I walked over to the bodies of my would-be assassins and found men cloaked in sneaky clothes with their faces hidden.

Next to them were the recently popular Inner Power Crossbows which weren’t as expensive as the Inner Shooter.

I decided to claim my spoils and wrapped up all the crossbows, except for a few, in one of the cloaks one of the assassins was wearing.

Everything else I left alone, I knew that soon City officials would show up, it was for the best if I didn’t tamper too much with the evidence.

Suddenly I heard the voice I had been expecting.

“Hahaha congratulations young Guso more and more i’m starting to like you, enjoy your life as a D Ranker!”

I heard Zigif scream in agony, louder than he had done even before when he had been injured.

“NOOOO! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! IT'S NOT FAIR! EVERYTHINGS NOT FAIR! I SHOULD BE IN HIS SPOT, NOT HIM! ****YOU GUSO I SWEAR I'LL GET REVENGE I SWEAR IT!”

Despite his incapacitated condition the emotions in his words actually cause me to be concerned.

I considered ending his life right then and there.

But I suddenly heard a commotion of people arriving at the scene.

It was the City Officials, and surprisingly the Mayor was with them.

I decided to put away my thoughts, I knew not killing Zigif would cost me in more ways than just Ranks, but it was too late now, my opportunity had passed.

“Guso what has transgressed here? Are you alright?!”

“It was an assassination attempt, but don’t worry since I wasnt inside City walls I wont hold you accountable, i’m just not cleaning up any of the mess. I'll take my leave, Zigif of the Inner Blade School, is right over that hill if you want to talk to him. He was also one of the aggressors, but he challenged me to a Ranker Duel, so I spared him. Do with the situation what you will.”

I immediately departed from the scene, I didn't even care to answer any questions.

Despite the gains I had acquired from the altercation, the assassins had managed to ruin my mood.

I no longer had any desire to enjoy the things around me, my adrenaline and emotions were much too messed up.

But in the end I was very grateful to be alive.

When I got to Yupows’ house I didn't even talk to him and went straight to bed.

What I needed more than anything at that time was to calm my mind.

And deep sleep was the only thing that could give me that.

I slept right into the late afternoon, and after I woke up Yupow was there to greet me.

“I heard what happened. I'm happy and glad you made it through, from now on and until you depart i'll be more aware of your surroundings.”

“It's ok, you can't protect me forever, something like this was bound to happen the moment I unveiled the Focus Shard. I’m leaving the Citadel soon, the only thing I'll need your help in is leaving the City in secret, if that's ok with you.”

“I had almost forgotten your departure day is near, time surely does fly when things of interest happen. Guso it was an honor to have gotten to know you and to have been able to instruct you in the Martial Way.”

“Im honored to have received your tutelage as well, i hope i didnt cause you too much trouble.”

“Nonsense you didn’t cause even a fraction of the trouble that Kemoro put me through, of course when the day of your departure arrives, i'll be happy to let you leave safely.”

***

On my final day Yupow demonstrated to me a couple of profound inner breath techniques.

He showed me one where he blew a barrage of Inner Energy powered air shots.

“ This move here is called “ Inner Breath Barrage ``; it's a good move to know in terms of range, attacking potential, and spread damage.”

Another one were he manipulated all the items in his surroundings at his will.

“This is called “Inner Marionetter” with it all the objects in your surroundings become tools for you to use.”

One were he manipulated limbs made of Inner Energy in his attacks.

This is called “Inner Giant Technique”, it’ll increase your range and destructive power by many fold. To master this technique you must also Master ‘Inner Energy Form Manipulation’ to a good level.”

And lastly one were he levitated above the ground and moved at will through the air.

“This is called “Inner Suspension”, it's a mobility enhancing technique that will let you take the battle up to the heavens. Your proficiency in all the fundamentals of Inner Breath Arts will dictate how well you can use this technique.”

The last technique he demonstrated made me dream big, on what possibilities my future held.

I didn't think there were many people around in the world who wouldn’t want to fly around like birds, Ranker and Non-Ranker alike.

I was thrilled at the potential power “Inner Breath Art” could provide,and hoped I too could reach such a level of Mastery.

“These are all techniques I wish I could have taught you personally and with greater detail, but alas our time together has run out hopefully these demonstrations give you a glimpse of what is possible through the Inner Breath Art and guide your training in the right direction. In truth these techniques cannot even be considered high level within the confines of the Art. Nevertheless they are important foundational techniques that will help you unlock and unravel innumerable amounts of power once you reach a level close to my own. And it is precisely for that reason that I advise you to never forsake your Inner Breath fundamentals as they are the key to constantly raise your skill ceiling. Even I myself to this day have never stopped practicing them.”

Yupow shocked me by telling me those techniques weren’t even that high of a level.

The effect and power of those techniques had made me question if i could ever even reach that level in Inner Breath Mastery, but even if I was able to do so, there was yet another realm above that.

Such comments gave me a terrible insight wondering what kind of monsters could be found in the upper echelons of the Ranker and Expert world.

Being my Ranker myself if ever I encountered anyone like that would I have what it took to survive let alone defeat such an individual.

Remembering that self doubt was a poison that had held me back for a long time I decided to clear my mind of such thoughts.

After some advice on how to conduct my future self training with the Inner Energy, Master Yupow and I deecides to our farewell as we felt I had learned all he could learn at that time and anymore would just make things more sad.

But curiously Yupow handed me a gift wrapped in many layers of cloth and told me to open it only when I was in a very dire need.

I knew Yupow always had good instruction and wisdom behind everything he said so I headed his advice and promised him I would do as he said.

The Inner Energy Master wished me a safe journey and waited with me until late night when I had decided to do my departure.

I did my final preparations to leave for the Ranker Trading Event properly organizing tye weapons, inventory, and money I would take.

It had now become a fundamental traveling Wisdom I had learned to always travel light.

The night set in and the time for my departure arrived, and with the help of Yupow slipped out of the City unnoticed.

I felt a bit melancholy in leaving the way I did but that was the fate of a Ranker, to encounter and avoid death and trouble wherever I go.

Still I was more than satisfied with what I had achieved in my time in the City, it was definitely more than I had imagined I would do on my first day of arrival.

I never imagined I would be where I was today, I could technically stop and still say I achieved my lifelong goal and therefore guarantee myself a life and a future of prosperity.

But I knew I wouldn’t be able to do that, that wasn’t the way I was.

I worked too hard to end it here, I knew there was still more, I was still looking for more answers.

And so I embarked on my travel to the Ranker Event and a set of new adventures and challenges to overcome.