*temp bet_winner "" *temp bet_amount 0 *temp have_disk false *temp killed_mo_long false *temp bet_on_long false *temp bet_first_tigress false *temp asked_questions 0 "Insanity! Madness!" — a loud voice attracts you as you walk through the sect. When you turn your head, you see a young blond man in Outer Disciples robes that has formed a small crowd around himself with his enthusiastic cries. Curious, you come closer and listen in as well. "After months of beings quiet, after some fools have already started doubting his strength, the Son of Heaven has proven them all wrong!" — the disciple continues — "True Chosen of Destiny, the Golden Child of Fate once again demonstrates his unrivaled talent!" "Come on, out with it!" — someone impatiently urges. The blond, however, takes no offense: he smiles instead, proud at being to able to generate such interest. "Yesterday the Celestial Heir fought three opponents in the arena." — he says, expectantly smirking at the deflating expressions around him — "What, you don't find it impressive? Hehe." He crosses his arms and tilts his head. "Tang Ruo battled against disciples ranked in the 7500s, 5000s, and 2500s, effectively going through the entire Middle-Houtian tier. And he did so without taking even five minutes of rest between the fights, despite being an Early Houtian himself!" [i]What?![/i] *line_break [i]That's impossible![/i] *line_break [i]Stop lying![/i] "But that's not all!" — the blond interrupts the disbelieving murmurs — "He became so disappointed after those matches, he directly challenged Jing Qianfan for the top-1000 spot! An Early Houtian versus a Late-stage one, an unprecedented match will take place today!" "Today? When?!" — another disciple asks. The blond sheepishly ruffles his hair. "Well… right about now?" And just like that, the crowd of Martial Artists turns into a wild herd of elephants as they dash towards the Arena. "Wait!" — the blond shouts — "Buy my Information Disks! For only [b]5[/b] Contribution Points, you'll be informed about all the happenings inside both the sect and the outside world!" By the time he finishes his yell, however, the crowd is already far away. He then sits on the ground, disappointed, and sighs — before he notices you, still standing nearby, and his eyes brighten up once again. "Senior ${polite_address}, do you want to buy my Information Disks? I promise you only the most interesting news!" *choice *selectable_if (mc_sect_points >= 5) #Buy it (5 Points). *set mc_sect_points -5 *set have_disk true *set information_disk 1 "For five points?" — you nod — "Alright. Here you go." Excited, the disciple hands you over the disk. *label enjoy_disk "Enjoy!" — he says — "If you wish, you can always find me for more! And don't forget to tell your friends." *label watch_choice *choice *if (have_disk) #Browse the Information Disk. *gosub_scene cslib_string find history "killed_mo_long|" *if (cslib_ret > 0) *set killed_mo_long true *label info_disk *choice *if (mc_surname = "He") *disable_reuse #SCANDAL! The only heir of the Wu Clan abandons ${pronoun_2} heritage! [i]An unprecedented scandal erupts in the Martial World: heir to the decadent Wu Clan, Wu ${mc_name} has decided to cut ties with ${pronoun_2} ancestors and abandon ${pronoun_2} heritage. In a despicable act, ${pronoun_1} has joined the Wu's long-time rivals, the Clan of He.[/i] [i]It is certain that there were benefits involved, however, it still remains unknown how ${pronoun_1} soul.[/i] [i]As of this moment, there hasn't been any comments from the Wu Clan.[/i] *if (killed_mo_long) *disable_reuse #Demon Queen's only son is dead — the world will soon be filled with blood! [i]In a shocking turns of events, the son of the most feared woman in the world, the Demon Queen, has been been found dead near the small town of Quanzou.[/i] [i]Reports say that Pan Bo ran away from the Heavenly Havoc Sect due to a disagreement with his mother and killed his sister during his escape. It is also said that he caused a massacre of innocent civilians before his death, most likely possessed by a Mental Devil.[/i] *gosub_scene cslib_string find history "boasted_ML_killing|" *if cslib_ret > 0 [i]He was killed by a brave and righteous ${mc_surname} ${mc_name}, who, unafraid of the consequences, rid the world of another terrible fiend in the making.[/i] *else [i]He was killed by an unknown disciple of the Heavenly Ascension Sect. Although we do not know that Martial Artist's name, they deserve to be praised as a hero for ridding the world of another terrible fiend in the making.[/i] [i]The Demon Queen's vengeance, however, is inevitable: the only question is, how many thousands will die before her wrath is satisfied?[/i] *disable_reuse #Nineteen years of searching: all that we know about two missing Shangtians of the Tang. [i]At this day, nineteen years ago, two powerful Shangtians, parents of the famous Celestial Heir disappeared without a trace. They left their genius son in the care of his grandfather, Tang Yichen, before disappearing from the world, never to be seen again.[/i] [i]Celestial Emperor confirmed that both of them died inside a Danger Zone, but such a theory contains many holes inside it. What kind of a Zone not only requires two Shangtians, but also is dangerous enough for such powerful beings to die? Why would they leave their newborn son at such a precarious time? Why was no one else aware of their expedition? There is also an unconfirmed report from high-ranking source inside the Tang Clan, which claims that the Soul Candles of the Heaven Blessed Couple are still lit — meaning they are still alive…[/i] *disable_reuse #Su Clan celebrates: new Spear Lord is born? [i]A joyous event occurred in the Su Clan: a family of two Xiantians gave birth to a baby boy. The child, despite not undergoing any talent inspections as of yet, is already hailed as a potential candidate for the mantle of the Spear Lord — his heritage the most impressive out of the Su Clan's new generation.[/i] [i]Finally, twenty-seven years after the birth of the their previous descendant, the Su's change the date of their unique and strange holiday. From now and until a new child is born, the Day of Fornication, when every bearer of the surname Su must halt their comprehension of the spear and take part in sexual intercourse, will be held at 6th of Di-Ba. *disable_reuse #Unrest in the Dividing Sea: Rogue Clans are getting rowdy! [i]Terrible news come from the Dividing Sea: a dozen of Martial Artists patrolling it were killed in an altercation with Song clan members. However, these loyal and heroic patriots have managed to stop rogue spies from sneaking into the territory of the Wu Clan. This is the third such attempt in the last ten years, when Rogue Martial Artists attempt to slip into the mainland. Their attitude grows rowdier and rowdier, their methods — bolder. Only Heavens know, how long before the situation escalates into a full-blown war again.[/i] #Put the disk down. You store the disk back into your spatial ring. *set have_disk false *goto watch_choice *page_break Back *goto info_disk #Watch Tang Ruo's fight. Interested to witness Tang Ruo's prowess firsthand, you head over to the Arena. And you are from being the only one. Unlike its usual state, with only a few dozen of disciples watching or participating in the fights, the Arena now is almost half-full — an astounding turnout, probably the highest it has even been for an Early-Houtian contender. As you take your seat, you glance around, searching for familiar faces. *gosub_scene cslib_string find history "bet_first_tigress|" *if (cslib_ret > 0) *set bet_first_tigress true *gosub_scene cslib_string find history "bet_on_long|" *if (cslib_ret > 0) *set bet_on_long true *if (restaurant_active < 3) You spot Jing Guo, obviously tense and uncomfortable, squirm in his chair. *if (bet_first_tigress) A couple of rows to the left, you spot the same group of drunks who were present during the Tigress's tourney, and with whom you had previously bet. *if (characters_8_opinion <= 100) You see Yuan Fang, hidden by layers of thick robes and covered by a cloth hood, yet still striking an imposing figure in the furthest corner of the Arena. *choice *selectable_if (restaurant_active < 3) #Walk over to Jing Guo. You walk over to Jing Guo and find him staring into the ring below, his fists tightly clenched, his gaze intense. So engrossed he is in his watching of the empty space, he doesn't even notice you come close. "Brother Guo?" — you exclaim, startling him — "I trust business has been going well, since you have time to leisure around in the arena." Jing Guo, however, doesn't react to your joke, his expression still somber. "Tell me, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}, should I wish for him to win and not shame the clan," — he says, turning his head to you — "Or for him to lose so completely and utterly, he wouldn't dare raise his head in public again?" *choice #"Who are you talking about?" You give him a confused look "Who are you talking about?" "My brother, of course. Jing Qianfan." — Jing Guo replies — "He's the one I told you about before. The one who scammed me with the restaurant." *label no_idea_talented "Oh." — you say — "I didn't know he was so talented." "He truly is." — the young man in front you confirms, his somber face displaying a hint of a reminiscent smile — "Very hard-working as well. Something I always envied about him." Soon, however, Jing Guo shakes his head. "Nevermind. Forget I said anything." *label jingguo_questions *if (asked_questions >= 3) *goto battle_starts *choice *disable_reuse #"Who do you think will win?" "Who do you think will win?" "If we're going by logic and normal conventions, then my brother should win. No questions about it. But…" — Jing Guo pauses, hesitant — "These are not your average circumstances, are they?" "In truth," — Jing Guo adds — "I have no idea how strong Tang Ruo truly is. I haven't watched his previous battles. However, I refuse to believe that an Early Houtian can beat someone two stages above. That's too much of a stretch. So if I had to bet, I would go with my brother." *set asked_questions +1 *page_break *goto jingguo_questions *disable_reuse #"Want to have a little bet?" "Want to have a little bet?" Jing Guo chuckles. "I'm afraid I'll have to pass." "What?" — you say, quite surprised — "From what I remember, you were quite a heavy gambler." "I am." — Jing Guo nods — "But you need money to gamble, do you not? And money is something I'm quite short of nowadays." *set asked_questions +1 *page_break *goto jingguo_questions *disable_reuse #"Has the Propriety Legion been bothering you lately?" "Has the Propriety Legion been bothering you lately?" — you ask. "No. They have been pretty silent." — Jing Guo sighs — "The only thing is, I don't know whether they have backed down or are planning something big. We'll just have to wait and see." *set asked_questions +1 *page_break *goto jingguo_questions *goto battle_starts #"I didn't know you had such strong feelings about Tang Ruo." "I didn't know you had such strong feelings about Tang Ruo." — say. "What?" — Jing Guo tilts his head — "I've never interacted with the Celestial Heir and, in truth, I would prefer if it remains this way. You shouldn't mingle with people like that too much — you never know which word they may perceive as an offense." "I was talking about my brother." — he continues — "He's Tang Ruo's opponent today." *goto no_idea_talented #"Is Jing Qianfan who I think he is?" [i]Jing Qianfan[/i]… is it the same Jing as your restaurant co-owner? The one who got Jing Guo into the whole mess to begin with? "Is Jing Qianfan who I think he is?" "Yes." — Jing Guo confirms — "He's my brother." *goto no_idea_talented *selectable_if (bet_first_tigress) #Walk over to the betting trio. Already familiar with the group after your previous time in the arena, you walk over to the betting trio. Just like before, you find them drunk, chatting merrily and laughing loudly. "Oh!" — one of them exclaims, seeing you approach — "Is that ${polite_address} ${mc_name}? Haha, nice to see you, nice to see you! Have you come to place another bet?" *choice *selectable_if (mc_sect_points > 0) #"Yes." "Yes." — you nod — "You ready to lose some points, Martial Brothers?" *if (bet_on_long) "Hey, you only won one time!" — another man blurts out — "Don't get too cocky! Come on, place your bet! We'll pick the opposite!" *else "Have you forgotten the last time's outcome? It was you who lost, was it not? Come on, place your bet! We'll pick the opposite!" — another man blurts out. Who are you betting on this time? *choice #Tang Ruo. *set bet_winner "TR" #Jing Qianfan. *set bet_winner "JQ" How much Contribution Points are you betting? *label amount_to_bet *input_number bet_amount 1 mc_sect_points *if bet_amount > 200 "${polite_address} ${mc_name}, you must be joking. Where would we get so many contribution points? Please, be reasonable." *goto amount_to_bet *elsif bet_amount > 150 "${polite_address} ${mc_name}, you don't gamble small, do you?" — one of the trio grits his teeth — "Fine, we'll match it! Let's see whom the Heavens favor more today!" *elsif bet_amount >100 "You are quite confident, aren't you, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}?" — one of the trio shakes his head — "Fine, let no one say that we three are poor!" *else "Haha, alright, alright!" — one of the trio excitedly accepts your bet. *set mc_sect_points -bet_amount *goto chat_trio #"Actually, no, I just came over to chat." "Actually, no." — you shake your head — "I just came over to chat." "That's fine as well!" — one of the trio replies — "We three love to chat just as much as we love to drink!" *label chat_trio *if (asked_questions = 2) *if restaurant_active >= 3 *goto battle_starts *elsif (asked_questions >= 3) *goto battle_starts *choice *hide_reuse #"Who do you think will win today?" "So," — you say, sitting down in a chair — "Who do you think will win today?" "Isn't it obvious?" — a man with short, brown hair replies — "Of course Tang Ruo will lose. It's an insult to the natural order of things to even consider otherwise." "Yeah…" — another one, with a blond ponytail, adds — *if bet_winner = "TR" "You really didn't think your bet through. Have your ever seen Late Houtians fight? They're monsters, their power incomprehensible to the likes of us. I hope those points were not too important to you." *else "You really played it safe with your bet, didn't you? Tsk, scumming us friendly brothers out of our money!" *set asked_questions +1 *goto chat_trio *hide_reuse *selectable_if (restaurant_active < 3) #"Have you guys heard about ${restaurant_name}? I'm told you can find the best wine there." "Have you guys heard about ${restaurant_name}? I'm told you can find the best wine there." — you say, in a casual manner, conveniently omitting the part of you being its part-owner. "We actually wanted to visit it, before it got into trouble with those bastard twins. Is the alcohol really any good there? Because we're getting tired of drinking this pathetic excuse of wine!" "It is, it is. You should really check it out." "Alright. Thank you for the recommendation." *set asked_questions +1 *goto chat_trio *hide_reuse #"Do you fight in the arena as well?" "Do you fight in the arena as well?" — you ask them. "Oh Heavens no." — they reply, almost in unison — "It's much more fun watch someone else do the battle while you enjoy a cup of wine, is it not?" *choice #"We are Martial Artists. If we do not fight, then what's the point of all of this?" "We are Martial Artists. If we do not fight, then what's the point of all of this?" "Ah, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}, you need to lighten up! Life is about enjoyment, not the constant fighting. You do not agree — but seeing no point in arguing with drunks, you leave it be. *set asked_questions +1 *goto chat_trio #"Truer words have never been spoken." "That's right!" — you chuckle — "Truer words have never been spoken." "I'm glad we share the same mindset, then." *set asked_questions +1 *goto chat_trio *selectable_if (characters_8_opinion <= 100) #Walk over to Yuan Fang. As you walk over, you catch a glimpse of surprise flash across Yuan Fang's face. As if he didn't expect anyone to pay him any attention. However, he quickly smiles — as much as that rough grimace of his could be considered a smile — and clasps his hands. "Greetings, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}. How have you been?" You give him a greeting bow as well. "I've been good and busy, Brother Fang. I assume you were the same? I haven't heard much about you during these few months." "This sect is a dangerous place, full of dragons pretending to be pigs in order to eat the tigers." — he explains — "One must keep a low profile, otherwise only the Heavens know what kind of a disaster you may face." *choice #"Brother Fang is too cautious." *gosub_scene subroutines change_opinion "8" "2" "-" "Brother Fang is too cautious." — you snort — "What's the point of living, if you have to hide yourself in the shadows each day? Martial World is a bright and majestic place, you should enjoy some sun as well." "I'm already eye-catching enough." — he says — "No need to stand out further. After all, unlike ${polite_address} ${mc_name}, I don't have a mountain to block the light when it becomes too hot." #"I guess your words have merit, but our world doesn't like average people as well." "I guess your words have merit…" — you hesitate — "But our world doesn't like average people as well. You need to be exceptional, if you want to have a good life." "I'd be content with staying alive first, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}." #"Brother Fang is correct! I always thought so as well." *gosub_scene subroutines change_opinion "8" "2" "+" "Brother Fang is correct!" — you exclaims — "I always thought so as well. The sun of the Martial World tends to get too bright and too dangerous, forcing us to hide in the shadows." Fang Yuan gives you an acknowledging nod. "You are quite smart, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}. Your situation is complicated, however. On one hand, you have a mountain to block the light for you when it becomes too hot, on the other — such a prominent summit is visible from miles away." *page_break "Who do you think will win?" — you ask Yuan Fang — "From what I've heard, most are certain Jing Qianfan will be victorious." Yuan Fang becomes pensive, considering your question carefully. "I believe that Tang Ruo is arrogant and proud, but he's not stupid. He must have something to rely on, if he dared to issue such a challenge. Question is, is that trump card strong enough to overcome the difference in martial ranks? We'll see soon enough, I suppose." "Indeed." *goto battle_starts #Watch the battle by yourself. Not finding anyone of interest — or, perhaps, simply choosing solitude, you sit down in your chair and decide to watch the battle by yourself. *goto battle_starts #Roam the sect instead. Uninterested in the Tang Ruo's battle, you decide to roam the sect instead. *goto_scene free_roam free_time #Just take the disk from him. "Give me that." — you order, grabbing the disk with your hand. The disciple, however, refuses to let go: he clinches the artifact tight, his expression wronged and angry. "Senior ${polite_address}, how can you be so shameless? Is mere five points enough for you to attack a fellow disciple?" — he accuses, trying, fruitlessly, to tug the disk from you. *choice *selectable_if (mc_sect_points >= 5) #"Fine. Here are your points." "Fine." — you curse under your breath — "Here are your points." Excited, the previous exchange completely forgotten by the boy due to the joy of getting money, the disciple hands you over the disk. *set information_disk 1 *set have_disk true *set mc_sect_points -5 *goto enjoy_disk #Kick him in the stomach. "You dare not obey?" — you sneer — "Here's what happens to brats like you!" You kick him in the stomach. Not full force, of course, lest you kill the boy by mistake — but with enough power to send him tumbling backwards. His fingers loosen the disk, and he himself falls down, head hitting the ground. The disciples cries out in pain and stares at you with a hateful look. He doesn't say anything, doesn't utter a word, but the flaring of his nostrils and the clenching of his fists tell you enough about his mood. You don't care, however. You got all that you wanted and nothing else matters. *gosub_scene subroutines reputation_change "2" "-" "kind" *gosub_scene subroutines reputation_change "2" "-" "honor" *set have_disk true *set information_disk 2 *goto enjoy_disk #"Fine. I didn't want it anyway." "Fine." — you curse under your breath — "I didn't want it anyway." You then wave him off. "Go away now. Stop pestering me." The boy stares at you with an indignant look, but grits his teeth and decides to speak anyway. "If you ever change your mind, you can look for me near the Arena." — he says, before he clasps his hands and leaves. *goto enjoy_disk #Refuse. Following the example of other disciples, you refuse the disk as way. The boy saddens at your response, but, perhaps expecting it, he doesn't stay dejected for long. "Well, if you ever change your mind, you can look for me near the Arena.!" — he says, before he clasps his hands and leaves. *set information_disk 1 *goto enjoy_disk *label battle_starts *page_break Battle Starts It's customary for the challenger to appear first in the Arena, as a sign of respect. Yet, it has already been a couple of minutes since the battle was supposed to start and Tang Ruo is nowhere in sight. Jing Qianfan, however, is already present. He's a man somewhere in his late twenties, with short-trimmed hair, a beard and features that remind you of Jing Guo quite a lot. They share the same round face, despite Jing Qianfan not sharing the same chunky build in the slightest. If anything, he's even a bit thinner than men of his stature averagely are. Jing Qianfan is, without a doubt, a favorite to win today. In fact, most people have come out to watch the Celestial Heir, whose name has been a cause of many rumors even since his birth, make a fool out of himself. After all, this may be the only time someone could laugh at him in public, without fear of losing their life afterwards. And yet, despite his projected chances, Jing Qianfan seems… nervous? He shifts his weight from foot to foot, his hands clasped and his head lowered down. That confidence you have come to expect from Martial Artists, that self-assuredness — Jing Qianfan is obviously lacking. Then, as if sensing the thousands of eyes judging him, Jing Qianfan raises his gaze and smiles. "It appears Prince Ruo couldn't make the fight!" — he yells, gaining back his courage — "Or, who knows, maybe the great Celestial Heir is only great at talk-" "There!" — multiple people scream at the same time, pointing at the sky — "There he is!" You look up as well, curious as to where all the fingers are gesturing to, only to spot something soar through the air, descending from hundreds of feet above the entire arena. It moves so fast, with such immediate velocity, even your enhanced vision struggles to make out the details of the figure. But you don't need to, as the answer is already obvious. [i]Tang Ruo[/i]. Stil a decent yardage above the ground, enough for a mortal to crush into meat paste if they were to ever to jump from such a height, Tang Ruo stands up from his cross-legged position and simply [i]steps[/i] down. His sword follows him, but not in a way you would've expected: Tang Ruo opens his mouth and [i]swallows[/i] the blade whole, before he lands on the ground with inhuman grace. That's when you notice — from head to toe, he's covered in blood. His naturally blue hair is more crimson that it is azure, his pristine white robes as red as a candy apple. "Apologies," — he says, lacking even the smallest hint of contrite — "Some pests needed to be taken of." "You.. you can't fly in the sect!" — Jing Qianfan blurts out — "It's against the rules!" His shout attacks the Prince's attention. He turns his head, studying the Late Houtian and finding him… disappointing. "You can't?" — Tang Ruo questions, his head tilted in genuine puzzlement — "How unfortunate for you." "You!" — Jing Qianfan grits his teeth — "Take out your sword! You've already delayed your humiliation for enough!" The violet-eyed prince, however, simply shakes his head. "Not worthy." — he says, as a blade appears in his hand — "I'll use this one instead." Even from this far, you have no trouble recognizing the sword: you've seen it every day, in hundreds of different hands. It's the most basic sword the sect sells, after all, boasting nothing but durable and sharp steel. Enraged — understandably so, since the battle hasn't even started, yet he already lost a massive amount of face — Jing Qianfan rushes forward, his fists glowing with bright light. Tang Ruo takes a deep breath, his mouth forming a slight, but genuine smile. "This will be interesting." *page_break Perhaps, Tang Ruo has overestimated himself. Or, perhaps, you — and everyone else — were expecting too much. But only a dozen exchanges into the fight and it becomes clear: Tang Ruo is losing. And he's losing hard. Punches rain on him, each with a terrifying speed and devastating power, and he can't keep up. Which is not surprising: no matter how unimpressive Jing Qianfan may be, his martial stage makes itself known. Each fist flies at a speed that you can't track, each attack carrying such an enormous amount of power, you can feel it the remnants of it even a hundred yards away. The fact that Tang Ruo is still standing is a miracle by itself. You can't help but notice how exactly he is managing to survive. He's far from being fast enough and yet… it's as if the Prince's every move is perfect. Perfectly calculated and measured: not a single excessive step, not a single fraction of a second wasted. But, despite his best efforts, even a lone opportunity to start an offensive himself avoids Tang Ruo. Pressured by the continuous blows, he moves further and further behind, coming closer and closer to the end of the ring as his sword relentlessly swings to block and keep him alive. But, eventually, he falters. A single punch grazes him, barely reaches his stomach… and throws him backward, tumbling like a kite with broken strings. His opponent doesn't miss such an opening either, leaping after him and resuming his assault mid-air. One, two, three punches — all land onto the Prince's face, smashing deep into the royal skull. When they land, Tang Ruo doesn't even move. Laughing, Jing Qianfan charges a kick that once again send the Prince flying, and this time the Celestial Heir gracelessly hits a tribune, before falling face down on the ground. Blood drips from his mouth, forming a pool near his limp body. "That's it?!" — Jing Qianfan sneers, all arrogant and proud. Forgetting, perhaps, that so terrified he was of a teen two stages lower, he went out all from the start — "And here I thought you were some sort of a genius! Tsk, turns out you were nothing more but a pile of shit coated in gold." All around you, disciples ridicule Tang Ruo as well. Just ten minutes ago, they were all respectful, admiring and even slightly worshiping. Now, they point their fingers, they laugh and they mock. Martial World only cares for strength, after all. *page_break That's it? A quiet, almost silent chuckle — one that you would've missed, were you not focusing on Tang Ruo intently — comes from the Prince's body. He struggles to get up, his limbs trembling as he coughs out ounces of golden blood. The crowd slowly stops its ridicule, eager to see what the unfortunate prince would do next. "I will make you bleed." — Tang Ruo states. It's not a question, not a doubtful promise. It's a fact, as truth as undeniable as the Heavens themselves — "And I will make sure that you remember this humiliation." He looks up, putting beaten face on the public display. He was handsome before, a true Immortal that ascended from the skies, and now he resembles a deformed devil. His jaw hangs low, dislocated and broken. His teeth are missing, his eye has sunk in. He's covered in blood and yet, his voice is still as haughty. Still as calm. His breathing is even, stable as if the obvious pain he was in was but a mirage. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "per" 15 *if (stat_check) Your watchful eyes notice something strange: a tip of the Prince's pinkie begins to turn scabby. Growing out bright, golden scales that match the color of his blood. Tang Ruo hurriedly glances at his hand, worrying now much more than he did throughout the whole fight, and you read from his lips an inaudible murmur. "Not now… Not for [i]this[/i]." — his expression scrunches up in contempt, but the scales stop their advance. They retreat, actually, vanishing back inside his finger. Tang Ruo grips his blade with both his hands, staring at Jing Qinfan with an amused gaze. "Do you want to see, what separates a genius from trash like you?" "ENOUGH TALKING" — Jing Qianfan rages — "GO DIE!" "[b]Wind Fist Art: Crippling Surge![/b]" Suddenly, an enormous gust of wind erupts from where Jing Qianfan stands. It ruffles his clothes, it lifts up the sand from underneath his feet. The sheer amount of Inner Energy it radiates hurts [i]you[/i], almost overwhelming your senses. When Jing Qianfan punches, that wind explodes as well, following the direction of his fist like the most loyal soldier follows his general. Tang Ruo, however, just smiles. And then, he swings. "[b]Ultimate Sword Art: Strike One[b]." He strikes seem to cut apart the air, rupturing both space and time — for the swing is infinitely fast, as well as infinitely slow. A bright flash of white springs out in the existence, flying out to meet the wind head-on. A faint, yet unmistakable draconian roar is left in its path. *fake_choice #Focus on the sword light. You attempt to concentrate on the sword light, to figure out its secrets with your senses. However, when you do, your head starts to spin. Pulsate in pain. You immediately pull away, but a trickle of blood still spills from your nose. *set fight_scene "game_over" *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 1 But that tiny instance of time was enough for you to understand two things: firstly, the amount of Inner Energy inside that flash is minuscule. Much less than what you use in your own skills. Secondly, however… #Just watch. The unbridled gust of air and the uncaring sword light collide. The result should be clear — a skill of an Early Houtian could never match a Late Houtian's — but what happens next makes you jump out of your seat. You, and everyone else in the arena included. The wind and the flash enter a vicious, but short-lived struggle. Attempt to devour each other, destroying themselves against their enemy. And in the end, completely vanquishing its foe and losing half of itself in the process, Tang Ruo's sword light moves further. Jing Qianfan's eyes go wide in disbelief, as he hurriedly crosses his arms in defense. He withstands the blow, not cut or injured, but is pushed back a dozen of steps. "Was that your final attack?" — the Late Houtian eventually says, doing his best to keep his voice steady — "Not bad. In your stage, you're probably unrivaled. But against me, it's far from enough." Then, as if considering something, he adds. "How about we call it a draw and then discuss martial arts and poetry over a cup of tea? It's always better to be friends, is it not?" "I thought you Jings were traders, not jesters." — Tang Ruo says. His reply causes Jing Qianfan to clench his fists — and yet, the man refuses to attack. "Don't be arrogant now. I'm offering you a way to preserve your stellar reputation. Why must you throw it away?" "A draw against a [i]Jing[/i]? My reputation would already be forever tainted." — the Prince responds, before he grips the sword again — "And when did I say that I was done?" "[b]Ultimate Sword Art: Strike One.[b]" *line_break "[b]Ultimate Sword Art: Strike One.[b]" *line_break "[b]Ultimate Sword Art: Strike One.[b]" One by one, swing after swing, the Prince dazzles the crowd with impeccable swordsmanship - lethal sword lights appear one after another. Soon there are dozens of them, all attacking Jing Qianfan in unison. The arena transforms into a battlefield of primordial times, since every swing is accompanied by a draconian growl of rage and fury. Besieged and terrified, Jing Qianfan casts defensive technique after defensive technique, forming an impenetrable fortress of Inner Energy around himself. He also sends his own skills Tang Ruo's way, but they prove to be far from effective. "[b]Ultimate Movement Art: Move One.[b]" The Prince [i]fuses[/i] with the sword light, his body becoming ethereal as it travels at an impossible speed. He continues to hop then, from flash to flash, avoiding everything with ease. And so, the fight continues. For how long? You can't tell. Certainly for much longer than it should've been possible for Tang Ruo to keep his assault up. But the limitations of his martial stage soon show themselves, as the sword lights grow weaker. Slower. Rarer. Tang Ruo is pale, breathing hard as he leans on his sword to help him stand. Opposite of him, the disheveled Jing Qianfan pants as well. He looks up, shock and horror in his eyes evident, and then dashes towards your exhausted peer. He clenches Tang Ruo's neck and topples him down, his knee on the prince's chest. "What the fuck are you?" — Jing Qianfan asks, actually confused — "No matter. You were unable to enforce that threat of yours, weren't you?" He grins, a grin of victory and pride. "But fear not, I, Jing Qianfan, am quite merci-" "[b]Ultimate Sword Art: Strike Two.[b]" All of the sword lights that were used before, reappear once again. They [i]merge[/i] together, forming a giant floating sword that brims with power. Jing Qianfan turns around, but the sword reaches him in a blink. And, despite all his protections, despite his Late-Stage realm, cuts through his shoulder cleanly, separating an arm from the rest of the body. Jing Qianfan screams as agony overwhelms him, but Tang Ruo disregards it. He turns to you instead, giving you a provocative look. Taunting you, as if asking, [i]can you do the same?[/i]. You can't. You both know you can't. How in the Heavens' name is he so strong?! "I guess I should wrap this up?" — Tang Ruo says — "Advancing during battle? Well, that's isn't difficult at all." He closes his eyes, raises his head to the skies and spreads out his arms. His bruises heal in an instant, his skin sheds and a new one grows. He then smiles, the light in his eyes even brighter than it was before. "Middle-Houtian, huh?" — He bends his fingers one by one — "Let's see what I can do now." *page_break *if bet_winner = "TR" *set mc_sect_points +(bet_amount*2) To describe what happened next would be to bring the clan of Jing a hundred years of shame. Jing Qianfan was dragged around, thrown and beaten like a dog, helpless to resist. In the end, Tang Ruo let him go — but forced him to swear to never heal his missing arm, under the threat of the Jings being wiped out from the face of the world if he ever dared disregard the command. *page_break Return Home *goto_scene free_roam