An almost transparent aura coated around the knife, and the fingers that held the knife, as Bohai came for the old man's throat. He was fast, too fast for a normal person's sight. Yet, somehow, the old man had prepared a thorough defense.
He caught the knife with two fingers. The fingers were coated in the same aura as Bohai, yet a solid white color. With his other hand, he made it impossible for Bohai to attack any further.
However, when the old man stopped his attack in that particular style, Bohai was reminded of a certain someone. The memory was old, but vivid. It belonged to a five year old Bohai, who had met someone outside of the family for the first time. Someone who had been friends with his grandpa since they were his age. His grandpa's only remaining friend, Tan Huizhong of the Tan clan.
[11 years ago]
"Bo," a handsome voice asked, his voice echoing along the desecrate stone path. "Are you nervous?"
The little boy, who held onto the older boy's hand, shook his head. However, his grip betrayed his emotions. The slight shaking, and the tighter than usual grip on the three fingers he held, portrayed his anxiety.
"I'm nervous too." The older boy, with the handsome voice, said with a slight smile. At his words, the little boy stopped walking and openly stared. He obviously didn't believe him. "What? You don't believe your older brother?"
The little boy shook his head, resulting in his brother letting go of his hand and embracing him in a light chokehold. With his free hand, the older boy began to shuffle the younger's hair. Resulting in a fit of laughter to echo through the grassy clearing.
"En-Shi, are you really nervous?" The little boy asked his older brother, Shi, who nodded his head in response. "Don't worry En-Shi! Since I'm with you, it'll be alright!" The little boy exclaimed as he broke free of the light hold. He took Shi's hand, slowly changing to hold onto three fingers since his entire hand soon came out of his reach, and led the way to the building that was now within their sights.
The two brothers confidently entered the building. However, both of their confidence disappeared when they saw what was inside. Defeated, their other brother lay on the floor panting with exhaustion. The middle brother, who was praised daily for his martial arts, had now been shamelessly beaten. And what surprised them even more, was that they grandfather wasn't doing anything to his attacker!
The two brothers had no time to ask their grandfather about what was happening, for the other old man who had attacked their other brother, was charging straight towards them. Despite his earlier words of confidence, the youngest, Bohai, was frozen in place. He had never been in a real battle, not even a training battle! He was barely five years old!
Shi, who was also startled, saw Bohai frozen in place and a teasing smile formed on his face. But he had no time to tease the young child. Instead, he stepped in front of him to protect him. When he briefly made eye contact with Bohai, he showed him a confident smile. Which instantly made Bohai regain his senses.
But what happened next was unimaginable to the youngest brother, who idolized his older brothers.
Shi had managed to block a few of the old man's hits, but he hadn't been able to hit him even once. The old man moved slightly every time he should've been hit, and instead hit Shi when he was least expecting it.
In less than a minute, Shi lay defeated on the floor just like Geming.
Now that the two brothers had been dealt with, the two old men seemingly forgot about the young Bohai.
It was true that he had never been in a battle, and that was simply because he was too young. He had only started his training a month prior, there was no way that his grandfather would risk his downfall on the fighting track by pushing him too hard too early.
But, what both old men hadn't expected, was Bohai's next move.
Upon seeing his two elder brothers beaten, Bohai was rather upset. He didn't know that this was for training purposed, he simply thought that his old man was beating up his siblings!
Forgetting his earlier fear, he rushed towards the unsuspecting old man while unraveling the jade hair piece his mother had decorated his hair with.
Forgetting that the hair piece wasn't a sharp blade, or sharp at all, Bohai fearlessly rushed at the old man. He used the little bit of training he had to enhance his abilities, allowing him to be faster and jump higher than normal. He was ready to stab the old man's weak point, his throat.
The three sibling's grandfather was surprised to see the sudden attack, and so was the victim. Albeit surprised, the would-be victim raised his hand at lightning speed to stop the attack. It only took his two fingers to stop the vicious attack. With his other hand, he immobilized the floating child.
Once he let go of the child, Bohai fell to the floor in the same manner as his siblings.
[Now]
Bohai's eyes rounded with surprise, as the killing intent disappeared immediately. He released the clear-white coating around the knife, and lowered it altogether.
"On-Ta?" Bohai asked, not believing his instincts.
"Now you remember me, you brat."