Chapter 19: Chap 19

“-and Shi (stone/rock) Xin (heart).”

 

I stride confidently into the ring amidst the indifferent gaze of my fellow juniors and seniors. To these talent-maniacs who cling desperately to their delicate pride, I am but a cultivator in the second level of Qi forming stage because of my age. These eyes of mockery are a common sign. However, today, there is less disdain to be felt. Whirling within those eyes are half-assed expectation and contemplation. The reason for the change is right in front of me.

 

“Start!”

 

The first time she entered this ring, no shortage of whispering insults was thrown at her. Fast forward to the present, the only assholes that were still opened were trash-talkers. To have tossed their words over their head, she is an outliner.

 

I channel the qi within my abdomen. With the floodgate opened, the invisible qi courses into my qi vessels. Strengthened by the power of qi, my qi skin and flesh shine the colour of earth, my primary element.

 

Yin Lin is an idiot. He should have played safe and fortified his qi skin. Just look at her stance. They are wide open like a trap. Couldn’t he realise such an obvious thing? No, he couldn’t. He is just an average cultivator with an average cultivation. He didn’t have to spend sunny days as well as rainy days meticulously refining his techniques or martial arts to keep up with his peers. How can he understand the finer points of the sword or fists like someone as talentless like me. He didn’t have the experience nor the diligence to do so.

 

Dong Yun An. I respect you. I know why you had won. For someone without talent, you won not by qi but by skills. You understand martial arts and techniques, and you used it to your advantage. Yin Lin’s only thought was his Lightning slash would flash over you like lightning. He couldn’t have fathomed you could time perfectly to throw him over the shoulder.

 

I would have done the same if I was you. We are so much alike, which is why you won’t defeat me. I have more experience than you, and I have more time to practice techniques than you. Your trick won’t work against me.

 

One motion of the legs brings me directly in front of her. As if knowing my mind, her slower left hand reaches out to my protruding fist.

 

Very good, but I knew that.

 

I retract the right hand to deliver a gut punch with the left fist.

 

Her sword hand, in response, switches from forward to reverse grip while keeps moving to intercept my attack. The motion tells me her intention of pushing my fist away with the sword hilt.

 

I am unsure if this is clever or stupid. She got her sword ready. She could just strike at me. My qi skin would render the sharp edge useless, but an upward diagonal strike could mess up my trajectory. Why didn’t she do that? She couldn’t possibly believe that would harm me, couldn’t she?

 

That thought makes me a bit pissed, and the attack goes forth with my full strength.

 

A dull thump confirms I landed a hit, but I can guarantee she is barely hurt. While the sword hilt didn’t shift my fist out of the way entirely, she rotated her torso to the left and let my fist slip through. It was not a clean miss, hence the sound, but my qi should have done more than the sound implied.

 

With the sword in reserve grip, she brings the edge down to my shoulder .

 

Maybe this is why she chose to use the hilt to intercept. If so, good move. Unfortunately, it won’t work.

 

Gathering qi to the left shoulder, the qi skin shines even brighter. Facing such force of qi, the blade produces a sound like a stick beats into a bundle of cloth. It manages a raised eyebrow from her. I guess she didn’t think of this outcome.

 

Immediately followed up with a punch from the dominant hand, I got a good hit on her. She was blown back one tile, and would have been more if it wasn’t for her gripping onto my striking hand.

 

Her right hand abandons the sword for my elbow. I know what she is planning to do next. She wants to throw me over head.

 

Good plan, but that won’t work. Someone who hasn’t use qi before wouldn’t understand it, but cultivators can use qi to stick to any surface. We can climb a cliff, land on a slippery branch, or run up a wall. I still haven’t been able to do any of those since controlling qi in somewhere as far as the feet is difficult. However, I can stick so tightly on the ground as if I am weighing a hundred kilos. You w-

 

Why did my world turn upside down?

 

“That’s enough.” That’s senior master Fang Yun’s voice.

 

I feel other hands touching me. Ah. Senior master Fang Yun is holding me at my hip and shoulder.

 

Dong Yun An then gently assists the senior master in putting me down.

 

“Eh? Senior master. Why did you interfere?”

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“Are you telling me you want to continue?”

“I mean my qi skin can protect me just fine. The wound couldn’t be serious enough for you to stop the fight.”

 

That’s the truth. While I didn’t go out of my way to protect my head, I always maintain a minimum layer of qi skin to protect me.

 

“That’s not what I am concerned about.”

 

Then why?

 

“Will you continue with that?” 

 

He pointed at… Eh? Why does my arm look like this? Hurt. It hurts.

 

“Ah!!”

 

I grab my limp arm, squeezing my biceps. My bone. My arm bone.

 

Senior master put a hand on my shoulder. In a moment, the pain was gone.

 

“Go get it treated.” Then he announces. “Dong Yun An, win.”

 

I scurry away like a beaten dog.

 

No. I am a beaten dog. So much for experience, diligence, and seniority. I shouldn’t have talked shit before the deed is done.

 

Look at these high-and-mighty bastards snickering at me. Yeah, right. I deserve it. I thought I would be better than them. I am just as bad for looking down on her. Fuck me!

 

“Shi Xin.” Who is calling me from behind? I don’t recognise this voice.

 

Dong Yun An?

 

“I am sorry.”

 

Now that you have beaten me, you show sympathy. Yeah, I am really pitiful, aren’t I? Plus, it will make you look good. It’s just the rights of the victor.

 

“I hurted you because I didn’t pay attention to details. I had intended to end our fight like that with Yin Lin, but I ended up causing more damage than necessary. I could have crippled you. Whether what I did is intentional or unintentional, it is a bad thing. For that, I am sorry.”

 

Still, it’s really annoying.

 

“Why are you saying this to me?” She doesn’t reply nor does she get up from her bowing posture. “It’s just an injury. Any fight can result in injury. Why do you find the need to apologise? I don’t need your “sorry”. You’ve beaten me. I don’t want to see you. Just leave me alone.”

“Then can I be honest?”

“What? Sure. Whatever.” Let me see what you want to say.

“Regardless how pretentious it seems, I will apologise for it. Even if it isn’t making you feel better, it is necessary as an admonition to myself. Forgetting to say “thank you” or “sorry” once or twice can turn into a habit, and I don’t want to.”

 

So it’s not only for me but also for her huh? Fuck you, Yun An.

 

“Just leave me alone!”

 

She did it for herself… but at least she felt far less pretentious than all the pity I have received in my life.

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