45 The Broken Blade and the Warrior

At dawn, a thin mist veiled the injured soldiers' camp. The training grounds outside the tents were dampened with dew, and the air carried a humid chill. Little Hong squatted under a crooked tree, silently carving a wooden blade. The blade was rough and blunt, yet he meticulously hollowed its inner edges with a piece of bamboo. Nearby, two villagers watched him, shaking their heads in disapproval.

"You're really going to fight him with that thing?" a sturdy young man clicked his tongue, his tone full of disdain."You don't even dare use a real blade. Are you afraid of dying?"

Without lifting his head, Little Hong replied coldly,"Losing means death."

The youth was momentarily stunned. Before he could retort, Little Hong looked up, his sharp gaze cutting like a blade. A peculiar smile tugged at his lips."Just watch."

The wrestling ring at the injured soldiers' camp reeked of sweat and earth. At its center, Kenji stood with arms crossed, his gaze scanning indifferently over the three villagers facing him. His armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and his expression was as still as ice. Only his piercing, hawk-like eyes hinted at an undercurrent of menace.

He glanced briefly at Little Hong, who stood at the back, then turned to the other two hostile-looking young men."Do you two yield?"

"Never!"

The two villagers from Paradise Village shouted defiantly, their eyes ablaze with indignation. They had been humiliated in their last encounter with Kenji, their disgrace a hot topic in the village. They had come for revenge.

Kenji smirked, a mocking gleam in his eyes. He crooked a finger."If you're not convinced, come at me together."

The two men charged without hesitation, wielding bamboo poles like enraged bulls. The poles whistled through the air as they struck toward Kenji, who sidestepped with ghostly agility. The poles slammed into the ground, sending dirt flying and leaving fist-sized dents in the earth.

"Hmph, not bad strength," Kenji remarked coolly, his eyes remaining icy.

The second villager swung his pole horizontally, aiming to drive Kenji out of the ring. But Kenji arched his body backward, bending like a bow. The pole whizzed past, missing his nose by mere inches. In the same moment, Kenji sprang upright with explosive force, closing the gap with the attacker.

"Not good!" The villager tried to retreat, but it was too late.

With a thud, Kenji's elbow struck the man's chest like a battering ram. The villager flew back several meters, landing heavily on the ground, limbs twitching.

"Good!" Cheers erupted from the surrounding soldiers, their eyes brimming with admiration."One strike, and he's down! Boss is unstoppable!"

But Kenji remained unaffected by the applause. His gaze returned to Little Hong, scrutinizing him with a mix of curiosity and caution. He noticed Little Hong was wearing a hood today, standing still and alone, an odd blend of stubbornness and eerie calm on his face.

"Afraid of being recognized? Why haven't you attacked yet?" Kenji raised an eyebrow, his voice as cold as frost.

Little Hong lifted his head, his eyes steely with defiance."I'll fight you myself. Only if I defeat you can I become your apprentice!"

Kenji sneered."Fine, I'll help you."

Before his words finished echoing, he launched himself toward one of the other villagers with a burst of speed that stirred up the dust. Instinctively, the burly young man behind Little Hong raised his bamboo pole to defend, but in an instant, Kenji had snatched it away. A casual flick sent the pole spinning, and the youth was sent flying by a swift kick, crashing hard onto the ground.

"Pathetic." Kenji's sneer carried unhidden contempt. But just then, a sudden gust from behind caught his attention.

His pupils narrowed. Experience told him someone was attacking from behind, but he didn't turn. Instead, he stepped forward, trying to avoid the strike while neutralizing the force of the attack.

However, his foot snagged on something.

"Damn it!" Kenji realized the trap too late. He stumbled, losing his balance. A sudden impact struck his waist from behind, as Little Hong slammed into him like a cannonball.

Kenji gritted his teeth, immediately twisting to retaliate with an elbow strike. It was a move honed in countless battles, lethal enough to bring down an ox. He held nothing back—on the battlefield, mercy was a death sentence.

Yet, the strike failed to land effectively. His off-balance stance weakened his force. Little Hong clung to him stubbornly, his grip unyielding. Kenji's body tilted further and crashed to the ground in a plume of dust.

A sharp pain radiated from his waist as a thin bamboo rod jabbed precisely at a sensitive spot. He stiffened, letting out a low grunt. The rod struck again, quick and fierce, leaving him momentarily breathless.

Kenji rolled away, shaking Little Hong off like a stubborn leech. Rising to his feet, he suppressed his pain with a strained breath, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

"Not bad... hiding a weapon, huh?"

The soldiers behind him erupted into protests."Cheap shot! What kind of man are you?"

Little Hong simply shrugged, tossing the bamboo rod aside. He remained silent, but his eyes burned with resolve.

Kenji rubbed his bruised waist. Without looking, he knew it would turn an ugly shade of purple. Taking a deep breath, he assumed a fighting stance, his voice carrying a deadly edge."Alright, kid. If you can walk out of here standing, you win."

The duel resumed under the vast sky, tension thick in the air as soldiers and villagers alike watched in hushed anticipation.

Little Hong gripped his broken wooden blade tightly, his movements quick and precise. Kenji, despite his lingering pain, smirked with growing respect.

Before they could finish their fight, a heavy thud interrupted them—a burly man limped into the ring, iron-tipped boot echoing with authority. His armor shone faintly, and his voice rumbled like thunder.

"Enough. Scatter! The steppe raiders are coming. Villagers, go home. Soldiers, prepare for battle."

He glanced at Little Hong, a knowing glint in his eyes."You, follow me."

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