Chapter 116: Lesson of Manners
Chapter 116: Lesson of Manners
Solomon approached the gathered crowd and peered over the shoulders of the LSA students. The injured boy groaned on the dirt while clutching his head. Blood trickled through his fingers from a nasty gash on his scalp.
"Why did you strike him in the head?" an older LSA student yelled, pointing an accusing finger at the opposing group.
The student in the crimson uniform twirled his wooden training sword and smirked. "It was just a training accident. We were practicing our routines, and my blade slipped."
"A slipping wooden sword does not crack a skull open!" the LSA student shouted back. "We have practiced in this courtyard for months. An injury like this has never happened before!"
The crimson student shrugged and tapped his wooden blade against his boot. "Then your friend needs to improve his footwork. He lunged right into my swinging arc. He deserves the bump on his head for lacking basic spatial awareness."
Another crimson student laughed alongside his peer. "You guys need to watch your surroundings better. This is a martial sect. Take some responsibility for your own clumsy movements."
The opposing group refused to take any blame. They acted smug and dismissed the accusations entirely. The LSA disciples tightened their grips on their practice weapons.
"We are reporting this to the pavilion instructors," one of the LSA students threatened. "The instructors will handle your group."
Solomon watched the exchange while resting Eden’s Penance on his shoulder. He knew exactly how situations like this played out. Complaining to the faculty would yield nothing besides a temporary reprimand.
The crimson students would simply find excuses to strike people on purpose again. Bullies only responded to physical consequences.
He decided it was time to teach the older students some basic manners. Furthermore, stepping into the argument provided a great opportunity to entertain his viewers.
[GoonLord: LOOK AT THOSE SMUG FACES! PLEASE PUNCH THEM!]
[LazyCat: they definitely did that on purpose.][User12: Solo Man is going to do something funny.]
[BloodKnight: Injustice requires an immediate physical correction.]
Solomon tapped his stream interface and grinned. He pushed his way through the circle of arguing disciples and stepped into the open space between the two groups.
"If we are blaming people for getting in the way of training routines," Solomon announced, planting his boots into the dirt. "I guess I should join the practice session."
He dropped his greatsword onto the ground with a loud thud. The sudden noise drew everyone’s attention away from the injured boy. The crimson students stopped laughing and glared at the newcomer.
Solomon left his greatsword resting on the dirt and walked over to a nearby equipment rack. He grabbed a standard wooden training saber and gave the weapon a few practice swings. The rival students in the dark red uniforms glared at him while gripping their own sticks tighter.
"Since the courtyard is getting crowded, I think I will just practice my footwork right here," Solomon announced cheerfully.
He stepped right into the middle of the rival group’s designated training circle. A tall student with a buzz cut swung his wooden blade in a wide horizontal arc.
Solomon casually stepped forward and raised his own stick. The two weapons collided with a sharp clack. The unexpected block sent the buzz-cut student stumbling backward into the dirt.
"Watch your surroundings," Solomon advised with a bright smile. "You lunged right into my practice block. You really need to improve your spatial awareness."
The rival student gripped his wooden hilt and pushed himself up from the ground. "Are you blind? I was clearly in the middle of my sequence!"
"My sword just slipped," Solomon shrugged, turning his back to the boy.
Another student stepped forward to execute a forward thrust. Solomon perfectly timed his movement and bumped his shoulder directly against the boy’s elbow.
The sudden impact ruined the trajectory of the strike. The wooden sword flew out of the student’s grip and clattered against the stone planter.
"Oops," Solomon muttered, kicking a pile of dirt over the dropped weapon. "My bad. I am just a clumsy first-year learning the ropes."
The group of red-uniformed disciples abandoned their routines entirely. They surrounded Solomon and aimed their wooden blades directly at his chest.
"You are wearing a first-year uniform," the buzz-cut leader sneered, pointing his stick at Solomon’s face. "You literally just arrived at the mountain today. We are upperclassmen from the Crimson Sun Institute. You need to drop your weapon, get on your knees, and apologize for interrupting our session."
Solomon tapped his floating bronze owl and smiled at the camera lens. "Did you guys hear that? They want me to apologize for being clumsy. I think I am doing a great job at fitting in with their training methods."
[LazyCat: lmao you are giving them a taste of their own medicine.]
[NewbHunter: the Uno reverse card is crazy right now.]
[BloodKnight: Provoking enemies into making the first strike is a valid tactic.]
[User12: they look like they want to explode.]
The rival students gritted their teeth and stepped closer. "Are you deaf, you little rat?" another boy shouted, tightening his grip on his weapon. "You LSA rejects think you own every single pavilion in the Azure Dragon Sect. You are just a pathetic novice. We will break both of your legs and toss you down the mountain."
"You guys talk way too much," Solomon sighed, casually tossing his wooden sword onto the ground. "If you actually want to do something about my clumsiness, then do it. Just keep in mind that you are initiating a fight against an unarmed first-year student."
The buzz-cut leader let out a loud battle cry and lunged forward. He swung his wooden blade aiming directly for Solomon’s head.
Solomon easily ducked under the swinging weapon. Utilizing his Basic Unarmed Combat skills, he stepped inside the boy’s guard. Twisting his hips, Solomon drove a sharp punch directly into the attacker’s ribs.
The impact forced the air out of the boy’s lungs. Solomon grabbed the staggering student by the collar and casually tossed him into a nearby weapon rack.
The wooden stand collapsed into a pile of splinters alongside the groaning boy.
"Manners maketh man," Solomon quoted, rolling his shoulders and adjusting his footing. "I guess your instructors forgot to teach you basic etiquette. Oh, don’t worry. My lesson’s free. I don’t charge fees from the under-privileged people."