"So much for the fallen orphan. He is good, but his rage blinds him." Hantian chimed up.
"Hmph, it doesn't matter whom he faces. My son is going to win either way." The village chief grunted.
"Min Jidan vs. Min Mei Bing. "
„Min Mei Bing, just give up. You are just another steppingstone, meant to be stepped on by prodigies like myself." The runes, engraved on the sword, glowed red.
"Min Jidan. Don't think you won already." The teenager with thick eyebrows took in a serious stance. The fists in front of his chest, like a boxer.
"Min Jidan! Min Jidan!" The crowd wildly called his name which made Mei Bing clench his fists even more and Jidan's smile wider.
'Blazing Sword 2nd strike!'
'Furious Fire Fist!'
Bang*
The two collided, and took a step back from the impact.
A cut crossed the barehanded fighters' fist.
"Ha-ha. Only someone like you, Mei Bing, can give me a drive. As an honorable gift, have a taste of my blazing swords real power." Jidan went mad, seeing his sword being deflected. He had never needed to slash a second time.
'Blazing Sword 3rd strike!'
Min Mei Bing had only gained a standing, when Jidan jumped right in front of him. He had a pale face, feeling the scorching flame of the blade. In panic he threw his fist with all his might to deflect the sword.
Slash*
"Argh!" A cleaved arm fell to the ground together with the owner.
"Big accomplishment of a high rank sword skill!" Min Shiled said surprised. It felt like it happened yesterday when he witnessed the Blazing Swords' 3rd strike,' slashed by Min Jidans' older brother in his first tournament. It was unstoppable and left a melted scar on stage.
Those who heard him sucked in a cold breath.
Min Mei Bing's 'Fiery Dragon Fist 'had also reached a major progress, but the difference between middle and high-level skills was just too big. Besides that, the sword used by his opponent was no ordinary sword but a low mortal tier weapon.
"Jidan wins. MEDICS!" The main judge called out for after inspecting the defeated.
After the wounded was brought of stage the main judge looked at Jidan. "We will hold a short break."
"No need. I will strike the iron while it's hot." Jidan mocked. He did not want to waste any more time. As his last opponent had only broken through to the 3rd stage and wasn't even in the same Realm as him, he felt disappointed and wronged by the tournament. The victory would only be half as great in his mind as destroying Shao Hop.
"What about…" The earlier turned his head, only to see that Luo Si already made her way on stage.
"There is no difference in winning now or later." She countered. She felt the same as the sword wielder. Stalling for time might have been her old self, but now was different.
Though, when she reached the end of the stage, an untraceable wind whispered in her ear.
"Lose and you will earn some gold."
She was stopping for a second and knitted her brows. 'Oho, trying to bribe me. You are a century too late for that!'
"Arrogant!"
"Does she not know Mount Tai?!" People were enraged by the Martial Learners comment.
"Min Jidan! Min Jidan!"
The village chief smirked, witnessing the crowd moved by his son's lead. Yet his smile froze after inspecting his son's final opponent up close.
He had not seen it at first, but when the little girl went on stage, he recognized the servant mark on her hand.
'So, you knew she would win against the shao child. You made me lose face, but my son will make you lose even more.' The chief thought before opening his mouth.
"Hantian, you are really lucky to have picked such a fine servant. Since you trust her so much, why don't we hold a bet of 500 gold?"
"500 Gold? Don't think I don't know what you are doing." Many had not noticed, but Hantian perceived a mental fluctuation formed by Min Song. As a strong and calculative businessman, he could determine the chances of his servant winning were low.
He was about to decline the preposterous offer in annoyance, when he saw the corner of Luo Si's mouth hook up. He did not know what the girl was thinking, but decided to give her a chance. She had exceeded his expectations with everything she has done so far. He didn't even expect her to reach the finals.
"Hmm, alright. Since you are the village chief, I should give you some face. But as a member of the Fu, 500 Gold is too little to bet. How about a five thousand gold?"
Min Song was a bit surprised at Hantian's counter offer, but his smile only grew wider, hearing that he would get ten times the amount he asked for. "Heh, that's more like it." He could already hear the coins rustle.
"The 49th final shall now begin!" The main judge personally stood on the edge of the stage to start the battle.
"Hah, the win is already mine." Jidan explosively flew onto Luo Si with an enflamed sword.
Swish* Crack*
The ground cracked from the impact, but the big blade missed Luo Si by two inches as she dodged. She used the time her competitor needed to retract his sword and kicked his sides.
"Grr, you bitch!" Min Jidan frantically swung his sword, but missed again as Luo SI slid backwards after her kick. The kick was not enough to move the sword wielder, as she could only used the strength of a 3rd stage martial learner. What she lacked in strength Luo Si made up with finesse, hitting a joint which resulted in a widened time frame until the second attack arrived. It gave Luo Si enough time to evade.
'Blazing Sword second strike!'
Swish* Teng*
The strikes missed again and again as the target did not stop in her momentum.
Pah* Pah*
After every 3-5 sword slashes Luo Si would retaliate with a punch or kick, using the exploding impact to maintain her momentum and dodging the sword in every direction.
"Argh, hold still you peasant!" Min Jidans eyes turned red realizing that the battle had turned into a cat and mouse catch game. He used the movement skill exploding the heavens to catch up, but Luo Si would instantly change her course when he did.
"How can this be! She is just playing with Jidan, while running away from him. Does she have no dignity?!" The people went mad seeing the prognosed winner chase his prey.
One of the Japanese weebs hollered up in astonishment. "Is this the legendary kito-ninge~?"
A vein popped on the chiefs' head. His smile vanished and his eyes tightened. He took a quick peak at Hantian. The latter immersed in his favored battle did not notice Min Song pinching out a finger.
Zing*
"Ah!" Hong Luo SI stopped in her tracks after being hit by something. Her vision went fizzy for a moment. Like being hit in the back before she died in the past.
"Got you!" Jidan yelled in excitement.
Slash*
A big black cut appeared on a defending arm and hot blood seeped out.
"Yeah! Kill that bitch." The crowd cheered after the sword finally hit.
Luo SI didn't listen to anything the crowed said and stood still. A switch had flipped inside her mind after the foreign power intervened.
The referee had not realized what happened and let the match continue as it was, surprised by Luo Si sudden slip.
"Ha-ha, come on, run some more for me." Min Jidan braced his sword for the next attack, when suddenly 3 strong stomps loudly echoed on stage.
Boom* Boom* Boom*
The field cracked up like a '7' around the chiefs' son.
His eyes widened when Luo Si disappeared from his field of view and only the tribune where his father sat could be seen.
Cold sweat ran down his back, when he felt a pair of killer eyes fall on his back.
"Ready for round 2?" A voice, not belonging to an unfazed girl, but a dedicated predator whispered in his ears.