Fyren didn't even hesitate—he slapped back immediately.
What's the big deal?
I'm in the entertainment industry now—you think you're the only one who knows kung fu?
I couldn't beat you at your peak, but now that Iron King has beaten you half to death, what makes you think you can take me?
You're lucky I don't finish you off while you're down!
Otto hadn't realized Fyren actually knew martial arts.
He'd always assumed there was something fishy about that Acala Kung Fu display in the warehouse!
Fyren's just a so-called genius who started cultivating in the womb—there's no way he could've mastered Acala Kung Fu to that level!
It's too absurd, too illogical, completely defying common sense.
It wasn't that he suspected collusion with Iron King—he genuinely couldn't comprehend how it was possible.
But now, Otto finally understood: Fyren truly had skills.
Not advanced, but undoubtedly legitimate basics.
Ancient martial arts were divided into several stages:
Lower Quadportal, Central Quadportal, and Upper Quadportal.
Rumors spoke of a mythical Skyreach Quadportal beyond that, but no one had ever witnessed it.
Otto himself needed to consolidate the four great families' resources just to reach Upper Quadportal.
Currently, he was already a Central Quadportal master.
Yet Fyren had somehow stepped into ancient martial arts too—apparently at Lower Quadportal's introductory stage: Body Tempering!
This stage marked true entry into ancient martial arts.
Don't underestimate Lower Quadportal Body Tempering—it already separated practitioners from ordinary people like heaven and earth.
Body Tempering masters were bottom-tier among ancient martial artists, but among the masses?
They were phoenix feathers and unicorn horns—one-in-ten-thousand elites.
At this stage, the body's latent potential fully awakens.
Toughness, recovery speed, agility, strength, and explosive power surpass normal human limits.
A qualified Body Tempering expert could effortlessly defeat twenty or thirty ordinary people—like a PE teacher dominating a kindergarten class.
Fyren's counter-slap far exceeded Otto's expectations.
The direct clash left both men staggering, but neither had an easy time.
Otto's injuries were far worse than Fyren's.
Not only had he fallen off a cliff—Iron King had pummeled him mercilessly!
Iron King—you understand, right?
In his mind, Otto was a deceitful villain who'd repeatedly tricked him.
That fury made Iron King want to grind Otto's bones to dust!
He'd nearly beaten Otto to death before the fall.
Without the cliff, Otto would've been slaughtered.
Thus, currently, Otto was barely stronger than Fyren—if not significantly weaker.
The slap sent Otto reeling—he felt several ribs shift again. The pain stole his breath, his vision darkened, and he nearly passed out once more.
Fyren wasn't unscathed either. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
The two glared murderously at each other, both craving the other's demise.
Yet neither currently possessed the strength to deliver the killing blow.
Herbert chuckled behind them.
"Not bad. You brats have decent foundations. Impressive, impressive."
He continued, "Seems you two share some... history?"
Otto gritted his teeth. "I'll never coexist with him under the same sky!"
Fyren matched Otto's glare. "I'll dismantle your bones and feed them to dogs sooner or later!"
"Hahaha! Truly, 'sworn brothers united in righteousness'!"
Both youths simultaneously turned disbelieving stares at Herbert.
Are you fucking deaf? Where did you get "righteousness" from that exchange?
Herbert continued obliviously, "In that case... I happen to possess an Inner-Abdomen Eight-Palace Elixir. It rapidly repairs the Inner Bending Six Organs and Eight Palaces, curing all internal injuries. Naturally, only one pill exists. Which of you desires it?"
Clutching his ribs, Otto painfully knelt. "Elder! I am Otto—a martial prodigy since childhood! Currently a Central Quadportal Awakening Master. Should you spare this unworthy life, I shall repay your kindness through fire and flood in this lifetime!"
Herbert nodded. "To reach Central Quadportal Awakening at your age... remarkable talent indeed."
Fyren gave a slight fist salute. "Elder, my life holds little value—just some fool who fell into a ravine. My survival chances appear slim. But Otto? Unworthy of salvation. I beg you—give the elixir to Sherry. Young, kind-hearted, with boundless potential... she shouldn't perish here."
Otto hastily countered, "Elder! Sherry is my personal attendant! Once my internal energy recovers, I can heal her injuries myself! Granting me the elixir saves two lives! As for Fyren? A mere Body Tempering novice—utterly incapable of energy-based healing."
"Hmm." Herbert nodded. "Fyren? Your rebuttal?"
After a pause, Fyren reasoned, "Sherry's external wounds will heal naturally. The Eight-Palace Elixir would cure her internal injuries... Wouldn't a fully recovered expert then save Otto? Perhaps she might even spare me if feeling generous. Hah."
Herbert beamed. "Excellent! Both demonstrate noble hearts."
He suddenly sighed wistfully. "You know... in my youth... ugh!" The sigh deepened.
Fyren prompted, "No?"
"Indeed." Herbert gazed distantly. "Then... my life took an unexpected turn..."
Fyren mirrored his sigh. "Ah, I see."
"Yet heaven scripts its own tales. Who could've predicted that later I'd... alas!"
Fyren shook his head. "How profoundly tragic."
Herbert suddenly slapped his thigh. "But I've always believed—no man should let piss drown him! So I simply... you understand, yes?"
Fyren exclaimed in admiration, "Senior's resilience is truly worthy of emulation by all juniors! To remain so strong and brave under such circumstances—it's unimaginable!"
"That's why, decades later, the Jianghu gained a figure like me. But... how does that saying go?"
"'Prosperity must decline'?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Herbert said. "After that great battle, I became disheartened and detached from worldly affairs."
"So you secluded yourself here, seeking a fresh start."
"You see, in this life..."
"Yes, yes, yes."
"Yet some things fate insists on..."
"Exactly!"
"I may appear indifferent, but deep inside..."
"Enough! I understand you completely!"
Otto's gaze darted between them in bewilderment.
What kind of act are you two putting on?
What the hell is this? Are you having a conversation or performing a comedy routine?
What exactly did he say that you supposedly understood?
There's no substance to any of this! Just a bunch of fucking ellipses and interjections! How is this even a coherent exchange?
How can anyone communicate like this?
If you're not going to talk properly, then don't talk at all! But no—you keep going back and forth like you're in perfect sync!
So emotional! So heartfelt!
If not for the age difference, you'd probably be swearing brotherhood by now!
After all that talking, what the fuck was actually said?
Not a single concrete statement—just seasoning words!
Well... ah... that is... hey... yoho... finally reaching some conclusion!
What kind of game is this?!
Otto snapped: "Fyren, what the fuck did you actually hear?"
Wiping tears from his eyes, Fyren replied, "Don't speak to me yet! Hearing about senior's ordeal has devastated me!"
I should fucking slap you into next week, you shameless fraud! Otto thought. What a performance!
Aloud, he demanded, "Do you actually know what happened to the elder? Explain it to me!"
Fyren appeared overcome with grief. "Aren't you moved by senior's life story? Doesn't this great hero's loneliness and suffering... this... ah... touch you? How can you not feel sorrow?"
Otto nearly convulsed with rage.
The audacity!
The sheer fucking shamelessness!
Unbelievable! How can you keep up this charade? Playing the old fool like this!
Just as Otto prepared another retort, Herbert declared:
"Let's settle it this way—our meeting is fate. Regardless of past grudges, I hereby decree you two shall become sworn brothers and join as my disciples. All previous enmity is nullified. From now on, you'll be fellow apprentices. What say you?"
Otto pointed furiously at Fyren. "Me? Become his sworn brother?! And fellow disciples?!"
Fyren excitedly clasped his fists. "Big brother!"
"FUCK YOU!" Otto exploded. "I'm Otto! God of Border War! Central Quadportal master! Young lord of Mighty Syndicate!!! And I'm supposed to swear brotherhood with YOU?!"
Herbert nodded: "Indeed, a true child of the jianghu - frank and bold!"
Otto glared at the senile old man, thinking I'll be the first to stab you in the back when I get the chance!
Herbert declared, "Kneel and kowtow. After completing the rites, I'll heal your wounds."
Otto glanced around - there was no alternative now.
Either perform the ceremony with Fyren, or risk being driven to madness in this cave by the eccentric elder.
Suppressing his nausea, he slowly knelt down.
The two men turned toward Herbert and performed the kowtow.
Herbert instructed: "First bow - to the heavens!"
Otto muttered gloomily: "By worshipping this master and befriending..."
He gritted his teeth, "...my righteous brother Fyren, from now on—"
He couldn't continue!
Fyren enthusiastically picked up: "From now on, we brothers stand united and never betray! If we dishonor our master—"
He turned to Otto and clasped his hands: "Big brother!"
Then to Herbert: "—may we die horribly!"
"If we commit wrongdoing—"
Another turn to Otto: "Big brother!"
Back to Herbert: "—may we be drawn and quartered!"
"If we betray the sect—"
To Otto again: "Big brother!"
Continuing to Herbert: "—may we bleed from seven orifices!"
Fyren's oath ritual continued, addressing Otto before each curse:
"Big brother!"
"—gutted like fish!"
"Big brother!"
"—pierced by a thousand arrows!"
"Big brother!"
"—decapitated!"
"Big brother!"
"—struck by lightning!"
"Big brother!"
"—my lineage extinguished!"
"Big brother!"
"—chopped up as dog food!"
"Big brother!"
"—kicked in circles by a hundred men, specifically targeting my privates, burned with fire after kicking, then kicked again after burning, until—"
Otto yanked him back: "Enough! I'm already dead at this point."
Fyren blinked: "But I haven't finished..."
Herbert wiped tears from his eyes: "Oh Fyren, you're the most sincere disciple I've ever witnessed in master-worshipping ceremonies!"
Otto couldn't contain himself - fresh blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.