Blossoming Path

Lan Sheng stepped forward, moving in between Shan Huai and me with a sharp breath. “I’ll serve as witness and mediator for this spar,” he declared, his voice clear and commanding as his eyes flicked over to Shan Huai. “Kai Liu’s task is to land a single hit on you, while your goal is to make him yield.”

He barely acknowledged Lan Sheng’s words, raising a hand to pick his ear as if the whole affair were beneath him. “Yeah, yeah,” Shan Huai muttered dismissively, clearly unconcerned. His eyes flickered back to me, filled with the same smug confidence he had worn since the moment he arrived.

Lan Sheng, however, wasn’t having it. I could see the way his jaw clenched, how he gave Shan Huai a pointed stink eye that lingered just a second too long. He then turned back to me, his posture subtly shifting as he planted himself firmly in the space between us, almost as if he was positioning himself to jump in the moment things went wrong.

For a second, I caught the second-class disciple's eye. It was a fleeting moment, but the message was clear.

I’m watching. If this gets out of hand, I’ll stop it.

There was comfort in that, but at the same time, I couldn’t afford to rely on him. This was my fight, my wager. If I wanted to win, I had to do it myself. Windy and Tianyi had their roles to play, but the burden ultimately rested on my shoulders.

Shan Huai’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “Hurry up and begin,” he sneered, tapping his foot impatiently on the ground. “I’ve got better things to do than waste time playing games with an alchemist.”

Lan Sheng looked at me, giving me a brief, sharp nod, his expression all business now. “Whenever you’re ready,” he said quietly, stepping back to give us room.

The older disciple smirked, his posture shifting as he clasped his hands behind his back, adopting a stance of complete and utter arrogance. “I’ll even give you the first three moves. Consider it a form of mercy,” he declared, his voice oozing with condescension. His eyes gleamed with self-assuredness, the assumption that this fight would be over before it even began.

I swallowed, keeping up my meek facade as I bowed slightly in thanks. “Th-that’s very generous of you,” I stammered, putting on the act. Inside, my thoughts raced.

'He’s already written me off. Perfect.'

Straightening up, I cast a glance at my companions. “Well, if that’s the case... let’s not waste any time,” I said softly, then gestured to the two spirit beasts. “Tianyi, Windy, would you two be so kind as to... begin?”

The butterfly's wings glowed brighter in response, her small form radiating with a sudden intensity. She flapped once—just once—but it was enough to stir the air into a violent gust. The snow, dirt and debris that littered the ground were whipped up in an instant, swirling toward Shan Huai with alarming speed.

Caught off guard, he instinctively raised his hand as the wind hit his face, sending dirt into his eyes.

That single moment of blindness was all Windy needed.

With a sharp hiss and uncoiling of his powerful muscles, the serpent sprang into action. He closed the gap in an instant, his jaws snapping open as he aimed straight for the man's face.

"Urgh!"

The second-class disciple barely managed to twist his head aside, avoiding Windy’s fangs by the width of a hair. But before he could fully recover, Windy’s tail lashed out in mid-air, whipping across his eyes with a resounding slap.

“Argh!” Shan Huai stumbled back, blinking furiously as his vision was blurred further. His smug confidence wavered, confusion flickering across his face.

I hadn’t even moved yet, still rooted in place as I watched the scene unfold.

Tianyi wasn’t finished. As Shan Huai reeled from the blow, she darted forward with shocking speed, her wings cutting through the air with the sharpness of blades. The glow surrounding her flared, and she dove forward in the gap between his arm and torso, ripping open his orange robe.

The man snarled as the fabric of his robe tore, his expression shifting from confusion to fury. The arrogance that had previously dominated his face was now replaced with a burning frustration. He planted his feet, his body tensing as he dropped into a low, crouched stance. His fingers curled into claw-like shapes.

With a sharp growl, Shan parried Windy’s next tail strike, his reflexes sharp despite the debris in his eyes. There was power in his movements, but he was still off-balance, still reacting to the unpredictable assault from both beasts.

Before he could capitalize on the parry, Tianyi darted in front of his face once again, her shimmering wings flickering with light, obscuring his vision. Shan Huai swung wildly at her, his claws slashing through the air, but she was already gone—retreating just as quickly as she had appeared.

That brief distraction gave Windy the time he needed to retreat, his serpentine body curling back toward me as he readied his next strike.

They’re toying with him.

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Windy and Tianyi were moving around Shan Huai with a speed and precision that I hadn’t even fully grasped until now. Their coordination was flawless, their agility far beyond what I had expected. Shan Huai was left swinging at nothing, his strikes falling short as they made him look like a bumbling child trying to swat at flies.

My heart pounded in my chest as I stood there, frozen. I hadn’t expected the fight to be so one-sided. A second-class disciple had come in with all the confidence in the world, but now... now he was being humiliated.

And the most shocking part? I hadn’t even made a move yet.

BAP!

"Wh-"

CRACK!

I caught myself mid-step, realizing I was about to rush in. But for what? To help? They didn’t need me. In fact, I was starting to wonder if they had been holding back in our sparring sessions the entire time. How else could I explain the absolute thrashing they were giving Shan Huai now?

"ENOUGH!"

His roar reverberated through the air as he slammed his hands into the snow-covered ground. The force of his qi-infused strike sent a plume of snow billowing up around him, obscuring everything in a swirling vortex of white. My vision blurred, and for a moment, all I could see was the blinding curtain of snow swirling through the air, separating us.

I blinked rapidly, trying to make out what was happening through the chaotic flurry. The intense energy from the man was palpable even from this distance. But then, through the haze, I felt it. A strong sense of urgency.

Not mine, but Tianyi's. The bond between us flared with emotion, her telepathic voice cutting through the haze like a blade.

'Watch out!'

The warning hit me just as Shan Huai’s form emerged from the snow, crouched low, his hand drawn back for a strike, qi visibly swirling around his fingers like claws. His speed was shocking, his movements silent and swift.

In that instant, I dropped into my stance, rooting myself into the earth, my legs spreading wide into the Rooted Banyan Stance. With practiced ease, I activated the technique, feeling the qi surge through my body, anchoring me deep into the ground. I braced myself as the strike came down with terrifying precision, aiming straight for my gut.

The blow landed, and for a split second, I felt the impact ripple through my body. But it didn’t hurt. I stood there, rooted and steady. His triumphant expression quickly twisted into one of utter disbelief as he realized I hadn’t moved an inch.

"W-What?"

I could see the confusion in his eyes as he tried to process what had just happened. Before he could pull back, I shifted my weight, planting my back foot firmly and turning in a swift, fluid motion. I launched a spinning hook kick toward his chin.

CRACK!

The kick connected with a satisfying thud, sending Shan Huai's head snapping back as his body crumpled beneath the force of the blow. His legs gave out under him, and he collapsed onto the snow-covered ground, his limbs trembling as he tried—and failed—to stand.

The snow settled, the chaotic whirlwind of white dissipating into a gentle fall. Silence followed, thick and heavy, as the villagers and Iron Claw disciples stared in stunned disbelief. Shan Huai, the proud and arrogant second-class disciple of the Iron Claw Sect, lay bruised and beaten at my feet, while I remained untouched.

"The match is over. Victory goes to Kai Liu!" Lan Sheng announced.

My heart was still hammering in my chest, the adrenaline from the fight coursing through my veins despite how easily it had ended. I glanced down at Shan Huai, his body crumpled in the snow, struggling to regain his footing. The man was strong; individually, he would've beaten the three of us handily. But together? No chance.

"You hid your strength!" he spat, his voice hoarse with frustration. "I demand a rematch—this was a trick!"

I shook my head, stepping forward slowly, my gaze steady on him. "I didn’t hide anything," I said, my voice calm. "You underestimated me. That’s all."

"Lies!" Shan Huai roared, his face twisted with fury. "You’re no mere alchemist—you’re a disciple of a sect, aren’t you?!"

I met his eyes, snorting. "I swear on my name, I’m not a disciple of any sect. I’ve only been learning martial arts for less than a year."

Lan Sheng stepped forward, his arms crossed over his chest as he nodded in agreement. "It’s true," he said firmly. "He's an alchemist, one that participated in the Grand Alchemy Gauntlet."

Shan Huai’s eyes darted between the two of us, his disbelief clear. But I could see it—he was rattled. His entire worldview had just been upended by what he thought was an insignificant alchemist.

I bent down, lowering my voice as I leaned closer to him. "And I know you didn’t kill that Iron Boar."

His eyes widened, a flicker of panic crossing his face for the briefest of moments. I continued my words, just loud enough for him to hear. "If you don’t want to be exposed here and now—losing to a mere alchemist in front of everyone—then I suggest you take your disciples and leave. Quietly."

Shan Huai’s expression twisted with a mix of anger and shame. He opened his mouth as if to retort, but no words came. He knew I had him cornered.

I straightened up, turning to face the gathered crowd. "Is there anyone else who would like to challenge me?" I called out, my voice carrying through the still air. My gaze swept over the third-class disciples of the Iron Claw Sect, each of them turning away, their eyes downcast and shoulders slumped in defeat.

There was no response. The fight had been won, and everyone knew it.

Shan Huai grit his teeth, his body shaking with barely suppressed rage. But he knew he had no choice. "Retreat," he growled, his voice barely audible as he gave the order to his disciples.

In an instant, the group of Iron Claw disciples moved to follow him, their previous arrogance now replaced by a humbled silence. They left the Iron Boar’s corpse behind as they made their swift departure, their retreat echoing the sound of their defeat.

The villagers, who had been watching in tense silence, began to murmur amongst themselves, relief and awe flooding the air. I could feel their eyes on me, but all I felt was the cold breeze brushing against my skin.

As I stood there in the falling snow, watching the Iron Claw Sect disappear from sight, I couldn't help but feel a small flicker of satisfaction settle in my chest.

I won.

Not one where I was left bruised and broken like my encounter with Ping Hai of the Silent Moon Sect. That fight had ended with me barely able to stand, and Ping Hai had walked away nearly unscathed. But this? This was different. I had won—against a second-class disciple no less—and I stood here, untouched.

It wasn’t just a fluke, either. This wasn’t a narrow escape where I managed to pull victory from the jaws of defeat. And yet, the irony of it wasn’t lost on me. I had barely even fought. It was Tianyi and Windy who had humiliated Shan Huai, who had toyed with him and shown their strength in a way that I hadn’t anticipated.

But still… I’d come a long way.

A year ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of standing in a situation like this. I was no Lan Sheng, no Feng Wu, no Ping Hai, but I had won. And for the first time since the Gauntlet, I felt the subtle burn of accomplishment, that taste of victory lingering on my tongue, sweeter than anything I could have imagined.

Lan Sheng stepped beside me, his arms crossed, and his usual playful demeanor softened by a quiet respect. “You really surprised me there,” he muttered, glancing sideways at me. “I was ready to step in at any moment, but… I guess I didn’t need to, huh?”

I let out a breath, one I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “It wasn’t just me. Windy and Tianyi were incredible.”

Lan Sheng nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “They were. But don’t sell yourself short, Kai. That Rooted Banyan Stance... You held strong, even when he went in for the kill.”

I blinked, absorbing his words. I’d reacted purely on instinct, relying on the stance I’d practiced countless times. It had worked, and yet, there was still a sense of disbelief washing over me. I wasn’t used to feeling victorious like this. Not when the stakes were so high.

“Well, looks like you’re on a roll, Kai. First Ping Hai, and now this? You’re making a habit of pissing off sect disciples. If we leave you alone for a little longer, I can see you finding a way to provoke the Whispering Wind Sect as well!”

I chuckled softly, shaking my head. “I didn’t ask for this.”

“No one ever does,” he replied, giving me a knowing look. “But you handled it like a pro. You’ve come a long way, Kai. And you’re only going to keep getting stronger.”

Stronger. The word echoed in my mind as I looked out at the villagers, at the snow-covered ground where Shan Huai had fallen, and at my companions who stood by my side. I wasn’t sure what the future held or what other challenges would come my way, but one thing was certain—I wasn’t the same alchemist who had stumbled into the Jianghu nearly a year ago.

I had changed.

And for the first time, I was starting to believe that I could stand my ground.

“We should get inside before we freeze to death,” Lan Sheng added with a smirk, shaking the snow from his sleeves. “Victory’s sweeter with a hot bowl of soup.”

I nodded, feeling the cold seep into my bones now that the adrenaline was fading. But beneath it all, that spark of victory remained, warming me from the inside out.

As we made our way back toward the inn, I couldn’t help but glance back at the Iron Boar’s corpse, still lying in the square. It was a reminder of the lie Shan Huai had tried to sell, a lie I had seen through from the beginning.

I smiled to myself, the taste of victory still fresh.

"Next time," I murmured under my breath, "it’ll be even easier."