AKITO
He didn't have time to think of the counter-attack for the whip, the only thought which came into him was to save the innocent, he quickly rushed his Qi in his hands as he stepped in front of the couple and caught the swinging whip.
The malignant Qi of the Imperial weapon spread throughout his palm into his arm as his own Qi started counter measuring it, but he could still feel the burn in his right hand as the rope tied around him. The crowd surrounding them gasped as they witnessed a person so casually catch an Imperial weapon. This was a sight you do not witness every day.
Ichihara was annoyed that his strike did not reach his target. He pulled the whip towards him. But Aki knowing this did not let go he held on despite the burn, not letting the man take it back.
"Nandayo! (Bloody Hell!) Let go." The man spoke with venom directing at Aki but he did not let go. Now that he was involved, he would not let a weapon less man get ripped apart by this fool.
Before Akito could reply a new voice came through the crowd.
"Yamete! (Stop it) What do you think you're doing?" A soft melodic voice pierced through the crowd as a hush fell upon them.
A young woman dressed in best robes Akito has ever seen stepped out of the crowd with a scowl in her face. Aki has seen many beauties during his travel with his master but she set the bar higher than anyone. Her skin was tad darker than Aki's, a little bit tanned but it was smooth and shiny. Her ebony locks fell to her waist with few of them reaching her dark brown eyes almost covering them. Those eyes held power to ensnare anyone and they locked on him.
"Weapon usage outside of the fighting arena is prohibited in Mount Haven, Ichihara-san put down the Imperial Whip." The sharp voice which was laced with annoyance made Akito crash back to reality. He tsked and let the whip loose, the man pulled it back annoyed.
"Misaki-san, I was just retaliating for the attack on my person."
"Attack? Who would dare to openly attack a young lord in Mount Haven." Misaki asked albeit a bit shocked.
She has not witnessed what has happened, only saw the idiot hero over there catching the whip. Misaki knew at that moment she needed to intervene as a member of the founding families of Mount Haven. Mount Haven was established by the three founding families and Tokugawa's were one of them. The current leader of the mountain was Misaki's grandfather.
"That women over their tried to seduce me and when I rejected her, she tried to attack me and smeared dirt all over me."
Misaki rolled her eyes, thinking why did she have to get involved with haughty lords. Day was bad enough that she was scolded by her father and now she had to deal with this. With an irritated scowl she turned towards the girl and the boy on the ground.
"Fighting in any place other than the fighting pits is prohibited in the mountain, you will be punished accordingly."
Misaki's statement was followed by a sob which came out of the girl as fresh tears poured out. She hated the over display of emotions the girl was putting, showing one's weakness to anyone was foolishness, disgusted by the scene in front of her she was already regretting coming this way.
"Are you not going take statement from both sides before passing the judgement?"
A strong voice snapped her out of her reverie. Misaki almost forgot about the boy. The reason she got involved in this in the first place. Doing a once over she can already say he was a higher level cultivator, there was this presence around him which screamed power.
Narrowing her eyes at the boy she hissed out, "I have not passed the judgement yet."
Misaki looked back at the girl and the boy in the floor and internally scolded herself once again to getting involved in this scuffle.
"What's there to know about, I said the truth." Ichihara shouted as Misaki turned towards him surprised.
"I will be taking stories from both sides then the judgement will be passed."
"Misaki-san, you do not have any authority to pass the judgement." Ichihara hissed at her and Misaki was appalled by such horrifying behaviour which was unbecoming of a family like Kyotaro's. She will need to report this to her brother.
"Yes, you are right but as the granddaughter of the leader of this mountain and also being one of the members of the founding families, I have every right to break a fight happening in this mountain." Misaki's sharp eyes were pointedly glaring at him to back off.
"Speak now, speak your piece or forever withhold it as I pass my judgement."
The girl remained mum sobbing quietly, why wasn't she speaking for herself. It was a chance, foolish women like this one won't survive long. When the girl remained silent it was the boy or probably her brother who spoke.
"My sister did not seduce anyone. It was Ichihara-sama who first tried to make a move at her. When she refused, he tried to use force. Physically pulling her, only then did my sister retaliate and he fell on the ground. It was not a fight but self-defence."
"Lies, such liars. Let's see if you have anyone to prove that you are telling the truth." Looking around the crowd gathered Ichihara spoke, "Can anyone support this statement given by him. Me a young lord of Kyotaru family who was raised in proper manners, attack a girl that too one so weak is ridiculous."
Not even a single person spoke up to support the boy. Aki had not witnessed what has happened before he came out of the hall, he had no right to support or negate the statement. He could only remain silent.
"Look, no one is believing him. He is a liar and liars should be punished." Ichiharu spoke again more confidently now that he had the crowd support.
The young man looked anguished around everyone who were not meeting his eyes. "Cowards, filthy cowards. All of you." He screamed at them.
Annoyed by the man insulting them few people who were supporting Ichiharu spoke up.
"Who are you calling coward. It's your fault that you could not control your sister that doesn't mean you can besmirch our name."
"Yeah, who do you think you are, trying to drag the Ichiharu-sama's name through mud."
A chorus of yesses could be heard around the crowd. Misaki looked at the boy who was standing there silently with his fist clenched. She wondered why wasn't he speaking up when he had got involved and made a mess.
"I can support his statement." A voice spoke up from among the crowd.
The crowd parted away as a young man dressed in green yellow silk robes stepped in. The robe had the crest of Fujii clan a dragon twisted on a sword.
In this realm of cultivation, there were five major sects for cultivation and many smaller sects which answer to the above five.
Among the five one of the oldest sects is Mount Haven followed by the Fujii sect. Fujii sect was formed by the Fujii clan and they still are the rulers of the sect. Flame sect which was mentioned by the cultivators in the restaurant were Akito ate is a very recently formed one.
"The man is telling the truth. I, Yamato Fujii present myself as the impartial party here having no personal relationships or agendas with both the sides, Misaki-san can take my statement into consideration."
The man spoke with an air of confidence that no one dared to refuse and if that wasn't enough, the clan that he belonged to had even Ichihara back down nervously.
Misaki debated with the idea of involving a third party. But the man was right he could give the impartial statement.
"As Yamato-san said he is the impartial party here, I will take his word on it and pass the judgement. Does everyone agree to that?"
Misaki asked and she looked around the crowd for any opposition. One of the Ichihara's lackeys looked like he wanted to protest but he was stopped by his lord himself.
Ichihara already knew who this man was, not that he was afraid of him but his father had warned him not to go against the Fujii clan.
Irritated by the turn of events, he swore an oath in his mind that he will get his revenge whenever he gets a chance and the little pest down there, he will see to it that she never becomes a cultivator. With that he held the silence as a Misaki-san passed the verdict.
"Ichihara Kyotaro you are to go to Golden Lion Pavilion to meet officer Yasuko Shimura and receive your punishment appropriately. As for both of you, I humbly apologize on behalf of Mount Haven Sect for the uncomfortable incident that you had to suffer. As a compensation let me offer you two weapons that may help you in your future adventures."
Misaki bowed and gave her apology and hoped that this scene would be over. It was no big deal giving away two weapons, there was an abundance in their mountain anyway.
The brother and sister bowed back and thanked her profusely for the generous gift. Ichihara was annoyed beyond anything; the two peasants were awarded whereas he was insulted publicly. His hands were itching to strike someone but he held himself back. He will get retribution for this insult.
As he turned to move away, he looked at the boy who stopped his Devourer's Whip (name of the Imperial Weapon). This was a formidable enemy and he need to squish him soon. He had humiliated not only him but also his family's heirloom.
Akito kept one ear out on the on goings around him and half of his mind was concentrating in pumping his Qi to his injured hand hoping to ease the burn. But nothing much was happening even though his Qi was flowing through his palm the malignant Qi was still pulsing and showed no signs of receding. He has to come up with a solution fast or he might be compromised in tomorrow's competition.
"If I were you, I would watch my back." A voice whispered right beside him, he turned to his right to look at Yamato Fujii standing right by him looking straight ahead. Aki followed his sight and saw Ichihara and his lacky's glaring at him. The guy sneered at him and marched away.
"You should do something about your hands", saying that Yamato went away. Aki stood their contemplating what should he do about his hands. He had few herbs with him that may slow the Qi down that was his best bet now.
Misaki looked at the dispersing crowd and at the boy who was now walking away from her. She can't believe someone would be stupid enough to catch a weapon with bare hands. If he was hurt then it serves him right. Just an idiot trying to be a hero.
Misaki huffed and she also walked away towards her pavilion. Just as she was passing the Eokler tree, she heard the same old giggle. Misaki groaned as she turned towards the tree.
"Asami-chan you were here the entire time." Just as she expected, there sitting like an angel was Asami Shimura in her white hanbok with her fan hiding her giggles. Misaki just knew she was sitting there the entire time enjoying her torment.
"Yes, my dear Misa-chan." Asami spoke as she jumped down smoothly without even making a small sound. The few passers-by were startled by her sudden appearance.
"And you didn't think you could have helped me in this." Misaki asked petulantly.
"Now why would I do that, where's the fun in that." She giggled as she skipped beside her. Misaki rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"You are annoying, this situation would not have occurred if you would have interfered."
"And miss our hero in action, no way I already saw him walking by. I expected him to interfere and I was not disappointed." Asami spoke with mirth.
"Both of you are idiots."
"Mmm…. is that fondness I hear in those words." Asami spoke again with an evil glint in her eyes which made Misaki gulp.
"No....go away Asami. I don't have energy for you today."
"More the reason I should stick with you.....c'mon Misa-chan, let's go pluck some fruits. Life is beautiful and we shall enjoy it." Misaki groaned and followed her hoping Asami won't be scheming anymore today.
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KOJI
"That was very impressive master. I have never seen anyone catching an Imperial weapon with their bare hands."
A young cultivator standing beside his master on the top floor of Otaro Hall was in awe with the display he just saw happened down there. His master who was calmly sipping her tea didn't respond to him for some time, she looked to be in deep thought. The disciple patiently waited for his master. At last, his master spoke calmly explaining to him.
"Mmm... The trick is in the Qi control. The strength of your Qi is the main factor and it saved him from getting severely hurt."
"But even then, it must have injured him, it's going to spread, isn't it master."
The disciple spoke sounding dejected. He quite liked the young fellow who stood up for those who needed help unlike the rest who were present.
"Yes, ancient weapons like that have old suppressed Qi, that cannot be defeated by the likes of that boy." His face fell even more as his master spoke about the fate of the young boy.
"It's a pity. Such a talented young man has to die."
"It's a pity..... indeed." His Master spoke to him but she looked as if her thoughts were far-far away from here.
"Izumi-san, Kijuro-sama has asked for you regarding the weapons for the competition." The young cultivator woman of Otaro Hall spoke to them as she stood behind them bowing to the senior. Placing the small tea cup down his master stood up with a refined grace.
"Come Koji, we must go now."
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