong, but despite an enviable amount of good tidings you're still only normal. I'm actually surprised you made it this far. Kemoro had good intentions but he still doesn’t know the true difference between Heaven and Earth. He’s thrown Fresh Water Fish into the vast Salty Ocean. I'll do what I can to aid your cause, my good friend, but there’s only so far I can go.”

Soon the old man could be heard snoring along with the young man deep into the night.

***

I woke up feeling refreshed and energized, and the pain I was feeling, before I passed out, was almost completely gone.

After getting to the Old Man's home which was located in the worst slum of the City I felt dizzy and sleepy, before I passed out the Old Man treated me with a unique Healing Technique that felt as if warm water washed the insides of my body.

I noticed now that I had woken up, that the area’s in which I had probably broken my bones because of the battle damage, were mended and wrapped up.

It seemed the Old Man had treated my broken bones while I was passed out as well.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Again it seemed someone was looking out for me, had no one come to aid me, my end would’ve definitely come in the middle of that street.

I had entered the Termites nest unknowingly, it seemed everyone in the City hated me.

Suddenly I heard the door to the room I was in open and the raggedy looking Old Man walked in with a pleasant smile on his face.

“I'm impressed it took you less time than expected for you to heal your wounds. You sure do have a resilient body, make sure to take care of it nicely as you age.”

“Old man not to be rude i'm grateful and indebted to you, but why did you help back there, there was probably more powerful Experts back there than anywhere in the City, that I don't think any one Expert could have take them all alone.”

“Please, everyone there were just a bunch of half assed Practitioners, I could have taken all of them with my hands tied behind my back, didn't you hear me back there, I want to make you my Disciple. I've been observing you young man. I can tell Kemoro’s taught you well, I also have been looking for a Disciple and I figured he wouldn’t mind if we shared one.”

“You know Old Man Kemoro!, So that’s why you helped me. I'm surprised that Old Bastard Kemoro made one friend while he was here, everyone here hates him, and because of him everyone now hates me!”

“Hohoho, Kemoro indeed did make quite the ruckus while he was here, but the hate he gets is unwarranted. Everyone out there is too foolish and envious and too blind to recognize the greatest Martial Genius that has come out of this dump in the last 100 years. If I were them I would be groveling on the ground in front of Kemoro, that I may learn only a bit of his combat insight, for he is no less than the savior from the impending death of Martial Arts as a common path for a Warrior to take.”

“ I can't deny that, thanks to his Method, I managed to survive the duel against that freak of nature Teloro, I gotta make sure to thank the Old Man when I see him again.”

“So what do you say young Guso, do you accept my offer to become my Disciple?”

I thought for a while before I answered him.

This Old Man was definitely a powerful Expert it would be foolish to reject him.

But if I hadn't made Kemoro my true Martial Master, in honor and respect of him, I couldn't accept this Old Man either.

“Old man it's not that I don't want to, but the truth is for one reason or another I never truly became Kemoro’s official Disciple, he can honestly only be referred to as my Martial Teacher. But in the end he was still the first person to teach me Martial Arts one on one so therefore I dont think it would be appropriate if I took in another Master before him. I hope you understand.”

Contrary to my expectations the Old Man didn’t seem upset.

On the contrary he looked even happier.

“Kemoro really does have a good eye, not only do you have a good spirit, but you also have a good heart. That’ll do you good boy. Contrary to popular opinion in the Expert world it’s only a death sentence to be too evil and bloodthirsty, there is almost none who make it through that route and those who do are no longer Human but Monsters. I understand boy and I admire your integrity, but you said he was your Martial Teacher; well I see no reason why I can't be your Martial Teacher as well. What do you say, are you up to it?”

I was surprised by his second offer.

I had no reason to decline, in my path to the top I needed all the help I could get, and besides coming to Martial Citadel to find a Martial Instructor, was the main reason I had come to this City.

“Old man… ugh what was your name again?”

“Hohoho sorry for not introducing myself properly, young man. My name is Yupow, Master of the Inner Breath, it's an honor to meet such a promising talent.”

“Old Man Yupow, I accept your offer and am honored to be under your tutelage.”

I somehow managed to get up and perform an honorary Martial Bow.

“Hohoho it seems Kemoro has been teaching you a lot more than Martial Arts, that hooligan always manages to get a laugh out of me even when he's not here.”

“What do you mean isn't this customary for Martial Artists?”

“Although Martial Artists and Practitioners do have certain customs, they have nothing alike to what you’re doing, those are all Kemoro’s inventions and weird habits. But who am I to judge, as heir to his Fighting Art and Philosophy you might as well go all the way hohoho.”

When I heard the Old Mans words I almost fainted again from embarrassment, I knew the old bastard was screwing with me, it was stupid of me to have believed him.

Seeing my embarrassed facial expression, Old man Yupow decided to change the subject.

“Well now Young Guso, from today forward you will be learning the wonderful art of the Inner Breath, I'm sure it will be an excellent compliment to Kemoro’s Combined Fighting Method that he taught you.”

“Today? Aren’t I too injured to learn anything today.”

“That's the beauty of the Inner Breath you don’t even have to move while you do it, and once you start getting a grasp for it, it'll only help you in accelerating your healing process. Now I'm sure Kemoro showed you how to properly breathe, give me 1000 slow and extended deep breaths after the style that he taught you, afterwards I'll explain to you what Inner Energy is.”

And so there began my training in Inner Martial Arts.