Yijin appeared behind Matsuhiro in less than a moment. His pupils elongated like before and his eyes changed color to the bright red hue that, by now should be well known, belonged to the serpent within Yijin's meridians. The flooder of Szechuan and the one who died at the hands of Yu the Great. Xiangliu. In his right hand, was the Dark Qi Bokken that Xiangliu was so accustomed to using in Huanzhi and Yijin's body. He leaned into Matsuhiro's ear and whispered.
"Got any regrets, kid?"
He slammed the bokken with force into Matsuhiro's dominant arm from vertically downwards towards the heavens. A shout of pain was heard from Matsuhiro as his eyes widened and the veins showed at his forehead. Matsuhiro's pain was evident as his dismembered arm flew through the air and landed on the ground a few meters a way from him. He screamed in agony as his eviscerated limb twitched a few times before going limp.
Blood streamed from his wound and from the appendage that now lay on the floor. Xiangliu's distorted laugh as suddenly the Qi Bokken changed shape. A blunt weapon had caused that much damage, now what would a sharp one do? Xiangliu's Dark Qi morphed shapes and turned into a Jade Lion Gim. Faster than anyone present could see his arm was already to one side of his body. Blood suddenly spurted far and spattered the ground and Yijin's face as Matsuhiro's head fell from atop his torso.
It came to a roll as Yijin flicked his sword to one side to wring the Qi Gim dry of his enemy's blood. Kayegawa had stepped backwards during this horrifying display of power. He now stood straight and clapped sarcastically. "Subarashii (Wonderful), Master Huanzhi. You truly are deserving of your name. I never would have expected you to be at this level of qi mastery already."
"Don't ever call me by that name again, you little, insolent, Japanese brat! My name is not Huanzhi. Nor is it Yijin. You have no idea who you are dealing with, scumbag. I have no choice but to occupy this weakling's body! Never refer to me as Yijin or Huanzhi again. They do not deserve my respect. The respect of an immortal!" Xiangliu shouted in fury as he turned around. Yijin's canines had elongated and now looked like a viper's fangs.
"Sword Saints above! What the hell is this? He really is a demon!" Kayegawa shouted upon seeing Yijin's face contort to such a fashion. Kayegawa pulled his most prized possession, the Ishikiri (Stone Cutter) crafted by Kagemitsu. Xiangliu looked at the weapon for a moment before giving a sadistic grin and appearing behind Kayegawa. He spoke regarding the weapon.
"Shiny!"
Xiangliu slammed his foot into Kayegawa's back, a loud crack was heard within the executive of the Kanling Gang's body as he flew forward from the sheer force of the blow. He coughed as he flew and blood sprayed from his mouth before he landed on his chest. Kayegawa crawled a few inches before raising from the ground and spitting more of his bodily fluids onto the ground. "You'll pay for that, you little shit."
Xiangliu laughed, "No I won't!" He held his blade to one side and the two suddenly dashed forward at one another. Their blades met in the center as sparks flew. Despite the weapon that Xiangliu used being made of Qi, it was of such high quality that it was three times stronger and sharper than the Ishikiri. Xiangliu's facial expressions became even more heated as he pushed his weight onto the weapon further, but Kayegawa dodged to one side quickly and slammed a kick towards Xiangliu's ribs.
Xiangliu took it, just to get a little bit of a kick out of it, and also to annoy the hell out of Yijin. Kayegawa flipped backwards acrobatically afterwards and re-entered a hengdangbu stance with his blade. This specific Ishikiri blade had a short handle designed for a one-handed wielder and as such gave free reign to Kayegawa's Shaolin influences.
"I remember a Shaolin monk I once faced almost two thousand years ago. He was extremely comedic to watch as I flooded his body with my poison! I must confess, he truly was a master of the arts. The theatrical ones if I must say! That shadow-boxing routine has no hold over me!" Xiangliu insulted the Shaolin arts without a shred of remorse and dashed forward once more, he slashed thrice and then finished his combination with a kick to the stomach of Kayegawa.
"Damn!" An exclamation was heard from Kayegawa as he suddenly was hit with power to the abdominal region. He flew once more through the air, but this time, Yijin followed up the blow with a leap and downward kick. He slammed Kayegawa into the floor, cracking the cement beneath Kayegawa with his brute force. Kayegawa gasped for breath and held up a hand weakly. Suddenly a shout was heard from behind Xiangliu.
"Die you demon!"
Xiangliu turned and stared at the oncoming attacker. There was not one, but five extra lackeys still coming. Kayegawa pushed himself off of the ground quickly and sprinted off as quickly as he could with his limp. His face was bruised and blood poured from his chest, back, and facial orifices. "I'm no match for this monster. He wasn't even going all out! I have to call Master Lu!" Kayegawa whispered to himself as he ran.
He opened the door quickly and made for the Eastern part of the docks, Xiangliu didn't bother about chasing him. The other five henchmen charged Xiangliu and the being heartily boomed in resounding laughter. "Everybody wants to die today!"
He stepped forward and slashed seventeen times in all the cardinal directions, shadow blades emerged from his Qi Gim and encapsulated every single one of the henchmen in a circle of cuts. They feared to move as Xiangliu didn't release his skill yet. He took his time, relishing in every fearful face that was present in the ever-stupid henchmen that always seemed to love suicidal charges against impossibly strong opponents.
Finally he spoke in a sing-song voice. "♪ Say goodbye! ♪"
He released the skill and every blade sunk through the henchmen. Their bodies torn in twain and blood spattering every part of the warehouse. "Ha! Look at that mutilation! I love it so much! It's been so long since I could let out my fury on someone. I guess I have you to thank, Huanzhi! Enjoy it. Our truce only lasts while you still command your subconscious, but I'll drive you insane sooner or later! Oh the taste of blood on my Qi feels so f***ing good!"
Juanbei suddenly spoke. He transmitted his Qi through his voice. "Yijin, come out!" Yijin's body suddenly changed form once more. His eyes reverted to their regular form and his fangs sunk back into regular human canine teeth. Yijin stood stupefied. "What the fu-. Did I do this? Goddamn, Xiangliu is going insane!" Yijin a hand to his head and walked over to Juanbei. He quickly untied his master and took off the man's blindfold.
"Are you alright master?"
"I should be asking you that, Yijin. Or should I say, Huanzhi?"
"Damn, so now you know the truth. I guess that means that you know I'm your grandfather, right?"
"I am not going to recognize you as my grandfather until we meet on the immortal realm you little piece of shit!"
Yijin broke into laughter and the two walked off. Yijin had no idea that Kayegawa was still alive. The bloody mess of destroyed pelvises, dismembered limbs and torsos, eyeballs, and shattered skulls painted the scene behind them as Yijin finally spoke. "I think I'm probably going to pass out soon from the Dark Qi's control over me. Just tell me. Did I do well?"
It was a question that Huanzhi had feared to ask his past mentors before. Now his master looked at him amiably. "I think you did well, Yijin. I will continue calling you that until we both die. You might be my grandfather in blood relation, but I'm still your senior and you will treat me as such."
"Yes sifu."
Yijin bowed to his master and suddenly his eyes darkened and he fell to the ground unconscious again.
"Oh lord, now I have to carry this little shit all the way home. Ugh, what a pain in the ass with this guy. Alright then, up we go." He lifted Yijin onto his back and walked onwards, trudging on the pavement until finally breaking into flashsteps as soon as Yijin was fully unconscious. He didn't want to show Yijin that he had Physical Qi as well. It was better, for if someone knew about it, the essence of surprise that is Juanbei's martial arts would be completely compromised.
They carried on like this for about an hour before Juanbei arrived back at the martial arts academy. He dropped Yijin on the mats and faked that he had incapacitated him when some younger people walked by. He wanted to attract clients using Yijin's unconscious body. A telepathic message was conveyed to him through Yijin's internal Qi.
"I may be unconscious, but I can still feel you're up to no good. Stop that shit right now."
Juanbei paled and halted his attacks. He placed Yijin on the cot in the back office and lit a cigarette. Juanbei inhaled deeply, his soft sigh accentuating the aesthetic of his build and the office itself. The dim lighting, neon signs flickering every now and then, and the smoke from his cigarette slowly wafting out the open back door. Juanbei kept a close watch on Yijin, occasionally checking his breath and watching for any signs of Dark Qi overtaking him completely. Luckily this had not occurred yet.
Juanbei provided lessons to some students that night as scheduled. When the children asked where Yijin was, Juanbei stated that he was sleeping in the office. Everyone laughed and called him a lazy bum. Juanbei whimpered awaiting a Qi message from Yijin, but surprisingly there was no answer. Juanbei paused for a moment. Yijin would have said something. It's in his blood to have the last word. Something was desperately wrong.
Juanbei paused for a moment and listened carefully, deep breaths could be heard in the back office. Juanbei rushed inside and burst through the door. Yijin was hyperventilating and his skin had gone completely dark. His veins bulged with Dark Qi that circulated towards his Left-Brain Hemisphere. Juanbei shouted and placed two hands on Yijin's forehead. He conveyed Light Qi into it and suddenly a blast was heard. The combatting of Qi internally caused a spark of electricity into Juanbei's hands.
Juanbei was thrown into a wall by the force of it. He rose from the ground with a groan as he placed a hand on his head and looked at Yijin carefully. The Dark Qi had receded and suddenly, Yijin bolted upright and screamed. "Gods above!" He shouted in fear. He was still not ready to face Xiangliu. Juanbei looked at Yijin and placed a hand on his shoulders. "Are you alright, Yijin?!" He looked genuinely concerned. His bloodshot eyes focused on Yijin's and Yijin spoke, "Yes, master. I am fine now. Did you just save me from the dark Qi again? Thank you."
Juanbei nodded and looked at the office door. All the students were peering in through the door. "Can't you be patient and wait for me to get back there, you little dumbasses?" The children all giggled and disappeared from the doorway. Yijin looked at Juanbei. "I recognize you as the strongest warrior to have ever lived. I give up my title and bestow it upon you."
Juanbei sighed. "Stop it with the bullshit, idiot. Come on, if you're all done with the charades and shit, let's go grab a bite to eat. I think we wasted these kids' time enough."
"Alright, Master Juanbei."
"Let's be informal from now on, you perverted, ancient prick."
"Fine by me, middle-aged puckering asshole."
The two looked at one another and laughed as the children gathered their stuff and headed out.
"Some martial arts academy this is." They whispered as they walked out.
"The best one in the world!" Yijin shouted after them.
They paled and ran off as quickly as they could. They had not expected that Yijin could hear them. He didn't bother chasing after them and Yijin walked with his "Grandson" to the nearby Szechuan hut to grab a meal.
"May the Gods bless each and every chef. And let them keep stuffing our craw for many years to come." Yijin cheered joyously.
"Oh shut up, you wrinkled glutton."