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'

I was planning to

in mind whenever I saw Han Yufei. The Gravar style, although powerful, was practically useless to

was not a sword user, Han Yufei wished nothing more than for his clan to rise into prominence and dominate the other

there

sword manual, the chances of his clan rising to prominence

trying to get his martial manual, but I was also trying

remained silent. Squinting his eyes, he appeared to fall into deep thought.

prove to me

his question. I had long

"It's simple really."

a small piece of paper from my dimensional

can sign a

escaped from my mouth, all doubts seemed to have been dispelled from Han Yufei's head as his brows

"Let me see it."

in

"Hm?"

he was looking through it, his brows which

to put the paper

is not a

"No, it's not."

I shook my head.

he could voice any complaints,

for the deal. Regarding the mana contract, you can be the one who provides it. I'm sure you will feel like

hard, it wasn't impossible to

fake mana contracts, and so, by allowing him to provide the mana contract, I was essentially showing him my willingness

merely on the surface. In reality, a mana contract of that caliber

afford

"I see."

though Han Yufei bought the excuse as he thoughtfully nodded

to myself

"...eh?"

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

Caïssa mercenary group as a member for five years before

"Ah, that."

the back of my

you will join my mercenary group. I made it this way since what I'm

"What!?"

Han Yufei stood up.

your mercenary group? Do

I know."

been keeping close watch of ever since transmigrating into this wolrd. Of course, I know

Han Gaye, current head of the

face as I recounted all

shock did not last for long as

know all of this, why are you

words were filled with

merely smiled

you won't

"..."

turned ugly

answer back. He knew that my words held some

live over two hundred years of age, it would still take quite a long time for him to actually become the head of the

lot of time waiting for something that would happen

experience, and I

your time there? If you join me, I can guarantee you that you will definitely see your strength

great confidence in myself

not be a great teacher, but I definitely

cry from where they were in the past. If he joined, I didn't once

future he planned to leave, I wanted to at least have a solid relationship with him so that I could pull the Chinese clans

my influence in

soon as I finished saying what I

say anything else. I had already said everything that I wanted to

answer did not last for long. Raising his head and meeting my eyes,

"I..."

***

the same time, in a

is the

only seeing trees, Kevin looked at Emma. Lowering her head and gazing at a small holographic map, Emmas scratched the back of her