"You're a confident one, I'll give you that," Ling Xiao said, his eyes narrowing. "But confidence doesn't always translate to strength."
"Oh, I'm not just confident," Jian said, his smile growing wider. "I'm also very skilled. And I have the backing of the Qin family."
Xiǎo Lán snorted. "The Qin family? They're nothing but a bunch of cowards. They hide behind their money and influence, but they don't have the guts to get their hands dirty."
Jian's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "You're just jealous," he said. "Jealous of their power and influence."
"I'm not jealous of anyone," Xiǎo Lán said, her eyes flashing with anger. "I'm just telling the truth. And the truth is, the Qin family is not to be trusted."
"Well, I trust them," Jian said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And I trust that they will pay me well for my services."
"You're a mercenary, through and through," Ling Xiao said, his voice disgust. "You have no honor, no loyalty. You're just a tool for the highest bidder."
Jian shrugged. "Hey, someone's got to do it. And I'm good at it. So, let's get down to business. You two are coming with me, one way or another."
"We'll never go with you willingly," Xiǎo Lán said, her eyes flashing with defiance.
Jian smiled. "Oh, I'm counting on that. I love a good challenge."
And with that, the tension between them was palpable, the air thick with anticipation. The battle of wits had begun, and only time would tell who would emerge victorious.
The fight began with a flurry of punches from Jian, his fists flying towards Ling Xiao with immense speed, strength, and precision. But Ling Xiao was no slouch, and he blocked each and every one of Jian's attacks with ease.
Xiǎo Lán saw her opening and immediately attacked Jian with a powerful kick that sent him flying across the room. But Jian was a skilled fighter and managed to stay on his feet, his eyes fixed intently on his opponents.
"You're pretty good," Jian said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But not good enough."
With that, Jian launched himself at Ling Xiao and Xiǎo Lán, his fists flying in a blur of motion. Ling Xiao blocked each attack with ease, but Xiǎo Lán saw her chance and landed a solid punch to Jian's jaw.
Jian's head snapped back, but he quickly recovered and launched himself at Xiǎo Lán. She dodged his attack by a hair's breadth and countered with a kick that sent Jian flying into the wall.
Ling Xiao took advantage of the opening and landed a series of swift and precise punches to Jian's face. But Jian refused to go down, his eyes blazing with determination.
The fight raged on, each side trading blows and neither gaining the upper hand. But Ling Xiao and Xiǎo Lán were a well-oiled machine, their movements fluid and synchronized.
Jian, on the other hand, was beginning to tire. His attacks were slowing down, and his defenses were weakening. Ling Xiao and Xiǎo Lán sensed their chance and pressed their advantage.
The fight continued, with neither side giving an inch. Jian's fists flew towards Ling Xiao, who blocked each attack with ease. Xiǎo Lán saw her opening and landed a solid kick to Jian's stomach, but he quickly recovered and launched himself at her.
Ling Xiao jumped into the fray, his sword flashing in the light. Jian dodged and weaved, avoiding the blade by mere inches. Xiǎo Lán took advantage of the distraction to land a series of swift punches to Jian's face.
But Jian refused to go down. He countered with a powerful kick that sent Xiǎo Lán flying across the room. Ling Xiao quickly came to her aid, his sword slicing through the air.
Jian dodged the attack and launched himself at Ling Xiao. The two clashed in a flurry of punches and kicks, each blow landing with precision and force.
Xiǎo Lán recovered and joined the fray, her kicks and punches landing in perfect sync with Ling Xiao's. Jian stumbled back, his defenses weakening.
But he refused to give up. With a fierce cry, he launched himself at Ling Xiao and Xiǎo Lán, his fists flying in a blur of motion.
The fight raged on, each side trading blows and neither gaining the upper hand. Ling Xiao and Xiǎo Lán were a well-oiled machine, their movements fluid and synchronized.
Jian was tiring, but he refused to yield. He knew that if he could just land one solid hit, he could turn the tide of the battle.
And so the fight continued, the three combatants exchanging blows and neither side giving an inch.
Jian's eyes gleamed with intensity as he began to chant in a low, rhythmic tone. The air around him began to crackle with electricity, and the sky above grew dark with stormy clouds. A massive bolt of lightning, as big as the forest itself, began to take shape, its power coursing through the air.
"You can't dodge this attack," Jian sneered, his voice dripping with confidence. "You'd have to be immeasurably fast to get away. And even if you could, the sheer force of this technique would obliterate you."
Ling Xiao and Xiǎo Lán exchanged a grim glance. They knew they had to act fast. Xiǎo Lán raised her hands, and a shimmering barrier of light appeared around her, infused with her spiritual energy and that of the surrounding environment.
Ling Xiao, on the other hand, stood tall, his eyes fixed intently on Jian. "I'll tank this attack," he said, his voice firm.
Jian's eyes widened in disbelief. "You think you can take this attack head-on? You're insane!"
The lightning bolt struck, its power unleashing a deafening roar. The forest around them was obliterated, trees splintering and crashing to the ground. But Ling Xiao stood firm, his body glowing with a faint, golden light.
Xiǎo Lán's barrier held strong, protecting her from the blast. She watched in awe as Ling Xiao tanked the attack, his body seemingly impervious to the lightning's fury.
Jian's eyes were wide with shock. "How...how is this possible?" he stammered. "You should be incinerated!"
Ling Xiao smiled, his eyes gleaming with a fierce light. "I told you, I'm not ordinary."
The lightning bolt dissipated, leaving behind a smoldering crater and a forest in ruins. Ling Xiao stood tall, his chest heaving with exertion. Xiǎo Lán approached him, her eyes shining with admiration.
"You're incredible," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ling Xiao chuckled, his grin still plastered on his face. "I'm just getting started," Ling Xiao said, his eyes gleaming with a fierce light. "Jian, you're no match for me. Your techniques are impressive, but they're nothing compared to my true power."
Jian's face twisted in anger and frustration. He knew he had underestimated Ling Xiao, but he refused to give up. He began to chant once more, his voice rising to a fever pitch.
"You may have tanked my lightning bolt," Jian snarled, "but you won't be able to handle my next attack. Prepare to face the full fury of the elements!"
The air around Jian began to distort and ripple, as if reality itself was bending to his will. A massive vortex materialized, its center churning with a maelstrom of earth, air, water, and fire.
"Elemental Requiem!" Jian shouted, his voice echoing through the forest. "You will be consumed by the very elements themselves!"
Ling Xiao smiled, his eyes flashing with excitement. "Bring it on," he said, his voice dripping with confidence.
Xiǎo Lán watched in awe as Ling Xiao charged forward, his body glowing with an intense, golden light. He plunged into the heart of the vortex, his movements swift and precise.
The elements raged around him, their fury unrelenting. But Ling Xiao danced through the chaos, his sword slicing through the maelstrom with ease.
Jian's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible!" he shouted. "You can't be this strong!"
Ling Xiao emerged from the vortex, his chest heaving with exertion. "You underestimate me," he said, his voice dripping with triumph. "I am the master of my own destiny. And I will not be defeated by the likes of you."
The battle raged on, the two combatants exchanging blows and neither gaining the upper hand. But Ling Xiao's confidence grew with each passing moment, his power and skill surpassing Jian's at every turn.
In the end, it was Jian who stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock and defeat. "You win," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You are the stronger one."