The day of the duel was marked by howling rain and lashing wind. Isaac stood amongst a large crowd as Li Tian and Pang Zhenyu squared up inside the arena. Lady Ling stood beneath a dainty parasol, looking proudly at her boyfriend, who blew her a kiss that made her blush.

Isaac was in the group that represented Pang's friends, standing behind AA Pangolin, who was currently sucking on a lollipop and being doted on by his new birth parents.

The pouring rain didn't seem to dampen the duo's fighting spirit, but Li Tian had invested in waterproof hair gel while Pang Zhenyu appeared a little bedraggled.

The Elder of the Martial Hall stepped up in between, and recited a litany of grievances, and ended with a proclamation that the Council of Elders had assented to an Honor Duel between the Pang and Li families. As agreed on, both sides would be allowed to wield weapons as well as use all their Cultivation techniques, and they were asked to present their weapons for inspection.

YM Pang nodded at an attendant, who approached bearing a curved scimitar, the weapon so sharp that the impacting raindrops were cut into two so finely they didn't even splatter.

On Li Tian's end, a friend of his stood up and walked over carrying Obbie, wrapped in cloth yet already exuding an aura of despair and destruction. Li Tian took it and extended the blade with a flourish, prompting a small gust of wind.

Isaac watched on tenterhooks, ready for the fight to begin, when suddenly a voice cried out.

"Martial Elder! I wish you and the other Elders to examine both blades in detail, this morning, I received an anonymous tip informing me that the blades might have been tampered with." A man in austere robes declared. It was Li Tian's uncle.

Pang's face darkened, he replied-"Esteemed Elder, we agreed that in this battle, all enchantments and blade blessings are allowed. Why disrupt the auspicious timing of the duel with pointless checks?"

The Elder chuckled. "Indeed. Both sides are allowed to bless their blades, but what I'm talking about is illegal tampering of one's weapons." He turned to look at Isaac, who blanched and peed a little. Thank God it was raining.

"Elder Li Ming, do you have any evidence of impropriety?" The Sect Leader, who was widely praised for his neutrality, asked him.

"Look at this record of Qi movements taken over the week at the sect. Does that pattern not resemble Reclaiming One's Lost Sword?" Li Ming said complacently, drawing up a display of the sect's records.

The Leader nodded. "Please refrain from any further judgement, especially upon our honored guest. Of course, I must remind all that the penalty for tampering with the internal affairs of the sect is death, and death alone."

Isaac found himself the center of attention, and did his level best to not fidget in anxiety. Pang looked thunderous, while AA Pangolin chuckled and lit a cigarette, which gamely resisted the rain.

At Li Ming's behest, the assembled Elders gathered around the weapons and began using their investigative moves.

"Demon Slaying Edge imbuement, hmm, our juniors are precocious indeed. I only managed to cast it when I a Spirit Journeyman." An Elder said approvingly. Pang bowed, but he was evidently disgruntled at a secret about his weapon being leaked.

They then moved to Li Tian, who held the blade up for examination. The slight miasma of darkness quivered as a dozen moves were used to examine it.

"The Heavenly Surgeon's Scalpel? Wonderful choice, on a blade this sharp, it will make it scare ghosts and slay deities!" Another exclaimed. Li Tian preened before saying "I am undeserving of Elder's praise. This move was a flash of inspiration, it augments the already astounding sharpness of my blade to unseen heights, but it was only through observing your daily practice that I was able to breakthrough."

The Elder smiled and patter him on the back. "Did you find a way to prevent the imbuement from dispelling after two dozen blows?"

Li Tian shook his head. "If Elder could not do it, what hope do I have? But I leave aside two dozen blows, I will only need three, max."

His side broke out in laughter while Pang's grumbled in disapproval.

The Elders finished their inspection and were about to disperse when Li Ming cried out. "My fellow Daoists, have you forgotten to check the blade for perfidy, such as Reclaiming One's Lost Sword?"

The Sect Leader furrowed his brows. "Young Ming, rest assured I've checked personally, the blade shows no sign of being tampered with."

"Then I beseech that Leader examine Pang Zhenyu's guest, Isaac Kai, his meridians are yet to fully develop and will clearly show signs of activating and dispelling the curse if he was scared into dispelling it on hearing the accusations."

This caused a furor in the crowd, even Li Tian's side seemed troubled. Casting such aspersions on a guest of the Sect was rude and unhospitable to say the least.

But AA Pangolin spoke up next and almost spooked Isaac and Pang out of their skins. "If the opinion of an old man is worth anything, I second the motion to examine Little Isaac's meridians."

Pang stood flabbergasted, his open mouth quickly filling up with rainwater. Li Ming and Li Tian smiled broadly, the former moving up with the Elders to check Isaac now that a honored Ancestor had given his consent.

Isaac sighed and let their moves flow through him, a extremely uncomfortable and painful sensation akin to hot mercury coursing through his veins. The moment they stopped, he bent over and spat out a small amount of blood.

The Martial Elder and Sect Leader turned their gazes towards Li Ming, who looked bemused, before using a healing move on Isaac. As he recovered, they promised him that regardless of the events of this battle, he would be granted the right to ask for recompense for the violation of his privacy.

With this all out of the way, the Martial Elder resumed the announcement of protocol, asking the participants to confirm that while the duel was nominally non-lethal, since both of them had agreed to use such potent weapons there was every chance of a mishap robbing a life before the referee could intervene.

Neither Li Tian or Pang Zhenyu looked smug anymore, and both nodded in assent before bowing towards each other and taking up their positions.

Lightning crackled across the sky, and as the roar of its thunder reached the audience, the Martial Elder declared- "Begin!"

With a cry, both Pang and Li Tian dashed forward, storming across the slick surface. Pang stopped first, realizing that he wouldn't have enough leverage to dodge Li Tian's move, but his attempt to restrain his momentum almost made him slip, and he barely managed to fend off Li Tian's first blow, which glanced off his blade but not before causing an explosion that sent all the water in the arena flying.

"Good blade, good blade!" The Martial Elder declared, before checking on Isaac. If he was angered at his possession being taken from him and used on an ally, he didn't show it, grimly focusing on the battle.

But before Pang could riposte, Li Tian used Obbie's guard to pin his sword, and then punched Pang in the side.

Pang grunted, while Isaac winced. But while the blow might have caved in Isaac's ribs, Pang was made of sterner stuff and had a basic foundation in Body Cultivation too, while he was winded, he took the opportunity to slash forward, cutting a section of Li Tian's robes which fluttered away in the wind.

Li Tian looked down at his tattered robe, a flicker of irritation flashing across his face. With a growl, he used the moment of surprise his opponent's successful attack had provided, spinning around with a speed that belied his size. Suddenly, he launched his blade in a series of beautifully precise and deadly arcs aimed at Pang. Obbie reflected the bolts of the storm, a mesmerizing, but deadly show of light.

Pang, on his part, managed to parry the flurry of attacks with swift movements, his blade a whirring phantasm. His sword, though not a famous artifact like the Obbie, was exquisite and crafted by the finest smith of the Azure Water Sect. It glowed with a deep blue light, protecting its master and matched Obbie's radiance bolt for bolt. The interplay of their blades was certainly appreciated by the audience, who were cheering themselves hoarse.

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The two continued their close-quarter fight, the sound of their crossed blades echoing against the stormy night amidst the thunder roars. Their bodies moved in a swift and deadly dance, punching and parrying, every muscle and sinew straining with the effort. Li Tian broke the pattern with a powerful sidestep, aiming a powerful jab at Pang's wrist, hoping to disarm him. Pang managed to duck beneath his outstretched fist, his blade darting out toward Li Tian's exposed flank. Li Tian twisted madly, barely avoiding a potentially fatal thrust. Their eyes met across the arena, weapons glistening, both combatants gasping for breath, but neither willing to back down.

Despite the elegance of their previous exchanges, their lack of comprehensive cultivation foundation did start to show. The rhythm of their dance faltered, and the speed of their parry and riposte noticeably slowed. The once rapid-fire exchange of blows turned into a series of desperate lunges and scrappy jabs. Li Tian, in a moment of misguided bravery, attempted a high jump to land a decisive blow. But being an Apprentice, he miscalculated his leap in the stormy situation and landed awkwardly, slipping on the drenched ground.

Pang, spotting a chance, rushed in, his blade angled for a body blow. But his footing was equally unsteady on the slick platform. Losing his balance in the rain-slickened battleground, his strike veered off-path and landed as a shallow cut on Li Tian's shoulder.

Lady Ling cried out in sorrow, but Li Tian only grunted with pain, stumbling back, his hand clasping his bleeding shoulder. But he narrowly avoided getting a deeper, more critical wound.

Recovered from his misstep, Li Tian saw an opportunity to cease the offensive. Yet his over-eagerness didn't escape Pang's attention. He sidestepped Li Tian's rushed assault, causing Li Tian to overextend. Despite the amateurish mistakes, their duel was no less thrilling. The storm raged on, mirroring the intensity on the dueling stage as Li Tian wiped the rain and blood-soaked hair from his eyes, and Pang collected himself for the next bout.

The pause in combat was momentary. Li Tian, disadvantaged as he was with his bleeding arm, took up the offensive with a vengeance. His face was deformed in a snarl, eyes burning with determination. With a quick flurry of jabs and kicks, he rapidly closed in on Pang who was just slightly off balance. With a deft thrust, he evaded a parry and plunged his sword into Pang's side. The audience inhaled sharply as Pang cried out, tumbling backward with agony on his face. He struck out sharply and Obbie, now so sharp it had no chance of getting stuck in a wound, hit his scimitar edge-on, the jarring impact sending both swords rolling towards opposite sides of the arena.

Both combatants were now disarmed; but the fight wasn't over. The storm served as a grim backdrop as they faced each other, their garments flapping wildly, bodies battered and bruised, but spirits unyielding. Li Tian launched forward without wasting a moment, throwing a powerful punch which was barely parried by Pang. They exchanged blows, raining punches and kicks on each other with dogged determination.

While both were clearly worse for wear, they were still far from conceding, and denied the Martial Elder's offer to call it a draw. They continued their melee, valiantly weathering each other's assault. Blood from the wound on Li Tian's shoulder mixed with the rainwater, painting a gruesome trail on his garments. Pang, holding his wounded side, fought with all his might, not letting his agonizing pain deter his resolve. He attempted to land a decisive blow on Li Tian's face, yet his opponent managed to narrowly dodge the brunt of it but had his right ear pulped. The audience watched in silent awe, too entranced to cheer, their hearts beating along with the rhythm of the duel.

"Such ferocity. It's a shame that this must end with one dead or grievously wounded, but even the authority of the Sect cannot overrule a matter of familial honor." The Sect Elder sighed deeply, which prompted AA Pangolin to offer him a cigarette. It went out barely after he managed to get it between his lips, and the Elder muttered before igniting it with a wave of his hand.

With their energy quickly depleting, the exchange of blows slowly transformed into a gruesome grappling match. Li Tian lunged at Pang, his strong arms reaching out for his wounded foe. Pang, bracing himself for the onslaught, twisted himself deftly to the side, his hand reaching out to seize Li Tian’s wrist, but the motion reopened his wound. Their hands locked in an iron grip, they swirled around each other, vying for dominance in the struggle. Sweat and rain trailed down their faces, intermingling with the blood welling from their earlier wounds. Every gasp for air, every strained muscle was a testament to their fierce determination to stay in the fight.

With their bodies clenched close, they both lost their footing on the storm-drenched stone beneath them, crashing onto the ground, their intertwined bodies raising a splash of muddy water. Neither relinquished their grip, instead, they rolled over the slick terrain, punching, clawing, and wrestling, as much in desperation as in determination. Their grunts echoed off the walls of the courtyard, matching pace with the thunderous skies above. Li Tian managed to pin Pang down for a moment, landing a harsh punch on his face that shattered his nose, only to be bucked off and receive a retaliating punch square on his own. He fell back, giving Pang a chance to regain his feet.

Pang wavered for a moment, but then immediately dashed for his own blade. Li Tian roared and ran to his, picking it up and rushing over where Pang desperately attempted to fish his up with numbed fingers.

"Pang Zhenyu! My ancestors have slaughtered you Pang dogs for generations. Even your father has fled to work in a menial role in the Imperial Court rather than face my uncle!"

Li Tian thrust down with his blade and stabbed it deeply into Pang's hand, sticking it into the ground.

The members of the Pang family present cried out in dismay, forgetting the affront Li Tian's words had caused.

Isaac yelled too, but what cut most clearly through the noise was a calm statement by Ancient Ancestor Pangolin. "Little Pang. It has been two dozen blade kisses. Do not make your Ancestor lose what little face he has left while he still wears diapers."

But his words seemed useless to Pang, who writhed in agony. Li Tian smirked, and effortlessly pulled out his blade before kicking Pang aside. Somehow, Pang still barely held on to the blade with his crippled fingers and moved it to his other hand under Li Tian's aloof gaze."

"Pang Zhenyu. Let it not be said that the Li family is ignoble in victory. Kowtow before me and let me chop off your arm and cauterize the stump with Demon's Incense, and I will spare your life." Li Tian smirked, whirling Obbie as the joy of imminent victory overwhelmed his pain.

Pang coughed blood and spat out fink foam, his words barely audible in the storm. "Li Tian, I will not bow before you should the Heavens descend and order it. Your head will be sent to my father in a fruit hamper, but not before I wipe that smile off your face. Fuck you and your nine generations!"

He roared, spitting out more blood than air, and rushed at Li Tian one last time. Li Tian only walked forward with his fixed smile, and swung Obbie right at Li Pang's neck, grossly outpacing Pang's anemic blow.

There was another explosion as Obbie struck home, the vapor obscuring the audience's view of what must have been the lethal blow. Screams and wails rang out, and even Isaac rushed forward towards the arena. The only one immobile was Ancient Ancestor Pangolin, who raised his chubby little hands and stopped his birth father from wheeling him forward.

As everyone expected, when the vapor cleared, Pang was prostrate on the floor, while Li Tian stood steadfast. But before anyone had time to notice that Pang's head and neck was still attached to his shoulders, they heard a wet sound as his scimitar, now deeply embedded inside Li Tian, slowly fell downwards while cutting through the hardened meat and bones of his ribs before falling to the ground with a ringing clatter.

Then, with a wet sound, the two halves of Li Tian separated like the blooming of a blood orchid.

"Can someone please change my nappies? Thanks Mom." Pangolin said.