Chapter 28: The Second Round

The crowd's cheers thundered through the arena as Lin Yun stepped off the stage, his chest heaving from exertion. His first match had been a victory, but the lingering tension in his muscles reminded him that it hadn't been an easy win. He couldn't let his guard down.

"Not bad for your first match," Yu Xian said as she approached him in the waiting area. Her voice was neutral, but there was a glint of approval in her eyes.

Lin Yun nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "He was strong, but predictable. If the next opponent is smarter, it'll be tougher."

Mei leaned against the wall nearby, her arms crossed. "Don't sell yourself short, Lin Yun. You're improving faster than most people I've seen. But she's right—don't get cocky."

He shot her a faint smirk. "I won't."

The announcer's voice echoed across the arena, calling for the next round to begin. Lin Yun took a deep breath and stepped forward, his resolve unshaken.

---

This time, his opponent was a wiry man with sharp eyes and a twin-bladed weapon. Unlike the brute he had fought before, this man moved with precision, his stance balanced and his blades gleaming in the sunlight.

"Lin Yun versus Zhu Kang!" the announcer bellowed, and the crowd erupted into cheers.

Zhu Kang bowed slightly, his movements deliberate. "You fought well in the first round," he said, his voice calm. "But I won't be as easy to defeat."

Lin Yun returned the bow, gripping his blade tightly. "Then let's find out."

The match began with a blur of motion. Zhu Kang charged forward, his twin blades slicing through the air in rapid, unpredictable arcs. Lin Yun barely had time to react, parrying one blade while sidestepping the other.

Zhu Kang was relentless, his strikes flowing together like a seamless river. Lin Yun struggled to keep up, his footwork faltering under the pressure.

"You're fast," Zhu Kang said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "But speed alone won't save you."

Lin Yun gritted his teeth, focusing on his breathing. He needed to find a way to disrupt Zhu Kang's rhythm, to turn the flow of the battle in his favor.

---

As Zhu Kang lunged again, Lin Yun shifted his stance, allowing the first blade to pass within inches of his shoulder. Then, instead of retreating, he stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

Zhu Kang's eyes widened in surprise as Lin Yun delivered a swift strike to his wrist, forcing him to drop one of his blades.

The crowd roared in approval, and Lin Yun pressed the advantage, his movements more fluid now as he began to feel the flow of the fight.

Zhu Kang recovered quickly, but the loss of one blade had disrupted his rhythm. Lin Yun capitalized on every opening, his strikes growing more confident and precise.

Finally, with a powerful swing, Lin Yun disarmed Zhu Kang completely, sending his remaining blade clattering to the ground.

Zhu Kang raised his hands in surrender, a faint smile on his lips. "Well done," he said. "You're better than I thought."

Lin Yun nodded, lowering his blade as the announcer declared him the winner.

---

Back in the waiting area, Lin Yun found himself replaying the match in his mind. Zhu Kang's precision and adaptability had pushed him to his limits, forcing him to think and act more strategically.

"You're starting to get it," Yu Xian said, sitting down beside him.

"Get what?" Lin Yun asked.

"The flow," she replied. "It's not just about reacting to your opponent. It's about controlling the rhythm of the fight, forcing them to adapt to you instead of the other way around."

Lin Yun nodded slowly, her words resonating with him. He still had a long way to go, but he was beginning to understand what it meant to truly master martial arts.

Mei, meanwhile, leaned against the wall with a faint smirk. "You're improving quickly, Lin Yun. But don't get too comfortable. The stronger you get, the more dangerous your opponents will become."

"I know," Lin Yun said. "That's why I need to keep pushing myself."

---

As the group rested, Lin Yun noticed a figure watching him from the shadows. The man's face was obscured by a hood, but his intense gaze sent a chill down Lin Yun's spine.

"Do you know him?" Lin Yun asked Yu Xian, nodding toward the figure.

She followed his gaze, her expression darkening. "No. But he's been watching you since the first match."

Mei glanced over, her eyes narrowing. "He's dangerous. You can feel it in his aura."

Lin Yun's grip tightened on his sword. He didn't know who the man was or what he wanted, but he had a feeling this was just the beginning of something far bigger.

For now, though, he pushed the thought aside. The next round was fast approaching, and he needed to be ready.