Little Tiger

"AHHHHHHH!", Michael screamed.

Cold water splashed all over his face and he was forcefully awakened. Looking around frantically as he stood up, he saw a small woman with serious face looking at him coldly.

"What's your problem?!", Michael shouted.

"I did not save you to let you die by not eating, come with me and let us eat. Grandfather is worried.", the woman said.

He knew this woman. This was none other than Little Tiger, the woman who saved her and a person he recognizes as someone with strength and talent. Old man Fresh Wood always bragged about his grand-daughter who is a Core disciple of the Sea God Sect. She was already at the Mortal Shedding Stage at the tender age of 17 compared to Michael who was barely at the Body Purification stage at the age of 23. He felt really ashamed in front of her.

He followed her to the dining room and there they ate. The others are not there as they visited some relatives and Little Tiger stayed behind as she said that she had some things to attend to. Awkward silence prevailed between the two of them, she was silent by nature, while he was too embarrassed to even speak.

"I heard that you were having a hard time in cultivation.", Little Tiger said.

"Yes. So, are you going to mock me?", he replied grumpily.

Little Tiger smiled and said, "I won't, but I can't say that it would be the same for others. There are other families in the clan and they want to see you. Grandfather wants to adopt you and that would mean that you would need to go and meet them formally. There are many cultivators that are in the same generation as me and the Clan Elders tend to love comparing their disciples.", in a blunt tone.

"That's bad news.", he said, a bitter smile on his face.

"Well, in a way, it can actually be a good one, competition makes one stronger, and as someone Grandfather Fresh Wood wants to adopt, you need to have strength to protect yourself."

"I'm not liking the development of the conversation; I do hope I'm mistaken."

Little Tiger stood up as she finished her meal, "It's about time, come with me."

"Mind if I ask where are we going?"

Little Tiger did not reply, instead, she smiled slightly. She left the room as he followed her and both of them headed towards the front yard as, as they were walking, motes of light gathered around her body and her aura changed to an intimidating one, striking Michael with awe and disbelief.

She stood there looking at Michael in the way a predator watches her prey, ready to devour. Gesturing with her hand, she said, "Come, fight me with that sword of yours.", which seemed very arrogant as she was not carrying a weapon, but, he knew that this was not arrogance. She really was stronger than him.

Michael gritted his teeth and dashed forward, his sword held above his head, this was what he learned yesterday, the Sword Clan's greatest sword art, the Dragon's Claw Sword art, which had a set of three main movements, Dragon's Descent, Dragon's Rise, and Dragon's Claw. What he was using was Dragon's descent, a down slash that uses the qi to reinforce the arms, creating a downforce that can crush rocks easily.

Yet, his strike did not even reach Little Tiger, not even a strand of her hair. It seemed like there was an invisible barrier. Little Tiger waved her hands and the sword in his hands was blown away mercilessly. He did not have the ability to even fight back.

"Too weak. The strength is dispersed; it would be better if you focused it in one point. That would make it stronger.", she said in a flat tone.

Michael picked up his sword and stood erectly, visualizing what she said, he focused the qi at the sharp edge of the sword and once more used the Dragon's Descent. This time, it pierced the seemingly invisible barrier but was easily stopped by Little Tiger with his hands.

Grinning widely, she said, "Good, but, still too weak.", while waving her hands wildly.

The sword was blown away once more, though this time, it snapped in two. Michael looked blankly at the sword.

"It's not your fault this time, the strength behind the slash was great. The sword was weak and so it broke, but, with a better one, you may have been able to injure me. Now, let's train once more."

Laughing dryly, Michael focused and once more stood erectly with a wooden sword in hand given by Little Tiger. He felt tired. He even felt afraid of this maiden who seemed to be possessed with an inexorable will to fight.

He was a weak man, but in this moment, he chose to stand once more. His heart was beating loudly, almost like the mighty sound of drums being pounded by giants. The sound felt like a war cry that signifies the start of a war, Michael's war against his fate.

He smiled and dashed forward, this time with more strength than ever.