Chapter 28 - The whole sect is watching.

Xin approached Xie Xiaodan, who was in the company of Huang Lingbo and the Iron Fairy again. He bowed lowly, then politely asked: "Master, may I humbly request a minute of your time? We need you to authorise a fight in the combat circle."

"And why would you need master Xiaodan for this. Did something happen, or have you come to vex us again?" - Huang Lingbo asked.

"Nothing happened, we need to set up a two against two fight, and rank one masters can't do it without master Xiaodan's approval."

"A fight? Who's fighting?" Xie Xiaodan smiled. He was a battle maniac, and he didn't mind being interrupted for this reason.

"Me, Lei, Windsplitter and Murong Zhan, master." Xin felt anxious, he noticed a weird glance the Iron Fairy was giving him. Was it judgemental?

"Let's do this, boys." She said. "I'd be happy to spectate."

Curses. He hated her involvement, it raised the stakes.

Lei smiled when he saw the trio of Condensation stage masters follow Xin to the fighting circle:

"Brother Xin, you forgot to bring the Sect Leader." 

Huang Lingo chuckled at his joke. "Maybe we should assign Xin to the diplomatic forces. What do you think, huh?" He playfully patted his shoulder.

"I must humbly refuse. My heart is in alchemy, the only thing more dear to me is hunting."

"What a cute grandiose kid, hehe." Iron Fairy commented. "Between him and Windsplitter, who is more grandiose? Master Xiaodan, what do you think?"

"I think Rui Ming has an edge here, Xin still has a lot to learn in the way of pompous monologues."

Rui Ming looked at them with a blank face. 

"Please authorize us, master." He was tired of waiting, and didn't care for banter. Behind his calm expression, there was a hint of a martial spirit rising.

"Done!" Xie Xiaodan waved his hand, and little golden threads wrapped around the quartet, and then disappeared into thin air. "Wu Lei, please clarify, is your wooden hand a vital organ?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you dense? Does the formation protect it from being cut off, or can you afford to lose it?"

"Please protect it."

"Done." He didn't do anything, at least visibly.

"Now, for the draw" Rui Ming announced. Xin couldn't help but notice a crowd gathering around them. The fight of the seeds, given even more clout by three rank two masters observing!

Rui Ming took out two pairs of tokens, red and blue, and put them into his chest pocket.

"Brother Xin, please take one out." He mixed the tokens in his pocket.

Xin reached inside, and prepared to pull one out.

"What an elaborate way to get someone to pinch your nipple, Rui Ming. Go on, Xin, cop a feel." Wu Lei teased him again. The crowd erupted with laughter.

"Be careful, I might become the first mortal to break this formation if you end up as my opponent." Rui Ming looked determined, there was no hint of aloofness on his face now.

"Blue token." Xin showed it to everyone. "Now what?"

"Now Murong Zhan pulls."

Murong Zhan quickly approached and pulled a token out. It was red.

"So, it's me against you. The next pull decides the pairs. Lei or Ming, who pulls?"

"Eh, let me try my luck." Lei reached into Rui Ming's pocket, and dramatically shuffled the tokens inside.

"Don't get on my nerves."

"Fine." He pulled out a token, then smiled. "Red! Haha, me against Xin and Rui Ming, exciting!"

Murong Zhan looked a bit upset. He considered Lei the weakest fighter among the four.

"Fine, let's do this. We bet two contribution points each! Fight to elimination. If you lose consciousness or surrender, or the formation detects a mortal wound — you are out. No limitations, no rules. Everyone agrees?" 

The other three nodded.

Xin was already donning his armour. For some reason, his opponents didn't wear any, which should give him some advantage. 

Murong Zhan had a defensive method of some kind, and followed a rare sacred martial arts school (Xin remembered overhearing the gossip about him between the lectures). In terms of reputation, Xin and Zhan were somewhat equal, so Xin prepared for a tough fight.

Xie Xiaodan entered the circle, his arms spread to split it in half. 

Rui Ming whispered to Xin: "Hold Murong Zhan, I'll defeat Lei. Don't let him break your glaive with the chakrams, keep your distance."

Xin wanted to argue, but nodded.

"You done chatting, sweethearts? You know the rules — fight!" He announced, and jumped out of the ring in one leap, even if he was just in the centre. The ground shook as he landed. 

I need to figure Zhan out, Xin thought.

Murong Zhan walked around, his chakrams around his ankles and wrists. His palms were open, and he looked like he was sneaking. What a weird stance. Don't get your glaive caught. The stamina from the bracers might come in handy, it's good that I got them repaired. Position for the downswing. 

The two combatants circled around , carefully looking for each other's weaknesses. On the flank, Rui Ming was already assaulting Lei with a barrage of rapid slashes. Lei was mostly retreating and blocking with his own saber. 

Murong Zhan finally attacked. He delivered a diagonal upswing with his leg, his chakram glowing with a golden light, glued to the tip of his toe. 

A small step back and a little feint attack to force Zhan back. Xin masterfully avoided this sudden strike. He learnt this lesson with Lei already, a weird stance was not enough to catch him off guard.

Axe kick! Murong Zhan's leg was still raised from the previous kick, so he span it and dropped it at Xin's guard, a chakram attached to his toe glowing with golden light.

Not so fast. 

Xin spun his glaive sideways and leaned on it, pressing it into the back of Murong Zhan's knee. He then pushed him sideways, using the shaft akin to an oar, hoping to trip his opponent. Murong Zhan reacted quickly and rolled sideways, then pounced forward like a tiger. 

Lei was fighting Rui Ming. It was a dreadful experience, fighting a blademaster of his level with a wooden hand. Rui Ming was faster, a better fencer and used a qi infusion technique to accelerate his blade even further. Lei was uninjured so far, but he felt that it was mostly luck and Rui Ming being careful due to not wearing any armour. Seems he was trying to study Lei's combat style before finishing him off. 

No! I need to force my own scenario, or he'll eat me alive!

With his peripheral vision, Lei noticed Xin, occupied by Murong Zhan pouncing on him. This is my moment! He delivered a feint swipe, infused his legs with fire qi and jumped sideways, swirling the saliva in his mouth, preparing his Lava Spit.

Rui Ming read this move easily. Wind Gust! He pushed the air behind Lei with his palm, unbalancing him as he landed.

Windstrider! This technique allowed Rui Ming to ride in the direction of the wind, even the wind produced by his own attacks. In a moment, it looked like Lei never disengaged.

Xin noticed the attack from the flank and jumped back, poking with his glaive. Murong Zhan switched his tactic and danced around, not assaulting him head on, his chakrams now held in his arms, and not wrapped around the wrists. It seems he gave up on using cheesy strategies like sudden kicks and all-in charges, and was prepared to engage Xin in a fencing contest.

He then connected two chakrams, as they seamlessly passed through each other and linked into a chain, emitting a golden light. Unable to break through Xin's reach, he tried to destroy his glaive, but Xin skillfully deflected with the iron blade, and pulled his weapon back for a stabbing counter-attack.

Now! Lei spun his body, delivering a diagonal swing back without even looking, trying to zone Rui Ming back. He then spat lava at Xin, who was occupied with counter-attacking.

Xin noticed it and abandoned the stab, seeking to dodge at all costs. He knew how terrifying this technique was and instinctively jumped back. Lei predicted his dodge, and launched an attack slightly towards his back, making evading it much harder!

Curses. Only one choice, accept it with the top of my helmet. He lowered his head slightly, hoping that the metal would last long enough.

Whoosh! The spitball was pushed sideways, and travelled an inch away from his forehead.

"YOU FUCKER!" Lei shouted at Rui Ming, who missed a chance to counterattack and chose to deny Lei's lava spit with his Wind Gust! "How about this?! 

Angry, Lei started channelling a technique, all while drowning Rui Ming in a barrage of hits.

He felt a painful mix of fire and metal qi flow through his veins. I haven't mastered this technique fully, but I have to try!

Molten Heart!

Lei could feel his meridians boil, his body under a lot of stress, his heart beating faster than ever. Need to endure it a bit more. 

Failed. 

Lei didn't manage to lock the final meridian connection together, and only activated the technique partially. His body strength remained unaffected, but his qi intensity was amplified. He was also leaking qi as if he used a full technique!

I'm on borrowed time. Windsplitter is mocking me with his blocks, hoping to exhaust me. He's carefully retreating and waiting for my lava spit. Shit!

I'll get tired fast. My metal qi will run out, and once it happens, the technique will start damaging my body. My Lava Spit is at Foundation level strength now, I need to utilise it somehow! And I only have enough qi left for one try!

"No point in throwing chakrams. No point in the four chakram style, either." Murong Zhan announced, as he connected his four chakrams into an even bigger glowing link.

"When you shit, do you also announce it?" Xin was breathing heavily, but felt his stamina get restored by the endurance bracers. If I win time bantering, I'll have an edge.

"Haha, I'll teach you what happens when you talk shit to a noble!" He charged. Xin was anxious, this weapon moves at weird angles, and has an ability to cut my glaive into pieces. Need to be careful.

Whoosh. A warm gust of wind caressed Xin.

"Do not resist! It's good! Let it in!" Rui Ming shouted as he blocked Lei's barrage, leaping backwards with wind qi infused jumps.

Xin felt his body being enveloped by a pleasant breeze, pushing deeper, as if asking to go in. 

Fine, I'll let you. He felt a surge of speed, and he felt like his body was lighter.

Murong Zhan charged, waving his chain link like a whip. 

Swing! He attacked Xin's weapon, but he quickly avoided it. Stab, stab, stab! Xin delivered frontal attacks with his newfound speed, a deadly quality, given his polearm's reach advantage. Guandao glaive wasn't the best weapon to overwhelm the opponent with rapid slashes, but this weird chain wasn't the best defensive weapon, either. 

"Fuck!" Murong Zhan grabbed both ends of the chain with different hands, trying to trap Xin's glaive.

Good, he gave up his reach. Xin took a small step back and raised his weapon. He can't counter-attack, thus

Woodcutter's Downswing!

Murong Zhan blocked, his metal element weapon protecting him from the wood qi "splash", but the metal element attack still had enough momentum to lock him in place.

Now! Xin kicked Murong Zhan in the groin, then used the spike on the opposite end of his glaive's blade to trap one of the middle rings and pull it towards himself. Murong Zhan resisted and also pulled, trying to avoid being disarmed, but Xin jumped forward with surprising speed and hit his chin with a shoulderguard. This wind path technique is truly incredible!

Meanwhile, Lei clashed his blades with Rui Ming.

"It's over." Rui Ming stared at him as if he was already defeated. Lei's whole nature revolted against it. He swirled and prepared to spit, but Rui Ming puffed his cheeks. No, bad idea, don't spit against the wind, as they say. He jumped back and laughed. 

"What's so funny?" Rui Ming was genuinely curious.

"You wouldn't get it."

"Oh, go on, tell me."

"Those cheeks, you looked like a fucking baby! Very cute, haha!" Lei could feel his energy run out as he spoke, this taunting better amount to something.

Rui Ming gave Xin a side glance.

"Press on, brother! They are almost finished."

"Sure!"

Murong Zhan was anxious. His opponent had a reach advantage, his armour was protecting him, and he was sped up, too! And he didn't seem to tire? Very unfair. 

Meanwhile, Xin felt a hunter's thrill. This noble, served to him on a platter. No time to think, kill him.

Slash. Swing, swing, stab! Xin's shoulderbutt a few moments ago let him seize the initiative, and he forced Murong Zhan to stand exactly where he needed him.

Woodcutter's Downswing!

How many more hits will my chain sustain? Murong Zhan wondered, reinforcing his weapon with a golden glow as he blocked. One of the middle chakrams was already bent. Was this second attack stronger somehow? I'll run out of qi at this rate!

Woodcutter's Downswing!

Surprise! Xin pretended to target the same spot again, but switched directions and slashed at Murong Zhan's fingers. Boom, a loud sound erupted as a bright yellow light enveloped Murong Zhan and pushed both fighters away.

"One more and you are out, Zhan!" Xie Xiaodan shouted at them. In a real fight, Murong Zhan would have lost several fingers.

Meanwhile, Lei blocked Rui Ming's swipe and leaned closer to his face. 

Lava Spit! 

Swoosh! Rui Ming tried to deflect the spit that he assumed would be aimed at his face, puffing his cheeks and producing more wind. Instead, Lei spat at his saber!

Rui Ming didn't manage to blow all of the spit away, and a huge chunk of it was now stuck on his blade, melting it rapidly. Lei stepped aside for a moment, then continued attacking. If I can melt Rui Ming's blade, it's over for him!

"How the tides turn!" Rui Ming exclaimed, panting heavily. He was thrilled, someone finally actually managed to challenge him! Lei was "injured" several times at this point, and Rui Ming knew that one more serious formation trigger would count as a kill.

Windsplitter unleashed a flurry of blows, each one forcing exhausted Lei to retreat, his weary body unable to mount a counterattack. Suddenly, Lei ignited his last ember of strength and launched a desperate overhead slash. It was never meant to injure Rui Ming, though.

Snap! Rui Ming's weakened blade was dislodged from the handle!

The Windsplitter swiftly closed the distance, grappling his exhausted foe and attempting to stab him with the broken weapon. Unexpectedly, Lei drew a small knife from his left sleeve, a last-ditch effort aimed at Rui Ming's neck. 

Rui Ming blocked it with his wrist, triggering the formation and being sent back. Both warriors, barely able to stand, were now eyeing for an opening, the outcome of battle hanging uncertain.

Meanwhile, Murong Zhan couldn't break through Xin's defense, and circled around him, looking for an opening.

"Calm yourself down, Xin. Remember, wishful thinking is your greatest enemy. You wanted to escape the harsh reality of losing, so you made up a situation where your barrage of attacks knocked your opponent down. It wasn't enough, you just wish it was." — he remembered the words his father once told him after his tournament loss. "There was an opening, but you were too occupied with your fantasies to notice."

Xin snorted. Come at me, he gestured. 

In this moment, Murong Zhan was like an open book for him. First, he fought in a flashy manner, aiming to catch me off-guard. Then he tried to out-fence me, relying on his technique. Now that it didn't work, his movements betray a sign of desperation. He is running out of options. 

I know exactly what he thinks.

I am a noble. I have to constantly prove myself, thus I'll work very hard to live up to this high standard. This Xin is an upstart, I have to beat him to establish myself. Lei is trash and is losing his fight. Damn Rui Ming gave Xin an unfair advantage, I'd win otherwise!

Xin could see the frustration in his eyes, he could see himself in him. 

So, what's his next thought? 

"I'll not back down! I'll take him head on! I'll use my mobility, sidestep, push his weapon away instead of trying to slash it, then slice at his vital organs."

Murong Zhan side-stepped, making a feint slash at Xin's glaive, and prepared to enter Xin's grappling range, planning to push Xin's glaive aside.

What? Xin didn't fall for his feint, and calmly stepped back, raising his glaive for an overhead hit.

No, this can't be! Murong Zhan had already sped up, and Xin was aiming right where he was trying to engage!

Woodcutter's Downswing! Xin dropped a powerful attack at Murong Zhan's head, and it was too late to raise his chakram.

Boom! Murong Zhan was enveloped in a bright golden light, pushed back and thrown to the ground. 

"Popped his head like a watermelon! He's fucking dead! Eliminated!" Xie Xiaodan was gloating with pride for his student.

Xin quickly turned to Rui Ming. He was already holding Lei's blade, and pointed it at him.

Lei stared at him helplessly, his eyes bloodshot.

"Fuck me. It's over. Ahhhh..." He was in pain, and breathed heavily. "Need to deactivate this… Wait…"

He fainted. Momentarily, Huang Lingbo jumped into the circle and tapped him on the forehead.

"He'll be fine. Damn this technique… Xiaodan, tell him not to use it until he masters it. Two contribution points are yours, boys."

Xin and Rui Ming high fived, delighted.

"Thanks, brother. You carried me with that speed up."

"Lei had a strong trap card, I didn't want to take any risks and fought slower, aiming to exhaust him. It was better used on you."

"You just wanted to give me face, you would have won earlier if you spent your energy on yourself."

"I let my instinct guide me, do you think I thought about trivial matters like 'saving face'? There was only me, and the blade in my hands."

"Well, not anymore. I melted it, hehe." Wu Lei commented from behind. He was conscious again? "Damn, you are strong. Nice job! You owe me a drink, Windsplitter!" He gasped for air.

"That doesn't follow! Why would I owe you a drink, Wu Lei?!"

"Because I need to drink my sorrows away! Let's get drunk before they close the kitchens for the night!"

The night, Xin remembered. He gulped.