"Let the battle... begin!" the judge yelled. His voice boomed throughout the arena.

Pan Zhanshi cycled several martial skills in quick succession the instant the words left the judge's lips. His entire body and even his clothes became shrouded in darkness as though he were made out of inky black smoke.

Then a miniature eclipse appeared in the air above the stage and plunged the area into unnatural darkness. A darkness that carried Pan Zhanshi's aura within it.

Pan Zhanshi held out his hand and a long blade comprised of his strange, rich, dark qi sprouted in his grip an instant before he faded into nothingness. As though he simply ceased to exist. Even the signature of his aura faded away until the only hint of it was within the strange darkness that covered the stage.

Shadowy tendrils crept their way up out of the ground, slithering their way up Chen Huo's boots and armored body like tree roots. But he remained standing impassively, still with that smug smirk upon his face as though all of this were simply an amusement. His palm still rested upon the pommel of his sword as though he couldn't be bothered even to draw his blade.

Silence reigned.

Jie saw a flicker of concern pass over Chen Huo's perfect features as he somehow sensed something that she did not. He turned as golden light exploded out of his back, burning away the shadowy tendrils and forming into dense feathery wings of fiery golden qi.

A tortured shriek like metal scraping on metal filled the air as Pan Zhanshi materialized out of nowhere behind Chen Huo. Pan Zhanshi's sword was angled to stab into Chen Huo's back, but Chen Huo's golden wings swept the blade aside in a perfect parry.

Chen Huo spun, whirling with his wings outstretched and Pan Zhanshi fell backward. Yet, when Pan Zhanshi hit the stage, he dropped beneath the surface of it, the shadows rippling like water as he re-emerged twenty feet away.

Yet, despite his speed, an ugly cut now marred the front of Pan Zhanshi's robes and chest.

Chen Huo's smirk only grew in response. "Apologies, I didn't see you there. I didn't hurt you by accident, did I?" he asked.

Pan Zhanshi's expression was impossible to read shrouded and rippling with shadow as it was but Jie couldn't imagine he was pleased.

Where Pan Tian's qi was light and bright, her bother's was dark and sinister like shadow. He was at the same cultivation level as his sister, but Jie felt he might actually be stronger. Especially in a one-on-one fight.

Even so, Pan Zhanshi seemed hopelessly outmatched and the knot of worry inside Jie only grew.

Pan Zhanshi raised his blade and dazzling silvery white lights appeared in an arc behind and above him like stars twinkling in the darkness of the night sky.

The stars shot toward Chen Huo like comets as Pan Zhanshi dropped through the shadowed surface of the stage as though he'd struck water feet first.

Chen Huo leaped aside, his golden wings flapping as he evaded the myriad stars shooting toward him. Each of which missed and impacted the stage with loud, dazzling explosions. While Chen Huo was distracted, Pan Zhanshi appeared behind him once more. This time stepping out of the shadows, the tip of his blade angled for Chen Huo's upper back.

Pan Zhanshi stabbed at Chen Huo, but Chen Huo's speed surged, and he dodged to the side as though he had eyes in the back of his head. Chen Huo whirled around and caught Pan Zhanshi's sword arm, forcing Pan Zhanshi to keep his arm extended as Chen Huo drove the heel of his palm into Pan Zhanshi's elbow.

Pan Zhanshi's arm broke with a sickening snap and Jie heard a muffled scream escape between Pan Zhanshi's grimly sealed lips.

Jie sprang to her feet, but a hand clamped over her mouth and she was yanked back and away. The world around her whirled in a dizzying flash of purple and she found herself in a hallway, staring into Elder Shi's eyes with the sounds of the fight continuing down one side. The older woman held Jie up and against the wall, her legs kicking uselessly at the air beneath her as she squirmed in Elder Shi's grip.

"Let me go!" Jie snarled as soon as Elder Shi removed her hand from Jie's mouth.

"No," Elder Shi said, "I won't let you get disqualified. If that's the only punishment they give you. Not to mention myself."

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"He's hurting him!" Jie yelled.

"I know," Elder Shi said, "and what will you do about it? Further disgrace him?"

Jie sent qi into her muscles and struggled more fiercely, but Elder Shi held her pinned against the wall like a butterfly.

"It's not disgrace! Your customs are stupid!" Jie said.

"Perhaps they are," Elder Shi, "but know that you will make Pan Zhanshi's life worse with poorly thought action."

"I won't just let someone hurt my friends!" Jie said as she wriggled uselessly against the stronger woman's iron grip.

"I wouldn't expect you to. But if you truly care for them, you will be smart. Vengeful. The Headmaster is present. Do you think he would let your friend die?" Elder Shi said.

"How would I know? Your whole society is cruel!" Jie said.

"It's life. Now, what will you do about it?" Elder Shi said.

"Let me go!" Jie cried.

She heard the noise outside still.

"It's over! You let this happen!" Jie said.

"No," Elder Shi said, "I stopped you from doing something foolish. If you stepped up there again what would happen? Do you think you'd just be disqualified? No. You would likely be expelled. Or worse. You wouldn't get a chance to make Chen Huo pay. You would make your friend's life worse! You disgraced his sister, is that not enough for you?"

"I hate you!" Jie screamed.

"You would achieve nothing!" Elder Shi snapped.

"I have to try!" Jie said, "You should too! All of you should!"

"Those are the words of a foolish child!" Elder Shi said.

Tears welled up in Jie's eyes and she hated herself for it. To let this woman see her cry.

"If you care for your friends, you will adhere to this culture at least enough to use it against those you hate," Elder Shi said.

Jie ground her teeth.

"Do you care for them?" Elder Shi said.

"I seem to be the only one who does," Jie snapped.

Elder Shi slapped Jie. It stung but was clearly held back. "Don't be a fool. You're better than this. Were it a good idea, do you think his sister would let this happen? Or him to her?" Elder Shi asked.

"Then what must I do? Just let these people do whatever they want?" Jie asked bitterly, her cheek stinging from the strike.

Elder Shi smiled, but her eyes were dark and cold. "No. You bide your time. You use your brain. You visit upon your enemy a hell that leaves them shattered. It would be better to kill them, but for now... you would be wise to avoid doing so," she said, "You're strong. Talented. Smart. Use it! The world does not run on wishes and dreams. If you hate the way it works, change it."

Elder Shi released her grip and Jie slid down the wall. Rage burned in her heart along with humiliation.

"Come. There's a basin nearby. We shall get you cleaned up and presentable. Show nothing when you return. None of this happened. Everyone will know, but do not confirm it," Elder Shi said.

"Why not? I don't care about what people think of me," Jie said.

Elder Shi sighed and then stopped mid-breath. She turned back to Jie and her eyes sparkled as though she'd realized something.

"Would you give the Chen family the satisfaction of seeing you in pain?" she asked.

Jie froze.

"That's what I thought," Elder Shi said.

Jie followed Elder Shi through the corridors beneath the arena and washed her face. Elder Shi scrutinized her and waved her hand over Jie's face and hair. With one motion, all traces of Jie's tears vanished.

"Feeling better?" Elder Shi asked.

"Not even a little," Jie replied coolly.

"Good," Elder Shi said, "Hide it from them. Deny them the satisfaction and wait until the perfect moment to get your revenge. Just a warning... the Chen family is cruel and vindictive. They've bothered you a bit up till now, but if you exact your vengeance... you'll bring their wrath down upon you."

"So be it," Jie said, "I'll just have to get stronger. Will their family head come for me? That's who that man is up there right? The one preening like an idiot?"

Elder Shi laughed. "Yes, that's him. I don't think I've ever heard someone describe him like that though. He won't come for you personally, no. Or at least... I don't think he will. You're too far beneath him. It would be an embarrassment if it were ever found out. See? The culture can help you, if you work with it properly. He may send assassins after you though. He'll have to be careful or risk angering the school or perhaps even a Spectral Lord. His enemies might use it as an excuse too. So, it won't be hopeless. But you'd do it anyway wouldn't you?" she asked.

Jie thought for a long moment. Would she? She had a promise to keep... she couldn't die before she fulfilled her end of the deal. But... could she let this go? What would Ming say? Probably something like 'life and death experiences will help you grow.' Yeah... he would say that, wouldn't he?

"I might think about it more carefully if I had to worry about someone so far beyond my strength. But... let him send whoever he wants. I'll use them to grow stronger. Just as my master would want," Jie said.

Elder Shi smiled. "One of these days, you're going to introduce me to him. He sounds like my type," she said.

Jie blushed and her eyes went wide.

"Oh? The idea of having assassins coming after you isn't a bother, but you get embarrassed over a little comment?" Elder Shi asked.

"I... uh... don't even know how that would work," Jie said.

Elder Shi frowned. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"Well... he isn't exactly human looking..." Jie said.

"And?" Elder Shi asked. She looked genuinely baffled. Even her tails curled at the tips, making them look somewhat like question marks.

"That isn't an issue?" Jie asked.

"Why would it be?" Elder Shi asked.

Jie shook her head. "I'm not used to stuff like this," she said, "can we not talk about this?"

Elder Shi chuckled. "Suit yourself," she said, "now you'd best return. Your match will start soon."

Jie ran back and returned to her seat on the bench. She received a few looks, but she kept her face as still as a porcelain doll.