Chapter 60: The 5 Ancient Clans!!
The narrow garden path was quiet, lined with tall bamboo swaying gently in the breeze. The gravel beneath Miles’s boots crunched softly as he walked beside Clarissa. They passed a tranquil koi pond, crossed under a wooden archway adorned with red ribbons, and reached an open clearing surrounded by stone lanterns and flowering trees.
Then—Miles stopped.
He tilted his head slightly, eyes scanning the shadows between the bamboo thickets.
"...Seriously?" he said, almost exasperated. "Come on. Don’t hide now."
From the foliage, six figures stepped out silently—dressed in lightweight training robes, their movements disciplined and balanced. The moment they appeared, they dropped into traditional martial arts stances—fluid, focused, and ready.
Clarissa chuckled and gracefully stepped to the side, arms folded. "Don’t look at me. I told them not to, but they insisted."
Miles sighed deeply. "Of course they did."
The wind paused as if holding its breath. Then—without warning—the first fighter surged forward, low and fast. Miles sidestepped, caught the man’s wrist, twisted, and used his momentum to throw him over his shoulder. The man hit the grass hard but rolled back to his feet.
The second and third came next—together. One high, one low. A spinning kick aimed for Miles’s shoulder while the other tried to sweep his legs. Miles dropped, planting one hand to the ground, letting the high kick pass over him, then kicked outward into the leg of the sweeping attacker. The man stumbled. Miles flipped himself back upright and parried a rapid punch aimed at his jaw.
His expression was calm. Relaxed, even. But his hands moved with surgical precision—blocking, deflecting, countering.
The fourth fighter was more aggressive—striking with fast elbows and knees, classic Tiger style. Miles absorbed two hits to his arm before ducking inside the guard and delivering a clean strike to the ribs with the side of his palm. The man dropped to one knee.