That night, he searched David's name online.
At first, he found nothing.
Then he searched deeper.
Old articles.
Archived interviews.
Tournament records.
And suddenly…
Everything changed.
Ethan stared at the screen.
The quiet neighbor next door wasn't just someone who had trained before.
He was a legend.
Twenty years earlier, David Miller had been one of the most respected martial artists in the country.
Not because he was the loudest.
Not because he chased fame.
Because he was disciplined.
He had won major competitions.
He had trained with elite fighters.
He had been known for his patience and defensive skills.
Then, at the height of his career, he disappeared.
No announcement.
No farewell.
He simply left.
The next morning, Ethan went to David's house.
David was working in the garden.
“You found out.”
Ethan stopped.
“You knew?”
David smiled.
“I knew you would be curious.”
Ethan looked embarrassed.
“Why didn't you tell anyone?”