Playing Waterbending (Avatar: Last Aibender SI)-Chapter 60 -

I looked at the old man, who probably thought I couldn't see through his disguise. I wanted to tell him to drop the act, but I decided against it. I wanted to see what his purpose was with this charade.

Did I mention before that I hate it when someone plays games. But at the same time, I didn't have anything better to do.

I crouched down to the old man and extended my hand to him.

"Sorry, old man," I said gently.

"It seems you're well-mannered, young man," the old man replied, taking my hand and pretending to struggle to stand up.

"Oh, ouch..." he groaned in pain. "My back... you've hurt me a lot."

"Easy, easy," I said, sighing internally. It seemed Bumi, the Mad King, was testing my patience. I decided to test his madness in return.

"For an old man your size, you're pretty heavy. You seem to weigh over 120 kg," I said.

"Hehe..." he shifted to a cheerful and smiling demeanor. "You're just weak, young man..."

"Are you sure?" I replied. "I used to do heavy labor under the sun."

"Like what? Picking a few flowers?" he teased. "Anyway... it seems I can't walk. Can you help me?"

I rolled my eyes.

Another man like Cai. If I didn't know he was Bumi, I wouldn't have humored him.

"Where do you want to go?" I asked.

"Somewhere nearby," he said, his dark-bagged eyes smiling at me.

"Okay... but are you sure your back hurts?"

"Oh, yes," he insisted.

"Hold on for a second, then," I said. I stood behind him and placed my hand on his back. Since I had gained bloodbending and my waterbending was now at level 15, I could use blood to heal people. Not to mention, my healing skill was a sub-skill that improved with each level.

"What's this sensation?" he asked, his eyes widening.

"I've just healed you," I replied. "Though, you have quite healthy bones for an old man."

"Hey, don't call me an old man. I'm just shy of 110 years young. Anyway, come with me," he said.

"But you're no longer in pain," I teased.

"You've caused me emotional damage," he said, tears welling up in his eyes. I knew it was just an act, but it was so convincing that I felt a pang in my heart.

And so, I began walking around Omashu with the Mad King, who pretended to be a helpless, cranky old man.

I had to handle him for some time. He asked me to do various tasks, like heavy lifting and moving things around. Then, as I grew curious about where he was leading me after carrying his groceries, he made me take two rounds around the city.

"I seem to have forgotten where I live!" he cried.

"You don't say," I replied blankly.

"You wouldn't abandon a helpless old man, would you, young fella?" he said.

"Maybe if you stopped walking while squatting, you'd remember where you live," I said, deciding to cut the act. I had wasted enough time.

It seemed like karma was getting back at me for making Sokka roam around the city so I could have some privacy with his sister.

"I'm standing as straight as I can. But my joints really hurt!" he cried.

"Well, I have to admit, being this old has made you a very good actor," I said, sensing a flinch in Bumi's pulse.

"It seems young men lose their minds before they get old nowadays," he sighed heavily.

Before he could deny it any longer, I pointed my hand at him and started moving my fingers.

"Ouch... ouch... argh..." he groaned as his arms and legs began to grow.

The man who had been two heads shorter than me now stood almost two inches taller. His attire shrank on his body, exposing his bulging muscles. With his physique, this old man could compete in Mr. Olympia without steroids.

"Either one of us has lost their mind, or you're not real," I said confidently.

"Hehehe..." the old man laughed. "You've seen through my disguise. Do you know who I am?"

"I believe you're Bumi," I replied. "King Bumi, if you prefer to be called that."

"What was that power..." Bumi looked at his hands, his eyes wide open.

"Bloodbending. It's like bending the water inside your body," I replied. "Don't ask for details."

"Man... Young men nowadays have no patience. If you realized I was testing you, why didn't you just act along and pass the test?" Bumi smiled and cocked his head.

I rolled my eyes. "I was testing you testing me. I wanted to know the purpose. In case you were testing my patience, you should have tested your disguise first."

"Unbelievable. Even the citizens of my city didn't know it was me," Bumi said. He put his hand under his chin and examined me from head to toe. "Sharp. Carefree at the same time... Patient, yet not very tolerant. You also seem to have the power to sense through the water in the air. That's how you saw me. But..."

I didn't know whether to feel flattered or insulted.

Sharp but carefree? What was that supposed to make me? DBZ's Goku? Well, I was somewhat flattered.

"You know, you could've simply asked for an audience instead of all this testing..." I shrugged.

"Yes, I could have," Bumi said, lifting his finger energetically. "But I didn't know you'd be such a joy killer."

'Is he testing me by being passive-aggressive?' I thought.

"Yeah, they call me Killer Queen," I replied.

"What a weird title. I thought they called you the Nutcracker," Bumi said.

I paused for a second, my eyes widening.

I didn't know I had a title like that.

I put my hand on my face and looked at the sky, my eyes falling on the sunset.

Just hearing that title made me feel pain in my nuts.

'With such a title... my children will suffer from bullying... It's okay. I'm a bloodbender now; they'll issue me a new one. But man... I shouldn't have spared that bounty hunter.'

"Forget about it," I said. "Anyway, there's no need for a test or anything... I'm just here to pass on the teachings of metalbending... and that's it."

"But there is a need indeed," Bumi shook his head. "A powerful, rebellious man. I need to know what kind of person you are. If you're crazy or stupid, you wouldn't deserve that kind of power, nor should you be trusted."

I tilted my head and examined Bumi from head to toe.

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"You realize your facial expression is screaming the word 'crazy,' right? Even the deaf can hear that. Yet, here you are, a king," I replied, speaking my honest thoughts.

Bumi didn't take offense to my words.

He seemed amused.

After chuckling, he said, "I'm smart with a pure heart."

"Aren't all crazy people?" I replied.

"Have you heard about the Fire Lord's daughter?" Bumi argued back.

Suddenly, I felt I had lost the argument. Azula was what you'd call evil with a pure heart. She's less crazy than Bumi but very vicious, scheming, and smart. The worst part is that she's been like this since she was a kid.

Again, I wondered how she looked in this reality.

"You've got a point," I admitted, conceding the argument.

But then it hit me.

Why? Why was Bumi doing this?

If it was about handing over a metalbending method or an explosive dust recipe, it wouldn't require qualifications from me. Toph would be teaching them soon anyway.

It seemed Bumi had another purpose. Giving me an army? Or... his secret organization?

"Anyway, what's your real purpose? It's not like you need to be a genius to teach someone metalbending," I asked.

Bumi's smile widened. He reached into his robe and pulled out a token, handing it to me.

"Have you ever heard of Order of The White Lotus ?" he asked, extending the token to me.