Chapter 13- A Local Snake

The shadows lengthened with the setting sun. Then they consumed the mercenary cultivators.

“You are only level six. You are doing something weird to your breath, but I can still tell. You are just a goddamn level six junior!” The spearman’s voice came slow but gathered momentum as he spoke.

Tian sighed silently behind the straw helmet. The old men had made their choice.

“True.”

“That wasn’t some divine art you used either. You distracted us and used a hidden weapon!” The spearman snarled, fear turning to fury.

“Also true.”

“Old White Fan killed with a hidden weapon. The gods must be laughing.” The sword and shield cultivator shook his head, but he had his shield up. He started shifting to the side, making ready to pincer Tian.

“This Monk wouldn’t know, Benefactor.”

“Tell you what, monk. I’ll give you a gift. A chance to meet the gods yourself!” The spearman roared and charged forward. The spearhead twisting and diving for him. Tian threw his staff at the old man, who batted it aside with contempt, not interrupting his rhythm of attacks.

“An art carrying aspects of Metal and Water. Not special, but well honed. He’s spent his life fighting.” Tian stepped into the spearman’s attack. His palms met the shaft of the spear and guided it away from his body. The spearman recovered and thrust again and again, but each time it was deflected.

The old man had lived through many calamities. Tian was sure of that. He had spent decades making his way in the brutal world of the rivers and lakes. Perhaps he had even made a name for himself.

Tian could read him like an open book. Decades of experience, and they wouldn’t be nearly enough.

Tian slapped the spearpoint down into the flagstones and stomped on the head. His palm flashed out and struck at the man’s chest. The old monster was quick enough to twist his body away, shedding some of the blow. He dropped the spear and staggered backwards coughing blood and desperately pouring a powder down his throat.

Tian felt a rush coming from behind him, forcing him to dodge and miss the finishing blow.

“OLD SPEAR!” The other mercenary came charging in, trying to slam Tian with his shield. The sword was low, ready to stab.

“Sin Breaking Palm! He knows the-” The rest was lost as the old man vomited more blood. Chunks of something sold came out with all the red.

The swordsman placed himself between Tian and the puking spearman. “Any more surprises, Monk? Any more little tricks? Come, show your grandfather all you’ve got!”

Tian looked coldly at the swordsman. Tian had one father and one grandfather. This… person… was not fit to join them. Tian moved in with an explosive lunge, then cut over towards the mercenary’s sword hand.

His brothers had trained him well. Shields were still powerful weapons at the Earthly Realm. How irresponsible would it be to not know how to manage a fight against a shielded enemy?

“Fool!” The mercenary stabbed at Tian, jabbing at his gut. It wasn’t an art. It didn’t have to be. Endlessly trained muscle coiled behind the blade which exploded forward in a tight, lighting quick line. The shield was up and extended away from the swordman’s body, blocking Tian’s vision while letting the man stab accurately.

The mercenary’s strike was seamless. Attack and defense perfectly combined. Better than that, it was what Tian’s sparring partners had taught him- at the highest levels of mastery, attack and defense were the same thing. This mercenary would have earned approving nods from them, Tian was sure of it.

Only nods, though. The swordsman might have a small name amongst wandering cultivators, but that was it.

The brothers who trained Tian were legends. The strike was perfect. And missed.

The arts flowed from Tian effortlessly. Light Body, for a single step to the side of the shield, and a light hop into the air. The shield was a large oval with an iron boss in the center. There was a luster to the wood that said it wasn’t some ordinary goods. That was fine. Even better, really.

Tian tightened his legs under him, and as he started falling, lashed out with a kick to the top edge of the shield. Leverage did its nasty work. The top edge of the shield smashed down on the swordman’s forehead, wrenching the shield hand in the process. Tian used the momentary contact with the shield to flip and drive a heel kick down on the head of the stunned swordsman.

The mercenary staggered back, not dead yet but feeling the damp of the Yellow Springs on his feet. Glassy eyes that struggled to focus quickly filled with blood as his forehead bled where the shield edge cut it.