Chapter 28 - Fort Radiance

Despite the dangers of the region they'd entered, several hours passed without the trio encountering anything more dangerous than a mortal quail. If Feng Xi possessed her father's skill with a bow, it might have made a tasty addition to their dinner but no one felt it worth the effort to chase the bird into the underbrush when they startled it.

Tang Jin passed out snacks from the pack on his back which the group ate as they marched. "Much better than goat jerky," Ao Wen praised as she munched on the spicy lamb-filled flatbread that Tang Jin had passed out.

"Isn't that a bit low of a bar for comparison?" Feng Xi asked.

"Okay, it's also better than Granny Jun's crispy scallion pancakes, but if you tell her I said so I'll deny it," Ao Wen conceded. "I've heard sword cultivators can manifest swords made purely of their will, their 'sword intent.' Well, Granny Jun has 'wooden spoon intent.' Cross her at your own risk!"

Another hour passed and soon the group had trekked more than a dozen li into the woods. The fog had long burned off and shadows were starting to grow long as the sun sank towards the western mountains. Finally, the trees began to thin as the trio approached the top of a hill.

The entire hilltop had been shaped by countless hands with shovels and earth-moving tools. A steep earthen wall ringed the crown of the hill with a narrow gap allowing entrance to the fort itself. Seeing the mighty earthworks, Tang Jin took off his backpack to kneel and kowtow towards the wall. "This Tang gives thanks to Fort Radiance for sheltering his ancestors. This Tang hopes your ancient walls can shelter him and his companions tonight," he finished respectfully.

Seeing his actions, both Feng Xi and Ao Wen cupped their hands to the fort in polite greeting but neither felt the need to say anything. Moving through the gap in the perimeter wall, a few signs of an ancient battle could still be seen. A large straight depression in the earth marked where an intense attack likely cleaved the earth before time began to smooth its contours. The inner earthen wall had many splotches along its slope where grasses still refused to grow because of the lingering energies of whatever attack had landed there. Hundreds of years may have passed, but the fort still clearly displayed its proud battle scars.

Stepping through the gap in the inner wall the trio spotted what remained of the bustling village that once stood here. Stone foundations peaked out from tall grass sporadically and a few stone walls could still be seen dotting the hilltop. Anything of significance had been carried away long ago leaving only these traces behind.

"Take the time you need," Feng Xi told Tang Jin gently. "We'll set up camp over there," she finished, gesturing to an open area on the north side of the hill. She could feel his emotions humming, a complex melody of humility before the fortification with curiosity about what it had been like in its glory days and even a faint sense of loss that his ancestors needed to abandon such a place. They were deep enough into the forest now that most members of the Tang family wouldn't ever visit here making Tang Jin one of the rare few who had visited the home of his ancestors. Giving him time to process his emotions while she and Ao Wen set up camp was the least she could do for their new friend. 

Tang Jin spent several minutes just walking around the old fort. He tried to use his newly awakened senses to feel any trace of his ancestors' energy that might still linger here but if there was anything, his senses were too underdeveloped to find it. Eventually, he came back to Ao Wen and Feng Xi to find a campfire starting to burn and a waxed canvas tarp strung up to create some shelter for their bedrolls.

Seeing him come back, Ao Wen stood up, picking up the shark fin-tipped saber at her side as she did. "Jin," she said, consciously trying to close the distance between them by dropping the surname when she addressed him. "We never did get our match," she said with a grin. "Let's see what you can do!"

Tang Jin drew his sword hesitantly. The blade gleamed with reflected firelight, making the area around him look a bit brighter. Aesthete Qing had etched a pattern of rays along the blade, giving it the suggestion of a rising sun at the golden hilt casting its light along the length of the blade.

"Jin," Feng Xi called out in a friendly tone. "Give her hell. Remember, your ancestors are watching."

The statement ran through Tang Jin like a lightning bolt. He'd been so intimidated by Ao Wen's dazzling performance that he'd been making himself smaller ever since. Feng Xi's words reminded him that he still carried the pride and power of the Radiant Mountain Lions! Drawing himself up to his full height, he held his sword out proudly and offered a salute to the west.

"Ancestors," he said firmly. "Please watch your lessons live on." Turning to Ao Wen he smiled with renewed confidence. "Tang Jin, Radiant Mountain Lion Sword Style asks Senior Ao for pointers," he said formally as though his ancestors were present and watching. Perhaps they were.

Ao Wen returned the salute with a smile. She liked the look of determination she saw in his eyes. "Ao Wen, Obsidian Night Scorpion Saber Art accepts junior Tang Jin's request. May the ancestors, earth, and sky bear witness to your strength," she replied with equal formality. She wanted to know what he could do before they fought beasts together. If the opportunity to display his skill in this place of his ancestors let him bring out his best, she was happy to indulge him.

Suddenly, Tang Jin moved, leaping forward like a pouncing mountain lion. His first strike carried little strength as he struck towards Ao Wen's shoulder but the speed of his blade left a bright arc in the night air as it flashed out. The first strike met a heavy block as Ao Wen beat the blade away but Tang Jin had been counting on something like that as he spun the sword rapidly into his next strike at Ao Wen's opposite shoulder, using the momentum imparted by Ao Wen's block to accelerate his next attack!

Ao Wen grinned broadly as she met the second attack with a sliding deflection that let her step in close enough to strike Tang Jin in the gut with the ring pommel of her blade, knocking him back as he gasped for air. Still, she didn't immediately follow up as she had with Qing Chen. Instead, she gave him a moment to restore his breathing before issuing a warning. "My turn now," she said, bringing her saber into a high guard position before she began raining blows on Tang Jin.

The young man's sword hand stung from absorbing the impacts of Ao Wen's heavy blows. Hard blocks quickly proved to be a mistake. Her heavy two-handed blows knocked his own blade so far out of line that by the time he'd recovered, the next strike had arrived! It was like being under the relentless assault of a scorpion's two massive pincers, there was never a moment's respite. Soft, yielding blocks didn't work either. When he tried, Ao Wen stepped in close, binding his blade against hers and striking with knees, elbows, the ring pommel, and feet, even taking one hand off the hilt of her saber to punch him! Letting her get close was a horrible mistake!

Tang Jin's mind raced. Ao Wen was bullying him with pure overwhelming power. Her stances were rooted in the earth. Every hit was direct, and solid, but also simple. She used none of the tricky or flashy moves that Mo Yan or his other practice partners had used. What could he do against her overwhelming strength? He felt like a house cat being mauled by a bear!

Wait! Not a house cat! Tang Jin was a mountain lion. The mountain lion wouldn't face the bear head-on, he'd outmaneuver the bear and leap upon its back! It took precious moments for him to find his opportunity but when Ao Wen's next heavy attack arrived, Tang Jin melted underneath it, diving to the ground and rolling to his feet to attack from the side. His hasty plan worked enough to return the momentum to him and put Ao Wen back on the defensive. His feet moved rapidly, in and out, constantly varying his distance and angles of attack.

"Stop!" Feng Xi called after their exchange had lasted more than the time it took for a stick of incense to burn. Tang Jin felt both breathless and exhilarated, feeling like he'd truly been pushed for the first time and that he hadn't embarrassed himself before his ancestors. Ao Wen felt relieved, finally washing the bitter taste of yesterday's match from her mouth with a good honest sparring session. Best of all, they both had a better understanding of each other than they had before and that would be critical against the Rage Queen if they had to face her on this hunt.