[Currently Scrapped]: The Misty Duel part 1

“So, An Ran is opening today?” Yun Ren asked, as they rose into the air. They were standing on a large platform with an entire crowd of people. The chains it was attached to rattled and clanked as they moved, dragging them up the mountain.

“Yeah. She’s a bit nervous, but she thinks she can win it..”

“Oh? She talked to you about it huh? Speaking of things, I didn’t see you after we got back from the restaurant. Do you have anything to say to your big brother?” He jabbed, a grin spreading across his face.

Gou Ren flushed. “Shaddup. We were just on the roof. Nothin’ happened.”

He was half thankful, and half frustrated at Xiulan. Sure, An Ran was warm, and soft, and had spent most of the night pressed into his side, even after Xiulan gave them a bit more room—

He shook his head to get rid of the images, his face flushed.

But it was a little bit awkward, to know that the girl was only hanging out with you because the woman she idolized was not being subtle at all. At least she didn’t seem to dislike it… even if she found his one attempt at poetry more amusing than what he was going for.

Yun Ren looked just the slightest bit skeptical, but he let it go, turning back to the tournament bracket. “Huyi is near the middle along with Xiulan, and Tigu is last. Then it's two more rounds before the final. They have another day’s break after this round, and then they have a full five days before the last match after the semifinals.”

The lift ground to a halt, and they joined the crowd.

“Seems a bit awkward.” Gou Ren said.

“Probably for rest reasons? Don’t want the final fight to be two people absolutely exhausted and injured.”

“Probably.” He said, shaking his head, and starting up the flight of stairs to the seats, when something caught his eye.

Somebody was leaned against the wall, panting as people passed him by. It was the kid with the crutches.. Bowu was his name?

Gou Ren was a bit confused. Important guests sat in special box seating and the kid lived in a mansion. What was he doing down here with the rest of the people?

Somebody knocked into him, and the boy scowled, nearly losing his balance, before managing to recover it.

Gou Ren pushed his way forwards.

“Hey.” He greeted. “Surprised to see you here, Young Master.” He leaned against the wall below the kid. Somebody bumped into Gou Ren’s back and cursed, before going around him. Yun Ren looked at him curiously, but he shook his head, and motioned for him to continue. His brother shrugged, and kept going up the stairs.

Bowu’s face ran through a number of emotions, before he settled on something neutral.

“Is it truly so surprising?” He asked, as he looked away.

“Yeah, I thought you'd be up in a box or something, but you’re getting the true way to experience a tournament!” He said, parroting Tang the Traveller.

The boy smirked, some of his grimace fading.

“Indeed. It is as you said, Gou Ren. I wished to get the “real experience.”” He said, shaking his head.

He lapsed into silence for a moment, as Gou Ren waited. Bowu kept glancing over, but Gou Ren simply waited.

“Hey, if you’re on your own, you feel like sitting with us?” Gou Ren

Slowly, the kid’s face morphed into a tentative smile. He stood up straighter.

“I suppose I can grace you with my company.” He allowed.

Gou Ren snorted. “Well, lead on, Young Master.” It was lightly teasing, but the kid seemed inordinately happy about it. Determination suddenly overcame his face, and with his crutch, he started stumping his way up the stairs again. Gou Ren walked slightly behind him, in case somebody bumped the kid again.

It was slow going, but they managed to finish the stairs, and get into the seating proper. Bowu habbled along, but he could see where Yun Ren was sitting, turned around with a raised eyebrow.

“Image Master, How are you this fine day?” The kid said with cheer, as Yun Ren moved over, allowing them to sit.

Gou Ren shrugged, and Yun Ren nodded.

Naturally, his brother could break the ice easily, as his recording crystal came out, showing Bowu the highlights of yesterday.

Slowly, the stadium filled, and the booming echo of the announcer's voice resounded, as he welcomed everybody back.

The first fighters of the day came down, and Gou Ren glanced to the side.

Bowu looked melancholic, as the fighter front he Misty Lake faced off against the Grand Ravine. His eyes slowly went up to a box seat, and then he sighed. He glanced to Gou Ren again.

“Anywhere is better than up there.” He muttered. Bowu rubbed at his leg, his face a mixture of grief and pain. His hand balled into a fist. “They’re barely family. Only one person matters.”

His back straightened again. And just like that the vulnerability was gone.

“Hey, isn’t that one of the food men you said was good?” he asked loudly, pointing. “Be grateful for being my companions! I’ll allow you to take advantage of my deep pockets!”

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The day progressed, and the fights accelerated in speed and violence. This… this was something more like Gou Ren expected from a cultivator fight. Fire started to swirl. The earth heaved, and the arena’s floor was scarred from blades and hammers.

“The Rumbling Earth’s Wrecker Stance.” Bowu narrated. “Said to be derived from a truly monstrous wrecker ball. They still live within its shell, said to be two Li in length, hailing from the Bonepile.”

The man slammed into his opponent, and hit him so hard he rebounded off the barrier.

“The Dervish Dance of the Azure Horizon Sect. Said to be the technique that Sun Ken derived his own Whirling Demon Blade from.”

Blood splattered into the air. The kid was quite excited as he explained, noting down the techniques. It was kind of interesting, to hear some of the history behind the moves, but Gou Ren was a bit uncomfortable, as the sword hacked downwards, cutting through another contestant’s chest and sending him sprawling.

The crowd’s glee was palpable. Yun Ren chewed his lip, as he glanced at the arena through his crystal.

“The Hermitic Iron Body.” Bowu declared, as a sword slammed into “handsome man’s” arm, and rebounded.

It was a dizzying array of techniques and powerful strikes. But he was getting a bit uncomfortable from the sheer amount of damage people were taking. Maybe he had present a bit too long with Meimei, but he winced every time he saw something that was supposed to stay inside a body outside.

Some of it was assayed by the fact that he could see people rather casually walking back to their seats after getting hurt so badly, but still, it was a little uncomfortable to watch.

“Cao Ci versus Guo Daxian, Young Master of the Grand Ravine!”

Guo Daxian had his face fixed in a vicious glare as he stood with his arms crossed, blue tattoos bright on his arms. His eyes were narrow as he took in his opponent.

Unlike previous battles, it was explosive from the beginning.

“The Grand Canyon's Canyon Spanning Strikes.” Bowu stated, as the strange rope-blade lashed out.

The weapon seemed to have a life of its own as it snaked and slithered through the air striking so fast it seemed to be in five places at once.

His opponent was a man who looked familiar, in blue silks and carrying a spear. He desperately backpedaled, defecting as best he could, until with a sudden grin, he slammed the roppe blade down and into the ground. With an explosive leap, he launched himself at the Young Master of the Grand Ravine.

Who suddenly seemed to get yanked off his feat, travelling towards the point stuck in the ground far faster than he should have been able to.

The spearman ran face first into the other man’s fist, his eyes wide in surprise.

“Traversing the Grand Ravine. One of the few movement techniques that exist in the Azure Hills, and ensures their dominance.” Bowu muttered.

The man went flying, but managed to stabilize himself. The rope-blade was already there, and he raised an arm to block it, instead of it cutting into his chest.

And then Guo Daxian was there. Pulled to the point on his bladed rope. He tore it free, and struck three more times. The arm broke, then the ribs. Then finally, a brutal strike to the jaw. That put his opponent down.

The man snorted, and walked off.

Gou Ren grimaced. He’d certainly hate to be down there against him.

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It was finally her turn! Tigu bounced from foot to foot, excited for her match. Across from her stood the Misty Lake Lady, who was staring at the stands. Her eyes were searching, before they abruptly softened.

Tigu glanced at where she was looking. A small boy with crutches sat beside Disciple Gou Ren and Disciple Yun Ren. She raised her arm in greeting, before bouncing a bit higher.

Her opponent seemed in good spirits, as she turned to Tigu. She took a deep breath.

Then began to laugh, her hands on her hips.

“Rou Tigu! I, Liu Xianghua, acknowledge your cultivation!” She boomed, pointing directly at her. “But be warned! Even your power, a stage above my own, will not be enough! The Techniques of the Misty Lake Sect shall defeat you without fail!”

Tigu cocked her head to the side.

“Kowtow before this Young Mistress, and I shall take it easy on you!” Misty Lady declared.

Tigu frowned, annoyed that this woman would dare even insinuate that she would take it easy on her. Did people actually do that? But the woman’s full attention was not on Tigu. Her eyes strayed to the stands. Tigu glanced back to the stands, where the boy with crutches was. He was chuckling, clearly amused at Xianghua’s words.

….she was doing it because the boy in the stands found it amusing?

Some of the ire faded. Tigu Snorted, and rose haughtily.

“Oh, you dare? This Young Mistress shall surely defeat you. Kowtow before me a hundred times, and I shall take it easy on you!”

Misty Lady’s eyes snapped to Tigu and her smirk.

“Hpmh! A peasant raising her fangs at the heavens.” She declared.

Tigu picked at her ear. “Did you say something, Damp Pond?” She asked boredly.

Misty Lady recoiled, her eyes narrowing, but a small smile tugging at her lips.

“You court death with your words! Very well, I shall crush you with all I have!”

Mist began to swirl on the ground, getting thicker and thicker, as the Misty Lady’’s Qi formed around her.

Her eyes flicked one to a box seat, high above. There was a flash of irritation, before she rolled her eyes, and gave Tigu her undivided attention.

Her face went cold and hard.

For the first time in the tournament, against another contestant, Tigu’s Qi Blades formed.

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I am kind of unhappy with this one. I don't know if it did what I wanted it to do, and it certainly feels like it didn't get as far as I wanted it to.

Additionally, the chapters have been getting later and later, as You've noticed. I apologise to everybody, but I think I'm going to take Monday off, so I can reassess things. There will be an official post if I do.