[I'm f*cked. This emperor is so shrewd.]
By the banquet hall were the nobles of the capital city all gathered by the summon of the emperor, and there, countless nobles chatted with each other. And some, to Kazein.
"I heard you are Shiyi the lightning blade. Please do consider joining my clan, it's one of the most humblest ones there are." A noble said.
"My, you jest. Shiyi of the lightning blade isn't meant to be contained. He is meant for greatness. My family trained great men for generations since the 218th dynasty. I'm sure he can find it better there." One noble cut in.
Kazein had a fake smile and a fake laugh.
"All right everyone! Shiyi here must be tired. But before he shall retire to his room, let me take this moment to introduce him once more. Shiyi of the lightning blade joined the army under direct order from my own daughter, Qin Xia. He fought against 50 Oars warriors single handedly and protected my daughter, not only that. He also led the attack and bolstered the morales of our red wing order and won against the odds." The emperor paused as he called Kazein on stage. "He is to join the academy and learn our country's ways, as you know by now. By his name, he has lost his memories, thus not knowing his real name or where he came from. But he does know one thing, the Oars mercenaries is also his enemy. And Ang is definitely one of them. He fought him directly and lost. But still managed to cut off his fingers and save the general Gao Jun and escape with heads intact. If I should let my daughter speak a thing or two about someone she herself has scouted." Then, he gave the stage to Qin Xia.
Kazein who still couldn't understand the native tongue, could guess by the patterns that they were speaking about him.
"Now, Shiyi is someone whom I know was a great man. So he may prepare for fighting against Ang the giant once more time come what may. He is to be joining the academy and get to know the country. If there are events where the royal family must participate, Shiyi shall represent in our stead. I believe some here do not believe he fought against Ang the giant and survived." Qin Xia smiled as her eyes closed and tilted her head.
"Princess lady jests. None shall---"
"Of course we have our doubts! How can a blind dude face against Ang the Giant and survived? I bet it was the general who saved him at all!" A voice plummeted across the audience of nobles.
"Oh my. Lord Cang Lan. Please do contain your attitude." Qin Xia responded to his seemingly angry voice. "Why don't we liven up this banquet and have the two exchange pointers?"
"I agree!"
"Let the two fight!"
"Hey! Contain yourselves!"
"Let the doubts clear out by letting their abilities do the talking!"
Like this, the nobles start arguing, until the emperor silenced then with a dense aura of suppression. "The two shall have a mock battle. The first to make the opponent give up or render them unfit for battle wins. Any... Objections?!"
They all went silent. The suppression aura of the emperor was amazing itself.
Qin Xia went over to Kazein. "Shiyi, to make them all believe your strength and so as to prevent trouble in the future. Go all out. I know you're not all that well, but Cang Lan is only at the 2nd stage of the enlightened road. But his path is the evolved form of earth magic, dust magic."
"Don't worry about me. I more or less can sense their magic types after my field seems to have gotten a lot more function." Kazein replied.
"Is that so? Then go beat him up." Qin Xia patted his shoulder and had him up the center.
"I shall be the judge of this duel. There shall be no killing nor crippling your enemy, fatal wounds and grave injuries are also not allowed. Any objections?" The emperor stated.
"None your majesty." Cang Lan replied.
Kazein just nodded his head. The emperor then dropped a piece of cloth on the ground. By the time it reaches the floor, Cang Lan has already made a small maelstrom that is made from the dust magic he had. It spun so fast that it might as well made some heat in the hall. Just when it was about to hit Kazein, he laughs, he launches it, as it approached in a high speed, it soon dissipated as it hit the barrier made by the other nobles. It was then that Kazein appeared to the eye and used the sheathed sword to hit Cang Lan down to the ground. The rebound made Cang Lan's middle aged body bounce up. Kazein caught his shirt's back and threw him away. As Cang Lan flew through the air, Kazein threw countless hidden blades from somewhere in his body.
It was impossible to dodge mid air, so Cang Lan made a fortified sand barrier blocking the blades, however, these weren't enough to contain all the blades. After a short while, the barrier broke and the blades went through. Impaling Cang Lan's body.
The nobles were shocked by these events. Cang Lan wasn't weak, and to see him get defeated in one fell swoop. It's too much.
Cang Lan was just about to get on his feet when a short sword was pointed directly to his face.
"That's enough! Shiyi wins!" The emperor's voice screamed out.
Kazein took back the short sword into his sleeve and recovered the fallen blades and the| ones impaled unto Cang Lan.
"Bastard." Cang Lan whispered into Kazein's ears.
Kazein didn't react, he just clicked his tongue and left.
"Shiyi. You didn't even let him fight back."
"Hmph. Just to show the difference of power."
The nobles went towards Kazein while laughing and praising his victory.
"Shiyi. You live up to your title. Your blades are as fast as lightning! Why don't you join my clan for those specializing in speed?" One noble offered.
"No no no. A clan is meant to suppress him. Why not join the West wind sect? It's sure to welcome you." Another offered.
However, Kazein just turned them down.
"Everyone, Shiyi still has many things he wants to do. Why not let him decide after we defeat Raphan in the upcoming wars?" Qin Xia proposed.
"A brilliant idea!"
"Princess Qin is wise."
The nobles let go of the matter and went on with their celebration. After quite some time, they all went home and retired for the night.
Kazein also went to his room after having a little chat with Qin Xia.
That night, at his room. He opened the window and "I feel it again. It's her."