《The Wandering Maiden's Travel Guide: Flowers of the Empire》


 No Greater Honor than Civil Service

    Real knowledge is to know the extent of one¡¯s ignorance.


    These are the words of a wise man, long since lost to history, etched into the arches and gates of the Imperial Academy in Tiansheng. As the preeminent place of learning, rooting out ignorance and fortifying wisdom is the ultimate goal. In doing so, the academy produces only the most promising students for the imperial court.


    As the new year of class looms on the horizon, several thousand excited faces gather in the academy¡¯s newest courtyard. The stillness in the air amplifies the murmurs of their hushed whispers into a cacophonous droning that¡¯d annoy Zhou Xiaoming on any other day. However, these bright-eyed hopefuls are present because of his years-long effort to expand the academy, so he chooses to revel in the sea of voices rather than let it get under his skin.


    Xiaoming spent the last few years lobbying for funding to expand the academy, and thanks to his hard work, and that of his supporters, his project culminated in this resounding success. All of the students that gather today are in attendance because of the recently completed expansions, including this courtyard they now fill. Three thousand students, all promising individuals from across the Great Xi¡¯an, stand in neat, ordered rank-and-file, just like an army. This is Xioaming¡¯s legacy; an army of scholars and civil servants.


    Xiaoming settles into his place on the small, elevated plaza between the gates of the academy and the new student body, and waits patiently for the ceremony to begin. Soon enough, a gentle breeze rolls through and disperses some of the summer humidity, and a mousy attendant steps to the fore to address the masses.


    ¡°Welcome, honored students, and congratulations on your successful admission. We, the instructors and staff of the Imperial Academy, are proud to have you in attendance today,¡± he pauses momentarily, gesturing to Xiaoming with a flourish and a reverent bow of his head. ¡°To begin the ceremony, our headmaster, Zhou Xiaoming, will address you.¡±


    Xiaoming approaches with slow, measured strides and a smile brimming with pride. As soon as the attendant shuffles off to the side, Xiaoming replaces him at the front. He begins with a courteous bow of his own while the crowd settles from a murmur to eager silence. Thousands of hopeful eyes gaze up at him, teeming with expectations he hopes to fulfill. A simple gesture activates the engraved silver slip he holds and its mystical power carries his voice far and wide.


    ¡°Welcome, sons and daughters of our great empire. You alone, from among countless applicants, proved your worth, and now take your first steps on this momentous journey of wisdom and knowledge.


    ¡°Others toil in the fields, labor in workshops, or take up arms to defend the people from threats beyond our borders, but you¡­¡± Xiaoming sweeps his arms across the crowd in a grand, inclusive gesture. ¡°You defend them from within. We, learned servants of the empire, are its lifeblood ¡ª and there is no greater honor than civil service!¡±


    A well-practiced chorus erupts from the crowd: ¡°Glory to the Emperor! May he live for a thousand years!¡±


    As soon as the students fall quiet, Xiaoming continues his speech. He talks at length about their potential futures as ministers, advisors, and officials. He explains that they will wield pens and paper in the battlefield of courtly politics, and how their success is the emperor¡¯s success. He likens them to the great men and women of history, and how each had proven invaluable, from the lowliest scribe, to the greatest of heroes. Their worth lies in their future deeds and contributions, and everything begins here, at the academy.


    With the conclusion of his speech, Xiaoming brings his hands together, fist in palm, and bows again. ¡°From this day forth, you are my students. I shall look after your wellbeing and do my utmost to ensure your success. The rest is in your hands ¡ª and in your minds.¡±


    Xiaoming moves back so that another speaker can take his place and rejoins the rest of the staff towards the rear. However, not long after he returns to rest in the shade, an attendant approaches and whispers to him.


    ¡°Someone has requested your presence inside the gate.¡±


    ¡°Did you get their name?¡±


    ¡°I am sorry, sir, but they said you¡¯d know if I told you that it is an old friend.¡±


    Xiaoming thanks them, excuses himself, and then quietly slips through the gate and into the academy proper.


    ¡°Zhou Xiaoming!¡±


    He twitches, caught unaware, as the speaker steps from the shadows to his left. Xiaoming turns and politely bows to his oldest friend. ¡°Minister Xin, I am pleased that you could attend.¡±


    ¡°That is quite the crowd out there. His excellency will be pleased when he hears that his investment bore fruit.¡±


    Minister Xin¡¯s hawkish features curl up in a pleasant, yet proud smile. Though he is the minister of the imperial clan, and is counted among the highest officials in the empire, their relationship predates either of their careers. As Xiaoming¡¯s closest friend and confidant, he is free to take pride in his accomplishments. Afterall, his actions and influence in the court were instrumental in ensuring Xiaoming received the necessary permissions and funding in the first place.


    Xiaming gestures down the cobbled path. ¡°Walk with me?¡±


    ¡°Of course. It would be better to speak elsewhere, and I would not turn down some of that wonderful tea that your wife brews.¡±


    Xiaoming grins knowingly. ¡°She will be delighted to have you.¡±


    ¡°Many in the court feared you would fail to turn such a meager investment into such extensive expansions. I hear that you added space for three thousand new students ¡ª is that correct?¡±


    ¡°The new wing is capable of housing around six thousand in relative comfort, and provides lecture halls, libraries, and workshops to accommodate their lessons, but the first new class is only three thousand or so,¡± Xiaoming explains while hiding his increasingly arrogant smirk behind the sleeve of his robe. ¡°I understand their doubts. They cannot fathom someone operating as expected without embezzling funds. Too many of these fattened officials easily forget that we aren¡¯t all so corrupt.¡±


    ¡°Hah!¡± Minister Xin unleashes a bout of amused laughter. ¡°Three thousand more students, with what, sixty thousand or so already in attendance? Even the finest generals wish for numbers such as these ¡ª this is truly an achievement befitting the so-called little sovereign.¡±


    Xiaoming clicks his tongue at the epithet he¡¯s acquired in recent years. It feels too grand, and carries even grander ambitions. Such things are too lofty for a humble man like him. However, tongues wag and rumors spread, and as the headmaster of the imperial academy, he has to admit that he wields profound influence over the future officials. The academy itself is one of the most extensive properties in the city, so it only makes sense that they¡¯d spread such drivel given the chance.


    ¡°I rule over nothing, and I command no one except myself. That is no secret.¡±


    ¡°I am aware,¡± Minister Xin replies in a wry tone. ¡°You do love to feign humility, but you are as ambitious as any other in the court. Fortunately for you, your aims are not as foolish ¡ª or treacherous, as those harbored by others.¡±


    Xiaoming releases an indignant huff.


    ¡°You have more influence than you believe, old friend. It is not just the officials, but you are a mentor to two of the emperor¡¯s cherished sons. Were he more suspicious of your intentions, or others more concerned with your plans, then you might find yourself up to your ears in enemies.¡±


    Xiaoming teases him with another bow. ¡°I shall take solace in your protection from the conspiracy-oriented minds who may seek to undermine me.¡±


    Minister Xin straightens up and strokes his graying beard. ¡°I will continue to do what I can, but I must also keep my eye on you. Power has a way of corrupting even the staunchest hearts, and if I find you slipping a little too comfortably into your new title¡­¡±


    ¡°That will never happen.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    They walk in silence for the few remaining moments before arriving at the entryway to Xiaoming¡¯s home. Once they pass the gate to his personal estate, Minister Xin continues in a hushed voice. ¡°Speaking of which¡­ how is our little secret?¡±


    Xiaoming hangs his head and sighs. ¡°She¡¯s not so little anymore, I¡¯m afraid. With every passing day she grows more willful and headstrong, and I worry I can only keep her contained for so long.¡±


    ¡°I know you are aware of the risk that her discovery poses to the both of us.¡±


    ¡°That goes without saying. Worry not! I have planned for any trouble that she may cause. Staying one step ahead of her is part of my job as her father ¡ª but she is getting craftier by the day.¡±


    ¡°The apple doesn''t fall far from the tree. Perhaps you¡¯ve taught her too well?¡± Minister Xin teases. ¡°However, we both knew it would be a matter of time, and I am thankful that I have lived a long life. The consequences of our past misdeeds do not bear as much weight as they once did.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, old friend, I have our best interests at heart, ¡°Xiaming replies, keeping his tone sincere and soothing. ¡°She can be a handful, but she is still young. You remember how we were at that age, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course, but if you asked me back then if I¡¯d have amounted to much, I¡¯d have laughed myself out of breath. Who would have believed I could become an imperial minister?¡±


    ¡°Not I,¡± Xiaoming answers sarcastically while opening the door to his home. ¡°But our futures are shrouded in mysteries. Only the great dragon can see through the uncertainties and divine where we truly belong.¡±


    Minister Xin pauses after he enters and fixes Xiaoming with a serious expression. ¡°Will you take her to Nangao?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps... She is the right age.¡±


    ¡°Then it may be wise,¡± Minister Xin lets out a long sigh as he sits down. ¡°If there is danger ahead, then she can undoubtedly help you avoid it.¡±


    ¡°There are risks, though.¡±


    ¡°Life is full of risks, but the youth are fortunate. Each day that passes brings a new ache or pain, and some days¡­ well, I wish I could just go back to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, my lady!¡± Xiang Jinyi chirps as she all-but-barges into my chambers. ¡°It is time to wake up.¡±


    I groan into the soft bedding and lazily wave a hand in my maid¡¯s general direction. It is a vain, and frankly, pathetic, attempt to dismiss her. Lying on my stomach makes it difficult to do, and I just appear to be struggling instead of giving orders. Try as I might, I can¡¯t argue with Jingyi, it is well past any reasonable hour to start my day, but the summer heat made the night insufferable and I barely slept a wink. As such, I fully intend to protest with every fiber of my being!


    ¡°Your breakfast is being prepared, and I brought some water and a clean towel,¡± Jingyi announces. I turn my head just as she puts the bowl down, and grimace as she approaches me with a stern expression. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t just discard your clothes so haphazardly, my lady.¡±


    Jingyi¡¯s tone is professional and courteous, yet she makes it clear to me that I am being scolded without overstepping her bounds. ¡°I need more than breakfast to get me out of bed.¡±


    She hovers over me with her hands on her hips and shakes her head. ¡°At least get dressed. You are so indecent! Imagine if someone else had come in instead of me?¡±


    I groan in protest. ¡°No one else is allowed to come in¡­¡±


    ¡°What if some vagabond climbed the walls, scaled the building, and crept into your room in the middle of the night? You¡¯d be so embarrassed!¡±


    I roll my eyes while Jingyi starts digging through my wardrobe. ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd...¡±


    I begrudgingly rouse myself, struggle onto my knees, and stretch languidly, like a cat looking for attention. I squint my eyes since the bright, midday sun threatens to blind me and makes it clear just how late I slept in. ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°Late!¡± Jingyi¡¯s reply is sharp enough to snap me out of my sleepy stupor, and vague enough that I learn nothing. ¡°Master Li will be here before you¡¯ve had time to finish your breakfast, so you had best hurry up or he will be very upset.¡±


    Jingyi holds up a short jacket and skirt, but shakes her head and exchanges it for another, but her periodic glares in my direction get her point across. I flop backwards, sprawling out on the bed, and then roll off and onto the floor. As I start to tumble towards the floor, I twist and plant my feet to stop myself from falling completely, and then gracelessly wobble until I am upright in front of the nearby mirror.


    I grin triumphantly and dunk the wash towel so I can clean myself up. ¡°Master Li is never in much of a hurry. He is old, after all.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t disrespect your elders, especially one of your masters!¡±


    I stretch again, one arm rising above my head and yawn while wiping cool water across myself. I place the damp towel on my neck and slowly drag it along my collarbone, reveling in the refreshing sensation. I spent most of the night sweating profusely, and as far as I can tell, it has only gotten hotter.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really feel like lessons today, anyway,¡± I mumble while leaning forward a bit to check my teeth in the mirror. ¡°Do you think he¡¯d believe I am feeling ill?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯d just call for a physician and then your deceitful ways would be revealed.¡±


    I sigh in frustration. ¡°Well, hopefully he has something fun planned for today. Anything other than martial arts, I think. This heat would be brutal. Music, maybe? I have to say that my guqin skills have improved under his tutelage. I can finally play The Moon Over High Mountain without errors!¡±


    Jingyi moves up behind me as I set the towel aside. To make things easier for Jingyi, I raise my arms and let my maid secure the white, plum blossom-embroidered undergarment over my chest and belly. Though the halter-top garment is meant to secure my breasts, and even reduce their already-humble presence further, Jingyi pulls it suspiciously tight.


    ¡°Urk¡­ isn¡¯t that a bit much?¡±


    Jingyi scowls at me by way of the mirror and tugs it even tighter, causing me to squeak out a strained whimper. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean, my lady.¡±


    I consider chastising her, but after sixteen years together, I know that Jingyi is just teasing me and having a bit of fun. Anyone else might have been in trouble, but there is something about Jingyi that makes her difficult to scold. Her bright smiles and endless cheer can warm even the coldest heart, and I am already too soft-hearted for my own good.


    Jingyi leaves me with my lower undergarments, which I slip on and tie in place, comfortably, this time. She returns a moment later with my skirts while I am busy adjusting my top to ensure proper blood flow. We start with a simple pink underskirt and then add a gauze-thin, pink-and-white silk outer skirt that continues the flowery motif. These are secured with a wide silk belt and a series of smaller ribbons for decoration. The last garment Jingyi adds to my outfit is the upper robe. The long jacket matches the skirt in both theme and material, and is wonderfully light and breezy to offset the summer heat.


    ¡°Speaking of martial arts¡­¡±


    Jingyi nods and whispers in my ear. ¡°Our plans are progressing.¡±


    I smile and sit on a short stool so that Jingyi can style my hair. She keeps it fairly simple by having all of my longer hair twisted into two braids. The fringe hairs around my cheeks and ears are pulled back a bit and then pinned into place with two petite gold clips. According to the current styles of high society in the capital, it is vogue to wear my hair in a bun, but I like to set my own trends. I can get away with a few fashion faux pas since only a handful of people see me, and the old man, Master Li, is hardly a fashion aficionado considering his over-reliance on drab gray robes.


    ¡°The escort agency has agreed to our request, so we will have guards while we are out,¡± Jingyi continues. ¡°We won¡¯t have to rely on your father¡¯s men, meaning we will be harder to identify.¡±


    ¡°That is good news. I thought we¡¯d have more trouble getting outside protection.¡±


    ¡°It turns out there¡¯s plenty of martial arts groups willing to provide escorts to wealthy young ladies, so it wasn¡¯t that difficult in the end, even for someone incompetent like me. I¡¯m not sure we got a good deal for it, though. It seemed expensive.¡±


    I roll my eyes at her disparaging self admonishment. ¡°That¡¯s okay, my allowances should cover it.¡±


    My weariness is dispelled by the good news. My father has never given me permission to leave the family estate, and has refused to elaborate about his reasons, much to my frustration. So, despite my wishes, I¡¯ve never set foot outside, and everytime I ask, my parents are gentle with their refusal, but very adamant about it. They¡¯ve never budged even once, so I¡¯ve stayed cooped up inside like a bird in a cage. But all birds yearn for freedom, and I am no different!


    The last month entailed planning and arranging pieces so that I can sneak out in a few days to watch a big martial arts tournament at a nearby venue. I desperately wish to go and watch, but truthfully, I¡¯d prefer to participate in it. Alas, that¡¯d be a bit too obvious, so spectating will have to be good enough for me.


    Fortunately, aside from my servants, Master Li, and a handful of others, no one knows what I look like, let alone who I am. It is hard for me to say whether or not anyone else even knows I exist, so as far as I know, going out without a disguise might not be a problem. Jingyi insisted, though, and I relented. It certainly won¡¯t hurt to exercise a little caution.


    ¡®Disguised or not, Zhou Ran will not be stopped!¡¯ I ball my fists and cheer at my good fortunes.


    Once Jingyi finishes with my hair, I get up and give myself a quick once-over for approval. I am a mass of pink silks and flowery patterns, and Jingyi¡¯s efforts maximize my natural, heaven-granted cuteness. ¡°I suppose I shouldn¡¯t waste any more time. Fetch a light breakfast for me and bring it to the lesson hall. I¡¯ll have to eat and learn at the same time, even if Master Li disapproves of me doing so.¡±


    ¡°Of course, my lady,¡± Jingyi chirps and scurries towards the door to open it for me. ¡°Master Li does have a thing for time management, doesn¡¯t he?¡±


    I smirk as I exit my quarters. ¡°He sure does, that silly old man.¡±

 Freedom has a Price

    ¡°Do you think this will actually fool anyone?¡±


    Jingyi wobbles her head in thought while she adjusts the veil to fit my face. ¡°I think so. The veil does a good enough job that I would have trouble identifying you.¡±


    I click my tongue. ¡°I¡¯m going to look ridiculous.¡±


    Jingyi smirks mischievously while placing the wide-brimmed hat, replete with a ring of dangling veils, atop my head. ¡°I think you look cute.¡±


    ¡°How can you tell? You can¡¯t even see me! Furthermore, how am I supposed to see?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s worry about that later!¡±


    I rise to my feet and swish back and forth to check myself out in the mirror. The conservative outfit Jinyi arranged for me covers everything from head-to-toe and does a fabulous job of hiding my identity, even if it looks ridiculous. The first issue of going out of the estate is ensuring that no one recognizes me, and we resolved it without too much difficulty.


    ¡°How about my parents? Did you tell them that I am ill and do not wish to be disturbed?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Jingyi answers excitedly. ¡°Master Zhou was greatly concerned for your well-being, but your mother dissuaded him from calling for a physician after I explained that you were suffering from a lady¡¯s tro¡ª¡±


    ¡°You did not!¡± my horror is palpable. There are certain things my loving father does not need to know.


    ¡°Master Zhou is a very shrewd man. He¡¯d never have relented otherwise. This embarrassment is a small price to pay.¡±


    So long as I ignore the screaming inside my head, I have no doubt I will weather that storm. It isn¡¯t like my dad is ignorant of such things, after all, he is the foremost mind in the empire and has been married to my mom for over twenty years. If he still doesn¡¯t understand the fairer sex, then he has failed miserably somewhere along the line.


    Even if my conclusion is logical, and reasonable, it doesn¡¯t make me feel any better.


    The second problem for the day, my parents, has also been resolved, but the third challenge remains. A carriage, along with some guards, will take us safely to the venue, and while the reservation drained a bunch of my meager savings, I consider it a worthwhile investment in my personal growth and enrichment. The issue is getting to it, and setting out, without arousing suspicion.


    ¡°The escort should be ready, so we need to go before we miss our chance.¡±


    I agree and briskly shuffle toward the door, only to be intercepted by Jingyi. She insists on going first to make sure the way is clear, and I see no reason to argue about it. After several moments of waiting, Jingyi signals that the coast is clear, so I scurry off as quickly as I can. My attempts at sneaking are nothing short of disrespectful to the burglars and thieves of the world, but my skills do not lie in subterfuge. They¡¯ll just have to forgive me.


    The carriage is not too far away, but considering the risk of discovery, it feels nigh insurmountable. Jingyi leads the way, and takes the initiative to distract the only two servants we come across so that I can slip by unnoticed. Neither of them seem to think anything is amiss and part ways in short order. Jingyi bids them a polite farewell and catches up.


    We soon find ourselves huddling up against the final door and peeking out through a small gap as best we can considering my obtrusive headwear. Four guards in the livery of a local escort service are milling about just beyond arm¡¯s reach, and the carriage is open and ready to receive us. Jingyi puts a finger to her lips and urges me to stay behind while she goes out and notifies the guards of our arrival.


    After an agonizing thirty-seconds or so, Jingyi subtly waves her hands, urging me to make haste. I dash out as if she had just lit a fire behind me, and board the carriage with such haste that my hat nearly falls off. Jingyi is only a moment behind and pulls the door shut without delay. I settle in and try my best to calm my rapidly beating heart while Jingyi secures the door¡¯s latch for travel.


    A moment or two later, before Jingyi even has a chance to get fully seated, the carriage starts rolling and she wobbles precariously. I, on the other hand, stretch out on the padded bench seating and release a heavy sigh before meeting Jingyi¡¯s gaze. We exchange smiles and begin to giggle and snicker like mischievous children. Our plan to get me out of the house has gone off without a hitch!


    ¡°My heart hasn¡¯t raced like this in quite a while,¡± I announce while setting the bothersome hat aside.


    ¡°This has already been too much excitement for me, my lady, and I worry I am not fit to endure such things. I can only hope we weren¡¯t spotted.¡±


    I brush the rear curtain aside and peek out. ¡°I doubt it. Someone would be coming after us if we had been.¡±


    Jingyi smiles brightly. ¡°Would you care for some tea?¡±


    ¡°Tea? You really prepared everything, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Even at our leisurely pace, we only have time to finish one cup of tea before we arrive at the venue. However, due to a short queue, we are not able to disembark immediately. I sip the last bit of my tea before handing the empty cup and bide my time watching out the window while Jingyi cleans up.


    ¡°It looks like we¡¯ll be next,¡± I remark while sitting back and crossing my legs.


    ¡°That¡¯s good, my lady,¡± Jingyi eyes me and smirks at my impending discomfort. ¡°You will need to put your hat back on.¡±


    I roll my eyes, but there¡¯s no sense in protesting. I plop the hat back atop my head and smile, even though she probably can¡¯t see it. ¡°You¡¯ve done well, Jingyi.¡±


    ¡°I went through a lot of trouble to make this work, so I am glad you are pleased, my lady.¡±


    The carriage lurches and begins rolling again. ¡°What next?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re unloading at a special entrance for important people who don¡¯t want to be seen, or just want to avoid the peasants, I guess. The guards will make sure no one interferes, so we can just go right in. Fortunately, the venue has a bunch of private viewing booths and I was able to secure one for us. We can watch from there and not worry about others.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­ I will make sure you are properly compensated later.¡±


    Jingyi bows her head. ¡°Thank you, my lady. Your appreciation is all I need.¡±


    Once the carriage has stopped, one of the guards raps their knuckles on the door to let us know that we can exit. As usual, Jingyi takes the lead to ensure nothing goes wrong, and I follow on her tail. There is really nothing to worry about, though. The venue uses wooden barriers to deter onlookers and trespassers, so the area is well concealed, perfect for young ladies sneaking out against the wishes of their parents.


    I take a deep breath as I step down onto the flagstones. This is my first real step out into the city proper, and it is getting increasingly difficult to bottle up my excitement. Fortunately, the layered veils mean no one can see me grinning like a fool.


    Two of the guards begin leading the way while the others trail behind. Their conduct, bearing, and equipment really drives home how professional these four are. I haven¡¯t met any guards aside from those that are normally stationed around the academy, but these four seem to be at least a cut above them, if not more. Each carries themselves tall and proud, and even I can tell they are all strong fighters. I do find myself starting to worry about my savings. Hopefully Jingyi hasn¡¯t overspent too much.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°This way, my lady,¡± Jingyi gestures to an open door that one of the guards disappeared into a moment before. I suspect he went ahead to make sure everything is clear and safe.


    I happily enter and find myself rendered completely speechless.


    I have never seen so many people in one place before, nor have I ever been subjected to such an overwhelming number of voices. The academy, and by extension, my family¡¯s estate, is usually subdued since shouting is considered poor manners and very disruptive, but that is clearly not the case here.


    The fighting arena features extensive terraced seating, filled with the teeming masses of townspeople coming to see young martial artists battle for prizes and glory. Based on the sound, and my observations from the rest of the seating, I can tell even more people are seated above our viewing booth. Hundreds? Thousands? I am used to counting people by ones and twos at most, so this is certainly a new experience.


    I sit down and try to steady my dizzied senses by giving them a moment to adjust to everything around me. I focus on anything else, and soon find my mind wandering a bit as I try to imagine what it would be like out in the middle of the arena. I can only surmise that it would be many times worse than sitting here.


    ¡°Here, my lady, take this,¡± Jingyi hands a booklet to me. ¡°This might help you figure out who is who.¡±


    I accept the book with a trembling hand and spread it open across my lap, eager to focus on something else. It contains a plethora of information on each of the fighters, as well as some historical information about the venue and the tournament itself. According to the book, this annual event is always held in the early weeks of summer to showcase the martial arts of the local schools. It does not feature their masters or veterans, but their up-and-coming students due to a strict age limit.


    The most interesting bit of trivia I learn about the tournament is that most of the fighters don¡¯t participate for monetary prizes, but for the opportunities they might receive if they perform well. Recruiters from many daoist sects, and even the military, come to tournaments such as this to look for promising candidates, and securing an offer from one is a life-changing opportunity for anyone. Since the contestants are about my age, or maybe a year or two older, I spend a moment wondering about what I¡¯d want if I won, but I can¡¯t make up my mind.


    ¡°Quite the place, isn¡¯t it, my lady?¡± Jingyi remarks as she examines the edge of the viewing booth. The front of the box is elevated a bit, but the perimeter appears to be no higher than I am tall. ¡°Is it safe, though? It seems a bit exposed.¡±


    ¡°It is safe, my lady,¡± one of the guards replies. ¡°I have been here many times, and I have only seen fighting spill over into the crowd once or twice. Even if it did, we would protect you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, I appreciate your diligence,¡± I answer while leaning forward to peek over the wall with Jingyi.


    I can guess why the walls are so low. The onlookers probably want to be as close as possible to the fighting. The only section that isn¡¯t this low is on the opposite side. It is a raised segment made from stone, rather than wood, and towers at least three times as high, if not higher, and seems reserved for the owners, or perhaps nobility of some sort. As far as I can tell, it is more luxurious and comfortable, but certainly less private than our booth, so I¡¯ll remain content with what we have.


    ¡°Everything has gone well so far ¡ª let¡¯s enjoy ourselves,¡± I suggest while getting comfortable in my seat.


    The opening ceremonies begin soon enough. The brightly-dressed host of the tournament proudly leads a procession of staff and fighters into the arena while the crowd cheers and hollers for their favorites. After a brief speech, the fighters are given a chance to mingle, introduce themselves, and interact with the people in the crowd fortunate enough to be seated up close. I spend the time rubbing my temples.


    ¡®Why must it be so loud? Ugh¡­ at least I am getting used to it.¡¯


    While reading the booklet, I mentally highlighted a few fighters that piqued my interest for one reason or another, and now that they are in the arena, I try to pick out who they might be. I specifically marked Zhang Qinghu, the eldest contestant, and sole representative of the Mind and Body Severance Style. I can¡¯t help but find the name rather ostentatious, so I am curious to see if it will live up to it. However, at only twenty-two years old, he isn¡¯t old enough to pick him out of the crowd on age alone, and I don¡¯t know what his school colors or emblems are.


    The second contestant I take note of is Ban Shuyi, one of the few girls fighting in the tournament, who also happens to be the same age as me. Aside from our matched age, she is remarkable because of her non-human heritage. A great spirit beast, a fox of some sort, has lent its power to her family at some point, and she bears markings of that heritage. Ban Shuyi proves easy to pick out of the crowd due to her vulpine ears and large, fluffy tail. Her size, stature, and figure are all remarkably similar to my own, so she is my favorite since I can imagine myself as her.


    ¡®I wish for the best of luck on your behalf, miss Ban. I can only imagine the others will look down upon you. Show them that you¡¯re not to be underestimated!


    Society often disparages those like Ban Shuyi for their mixed heritage. She has certainly faced challenges that none of the other fighters had to endure, and will continue to do so as long as she lives. I understand a bit about how an outsider can feel, even if our situations are very different. Ban Shuyi also practices the Heart-guarding Palm, a style taught by Master Li, which helps cement an immediate bond between us as martial sisters, even if Ban Shuyi has no idea that I exist. Granted, I don¡¯t know if Master Li teaches Ban Shuyi, but I don¡¯t dwell on it too much. It is just one more reason to wish for victory on her behalf.


    ¡°There¡¯s quite a few fighters, isn¡¯t there?¡±


    ¡°Thirty-two, to be exact,¡± I answer. ¡°I am not sure if that is a lot, but they could fight up to five matches depending on how well they do, so I suspect this will take most of the day.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be sad to be eliminated right away, my lady?¡±


    I take a deep breath and try to imagine how it¡¯d feel. I did not like it one bit. ¡°I suspect so.¡±


    The guard to my left shifts uneasily, and then takes a step towards the front of the booth, putting himself between me and one of the fighters who is approaching us. The tall, swarthy boy carries himself with confidence, and considering how he ignores the rest of the crowd to visit us, he must have a specific goal in mind.


    Though it is clear he notices the guards, he seems unconcerned despite stopping at a respectable distance. He places his palm and fist together in a martial artist¡¯s salute and bows to greet us. I do admit that I find his confidence appealing, and I cannot deny that I am very curious about his intentions.


    ¡°May I approach, my lady?¡± He is clearly intent on holding his bow until he receives an answer.


    Jingyi turns to me with obvious concern, but I nod. With my permission, Jingyi replies: ¡°You may.¡±


    ¡®I wonder what he wants? There¡¯s no way he knows who we are, and I doubt we stand out more than any other group in a private booth, so what could he be after?¡¯


    ¡°Greetings, my lady. I am Han Zhiran,¡± he announces while stepping up to the booth. The guards tense up, making it clear he needs to be on his best behavior, and he is perceptive enough to understand. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help myself. I find that I am drawn to you, like a moth to a flame. I had to approach, because I simply must know your name.¡±


    I stifle my laughter. ¡®Why does he talk like that? Is that normal?¡¯


    I am about to respond, but Han Zhiran holds up a hand and¡­ swoons? ¡°Nay, my lady! Withhold your name, for I have yet to earn such an honor! Only an unparalleled beauty would go to such lengths to hide herself from the view of others; a truly noble gesture undoubtedly done to preserve the dignity of other visiting ladies, but do keep your name. I ask that you wish me luck, and only once I have claimed victory dare I ask you to bequeath your name!¡±


    I turn to Jingyi, with my mouth agape, and entirely uncertain about what to say, and find her positively mollified. ¡®How could someone be so awkward!? Bequeath? What era is he from?¡¯


    ¡°You believe you will win?¡± I inquire.


    ¡°If you accept my humble request, then I know it shall be so!¡±


    ¡°Very well, Han Zhiran. If you win, I shall tell you my name.¡±


    ¡°Ah! Fate smiles upon me!¡± he swoons again. ¡°Consider it done! I shall fight with all of my heart and prove my worth is true.¡±


    With that, he bows and runs off without delay.


    ¡°What an odd boy,¡± Jingyi remarks.


    ¡°Shall I make him disappear?¡± the guard to my left asks in a remarkably casual fashion.


    ¡°Uh, no. Thank you, though.¡±


    ¡®Jingyi, you were supposed to hire guards, not assassins!¡¯


    The guard bows politely and steps back.


    ¡°Will you actually tell him your name, my lady? That doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea.¡±


    ¡°No, even if he somehow wins, we will already be on our way home.¡±


    Jingyi appears content with my answer. Anonymity is the goal, but apparently our attempts to keep my identity hidden are not going as planned. Instead of being unnoticed, we have drawn the attention of the oddest fighter in the tournament. With any luck, he¡¯ll be eliminated right away and it¡¯ll be the last we see of him. Our luck has held so far, and thus I remain optimistic.

 Strength, Precision, and Victory

    The first few matches are underway soon enough, and while the fighters are skilled and put on a good show, I don¡¯t find myself truly invested until the third match. The extremely odd boy, Han Zhiran, strides towards the center of the arena exuding extreme confidence, and that just reignites my curiosity about his skills. Will he be able to win, not only this fight, but the entire tournament?


    ¡°This fierce battle between rival schools will showcase the talents of Liu Heng, representing the Twin Crescent Divided Palm,¡± the announcer calls out while gesturing at Han Zhiran¡¯s unassuming opponent. ¡°And Han Zhiran of the Arhat¡¯s Long-fist! May the worthy claim victory! Fight!¡±


    ¡°Do you think he will win, my lady?¡±


    I have to think for a moment.


    ¡®From what I¡¯ve learned, the Arhat¡¯s Long-fist is an explosive style with a lot of forward movement and powerful attacks. It seeks to maintain momentum, but that aggression demands incredible stamina. The Twin Crescent Divided Palm is a very balanced style with an equal emphasis on offense and defense, but the sweeping motions it is known for might be too slow to keep up with the Arhat¡¯s Long-fist.¡¯


    I examine the two fighters with a critical eye. Zhiran¡¯s tall body and long, lanky limbs are ideally suited to his style, and considering his exceptional confidence and boastful promise, I assume he is well-trained. By contrast, Liu Heng is remarkably normal, and shows some hints of nervousness here and there. Just based on how the two boys carry themselves, I suspect Han Zhiran possesses an advantage.


    ¡°Master Li would probably be a better judge than me, but I¡¯ll guess that Han Zhiran will win this one.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Jingyi seems puzzled, but she lacks any martial training to draw a similar conclusion.


    I return my focus to the arena as the fight begins with Zhiran taking the initiative. He starts testing Liu Heng with a few punches while keeping the other boy at the limit of his reach. It is fascinating to watch him bait Liu Heng by throwing a whip-like punch and fully leaning into it in order to extend his reach even more. Though it looks a bit goofy, anytime Liu Heng attempts to capitulate on the blatantly unbalanced Zhiran, he is met with a blow from the opposite side while Zhiran resets and tries again.


    ¡°If Liu Heng wants to win, he needs to find a way to put Han Zhiran on defense,¡± I gesture in their direction for emphasis. ¡°Right now, Zhiran has full control, and even though he¡¯s not doing any real damage, if Liu Heng tries to take advantage of those fake openings, Zhiran punishes him.¡±


    ¡°I see!¡± Jingyi smiles but she is only half-listening. ¡°It seems you have been paying attention in your lessons. Does that mean Liu Heng will lose because he can¡¯t get close?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tease me,¡± I scold her with a playful tone, knowing full well what she is up to. ¡°But yes, if things keep going like they are, Liu Heng should lose.¡±


    As I expected, the momentum in the fight shifts. Han Zhiran moves on from tempting his opponent with repeated feints, which begins with his next long-range punch and a distinct change to his footwork. Rather than leaning into it like before, he fully steps forward and commits to the punch. Liu Heng, trained by repeated feints, falls for it. He ducks the swing as he has done before, and sways forward to deliver a palm strike to Zhiran¡¯s mid-section, but he misjudges, and by the time he actually connects, Han Zhiran is too close. The force from his blow had been greatly reduced by their positioning.


    In contrast, Han Zhiran drives his left fist into Liu Heng¡¯s diaphragm, blasting the air from his lungs and forcing him to back-peddle right into his ideal range. A solid right hook lands firmly on Liu Heng¡¯s jaw and he stumbles to the side, dazed and disoriented. Despite the power in Zhiran¡¯s punch, he manages to remain upright. Nevertheless, true to his style, Han Zhiran gives his opponent no time to rest.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Right-left-right!


    Three blows chain together in a series of battering strikes that devastate Liu Heng¡¯s soft mid-section. The poor boy coughs blood onto the ground, and before he can collect his wits, a mighty haymaker impacts his chin. Liu Heng half-spins, topples to the ground, bounces painfully on the hard floor, and then lies still. The powerful strike from Han Zhiran renders him unconscious just like that.


    ¡®Liu Heng never stood a chance considering the gulf of skill between them. A more experienced fighter wouldn¡¯t have let himself be controlled by those repeated feints, but even then, Han Zhiran¡¯s movements were exceptional. Maybe he does have a chance¡­¡¯


    ¡°You were right, my lady, he did win!¡±


    I puff up with pride.


    ¡°Liu Heng is several years of training behind by the way it looks. He was out of his league from the beginning, but that is just part of the tournament. From what I can tell, there is no real restriction against skill mismatches like that.¡±


    ¡°Very impressive, my lady! You are so wise.¡±


    ¡°Are you teasing me again?¡±


    Jingyi directs her attention towards Han Zhiran in order to avoid further scrutiny, and the boy waves in our direction. Upon seeing him, I return the gesture with a half-hearted wave of my own. I can only imagine it¡¯ll be more troublesome to ignore him completely.


    ¡°He really is serious about you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I should be flattered or not.¡±


    The next match of interest comes up soon enough.


    ¡°Our next match-up is between Han Ji, practicing the Arhat¡¯s Long-fist,¡± the announcer calls particular emphasis to his name, clearly an attempt to link him to Han Zhiran who won a few matches earlier. ¡°And his opponent, Ban Shuyi, who represents the Heart-guarding Palm! May the worthy claim victory! Fight!¡±


    Ban Shuyi¡¯s style, the Heart-guarding Palm, is an older, well-established Tai Chi style with a small number of mostly-women practitioners like us. Her bearing is calm and relaxed, but her intense expression reveals an impressive degree of focus. Like Han Zhiran, Ban Shuyi has exceptional confidence, and as she adopts her fighting stance, it becomes clear that she is no rookie. Ban Shuyi is here to win.


    ¡°This Han Ji is from the same school as Han Zhiran. Do you think the girl has any chance to win?¡± Jingyi asks.


    ¡°Han Zhiran was better than I expected, but Han Ji isn¡¯t him,¡± I answer while scrutinizing Han Ji¡¯s every move. ¡°He seems skilled enough, but there¡¯s something about his opponent that gives me doubts.¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°She has something to prove.¡±


    ¡®And if I¡¯m right about her, she has a good chance to win this fight. The heart-guarding palm keeps a single hand front and center for defense, hence the name, and emphasizes a strong defense with powerful counters. If Han Ji isn¡¯t careful, he¡¯ll discover that only one hand guards the heart. The other crushes the opponent!¡¯


    Unlike Han Zhiran, who felt his opponent out first, Han Ji goes on the offensive immediately. The fight begins with his explosive forward surge, seeking to close distance as quickly as possible and to restrict Ban Shuyi¡¯s options. He opens with a powerful punch that rivals Han Zhiran¡¯s final strike and will undoubtedly do extensive damage if it lands.


    Ban Shuyi reacts in the blink of an eye.


    She ducks his punch, which he seems to anticipate, but despite Han Ji adjusting to press the attack, Ban Shuyi comes to an immediate halt. She rotates her entire body on one foot, gracefully and swiftly committing to a devastating heel kick. Han Ji¡¯s forward momentum carries him headlong into her powerful blow, head snapping back as the bottom of her foot collides with his vulnerable face.


    Her pivot foot leaves the ground as Shuyi drives her heel in and pushes off, using his face as a springboard to launch herself backwards. As she soars through the air, Han Ji flops down and lands hard on the back of his head, hard enough that his entire body folds in half and his toes tap the ground above his shoulders.


    While Ban Shuyi resets her fighting stance, it becomes abundantly clear that one blow is all it took to end that fight. The stunned crowd roars as Han Ji slumps into an ignominious pile of awkwardly placed limbs and his opponent bows respectfully over him.


    ¡°I¡­ did not expect that.¡±


    ¡°I expected more palm, from¡­ a palm style,¡± Jingyi agrees while pantomiming a simple palm strike.


    ¡°Heh¡­ indeed. However, it seems my interest is not misplaced. Whether she planned for that, or reacted in the moment, Ban Shuyi is a powerful fighter who could win this tournament.¡±

 Crushing Hearts

    Round one ends without any significant fanfare, and none of the other fights are remarkable enough for me to bother remembering. Even the other fighters I made note of didn¡¯t provide me with sufficient entertainment, so I have to hope for better in the next round. Alas, as round two begins, it proves to be more of the same as the weaker fighters are culled and sent home in short order.


    Ban Shuyi devastates another fighter with an unorthodox move, leaving him face down on the floor almost as fast as she had with Han Ji. Han Zhiran proves his mettle again while fighting a rather stout boy who couldn¡¯t do anything besides defend against Zhiran¡¯s barrage of blows. Though his opponent lasted longer than he had any right to, Zhiran¡¯s second fight is in the running for the most boring fight of the tournament.


    Only one other fighter catches my eye, and even then, it is brief. A young man named Liu Gongming, who practices the Twin Crescent Divided Palm, is performing remarkably well in contrast to Liu Heng. He overwhelms his opponent in short order, and then politely helps him back to his feet once he has been declared the victor.


    Liu Gongming¡¯s sportsmanlike showing, Han Zhiran¡¯s relentless offense, and Ban Shuyi¡¯s surgical removal of her opponent are the only highlights of round two. With their completion, the second round wraps up, and over half of the contestants have been eliminated. However, the impending third match of the third round holds more promise than any other thus far, and I figure it¡¯ll be the highlight of the tournament.


    ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± Jingyi inquires as Han Zhiran and Ban Shuyi enter the arena.


    ¡°Well, Ban Shuyi has proven capable against the Arhat¡¯s Long-fist already, even if it was over really fast, so she is probably familiar with the way Zhiran will fight. Han Zhiran has exceptionally long arms, so his reach will be a significant hurdle to overcome. It¡¯s hard to say, but Ban Shuyi may have a slight advantage.¡±


    Jingyi smiles. ¡°It makes me happy to see you having so much fun, my lady.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t have done it without you.¡±


    As the round begins I lean forward and truly focus. ¡®Alright, Shuyi, it is time to see what you can do. Zhiran is a tough opponent, but I think you can win this.¡¯


    Unlike his previous matches, Han Zhiran didn¡¯t immediately rush onto the offensive. Ban Shuyi¡¯s extremely closed-form style makes it difficult to get a reliable opening like in the past fights, and her potent counter attacks would make even the boldest fighters pause to think.


    To my surprise, it is Shuyi who takes the initiative. She rushes in, keeping low, and starts strong. Despite being a defensive style with an emphasis on counter striking, the Heart-guarding palm is not forced to react, but can be used aggressively by a skilled practitioner. Ban Shuyi opens with the Heart-guarding Palm¡¯s first move: Flowing River. I am trained to use Flowing River by countering with the guarding palm, but Shuyi uses a feint, instead, something I consider a little unorthodox.


    As soon as Han Zhiran reacts to the feint, Ban Shuyi hits him with a powerful palm-strike that he narrowly brushes aside. Flowing River doesn¡¯t end right away, but like its namesake, continues to flow by baiting the opponent into a series of counters and devastating strikes. Zhiran falls for it, and Ban Shuyi draws several rushed attacks from her opponent who, to his credit, narrowly avoids or deflects the subsequent palm strikes.


    Han Zhiran hastily back-peddles to put some distance between them and tries to reset the fight, but his opponent does not relent. She shifts from her false stance, with all of her weight on the back foot, to a more neutral stance, which I recognize as the second move: Parting Clouds. Zhiran has to notice the change, too, but whether he knows what it signifies or not will be important to the next few moments.


    While Flowing River seeks to bait and counter, Parting Clouds serves as the aggressive offense by forcefully parting any central defenses to leave the target vulnerable. Han Zhiran doesn''t allow her to control him in such a manner, but Ban Shuyi¡¯s swift attacks add up and she finally creates the opening she needs. She strikes like lightning, and Zhiran sways back in response, ensuring that she falls short of his chest. However, a concussive force impacts hard enough to send him reeling backwards despite his otherwise successful evasion.


    ¡®What was that? Did she just use Inner Force?¡®


    I need another look to be sure, but Shuyi doesn¡¯t try it again right away.


    Zhiran¡¯s surprise shifts into panic and he quickly dances back and away from her. Ban Shuyi allows him the opportunity and falls back into her false stance once more. They exchange a few words that I can¡¯t make out, and then Han Zhiran resumes the fight. He approaches with diligence, a wise strategy considering the advanced skill needed to wield Inner Force, and starts off with a few tentative punches at the extent of his reach.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Ban Shuyi merely sways back and keeps her distance from his fist until he throws a strong right hook. Her guarding-palm rises to direct his attack upwards and she ducks low. To me, it becomes clear that she intends to use the style¡¯s fourth move: Severing the Peak. Like Flowing River, the intent is to counter, but instead of a palm strike, Severing the Peak utilizes the false stance¡¯s versatile front foot to deliver a powerful lateral kick to the opponent¡¯s ribs, like kicking the peak off a mountain.


    Surprisingly, Han Zhiran willingly takes the blow with a grunt, but seems otherwise unbothered by it. I have to commend his ability to reinforce himself against such a powerful blow, because in doing so, he finds an opening for a lower left hook. Ban Shuyi, unable to dodge, brings both hands together and catches his fist. Rather than halting him entirely, she springs off her back foot and launches herself into the air. From there, she angles a rapidly spiraling kick down towards his neck ¡ª the fifth move: Toppling Giants!


    ¡®The Heart-guarding Palm¡¯s fifth move: Toppling Giants, is a finisher of sorts, where a kick is delivered to the head or neck. Airborne is a bit of an odd application, but thinking back to the first match, even Shuyi¡¯s heel kick could be put under Toppling Giants. Her flexibility and adaptability are very impressive!¡¯


    Han Zhiran ducks just enough to avoid the kick and allows his momentum to carry him under his opponent. Shuyi deftly somersaults over his shoulders and lands behind him, ready to attack. Zhiran acts as quickly as he can, ensuring that his opponent has no time to go on the offensive while he has his back to her, by whirling around, arm extended and braced, to try and backhand the fox girl with all of his might.


    Ban Shuyi uses both arms to block, and then raises her leg to intercept his follow-up sweeping kick that completes his spin. She is overpowered, or at least allows herself to be thrown, but willing or not, she ends up tumbling and rolling back to her feet a short distance away. Despite blocking him, Shuyi¡¯s expression shows a brief hint of discomfort, confirming that his strength would be key to winning, at least if he can find a way to overcome her superior speed and technical skill.


    ¡°They are so amazing!¡± Jingyi chimes gleefully. Despite showing no prior interest in martial arts, even she is excited by their intense exchanges.


    I can¡¯t disagree, after all, I am quite literally on the edge of my seat at this point. ¡°They are both incredibly skilled. Ban Shuyi is fantastic, and Han Zhiran is holding his own. Despite taking several big hits, he doesn¡¯t seem to be struggling at all.¡±


    ¡°Do you think you could fight like her?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. The way she moves and adapts to everything he does is something she learned through real experience. I¡¯ve never actually fought other people, so I wouldn¡¯t be anything like her.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, I¡¯d still cheer for you.¡±


    ¡°Thanks¡­?¡±


    The fighters continue. Zhiran weathers another offensive bout before turning things around. Ban Shuyi deftly switches onto her backfoot and shifts from Parting Clouds to Flowing River in hope of landing a few counter strikes, but Zhiran appears like a mighty tree amidst a storm. He bends and sways, but no matter how hard she hits him, he does not break.


    She even attempts several more palm strikes using her Inner Force which batter him quite badly, but to no avail. Han Zhiran merely grits his teeth and powers through, and when it starts to seem like he doesn¡¯t stand a chance of stopping her, much less catching her, he smiles. Zhiran suddenly seizes all the momentum! His punches fly faster and strike harder, forcing Ban Shuyi to focus purely on defense.


    She relies heavily on the eighth move: Gentle Touch, to negate the incoming force and turn the blows aside, but even that seems insufficient as he batters her with rapid strikes. Despite being reduced to nothing but defense, Ban Shuyi still shows her determination. She hasn¡¯t lost yet, and despite all his efforts, Han Zhiran is struggling to land even a glancing blow.


    Han Zhiran¡¯s pleasant smile opens into a toothy grin.


    One foot stomps down hard on the ground, solidifying his stance. His body shifts, his muscles bulge and tense, and his arm expands before our very eyes. And then he strikes. Ban Shuyi, true to form, attempts to deflect him with her guarding-palm.


    For the first time, Ban Shuyi¡¯s expression changes and her eyes go wide. I can clearly see her lips form: ¡°Huh?¡±


    The force negation of Gentle Touch is insufficient, and even bringing her other hand in to help makes no difference. Ban Shuyi only redirects Han Zhiran¡¯s mighty punch by a hair¡¯s breadth before it shatters her guard and pummels her in the vulnerable midsection. The fox girl is lifted from her feet and launched like a rag doll. She lands on the ground several paces away and tumbles until she is sprawled out on her back, gasping for air.


    At first, Han Zhiran doesn''t move, but holds his follow-through stance. Once Shuyi comes to a stop and doesn¡¯t get up, he places his fist to his palm and bows, confident she will not rise again. She proves him right. The blow has taken the fight out of Ban Shuyi and she can not continue.


    With that incredible blow, Han Zhiran claims victory.


    I fall back into my chair and let out the breath I have been holding for a while now. ¡°He¡¯s stronger than he looks.¡±

 Death Before Dishonor

    The remainder of the round features similar intensity and fabulous displays of skill, and while I continue watching, Jingyi wanders off to acquire some snacks. Upon her return, Jingyi offers me some steamed buns and a few other cheap, yet filling finger foods that are perfect for sharing without making a huge mess.


    ¡°Did I miss anything good?¡±


    ¡°A couple interesting or unique moves that were flashy enough for you to appreciate, but the most noteworthy thing was Liu Gongming destroying another opponent before they had a chance to act,¡± I fill my maid in on the basics while plucking a mixed-berry jelly cake shaped like a flower off the tray. ¡°He is definitely going to be in the finals at this rate.¡±


    ¡°Who do you think he¡¯ll be up against?¡±


    I nibble on the tart-flavored cake and hem-and-haw over the options. ¡°Han Zhiran, probably.¡±


    ¡°Really? Maybe he will win!¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯m not sure. It¡¯s also not guaranteed. He¡¯ll have to fight Zhang Qinghu in the semifinals, and he has been doing pretty well.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ They¡¯ll fight in the next round?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, right after this match.¡±


    With Ban Shuyi out of the tournament, I reluctantly find myself investing more in Han Zhiran than I¡¯d like to admit. Despite his goofy introduction, he has proven a formidable fighter with exceptional reflexes and a decent grasp of strategy. After initially comparing myself to Ban Shuyi, I idly wonder about how I¡¯d fare in a match against Zhiran. Despite training with the renowned Master Li for years, I¡¯ve never fought an actual opponent, so I can¡¯t envision anything other than a hasty defeat.


    ¡®The next match against Zhang Qinghu will be the proof for Zhiran and his chances of victory in the finals. He managed to defeat Shuyi, and I can¡¯t help but see her as the stronger fighter, so if he can also defeat Qinghu, then he deserves the win. However, Qinghu¡¯s style is strange, and a mere tap from his fingers has dealt significant damage to his previous opponents. He also fights with impeccable precision, so Zhiran will need to exercise caution.¡¯


    I lazily cross my legs and rub my thumb across my lips to clear any crumbs or lingering jelly and eye another treat, but resist the temptation. To distract myself from the jelly tart¡¯s siren call, I continue my mental analysis of the fighters and lick my thumb clean with one quick pass of my tongue. The memories of the simple, yet refreshing flavors cause turbulence in my will to resist, so Jingyi snatching up the last pastry works in my favor.


    ¡®Qinghu¡¯s previous matches were really one-sided. Despite taking time to defeat his opponents, he left them all in really rough shape. On top of that, he sustained no damage to speak of, so it felt like he was toying with them. Is he really strong, or just cunning?¡¯


    As the preceding match ends and the next fighters emerge, I shift uneasily. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how I feel about this match-up.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, my lady?¡±


    ¡°Ban Shuyi is incredible, but Zhiran defeated her. Zhang Qinghu has shown exceptional skill, but definitely less than her. Despite that, he¡¯s still in the tournament, and he¡¯s done more damage to his opponents than anyone else. None of them have walked out on their own, so it¡¯s abundantly clear that he is a vicious fighter, but I wonder if he has any weird techniques up his sleeves.¡±


    ¡°You mean like Ban Shuyi¡¯s palm strikes?¡±


    ¡°Oh? You noticed that?¡± I raise a brow and side-eye Jingyi. ¡°But yes, just like Jingyi¡¯s palm strikes. I¡¯m not sure how she does it, but I¡¯m positive it is the Inner Force that Master Li has told me about in the past.¡±


    ¡°If it is something that you don¡¯t know about, then it must be really weird!¡±


    ¡°Heh¡­ well, we¡¯ll see if he can do the same or if it is some other trick.¡±


    The two fighters, Zhiran and Qinghu, face off in the arena and wait for the signal to begin. Han Zhiran, true to his nature, seems excited for the battle to begin. Any lingering injuries from his previous fights are inconsequential enough, and he seems fresh and rested despite just fighting a short while ago. On the other hand, Zhang Qinghu stands in stark contrast with his relaxed, almost bored demeanor.


    ¡®That cocky attitude has no place in this level of the tournament. I hope Zhiran knocks you out right away!¡¯


    The fight begins and Qinghu is immediately on the defensive, backpedaling while Zhiran batters him with a whip-like punch that would knockout most lesser opponents. Zhiran continues to press his attack, taunting Qinghu with a few more of his style¡¯s signature long-range punches, but Qinghu weaves around them and keeps just out of reach. However, he blatantly sneers at Zhiran, so he is undeniably getting under his skin.


    Zhiran switches his style slightly and tests a mighty straight punch, but Qinghu neatly sidesteps it. While he dodges, Qinghu latches onto Zhiran¡¯s wrist like a snake striking its prey. There is zero hesitation as he pulls Zhiran towards him and shows the initial motions of a shoulder throw. Unfortunately for Qinghu, it is bait!


    The swarthy boxer surges forward and hammers Qinghu¡¯s jaw with his free elbow, whipping the other boy¡¯s head around with explosive force. The sudden blow dazes Qinghu and he can¡¯t help but stumble back a step or two while he reorients himself. His battered senses delay him too much, and Zhiran hits Qinghu with a tooth-busting right hook. Qinghu reels again, and Zhiran shows no signs of relenting.


    While Qinghu stumbles back, Han Zhiran drives his fist square into Qinghu¡¯s gut, driving the air out of him and even lifting him onto his toes for a moment. The devastating combo concludes with a truly powerful kick, sending Qinhu flying backwards and onto the ground where he lay, coughing for air, much like Shuyi in the previous match.


    ¡°Is¡­ is it over already?¡± Jingyi asks.


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡®He¡¯s down, but unlike Shuyi, he seems able to get back up. That punch wasn¡¯t quite the same as before.¡¯


    Qinghu struggles to his feet, confirming my suspicions, and Zhiran waits, patiently, and politely. However, the delay in the action isn¡¯t just sportsmanlike behavior, but a necessity; Han Zhiran is investigating his wrist, but if there was anything to find, it eludes him because he shakes it off and returns to his fighting stance.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Han Zhiran asks a question, and two fighters exchange a few brief words before continuing. Both close at full speed and Zhiran throws out another right hook as a blatant feint in order to draw Qinghu in, and it seems to work. His opponent ducks beneath his arm and Zhiran launches his follow-up with his other fist, but swings suspiciously wide. Zhiran¡¯s confusion swiftly shifts into a grimace as Qinghi applies two finger strikes to his abdomen.


    Finger strikes are an advanced technique that I never practice. They are dangerous to use, and without mastery, do little damage to the target. From my limited knowledge, they are commonly used in conjunction with unique techniques or Inner Force. Neither strike looks particularly powerful, but the damage that Zhiran sustains is anything but minor.


    Zhiran hastily steps back while kicking at his opponent with a wide, sweeping motion, but Qinghu blocks using both forearms. Fortunately, he forces Qinghu back and Zhiran receives the respite he desperately needs.


    Qinghu makes another comment, probably taunting Zhiran considering his snarky expression. Whether it works or not, Zhiran strides forward, intending to engage Qinghu again, but struggles while raising his arm. Something is very wrong with his sluggish movements, and he is aware of it. The confusion and disruption gives Qinghu the opening he needs and he capitalizes on it by driving his fingers into the side of Han Zhiran¡¯s neck.


    I can¡¯t tell what the significance of the attack is, but as soon as Qinghu makes contact, Han Zhiran tenses up as if every muscle in his body pulled taut. It lasts for no more than the blink of an eye, but that is long enough for Qinghu to deliver a crushing kick to the side of Han Zhiran¡¯s head. The crowd roars, and the mighty Han Zhiran falls. Despite his early momentum, he is soundly defeated in the end.


    ¡®W-what just happened?¡¯


    I feel a sudden shift in the venue¡¯s atmosphere, but it isn¡¯t the shock of Zhiran¡¯s sudden and upsetting defeat. I didn¡¯t expect it, and watching the fight between the two had me believing, from the onset, that Han Zhiran was destined to be the victor, but seeing him fall caught me off guard. I truly believe that others felt the same, but the sensation creeping up from beneath is a mix of anxiety, fear, and dread ¡ª not confusion.


    ¡®It doesn¡¯t feel right. Why do I feel like¡­ I¡¯m in danger?¡¯


    I notice a subtle tremble in my fingers, so I curl them into fists and clutch at my skirts. Fear, and even worse, dread, are foreign to someone like me who has lived cooped up their entire life. I¡¯ve never had a reason to be afraid, and anytime I was, it stemmed from natural fears, such as the dark. With that in mind, I began to brush off the worry as something frivolous. However, I notice the guard to my left move his hand to the hilt of his saber and clutch it tightly.


    ¡®It''s not just me!¡¯


    The crowd simmers to a subtle whisper and soon falls completely silent. Under normal circumstances, calming such a mass of people is a serious task that could easily take a handful of minutes. Even then, there¡¯d be whispers aplenty. However, over the course of two breaths, the entire place fell into an eerie silence.


    A shiver runs up my spine and I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as a truly immense man drops down from the stone viewing area across from me. My finger nails dig into my palms, causing intense discomfort even through the silks, and I realize that this man is the cause of my concern.


    The man rises to his full height and locks eyes on his target ¡ª Qinghu. The victor stands over his fallen foe, reveling in his victory, but even he begins to realize something is amiss. As Qinghu starts to turn, the strange man, exuding a powerful sense of doom, lifts his foot to take a step and then vanishes. No, not quite vanishes, he just moves too fast for me to see. The only reason I know he didn¡¯t cross the distance with one step is the dust scattering from the path he took to get to Zhang Qinghu.


    The young man whirls around to face the monster, but it is too late. A hand larger than any I¡¯ve seen before closes around Qinghu¡¯s skull and hoists him up with the same ease I¡¯d pick up a straw doll.


    Overcome by panic, Qinhu attacks in a frenzy. He cannot see, but he knows where his attacker¡¯s arm is, and lashes out accordingly. It proves futile. His fingers connect with the monster¡¯s arm and snap and shatter into disgusting angles. Blood spurts from open wounds as broken bones tear through Qinghu¡¯s flesh, but it is not half as unsettling as his shrieks of terror.


    ¡®Being that close to that monster has to be horrifying. I¡¯m so far away, yet even so, I can¡¯t help but despair.¡¯


    ¡°The rules were clear,¡± the man roars so loudly that I wince and reflexively shy away. ¡°This is a tournament of skill and courage.¡±


    He raises Qinghu higher and sneers. ¡°To use a hidden weapon laced with poison is a cowardly act. To cheat is to dishonor yourself! And if you have no honor¡­ you are better off dead¡­¡±


    ¡®W-wait, what!? He¡¯s going to kill him!?¡¯


    Right then Jingyi bolts to her feet and grabs the railing with both hands. ¡°No! Put him down!¡±


    The monster of a man looks like he took a spear through the back as Jingyi shouts at him, but he drops Qinghu into a heap at his feet without hesitation. He then immediately locks eyes on Jingyi. It is no longer me who feels fear, but judging by his expression, this old monster does. I take a deep breath and release my clenched fists, feeling thankful that I didn¡¯t start bleeding all over my skirt. At the same time, the man uses his incredible speed to dash over to Jingyi.


    ¡°Jing¡¯er! You didn¡¯t tell me you¡¯d be here¡­¡±


    He practically coos.


    ¡®This guy¡­ Why is he talking like that?¡¯


    ¡°No! Do not try and sweet talk your way out of this!¡± Jingyi stomps her foot for emphasis. ¡°You can¡¯t just go around killing people. We have talked about this, and you promised!¡±


    The immense man immediately deflates, shrinking away from Jingyi¡¯s ire. He raises his hands and bows his head to ask for forgiveness. ¡°I know! I am so sorry, my sweet Jing¡¯er, but¡­ your papa got caught up in the moment¡­ I wasn¡¯t actually going to kill him¡­¡±


    Jingyi tips her head and widens her eyes to scowl at him like a mother silently commanding a toddler to stop eating something he isn¡¯t supposed to when she is too far away to intervene personally. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me. You know what you were going to do.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Jingyi interrupts him and points to the other side of the arena where he came from. ¡°Go back into your box and stay there. You had better hope I don¡¯t tell mother about this or you will be in big trouble.¡±


    Jingyi¡¯s father looks like he wants to protest and beg for forgiveness but thinks better of it. Instead, he makes some cute lovey-kissy pantomimes in stark contrast with his appearance, and then retreats without further fuss.


    Jingyi pinches at the bridge of her nose and sits down with a huff.


    ¡°What was that?¡± I ask, astonished, and frankly, baffled.


    ¡°Just my dad¡­ the man who traded his brains for more muscle. He is going to be in so much trouble when he gets home tonight.¡±


    I just smile.


    ¡®Apparently, I am not the only one with weird parents.¡¯ I look at Jingyi with no shortage of curiosity. ¡®And I had no idea you could be so feisty.¡¯


    While Jingyi¡¯s father got a dressing down from his surprisingly strict daughter, the arena¡¯s staff attended to the two fighters. Han Zhiran is taken away for medical attention without delay, and Zhang Qinghu, who has had the life scared out of him, follows shortly after. As soon as the scene is cleared and cleaned up, the announcer returns.


    ¡°Ahem! Well, we do apologize for that, but thanks to Master Xiang we were able to confirm that Zhang Qinghu did, indeed, use hidden weapons and a paralyzing poison. While Han Zhiran will claim victory by default, we are uncertain about his recovery time, so we will work on a solution in the meantime. That being said, let¡¯s continue to the next match!¡±

 The Kingfisher’s Feast

    ¡°There¡¯s no one else I can rely on for this, it has to be you,¡± Han Zhiran pleads as an old man with a goat-like beard sticks his acupoints full of needles in hopes of relieving his widespread paralysis.


    ¡°But why me? There are others.¡±


    ¡°We have, at most¡­ the time it takes to eat a meal before the final match. I can¡¯t get someone else from school, and Han Ji didn¡¯t do too well. You¡¯re my only hope of winning!¡±


    ¡°But I lost¡­¡±


    ¡°Pah! We both know who deserves this, and I have my own reason for wanting to win.¡±


    ¡°You think I can win?¡±


    ¡°Had I held back even a tiny bit, it would have been your win, and I know you were holding back.¡±


    Ban Shuyi sighs. Of all the people that could have been chosen to replace Han Zhiran, he went and picked her. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t look like he¡¯d be on his feet in time, and even then, fighting so soon after being hit with such a powerful toxin is asking too much. He needs someone to fight on his behalf.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Shuyi replies curtly and crosses her arms. ¡°But I get half the prize.¡±


    ¡°You can have all of it,¡± Han Zhiran stares off into the distance with a whimsical expression on his face. ¡°My reward is not offered by the hosts.¡±


    ¡°Uh, okay¡­?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious!¡± Zhiran grabs her wrist and holds on tight, forcing himself to move despite the toxin. ¡°You have to win; my life depends on it!¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine!¡± Shuyi growls and pries his fingers off of her. ¡°Stop being so dramatic. I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    ¡°Not just your best! You must win!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, whatever,¡± Shuyi waves a hand to dismiss him as she exits the room.


    She leans up against the wall across from his room and sighs. ¡°What a mess¡­¡±


    The opponent for the finals is Liu Gongming, and she had seen his last two fights. He¡¯ll be a difficult opponent, and had Han Zhiran managed to recover in time, Shuyi is confident he¡¯d have lost. She can¡¯t help but scoff at the idiot being right about her. Unless someone else shows up from his school, there is no other choice but her if he wants to secure the win.


    ¡®Works well for me, too,¡¯ Shuyi figures as she pushes away from the wall with a flex of her shoulders. ¡®I can¡¯t guarantee I made a good showing fighting him, so getting another chance, especially in the finals, is the perfect way to get noticed. Heh¡­ maybe I¡¯ll get [their] attention.¡¯


    She makes her way back towards the arena with a smile on her face.


    ¡°Liu Gongming¡­ I¡¯ll not hold back, and everyone will see what I can really do!¡±


    As expected, Han Zhiran¡¯s condition didn''t improve in time so everything fell onto his chosen champion¡¯s shoulders. Ban Shuyi makes her way back to the center of the arena where her opponent is waiting and gives him a critical look.


    ¡®What¡¯s he got to look so smug about?¡¯


    Liu Gongming¡¯s pale golden robes flutter as he crosses his arms and looks down on her. He smirks, though it is very close to being a sneer. ¡°Losing once wasn¡¯t good enough for you, eh, halfbreed?¡±


    ¡®Ah, right¡­ a racist.¡¯


    She droops a bit.


    ¡°I promised an idiot that I¡¯d win, so I¡¯ll make it quick.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll make it quick?¡± Gongming clicks his tongue and covers his fully sneering face with one of his wide sleeves. ¡°I¡¯ll appreciate it if you just lie down and die right now, and save me the trouble of washing my hands of your filth.¡±


    Shuyi rolls her eyes and prepares to fight. ¡°Whatever you say, brat. Today you¡¯ll disappoint your ancestors.¡±


    ¡°Y-you! How dare you!?¡±


    Shuyi scoffs.


    ¡®Get angry, idiot.¡¯


    She shifts her weight onto her back foot and taps the toes of her other foot on the wide stone tiles while she waits for the announcer to finish his spiel. As the battle draws closer, her guarding palm rises into place and she smirks.


    ¡®I will crush you.¡¯


    ¡°Fight!¡±


    Despite her resolve to crush Liu Gongming, Ban Shuyi does not rush forward right away. He also reached the finals of the tournament, so he is undoubtedly a formidable fighter. Some caution is necessary if she intends to win this without taking too much damage.


    ¡°Afraid?¡± she baits him.


    ¡°Of trash like you?¡± Gongming growls in response and comes forward. ¡°Not a chance!¡±


    Shuyi grins.


    ¡®Fool.¡¯


    She begins by meeting him with the First Move: Flowing River. Designed to intercept an incoming attack with the guarding palm, it is first and foremost, a countering move. Shuyi considers it more of a stance, though, because it is not a finite move where it is performed and resolved, but continues to flow like its namesake. Counter, then strike, and repeat until done.


    The wide, sweeping palm strike, almost a slap, is turned away by Shuyi¡¯s guarding palm and she immediately retaliates by forcing it across his body and striking directly for his torso. Her hand meets Gongming¡¯s other hand and is deflected away.


    From her observations, she learned that the Divided Palm style Liu Gongming uses is one of perpetual motion, much like the Flowing River stance. The arms move in wheeling motions, constantly striking and defending while simultaneously using the ridiculously wide sleeves to obscure vision. It is a nuisance of a style, but she resolves to see if it could hold up.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Shuyi counters several more strikes from her opponent, and each time he refuses to commit to another attack, she baits him with another feint. She believes, confidently, that she holds the lead here, and that her Flowing River is out performing Liu Gongming by just a small fraction. It is enough, however, to give her confidence.


    ¡°It seems this trash is more than you bargained for,¡± she quips while redirecting another of his palm strikes across her body and out of the way, leaving his flank exposed.


    He appears ready to respond with some derisive comments when his thoughts are interrupted by a sudden shift in Shuyi¡¯s attack patterns. She uses her false stance to deliver a powerful lateral kick to his lower ribs, but he twists and intercepts with his free hand. However, his wheeling chain of motion is disrupted.


    Severing the Peak into Descending the Valley!


    He is pushed back a step, but just as they make contact, Shuyi lowers her leg and plants her foot so she can spin in reverse. She drops down low and catches his heel with a sweep from behind his ankle, and Liu Gongming falls. Nevertheless, he recovers quickly by rolling back and into his fighting stance.


    Ban Shuyi shows no hesitation!


    ¡®Too slow!¡¯


    Fifth Move: Toppling Giants.


    As he orients himself, Liu Gongming catches sight of Ban Shuyi whirling through the air to crush him with a powerful spinning kick. It is too slow to land, so his head and neck are protected by his forearm. She immediately uses her other foot to push off his defending arm and drives herself back to the ground where she arrests her momentum with her hands and tumbles gracefully back to her feet.


    She can see that he is about to say something smug, so Shuyi dashes forward. She no longer stays in the false stance of Flowing River, but shifts to the Second Move: Parting Clouds¡¯ neutral stance! From there, she attacks with both hands, driving repeated strikes towards his core and pushing his defense wide like splitting a sturdy log with a wedge.


    Against other foes, the billowing sleeves obscure vision and make it difficult to see where each arm is, but Ban Shuyi is not his typical foe. Her sharp ears pick up the fluttering sounds and give her clues others would miss. She knows where he is at in his rotations, and now that his wheeling motions are too slow, Liu Gongming finds himself pushed backwards.


    His expression is filled with a rage befitting a fool who believed himself superior, and because Ban Shuyi promised Han Zhiran she wouldn¡¯t hold back, she circulates her Inner Force and prepares her next attack


    Secret Art: Hidden Palm!


    Liu Gongming impedes her assault, but it is insufficient to deter Shuyi entirely. The Inner Force is released and a wispy blast of qi strikes her opponent in the center of his torso. However, despite the clean connection, he uses some strange softbody technique and allows himself to be pushed back. To others, it may have looked like he took a serious blow, but to Ban Shuyi, he absorbed almost all the damage.


    ¡°Inner Force, huh?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t act surprised. Even an idiot could recognize it.¡±


    The idiot she speaks of is none other than Han Zhiran, but it has the intended effect of rousing Gongming¡¯s ire again.


    ¡°A beast would use a beast¡¯s tricks.¡±


    She shrugs. ¡°I have a few more¡­ if you¡¯re interested.¡±


    Liu Gongming is not interested, but he does come at her again. Whether it is his rage or hatred of non-humans that fuels him, Gongming picks up his pace and begins unleashing a flurry of powerful blows.


    Shuyi smirks and relies upon the Eighth Move: Gentle Touch, a defensive technique that reduces the attack¡¯s potency substantially, if not entirely. Though it didn¡¯t work against Zhiran¡¯s last-ditch, all-in punch, it is effective enough against Gongming. She discovers, however, that even if she stops the incoming damage, turning his blows away is less beneficial than against someone like Han Zhiran, because he just adjusts and continues.


    She clicks her tongue in annoyance while she narrowly deflects another attack, only to be struck by an unexpected kick that hits her vulnerable abdomen. She grunts and stumbles back, coughing as pain explodes through her flank thanks to Zhiran¡¯s earlier strike.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be lucky to survive this, you filthy halfbreed.¡±


    ¡®This is trickier than I thought. He¡¯s hard to injure, even with Hidden Palm. I may need to resort to more drastic measures¡­¡¯


    ¡°I could say the same about you!¡±


    His eyes narrow and he comes forward.


    ¡®Let¡¯s end this.¡¯


    His assault is aggressive, pushing her to her limits, but Ban Shuyi has picked up on a quirk or two of her opponent. He hates her for what she is, and would love nothing more than to use that against her whenever possible. She prepares to bait him again.


    ¡®You better appreciate this, you big idiot.¡¯


    After a few more moments of Gongming attacking, she figures it is time. Shuyi deftly turns another strike aside with Gentle Touch and uses Severing the Peak. However, her kick falls short and her toes barely brush his robes. She allows the momentum of the kick to pull her around and stops with her back to him.


    He acts as expected.


    Liu Gongming, faced with an obvious vulnerability, grabs her tail. As soon as she feels him touch her fur, she fills it with Inner Force, and each strand becomes a razor sharp needle, so when she continues her twist and pulls her tail free, his hand is shorn bloody. He screams in pain and recoils.


    ¡°It is time for you to taste defeat,¡± Shuyi shouts as she continues her twist. ¡°Know that a halfbreed bested you!¡±


    ¡®Ban Family Secret Art¡­¡¯


    As she completes her rotation, Shuyi strikes with her guarding palm, drawing his defense to the center. With his hand bloodied, Gongming relies on his good hand to intercept with his palm. It was never a strike, though, it was to gauge her distance and fine-tune her aim.


    As soon as she locks in, Ban Shuyi¡¯s other arm whips around and drives forward, but not for a palm strike, this time it is different. The tips of her fingers barely brush his forearm, and while it is purely unnecessary and completely frivolous to shout the name of one¡¯s technique, it is satisfying for the psychology and demoralizing for the enemy to know what has done them in.


    ¡°Kingfisher¡¯s Feast!¡±


    The moment she connects, Inner Force surges through her arm leaving searing pain in its wake, but as it reaches her finger tips, it focuses into a fine point. From that point it bursts forth and lances through Liu Gongming like the spear of a cavalryman. It is not physically damaging, but obliterates his meridians and pierces through his middle dantian.


    He spits blood and topples backwards as immense pain overloads his brain.


    The crowd roars, and so does Ban Shuyi. She is the winner, and her victory cry is a mix of pride and pain.


    ¡®That idiot owes me...¡¯


    She drops to a knee and looks at the arm hanging limp at her side. It will take weeks to mend, but Ban Shuyi knows she has drawn [their] attention. A month or so of painful recovery was nothing so long as she kept that in mind.


    I smile as Ban Shuyi leaves the arena as the victor. I don¡¯t know what sort of technique she used at the end, but that one clean hit took Liu Gongming down and made it look easy. She has to have used Inner Force, I can¡¯t believe it was anything else other than that mystical energy of martial artists.


    ¡°Shall we go, my lady?¡± Jingyi asks as she rises from her seat. ¡°It¡¯d be best to leave before the crowd starts to move.¡±


    I nod and leave my seat.


    The guards accompanying us were already making their way into the halls and leading the way back to where we first arrived. Aside from us, one other group is waiting for their carriage, but they pay us no mind. The presumed husband and wife are more concerned with their own affairs and that suits me just fine right now.


    ¡°My lady, the carriage is here,¡± one of the guards announces.


    Jingyi shows me the way and I climb into the carriage and take a seat. After setting the annoying hat aside I look out the window as we start to move. The tournament had taken the majority of the day, but I can¡¯t help but feel like it was worth it. My hands are still trembling and my heart is racing from excitement, so I settle back in and take a deep breath.


    ¡®I¡¯m sorry, Han Zhiran, but you¡¯ll never get the chance to learn my name. Maybe in another life.¡¯