The next day was when the match between Wu Jian and Hou Chāo was set to take place. Mun Han had made the announcement not even an hour after Wu Jian left. He woke up early that morning to find that everyone and their mother seemed to already know about the match. People stared at him when he came down for breakfast, and they whispered in not-so-hushed tones as he tried to eat in peace. He wondered if he should tell everyone that he could hear everything they said with perfect clarity, but he chose not to. It wouldn’t make a difference anyway.

“That’s him, right? The one who challenged His Highness to a match?”

“I think so. He’s got the mask and everything.”

I challenged him? He’s the one who challenged me. I wish you people would at least get that right.

There was a very good chance Mun Han had changed the narrative. Hou Chāo was royalty, and it was unbecoming of a prince to challenge an unknown cultivator to a match. Perhaps things would be different if Wu Jian were as well-known as Yu Chenguang, but that was neither here nor there.

“Who do you think is gonna win?”

“Hah! Do you even need to ask? Hou Chāo is at the Ninth Subrealm of the Asura Realm, and I hear the cultivation method he practices is very advanced. There’s no way this no-name cultivator can win.”

“Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. He’s gonna lose hard.”

“Seems you're the talk of the town,” Yu Qiang said with a smile as he ate with refined grace. They were being served simple congee, but the man ate like he was sitting at the finest establishment and being served something fit for an emperor.

“Seems so,” Wu Jian muttered as he blew on his congee.

“You don’t seem too nervous.”

“I’m used to being gawked at.”

“Really now…”

Wu Jian quickly finished his meal, paid the tab, and left with Yu Qiang in tow. He ignored the gawking of the onlookers as he quickly made for the arena.

A massive crowd had already gathered. The sight of several thousand people crowding near the arena entrance was almost intimidating. Just imagining how much effort it would take to push through that crowd left Wu Jian exhausted. He glanced at the archways and judged their distance, nodding after several moments of observation.

“Come on,” he said to Yu Qiang before leaping onto an archway.

He had barely set down on the nearest archway before leaping off to the next one, then the next one, and the next one. His actions drew the crowd’s attention. People shouted and pointed at him, but he ignored them as he made his way toward the arena entrance. He landed on the ground several seconds before Yu Qiang.

“That’s one way to bypass the crowd. You know this is going to draw more attention on you, right?” said Yu Qiang.

Wu Jian just shrugged. “Like that matters. I’ve already drawn so much attention. A little more won’t change anything.”

“I guess not.”

Wu Jian was about to head inside when a large hand landed on his shoulder. He craned his neck and looked up as a massive man with hairy arms and an even hairier face glared down at him.

“Hey, punk. What do you think you’re doing?! You can’t just cut in line like--”

Wu Jian clicked his tongue as he grabbed the man’s arm, pulled him off balance, then kicked his feet out from under him. The large man crashed to the ground. He landed on his face. Wu Jian clapped his hands as if to rid them of dust.

“Come on,” Wu Jian said to Yu Qiang.

“Uh… right,” Yu Qiang eyed the man who’d just been served a face full of stone before following after Wu Jian. “Hey, Wu. Are you irritated today?”

“Not particularly. I just don’t like people like that. He doesn’t even know me, yet he propped his hand on my shoulder so casually and even tried to apply pressure to intimidate and injure me. People like that don’t respond to words well. They only know force,” said Wu Jian.

“Sounds like you have experience with people like that,” Yu Qiang observed.

“More experience than I care to admit.”

Wu Jian and Yu Qiang made their way to the receptionist, who lit up upon spotting them. She smiled at the pair and, ignoring the person trying to buy tickets for the upcoming match, curtsied to them.

“Master Jian, we have been expecting you. Please head onto the waiting room. We will call you when it’s time for your match.”

“Thank you.”

It looked like there was nothing for him to do, so he made his way to the waiting room with Yu Qiang, sat down with his legs crossed, closed his eyes, and began meditating.

He didn’t know how strong Hou Chāo was. It was a good idea to do some basic self-diagnostics to make sure his body was in good working order.

His dantian and chi sea was quite calm. The drops of Byakko’s blood hovered over the vast ocean of chi. Only three of them were glowing right now. Wu Jian had burned up the blood, overloading it to the point where it had gone inactive for a time. He’d been spending the last few days not only competing in the arena but also restoring the blood.

I don’t think I’ll need it for this match, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Yu Qiang was quiet. They didn’t make small talk. Perhaps he was lost in his own thoughts.

“Master Jian? It’s time. Please make your way onto the arena,” said a young maidservant who poked her head in through the door.

“All right.”

“Good luck, Wu,” said Yu Qiang.

“Thanks. Be sure to bet all your money on me.”

Wu Jian exited through the door on the far side, walked through a hallway, and emerged onto the arena floor to the raucous cheering of the crowd. He winced and wished he could cover his ears. It was so loud that his eardrums were rattling. The only reason he didn’t was because that might be seen as a sign of weakness. He would never again allow himself to show weakness or cowardice.

The arena was large. While the floor below was shaped like an oval, the stage where cultivators fought was a simple square made of white tiles and elevated several chih above the ground. Mun Han was standing on the arena with a smile plastered on his face. Standing beside him was the second prince. He was smirking.

“About time you showed up,” said Hou Chāo .

Wu Jian resisted the urge to shrug. “They just called me out.”

Hou Chāo placed his hands on his hips. “The people managing this arena are loligagging. They need to get their act together. Don’t they know a prince is waiting for his match?”

“Now, now. They’re doing everything they can. The turnout was bigger than expected, so I’m sure they have their hands full,” Mun Han placated the younger man. “Now then, since you are both here, let us begin.”

Mun Han stepped away from the pair and faced the crowd, spreading his arms wide as if to encompass them all. Everyone currently seated and making noise settled down. Stillness permeated the arena.

“Welcome, one and all,” he said in a voice that carried to every corner of the arena. “Most of you know me, but for those who do not, allow me to introduce myself. I am the lord of this city. Mun Han. And I am pleased to announce a special match today.”

A spotlight appeared over Hou Chāo , who grinned as he thrust out his chest.

“Many of you already know this man. He is the second prince of our beloved nation and a powerful warrior in his own right. He has participated in many a bout here in this very arena, and now, he is about to fight a man who has been making waves these past few days.”

Another spotlight appeared. Wu Jian’s right eye twitched as the light hit his retina, but he crossed his arms and pretended not to notice. He didn’t want anyone to know how much having a light shine in his eyes hurt.

“This man has only joined us in the last few days, but he has already made a name for himself. He has defeated every opponent who came against him in a single blow. They call him Jian Wu, the Indomitable Fist.”

Since when was that my name? I don’t remember this.

It seemed someone had decided to give him a nickname. The nickname must have been decided on to up the ante of this match. Well… whatever. He didn’t really care if he was given a nickname or not.

“You’re all in for quite the treat. These two powerful cultivators are both at the Ninth Subrealm of the Asura Realm, making them leagues above the sort of contenders we normally get. Now, let us get this match under way. The battle between His Highness Hou Chāo , and The Indomitable Fist Jian Wu is about to begin!”

The crowd cheered even louder as Mun Han turned back to them. His smile was so vibrant it was like he had lamps behind his eyes.

“Cultivators. Bow to me. Now bow to your ancestors. Bow to each other.”

Wu Jian and Hou Chāo both did as instructed, bowing to the referee, the crowd who represented their ancestors, then to each other.

“Good. Now, on the count of three, you shall battle. Three, two, one. Fight!”

Hou Chāo ’s arms and legs ignited in flames the moment the battle began. The second prince pushed forward, fire propelling him across the arena. He spun his body like a top and extended his left leg, bringing it down upon Wu Jian’s head.

Or that would have happened.

But Wu Jian had leapt back.

“You’ve got fast reflexes! I knew that wouldn’t be enough to catch you by surprise!”

“You will have to try much harder if you want to catch me unawares, Your Highness.

“Ha ha ha! I like that cheeky attitude of yours! All right! Let’s dispense all the pleasantries and have ourselves a fight!”

Hou Chāo rushed forward and launched two straight punches with his left fist, then his right. Wu Jian coated his arms in chi as he met the strikes head on. Flames burst from Hou Chāo ’s fist every time they clashed. It caused sparks to fly around them and the heat from the fire tried to sear Wu Jian’s hands.

“Your hands aren’t burning! Are you coating them in chi to protect yourself? Excellent! Excellent! It seems I finally found myself a worthy opponent!”

Hou Chāo grinned from ear to ear as he launched more attacks, mixing kicks in with his punches. Wu Jian said nothing as he blocked each and every strike aimed at him. Each strike was strong, but they were nowhere near as powerful as Hou Jingshu’s. Now her attacks packed a punch. His arms often went numb after just blocking a few strikes from her.

Hou Chāo is strong, but he’s definitely not as strong as my princess.

It was clear to Wu Jian from how Hou Chāo fought that the man lacked experience against stronger opponents. He had probably never met anyone who could match him. Anyone would become arrogant if they believed they were strong enough to deal with every opponent who came their way.

The question Wu Jian had for himself was simple.

What should he do about this?

Wu Jian leapt into the air as Hou Chāo went low and tried to kick his feet out from under him. He flipped around in midair, extended his left leg, and came down with a heel kick. It was blocked. Hou Chāo crossed his arms to receive the attack, but it was so strong that the man’s knees buckled under the pressure.

“W-what the heck?!”

Hou Chāo ’s eyes bulged in their sockets as he was forced onto a knee. Wu Jian narrowed his eyes as he used the built up kinetic energy to push off. He landed on the ground, then darted forward just as the older man was standing back up.

His first punch was blocked, but it broke Hou Chāo ’s guard and made him stumble. Wu Jian came in with another punch. Hou Chāo gritted his teeth as he leaned back to avoid it. He gasped in shock when Wu Jian didn’t retract his fist, but instead grabbed his gi and yanked him forward--right into a powerful headbutt.

“Gaaaa!”

Wu Jian had a very hard head. The attack didn’t do much to him. However, Hou Chāo stumbled back, eyes swirling as though disoriented.

He could have ended the fight here, but he didn’t. Wu Jian was conscious that this man was the second prince of the Shang Kingdom. He didn’t really care about offending him, but he didn’t want to drag the Hou Family’s name through the mud. Their reputation was too important to this nation.

Hou Chāo shook his head, slapped his cheeks, and glared at Wu Jian.

“You’re a lot stronger than I thought. I really underestimated you. Sorry about that. But from here on out, I’m gonna give it my all. I’m not gonna go easy on you anymore.”

“Then I guess I’ll give this my all too,” said Wu Jian.

I won’t, but he doesn’t need to know that.

Hou Chāo grinned. “Now that’s what I’m talking about!”

The second prince removed the staff from his back, twirled it around, then set himself in a combat stance with his feet spread wide and knees bent. It was somewhat similar to Hou Jingshu’s spear stance, but this had some minor modifications. The spear was a thrusting weapon. The staff was more of a bludgeoning that someone could use to attack with either end.

Hou Chāo came in, twirling his staff. Wu Jian backed away but only for a second. He observed the timing of the staff’s spin, then stepped into Hou Chāo’s guard, raised his right leg, and stomped. The staff slammed into the ground, pinned between his foot and the arena floor.

“The fuck?!” Hou Chāo shouted as he tried to yank the staff back with little success.

Wu Jian slid his leg along the staff and slammed a kick into the man’s torso. He didn’t put as much power into it as he normally would, nor was it as fast as his normal kicks. It was still enough to hurt. Hou Chāo managed to leap back after letting go of his staff, traveling with the blow, but he still rubbed the spot on his chest.

Wu Jian kicked the staff into the air so it landed on his foot, then tossed it with his foot to Hou Chāo , who caught it.

The second prince was furrowing his brow.

“Are you messing with me?!” Hou Chāo demanded.