Chief Brashford's Sons

"How can a single human, like me, make a difference? This is a problem I can't solve." Liu Kai wondered.

"Don't worry about that. We already have a plan. We need you and your colleagues to partake in our raids." King Lee answered.

"What kind of plan? And what are these raids for?"

"As you may know, Dwarves are exceptional Artisans. They can create tons of defensive mechanisms to protect this village. What they need are resources like the exoskeleton of gigantic insects. They can be very useful and can be used for a lot of things."

Liu Kai understood what King Lee was trying to say, so he told them…

"I'll think about it. I need to talk to Jin and Sergio first. This is not something I can decide alone." Liu Kai explained.

"Please do, I'm hoping for your group's participation. I'll also accept more students here in my Dojo. It will be a big benefit for you since you're learning to master your body." King Lee said, referring to Jin Chow and Sergio Von Croy.

'If you think about it, his stories would make sense. Aside from that, we'll get a chance to become part of King Lee's martial art school. I can't see any reason to reject his offer since it wouldn't be a hindrance to my goals, but I'll still think about it. I have to respect Chow and Sergio's decision for themselves.' Liu Kai thought about the things that King Lee told him while they both left the training grounds and out to join the others waiting for them.

"Are you done with your 'chit-chats'?" Sergio Von Croy asked Liu Kai and King Lee as he walked closer to them.

Liu Kai didn't respond.

"Hey, do you know that I beat Liu Kai and Sergio in Fang Shi a lot of times before we got here?" Jin Chow babbled to Wang Xiu Ying in a not far away distance but still enough for Liu Kai, King Lee, and Sergio to hear.

"Oh, wow! You guys must be a powerful knight!" "That guy beat Shifu. Are you stronger than that Liu guy?" "Come on! Show me how powerful you are Chow!" Wang Xiu Ying and the other students said, talking to Jin Chow.

"Yeah! Among the three of us, I am the strongest knight. They won't stand a chance against me if we fight. And you know what, I am the Captain of our little crew." Jin Chow continued to brag to the students. And sadly, all of them are believing him based on their reactions and statements.

"Woah! You might have a high standard before you accept people in your crew." Wang Xiu Ying deduced with his mouth widely open since earlier.

"You're smart, Wang Xiu Ying, I didn't realize that. So that's the reason you have little members in your squad," said another student.

"You're all right about that. If some of you surpassed your Shifu someday, I might consider accepting that as a qualification to join my squad," said Jin Chow, nodded at them acting all high.

"Woah, we love that!" They said, amazed by his stories.

Liu Kai rubbed his forehead, disappointed about Jin Chow's behavior towards the students. King Lee and Sergio Von Croy face palmed after they heard the conversation. They looked at each other and laughed awkwardly.

"ENOUGH!!!" King Lee glared at all of them as they startled from the sudden shout.

"Training for today is over. Go home and rest. I'll make up for your training tomorrow. Prepare yourselves for the intense training!" King Lee waved to his students, who were busy talking to Jin Chow.

Simultaneously, Liu Kai and Sergio glared at Jin Chow after he faced them.

"Oh, no! I'm in trouble." Jin Chow said to himself, smiled, and laughed awkwardly after he felt their murderous presence.

"Alright, I'll go now. I still need to train them before this day ends." Jin Chow whispered to the students while walking closer to the three and covering his mouth with his right hand.

"Let's head back as well. I'm sure Desmund cooked something for all of us." King Lee informed the trio.

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.

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All four of them went back to Chief Brashford's house.

"We're back, Desmund!" King Lee declared their arrival as they entered the small house. As expected, Chief Brashford was in the kitchen, cooking something for all of them.

They removed their shoes except for Liu Kai, who was already barefooted. King Lee noticed and said… "Uhm, we'll do something about your shoes tomorrow."

Liu Kai nods and enters the house.

"Good timing! It's almost ready. Prepare to eat." Chief Brashford welcomed after he saw them walk inside.

Jin Chow rushed to the kitchen to help Chief Brashford. Sergio sat on the table and Liu Kai went to the bathroom to clean his feet. King Lee also sat on the table after directing Liu Kai where the bathroom is.

Jin Chow served the food once everyone was all seated.

"Hohoho! What a nice lad you are! Unlike this bowl-haired bastard, who hasn't helped me even once." Chief Brashford teased, referring to King Lee and his hair.

King Lee laughed awkwardly at the Chief's joke, and all of them started to laugh eventually.

After the food was placed in front of them, their mouths instantly watered. They haven't eaten properly for days and when they did, bugs were the only item on the menu. But now, they'll get to taste normal food again after walking around all day.

After thanking Chief Brashford for the meal, they didn't hesitate to dig into the meal and feast on the delicious food in front of them.

"Woah! Thish. Ish. Sho. Tashty!" Jin Chow exclaimed while munching down his food.

"Fool! Don't talk when you have food in your mouth." Sergio lectured.

"Have some dining etiquette Chow." Liu Kai added.

"I'm shorry... itsh jusht sho tashty." Jin Chow apologized while still munching.

"HAHAHA!! Enjoy your meal, laddies!" Chief Brashford laughed while looking at the four of them.

'It's getting lively here. I wish you could have been here to see this, my sons…' Chief Brashford thought to himself as he remembered his sons who he lost to the giant insects that attacked their world.

He felt a sense of sadness but was also happily observing the people in front of him.