CHAPTER 11

CRANE SWORD SECT

Mark trotted along the dirt road on his white horse, whistling and taking sips from his flask of wine. It had been two weeks since his last gig – getting rid of that pesky ghost – and his coin purse was feeling lighter, but he didn't mind. He relished the carefree moments, immersed in nature's embrace. Suddenly, the rhythm of galloping hooves disrupted his tranquility. Turning to look, he spotted three horsemen trailing behind him. From their appearance, he could tell they were from Archon Hanying's domain. One of them had a long white beard, showing his age, while the others were younger, with smooth-shaven faces and fair features. All three were clad in flowing white robes.

As the trio halted their steeds upon seeing him and dismounted, Mark dismounted as well. "Have we crossed paths before?" he inquired, wondering if he had encountered them during his pre-amnesia days.

"No," the elder responded. "But you've crossed blades with my disciple, Wen Cai."

Mark paused, recollecting the encounter with the swordsman. They had clashed swords in Ikronion – Wen Cai had left with a broken leg and a battered nose, while Mark had pocketed his earnings. "Ah, yes, I remember him. A skilled swordsman indeed. He did mention he was itching for a duel, right? He challenged me, and I emerged victorious, fair and square."

"He did speak highly of your prowess in combat," the elder acknowledged.

"Good to hear. No need for us to be at odds then. I bear no grudges."

As Mark began to turn away, the elder interjected. "Do you think you can publicly humiliate my disciple and walk away unscathed? Do you know who I am?"

"I can't say that I do."

"Hmph! I am Kang Zhong, leader of the Crane Sword Sect! I challenge you to a duel to defend my Sect's honor!"

"I'm not interested in your honor talk. I won't fight you without compensation."

"Very well. If you emerge victorious, I shall reward you with a hundred gold coins."

"Now we're talking..."

Kang Zhong and his two disciples brandished their swords. “Diamond formation!” the old man shouted, leading the trio to form a triangle with Zhong at the forefront. Mark drew his sword in response, bracing himself for the impending duel. The trio launched their attack simultaneously: Zhong charged forward with remarkable speed and aggression, while his two disciples flanked him. Mark struggled to parry Zhong’s strike, the force nearly causing him to lose his grip on his sword.

“Phew!” Mark exhaled deeply.

“Twin cranes strike!” the elder commanded.

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The two disciples lunged at Mark from opposite sides. He quickly bent down, narrowly avoiding the blades as they sliced through the air above him. Feeling the wind brush against his face, Mark took a few steps back before launching his counterattack. With a swift downward swing, he aimed a vertical strike at one of the disciples. The man braced to defend himself, but Mark quickly changed tactics, transitioning into a horizontal slash. The blade scraped the man’s chest, drawing blood and leaving a gash. Mark then subdued him with a forceful backkick, opting not to deliver a fatal blow.

The second disciple lunged at Mark, aiming his sword, but Mark swiftly dodged the attack. The disciple persisted with powerful slashes, but Mark skillfully deflected them. Suddenly, Zhong launched an attack from behind, attempting to decapitate Mark with a swift slash. Mark countered with a backkick, catching Zhong in the groin just as he was about to strike. Simultaneously, he parried another strike from the disciple.

Mark delivered a fierce blow to the disciple, making his sword slip from his grasp. He then hammered the handle of his own sword into the man's face. Blood and broken teeth spilled from his mouth as he crumpled to the ground, knocked out. Only Zhong remained on his feet, having shaken off the effects of Mark's kick, and he leveled his sword at Mark.

"I won't underestimate you again," the elder declared. He focused his Qi energy onto his blade, making it crackle with invisible power. "I've trained for years in mastering Qi, and now I'll use it to finish you off, you scoundrel!"

With lightning speed, Zhong charged forward. Mark couldn't block in time, and Zhong's sword sliced across his chest, the Qi-infused blade shattering the links of his chainmail armor and grazing his skin, drawing blood. Zhong then struck downward. Mark managed to parry just in time, but the force of the blow knocked him to the ground. Before he could rise, Zhong attacked again, but Mark rolled aside, narrowly avoiding the blade which only managed to graze a few strands of his hair.

Mark rose to his feet and sheathed his longsword. Instead, he drew his spirit sword, hoping it would prove effective against enchanted weapons as it was effective against ghosts. Zhong struck, and Mark swiftly parried the blow. This time, he managed to withstand the attack without faltering. He breathed a sigh of relief. The fight was now on equal terms once more.

Mark launched into an aggressive assault, delivering a rapid series of slashes to put Zhong on the defensive. Though Zhong parried with ease, Mark had gained momentum, no longer forced onto the back foot. In a swift motion, Mark slashed downward while launching a kick toward Zhong’s chest. While Zhong managed to parry the slash, he was struck by the force of the kick, stumbling backward. Seizing the opportunity, Mark leapt onto Zhong, forcing him to the ground.

The two men grappled fiercely, rolling together and clashing swords. As the intensity of their struggle mounted, Mark gritted his teeth. Zhong, utilizing his mastery of Qi, increased the pressure, prompting Mark to take drastic action: he bit Zhong’s hand. With a cry of pain, Zhong released his grip on his sword. Mark swiftly aimed his blade at Zhong’s neck. “Do you surrender?” he demanded.

“Yes,” Zhong muttered, conceding defeat.

Both men rose to their feet. “I expect my payment,” Mark asserted. “I didn’t fight for free.”

“Of course,” Zhong replied with a smile. Suddenly, he seized his sword and charged at Mark with astonishing speed. Mark narrowly evaded the attack, feeling the blade graze his cheek and draw blood.

Before Zhong could react, Mark thrust his sword forward, piercing deep into the elder’s thigh. Zhong dropped to his knees in pain as Mark withdrew his sword, its blade stained with blood. With a swift motion, Mark swung his blade again, but instead of dealing a fatal blow, he sheared off Zhong’s beard.

“Now,” Mark demanded, “will you give me the money?”

Zhong opened his eyes and fumbled in his robes, producing a pouch of coins. “As agreed. You are an honorable man,” Zhong acknowledged. “I owe you for sparing me despite my deceit. If you ever find yourself in the Realm of Hanying, the Crane Sword Sect will offer you whatever aid you require.”

“I’ll remember that,” Mark replied, accepting the pouch of coins.

Mark climbed onto his reliable white horse and set off. Such is the life of a wanderer - always journeying onwards.