v4c61: A Powerful Charm

“And there it is! A masterclass in the Fulmination Arts! But is being textbook enough to lead to ultimate victory?” The announcer shouted as another victor raised his fist to the cheers of the crowd.

 

Bi De had to admit, he could see where the cultivators were coming from with this whole tournament thing. He had known that Tigu had enjoyed it, at least when she was fighting, or in the parties afterwards, but hadn’t especially enjoyed the watching part. But to Bi De’s surprise he was finding even watching enjoyable.

 

With Yushang he was analyzing the combatants’ strengths and weaknesses, wondering what he would have done against the same opponent… and winning money from bets.

 

Yushang was pouting fiercely as Bi De glanced over. He held out his hand, and another silver coin clinked into it—she had swiftly gone from thirty silver as a bet to a single piece.

 

“Three exchanges,” Yushang bet hopefully, looking to Bi De as the next set went up.

 

Bi De studied them intently. “Four,” he replied.

 

Yushang slumped and Bi De sat back in his seat with a smile on his face, taking in the atmosphere.

 

The cheers of the crowd, testing one’s strength against a worthy foe, the Qi in the air, and, of course, the promise of a prize at the end. It was a fine way to spend time; he should actually see about organizing a tournament amongst the disciples of Fa Ram. Perhaps not quite as violent as this, but something that they could all do together. And if they didn’t wish to fight, perhaps a cooking tournament? His Great Master had mentioned one of those before, the indomitable men of cooking, the Iron Chefs.

 

The one black mark was the amount of damage some disciples inflicted on each other. Combat was always dangerous, but he didn’t like just how easily they went for blows that could possibly kill their fellow disciples.

 

But he supposed this was the way of the world outside of Fa Ram.

 

Indeed, the match was finished in four exchanges, and Yushang put another silver coin in his palm.

 

“Next! Bolai Chenguang versus Yan Xiping!” That had Bi De sitting up and taking notice as Chenguang, one of Zang Sheng’s companions, took to the field. The woman with her veil and glaive radiated strength, and she was at the Fourth Stage of the Profound Realm—the same as the man that had been with the Young Master, Xie Shaoquing.

 

There was something off about the Young Master. Despite his mercy to the disciple he had defeated, Bi De could tell that had not been the man’s desire. His eyes were too full of contempt for that. Now, Bi De could have been mistaken, the Young Master’s aura leading him astray… but he was certain that such kindness did not come naturally to the man.

 

“Two blows,” Bi De said before Yushang could say anything.

 

The bout started. The woman’s eyes were cold and hard. Every muscle was bunched in her shoulders.

 

Yet she too held back and defeated her opponent with ease… though it took more than the two exchanges which Bi De had predicted.

 

Yushang cheered as she got some of her money back.

 

Well, Bi De supposed it was better than what had been done to his own Master by members of his own former sect. It did not matter if such restraint was under duress… only that they were showing it.

 

Bi De let himself relax slightly.

 

And then it was Bi De’s turn. His opponent, Luochu Ming, was an Outer Disciple, the older man looking bitter at having to face Bi De.

 

It was an utter mismatch, with the man being at the First Stage of the Profound Realm, and both of them knew it.

 

The rooster briefly considered ‘pulling a Xiulan’ as Tigu put it and simply pushing his opponent out of the arena without harming them… but Bi De knew that this would be a mistake. It would not be seen as a kindness. It would be seen as an insult. An insult to his opponent’s skill, to his power, and to his techniques.

 

It would be an abject humiliation, and something that would turn this man against him for the rest of his life.

 

So instead, after Bi De bowed to his opponent, he took him seriously. His first kick was a powerful blow, but without any intent to truly harm his opponent behind it.

 

Ming’s eyes widened slightly, and then the bitterness faded, as he realised Bi De was giving him some respect—not destroying him completely and inflicting a bad injury, yet neither embarrassing him. The man inclined his head politely, and his stance firmed as he became determined to take advantage of that grace.

 

They had three exchanges before Bi De kicked aside his hands and brought his opponent low.

 

“I yield,” Ming stated. His ribs were cracked, and yet it was a comparatively minor injury.

 

Bi De nodded and that was that. The crowd cheered him on with his dominating victory, but he found Zang Sheng’s eyes upon him. The man looked utterly bored and contemptuous of Bi De’s victory.

 

Again the ill feeling returned, but Bi De shook it off.

 

Two bouts later, Yushang was called up… and her eyes began to gleam at the sight of her opponent.

 

Stolen story; please report.

“He was one of the ones who ganged up on me during initiation,” Yushang said, her eyes narrow.

 

“Oh? Well, if he required allies to deal with you then… I do not fancy his chances now,” Bi De replied.

 

Yushang turned to him and smiled. “Kiss for good luck?” she asked cheekily.

 

She clearly didn’t expect Bi De to sweep up her hand and press his lips to the back of her knuckles.

 

“Good luck,” Bi De said to her.

 

Her face flushed crimson and it looked like steam started to come out of her ears. Her gait was actually quite unsteady as she made her way into the arena.

 

“Are you ready for another thrashing, peasant?” her opponent demanded.

 

The remark snapped Yushang out of her daze. A smile crawled across her face as she raised her blade with both hands. Ascending Mountaineer seemed to shiver, the minor spirit that Fat Han had put into the blade sensing its mistress’s intent.

 

“Begin!” the announcer roared.

 

Yushang’s intent focused. Her Qi swirled around her, seeming to form snow-swept mountains.

 

[Split the Skies]

 

Her opponent’s eyes widened as Yushang moved. Her body twisted. He tried to block.

 

Tried.

 

Yusahng’s upward swing shattered her opponent’s blade, snapped both his arms, and hammered into his ribs with a sickening snap.

 

“Jiayou!” she shouted, the words normally uttered by peasants before they lifted a heavy object to give them strength.

 

The man was launched like a firework out of the arena to slam into the barriers with a crunch—and Yushang claimed the fastest victory so far over an opponent who was supposed to be her equal.