The Author's POV

"...I want you to teach me martial body. Your family four stars and a half martial technique."

A rather awkward atmosphere enshrouded the place as Han Yufei's calm and composed face finally crumbled.

Even when we were fighting his face had never once changed this much. It was clear that he was extremely shocked by my request.

"...Are you making fun of me?"

Han Yufei suddenly stood up as he sharply glared in my direction.

A threatening aura sprung out from his body, shrouding the whole room.

"You think that just because I surrendered in the tournament, that I'm now a pushover?"

His voice was becoming increasingly louder with each word he said.

Pushing my hands down, I tried to calm him down.

"No, I don't think that at all. Calm down and listen to me."

But that didn't seem to work as Han Yufei got even more riled up.

"Calm down? ...how do you expect me to calm down when you just asked me to teach you our family's most prestigious art? Do I look like a joke to you?"

"Of course, I know what I asked was outrageous, but I obviously have something of equivalent value in exchange."

"...Eh?"

Han Yufei suddenly froze.

"What did you just say?"

Finally gaining Han Yufei's attention, I continued.

"What I'm trying to say is that I'm willing to exchange something of equal value with you in order for you to teach me the martial technique. In fact, you can also say that it's actually a notch above what you're going to teach me."

"A notch above?"

Han Yufeis's brows furrowed at my last words. He was obviously not convinced. I smiled at his doubt.

"Yeah, I can offer you something even better than your family martial arts."

Han Yufei sat back down.

His eyes were filled with interest.

'Got him.'

I thought as I inwardly smiled to myself.

Just by looking at his eyes, I could tell that I had gained his interest. This was all I wanted.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Tapping on the table with my right hand, I remained silent for a couple of seconds. Staring at Han Yufei who was looking back at me, I only spoke up once I noticed that he was about to lose patience.

"In exchange for you teaching me your martial technique, I will give you a five-star manual."

The room froze at my words as Han Yufei was unable to process what I just said.

But it didn't take too long for him to finally understand what I said as his eyes shot wide open. Standing up and smacking the palm of his hand on the table, he leaned forward.

"Did you just say five-star martial manual?!"

His voice cracked a little as he said those words.

It was clear that he was still in disbelief by my proposal.

Staring at him from my seat, I nodded back.

"Yeah. I will give you a five-star manual in exchange for your family art. That simple."

'The Gravar style'

that I was

saw Han Yufei. The Gravar style, although powerful, was

sword user, Han Yufei wished nothing more than for his clan to rise into prominence and dominate the other Chinese

were quite powerful, and there

the chances of

get his martial manual,

Yufei remained silent. Squinting his eyes, he appeared to fall into deep thought. But it wasn't long before he managed to recompose himself and

me

I had

"It's simple really."

paper from my dimensional space, I slid it

can sign

mouth, all doubts seemed to have been

"Let me see it."

sliding the piece of paper in front of him, Han Yufei carefully looked

"Hm?"

he was looking through it, his brows which had previously

to put the

is not

"No, it's not."

I shook my head.

he could voice any complaints,

Regarding the mana contract, you can be the one who provides it. I'm sure you will feel like it's more secure if you are the one that makes

wasn't impossible to replicate a mana

so, by allowing him to provide the mana contract, I was essentially showing

surface. In reality, a mana

couldn't afford

"I see."

Yufei bought the excuse as he thoughtfully nodded his head. Then, taking the paper back, he continued to

secretly smiled to myself when I

"...eh?"

Yufei put the paper down and pointed toward a certain section of the draft

group as a member

"Ah, that."

scratched the back

this way since what I'm offering is actually of higher value than what

"What!?"

Han Yufei stood up.

group? Do you

course, I know." I calmly

one of the people I have been keeping close watch of ever since transmigrating into

age twenty years, son of Han Gaye, current head of the Han clan,

Yufeis's face as I recounted all the

long as

why are you asking me to

words were filled

merely smiled

going, you won't

"..."

turned ugly at

back. He knew

people now being able to live over two hundred years of age, it would still

on waiting, he was essentially going to be losing a lot

lacked was real experience, and I could provide that for

time there? If you join me, I can guarantee you that you

myself as

not be a great teacher, but I definitely

of my mercenary group were a far cry from where they were in the

to leave, I wanted to at least have a solid relationship

boost my influence

as I finished saying what I wanted to say, silence descended upon the

I didn't say anything else. I had already said everything that I wanted to say. Whether he wanted to accept my offer or not, it

for long. Raising his head and meeting my eyes, Han Yufei opened his

"I..."

***

time,

far is the

around him and only seeing trees, Kevin looked at Emma. Lowering her head and gazing at a