Alex’s heart surged with exhilaration when the Wujen’s bemused gaze became one of killing intent.

“Liqin, you need to leave now, girl. This is no place for rabbits, no matter how fast they hop!” hissed a suddenly very serious and coldly practical Yinzi.

But poor Liqin was literally frozen with terror, and it was just the roll of the dice that she had been showing off what were admittedly impressive jian skills that couldn’t hope to pierce even rawhide plates, let alone lamellar of steel or bronze, unless her blade was enchanted, Liqin herself being only at the high end of mortal strength. She lacked anything like a strength cultivator’s superhuman physique, or the massive cleaving power of the polearms Alex and his disciples used with their devastating advantages in terms of reach and leverage that made the fangtian ji and ko-naginata the true kings and queens of the battlefield, as far as Alex was concerned.

All one had to do was spare a single glance at a terrified, shaking Liqin to sense how much trouble she was in; dressed as a performer, not a warrior, wearing nothing more than a snug fitting cheongsam with fluttering pieces of silk tied to the high hem of her dress and thin leather boots worn for comfort and perhaps to accentuate her long, coltlike legs. Attire that would do almost nothing protect against steel or flame, to realize how perilous the situation had just become. She didn’t even have a shield, which all serious soldiers choosing sword over polearm should at least have on hand.

“Liqin! Leave now!” Snapped a hard-eyed Hao Chan, bemused smile in place no longer. Hers was the face of a girl who had been blooded in battle and didn’t want the death of a frightened rabbit on her conscience.

Master Huojin’s cold gaze flickered upon Liqin’s own. “I had expected a serious fight. Not a disorganized band of frightened children and fools. If you sought only to waste my time…”

“Not at all, Master Huojin,” Alex quickly said. “Though I fear there has been some misunderstanding. The match will be between you and me. My disciples are present only to watch and learn whatever our struggle might teach them. I do hope such is acceptable to you, sir.”

The wujen’s brows furrowed. “You would think to take me on by yourself? You either seek to mock me, or you’re a fool. Either way, your jest has just cost you two spirit pearls.”

Alex shrugged and smiled. “You may assume what you like. But much like yourself, I strive to be the best instructor that I can for my students. If they can learn from our struggles, even if only how to avoid my folly, then I will consider the lesson well worth the cost.” His goodnatured grin hardened. “And who knows? Perhaps I have lessons to share with you as well.”

Master Huojin’s cold gaze pinned Alex’s own for long moments before he chuckled softly. “A battle with a Ruidian whose blond locks and enchanted steel helm might or might not be hiding a jewel master’s gifts. Why not?” He peered intently into the crowd. “And perhaps some of my students will learn something as well. Very well, let’s begin!”

Like a gunshot, Alex was off, racing across the torn and bloody dueling grounds, spiraling inward towards his coldly smiling opponent, knowing he’d be a harder target to pin with a wujen’s arts if he was always moving, flashing a fierce savage grin as Qi Perception and his own eyes simultaneously alerted him to the balls of plasma-like flame billowing through the air, easily manipulating the flows of Qi to push them off while they were still a safe distance away.

Only for his eyes to widen as the hot balls of flame slid right over his Qi deflection ripples like a deadly serpent swimming through the currents, and Alex could all but sense how hungry those balls were to taste his flesh.

“Alex, look out!”

Hao Chan’s panicked voice echoed through his mind as the Wujen flashed a cold smile, but it was already too late.

Alex’s world had just become a sea of pain.

You have been struck by Dragon’s Tear! Qi Deflection fails to counter! Stone Armor reduces Critical Wound to Serious Wound. Draconic Essence & Energy Absorption reduces Serious Wound to Medium Wound! You have successfully saved versus Crippling Pain!

He choked back a cry as his back exploded with pain, mitigated somewhat by his half a ton of stone armor and his body’s newfound affinity to flame. But enough of that horrid liquid plasma scorched his exposed flesh that it was all he could do not to scream in pain.

And before he could formulate any counter, hot blazing plasma blasted into him from a ball that had hidden in the coattails of the first.

For Alex had dared test himself against a clear master of this art, one who was not unfamiliar with arts Alex had learned only through happenstance, luck, and desperation. Now he was forced to pay a bitter price indeed for his lesson in humility, if nothing else.

You have failed to Deflect Dragon’s Tear! Qi Deflection fails to counter!

Qi Absorption overwhelmed!

Unknown Wujen Arts have pierced efficacy of Stone Armor!

Draconic Essence mitigates Crippling Wound!

Serious Wound Taken.

You fail to save versus agony!

And how odd it was to find himself crashing to the ground, shrieking with pain beyond what even his Draconic essence could handle as the Wujen just feet away chuckled softly while Alex writhed from burns not just of the flesh, but the spirit as well.

Power Healing engaged.

“There are indeed many lessons to be learned here, Ruidian,” the man said, lashing Alex’s writhing body with a whip of flame. “Not the least of which is the unforgivable gall of a lesser daring to challenge a Silver as if he were my equal!”

He then paused, gazing down at a scorched and groaning Alex with a contemptuous smirk. “Nonetheless, you did pay me two Spirit Pearls to impart what lessons I would, and the grace to spare girls foolish enough to follow in your footsteps the pain that is now yours. So I will give you a chance to recover, just as I would any disciple of the training grounds.”

He chuckled softly, cracking his whip of fire. “Of course your flesh will still be kissed by flame’s gentlest caress until you find the strength to rise once more. For even mercy has its price. But if the cost of my temporary forbearance is too much to bear, just shriek a little louder, and I’m sure the Blue Pagoda’s overworked servants will be happy to heal you. Just as soon as they finish tending to all the worthy disciples of countless disciplines that you and your ill-fated band cut down so ruthlessly this afternoon.”

And before Alex could even think of a response to that, the whip cracked and his flesh exploded with pain.

“He’s already down! Stop whipping him, you bastard!” Hao Chan hissed.

“Hao Chan, Don’t! He’ll kill you!” Yinzi screamed allowed.

The smirking Wujen’s eyes hardened. “Ware your words, girl. The fool before you has fallen for daring to challenge a Silver Wujen who will always be above and beyond lesser men. And I would see you bow your head before me, girl. Only my disciples and equals may look at me with eyes so bold!”

“Alex is just a Bronze!” Hao Chan pled. “He was a student, just like your disciples! It’s one thing when we’re fighting for our lives, and those other teams were out for blood. But I never once struck a fallen foe today, certainly not to torment him!”

Master Huojin laughed, caressing a shrieking Alex with his whip of flame once more. “This fool had the audacity to challenge one such as I, and the arrogance to assume his coin was worth my time. Very well, I will teach him all I can in the time we have, so that he may learn his true place here.”

You have suffered one Medium Wound. Draconic Essence mitigates damage. Stone Armor mitigates damage. Qi Absorption Mitigates damage. Medium Wound mitigated to superficial wound! You successfully save versus agony! You can think clearly once more! One fifth of your health pool has been lost to flame.

“What did you teach anyone, Wujen?” Yinzi snapped. “Save that you’re a sadist with flame eager to torment anyone who dares defy your sense of the natural order of things?”

“You already won!” Hao Chan sobbed. “Now take your damned winnings and leave.”

“The match isn’t over until I declare it done!” Huojin roared, now flicking his whip of flame at a desperately dodging Hao Chan. “And I am a big believer in hands-on instruction, so prepare for the lesson of your lives, children!”

It was only when he heard Hao Chan’s panicked cry in his mind that Alex realized how severely he had been stunned by liquid flame that seared the psyche as well as the flesh, leaving him too stunned and disoriented even to think, only to suffer and burn, after crashing to the ground with a half ton of armor an added burden he could least afford at that moment.

Even now, as he strove to focus and orient, fighting through a haze of disorientation and agony, he knew it was futile. That this Deep Silver understood Qi Deflection at least as well as Alex, and had devised a means to counter that skill. Balls of liquid flame that would flow right along the currents of one’s own arts, slipping past all barriers, honing in on the spirit as much as the body.

But still, he forced himself to rise, for all that skin cooked and cracked, body ablaze with searing pain.

This wasn’t the first time he had felt pushed beyond all endurance, he told himself, lurching towards the monster who dared to lash out at his beloved with flame. Because now at least he could fight back like the pale, emaciated seventeen year old version of himself never could.

Glorying in the sight of the Wujen’s perplexed frown.

For though he had only teased with the whip, it had failed to penetrate Hao Chan’s desperate twisting parry, washing off her sparkling armor as she pivoted aside like a sputtering torch, and Alex wanted to laugh aloud with sudden vindication, despite his pain.

Because it wasn’t just that Hao Chan was blessed with a priceless artifact that could deflect nearly any blow, so long as she was flowing away or spinning to the side. So long as her foe never hit hear dead-on. Somehow, he didn’t think that held true to a Wujen’s deadly arts.

No.

It was the roaring torrent of water flooding a transcendent soul still riding her latest breakthrough as she dove and spun about the now backpedaling Wujen whose bemused smirk turned to a cold snarl when Hao Chan was abruptly forced to back away with a cry as a whirling vortex of flame suddenly separated them. “Very well, child. You wish to burn like your lover? Then burn you shall!”

“You already agreed to the terms! You lash out at her one more time, and the fight’s disqualified!” Alex shouted, forcing himself to goad with words before he fully surrendered to his fury. Knowing he had to protect the ones he loved at all costs.

Dropping his polearm when the Wujen snarled and turned to face him. For though it might have been the king of the battlefield, every weapon had its place.

Such as now, Alex drawing his pair of wide bladed shark-toothed dao as Huojin spun around, his cold, hostile gaze transforming to bemused curiosity in the blink of an eye.

“Back off, Hao Chan! Yinzi! This one is mine!” Alex shouted both mentally and physically, ignoring their mental surges of alarm, even annoyance, before they shuddered under the weight of the burning agony that he had endured, only now numbed by battle-frenzy and the sheer exultation of gazing death in the face.

“So, the Ruidian actually has the strength to rise. Remarkable! Good. Good! Let this fight be worth my time. Prove to me you are worth the arrogance behind that gaze, and I might just forgive your temerity for daring to look at me as if you were my equal!” The wujen roared the last, the air alive with blazing balls of fiery Qi once more. Deadly messengers of Spirit and Flame that would torment not just the flesh, but the mind as well.

The very same attack that had led to Alex’s defeat, just minutes before.

Only this time he wasn’t dodging away, doing all he could to deflect them.

Now he was charging right for them, sharktooth blades flashing through the air.

You feel the river crashing through your soul.

You have embraced the whirlwind all around you.

You are now one with the storm.

And the air erupted with a titanic boon as the ball of sticky flame exploded in a flash of lightning and an explosion of steaming water, the electrified spray now drenching a flinching Wujen.

“Stormstrike!”

You have successfully synergized two Qi disciplines! Spell Cleave has been successfully modified by Stormstrike!

Water successfully counters Fire! Lightning successfully counters Spirit!

You have successfully disrupted Silver Tier Ward-Piercing Spell!

Stormstrike is now Rank 2!

The wujen was stumbling back in wide-eyed disbelief. “No. There is no way you could disrupt that spell! No one can!”

Alex’s only response was to rupture spell after spell, cleaving through the air with the force and fury of the howling storm now manifesting in a pounding rain as the sky darkened and the wind began to howl.

Yet no one dared flee for shelter, for all that the rained soaked them in seconds, captivated by the sight of the wild-eyed laughing Ruidian whose blade flashed in time to the crackling bolts of lightning plunging down from the sky as balls of crimson flame exploded in foxfire and mist, the Wujen stumbling back upon the now mudslicked ground, glaring up at the scorched Ruidian now gazing down at him with pale blue eyes and a rictus of a smile through cracked and bleeding flesh.

“The duels not over yet, Ruidian!” The man snarled, hand clawing for a serpentine blade of liquid flame.

Before he hissed in horrified surprise, feeling the deadly teeth of a weapon that had kissed Death’s own syxian rivers now caressing his flesh.

Multiple modifiers are now in effect. Piercing Strike has successfully pierced Wujen Ward.

“No! How?” Huojin’s whisper was almost a whimper, transfixed by the sight of the death he and Alex both knew was just a single furious draw-cut away.

Alex gazed down at his trembling foe for long moments.

It was all he could do to reign in his fury at this man who could have taken Hao Chan’s life with his deadly flame.

“Please, Alex. There’s been enough blood today.”

Alex took a deep breath as Hao Chan’s words washed over him, forcing himself to step back, surprised by the unexpected round of thunderous applause now washing over him and the girls as the crowd that had only grown with the storm and the pyrotechnic display roared and cheered their champions for the day.

“Team Fox has triumphed! We have our new champion of the dueling circles!”

Hao Chan and Yinzi exchanged excited grins, and it lifted Alex’s heart so sense their sudden ebullience, the sweet exhilaration they felt, both similar and utterly different to what Chan had experienced when performing for pleased spectators back at Dragon Academy.

“We did it, Alex! We triumphed against all adversity and emerged victorious!” Yinzi cheered, Alex smiling and nodding his agreement, though it was more a grimace of excruciating pain as Power Healing revitalized seared nerves and healed his flesh at a phenomenal, if agonizing, rate.

Yet through it all, he kept his gaze firmly on the wujen only now rising once more to his feet.

Master Huojin rose to his feet and brushed off his robes while measuring all three of them with his cold gaze before at last giving the tiniest of nods. “I find your performance today acceptable, disciples. You may have the pair of suites as a reward for your efforts.”

Alex clenched his jaw but said nothing. He refused to bow his head, but did not hinder the man when he walked off, head held high, as if his enchanted robes had never touched the dirty muck that had covered them just seconds ago.

“Alex?” Alex forced himself to ease his hard glare as he turned a worried Hao Chan’s way.

“Are you alright?”

Alex forced himself to laugh. “I’m not too happy with that asshole for threatening you. But if everyone’s willing to pretend it never happened? Fine.” He gave a tired sigh, wincing at the thought of all the people who had fallen before their blades that day, many dragged from the circles screaming in pain. Or not saying anything at all, which had been even worse. “Whether out of a twisted sense of munificence or curiosity, or just wanting to make me suffer, he allowed the fight to linger far longer than it had to, which the only reason why I came out on top. Besides, it’s not like we were exactly playing nice today either.”

Hao Chan gave a sad shake of her head. “No, we weren’t.” Then her resolve stiffened, her gaze snapping up to meet Alex’s own. “Half the men who fought us, fought with killing intent, whether or not they thought it would come to that. We did exactly what we had to, to survive.”

“Exactly!” crooned a still ebullient Yinzi as they exited the crowd with friendly waves and a final bow to the crowd. “We did exactly what we had to, in order to survive. To fight with absolute killing intent, destroying our foes just as savagely as we trained against each other in our dreams. For to deviate from that, to fight with less than absolute zeal and focus, is to demean ourselves and find our steps faltering upon the Pearlescent Path we are staking our very foundations upon!”

Alex nodded his solemn agreement, grateful that the searing agony of moments before had at last abated. “When we’re forced to fight with live steel, we must do so with absolute killing intent, and assume our enemies intend the same. Because the mercy we extend our foes in the heat of combat could be a dagger in our back when we least expect it, our only reward for playing the fool in the savage world we live in.” He then did his best to push all thoughts of the perils of battle firmly out of mind. “But for now, let’s savor our triumph and celebrate our victory!”

Hao Chan beamed her agreement. “Agreed! Now let’s go see our new rooms!”

And they did just that after bathing and changing into fresh new clothes in Alex’s personal suite.

“I think I’d best wait out here for you two beauties to finish before I dare enter,” he said, laughing at Hao Chan’s pout, before catching the dazed look in her dreamy gaze. “And I think we’d best put you to bed. You’ve had two incredible breakthroughs in less than a week’s time. I think what you could use more than anything else is a chance to rest and reflect upon your growth.”

“I’d rather rest with you in my arms,” she said, before her cheeks flushed adorably, blinking eyes making it clear she had spoken private thoughts aloud.

“The minute we hit Silver,” Alex promised, his own voice growing husky as a laughing Yinzi pulled Hao Chan inside, slamming his own door shut behind them.

He chuckled and sighed, thinking to rest a moment by the side of his door before nearly stumbling over, thanks to the weight of his ridiculously heavy stone armor.

“Need some help with that, hero?”

His eyes widened, then he smiled, immediately recognizing Xun Hu’s soft voice, turning to see her peering at him from the shadows of her doorway. “You know what? Actually I could.”

She smirked. “Then come on in. It’s not like my rooms aren’t absolutely packed with your glorious stash as it is.”

And in very short order Alex found himself free of stone armor, a feet that went as smoothly as peeling crab shells, and was too tired to argue with his diminutive kitsune friend when she demanded he take a shower and freshen up.

“Aren’t you going to hand me your clothes?” she said with a cute little frown after Alex stripped, now wearing nothing but a towel, his clothes a bundle in his hands.

“These are magical clothes!” he said with a teasing grin. “They’ll never wrinkle, fade, get itchy, or smell like anything but freshly laundered clothes from my dad’s favorite drycleaner back home. Even tears mend about as fast as I can regenerate my flesh.”

“Which most people can’t do,” she noted, now gazing intently at the bundle in his hands. “Are you serious about the clothes?”

He laughed at that before making quick use of the shower and totally skipping the bath and sauna, feeling refreshed and invigorated by the time he was done, and quite happy not to be weighed down by half a ton of stone.

Of course his ebullient mood froze as he spotted stares of ice and fire by the now open doorframe, Yinzi and Hao Chan glaring daggers he had no hope of countering while Xun Hu shivered in the shadows in the corner.

“Alex?”

“Yes, dear?”

“Why are you in another girl’s room wearing nothing but a towel?”

“That’s a very good question, with an exceedingly logical and straightforward answer.”

Hao Chan’s amber gaze flashed. “I’m listening…”

“It’s because he doesn’t trust himself, showering in front of you two,” whispered Xun Hu. “But he knows…” she swallowed. “He’s not in love with me, and I’m too young for him, and he’s too good a man to take advantage of me, so he can shower safely in here, without his foundation crumbling.”

Hao Chan lowered her gaze, cheeks flushing while Yinzi grinned. “That’s a very good point, Chan. You and I both know you wanted to sleep in his arms, and we all know what a disaster that would be, because neither of you are perfect, and your foundation doesn’t give a crap about good intentions, only if you rupture it.”

Yinzi furrowed her brow. “But why is this room as full of magical treasures and spiritual ingredients as your own, Alex?”

“Because my own room wasn’t big enough to store all the storehouse loot,” he said, before turning to a forlorn-looking Xun Hu. “We were just about to celebrate crushing our opponents and securing two additional apartments, Xun Hu. You should join us! I’m going to introduce my friends to the joys of spicy chicken wings, patty melts, and beer.”

Xun Hu blinked, looking uncertain, though a tiny smile crept up her shy features. “Sure, but I don’t know what any of those things are.”

“Neither do I, but doesn’t it sound exciting?” Enthused an ebullient Yinzi. “Worst thing that happens is we die of a horrific stomach illness not even Eternal Fox can cure. Come on, let’s try it!” She clasped the younger kitsune’s hand, and led her off with a manic little hum.

Hao Chan chuckled softly, offering Alex an embarrassed smile. “I’m sorry, Alex, I—“

Her words were cut off when his lips claimed her own, kissing her tenderly, hungrily, holding her warm yielding curves so tight as she stiffened with only momentary surprise before squeezing him just as tightly, legs moving with superhuman grace when she hooked his calf and flipped him over, and somehow they weren’t on the floor but instead on Xun Hu’s bed, Alex’s eyes captivated by the glorious angel before him, straddling his now fully clothed form while slowly letting the silk streamers of her dress fall to the ground, revealing the most exquisite and glorious treasures Alex could hope to glimpse in this life, or any other. And never had he wanted anything more in his life than to claim the strikingly beautiful girl in his arms right then and there. Claim her with all his love, all his passion, marking her as his own for all time.

Before he cried out when shadowy fingers twisted his ear.

“This is why he changed in my rooms,” sighed the surprisingly quick and stealthy kitsune with fingers that were far too strong for Alex’s ears, for all that Lady Chun An had declared Xun Hu a meek and quiet child.

Yinzi, also springing up from nowhere, despite her lack of any shadow, nodded her agreement, clasping a furiously blushing Hao Chan in her own sisterly embrace. “Let’s refasten that qipao, shall we, Chan? And I thought we were going to claim him together! Anyway, no cheating, or we’ll all end up broken fools. Now come on, I want to try those chicken wings!”