In spite of Bazhen's attitude, Gangzhi had to applaud the man's skill, his experience let him dominate the battle, it was to the level of pressuring a foe with superior armour and a reach advantage with a single dagger. Gangzhi was breathing heavily, cultivator or not, fighting over two hours at an opponent's rhythm was a taxing endavour for the body and mind, Bazhen was 'courteous' and offered numerous breaks, which made Gangzhi fuel his movements not just with Force, but also spite. Gangzhi was able to secure minor victories, cuts on Bazhen's clothing, and a strike with the pommel to the shoulder, but nothing within the criteria of 'drawing blood'. Gangzhi regretted the fact that he could not yet incorporate his techniques into normal swordplay, knowing using Helios would just leave him exposed, and the big motion made it easy to dodge.
"You are skilled, you really are. Nothing like a noble brat with no combat experience" Bazhen looked at the setting sun. "I'm sure you will blow everyone away."
Gangzhi had to lean on his sword, a sword stained with the blood of a snake, but not a man.
"I'll be taking my leave then, with only good news." Gangzhi's senior smiled innocently, in a way unfit for an adult man. Instead of going through the palace full of people looking for him, he headed towards the inner gardens.
-
Kaixue did not depart immediately, after hearing the scared beep of his pet bird, he had spent forty minutes calming it down, or rather, calming both of them down, the smell of a burnt wall brought back the image of Fire Force whistling through the air, nearly turning his feathered friend into a pile of ash.
He changed his shoes, and took a lantern with him, the only ones to walk at night without a light were thieves.
He followed the path in his memory, It was not one well optimised, as it was a path he discovered accidentally when wandering, and had a lot of repeating steps. He was not sure he would be able to calculate how to simplify it, but he did exclude walking the same circle around the Aronias three times from the map in his head.
At the end of the path was a small arch cut into a live fence, or there used to be. Kaixue stopped himself just before his head would be buried into the live fence, that was still ten feet tall, but now lacked an opening.
"How considerate, are you here to be my guide, little guy?" A familiar voice asked, it was the man who had threatened him with a knife. What poor timing Kaixue had, why was he here already?
"I actually came to warn you." Kaixue turned to face the man, he was closer than when he spoke for the first time, and there wasn't anywhere else to move to maintain a proper distance to talk to a stranger.
"Warn me about what?" The man tilted his head.
"There are ferocious beast inside the innermost garden, they will tear and devour anyone who enters." Kaixue tried to convey concern, rather than a threat.
"You seem fine."
"I believe something was mentioned about the need for the 'right blood'." Kaixue saw no hope in lying, and it was against himself to attempt to lie either way.
"Then I suppose you should lead me to the entrance."
"Of course, I-I'll be honoured to."
"You don't have to pretend to be happy about it, it will just happen." Kaixue grasped some sort of attempt at reassurance, but it would seem this man hardly understood the feelings of others.
So Kaixue tried to find the entrance again, retracing his steps, this time without any omissions. The Assasin? Examiner? followed, this time at a more relaxed distance, not that it mattered, whatever distance Kaixue could cover in a 100 steps, he would reach with 10.
Perhaps it was require to truly get lost to wander in, as Kaixue's anxiety was somewhat alleviated by the entrance to the Inner Garden now being open.
"Well, thank you for the guidance." The man made a step inside of the entrance, and something strange happened.
Kaixue felt air move, he could feel grass bending away from the entrance, and birds flying away, he even heard sweat fall from the man's bald head on the pavement. Those were all unified reactions, fear, but Kaixue did not feel any, he was not even able to determine the origin of it, it was as though he was a mere observer of the situation.
"Such a threatening aura!" The man retreated with a backwards. He nearly lost his balance after the landing.
He took a moment to compose himself: "Looks like I have made a fine discovery." He then turned to Kaixue: "You didn't run? You must be one brave child."
"There is nothing threatening me here aside from you, sir." Kaixue answered.
"Oh right, you mentioned something about right blood."
"I am afraid so, and I do not believe us to be related."
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
"No, no we are not." The man chuckled.
Kaixue breathed a sigh of relief, it would appear the man was somewhat reasonable, and did not think of an extreme option.
"I suppose I should take some of that right blood then." The man said, already moving forwards.
Kaixue raised his heads, covering his head in a purely instinctual motion. In that motion however, he let go of the lantern he was holding.
Bazhen had time to think about a few questions, his perception of time was more advanced than a mortal's. Why would a blind child carry a lantern? What did the other brother have by his side? How volatile was an explosion of a Cell?
His dagger changed trajectory, he caught the falling lantern on the flat of the blade. He was slightly off balance, but was able to catch it. Then it slid off the blade, he was not able to generate the leverage required to keep it straight, it smashed on the ground, and he winced, even if he activated his core and used a defensive technique, he would be obliterated. Then... the glass shattered, and a candle flipped, and he could feel the amount of Light and Fire Forces in it. It was a regular light. And the child was running, turning behind the corner. Cells usually contained a protective mechanism so those not drawing from them couldn't tell how full they were, why tell an opponent how much stamina you have left? This does, of course, allow them to be passed as everyday items. This made check-ups in important places tediously long, even a decorative feather could be a cell for Beast Force. Bazhen did not believe he was tricked by a child.
Kaixue did not believe his luck, he was able to confuse a cultivator somehow, he turned the corner, and instead of running further, he hid under one of the bushes, before slowing his breathing, getting ready to hold his breath should his now attacker get close. It was a shame the man didn't fully lunge into the Inner Garden, he thought, before dismissing such a brutal thought, it was a moment of realising how easy it can be to wish death on someone, and it made Kaixue worried about his karma and his soul should he die here.
Something grabbed his leg, Kaixue let out an unintended scream, a black spider's leg composed of pure darkness dragged him from under the bush, before a second one wrapped around his neck and brought him to the man's eye level, he could feel the man's anger.
"Did you believe, Sir, that I would drop something that my dear brother had gifted me?" He had to ask, he had to know what had allowed his escape.
Bazhen did not believe this brat's audacity. "I cannot believe that it was almost possible for you to trade away your life for mine, and for what, keeping a secret with some beasts?"
Kaixue felt the hair on his back rise, why did this man's technique recreate even the hairs of the spider's leg? He answered: "I too, cannot believe that you thought I'd burn down this beautiful garden just to kill one person." This seemed to be the wrong answer, as he felt a blunt metallic object smash over his head, at that same time, something sharp cut at his neck. Then, he didn't feel much else.
Bazhen slammed him with the broken lamp, into the side of the jaw, some of the broken glass cut his neck, all the way up to just under his ear. He knew no matter what, he couldn't kill a Main child, no matter how tempting it was to soothe his wounded pride, hopefully a broken jaw would help the child think about how he speaks, and what he says. He then raised the lantern again...
It was as if a star had ignited behind him, a slash from below that cut into the arm that held the light source. It was a deep slash, and it was instantly cauterised. His arm was still attatched, but unless a large amount of expensive pills were used, it would never hold a quill, let alone a knife again. What caused more shock to him, however was the sensation of the star, his senses told him that behind him, having performed the upwards slash, stood Gangzhi Main, with an ignited Core filled with Fire and Light Forces.
Cultivators perceived time differently to humans, the tales of some exchanging poetry between clashes of their weapons were not exaggarated. Gangzhi had enough time to talk:"Three times today, you have threatened my family, Senior Bazhen."
"I understand." The man sounded quite composed: "Your punishment is justified, I lost my temper in front of my Junior, and I am a guest of yours."
"Punishment, Senior? You misunderstand, that was just the necessary intervention."
The blade came down, and it came down to the order of actions. Gangzhi simply had to finish the 2nd technique of Cockcrow Radiance, Dusk and Dawn, meanwhile Bazhen had to turn around, raise his weapon, activate his core, and use an entire technique. Despite this, Bazhen was two stages of cultivation above Gangzhi who had now revealed his actual power, the Core Formation stage, meanwhile Bazhen relied on his speedier fighting style, and the fact he had already reached the Core Blossom stage. Four actions against one, in a fraction of a second, He was able to send a dagger across Gangzhi's face, scarring him just below his high cheekbone, on the left side of his face. Gangzhi had however finished his movement first, splitting Bazhen's head diagonally, and smothering his technique before it could be used, the man fell face down, same way he had thrown his little brother.
-
Everything was watched from the Matriarch's personal office. Yiban was looking into a glass filled with powerful alcohol distilled from berries, a drop would cause a mortal to fall comatose for two weeks straight. His sister-in-law, Xiumin, looked from the window that was only visible from the inside.
"It would appear I win the bet, he was hiding something."
"When I was his age, I also couldn't hide anything from my Mother."
"I am proud of my child, have you heard of someone forming a Core at that age?"
"Aside from my Brother?" Yiban thought aloud: "Not in a long time."
"Speaking of him, I've been meaning to ask..." She approached the man.
"Ask away, woman." This has caused her to slightly slow down, but she eventually reached him, and placed her hand on his.
"Why do you not follow the tradition, take your Brother's widow? You would be able to be Patriach until Gangzhi is ready, and be involved with the children."
"I cannot do that, there is... another party involved."
"Please, Yiban, we are adults here. Do you really think I've been all alone for these years? If it comes down to it, I'll let you legitimise a bastard or two."
"Sister, I still have to refuse." He said, looking longingly into the window.
"Oh, what sort of low-class peasant or slave girl has got the big noble hero so captivated he cannot marry for his own best interest." She said in a mocking tone.
Yiban snickered: "I am glad you asked like that, it's your aunt."
Xiumin blinked twice: "Auntie Aikei? Yiban please, she's almost 500!" She argued out of emotions, mostly shock, logically a marriage with the Royal Spymaster was something that would further Yiban much further than she could.
"What can I say, she is a lively woman, knowledgeable about a lot of topics of conversation."
And now, she had felt her 'worth' insulted: "And what am I, then? One of simple wit, with the conversation skills of a willow tree?!"
Yiban took a timely sip of his drink: "I should go sleep now, as an adult, I can't afford the same drinking and sleeping habits as I once had, goodnight, Sister."