A calm breeze filled the sails of the ship as Fan Zhong gazed over the water at the approaching shoreline. The approaching village dock was small, looking to only have enough space to house three or four ships with two small fishing vessels already taking up some of that. Looking at the village it appeared simple with only a few larger buildings near the dock and simple roads leading further in.

Along these roads, small houses with clay tiling were common as well as lines that held objects that seemed to reflect light. Squinting his eyes Fan Zhong was able to realize that these were polished scales from what he could only assume to be larger sea life as they varied in size from the width of a small rock to as big as a clenched fist. At this realization, Fan Zhong became wide-eyed imagining the monstrous size of a creature with such large scales.

“First time on the northern banks of the river brother Zhong?” Sir Teng asked from his table.

Currently, it was early in the morning, around an hour into Fan Zhong’s guard shift, and as such he was standing in his now-familiar position near the helm.

“Indeed Sir Teng, I know we’re still inside the valley but it still feels exciting being so far from home. I’ve long held the idea that one must go to the people of a place, partaking in their food, music, and customs to truly understand it. Previously, my mind had always conceived of Little Green Bamboo Village and the valley as one and the same. I’d thought that as I understood the village so to did that extend to knowing the peoples of the Flowing Grass Valley as well. Now, the world seems much larger. Having ventured forth from my home I can see that it was but a tiny part of a grander whole. Knowing this kindles an urge in my chest to roam and experience the various peoples that have always lane right outside my doorstep. So that perhaps one day my understanding of this place can be as great as my naive mind once thought it was.” Fan Zhong replied while staring at the approaching shoreline wistfully.

“Heheheh, I see this old man’s words did not fall on deaf ears brother Zhong. It's good that you're being contemplative and have something to strive for, such a thing suits a young man. However, this old sack of bones would be appreciative if your endeavors could be forestalled until we’ve safely completed this voyage” Sir Teng replied in his normal jovial manner a sly small tugging at the corners of his lips

“O... Of course Sir Teng your safety and mission take priority as a warrior of the clan I would ne…” Fan Zhong spluttered his face slightly reddening in embarrassment

“Hahahaha, there's the brother Zhong I know. No need for apologies young man, your loyalty was never in doubt. Besides, warrior Fan Shun knows how to run a team even without extra men. He'll make time so you and warrior Zi Bao can mingle in the villages as we go.” Sir Teng replied, his jovial laughter booming over the deck.

In this fashion, the ship continued for a few more hours and arrived at the dock in Scale and Fin Village around the time when Fan Zhong’s guard shift was ending. By this time Zi Bao had joined him near the helm. His arrival severely cut the jovial atmosphere as the mere presence of his strict posture and demeanor seemed to sap the joy from the air. Conversation with Sir Teng had also died down as a result of this and the merchant was deep within his documents and ledgers soon after the arrival of the second youngest warrior in his bodyguard detail.

Examining his team member Fan Zhong was happy to see that the other young man had at least recovered his healthy appearance. For a few days after the mirage wave attack, Zi Bao had been looking exhausted and brooding instead of his normally outwardly angry self. It was ironic to Fan Zhong that he could be happy seeing the arrogance and anger return to his former bully's face. Shrugging he figured that at least this meant whatever had been bothering his fellow warrior was either taken care of or no longer a concern.

After the ship docked Sir Teng informed Fan Zhong that he needed to go meet with the village chief to discuss dealings. Apparently, Fan Shun had anticipated their arrival time and talked with the merchant to pass on orders to stay on the ship and report for training at the normal time. Indeed Fan Zhong had been thinking of wandering into the village on his time off, hoping that perhaps his team leader would forget about his training today amid securing lodging and logistics details for the team.

However, he had no such luck as the cunning older warrior had taken precautions against such scheming in advance. Sighing wearily, Fan Zhong decided to play with little white to pass the time. Surprisingly the small water wolf had been well behaved throughout the journey although he was almost visibly vibrating at the sight of the shore, obviously, he needed to vent some energy.

Going to the cafeteria Fan Zhong got some of the leftover bones from the kitchen and then proceeded back to the deck with his faithful companion in tow. Arriving, Fan Zhong stood on one side of the deck and began playing fetch with little white while juggling the extra bones to practice his dexterity. He had begun doing this after around a week onboard to both give Little White a way to run around and train his mental exercises at the same time.

Surprisingly, keeping track of the bones he was juggling and Little White wasn’t all that difficult for him now so Fan Zhong had challenged himself further. It took a bit of work but after a day of many dropped bones, he convinced Little White to throw the bone he was retrieving instead of waiting for him to grab it. While keeping the rest in the juggle he would then proceed to catch the thrown bone and throw a new one for Little White to fetch in a smooth motion without dropping any.

As this continued Little White got faster and faster at retrieving his targets showing his once again impressive physical prowess for such a tiny frame. Once a rhythm was set the water wolf became little more than a blurring translucent shimmer only becoming fully visible for a split moment when he caught the bone and when whipping his little maw to throw them. Like this hours passed and the time for training with Fan Shun approached.

To his credit, Little White only started slowing down near the end and even at that point, he was simply breathing slightly heavier seeming to have more energy. When Fan Zhong stopped juggling and caught the final bone signaling for the little wolf to stop he barked in disappointment, rubbing against his partner’s leg as if to guilt him into staying longer.

“Hahahaha, apologies little brother senior Fan Shun is rather strict. Don’t worry, tomorrow morning we’ll be inside the village, there we’ll have plenty of space for you to run and hunt” Fan Zhong said laughing while crouching down to pet his small companion.

With a snort, Little White barked one more time before running over to a spot near the training area obviously intent to watch over his clumsy friend. Fan Zhong quickly walked over and picked up his staff from leaning against the railing before heading over to the portion of the deck Fan Shun had secured for the team as an improvised training area. Upon arrival, he spotted the older warrior sitting in the middle of the space. At this point, it had been marked off with some rope tied between railings and other various places to form the semblance of a square training arena.

“Greetings senior, have I arrived late? Perhaps time got away from me more than I had thought” Fan Zhong asked questionably.

Normally his team leader would be training with his sword and palm techniques right until the moment Fan Zhong arrived. The variety of the training had surprised him as he had thought the particular draw-cut techniques Fan Shun practiced seemed impractical and wondered how the clan’s traditional palm techniques would be used alongside it. It turned out that the older warrior usually opened with palm strikes utilizing his normal unarmed strikes as well as the sheath of his weapon. His usage of the unarmed techniques was geared towards stunning or disorienting the opponent

Only then would he normally execute one of the deadly sword techniques. Apparently, the reason for executing the technique from the sheath was due to an advanced version of the ‘Momentum of Shifting Earth’ technique that most clan warriors used. Fan Shun had adapted the technique to take all of his excess momentum and store it in the sheath by swaying the object in incredibly small rapid movements.

Another surprising revelation was that this was the way that the masters within the clan seemed to be able to burst forth with such great speed. They also continuously kept a small part of their body, or an object attached to it, in motion and transferred that power into their movements when needed. This had a few downsides as sudden bursts of motion would deplete this stored momentum. However, Fan Shun’s technique got around this by channeling the excess of his momentum through his sword and using precise control to return it to the sheath during the sheathing process.

For Fan Zhong, this also answered the question of why the older warrior always held his sheath in his offhand whether the blade was drawn or not. According to Fan Shun, this idea came to him when he meditated on the way fire could burst forth with force but returned energy to the earth and its surroundings in the form of heat. Since the technique itself was based on concepts of earth he figured expending the energy with the sword as fire and the sheath being the earth it returned to made sense.

Although Fan Zhong couldn’t say he agreed with the logic the proof was there for all to see, after years of hard work Fan Shun had perfected the technique. The old warrior was reticent to say how long that had taken, seeming slightly embarrassed at the idea of exposing such a thing. However, he did comment on how the most difficult part was learning to execute palm techniques with his off-hand while it held the sheath and kept the momentum stored.

At first, he thought there was something missing and tried various methods but despite this, the momentum would disperse when the top part of the sheath was used as the contact point for palm techniques. Eventually, he discovered that there was an interval of time every three seconds where the momentum was at the end of the sheath, and palm techniques could be executed without dissipating that flow. After that, it was simply a matter of practice, to this day it still wasn’t perfect and he could only execute a palm technique with the sheath every .15 seconds.

When Fan Zhong asked him how the man could measure such a small amount of time Fan Shun simply shook his head and laughed saying he would understand after gaining mental energy. Considering all this he figured it must have taken an extraordinary amount of training to reach his current level of proficiency with the technique, As such Fan Zhong was never surprised to see the stalwart man training at every moment. Today, however, he was sitting in the middle of the training area in a lotus position dressed in a pair of pants with no shirt, and his sword lay across his lap.

“No you’re right on time junior, I simply had a breakthrough in my technique. During times like this, it’s important to meditate and reflect on the experiences that lead to such a breakthrough. In my case, after years I'm ashamed to say that only now has my shifting palm technique reached the master level of attainment. However, now isn’t my time but yours. Come let's see what you’ve learned” Fan Shun replied in a level tone as he got to his feet “Today I’ll limit my speed and strength to that of a peak third-grade martial artist. This will give you an idea of what to strive for”

Both of them gave the other a martial bow before taking a fighting stance. With that, the bout began and Fan Zhong took the lead. Usually, he preferred to react to his enemy's actions but these weeks of training with Fan Shun had taught him that proactiveness had its benefits. As a bodyguard being reactive could potentially endanger not only your comrades but clients as well and as such threats should be dealt with in a forward manner when possible.

This was also true when trying to defeat a foe you knew was stronger than you, allowing them to act would force the fight into their tempo adding to the mounting disadvantages one had as the weaker party. Knowing this, Fan Zhong came in fast, pressing his right hand back as if to use an ‘All Things Birthed from the Origin’ palm strike before flipping his stance right before closing to striking measure. Doing this caused Fan Zhong to be in a void gate stance where his right hand, normally his dominant hand, was stretched forward to act as his offhand while the left took the ready position for an origin palm strike.

Fan Shun had reacted to his original advance with his own ‘All Things Birthed from the Origin’ hoping to strike faster than the younger warrior. The feint surprised him and quickly he shifted to meet the new attack. Dipping low as he approached Fan Zhong executed an earth-origin palm strike using the bottom part of his staff with his left hand looking to hook the blow upward from knee level into his opponent's side.

Meanwhile, Fan Shun spun his sheathed sword so that the flat of it rested on his right hand and used it to meet the staff strike with a shifting palm that brought him inside Fan Zhong’s guard. Using the momentum of the impact the older warrior gripped the handle of his sword, which was now parallel with himself with the handle facing away from his opponent, and executed his drawing cut technique in a spin at head level. Normally such a strike would leave his back completely exposed however with the extra force of the impact the technique was so fast that all Fan Zhong saw was a blur of silver as he went flying.

Thankfully Fan Shun was an expert in control and had struck him with the flat side of his blade or else even with his power toned down Fan Shun would have separated the young man’s head neatly from his shoulders.

“Senior, perhaps I’m mistaken but didn’t you say you’d limit your speed?” Fan Zhong replied between groans as he rubbed his jaw.

“Indeed, that was peak third-grade speed junior” Fan Shun replied with a predatory grin “it was simply empowered by the force of our attacks. Remember, your enemies won’t always have even attainment levels. Who’s to say there won’t be an opponent that has a higher level in a movement or speed technique than their realm would suggest? In a fight anything can happen, this case is an example. Normally with peak third-grade speed, such a spinning slash would’ve had me eating the deck after your staff broke my broke. However, in this particular fight, I used a parrying technique that let me gather more force than the realm I was fighting at could generate on its own resulting in a single empowered technique. A reliable strategy? No. Enough to win a single fight? Absolutely”

“I see… This junior apologizes to senior for my… ignorance, it seems junior has much yet to learn” Fan Zhong replied slowly, attempting to keep his skepticism from his voice.

Of course, what the older warrior was saying was correct but that didn’t make Fan Zhong’s face hurt any less.

“Come now Nephew Zhong, up. We still have daylight to burn” Fan shun said casually as he turned around and strolled back to his starting position, sheathing his blade in the process.

With this they began a second bout where Fan Zhong started more cautiously, still being proactive but probing with shifting palm techniques and then making distance before using the range of his personal piercing palm technique. Doing this a rhythm started playing in his head, a song that brought to mind shifting sands with vipers that pierced through the dunes to capture travelers at the moment they least expected.

After five exchanges, with each lasting two to three blows a piece, Fan Zhong’s eyes lit up as he saw a perfect opening. They had exchanged two shifting palm strikes and Fan Shun had gotten careless and ended up just outside of normal striking measure. However, he was just inside the striking range of a piercing palm and his weapon was out of position to block. Staff already contact juggling along his body to return to void gate stance Fan Zhong pounced in beat with the notes of the striking vipers playing in his mind.

His offhand met the staff already running along it to spin the shaft for the drilling effect. Seamlessly without even stopping in his stance, the weapon went from being juggled behind Fan Zhong to a deadly drilling lance hurtling towards Fan Shun’s core. For a moment the older warriors' eyes widened, however in the next a golden fire faintly shimmered in them and his silhouette seemed to transform into an entirely different person. In front of the young man no longer stood his older senior, a mentor that would guide him through the martial path. What now stood there was a face that had faced death a hundred times, felt the cold embrace of the void, and denied it every time.

At that moment Fan Zhong felt the familiar reaper of death in front of him as the older man’s instincts took over and he swept the sheath in front of him from the side inhumanly fast. Meeting the piercing palm technique he tucked the sheathed sword close to him and spun with the force letting the blow push his sword sheath which seemed to push his body out of the way. The last thing the young man saw was Fan Shun crouching and twisting with the spin before he blurred.

In the next moment, Fan Zhong heard a click and felt a line of blood flowing down his cheek. Reaching up he could feel the perfectly straight line that had been cut across his left cheek for running hot with his life's blood.

“Hahahahahah,” Fan shun burst out laughing while letting out a large held breath “ apologies nephew Zhong. That origin palm technique you’ve developed has more reach than I was expecting and you surprised me for a moment. Some reflexes are too ingrained I suppose…”

Fan Zhong simply slumped to the floor letting out a breath himself while nodding in acknowledgment.

“Are you ok? Truly I’m sorry. Reflexes be damned, this senior shouldn’t have lost control like that…” Fan Shun replied with a concerned look.

“I am… Ok, yes ok. It’s simply been a while since death has so closely embraced me. However, senior… this shows improvement, yes?” Fan Zhong asked hopefully while regaining his breath.

Fan Shun stared at him blankly for a moment before bursting out laughing.

“Hahahahahah, improvement. Yes, this is an improvement, damn, you really got this old man worried about nothing nephew Zhong. Come let’s do some light stance work and exercises to close off today.” he said before walking over to one of the wooden dummies that had been set up, motioning for Fan Zhong to follow.

What proceeded was more similar to what Fan Zhong had experienced in the ancestral training grounds in Little Bamboo Village with Fan Cheng. The familiar drills and forms helped ease his mind and by the end, Fan Zhong was feeling more or less back to normal. Finishing up, Fan Zhong checked his bag and found his money pouch stored within. Checking on Little White he found the small water wolf soundly asleep on his bed.

Looking in the pouch Fan Zhong was happy to discover that he still had a sizable amount of his allowance saved up from before leaving Little Green Bamboo Village. With money to spend and free time on his hands Fan Zhong knew exactly what to do and what to accomplish now he just needed to find Zi bao.

It took only half an hour to locate the other young man as he quickly found out that Sir Teng had purchased rooms for himself and the team of bodyguards in the Swift Turtle Inn. They would be staying here for a week for trade negotiations and other business so it only made sense for the merchant to find an inn to stay in. As for the team of bodyguards, they couldn’t do their jobs if they were forced to stay on the ship away from their charge.

Sir Teng had attempted to purchase rooms for his crewmen as well, however, the inn simply didn’t have enough rooms to accommodate them. After a discussion, the crew had agreed that those who had money and wished to purchase rooms separately were free too and others would remain on the ship. Most of the crew kept little money on them, preferring to leave it with their loved ones at home.

As such only a few had chosen to buy their own rooms. For Fan Zhong and company, two rooms had been purchased; one would house Fan Shun and Fan Zhong. Meanwhile the other would be for Zi Bao and Su Fen allowing each of the older warriors to keep an eye on their juniors. Fan Zhong had found his fellow junior warrior returning from the second floor after stashing his things in the aforementioned room he was assigned.

“Brother Bao, what wonderful timing. Come, the world beckons and as young men, we must taste it all!” Fan Zhong said while running up beside the other young man and slinging an arm over his shoulder.

Zi Bao looked visibly uncomfortable with the physical contact and vibrated as if about to explode but to his credit, he seemed to keep his calm

“What in the name of the high heavens and hells are you doing, you insane spoiled brat!” Zi Bao managed to splutter out in what approximated a level tone, if not punctuated by a bit more volume.

Fan Zhong shrugged and attributed it to his new teammates' excitement to see new horizons with him! After all, they were in a strange new village with free time, money, and sites to see. Would he truly be Fan Zhong if he didn’t take advantage of this scenario?

Besides that the brooding nature of the other young man had sparked his curiosity, perhaps Zi Bao could be turned into an ally instead of a foe? That would show the council of elders! Not just having no conflict but completing his mission while managing to make friends from enemies, truly the makings of a future leader!

“Hahahaha, I see brother Bao is as excited as me to see new horizons. Let’s go to the high heavens and hells as you say!” With that before the other young man could even respond Fan Zhong had him out the door and walking quickly down the street.

In a blur that Zi Bao struggled to comprehend, Fan Zhong chatted and made nice with every passerby, apparently blending right in. A set of doors opened and in an exchange of spirit stones from Fan Zhong’s money pouch Zi Bao found himself sitting at a table. With a slow practiced bow, an incredibly attractive server placed a bowl of potent-smelling wine in front of each of them before winking at Zi Bao and walking away in the most pleasing way he could imagine.

Struggling from social whiplash and with his head hurting from all the laughter and talking going on around them he tried to focus on Fan Zhong who was looking at it with a smile after taking a drink from his own bowl of wine.

“Wh…Where are we?” he asked Fan Zhong in incredulity.

“The locals say it is the Serene Nightingale according to them, the best place in town. Oh, brother Bao, you must try that Menacing Mist Wine, the name is quite peculiar but it’s incredibly good!” Fan Zhong intoned as he closed his eyes in enjoyment after taking another drink.

“What is this about you layabout?” Zi Bao narrowed his eyes and asked accusingly.

“Is it so hard to believe I simply wish to know you better brother Bao? Come now, we’ve known each other since childhood but when have we really talked. Now our lives may be in each other's hands, drink and let us speak of ourselves. Perhaps we’ll both find the experience enlightening!” Fan Zhong replied earnestly doing his best to be jovial and express goodwill

Zi Bao looked at him with a shifting expression for a while, fear, anger, and doubt spreading across his face. Finally, he simply shook his head and downed the bowl in a single drink. An action he came to regret immediately as he started coughing from the strength of the alcohol, like this a night of drinking and brotherhood began.