Confronting The Twins

Predictably, there had been no response to his questioning so he had shrugged it off. He still felt the presence watching him occasionally, it's gaze perhaps even more intent than usual, but since it refused to interact with him and did nothing but watch he let it be and pretended it wasn't there.

He had a fight to prepare for and training to complete. He was still learning the Burst Blade technique, one that could be pivotal in the fight against his cousin.

Hours later his friends returned.

Wan Jin was grabbing Fatty Wan by the back of his robe, trying to prevent him from walking forward. But because Jin was nearly as skinny as Ding Wei and Fatty Wan was in good shape, he didn't prevent Wan from moving forward at all and barely even slowed him down.

"Fatty Wan, stop! There's no need to say anything to Brother Wei, he needs to focus on his cultivation! He can't be distracted at such a crucial time!"

"You wont stop me, Jin! This is for your own good!"

"... What's going on?"

When he glanced at Wan Jin, Ding Wei noticed the problem. His face was swollen and covered in bruises. A trail of dried blood stained his nose which was bent in an unsightly way. He had been in a scuffle, a one-sided scuffle.

"Who did this to you?"

"Brother Wei, it's not nece-"

"It was the Ding twins! They attacked him after he defended you when they were insulting your honor!" Fatty Wan roared

Ding Wei felt a deep anger filling him. Wan Jin and Fatty Wan had become very close friends in this time, and for he who had long wished for friendship it pained him to see a friend hurt in this way. Though the twins had beaten him up and insulted him on too many occasions to count, he had never felt as angry towards them as he did now.

Ding Wei nodded. "Okay. I'll deal with it."

"Brother Wei, there's really no need..." Han Jin had tears in his eyes, filled with worry and gratitude both.

"Don't worry about anything, Jin. I'll make them pay for daring to lay their hands on my friend."

And with that, Ding Wei made his way back to the village.

Whilst the adults of the village hung out in the tavern, the underage youths spent most of their free time crowding around the square. It was a flattened stretch of earth near the middle of the village. There were a few stalls here, little wooden stands with signs and displays. They sold vegetables, skins and meat here, and when a merchant came into town they would park their caravans inbetween.

Village celebrations would be held here too and it was used as a meeting ground for many village groups. Some of the elders practiced here in the mornings, going through stretches and exercises to stay in good health.

The teenagers of Guangzhu flocked here at all hours of the day, hanging out in little groups to talk and play. There were chairs and tables used for this purpose, and Miss Kuang walked around selling sweets and iced drinks to their delight. He hadn't needed to ask Fatty Wan where the twins were, as this was the place they frequented the most. In fact, they spent more time at the square than they did at home!

So he wasn't at all surprised to see them there, laughing with a group of friends.

"Did you see the look in his face when he walked off? It was priceless! What a cry-baby!"

"That's what he gets for daring to claim that cripple Wei is stronger than us. How dare he say such a ridiculous thing? Ding Wei is a Skin-Refinement Level cultivator? Well then, I must be the Grand Emperor!"

The twins were both posturing, trying to make themselves look good infront of their friends and the girls they liked. Xu Jiali and Liang Xiu were rather snooty girls who gossiped about everyone and spent hours each day on makeup and clothes. Their parents were both shopkeepers who had a business relationship with the Ding Family and so though they weren't exactly wealthy they were much better off than most of the girls in the village. And they made sure to show that by wearing patterned dresses brought from the city and jewelry the other girls could only wish for in their hearts.

Ding Wei thought they were the most troublesome girls in the village and tried to avoid them as much as possible.

"Look Liang Xiu. There's Ding Wei, isn't he wearing a rather expensive silk robe?"

"That must have cost a fortune! He does look very good in it, though..."

The twins immediately turned around with sour looks. "Cripple, you dare to come out of hiding this time?"

Ding Wei didn't bother with much talking and immediately kicked the two in the chest, sending them flying over the table. Drinks and plates were knocked over and the girls reared back as though a monster had appeared, terrified of getting their clothes dirty.

"I will not let the two of you off so easily this time. Today I will give you both a well-earned beating!"

The twins were cultivators themselves and both in the Third Level of the Awakening Realm. Though they weren't especially talented and didn't spend much time practicing, both had received the full backing of the Ding Family.

"A lucky shot..." Ding Yun said whilst getting up, though there was a little surprise in his eyes at the strength of the kick.

"You've lost your sense of position in the time you've been kicked out, Ding Wei. You've forgotten who is the dog and who is the master! We shall remind you of your position as our lesser!"

"Hmph. I don't want to hear anything from cowards like you who didn't even dare to beat me up alone even when I was still in the First Level. In truth you and Jun have always been cowardly dogs, only capable of attacking in a pack."

"You dare!"

The twins drew their weapons. Ding Yun, the elder of the two, used a curved sword that was made by Fatty Wan's father. It was a beautiful weapon and had cost an entire gold piece.

His brother used a mace, the end shaped like a fist. This weapon had also been crafted by Wan's father and had been even more expensive, the difficulty of it's shape justifying the cost. They had both been gifts from their Uncle Fang. Gifts bought using the wealth that rightfully belonged to Ding Wei, who had never received a single gift from his uncle in his entire life.

He would show them just what their weapons were worth, and humiliate them in front of everyone!

They attacked together. Though their personalities had many flaws the twins were very skilled in working together and their attacks flowed well. When Ding Yun attacked high his brother attacked low, when one moved to the left the other covered him. If he had still been that First Level cultivator they bullied all the time, Ding Wei would already have been finished.

But he wasn't.

Wei dodged and weaved between their attacks, feeling nearly as surprised as they were. They just felt so slow, their movements so easy to predict! The difference in his reflexes was incredible. If he had been this strong he wouldn't have needed to bother slowly assassinating those gangsters! He would have simply walked into their camp and attacked them all at once!

"Is it possible? Could he really have reached the Fourth Level after all this time?!"

"No! It can't be... How is he dodging our attacks like this!"

Seeing the look of despair and loathing grow in their eyes, he finally struck. As Ding Jun extended a punch a few inches too far he ducked to the side and sent a blow directly under, hitting him in the gut. The air whistled with the speed of his attack, and his cousin was momentarily lifted off his feet before collapsing into a heap on the ground.

At the same time Ding Wei twisted, spinning around to intercept the swinging sword. He used an open palm to knock Ding Jun's wrist, knocking the mace out and sending it clattering to the floor. Then he jabbed an elbow into his cousin's throat. His cousin paused, falling to his knees and grabbing his neck.

"M-mercy! You win, you win!" He called.

Ding Wei looked at the two with fury. "Mercy? Where was the mercy for me those nights I returned home covered in bruises or when you used me as target practice? Where was the mercy for Han Jin when the two of you beat him up for having an opinion?"

He shook his head, eyes alight with a menacing fury.

"No. You will not be receiving any mercy today."