Crouching Tigers, Hidden Dragons

Han watched as Cole relentlessly banged on the gates. He seemed so hellbent on saving Lewis that he even started circulating Frozen Nirvana. He made a single ice shard that couldn't even get past the gate.

Hell, he even looked like he would open the gate. Han wasn't the only one who thought this as Alicia and Andrew rushed to keep him down. Cole was sobbing like a child, but then again, he was a child.

Han could still see Lewis below. Trying to fight back with the Frozen Nirvana. Pityful boy getting chunks of flesh torn away from his limbs, and the mere ability he had was just enough to freeze his blood that was already leaking away.

Han thought they would eat him, right then and there but they didn't. The tiny zombies were lifting his bitten body far from sight, they didn't even try to infiltrate the prison. Han was starting to wonder what this virus truly was, as it didn't seem like it was the same with those portrayed in the games and movies. But as he was pondering the thought he was disturbed by Cole's wails.

"Lewis!" Cole screamed again,

Classmate since 1st grade those boys, Cole and Lewis. They were always together since then, in his memories they even hung out with Hanne. Before Andrew came they could be considered friends. That only mattered if he was Hanne.

As of now, his sobbing was merely a spectacle. Cole twisted his neck to look at Jacob, then he charged, shoving Alicia and Andrew away.

"Hey, kid, calm down it was an accident," Jacob said as he raised his arms. Cole was having none of it. Jacob was slapped through the prison yard. He skidded along the concrete and when he stood up his face was scraped from the friction.

The sight of Jacob's face missing skin wasn't enough to appease Cole's wrath. Jacob reached out for his gun, however, he was hit by an ice phoenix and went blue from the cold. Jacob couldn't struggle at all as Cole pounced on him and started going wild.

Han watched on apathetically. When you see things from his perspective you start to feel numb to these kinds of brutal beatdowns. Why should he care who survived and who didn't? What mattered was that he would always survive.

In truth, Han would have done the same as Jacob if ever his life was in danger. It was an ugly thing to do, but wouldn't it be better than dying?

Soon enough, Cole killed Jacob. If one could see the aftermath of the beatdown one would think that Jacob was just run over by a 10 wheeler truck. Pounded flat like pancakes.

Han jumped down from the gate, landing strong on his feet. After beating Jacob to such an extent, one would think Cole had vented out all his anger. Instead, when his eyes caught sight of Han they turned resentful.

"You..." Cole mumbled out with tears flowing down his eyes. "You could have saved him."

"Could I?" Han asked,

For all the years that Hanne was bullied in their presence, they did nothing but watch. This time he had just done the same, why would he help? Even if he didn't Have Hanne's memory, he still wouldn't help as in his past world no one bothered to help him. Do unto others as they say.

Han released his aura of death expecting Cole to back down like a sissy, but this time, Cole didn't back down at all. He was facing death wholeheartedly, for a friend who was already dead.

Han's eyes widened in amusement as Cole charged at him with nothing but his fist. Han dodged, held him by the hair, then smacked his face on the cold hard pavement. Cole struggled on the ground like a worm, however, no matter how he struggled against Han it would just be in vain.

In the end, he continued sobbing as he yelled, "You could have saved him. You showed us how strong you were, why didn't you save him?"

"Why is it my fault that he died?" Han said as he pressed down on Cole's head.

"Because you could have stopped it!" Cole cried out, "You could but you didn't!"

"What a load of bullshit. You could have stopped Andrew from bullying me all those years but did you?"

A crowd started to gather around them. A mixture of mortals and cultivators. They all heard what Cole said and acted like Han was a monster for being so selfish when Han knew that deep inside they would have done the same.

At this rate, he'll gain a different kind of reputation.

"These are our core disciples?"

"I was even thinking of challenging them but they seem like they're already beating each other up."

"What else did you expect? They're children of this world, of course, they'd be like this."

Out of nowhere, a chill traveled through Han's body. It meant the Patriarch was watching now, and it seemed as if he just planned on watching. Cole could cry all he wants, dead is dead, instead, Han could use the situation to show his worth. Now that he had the attention of the crowd and the Patriarch, it was the perfect time.

A few hours since the cultivators have emerged have passed, there were several level 2 martial warriors already, even level 3's were present. In fact, there were talented freaks among the group that had reached up to level 4 martial warrior.

Among so many cultivators of varying levels Han wouldn't stand out now. He was a mere level 2 which was already talented for a kid of this world. While it may be plausible for him to beat the others in combat since combat training exists here, beating the cultivators in cultivation would be so embarrassing for them to the point that they'll doubt Han's status as a kid of this world.

Han froze Cole to the ground and stood tall with his chest out.

"If you think you could have saved him, why don't you beat me first! If you can't even beat me then don't judge me for caring only about my safety!"

Those around him paused for a hot second, then they laughed as if they heard the best joke they'll ever hear in their lives.

"Arrogance." One of them said as they shook their head.

"You do not know the immensity of heaven and earth, kid!"

"I believe the people of this world call this kid a dumbass!"

Han scoffed at their comments which further aggravated them, however, none dared to attack. They looked at the Patriarch as if to ask for permission to beat this arrogant core disciple. The Patriarch stared from afar at Han, then he proceeded to speak.

"Just yesterday you couldn't even look me in the eye, yet now you challenge all the cultivators here." He shook his head, "There is a difference between courage and arrogance, child. The only battles I permit are battles to the death, are you sure you want to die a dog's death?"

Han acted as if he was thinking, to wait for any aggravating statement.

"See boy! You're scared! Haha!" One of the cultivators said which elicited another round of boisterous laughter from the crowd.

Han feigned rage, "I will fight them all!"

"Very well," The Patriarch emotionlessly stated as he erected an arena of ice.

Cole could only glare with gnashed teeth as Han walked away from him nonchalantly.

Han marched onto the arena with both hands behind his back. The sight of such arrogance made the cultivators want to rip him apart. Han seemed as if he was a frog in the well, not knowing what he was signing up for when instead it was them who were oblivious to the situation.

A middle-aged man harrumphed as he jumped on the arena. He was a martial warrior level 1. Han felt as if it was a mockery to face such a weak man but he had to put on a serious front. In a battle to the death, only a fool would be careless.

"Once the battle begins, it will be hard to stop, boy. If you want to chicken out, now is the only chance." The middle-aged man said his last words, "I don't want to be seen bullying ki--"

Han had nothing to cut with, but he had the butt of his RPK. In a mere moment he overstepped in front of the middle-aged man and used the RPK like a baseball bat, the man collapsed on the floor and Han kept striking until the man's head was mush.

No one was laughing now. But anger, well, that what they had lots of.

"That was dirty! The man was still talking!" they howled,

"He was even using a weapon!"

Han chuckled innocently, "Oh, from what I understand of cultivators stuff, in a battle to death once you enter the arena the battle has already begun. An opponent won't wait for you to prepare yourself? Or is that what you do where you came from?"

The cultivators took his words as an insult. It didn't matter whether he was right, it was their pride for cultivators that reigned. A kid just killed one of their kind in front of them. They didn't shut up until they heard a low chuckle of amusement.

"Core disciple is correct." The Patriarch said, "Once you enter the arena, the battle has already begun."

Han smiled charmingly at the cultivators. Further adding oil to the flames of rage that the cultivators had.

"I'll finish this!" A young man said. This man was in his early twenties, young and vigorous radiating with the aura of a level 2 martial artist. He had a rusty pipe within his clutches, and it seemed like he was prepared for anything Han might try. "I am Si Nan, once a member of the Withering Palm Sect. May I know the name of the opponent who will die by my hands?"

Han was tempted to empty his magazine onto this guy, but he wouldn't dare to shoot in a battle of martial arts, it would likely anger all even the patriarch. Instead, he mocked his opponent's name. "Si Nan? Your name fits you because you're about to die."

Si Nan reddened in anger, "I try to give you courtesy and you spit in my face! Die!"

Ice spikes formed on his rusty pipe as he charged. Han threw the RPK off the arena as he ducked the incoming blow. Han kicked Si Nan's bottom which led to him mopping the floor with his face. Si Nan turned around with clenched teeth but what greeted him was the sole of Han's shoes.

It met his face again and again until he barely even looked like a person. Han panted as he held his knees. "You cultivators are really tough punching bags you know?"

Si Nan was still alive but barely, he was crawling towards the edge of the arena, leaving a trail of blood. Han cooled his breath as he paced towards the rusty pipe that Si Nan had left. He picked it up and stepped towards Si Nan with a chilling smile.

"Spare m-"

Han smashed down with the spiked rusty pipe, it met Si Nan's skull with a sickening splatter.

The crowd went silent. They eyed each other with alert eyes as if they were confused about how such a kid was such a cold-blooded killer. The Patriarch eyed Han seriously now. He stroked his knotted beard as he gazed at Han's bloody figure.

'So this child was a crouching tiger.' His lips curved into a thin smile, 'Wonderful.'

"You are worthy of fighting me." A graceful man leaped onto the arena with a flourish, "I only hope that you aren't an arrow at the end of its flight."

"I am Tong Xinglian once of the Heavenly Rose Sect." Tong Xinglian said as he waved one finger in the air. "May I know the name of my opponent?"

Han paused. This man was a level 3 martial warrior. If they began fighting with Energy then Han would be at a disadvantage as he could only use the amount equal to level 2 martial warriors, however, Han was a dual cultivator. Even if he loses in energy, in body he will never lose.

The Patriarch seemed to have mistaken his pausing as hesitation, and spoke, "Child, you have proved you're point. You can step down now, or you can choose to fight. But be warned, that man is a level higher than you."

The Patriarch had started to see him in a better light. Every other cultivator here was old and had already formed their opinions regarding the world, but Han wasn't. Han was a kid of this world, but he was ruthless, cunning, had decent talent, and could fight. He was the kind that the Patriarch deemed as the best disciples to teach.

Sadly, he was arrogant.

"I thank you for you're concern Patriarch, but I am confident I can handle him," Han yelled out an answer,

The Patriarch nodded in reply. If the child could indeed beat this man, then it would be a very pleasant surprise, but if he couldn't then he would simply interfere with the match before he is killed.

Han focused his attention back on Tong Xinglian and found that he had an ugly scowl etched onto his face. It seemed as if he felt that Han insulted him when he said he could handle him. Han was merely saying the truth.

"You act as if you're unrivaled, kid!" A gigantic thorned whip suddenly materialized in his hands, "You will suffer for that arrogance!"

With a flick of a sleeve, Han countered, as several intricate ice daggers appeared behind him. Tong Xinglian couldn't help but gasp at the sight of multiple daggers speeding towards him.