The old man was furious. Not only had Nathan cursed him, he had also defamed the Dragon Fist which he had been training.
As anger poured through him, the elderly man stopped what he was doing and approached Nathan and Penny, obstructing their way. In a dour tone and a gloomy expression, he asked Nathan, "Young lad, what did you just say?"
Penny Smith was taken aback by the old man's questioning, and apologized at once. "Sir, my husband is ignorant and didn't mean what he said. Please accept my apology on his behalf. I hope you don't take it to heart."
After Penny's apology, the old man's expression seemed to soften a little. However, Nathan Cross spoke again. In an unemotional voice, he said, "Honey, you don't have to apologize to him. What I said was the truth. Even if he seems to be in good health now, his internal organs have already been damaged. If he keeps on training, he will definitely lose his life within two years."
The old man was trembling with rage at Nathan Cross's words. "Young man, do you know what this set of moves that I am practicing is? How dare you utter such nonsense and wantonly distort the facts? Don't even think about leaving if you don't clear things up now."
The elderly man was Howard Ortiz.
He used to be the wealthiest man in Channing, and had served in the North Army for three years.
Dragon Fist, which he was practicing, was the first martial art used by the army in combat.
It was also this set of moves which earned Howard Ortiz two military awards.
As such, it had a sentimental value to the old man. He would not tolerate anyone defaming the Dragon Fist, and even claiming that this set of moves would cost the practitioner his life!
Howard Ortiz was enraged and demanded an explanation from Nathan.
Nathan Cross said indifferently when he faced the aggressive elderly man, "If I'm not wrong, this set of moves which you are practicing is the first martial art used in combat by the North Army, the Dragon Fist."
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