Chapter 147 - Ice against Lava (Lei chapter)

Grand Northern Tournament qualifier finals, Five Elements Transition sect's Martial Pavilion.

"Tei Zhuo! Tei Zhuo!"

"Ice Zhuo, end him! He's tired!" The crowd cheered for the sectborn master, who recently advanced to Foundation stage and quickly established himself as one of the strongest rank ones in the sect. Despite many bruises, he stood tall, unphased, a jian sword in a tight grip, a rare ice path method quickly sealing and mending his wounds. 

Wu Lei retreated and huffed, leaning on his staff to stand, his molten heart racing. With most of his methods countered, he was forced to rely on his raw strength and fighting ability, yet this approach soon left him winded. 

"Master Lei, how about a draw?" Tei Zhuo asked calmly, gracefully pointing his jian at Lei. "We've both qualified for the tournament, isn't this fight pointless? You don't strike me as someone who's too eager to entertain the crowd."

A draw? What's wrong with this asshole?

"What are you saying, my disciple?!" Outside of the combat circle, rank three Master Fang Zhi shook his fists, outraged. "The sect orders you to fight, means you fight! Little Zhuo, don't you dare turn into a slacker again!"

Good, you two. Keep talking. Wu Lei partially restored his breath and straightened up, preparing to advance once again. His own assigned master, Xie Xiaodan, looked rather detached, standing on the sideline with arms crossed, his expression blank. Just like in the five previous fights.

Figures, I'm not Xin, of course he doesn't give a shit about me!

Bloody hell. It's not enough that Tei Zhuo was given a full set of elite refined ice path dao shards, it's not enough that he was schooled specifically against my fighting style, forcing me to switch to a long staff to even have a chance, his element also naturally counters mine! And the whole sect cheers for this travesty, as if I am a villain and not one of them!

Not my first time being an underdog. Wu Lei spun his staff like a street performer, grinning audaciously, baiting Tei Zhuo into an attack. Instead, the ice path master tensed his lips and spoke up again:

"Your Molten Heart is wearing down your heart, you're wasting lifespan for a training exercise with no stakes. Come on, take a draw." 

"Disciple!" Master Fang Zhi was now furious. Is Tei Zhuo another rebellious prodigy, openly dismissing rank three's authority? "Fight or I'll disqualify you, and your spot goes to the third place winner!"

That won't be necessary.

Propulsion dao shard! Wu Lei sprang forward, leaving a fiery trail behind his heels, his staff raised high. Now that he regained his breath, he was ready to use his reach advantage and seize the tempo once again.

Tei Zhuo stepped back, his retreat sped up by his Rapid Spring stance, then exhaled a frosty mist.

Freeze body dao shard — stance release! In just a flash, his nimble and flexible water qi infused body solidified, and his subtle water qi coating was replaced with solid ice armour, emanating a chilly steam!

Huh? Mid-air, Wu Lei had only a moment to analyse his opponent's move and adjust. A hundred thoughts all struck at once, refusing to be contained into words, flashing in his mind like falling stars.

He is planning to take the blow head on or block instead of dodging…

His sword's reach is lower than mine, yet he is pointing it straight at me…

He switched the momentum and is standing his ground, which is suspicious…

He's planning a counter-attack that can match my reach! This is not a bluff, I need to change my plan!

Shit. Lei trusted his instincts and improvised.

Propulsion dao shard! He activated it through his heel, pointed sideways, adjusting his flight trajectory and spinning in a flashy fiery spiral. Just like the spinning kicks that inspired it, this move was risky but very hard for the opponent to read and counter.

"Predictable, Wu Lei!" Tei Zho scoffed internally, yet a smidgeon of anxiety still gnawed. Will I be fast enough?

Bubble stab… Freeze! He manifested a bubble from his sword's tip, yet in a flash, it elongated and solidified, producing a loud crack.

Ice Lance! 

The crowd gasped. The Crimson Demon is about to impale himself!

Wu Lei trusted his instincts. Instead of aiming his weapon at the opponent, he descended it on Tei Zhuo's lance, aiming to move it aside, all while finishing his spin with a second burst from his other heel!

Smash! Wu Lei's qi infused spinning kick connected with Tei Zhuo's chin. He felt the icy shell crack under his boot, yet somehow, his opponent wasn't moved an inch…

Bang! The arena's protective formation was triggered, but it was Lei who was sent flying! A golden light enveloped his torso, around his oblique muscle, and Lei flew a few steps before hitting the ground. Unharmed but confused, Lei rolled aside, sprung up and analysed his opponent.

Tei Zhuo's ice lance's tip radiated a chilly aura, a peak of rank one in strength! It seems that he stabbed me as I spun, so I wasn't able to see it. Curses, how strong is his new stance, taking a spinning fire path kick without even flinching or triggering a formation?

"Wu Lei, major injury! Two more and you lose!" The judge announced. Foundation stage masters were more durable, so the formation they fought in was harder to trigger, and the amount of injuries allowed was higher.

"Draw?" Tei Zhuo said after adjusting his iron helmet and tapping his chin. Another healing method?

"No, fuck off!" Wu Lei charged once again, his grip tight, his heart eager to escape his chest.

Tei Zhuo retreated, each of his steps producing an icy crack, his ice lance quickly dissolving into liquid. He was greatly satisfied with his last move — he had lured Wu Lei into moving the lance further than it had actually been pushed, feeding him a false sense of security and delivering a swift counter-attack into his blind spot! 

He's exhausted. Spent more qi. Activated the formation already, while I'm still unscathed. Victory is close.

What's with that strange tightness in my chest, then? Why does everything inside scream that Wu Lei is winning? 

Tei Zhuo circled around, deflecting Lei's relentless smashes, his stance firm and breath icy, as the crowd kept cheering him on. He resented it.

"Move! Finish him!"

"Don't overextend, he's spent! Fight intelligently!" 

The voices of the crowd conjoined into a cacophony, yet several others emerged from within, much stronger.

"Remember when I called you smart but lazy? I am sorry, you're just lazy."

"You have the strongest bloodline in this group, apply yourself! At this rate, you'll grow up a fucking loser!"

"Sorry, Zhuo, I'm just… You're a good person, but I'm not into you this way. I'm marrying Rong Daoshan."

"Wake up!" A sharp voice deafened the others, it belonged to Wu Lei! He got tired of Tei Zhuo's lazy poking, and almost doubled his tempo, his crimson eyes crazed!

Smash! Smash! Qi infusion, leg swipe! Swallow kick, punch…

Smash! Lei's staff crushed onto Tei Zhuo's neck, fire qi infused, broke through the ice coating and triggered the formation! Lei swiftly retreated, not taking chances.

"Moderate activation!" The instructor raised his right hand, representing Tei Zhuo's right starting side of the combat circle, his robe's long sleeves billowing with the motion.

He won't stop! The Crimson Demon will burn out any moment now, I need to endure! Shit, these newcomers are tough, and I am fighting the weakest out of their trio!

Wu Lei circled Tei Zhuo like a hungry bird of prey, looking for an opening. Tei Zhuo countered my every move — my Lava Spit is useless here, I am forced to use the Iron Lung instead of the Ember Skin, as it's naturally weak to ice and water paths, and I don't have my dual blades to trigger the Explosive Matchstick safely! Whatever, I need to keep going!

Three minutes later.

The formation flared as Tei Zhuo was flung across the combat circle with an impressive explosive side-kick.

"Moderate activation!" The judge raised his arm again.

Fuck. How was this not a major activation? Curses, I can barely stand… Wu Lei gasped for air, his vision half-obscured by black spots. He had to deactivate his Molten Heart and was out of qi, and was thus just a winded mortal in all but name.

One. More. Hit. Wu Lei's arms were heavy, he wondered if he'd even be able to trigger the formation with his meager non-infused hits.

"How about a draw?" Tei Zhuo also panted, his voice hoarse as if he had a flu. Still, he was only as tired as Lei was during his last draw offer. 

"Come on, lad! Finish him!" An old rank one master from the crowd shouted, annoyed. Tei Zhuo's shenanigans lost him a lot of the crowd's initial favour. 

"You've got this, Zhuo! I believe in you!" A pleasant familiar voice shouted out, once so warm and dear. Yao Nang.

Enraged, Wu Lei leaned on his quarterstaff and stood up straight, spreading his shoulders. 

He made a long inhale, then pointed a finger at his opponent. His voice smooth, he proclaimed as if he was preparing for hours and didn't just pull this from a dark corner of his troubled soul:

"The shadow of doubt stains every blood drop

My eyes burn crimson, yet the world stays black

Each breath of life a beauty of defying death

A beaten stray knows no spring or autumn

It runs and bites, it shits and bleeds

The golden…"

"Enough!" Xie Xiaodan barked in a qi infused voice. "You two, stop this clowning! Fight or I'll give your spots to the next two in line!"

Wu Lei turned back to his master. Puffy lips, red face. A man defined by his martial talent, brash and prideful. He doesn't get me, though… Or he'd let me finish. Lei's ears rang as he prepared to charge.

"There's no need for this. I give up." Tei Zhuo sheathed his blade and lazily raised one of his arms. "I concede that Wu Lei is a better warrior. Hope he tells me the poem's ending over a cup of tea some time." His naturally tired-looking face was unusually lively, his lips spread in a rare smile.

From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the spectator's balcony. His father — recently emerged from closed cultivation — was staring down at him, livid. The usually pale man had gone beet-red, his nails grinding into the wooden railing.

"You!" Wu Lei charged Tei Zhuo, and was momentarily constrained by Fang Zhi's golden chains. His opponent's refusal to fight cut him deeply, to think that he'd do it to him right after he poured his heart open! "You cowardly cunt, you son of a whore! Spare me the condescending speeches, you worthless bitch!"

Tei Zhuo made a step back, as if stung.

I… Felt like we got each other. His poem resonated deeply within me, taking me back to my idle years. It painted a vivid image of a harsh and cruel life, nothing like my sheltered, lazy existence. Yet somehow, it felt familiar? I wanted to extend a hand and save him face, yet he slapped it away… Maybe I'm worthless indeed.

His limbs bound, Wu Lei struggled against the golden chains, then shouted:

"I fought a war for you all! Bled a river for you, lost dear friends! Yet all you cunts do is spread rumours about me, cheer for my loss and coach my opponents against my methods! It doesn't matter, at the end of the day you're all shit! Your stupid careers and petty plots, you aren't taking any of this into your graves! Laugh, call me a Crimson Demon, I embrace this! I'll pierce the heavens, I'll surge from hells! My martial spirit is indomitable, keep pointing your fingers, I'll squash you like ants one day!" He used a tiny remnant of his qi to spit some lava on the floor.

Slumber dao shard, rank four. The martial pavilion's hall flashed for just a moment, and Lei succumbed to a deep slumber, carried away by Xie Xiaodan's flying cube.