Blossoming Path

Chapter 69: Three Steps to Clash

The path to the training grounds felt longer than usual, each step heavy with the weight of the impending duel. The chatter and laughter of the Verdant Lotus sect disciples, enthused by my victory, did little to lighten the mood. The vibrant hues of the Verdant Lotus Sect's gardens, usually a sight to behold, blurred into a muddled backdrop as my mind raced with thoughts of facing the behemoth known as Ping Hai.

"Why so glum, Kai? You look like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse," Han Wei teased, nudging me with an elbow that felt more like a jab to my already fraying nerves. His face was alight with a blend of concern and mischief, a combination that only someone like Han Wei could pull off.

I shot him a wry look, attempting to muster some semblance of wit under the circumstances. "Oh, I don't know, Han Wei. How would you feel if you were in my shoes, matched up against a walking fortress?"

Before Han Wei could retort, Lan Sheng, with his ever-present mischievous smirk, chimed in. "It's not entirely impossible to beat him, you know," he said, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. Lan Sheng always had a way of finding humor in the direst situations, his lighthearted demeanor a stark contrast to the gravity of the moment.

I looked at Lan Sheng with some hope. Although Ping Hai was a monster in my eyes, to the second-class disciples, surely they could see some way to defeat him. Right?

Feng Wu, steadfast and serene as ever, walked beside us, his calm presence a grounding force amidst the rising storm of my anxiety. "Indeed, every opponent has weaknesses," Feng Wu added, his voice a steady timbre that usually brought a sense of reassurance. Today, however, even his words seemed to echo with the shadow of doubt.

"Sure, he's got the build of a small mountain, but mountains move slowly, right?" Lan Sheng continued, his tone aiming for casual but landing squarely in the 'not helping' territory. "And yeah, he might have the strength to uproot trees, but who needs to uproot trees in a duel? It's all about speed and wit!"

Feng Wu was the embodiment of calm in the storm of Lan Sheng's 'encouragement.' His serene demeanor a stark contrast to the escalating panic Lan Sheng's words were sowing in my mind.

"And endurance...I mean, I've heard the whispers from the other Silent Moon disciples. Apparently, he can go on for hours fighting without breaking a sweat, but a duel is short, right? No need for endurance when you're sprinting!" Lan Sheng's voice carried a cheerful note, blissfully unaware of the images of an unstoppable, tireless juggernaut he was painting in my head.

Just as I was about to be swallowed whole by the horrifying picture Lan Sheng was so cheerfully sketching, Feng Wu stepped in, his patience evidently worn thin. "Lan Sheng, perhaps that's enough 'reassurance' for now," he interjected, his voice carrying an uncharacteristic edge that immediately silenced Lan Sheng.

Li Na stepped in, her presence like a breath of fresh air. With a light punch to my shoulder, enough to snap me out of my stupor but gentle in its intent, she offered a grin that was both encouraging and conspiratorial.

"Come on, Kai. You've got something Ping Hai will never have," she said, her voice laced with confidence. Her brown eyes were full of conviction that was hard to ignore.

"And what's that?" I asked, genuinely curious, clinging to any sliver of hope.

Li Na's smile broadened, her eyes gleaming with a mix of confidence and a hint of playful challenge. "Us. He might be a mountain, but even mountains can't stand alone against a storm. And we'll be the gale-force winds at your back."

Her words, simple yet profound, eased away at my fears. The realization that I wasn't going into this battle alonethat I had friends who believed in me, ready to support me in any way they couldignited a spark of courage within me.

Buoyed by Li Na's words, I couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle, the tension in my shoulders easing ever so slightly. "So, you'll all be in the match with me, fending off Ping Hai?" I asked.

Li Na and Han Wei exchanged a quick, uneasy glance, suddenly finding the path beneath our feet fascinating. The silence that followed, punctuated by their lack of eye contact, spoke volumes, but it did little to dampen the lightness Li Na's words had brought to my heart.

"Ah, I see how it is," I said with a feigned sigh, the corners of my mouth twitching upwards. "Well, I appreciate the thought anyway."

The air around us seemed lighter, the path to the training grounds less daunting than before. "Thank you, really," I added, my voice laced with genuine gratitude. "I'll do my best not to die. That's a promise."

My hand unconsciously drifted to the pouch at my hip, fingers curling around the vials hidden within. The Celestial Mind Illuminating Elixir and the Ambrosia of Radiant Dawn felt like lifelines, their presence a reminder of the edge they could provide in the upcoming battle. "I guess it's a good thing I've got these then," I murmured, more to myself than to anyone else.

Lan Sheng piped up again, his tone light but his words carrying an undercurrent of sincerity. "Just remember, Kai, it's not the size of the cultivator in the fight, but the size of the fight in the cultivator. And you've got plenty of fight in you."

Feng Wu, walking silently beside us, offered a nod of agreement, his steady gaze reinforcing Lan Sheng's sentiment. It was a small gesture, but coming from Feng Wu, it carried a weight of assurance.

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As the training grounds came into view, a mixture of apprehension and determination settled within me. The laughter and banter of my friends, the weight of the potions in my pouch, and the challenge that lay ahead coalesced into a singular focus. I was ready, or as ready as one could be when facing the wall known as Ping Hai.

"Let's do this," I said, more to myself than to anyone else, as we stepped onto the familiar grounds that had borne witness to countless hours of my training.

As I took in the sight of the training grounds, meticulously swept and prepared by my own hands just the night before, a strange sense of calm began to settle over me. The dirt, solidly packed beneath my feet, offered a familiar resistance, a reminder of the countless hours spent honing my skills here.

The leaves, which I had painstakingly cleared away, still found their way back onto the grounds. But what my eyes caught were the leaves congregating in small, natural-looking clusters. I noted their locations and committed them to memory. These patches of leaves, seemingly inconsequential to the eyes of the bystanders, would provide the advantage I needed against a foe like Ping Hai.

The gathered disciples from our sect formed a semi-circle around the designated area, their faces a mix of excitement and apprehension. Among them, Instructor Xia Ji stood out, her sharp gaze piercing through the crowd to land on me. Though we hadn't exchanged words, her firm nod conveyed a wealth of support and expectation, bolstering my resolve. Her training and instruction have been invaluable to the progress I made.

Across from me, Ping Hai stood like a statue, his focus and determination palpable even from a distance. His eyes, locked onto mine, held a fierce motivation that was both intimidating and awe-inspiring. In this moment, the jokes and light-hearted banter of my friends seemed like a distant memory. The reality of the challenge before me was crystal clear.

Elder Zhu's voice cut through the tense air as he outlined the terms of our bout. "Kai Liu needs only to land a single hit on Ping Hai to claim victory, while Ping Hai must either force Kai into surrender or achieve a knockout," he announced, his tone devoid of bias.

Elder Jun's voice interjected, adding a layer of complexity to the already daunting task. "A mere touch won't suffice," he stated, his gaze sharp. "The blow must be solid, decisive. We trust Elder Zhu's judgment to concur with ours on what constitutes a 'solid' hit."

Ping Hai's formidable physique, designed to absorb and shrug off attacks with ease, suddenly seemed like an impenetrable fortress, leaving me with a dwindling list of viable targets. A glancing blow wouldn't do anything to that palace of muscle. I'd need to land a solid strike against him.

But hey, we can have lucky breaks every once in a while. I'd just hope today it'd happen.

Inside, my mind raced, frantically devising and discarding plans. The vagueness of what constituted a 'solid' blow played tricks on my thoughts, each more elaborate and desperate than the last. My gaze flickered to the patches of leaves, their innocent rustle now carrying the weight of potential strategies.

The air was thick with anticipation as the crowd quieted, every eye fixed on the center of the training grounds where my battle would unfold. My hand clenched around the vials in my pouch, their presence a tangible reminder of the edge they might provide, yet also a symbol of the dire straits I found myself in.

Focus, Kai. Treat Ping Hai like a tough alchemy problem, albeit one that could snap my bones if I'm not careful. Every strong ingredient, like Ping Hai, has its counter. It's about using knowledge precisely and finding that balance. Lan Sheng was right, it's all about the right mix: agility, wit, and careful timing.

In this moment, stripped of all pretense and humor, I stood facing not just Ping Hai, but the embodiment of my limits and fears. The path forward was fraught with uncertainty, but retreat was not an option. With a deep, steadying breath, I centered myself, ready to face whatever came next with the full might of my spirit and the cunning of my mind.

"Begin," Elder Zhu's voice resonated, marking the start of the duel.

As Ping Hai stood still, his towering frame a solid mass of muscle and quiet power, he gestured me forward with a slight nod, his deep voice carrying across the training grounds, "I will give you three moves. Make them count." The underlying tone was clear he saw me as no threat, a mere formality before his inevitable victory.

This patronizing allowance stung, igniting a flicker of defiance within me. 'Three moves,' I thought, 'then let's make them memorable.'

I reached into my pouch, fingers wrapping around the vials containing the Celestial Mind Illuminating Elixir and the Ambrosia of Radiant Dawn. Without hesitation, I downed them both, the familiar rush of energy and heightened awareness flooding my senses almost instantly. The world around me seemed sharper, every detail magnified, and Ping Hai's imposing stance appeared less like an invincible fortress and more like a puzzle to be solved.

Ping Hai adopted a stance that screamed offense; the Twelve Form Harvest Moon technique. His legs were planted firmly, and his arms raised in a position that promised a devastating counter should I come within his reach. The sight was designed to intimidate, to make one reconsider the folly of engagement. But retreat was not an option; not now, not ever.

I took a deep breath, my mind racing through scenarios, discarding one strategy after another as impractical or too risky. 'Two moves to create an opening, one to strike,' I reminded myself, the clarity provided by the potions allowing me to focus despite the pounding of my heart. I'd need to conserve my techniques till the very last moment. I couldn't afford to use them so recklessly.

With the potions' power surging through my veins, I felt every muscle primed, every sense sharpened. I darted forward, my feet barely touching the ground, aiming to use the full extent of my newfound speed. My first move was a straight punch at his head. A firm parry with his forearm stopped it with ease, sending a throbbing sensation throughout my arm.

A swift kick aimed at Ping Hai's solar plexus was a feint. I anticipated his dodge, his towering frame moving with surprising agility.

Spinning on my heel, I transitioned into a roundhouse kick, targeting the same area but from a different angle. My leg cut through the air, but Ping Hai was no novice; he leaned back, evading my strike with minimal effort, his brows furrowing as he prepared to launch his counter.

With only a few seconds left before his retaliation, desperation and clarity coalesced within me, guiding my actions. I feigned a stumble from the momentum of my failed kick, an act designed to draw him in, to make him commit to his counter.

"That's three," He intoned. His eyes didn't miss the opening I intentionally left. "Blame yourself for provoking the Silent Moon sect."

Ping Hai took the bait, moving in with a speed that belied his size, his fist arcing toward me with the force of a battering ram. It was now or never. In a split-second decision, I dropped lower, my body reacting almost on instinct, and threw a punch filled with qi aimed not at Ping Hai but at the space he would occupy should he continue his trajectory.

The move was a gamble, a high-stakes bet on my ability to predict his actions and his commitment to the counterattack. As Ping Hai realized the trap, his eyes widened in surprise, the first genuine emotion I had seen from him. He had a choice continue the strike and expose himself to a direct hit or fall back and lose his momentum. In a regular fight, he could've taken the blow with ease and hit me with a counter. But with the match's restriction in place, it allowed me an opportunity.

Ping Hai's eyes widened in surprise as he realized the trap, but his momentum was too great to halt. In a display of agility and flexibility that contradicted his size, he contorted his body in a bid to avoid my strike, his movements awkward yet effective. The air between us crackled with tension as his counterattack, a straight punch driven by the full weight of his formidable frame, barreled toward me.

The blow was inevitable; even with the potions enhancing my speed and his graceless dodge weakening the power behind the blow, Ping Hai's strike reached my body. I managed to twist myself, turning what would have been a full-on hit into a glancing blow. Yet, even this reduced impact sent me tumbling backward, the ground rushing up to meet me as I desperately tried to regain my footing.

From where I was laying, I could see Elder Jun with narrowed, calculating eyes. My heart pounded in my chest, not just from the exertion but from the realization of what I had just achieved. I had forced Ping Hai, the Silent Moon's mountain, to retreat.

At that moment, the fear and trepidation that had clouded my mind cleared, replaced by a sharp focus. I knew the odds were still against me, that Ping Hai's next move would be calculated and brutal, but for the first time since the match was announced, I felt a glimmer of hope. The potions coursing through my veins, the support of my friends, and the plan unfolding as I had hoped, all converged into a singular thought - 'I can do this.'