The twin sword was made out of ordinary wood, but the young teenager wielding it had unwavering will burning in his right eye. He was breathing rapidly, as he looked at the beauty in front of him. The woman who he had an arranged marriage to.
An arranged marriage was rarely fair for both sides since the love usually didn't even exist between them or just sprout in one of them. It was rarely fair because the intention was not from the one who will be married but from other parties. Only those in royalties may have a successful arranged marriage since the stake was too big.
(It was unfair to you, yes, you are a flower and I am a trash) thought Sein as he gripped both of the swords in his hand.
His figure slowly leaned forward as he readied his weapon. His eyebrows furrowed as his right eye turned sharp. Though he was having a huge disadvantage, he didn't show any hint of fear.
(Know this, I was, am, happy that my grandfather has set me up with you, the most beautiful flower I've ever seen yet. But if I were to give up just like that, that would mean spitting my grandfather, so that's why!)
"I WILL NOT LET HIS EFFORT GO IN VAIN!"
The shout gobsmacked the faces of the crowd before Sein plunged forward straight to his opponent with one narrow leap.
(That's a stupid move!) thought Nia as she smirked. Gripping her spear, she casually thrust toward the boy she was arranged marriage to.
~You are talented Sein, I see it with my own eyes. The way you swing the sword, the way you throw five daggers on a whim. The way you could quickly adapt to your surroundings. You have every chance to be the best, so don't let other people's voices kill your potential~
Grandfather Jing's voice echoed in his mind before he swung one sword down to the ground.
The dirt immediately rose and blocked her view before she felt a sting on her cheek as her fluttering hair suddenly formed a hole from an unseen force. Her eyes opened wide before she could even fathom what just happened.
Sana furrowed her eyebrows as she noticed a wooden kunai was quivering as it stuck on a nearby tree behind where Nia stood.
As the dust settled his figure was revealed. Standing on top of the point of her spear, Sein raised one leg as he pointed both swords to her with one of them being over his head.
Though the blood on his mouth had dried up, he smirked toward the young lass, "The view from here is not bad."
(With her strong cultivation levels, she didn't even feel the weight of the spear had increased because of my presence) thought Sein.
Gritting her teeth, Nia let go of her grip and let the spear being pulled by gravity. Her smart and quick thinking was not something one should underestimate.
Clenching her fist she put out a punch toward the imbalance Sein. The force from her strength was evident as the wind followed her suit, "It's over!"
Her fellow students lighten up as they saw the sight of the worst of them being destroyed.
"It's a free hit!"
"Do it!"
"Send him to hell!"
However, the sight they wanted to see didn't come. The sound of wood breaking was heard instead of bones cracking.
That's right, her punch was destroying one of the swords in Sein's hand instead of his body. In that split second where he was caught unbalance, Sein immediately thrust the weapon downward, keeping his body in the air for an instant, and an instant was all he needed.
As his sword was destroyed, Sein gritted his teeth and spun his figure as fast as he can. Gaining momentum for his other sword.
"It's over, for you!" shouted Sein as he lashed out his wooden sword against her left shoulder.
The sword immediately destroyed upon impact but Nia kept her feet. She didn't even feel the pain that Sein thought she would feel.
(You're kidding right) said Sein before he smiled wryly. This was the only chance he was betting on and he won, just not the outcome he was expecting.
Standing lifelessly, Sein looked at the incoming fist that didn't have any hint of holding back. He was beyond tired to even move and could only face it head-on. His body couldn't even prepare for the impact.
Nia opened his eyes wide as she could see Sein's mouth was moving before her fist send him flying.
*crack
The impact was heard as his chest ruptured with a loud crack before his figure was launched back several meters away. His hair covered half of his face but the smile was evident to the sun.
The students cheered as they saw Sein didn't get up this time. They chanted the flower's name like a parade but the woman furrowed her eyebrows as she saw the lying Sein.
"Winner, Nia!" Declared Sana before she touched her shoulder and said softly, "You won the match, not the fight."
Then Sana approached the lying man that was ridiculed by the others. Picking him up, she said to the others, "Continue your training, I'm going to see the psychiatrist."
Sana looked at her palms as she furrowed her eyebrows before a droplet of blood crashed on to them. Only then did she realize that her cheek was bleeding from a thin slit.
Touching her cheek, she remembered that shock she received from the unseen attack. She turned around and saw the embedded kunai on the tree behind her. Sein's voice rang in her mind as she remembered the sentence he softly muttered before she punched him out cold.
"I wish, I could cultivate."