For the very first time since this whole event started, my punch connected.
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As opposed to how it would feel to sink my fist into the wood of the practice target, to feel the energy of my attack move from the root of my arm, through its length all the way to the knuckle I struck out with as it transferred the kinetic energy to the target…
As opposed to the wooden target, Mako first accepted my strike, only to then—ever so slightly—lean back, giving but an inch to my punch before steeling her frame and then digging her feet in, refusing to buckle any further.
"Haaa…" I breathed out loud, holding my fist against Mako’s braced forearms she took my hit with, before slowly retracting my hand as I pulled back into my base punching stance.
Just like with archery, where fledgling shooters would be taught not to relax until at least a full second after releasing their shot, I remained in the punch-ready position for a second before finally allowing the tension to flee my body.
As if mirroring my movements, Mako only allowed herself to fully relax right as I did, dropping her stance only once she was sure I merely went through the motions of my training rather than readying myself for another punch.
"That was…" she muttered, only to then gulp her saliva down. "That was something else, and for a purely physical punch?" She shook her head, the look of flawless arrogance and confidence brimming in her eyes just a moment ago now giving in to the shock and considerable impression.
As she fully dropped her guard down, she widened her eyes while starting to shake her arms to dissipate the pain of using them to block my punch.
"Thanks," I nodded my head a little, more than happy to show my appreciation to someone capable of witnessing my punch. Because while she was right in stating how I’d only used my physical prowess to execute it while fully holding back on my cultivation…
There was a reason why my punch could decimate the ranks of the cultivators Leila prepared for this test, even though it would fail to even make my master back at the dojo flinch.
Once again, even though I held my cultivation back, it was inherently affecting the physicality of my body, bringing it way beyond the limits of what mere training could achieve. And yet, Mako managed to withstand it.
"So?" Stepping up from the side, Leila approached with a satisfied look on her face. "How was it?"
I looked over, only to see her directing her eyes not to me, but her practitioner.
"In all honesty, he hit me like a carriage," Mako admitted without even a moment of hesitation. "It was so heavy, I have a really hard time believing he could do it with no spiritual energy infused in the strike at all, even though I’m damn sure I would be able to detect it if he did…" The young woman shook her head.
Neither her actions nor the way she put her words together followed the little I learned about the etiquette of this place. And while I couldn’t care less myself about that… it certainly did show just how special of a place she occupied in Leila’s heart for Claire’s mom to allow it.
"How do you hold on, though?" Leila asked, not satisfied with just one side of the story. "Can you handle an infused strike, or…?"
For the very first time, a hint of doubt flashed in Mako’s eyes.
Mako squinted her eyes and looked down for a moment before raising them back up and standing properly at attention with her chest puffed out and her hands locking behind her back.
"In a life or death scenario, I would," she claimed, only to then shake her head. "But at what cost?" she asked, only to then shake her head again and for her entire stance to deflate as she lowered her head and shook it for the third time. "I would most likely have to offer an arm… And that’s only if lucky."
Despite how drastic her words were, there wasn’t a hint of doubt in Mako’s eyes as she spoke.
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’No, there’s more to her than just that,’ I thought, silently observing the exchange. ’She looks like…’ I squinted my eyes, ’she looks like she would be ready to actually go for such an exchange if it gave her the edge in a real fight…’
Even though my punch proved to be quite a lot for Mako to handle, even as but a manifestation of but my physical force… she also proved to be worth more than I initially assumed.
’This was all supposed to be a way for Leila to learn more about my strength. The question now is, is it her tipping her hand, or did she fail to plan for the possibility of me taking notice?’
Contrary to the cultivators she provided that I’ve faced before, Mako wasn’t just a practitioner that only knew how to grow herself stronger for the sake of growing stronger, maybe for the sake of improving her standing in the clan.
From what I could tell, she was the real deal.
"Tim," as Leila engaged in some sort of deeper conversation with her student, Claire used this chance to silently approach and then call out to me.
Yet, rather than speaking openly out loud, she made sure to come close enough to grab my arm and then press herself against my side, making it seem as if she just came to cuddle or maybe to check if I didn’t go too hard on this exercise.
"She’s lying," Claire whispered, making sure not to even look in the direction of her mother and Mako. "You saw it too, didn’t you? Her retreat?" Claire asked before affording but a quick, shallow glance in the direction of those two. "With that alone she managed to just ignore two-thirds of your attack. As for her arms…" Claire shook her head.
"She faked the strain," I whispered in return, only to put a wide smile on my face and reach out for Claire’s head, rustling her hair as if I was currently in the process of melting down over her cuteness rather than discussing the angle of the current situation that was slowly making us grow more and more alert.
’So, even her mom isn’t someone we can fully trust, huh?’ I thought before raising my hand from the top of Claire’s head and then giving her cheek a gentle nudge. And then, just for the sake of all those who could be potentially watching us, I raised my voice a bit.
"As much as I would want to, we still need to get this whole event over with. Who knows how hard it will be to have it organized again in the future?" I asked as I gently yet decisively grabbed Claire by her shoulders and then lightly moved her away. "So sit tight, find just a little bit more patience and once we are done here," I put on a huge smile on my face, "I will be sure to arrange for some private quarters for us to finally be able to enjoy some private time in peace."