The old kung fu master clapped his hands twice and the students cleared an area in the center of the mat. He gestured me forward and everyone formed a ring around us.
Ohcrapohcrapohcrap.
“You, ah, want me to fight you?” I wondered if I had managed to keep the panic out of my voice.
The hint of a smile flashed across his face, then vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
“I am not so cruel. You can fight him,” he said, pointing at Shashu, whose scar went white as his broad grin stretched the skin on his face.
“Honestly, I don’t think that will turn out any better for me in the end.”
“Even the smallest seed has a mighty tree’s potential,” Chow Bo intoned.
Shashu and I faced each other. He bowed deep so I bowed back.
“Begin,” Chow Bo said, and without even thinking about it, I adopted a defensive combat posture. Shashu slid smoothly into offense. I tried to keep my distance as we circled each other.
My Status might’ve said I knew kung fu, but how much could I really know from just watching it for a few minutes? People dedicate themselves to train their whole lives to learn martial arts. I’d never used it. Hell, I’d never been in an actual fight before.
His first attack was a high side kick aimed at my chest, which I somehow deflected with a sweep of my hand, followed by a punch aimed at my head that I avoided using the momentum of the motion I’d used to block the kick to carry my body far enough to dodge the punch.
How the hell did I do that? He’s so fast. I could barely keep my eyes open when I saw an attack coming, so how was I dodging and blocking them? Forget about trying to hit back, the moment I dropped my guard it’d all over. But I knew I couldn’t keep him at bay forever, I needed to do something.
My skill level was crap so I figured surprise was probably my best weapon, use his confidence against him. I was getting nowhere matching his kung fu style, so maybe a sudden change in fighting technique would throw him off.
He lashed out with another low kick which I knocked aside with my leg, then I immediately stepped forward and lunged at him, using my newfound Brawling skill to throw a combination of unconventional strikes. First I threw a slow jab which he knocked aside easily, as I knew he would, then an elbow to his head that also got blocked. While he was distracted by that and his vision partially obscured by my arm in his face I followed up with a quick knee to his body.
My unexpected blow landed with a satisfying thump and he staggered back. He looked at me with wide eyes, his mouth open in shock. He rubbed his abdomen where my knee had made solid contact, then he gave me another wide grin and raised his fists again.
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Why did he seem so delighted that I hit him? I wished I could see the old master’s reaction but I didn't dare take my eyes off Shashu.
My opponent began circling, feinting, searching for an opening. Brawling is more of an offensive technique, so I switched back to a kung fu defense and managed to block a few hits. I was just beginning to think that I might stand a chance when he used my own tactic against me. He came in with a series of strikes that were much quicker than the ones I’d just blocked and I realized too late he’d been luring me in with purposefully slow attacks so that he could surprise me with his real speed. I only barely managed to knock the uppercut at my face aside, but that left my body completely open to his straight mid-level jab. It landed hard in the middle of my chest and I was pushed back, winded, but Shashu wasted no time taking advantage of the opportunity and came in low with a kick at my leg. It connected with my knee with a disturbing crunching noise and I crumpled onto the mat, my leg bent at an unnatural angle and searing with pain. The next thing I knew Shashu loomed over me, concern etched on his young features.
He helped me roll onto my back and carefully stretched my leg out straight, or at least as straight as it would go, apologizing every time I winced. Next thing I knew, Sifu was crouched down beside me running his hands up and down over my wounded leg. A warmth flowed through the area and I swear I could actually feel the bones knitting back together. The pain evaporated. Sifu rose and stepped back as Shashu gave me a hand standing up. My leg was fine.
System: You know Laying On Hands
That’s bound to come in handy. I’m so sorry for ever doubting you, Jack Of All Trades.
“Sorry about the leg,” Shashu said.
“No worries, I’ve had worse,” I said.
He clapped me congenially on the shoulder. “That knee was a nice move. A bit unorthodox for kung fu, but still nice. I didn’t expect you to touch me, but you surprised me there.”
“That was kind of the idea,” I answered sheepishly, rubbing my own chest where he’d hit me. It didn’t hurt as much as it probably should have and I realized he’d been holding back. Shame he didn’t pull his kick a little too. “I’ll take it as a compliment that you used the same move against me there at the end.”
“Oldest trick in the book,” he laughed.
“Thank you for the match,” I said, bowing. “It was very instructional.” He returned the bow.
I glanced over at Chow Bo and found him inscrutable. He met my gaze with that same appraising look that still made me very uncomfortable, then nodded his head once. “The seed has been planted,” he said.
He continued to gaze at me until Shashu leaned over and whispered, “That was a compliment.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said.
“No,” Sifu said.
“Um, no?”
“Not sir. Sifu.”
Then he glided past me and out of the room.
“He’s a man of few words,” I said to Shashu. He laughed and clapped me on the shoulder again.
“But they’re all good ones,” he said. “Congratulations, Daniel. Looks like you’re one of us now.”
“Really?” I said. A number of the other pupils who’d been watching came up and offered me their congratulations as well. “So, um, what does that mean, exactly?”
Shashu guided me away towards the door I’d come in through, relinquishing the floor to the others so they could resume sparring. “It means you’re in the Dragon Clan. You have a home here. You can live and train with us. If you have a problem, it is a problem for us all. And if we have a problem, you are expected to offer what help you can.”
“Wow,” I said.
“You’re one of the family now.”
“Cool.”
“Let’s go take you to meet Chow Li. If Chow Bo is our father, you can think of her as Mother,” he said, leading me out of the room. “Just never call her that where she can hear you.”