“Ah… the victor is Ashley Sheng,” the older gentleman said.
Frowning, Ash stood upright and waited. Two nurses came over to check on Xiaohui.
Pushing their hands back away from her, Xiaohui managed to get to her feet. Glaring up at him from a kneeling position, she looked as if she would burst into the Flame element she cultivated.
Ash pressed his fists together and bowed his head respectfully to his fallen opponent.
While she’d been egotistical, she hadn’t actually insulted him. He had no reason to be anything other than polite now that the bout was over.
Trash talk will always be trash talk.
“Thank you for the match,” he said sincerely.
Xiaohui stood up, her eyes hooded as she stared at him.
After a few seconds, she pressed her fists together and bowed her head briefly in return to him.
“Thank you for the match,” she said, her voice sounding rather wooden and tired. “You’re not allowed to lose to anyone else other than Shen.”
Ash stood upright, surprise flashing through his mind.
“I can accept this with dignity if you win or lose to Shen. So do either of those. Otherwise I’ll be so angry I’ll vomit up blood,” Xiaohui said. Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she left the ring immediately.
Ash blew out a sigh and wandered off to where he’d started.
Who the hell is Shen? And do you know how much internal damage you’d have to cause to actually make someone vomit up blood?
Jia was standing there waiting for him.
“You did take it easy on me,” she said as he approached.
Grinning at her, Ash shrugged. “Not sure about that, but I definitely didn’t try to beat you as fast as possible without care for damaging you.”
“Well, you might get that opportunity during the tournament. I do plan on winning, so I can fight you for real if nothing else.
“I would very much like to know just how powerful you are, Ash.”
Waving her off, Ash wandered off to the next ring he had to be at.
“I will be at ring forty-two when you’re done,” Jia called after him. “I must go collect the winnings and place another bet.”
He waved a hand over his shoulder to signify he had heard her.
As he wandered up to the ring, he finally realized whom he’d be fighting this time.
“Hello Gong,” Ash said, looking at the large acolyte standing in the middle of the ring.
“Haha, I’m going to fucking kill you!” Gong shouted, smashing his fists together in front of him repeatedly.
Sighing, Ash moved into the ring. Then he sat down on his side and began to work on centering himself once more.
Gong actually had an okay grasp of martial arts. He just tended to use strength and force rather than agility and speed.
Going to need to change up my plans a bit. All my attacks rely on being able to sap the energy of their strength. And Gong has a lot of it.
“You praying? Gonna need to pray. I’m going to make sure when I hit you, you never wake up,” Gong shouted at him from his side.
“Now, now, Gong, you need to behave and follow the rules,” said a wizened voice from the side.
“It’s Elder Shin,” Locke answered before Ash even opened an eye to look.
Great. That means I can expect Shin to stop the fight if he thinks Gong might be hurt, and it’ll go on and on if I’m losing.
I don’t remember there being any rules other than to try not to maim the other person.
Fat chance of Shin protecting me.
“Contestants. Prepare yourselves,” boomed a voice.
Getting to his feet, Ash once more got into his neutral stance. He expected Gong would rush him in one way or another. Keeping that thought in mind, he spun up Qi Thorns, Battle Cultivation, and Spring Step before the match could even start.
“Begin!” shouted the same voice that’d given the warning.
Gong flung his arms out to his side and clapped his hands together in front of himself.
A wave of molten, yellow Earth Qi swept forward in a rush at Ash.
There was no room to escape it as it filled the ring. Even hitting those who were watching from the sides.
Ash stared at the giant force-wave in shock.
Turning around, he squatted down and balled himself up tightly.
When it hit him, it knocked him flat to the ground and rolled over him.
His back felt as if it’d been stripped clean of flesh, and his body ached and burned at the same time.
Getting to his feet quickly, Ash stumbled into his neutral pose.
Gong was rushing toward him now. His right fist was cocked back already to throw a punch.
Ash wasn’t quite sure what to do. His thoughts felt fuzzy and his ears were ringing.
Then Gong’s fist was right in front of Ash. Blocking the strike and letting the force slip through his guard, Ash redirected the whole thing over his shoulder.
Leaning into Gong, Ash let loose a flurry of strikes into Gong’s stomach and chest.
When he felt the bigger man start to recover his balance, Ash stepped out to the side and grabbed Gong by the shoulders.
By the barest of margins, the slimmest of thoughts, Ash didn’t target Gong’s face. So when he activated Spring Step and channeled it into his knee, he drove it straight into Gong’s abdomen instead.
Ash could feel things shift around inside Gong’s body around his knee.
The bigger man swung out with a fist and caught Ash in the side, sending him staggering backward.
Taking in several breaths as he regained his footing, Ash pressed his hands to his sides. Qi immediately began flowing into him. Rumbling, deep, steady Earth Qi.
Ash then went back into his neutral stance. Ready for anything.
Gong got to his feet, his face bright red with rage.
He pulled his arms back as if he were going to launch that wave of Earth Qi again.
Then he promptly leaned forward and began throwing up blood.
Oh… well… there ya go, then.
Looking to Elder Shin, Ash cleared his throat.
“Should I continue?” Ash asked. “I can attack right now if I’m not the winner.”
Elder Shin grit his teeth, a pained expression on his face.
The audience was watching as he debated it.
Ash didn’t hesitate and started moving in on Gong. If he wasn’t going to be announced the winner, there was no reason to spare him.
“Stop!” Elder Shin said finally. “Ashley Sheng is the winner. Medics, tend to Gong immediately.”
Ash pressed his fists together to Gong, then left. There was no reason to hang around here.
Besides, Jia had more or less asked him to come watch her if he finished earlier than her.
Stepping up to the ring, he surveyed the battle.
Lim was partially hunched over at the other side of the ring. He looked as if he were standing up by sheer force of will.
Jia was standing in a negligent pose, hands on her hips. She noticed Ash when he made his way to the front of the ring.
“You may surrender now and beg for forgiveness for your arrogance. You owe a kowtow to Ash as well,” Jia said. “Do not attempt to fool me again, though. Else I will make your life painful.”
Lim collapsed to his knees and held up a hand. Ash hadn’t noticed, but there was a band of water clamped around Lim’s mouth.
The water shifted up a fraction from his lips.
“I apologize for my arrogance and beg your forgiveness,” Lim said. Then he pressed his forehead down to the ground.
“Good,” Jia said with a nod of her head. “You may surrender now.”
“I admit defeat,” Lim said. Then his upper half fell forward, supported by nothing.
“She has bands of water around him. His movements are very restricted,” Locke supplied.
A heartbeat later and Lim slumped to the ground, unmoving, as Jia apparently remove
d the bands of water.
Hm. It would seem I wasn’t the only one who took it easy on the other party.
“She didn’t take it easy on you. You’re just much faster than you realize,” Locke interjected.
Can you read my mind?
“No, I can’t read your mind, either. You’re just very obvious, Chosen One.”
Thirteen
“Welcome to the quarter-finals, everyone,” said a senior elder of the Spark’s Jump Sect. “Today we’ll be hosting the fights one by one so that everyone can enjoy them. The first fight of the day is—”
Ash sighed and turned to Jia. “This feels kind of pointless.”
Jia shook her head when it was clear Ash wasn’t going to pay attention anymore.
“Perhaps you should care after all, then. Jade Fist only has two slots open this examination. Apparently, another city they visited before this one had many who chose them as their destination,” Jia said. “Which means only the top two have a surefire chance of joining.
“And I doubt very much that your next fight will be like the fifth round. I do not believe you even broke a sweat in that fight.”
His fight had indeed been a breeze. Those who had come up against him had seemed average in every way, and it had only taken a flurry of Leech Strikes to drop them a minute in.
Two slots for the Jade Fist.
Technically, the top two ranks can practically request what sect they want.
But they wouldn’t choose Jade Fist, would they? That’s not likely, is it?
The top two would likely go for Dragon Warrior or Blood Oath.
“I also heard,” Jia said, her voice breaking his thoughts open. “That Dragon Warrior and Blood Oath may not have any slots open at all. It would seem you suddenly do need to care.”
Clenching his teeth, Ash contemplated the situation he’d found himself in.
Jia wasn’t wrong. He had to fight to actually win, and not just take it easy.
“Ah, that is a much better-looking face. I take it you will be looking to make it into the top two then,” Jia said with a snicker.
“So it would seem. Honestly… I just want to get into the sect to help Jing and Yan. It’s not that complicated,” Ash complained.
“Such is life, especially for a cultivator. The heavens intercede when they decide it is time for a tribulation.
“Truly so for those that are marked,” Jia said.
“Either you’re claiming I’m marked, or that the heavens are out to get me.”
“Or both,” Jia said. “Now, I am off to get ready. I am the second fight today, and you are the third. It might do you some good to think on your opponent.
“If you do not remember, his name is Xiao-Yan.”
Ash couldn’t disagree with her. Not really.
Hm. She’s not wrong. Maybe I should spend some time asking some questions. Or get close enough and let Locke scan him.
Either way, I guess.
Looking around, Ash realized most everyone had already cleared out. More than likely to go watch the first match or get ready for their own battles.
Xiaohui was nearby, standing next to a young man. He looked fairly unassuming, though he was rather handsome.
At least by the standards of this culture.
He had delicate features, clear brown eyes, and long light-brown hair. His build was slim and unassuming, his height almost spot-on average.
Maybe Xiaohui will know who this Xiao-Yan is.
Xiaohui noticed him looking at her. She gave him a nod of her head before ignoring him completely.
And maybe the moon will rise in the morning. Ha.
She’d probably cross a freeway just to spit on me.
“There you are, Shen,” called a boisterous voice. “I was wondering if you’d crawled away and hid yourself.”
“Now why would I go and do that?” said the young man next to Xiaohui.
Guess that answers that question.
Ash watched the newcomer walk up to Shen as if he owned the world. A group of tagalongs were on his heels. They looked like the standard bunch of toadies Ash had come to expect from those in power.
The new arrival was taller than Shen and seemed to be about the same as far as looks went. Though his hair was a shade or two darker.
“Xiao-Yan, know your place,” said Xiaohui. “You’re living on your father’s name. You’ll know soon enough, that by itself can’t win your fights for you.”
Oh. Well, that was handy.
“Locke, any chance you can scan the crap out of him and get me useful info? Also, I’d really like you to try and prioritize an ability that will help me heal faster.
“My back still frickin’ hurts,” Ash said under his breath.
“I shall endeavor to do both, Chosen One.
“The scan is already complete, and I’m reviewing the data.”
“…let you kowtow to me. After that, I’ll make sure you get into whatever sect you wish. I’ll even make sure you get a special reward as well,” Xiao-Yan said.
Shen smiled as if he knew something Xiao-Yan didn’t. Both young men were sizing each other up, each intent to make the other break eye contact first.
Ash had seen this pattern a few times now. It seemed almost ritualistic to him. Two people would come together and each trash-talk the other. They’d each promise all sorts of things to happen to the other, either in lieu of fighting or if they lost.
The fight would happen, and then they’d slowly try to one-up each other with their “trump cards” as they fought.
Snorting, Ash shook his head.
“I wonder if that’s what Gong was expecting,” Ash said under his breath. “Too bad for him I have no wish to do that. Just win as fast as possible using as much force as I can bring to bear.”
Dismissing the two groups as they stared one another down, Ash turned to leave the area.
And nearly ran over Ying Yue in doing so.
“Ah!” she squeaked out, staring up at him.
“Ying Yue? What are you doing here?” Ash asked.
“I’m… I’m following… that is,” said the young girl. Grasping the front of her tunic with one hand, she nodded at him as if she’d made up her mind. “I’m going to follow you as a traveling merchant to the sect that you choose.
“I was hoping you could tell me which sect you were going to join now, so I can plan my purchases.”
Ash took in a breath to question her further and let it hang. Then he blew it out with a shrug of his shoulders.
Why did it matter to him whether or not she followed him?
“I’m going to be attempting to join the Jade Fist,” he said finally.
“Jade Fist? Jade Fist. Mm. Ok,” Ying Yue said, her eyes flicking down towards the stones. “Jade Fist. Jade Fist. Yes.”
A sudden stray thought struck him.
“Hey, Yue—can I call you Yue?” Ash asked.
“Hm? Oh, ah… yes… yes, that’s fine.”
Ying Yue’s eyes had come back up to Ash, looking startled at his change of address.
“I have a question. Is there anywhere I can sell empty spirit stones for spirit stones or coin?”
“Uhm, the merchant guild can do that for a fee.”
“Oh, alright. Tell you what, I don’t have a lot of time,” Ash said, selecting an unbound card in his ring.
He quickly transferred all the empty spirit stones from the other card to it, then pulled it out from his ring after reaching into his clothes.
“If you can convert these to spirit stones, you can keep one-sixth of the value you get from it.
“In other words, the better you do, the more you keep.”
Ying Yue looked at the card, her eyebrows dipping down.
“Just how many empty stones are there?”
“More than seven hundred thousand.”
The young merchant blinked her eyes rapidly, her throat constricting as she stared at the card. “One-sixth?” she asked.
“Yep.”
&nb
sp; “I’ll do it, providing I can travel with you to the Jade Fist.”
“Deal,” Ash said, holding the card out to her.
Ying Yue took the card in both hands and bent her head over it. Then she scurried away before he could ask her anything further.
Odd girl. I wonder why she wants to follow me, though.
Perhaps she thinks I’m a bit of a lucky charm?
Ash left.
A nap suddenly sounded pretty great.
***
Yawning, Ash scrubbed at his face as he walked into the ring.
I feel so much better after that. Nothing like a quick laydown.
As if… as if the whole world is brighter for me.
“You do realize if Jia finds out you were sleeping before your match, she’s going to yell at you,” Locke said. “She’ll already be annoyed that you didn’t watch her match.”
“Ugh. Why? I’m not her problem, and I needed one. It helped shake off the anxiety. I’m not one for stress, ya know?” Ash muttered.
“Because she seems to think that unless she keeps you motivated and on track, you’ll fail.”
“I’m taking it seriously. I just want to take it seriously at my own pace.”
“Your pace seems to be that of a procrastinator.
“Or a corpse. One way or the other, Chosen One.”
“You sound like my dad. My dad and Trav,” Ash grumbled, taking a seat in the large ring he’d be fighting in.
“I know neither, but perhaps they’re right.”
Taking a look around at the way the area was set up, he realized this place was going to fit a lot of people. It was quite probable he’d have more people watching him today than he’d ever had previously.
Diverting his thoughts, Ash tried to route his concern into something productive. Like contemplating how to win this fight.
Sitting there as he let his brain idle over what he could do, he started to vaguely construct a concept of how to fight.
A strategy that would work with his abilities and his cultivation as they were. Even going so far as to try and consider what the gaps existed in his current self.
We already asked for a way to heal, but… did we outline it right? Locke is still a program of sorts. Can he think independently on his own? Or is he just a virtual intelligence?
“Hey, Locke… I know you’re working on a way for me to heal myself. How’s that going?”
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