“They… can’t be serious, right?” Wang Ran looked at us and softly asked.
Li Wan Er bit down on her lips: “I don’t know……from the looks of it, the situation doesn’t look too good……”
With her arms crossed, Dong Cheng Yue said with a faint smile: “Good luck Xiao Yao, we support you!”
Q-Sword looked around and was at a loss for words, as he said: “Dong Cheng, Jian Han is in the same guild as you. You are a Deputy Leader, Jian Han is an Elder, which means he is your subordinate, yet you’re actually cheering for the opponent…..”
Dong Cheng Yue gave a sheepish smile: “Guild Leader, Xiao Yao is my friend; if I don’t cheer for him, what kind of friend would I be……”
Wan Er snickered but said no more.
Q-Sword speechlessly shook his head. He was completely helpless against the two beautiful Deputy Leaders.
……
“Sha Sha……”
Stepping on the ground with his cloth shoes, Jian Han took off his coat and revealed his muscular body. Slowly lifting his right hand, he smiled faintly and said: “Henan Bei Chen, Xing Yi Quan style, Bei Chen Hong, please enlighten me!”
TL Note: The spoken address is a common way that martial arts practitioners introduce themselves in Wuxia stories. “Henan” is the area of origin and Wikipedia has an article on “Xing Yi Quan”(literally Form-Intention Fist, or Shape-Will Fist). Bei Chen Hong is his real name.
I furrowed my eyebrows as I also took off my coat and hung it on a rack to the side, revealing a casual shirt underneath, I rolled up the sleeves and folded my hands behind my back, before replying with a smile: “I do not know the specific origins of my martial arts but I do know that it’s a form of the Northern Fists. Come, let me experience the might of the House of Bei Chen’s Xing Yi Quan!”
“Ok!”
Without saying another word, Jian Han, with a single step, leaped at least 2 meters forward. His right fist suddenly shot out towards my chest. One could even see the faint glow of energy surrounding his fist!
Royal Air Level ?!
I was slightly taken aback. Never would I have imagined that Jian Han had reached the Royal Air Level. However, judging by the force of his energy, he had barely gotten to the Royal Air Level, as it did not feel powerful enough.
“Pa!”
Latching on to his hand, I borrowed the strength from his attack and pulled him in. Pushing down on my left foot, my right knee suddenly went straight for his chest.
“Huh?!”
In a daze, Jian Han hurriedly crossed both arms in front of his chest to block my attack.
“Peng” A loud noise rang out as Jian Han was forced to take consecutive steps backwards as a result of my attack. With both his arms slightly trembling, his eyes were filled with both shock and fury. Shaking his arms, he charged toward me with arms like two swirling dragons. His footwork was ever-changing and unpredictable while his fists came from seemingly impossible angles. There was no doubt that he had grasped the essence of Xing Yi Quan – the form following the intent, totally unpredictable and seemingly miraculous.
Sending Qi to both fists, I launched two attacks in a split second. “Peng Peng” the two strikes deterred further attacks from Jian Han. At the same time, I leaned forward and immediately threw another punch at him!
“Ha!”
The fist landed directly on Jian Han’s chest. As he was knocked back, his whole body seemed to lose all energy while his face went completely pale. In fact, he had temporarily lost the ability to utilize his Qi.
Q-Sword immediately supported Jian Han, nervously asking: “Third Uncle, are you ok?”
Jian Han slowly shook his head and his gaze fell on me as he spoke softly: “This Li Xiao Yao…… he is indeed an expert. My Qi has been almost completely suppressed by him. His attack combined both Tai Ji Chuan and Xing Yi Quan. He truly is a difficult opponent!”
TL: Two martial arts styles
After Jian Han spoke, he paused and looked at Q-Sword before saying: “Ah Feng, do you want to go and have a try?”
“I was intending to do so!”
Q-Sword tightened his fists and said with a confident smile: “Li Xiao Yao, is it possible for me to experience your ability?”
With both arms tucked behind my back, I calmly replied: “[Hero’s Mound]’s Guild Leader is a guest so if you want to exchange a few blows then come. However, we will stop upon contact. After all I do not want to injure you nor do I want to be injured by you!”
TL: Akin to saying if my strike touches you and you have no way of countering, we stop
Q-Sword laughed out loud: “Of course!”
……
Q-Sword took off his coat and with a determined expression, slowly channeled energy into his arms. Energy that could be barely seen by the naked eye began gathering around his fists. Another Royal Air expert. In fact his energy completely surpassed Jian Han’s!
Li Wan Er seemed to notice that something was amiss. Wrinkling her eyebrows, she said: “Q-Sword, Xiao Yao, let’s stop here. Continuing any further might end up affecting our friendship……”
Q-Sword couldn’t help but laugh: “Wan Er, you don’t have to worry. It’s not everyday that I get to meet such a young and strong opponent. If we don’t exchange a few blows today, I would regret it for the rest of my life!”
Li Wan Er looked at me: “Li Xiao Yao……”
“Yes, Wan Er?” I grinned, looking at her.
“Be careful……” She looked at me nervously.
I smiled slightly: “Don’t worry Wan Er, I am fine.”
……
Even Wan Er seemed to have notice the change in Q-Sword. Although Q-Sword appeared aloof and nonchalant outwardly, his heart was a raging furnace; I had almost injured Jian Han. Once we started fighting, there was no way Q-Sword would hold back. Broken arms and broken legs were not uncommon during spars; especially spars between experts like us who have surpassed the Refined Body Level.
“Sha Sha……”