Chen Jian patted the footprint, Wang Zen left on his white tunic with a look of annoyance. He looked at Zen and with a smirk, took a fighting stance and with his hand, made a come-hither gesture to beckon him.

“Of course, the coward can’t attack.” Zen said confidently as he bounced around.

Zen suddenly dashed forward and the two boys clashed. They danced around in a flurry of punches and kicks. Zen was mostly the aggressor, throwing punches and kicks at a quick pace while Chen Jian either tried to divert the punch, step out of the way and counter.

Zen threw a punch but Jian caught it and twisted his arm. Zen rolled on the floor to get the pressure off and thrust his foot out. Jian stepped back, the outstretched foot missing him by inches. He slammed the foot away with his palm, sending Zen spinning. Instead of fighting against the spin, which would have resulted in his back being turned towards Jian, Zen let the momentum carry him all the way round where he delivered a reverse punch just as Jian delivered his. Their fists met and both boys were pushed back.

Zen pressed the advantage and once again their flurry of attacks, parries and counter attacks began again.

The crowd’s booing had fallen silent. They all sat at the edge of their seats, watching these two boys wage skillful hand to hand battle in the square ring.

Zen tried to find an opening with his punches and kicks but Jian’s defense was evading him and he felt like he could barely dodge his counters. His kick flicked out but Jian leaned to the side to dodge it. Just as Zen’s leg was about to touch the floor, Jian’s foot hooked it and pulled it towards him, off balancing Zen. In the moment Zen lost his balance, Jian shifted forward and threw a punch.

Zen gave up on his balance, allowing himself to fall back making the punch sail just above his head. While falling, he brought his knees to his chest and thrust out when his back touched the ground.

Jian placed his forearm in between the kick and his abdomen, the force sending him skidding back.

Zen rolled backwards to his hands and feet before launching himself forward like a human toad. He thrust his fist out but Jian simply side parried it and side stepped, sending Zen sailing past him. Zen stopped and launched himself at Jian again, this time with an outstretched leg.

Jian parried the leg with both forearms, sending Zen’s leg upwards, the momentum caused Zen to spin in the air. Zen tried to deliver a wheel kick while spinning, which made Jian step back to avoid the hit.

As soon as the kick passed him Jian dashed forward.

Zen landed and to Jian’s surprise was able to block his attacks. They continued to fight. Zen stepped on Jian’s foot to keep him in place and delivered a knee to his side.

Jian winced before he was able to free hi foot from Zen. He stepped back and had to block Zen’s follow up kicks. One connected to his abdomen and he stumbled back, quickly recovering as Zen descended upon him.

Jian grabbed Zen’s punch and twisted his arm. Zen retaliated with another punch which was also grabbed and twisted. When Jian was about to raise his foot, Zen used his hold on his arms against him, pulling him forward and clenching his teeth through the stinging pain. At this closer distance, Zen was able to trap Jian’s foot in between his legs, stopping his kick.

Jian struggled, then to his surprise, Zen slammed his forehead into his nose. Jian’s vision busted into stars and before he knew it, Zen did it again, this time breaking his nose. Zen pulled his head back, ready for a third headbutt when Jian lowered his head, meeting his head on. There heads slammed into each other as both pushed against each other.

Zen released Jian’s foot only to deliver a knee strike into the place where Jian’s chest met his stomach. Jian released the hold and delivered two strikes into Zen’s chest, sending him flying back.

Zen rolled to his feet and charged. Jian grabbed his punch and threw him onto the ground. Zen used his legs to free himself. He rolled on his feet and blindly threw a punch, sensing Jian was upon him. What he did not realise was that Jian had done the same.

Their fists found the other opponents face and they both were sent flying away from each other.

They both got up at the same time and took a fighting stance. They waited a while like this before they were interrupted by the crowd.

The crowd was cheering and whistling. Most of them had gotten to their feet as they showed their appreciation for the fight.

Zen dropped his hands in confusion and awe as he looked around himself at the crowd, who moments ago were booing him but because of the skill he showed, they were now cheering to their best of their ability.

A smile crept into his face as he drank in the admiration.

“Enjoy it while you can.”

Zen was snapped out of it by Chen Jian’s voice.

Chen Jian did not look as pleased as Zen, as he wiped the blood coming from his broken nose.

“Come now,” Zen said, not losing his smile, “don’t be bitter because I am better than you.”

“You are a weakling, you’re not better than me!” Jian snapped.

“Sure, you say that.” Zen smirked. “But last I checked, I’m the one who is bleeding.” Zen gestured to his own, bloodless, crooked nose.

A vein popped from Jian’s forehead and his eye twitched in anger.

“Aww, pretty boy isn’t so pretty anymore.”

“Do you remember the promise I made you last time?”

Zen remembered back to what Jian said. How he had promised that the next time they met in battle, he would kill him.

“Well, its time a I starting keeping it.” Jian said, opening his palms and a disc made of pure white appeared above his hands.