Chapter 530

The end of the three-section-staff wrapped around his spear, smacked Arthur in the back and then as he retreated, trying to shake off the pain, the other end spun upwards, nearly catching him in the legs. He managed to block that attack with his spear shaft, but it meant his tip wobbled a little, enough that opponent made use of his distraction to slip further in, pass the point.

Inside the weapon’s range, the entire thing held near the center now, Arthur found himself pressed back and back again. He found himself forced to fight back with increasingly harried motions, doing battle not just against the weapon but his own instincts.

Firstly, to move faster – to speed up so that he could just get out of the way. It was difficult to control his Body, to slowdown to a human level rather than the blazing speed that characterized a second threshold Climber. Not that he had to slow down as much as he did with most other non-Climbers, not against his current opponent – but there was some degree of it.

The second battle was against another set of instincts, ones honed from battles in the Tower. It was to not utilize the full range of his abilities, to trigger Climber techniques that would give him an edge. Sticky webs, laid on the floor ready to explode upwards to trap his opponent. A Refined Exploding Energy Dart, launched from his third eye to blow his opponent away. Even Iron Skin, to soak the damage and step in and smack his opponent.

Dozens of ways and openings, but he avoided utilizing them as he fought with just his attributes and his skill. Pushing himself to win, because he was better and not because he was faster. The only way to learn, or so his Master believed.

Or perhaps he just said that so that he had a chance to keep beating Arthur.

Truthfully, he probably figured that was the case.

After picking himself off the floor after being dumped by a sneaky trip, Arthur held his hand up to forestall another bout. Just over a half-dozen fights and having only won two was enough battering for his ego for the day, never mind the actual bruises he was carrying.

“What’s wrong?” Kow Sifu asked, as he walked with Arthur off the training floor, racking the three-section staff with casual ease in its usual spot. It was his Sifu’s personal weapon, though it was left such that anyone might use it.

Not that anyone did. Learning how to use that weapon was a matter of years, years that could be better spent learning a more practical weapon that had much faster roads to mastery. Nor did the staff really work well at killing monsters, other than the extra force of impact it could generate in the right way. In the end, the three-section-staff, much like the rope dart; was a useful tool against humans but less so against monsters. A truism that drove their training these days, in the Clan hall.

“Nothing.”

“You’re slow. Distracted.” Kow Sifu sniffed. “Out late too late, ah? Not enough sleep?”

“I’m a Climber. I don’t need that much sleep,” Arthur muttered defensively. Though he did not disagree about being out too late. It had not been on purpose, but after the Inspector had finished her interrogation, he had been disinclined to go back into the club. At which point, her stomach had rumbled and well, one thing led to another and they had spent a rather pleasant night at an outdoor hawker center, eating late into the night.

Not that the inspector hadn’t tried to probe for more information, but thankfully, being the big boss out of the country meant he had no major details to offer her. Not that he couldn’t remember the details, just that there was only so much time to be had in debriefing before he was back in a Tower or training to get ready to go in again.

Mostly, it had been a pleasant night out with a pretty woman. One that he thought might even have some minor interest in him. Of course, it would be incredibly foolish of them to act on it; even if he was but a victim in the case she was investigating.

Whether that case would be put to bed at some point, he was uncertain. At least they knew who the killer was, but till her boss decided it was done; it stayed on her pile. Though he had a feeling it might stay there even if she had been ordered to put it aside, so dedicated was she.

“So, a girl then?” Kow Sifu said, perceptively. “Good.”

“Sifu…!” Arthur said, tiredly. “That’s not…”

“What? I’m old, not stupid. And you should be both,” Kow Sifu said. “At least, in your relationships. No point being young and not making some mistakes.” He ran a hand through his thinned and silver hair and sighed. “Don’t get too old and then don’t have anything to talk about.”

“You know, we could get you some hair transplants.” One of Arthur’s seniors called out as he wandered pass. There was some laughter, though Kow Sifu just ignored him. The old man was way too old to care about such things, though rumors were he had actually had a lady friend or two. Or three, depending on the specific rumors one involved oneself with.

“It’s nothing like that,” Arthur said, tiredly. “And I don’t have time anymore, anyway. I have to go to another Tower soon.”

“Already?” Kow Sifu frowned. “So many….”

“I’m the Clan Head. Got to,” he explained. “Clan can’t expand without me.”

“Then, the Intermediate Tower soon?” he asked.

“Yeah.” Arthur sighed. “Probably after this one, I think. I don’t think I can get much stronger, not just running Beginner ones.”

“You’re not that good yet. Your skills are getting rusty.” He pointed at the spear that Arthur still held. “You were better with that even a year ago.”

“I’ve been focusing on my techniques,” Arthur complained.

“And leaving your basics behind. If you don’t have a good foundation, how can you stand?” A hand reached out, smacked Arthur’s thigh with the knuckles in a simple backhanded slap that left his thigh aching. “What do you think I trained you for?”

“To defend myself from thugs while running deliveries,” Arthur answered swiftly, generating laughter from the old students. The new Clan members looked confused, even as they strolled or chatted on the floor. His Master stared at the group that were being called to order by one of his assistant’s, the initial warmup something that could be led by even the meanest trained member of the group.

“Idiot.” Kow Sifu grumbled. “I hear you’re getting more trouble with the gangs?”

“Just some. Most are friends.”

“Not good friends, those.”

“I know,” Arthur said.

“Or the gweiloh wannabe.” Kow Sifu muttered. “They never learn, you know.”

“Who? Rick? Never learn what?” Arthur said, confused.

“That it doesn’t matter what you do, they won’t ever think you’re one of them. Even if they marry you, you’re always going to be half their worth,” Kow Sifu said. “So, how much worse is it for you? For us?”

“I don’t think Rick’s dad is like that,” Arthur said, softly. He certainly didn’t seem like that, in his talks. In fact, he seemed quite pleasant, for an American. A lot less noisy than he had expected, and certainly less outright brash or arrogant. He didn’t even wear a ten gallon hat either, though that was a very silly expectation.

“Maybe not, on the surface.” Kow Sifu sniffed. “Scratch a little harder, when things get rough. Bet you, they’ll change. So you best watch yourself, and the Clan.”

“Yes, Sifu.” Bowing to his Master, Arthur made his way out.

He’d chosen to stop arguing, because sometimes, you just couldn’t win. That was the thing about the older generation, they were rather racist. Of course, they also had good reasons for their beliefs, too many examples over the years to discount their hard earned wisdom. After all, if it was only the majority; and Rick and his dad really were exceptions, it would hurt little to take precautions.

Just in case.