Shi Liu sat at the edge of the cliff, staring out at the Red River. It stretched through the entirety of the Huaxia, making it the country’s lifeblood, hence its name, but that wasn’t the reason for its name.
Throughout the centuries before Huaxia’s formation into an Empire, many Kings or fools would try claim the river as their own, only for their own blood to be spilled in the river itself.
None of that mattered because Shi Liu didn’t care why it was called the Red River.
Shi Liu though, had spent six years in seclusion and in that time, his strength increased drastically, but with that increase his mind was at wit’s end.
The trials and tribulations of his patience and introspection forced him to battle through bouts of self-pittance. He did as asked by his master.
Ascend to the Qi Perception Realm. Despite the accomplishment, he couldn’t help but feel frustrated. The six years of isolation had taken its toll on him, mentally and emotionally.
Footsteps clapped behind him like a splashing fish. A surging sensation swirled around Shi Liu, making him clutch his chest.
He closed his eyes, feeling something smother him whole. He flared his Qi within his Soul, Core and Mind Dantians. I haven’t forgotten, He thought, how could I? This was the only thing, Master Mo Shi used to remind us of his power.
“Master Mo Shi” He said softly.
“Shi Liu,” Zhu Mo Shi said with a hint of pride in his tone. “You’ve done it. You’ve ascended to the Qi Perception Realm. Well done.”
A thunderous clap bellowed across the bay, silencing nature around. The once chirping birds went silent. The swaying branches stopped, as if scared by Zhu Mo Shi’s presence alone.
Shi Liu pushed himself off the ground and turned to face his master. Six years passed, but Zhu Mo Shi still looked the same.
His black hair was slipped back into a top knot, showing a few strands of grey hair. His face was fierce whilst his brown eyes held that permanent intensity within them. The scribble of a goatee he had was black and unkempt, making him look like a gruff old man, which wasn’t helped by the tattered robes he wore. The tattered robes have patches around his elbows and knees, making him seem like a member of the Golden Bowl Sect.
Shi Liu forced a smile and bowed reverently cupping his fist, “Thank you, Master. I would not have be able to ascend without yo—“
“Enough!” Mo Shi growled, cutting him off with a wave of his hand. “I can feel how tempered your Qi is! You think I don’t know what Shi San meant to you? HE MEANT MORE TO ME BOY! I RAISED HIM. I TAUGHT HIM HOW TO FIGHT, AND YET. HE WAS STILL THE EMPEROR’S DOG!”
“Aren’t we all the Emperor’s dogs, Master?” Shi Liu scoffed.
A loud explosion echoed throughout the bay. The ground shook as if an earthquake was taking place. The silent birds squealed as they flew away whilst the branches cowered.
“You think you can fight me…with words, why don’t you raise your sword.”
“I dare not do such a foolish thing, Master,”
“Yet you speak to me as of I were some swill!”
The urge to speak was at the tip of Shi Liu’s tongue, but he buried that urge the furthest corner of my being. “No, Master. I have not” He whispered, closing his eyes.
He watched as his master turned from him, showing his back. This was one of the first lessons Zhu Mo Shi taught him. “Never show your back to anyone…even me,” Shi Liu reminisced.
A burst of Qi shot towards Shi Liu, aimed at his chest. He drew his sword that was nestled on the ground. He channeled Qi into the sword and blocked the Qi blast and skidded back five meters almost sliding off the edge of the cliff.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Qi swirled to his left in the form of a colourless aura. Without thinking, he flicked the blade to his left and a loud metallic ring followed.
The blow forced him right, and in that instance, he realised that his master didn’t trust him. He tapped the ground, feeling his heartbeat twice in that very second. If I’m to die, I’LL DIE FIGHTING!
Shi Liu spun, lessening the impact of the blow and watched as foreign Qi swirling to his left. He raised his sword in defence and anticipated the the bouldering attack from his master. The moment he tempered his sword with Qi, the wisp of Qi dissipated. A feint!
“Shi Liu,” Zhu Mo Shi said calmly. “Out of all the warriors of the Black Cauldron that I have trained. I’ve always considered you the best. You and Shi Jiu. But to see you fight like this…excites me!”
Zhu Mo Shi appeared in front of Shi Liu, sword drawn above his head, ready to cut Shi Liu down!
Shi Liu swirled the Qi within his Core Dantian and surged it through his meridians.
Zhu Mo Shi’s blade came down like thunder, cutting a loc of Shi Liu’s hair, barely missing his chest. In a blink of an eye, he appeared to his master’s right loosing a kick which only caught wind. “Humph, you still favour attacking from the right, have you learned nothing these past six years?” Mo Shi mocked.
“I could say the same of you...master” Shi Liu answered calmly. Mo Shi chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief as he spun, ducking and weaved through each strike Shi Liu made at him.
Zhu Mo Shi was on the back foot, retreating as he evaded each one of Shi Liu’s sword slashes. As his heart thumped, his sword tightly gripped within his hand, he was more alive that not.
That’s how Shi Liu felt as he watched his master’s eyes slowly come alive to fixation. He knew his master was a patient man, a man that would wait for him to show arrogance.
But he didn’t train in seclusion for six years not to realise his weaknesses.
As they clashed, the sound of metal on metal reverberated throughout the bay, echoing against the cliffs. The swishing sound of Zhu Mo Shi’s sword was like the sound of water splashing against rocks, whilst Shi Liu’s movements were firm and decisive, like the unyielding rock that stood against the
As Shi Liu stood his ground, solid and unwavering like a sturdy boulder. Zhu Mo Shi’s movements were fluid an ever-changing flow of water...reminiscent of a river.
They took to the air, dancing in the sky using the Qinggong effectively. Each blow landing with the force of a crashing wave. The river, however, was relentless, never ceasing to wear down Shi Liu’s defenses.
It was as if Zhu Mo Shi's moves had an inexhaustible source, as though he drew his strength from the very river he fought beside.
Shi Liu could feel his own strength fading, his breaths growing shorter and more labored. He was the rock that stood against the river’s fury, but he knew he couldn't withstand the assault forever. He felt like a tiny pebble being battered against the shore, his strength no match for the relentless current.
Despite the overwhelming power of the river, Shi Liu refused to back down. He stood firm, his muscles tense, and his eyes focused. His blade flashed in the air like a bolt of lightning, meeting Zhu Mo Shi's sword with a resounding clang.
The two fighters were locked in a fierce struggle, neither willing to give an inch. For a moment, it seemed as though the rock and the river were evenly matched. But the river's strength was too great, and eventually, the rock crumbled under its might.
Shi Liu fell to his knees, his chest heaving with exhaustion. He looked up at Zhu Mo Shi, who stood above him, his sword sheathed.
Zhu Mo Shi held out his hand and Shi Liu took it begrudgingly. He clenched his teeth feeling the relief of his weight as he stood up. Exhaustion roiled within his knees despite the small respite, but at least he wasn’t dead.
As the two stood in silence, Zhu Mo Shi walked towards Shi Liu patting him on the cheek. “You’ve improved, Shi Liu,” he said with a small smile.
Shi Liu’s shoulders slumped with relief, and he sheathed his own sword. “Thank you, Master,” he said with a deep bow.
Zhu Mo Shi turned and began to walk away, but stopped after a few steps. “I know you’ve followed me without asking any questions. I promise once we’ve killed that traitorous Emperor I will tell you why we took this course of action.”
Shi Liu fell to his knees, kowtowing to his master. The years in seclusion weren’t just about him being alone, it was him not knowing why the Emperor had to die.
He had his reservations when he followed Zhu Mo Shi, but after discovering the carcasses of Axsumites in this very valley six years ago, he knew that his master was right about something. “I understand Master, forgive an impatient student such as me.”
Zhu Mo Shi approached Shi Liu and knelt, he clapped his hand on his shoulder and squeezed firmly. “Your the youngest dingshe to ascend to the Qi Perception Realm. It took me fifty-five years to ascend, and did at thirty-five!”
“Has Shi Jiu ascended as well?”
“He has. He's reached the Accentuation Realm.”
“Congratulations Master!”
“Don’t celebrate, that traitorous Emperor still lives!”
“Has Prince Zheng rallied enough Ministers to his side?”
“A few, but the most important Minister is with us...Minister of Rites.”
“The Minister of War?”
“Not a concern,”
“He’s heading north to bolster the army at Faizou. Barbarians of the Barren lands have been stirring around the border walls.”
“Prince Zheng is using this opportunity to depose the Emperor? that’s brilliant!” Shi Liu’s asked heart skipping a beat.
Zhu Mo looked Shi Liu dead in the face, forcing Shi Liu into silence. As he looked into his master’s cold black eyes, he felt as though he saw his master’s pain, anger and resolve. “Pack your things,” Zhu Mo Shi said firmly, “We leave for the capital.”