Chapter 18:
The mechanical limb came, spinning freely in the air right towards Yin Yue. Catching her completely off guard. However, against all odds Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi’s blade came soaring through the air knocking against the large limb. Though the impact couldn’t truly alter it path of trajectory, it was shifted slightly aside. Giving more room for Yin Yue to duck away from the incoming object.
She could feel the air current ripping over her as it flew mere centimeters from her skull. The limb crashed behind her, with a loud clank as it hit the arena’s outer walls, before falling onto the steel tile floor. The gust of wind caused Yin Yue’s hair to flay violently over her face blinding her. Thus, she was unable to notice Zhao Yun Ru Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi coming up next to her.
“Are you unharmed?” Yin Yue roughed brushed away the strands that clung onto her face. There her LaoShi stood before her, one hand on Yin Yue’s shoulder. Before helping her student up back onto her feet. “I’m fine LaoShi, I’m unharmed.” Yin Yue replied, trying to act as though nothing has occurred. Unwilling to show a shameful side to her senior. “I see. My apologizes still, I should have been more careful and attentive to my surroundings.”
‘Well, if she was going to be insisted about it.’ Yin Yue didn’t further debate on the situation. After looking over Yin Yue several more time till she was satisfied, only then did Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi move away. “LaoShi.” Yin Yue called out after her. “Hm~.” Was the only reply she got back. As Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi was preoccupied tapping commands into the holo-graph displayed before her. As worker drones came about to move the massive TXL-32 Training Bot. “Do you have time to spare for a spar?” Yin Yue requested.
“A spar?” Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi repeated back to her. Still not facing Yin Yue as she is tapping away directing the drones to their tasks. “Yes, I would like for you to give me some guidance.” At those words, Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi tuned to face Yin Yue. Giving her a hard stare before turning back away. “You’re not ready. My lessons would be wasted on you now as you are.” Those words ticked Yin Yue. Now the surging sensation of anger was beginning to surface. Replacing the original curiosity that she had before. What did she mean that she wasn’t ready? What that she couldn’t handle it? Did LaoShi think that she was some fresh recruit out of training? She was Yin Yue the chosen Representative Elite, she had exceled well and beyond her peers to obtain the position that she now held.
She was anything but weak! “Please LaoShi I implore you for your guidance; we don’t know what else we will have to face out here in this new world. I need to be ready for anything.” She said with further enthusiasm in her voice, as if hoping to convivence Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi. “Is that the only reason?” was the sharp reply she got back. At that retort Yin Yue was stunned. She didn’t have anything else to retort back, at least not to this inquiry. In fact, she didn’t know how.
Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi didn’t seem remotely interested in her answer as she left out an audible sigh. Raising her left arm up near her chest. Then with her right hand she tapped something on the displayed holo-screen projected over her arm. Hissing and mechanical seals echoed behind Yin Yue. By this time the drone had moved the giant form of the TXL-32 Training Bot was long gone. Then a column of weapon racks jutted out form the ground around the training arena. Once released from its confines, the treasure within beamed their presence reflecting the dim light on their edges. Held up in suspense ready to be grasped by a silver-flecked suspensor miasma field, the articles were a mix of different assortments. Ranging from swords and blades of all kinds, axes, maces, hammers, knives, cleavers. There were also pole arms, broad-bladed spears, even bucklers, half-shields. There were also devices that combined sharp edges and points in ways that Yin Yue had never seen before.
“Take your pick and join me.” Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi said without facing her, as she stepped up back into the arena. Not before retrieving her blade and sheathing it. Yin Yue watched her go, before turning to face the multitude of weapon articles before her. Studying them carefully, pacing around each rack slowly. She reached for a sword with a heavy, fork-tipped blade. The instant it left the suspense field, the weight pulled at her like an animal trying to break free. Pulling her forward before she stabilized herself. Gripping the handle with both hands, she swung it and listened to the heavy steel pull the edge through the air with a whistle.
‘This thing is a brute. Not made for fine motion.’ She concluded as she whipped the blade
through a fast, downward cut. ‘One cut, one kill. Not suitable for elegant flow of martial arts.’ This was her conclusion; she turned back to the rack and took a broad-bladed Jian Sword and matching short version for herself. After giving a series of swings she nodded to herself, satisficed. After choosing her weapon, she made her way to the ring. Lifting the steel woven cord and ducked into the arena. Placing her tools to the side, she began to strip down her clothes leaving only her bra and panties on. She then tied her long hair into a simple ponytail, letting it drape down over her shoulders.
Retrieving her articles, she turned to face Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi. There she stood waiting for her, patient, the aura was still around her. Her two Dao blades still sheathed and buckled around her waist. Once Yin Yue had stepped into the ring however that had changed. She then drew each in turn, the monomolecular NeoCarbon steel blades letting out barely a whisper, as they slipped from the oiled leather sheath. Even unpowered they gleamed with death in the soft light reflexing of their edge. The moment the weapons were drawn, the aura around Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi changed. The once calm tranquility air transformed instantly into frenzy killing intent, like an unleashed beast. So intense was it that it caught Yin Yue by surprise at the sudden change. It was as if the pressure coming from around Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi, had physical weight. She felt it pulling down on her skin, her hands became sweaty. Her heartbeat became more rapid, and she instinctively took a step back.
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Yin Yue halted and recomposed herself. Realizing just what was happening, she then turned back to her training. Taking her stance, she forced back down all doubt and fears. This cast an amused simile on Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi lips. “At least you haven’t forgotten what fear is, that’s good but not enough.” Yin Yue didn’t say anything in response. She didn’t even know how to respond to that, what was she even supposed to say to that. However, that was the least of her problems now. Yin Yue had just blinked, and Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi was already upon her. Blade held high poised to strike.
This threw her off balance as she struggled to dodge the kiss of death. Each swing just barely grazed her skin. It was fast. Shockingly fast. However, this didn’t deter her, as Yin Yue was already moving. Pushing herself to keep out of the weapons edge. Looking for an opportunity to strike back. There was none. This continued in silence. At first Yin Yue had thought Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi would talk, acting as any other instructor. Coaching a student, giving any advice and tips to a lesser. But she didn’t, she simply fought. What had shocked Yin Yue the most was not the lack of diolite, but the lack of any emotion. The blank expression of her senior was nerve wrecking, there was nothing she could read from it. The sheer lack of emotions frightened her. There wasn’t anything not a hint of a sneer or a flourish. Even as she was besting her.
There was only an intensity that Yin Yue had never felt, focused yet boiling, like the waves of a raging ocean. A tidal storm that would never pass. Unless everything before it was swept away. This only infuriated Yin Yue, this could have only meant one thing. Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi wasn’t even taking this duel seriously. This was nothing but a game to her! She swung back catching one of the Dao blades coming for her. Before pushing off and catching the next, sliding them away from her as she tried in a futile effort to strike back. The next blow coming was unavoidable, as she raised her sword to parry the incoming strike. She felt it clang from her blade as she parried. She turned the blow losing the shorter Jian in her left as she pours all her might into her right. With a forward thrust shifting the sword grip to one hand, all her weight and speed behind the point of the blade. This didn’t connect, as Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi merely shifted sideways and gifted her with a scratch, to her sword wielding arm.
The jolt shooting up her arm just mere seconds, but that was enough. With a flash her sword was knocked out of her hand. She was then pinned to her knee, and the two Dao’s edges was planted near her throat. The duo made no more moves, but seemly locked in place gazing into each other’s eyes. Yin Yue’s life filled eyes glazed up into the dark pits of her LaoShi’s empty expression.
Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi then released her hold, stepping away from Yi Yue. Once she reached Yin Yue’s dropped Jian, with her feet she kicked the sword up upon her feet. Then balancing on one leg, she pushed the blade into the air towards Yin Yue. Whom caught the weapon with no issue. Hand on the guard as she looked back at her LaoShi.
“Again.” She said fanning three fingers out towards her. This Yin Yue responded in kind she resumed her stance, legs planted wide. Then she lunged. Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi once again slide past and was inside her guard in a heartbeat, a saber slicing for her throat. Though Yin Yue was ready this time, the speed of the strike was still hard to overcome. She barely managed to twist backwards far enough to avoid the strike, but once again threw herself off balance. She only succeeded in giving a clumsy swing. Just enough to keep Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi at bay long enough to regain a defensive stance.
Not that her LaoShi paused to reassess, however, but kept coming. Still twinning her strikes, high and low, high, and low. Even if Yin Yue had found her combat rhythm to counter. Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi would change the order and pace of her attacks. As she leapt again, twisting like a bladed hurricane. she was fast, so very fast. Completely throwing Yin Yue off, then with a deft flick of the wrist and Yin Yue’s guard was open once again.
“Again.” That was all Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi said. Thus, they went another round.
Once again, Yin Yue found herself at the mercy of the Dao’s edge. This time Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi face so close to her own that she could feel the breath on her cheeks. Once again not a word was spoken between them. Until. “You are everything they say you are……and you are more. You do seem qualified for that position that you have. But you are missing something, for all your skill.” Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi finally said, breaking the silence between them.
“You were beaten because you lack focus.”
“And you lack joy. Was this so boring, so beneath you that you didn’t think this of any importance?”
Yin Yue retorted back, with fire in her words. She didn’t expect to have such an emotional outburst. However, now she didn’t care. She had grown repeatedly more frustrated during the last few minutes. There was just nothing she could do against Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi. Everything she had tried was rebuffed so easily as if it was child’s play. The rage building within her became unbearable to the point now she couldn’t help but vet out her anger.
Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi didn’t scold her, but instead gave a slight smirk at her instead. Her eyes still dark devoid of anything close to thought. The next words that came out weren’t ones giving a lecture of mannerism, as she softly said the next few words.
“If that was all that you got from this, then it just proves to me even more that you aren’t ready. Keep that mindset and you will never truly win. That is why you will lose.” At that Yin Yue felt her emotions boiled over. Her cheeks burned, but there was nothing else she could say. What could she even say. She had not the slightest idea in what Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi was spewing from her lips. Thus, she could only nod, bitterness choking her throat. Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi released her hold on Yin Yue, sheathing her blades into the empty scabbards on her belt and pulled Yin Yue up to her feet.
Before turning away from Yin Yue no longer seemingly interested in her. Leaving Yue to pick up her belongings, though not bothering to put back on her uniform. After placing the articles, she had borrowed back in their place. She processed to storm out of the training arena.
“Come find me again, I’ll be here at the same time. If you’re interested in my lessons.” Came the voice of Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi from behind her. At this it came as a surprise to Yin Yue that she halted in her steps. She had just planned to ignore it, the curiosity within her blossomed once again. Her rage was subsided. Thus, she straightened her posture and offered a curt bow to Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi.
“I look forward for more pointers of your guidance.”