Confidence

*Multiple POVs*

***

(MC POV)

The two men stood only a couple of meters away from me. Their once pristine blue robes are in covered in dirt and grime, as it hangs tattered in places across their bodies. It was also very clear who had been the ones who'd done such damage to them, after all how many possible groups could they have run into?

But considering the fact that when we arrived on the scene they were failing horribly at defending themselves from the Spirited Sun Sect, it was obvious.

Soon they separated and split up to try to play to their advantage, one when left while one when right in an attempt fight me on two fronts. I bet they didn't think about the fact that I was still high on adrenaline from my previous two kills.

'Bitch! You think I'm just going to let you two set up your pincer attack on me?! Fuck you Unnamed disciple #7 and fuck you too, Unnamed disciple #8!!!'

Immediately I charged at the one on my left, the unarmed one, when they separated far enough from each other. The glint of surprise quickly flashed through his eyes and I took that opportunity.

When they were "surrounding" me the man didn't adopt any kind of stance at all, not a defensive one nor an offensive one. Only when I was just close enough to attack him did he react. He raised his arms up in a defensive cross position while also lowering his head within. Like that's going to do shit to defend against this attack.

After all, his center mass wasn't my target, it was his legs. With a with a quick slice a large wound appeared on his right calf. With the other man closing the distance I created another wound on his left calf which promptly began to immobilize him.

Throughout the fighting heard echoing within the room a scream was directed towards me "Nooooo!! Little Brother!!!"

'Damn, another brother duo or group?! Just how many are there?!'

When the man near me collapsed to the floor the other just happened to appear and take his place. He did it with some style though, he jumped through the air holding his sword high over his head. In a slightly dramatic pose he slammed down his sword as he landed.

Slight waves of Qi were felt rolling from him as a little shockwave radiated outwards from him. Although it was only a meter radius around him and had quite a weak amount of qi, it still managed to make me stumble a bit.

'Wha-what the fuck was that!'

Of course he wouldn't let such an opportunity slip his grasp though. Before I could recover my balance he came barreling at me. As quickly as I had taken out his brother he had turned the tables on me.

He wildly swung his weapon at me as I tried blocking as many attacks as possible. Each strike seemed to contain nothing but his full strength or at least as much as he could release. Throughout the swings I saw his face twisted in anger as it looked at me, completely and utterly full of hatred. At the corner of his mouth a small trail of blood could be seen dripping down to his chin.

'Wait, I didn't attack him though? Is this some kind of drawback for him or something? Could this be some kind of ability? Can I just wait this one out? Maybe if I just keep defending he'll tire out or his power will run dry.'

"Ahh-hssss ...Big Brother? D-Did you..." The immobile man seems to of finally gotten a view between our battle. I couldn't spare him a glance though as I needed all my focus here.

"So what! This little amount of blood essence means nothing if we die here!!"

"B-But your po-"

"What of my potential?! If we can't escape this now would I even be able to use any of this potential?!!" The brother pair spoke as I bitterly clashed with the older one.

'Hmm... oddly convenient at least I know what it is now, kinda. I'll have to look into that when I get back.'

His attack got increasingly deadly and eventually he even threw in a few attacks fused with his Qi. His sword glowed from time to time as it clashed with mine. Soon I spotted a crack on my weapon; realizing I had to change the situation before I no longer had a weapon I acted.

I sent some of my own strands in and it just so happens that he also sent his at this strike. Our weapons clanged together and it was equal in power. Realizing this was a good time to stun him I sent an uppercut to the general area his liver should be located.

When the blow landed he flinched slightly. Although not the expected out come it was still welcome as that small lapse in strength gave me way. I managed to angle his blade a bit away and soon after my sword began digging into his right shoulder.

"Arrggh!" he grunted as the blade dug deeper into him.

Seeing my advantage I pulled back my fist for another punch when started to weaken in strength.

"No! I must use mor- arg- ..."

When the weakness was felt I instantly used it. I sent that pulled punch into another left hook while simultaneously pulling out my sword from his shoulder to slash across his neck. Blood quickly began to spurt out as he dropped onto his back.

'My god I've gotten better. This battle is going well, I've saved my girl and I stopped part of the pincer attack that would happen to Chen Huang and the others.'

***

(Yao Ya POV)

{Just before fight}

'He looks so sad; I as his future wife must help my husband! And those people ahead should be able to help!

These people are a lot weaker than those within the previous underground structure so he should be able fight a few of them on his own and regain his confidence in himself. Maybe with a little push he'll do it. But what should that be?

Oh, I've got it! If I act weak and feeble then that'll bring out his inner man. Ah perfect, one of their stronger looking men came to me! Now I just have to look the part.'

"Ahh!" I screamed directing it towards my darling

The "strong" man began to push his sword against me in a contest of strength. But that only added the good element of helplessness I needed to act as. I bent my knees and even wobbled a bit as Ip Cheng looked over towards me.

"Why are you.. so.. strong?!"

The man in front of me tried with all of his might to pressure me, but nothing he did mattered. After all he's nothing more than a boost to my darling's confidence. I can't let my man be looking so depressed like that, the melancholic face he makes breaks my heart. So you will give my darling a newfound confidence in himself.

"J-Just you wait until my friend gets here! you'll be in big trouble you.. you uh.. temptress!"

At his words I give the man a cold smile, one that seemed to get to him as even though he tried to hide it fear crossed his face. At such a thing my smile only widened. I glanced past his shoulder only to see the friend he was speaking of about be intercepted by my darling.

'Oh, how valiant he looks!'

I can feel my heart beating already in anticipation for when he come to save me! I just can't wait!

Unbeknownst to the man, his friend was being brutally attacked just behind him. The face of the man my darling stabbed seemed to be completely full of shock and before he could even comprehend what happened by looking down, my darling's fist connected with his face.

Oh would you look at that! A couple of the green robed men snuck behind the other side and they probably want to release those bound men on us. This will be a good little challenge for my darling since those people are a little stronger than these green robed people.

As long as they don't harm my darling much everything else is fine, but it also seems that my darling has some sort of weird interest in that Chen Huang. One of the men distracted my fellow sect member who had just fended off another green robed man. The other went over and quickly began to cut the restraints of those bounded.

The man who clashed with me was abruptly stabbed as looked away. Lowering my sword I watched as my darling "saved" me. He looks so focused! How cute!

"Ahhhh..." The screams of the man quickly died out as he lost the life within his eyes.

"Yao Ya! Are you okay?!" His worry for me apparent in his voice.

"Thank you for saving me, Big Brother Ip!" I responded before quickly leaning in and giving him a kiss. I really wanted to do more, but now's not the time so I had to hold myself back.

At this point he noticed the attack on our fellow disciple and rushed over. Though a man got in the way, but my darling beat him as well as expertly cut the Achilles tendon of the man.

When he ran over to help our sect's disciple he sent a few slashes of his sword to one of the green robed disciples who were teaming up on the dark red disciple. He used it well as as soon as the slashes came, it gave an opening to the dark red disciple who took full advantage of it and used it to deal significant damage to that disciple and eventually winning the fight.

'Oh, my man is so compassionate and good to others!'

When I caught up to him I took three of them away from him so he could fight those two. They seem like they would be able to cause some difficulty for him.

As the three followed me I abruptly turned around and used the first form of flowing swordsmanship: Steady Stream.