CHAPTER 134: WANG ZEN VS DING WU

Ding Wu removed the barley from his mouth. “Is this really necessary?” he said as he bent his neck from one side to the other. “I mean its obvious Zen has grown stronger… and taller too.”

“Thanks,” Zen said, rubbing Shibi’s head.

They had gathered onto the courtyard. This was where Zen and even Ding Wu had trained, usually apart of course. Zen took a deep breath, remembering that he had had a similar match with Yin Zheng. The longing to see his old friend suddenly intensified.

“Good luck,” Shibi said, bringing him back to the present.

“Thanks,” Zen whispered back before facing Ding Wu.

“Taller is not the same as stronger.” Yin Bhiki said.

“Fine,” Ding Wu relented, taking the green barley from his mouth and twirling it between his finger and thumb. “So how do we do this. First blood loses?”

“Just a sparring match to test your skills.” Yin Bhiki said. “I’ll stop it if it becomes too much.”

“Alright,” Ding Wu clenched his fist. “You ready, Master Wang?”

“Sure.” Zen said.

“Alright, then get ready. “ Yin Bhiki said, Shibi climbing on big man’s shoulder. “Begin!”

Nothing happened. Zen stayed in his fighting stance and Ding Wu just stood there. Zen realised that Ding Wu would not attack him. To the guard, he was still just that weak boy he was suppose to protect. But so much had changed since they parted ways, he had changed.

Zen took the initiative and attacked! Ding Wu blocked his first few attacks, putting a fraction of the strength into his blocks, something Zen almost made him pay for as one of his fists almost made contact. Ding Wu had to leap back to dodge a kick. He began fighting more seriously as he was struggling to keep up with the younger boy.

A punch found its way to Ding Wu’s gut, sending him stumbling back before he had to block a kick, which sent him stumbling back even further.

Ding Wu smirked. “Heh, you have gotten a lot better.”

“You underestimate me at your own risk!”

“Then I guess I better go full out,” Ding Wu clenched his fist and dashed for Zen.

The fight was furious, neither of them giving way as punches and kicks flew in a flurry. Ding Wu was taking some shots but pushed on. The older man eventually disengaged, running away as Zen pursued. Ding Wu stopped abruptly and a kick shot out forcing Zen to duck under, he realised Ding Wu had been luring him in but his reflexes had saved him.

Zen got to his blind side and tried to attack but the experienced older boy was able to block his attack. They fell ina chaotic rhythm again, moving around the arena as Ding Wu would sometimes be forced to disengage when he took too many hits. He threw another kick, this one saturated with ki. Zen slid back, eyes widening.

Ding Wu persued. Now Wang Zen had to deal with an opponent with superior ki attacks. Being forced back by Ding Wu, he tried to keep ahead of the attack. Ding Wu disengaged, confusing Wang Zen but then he realised why.

Ding Wu gathered ki in his hand. He dashed for the younger boy, who had to dodge the attack. Zen knew that if that technique touched him, the match may very well have ended. He leapt up to dodge the attack as it made contact with the ground, sending a small geyser of earth in the air.

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Ding Wu jumped up, his fist glowing in ki. “Stone Fist!”

Zen thrust both feet out, coating them in ki as they met the stone fist. He was able to match the attack in power before they both landed on the ground. Ding Wu gathered his ki to his hand once again.

“Savage Strike!” He dashed after Zen and they fell into the familiar dance of the younger boy dodging the dangerous ki attack.

Zen broke the rhythm by dashing forward to meet Ding Wu’s attack, surprising his opponent. He blocked his arm, making sure not to touch the violently rippling ki around Ding Wu’s hand. Zen pushed the arm away.

“Blitz Fist!” multiple fists pummelled into Ding Wu’s abdomen in the space of a second.

Ding Wu winced in pain and coughed. Zen continued his attack, giving Ding Wu no time to use another Savage Strike. But Zen had not considered one thing, Ding Wu still had another ki technique.

“Stone Fist!” Ding Wu shouted as his fist was hardened by ki.

Zen had to fall back on the defensive, dodging the punches that he could not possibly block. Zen found an opening and delivered a kick, sending Ding Wu stumbling back. He screamed as he attacked, Ding Wu also rushed forward, Zen side stepped his Stone Fist to his face and delivered another that Ding Wu diverted. They both turned on each other, fists head for the others face and when it made contact, both were sent back, Zen landed on his back while Ding Wu managed to keep on his feet.

“Wow,” he said, wiping his mouth, “Your hand to hand skills are impressive. That academy’s training is paying off.”

“Thanks,” Zen said. “I’d like to think I’m one of the best in hand to hand. Not that it will count for much, considering the fact that it won’t protect me against crazy ki and elemental techniques.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Bhiki said.

Zen and Ding Wu’s eyes were drawn to him.

“True, although there is a great chance that hand to hand techniques will get left behind as you advanced into stronger ki and elemental techniques, the lessons you learn from it are still valuable.”

“Lessons?” Zen said in confusion. “The only lesson is how to punch and kick, then that gets pretty useless when the opponent starts chucking fireballs at you.”

“Trust me, the skills you learn from hand to hand combat are useful even then,” Bhiki repeated. “For you learn agility, how to anticipate your opponents move and counter it and how to take a punch and kick.”

Zen smiled, “I… I guess your right.” He looked at his opponent. “Well, Ding Wu, I guess for this final stretch, you can stop holding back.”

“Holding back?” Ding Wu said in confusion. “Why woud you say I’m holding back?”

“Come on, I know you have reached the higher stages of cultivation.” Zen said. “I know you can use Elemental Arts. I know you can use lighting.”

“Very observant. Fine, in respect for your great skills, Master Wang, I will go all out.” Ding Wu said with a smirk before lighting snaked across his body.

The sound of crackling filled the air as more flashes of lightning coursed over him. The sound made Zen uncormfortable and alert. He began to doubt himself, maybe he should not have requested this.

Ding Wu raised his fists and the lightning coalesced to the end of his fists, forming a cylinder of electricty that extended from his fist. He dashed forward! Zen waited and ran away in the adjacent direction before turning, trying to get behind Ding Wu.

Ding Wu thrust out with a kick but Zen dodged. Zen was about to attack but was forced to leap back as Ding Wu swiped down with the lighting cylinder, causing a bright arc of blue and white in the air. Zen tried to step aside but Ding Wu flicked the lightning cylinder at him. All he saw was a flash of blue and crippling electricity coursed through him, bringing him to a knee.

Zen mustered all his strength and rolled away, dodging the follow up punch from Ding Wu. He scrambled to his feet, ready to dodge Ding Wu’s attack as he flicked another electricity cylinder at him. It was no use as the electricity once again found a home in his body, making his legs wobble and his vision blur. He was kicked in the face and sent rolling on the ground.

Bhiki smiled sadly. He raised his hand to stop the match in Ding Wu’s favour but before he could utter a word…

“Wait!” Zen struggled to his feet, “Wait, I’m not done yet.”

“You have fought well, Master Wang.” Bhiki said. “But this match is over.”

“No!” Zen said, getting up to his full height. “I’ve got one more in me. Please!”

Bhiki took a moment to think then sighed as he dropped his hand. “Fine, but just one more.”

“Come now, Master Wang.” Ding Wu said as the lightning began to course through him again, once again filling the air with crackling. “There is no way you can defeat me.”

“I’d like to try,” Zen said, lowering his stance before dashing forward at full speed at Ding Wu!