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Su Ling, cradled in her arms let out a shrill cry.

Yu Li tried to hush her, but all she could do was look at Gui Zu as he floundered on the ground.

“Get up, Gui Zu!” she called out as she bounced Su Ling on her hip. “Get up!”

But he seemed too stunned to hear her above the crowd.

Zu Tien laughed callously as she punted Gui Zu in his side, flipping him onto his back like a stranded fish. Hein––sat on his makeshift throne at the side of the square––laughed with delight while nudging Li Fet.

“Finally! Some entertainment, eh?” Hein said to Li Fet who grinned and nodded like the fat stooge that he was. The sight of it all caused Yu Li’s insides to burn.

“Don’t give up, Gui Zu!” she cried to rally him. “You can beat her!”

Although she wished it were true, her words were but false hope, she realized.

Yu Li was a half-step towards breaking into the Foundation Realm thanks to the spirit stone Chun had given her, but even at that fledgling level she still had enough Qi sensitivity to detect the stark difference between Gui Zu and Zu Tien.

The girl had a sizable Qi formation where Gui Zu––skilled as he was––had none. He could almost be considered mortal. Her heart ached as Zu Tien stung him with another kick to the side and the pain on his face caused her insides to wince.

She glared across the distance at Hein.

“You need to stop this!” she cried.

Hein gave her an expression of mock surprise. “Oh? Is that a call for forfeit that I hear? Junior Magistrate, did you hear that?”

“You heard nothing,” Jian Yi said quickly, stepping in to take a position by Yu Li’s side. “The match will go on.”

Junior Magistrate Hui Long, who stood next to Jian Yi, simply gave Hein a non-committal shrug. “There is no forfeit. The duel continues.”

Yu Li tugged at Jian Yi’s sleeve. “Jian Yi, we need to do something. That girl’s going to kill him out there!”

Jian Yi’s face remained grave and expressionless. “I know. And Gui Zu knew that too when he volunteered to fight her in Chun’s stead. Yet he still went ahead anyway. He’s one brave soul.”

Yu Li’s eyes welled with tears for what felt like the umpteenth time. Since noon they’d put up a resistance to Hein and his unreasonable demands and thankfully Hui Long had stayed true to the law and held Hein at bay.

But now, with the sun well set, and Hein’s demands growing more and more threatening, it seemed even the magistrate was starting to bend. It was only thanks to Gui Zu volunteering himself that both sides had gone through somewhat of a reset.

But at what price?

Get up, Gui Zu! Yu Li pleaded with him through a prayer. Please get up!

Zu Tien rushed forward to kick him again, clearly toying with him, but then as if suddenly hearing her prayer, Gui Zu grabbed hold of Zu Tien’s foot and spun her in a throw. He bounced from the ground from off his back and for a man his size, he moved with astounding agility, grabbing Zu Tien from behind in a headlock.

The girl bucked and screamed within his grasp, perhaps shocked as to how he’d gotten the better of her. Gui Zu kept the hold despite her violent struggles and hope lifted within Yu Li’s heart.

“Yes, Gui Zu!” she cried. “You have her!”

Gui Zu could hear her, she knew that, but never did he break his focus, his arms locked around Zu Tien’s head like a vice.

Then suddenly Zu Tien seemed to calm herself and relied upon her Qi again.

In a burst of light, she disappeared from his grasp and Gui Zu was knocked onto his back again.

“[Third Heaven! Zero Point Strike]!”

The words echoed from nowhere as Zu Tien suddenly reappeared high above Gui Zu’s head. With deftness he rolled to the side just as Zu Tien crashed down with her bladed hand, sending chips of stone into the air as she slashed into the asphalt. Gui Zu grabbed the staff that had flown from his grasp and with a series of quick maneuvers, positioned himself behind Zu Tien to whack her in the back of the head.

The move more infuriated than injured her, her eyes widening with anger as she spun about with a slash from her hand.

“Insolent dope!” she cried. “You dare to strike me?”

Gui Zu was panting and sweating, but he met her gaze with a shrug. “You’re the one who let me. Get better if you don’t like it.”

His words caused her to scream in a rage.

“I’ll kill you for saying that!”

Yu Li’s heart once against leapt with fright, but as soon as Zu Tien lunged forward, she understood what Gui Zu had done. Zu Tien was too irate to even rely on her Qi techniques anymore, resorting instead to base martial arts. It was a mistake. For all the advantage she held over Gui Zu––years of Qi Cultivation, special training, and even a lethal weapon compared to his staff––Gui Zu was proving the better fighter.

Chips of wood flew as he blocked her savage strikes, countering where he could with strikes to her chest and face.

Something besides just awe began to rise within Yu Li now as she watched Gui Zu fight. Chun had said he was a skilled fighter, sparring with him day after day, but now seeing it with her own eyes, she could see he was more than just good. For him to be able to go toe-to-toe with someone like Zu Tien, without the advantage of Qi, he had to be exceptional.

The crowd recognized it as well and the entire neighborhood burst into cheers.

“Gui Zu!”

“Gui Zu!”

Zu Tien took a swift upward strike to the chin that made her teeth clack and she spat out a curse along with a thick wad of blood.

“Bastard!”

Gui Zu smiled at her with his crooked teeth.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “We’ll have matching smiles before long, Zu Tien.”

The crowd burst out in laughter and even Hein joined in, mocking his own disciple with a slapping together of his hands. Gui Zu’s words caused even more infuriation from Zu Tien and she lashed out with a series of unfocused strikes. Gui Zu played her like a master, easily ducking and dodging through the swipes of her bladed hand.

And then all at once, she stopped.

Her eyes focused and she shook her head as if coming to herself.

A sense of dread filled Yu Li as a cunning look entered Zu Tien’s eyes.

“I’ve toyed with you long enough, Gui Zu.” Slowly she drew her jian blade from the scabbard at her side, its length gleaming in the moonlight. “I was going to be merciful to you, but now you’ve earned yourself my full wrath.”

With a burst of Qi, Zu Tien flew around Gui Zu in a triangle formation, faster than Yu Li could even see. Gui Zu cried out as three slashes appeared on his robes, quickly turning red with blood.

“[Silver Heavens, Three-Point Strike]!”

She performed the attack again, but with even more ferocity, annunciating the technique.

Gui Zu cried out again, falling to one knee as his legs were cut from behind.

“No! Gui Zu!” Yu Li cried, her heart breaking as even Su Ling let out a scream.

Zu Tien then appeared before him, sword pointed at his face.

“You were never a match for a true cultivator like me, Gui Zu,” she said. “Do you forget that I was trained as a Silver Shadow? For you to even fight against me is an insult. You will now pay for that insult with your very life.”

Yi Li’s heart jumped. “No!!”

Zu Tien turned to the crowd. “Let this stand as a lesson to all of you who have defied the royal Silver Leaf Clan and who have disrespected Young Master Hein. Your petty wallowing for forgiveness and grace will no longer be heard after today. Brace yourselves for what will be your new existence as servants under the heel of Master Hein’s boot!”

Zu Tien drew back her sword as a sound like thunder cracked the air.

“No!” Yu Li cried out for him again. “Please no, spare him! Please!”

Gui Zu looked at her from on his knees and gave her a final crooked smile. “I’m sorry, Yu Li and Su Ling. I won’t be able to see either of you ag––”

The air exploded with another crack of thunder as a bolt of blue lightning came shooting down from the sky. It struck the ground between Gui Zu and Zu Tien and a split second later a massive form came slamming into the ground after it, sending a shower of asphalt high into the air to come pelting down like rain.

As the dust cleared Yu Li saw a form she only barely recognized.

A man nearly as big as an ox was crouched at the center of the crater on the ground.

Bare chested, a torso full of countless scars. Dark hair trim short in Terran fashion and a rugged beard that hugged a jawline so sharp that it could cut steel. Her heart soared with elation as she grabbed onto Jian Yi’s sleeve while jumping in place.

“He’s here, Jian Yi! He came!”

Yu Li called to her brother as her eyes filled with tears.

“CHUN!!”

* * *

I arose slowly from my crouched position, residual lightning crackling about my body.

The scene around me was one of chaos and confusion, but also of joy as I looked into the faces of my neighbors within the crowd. I didn’t need the lemonade spilling from their hearts to know they were glad to see me. I picked out Yu Li and Su Ling immediately and saw them standing next to Jian Yi. The looks of relief on their faces was enough to fill my soul with renewed vigor.

I’d made it in time.

I began cultivating the lemonade in the air, renewing the solid Frenzy of my depleted core. After running five marathons, defeating Hong Feng, and killing an unknown demon god, I was running near empty.

And I would need every ounce I could muster to now face Hein and his lackey, Zu Tien.

Zu Tien had fallen backwards upon my arrival and was now sitting on her ass. She stared up at me with trembling eyes as fear dripped from her soul, perhaps unable to comprehend how the man she had once nearly killed had become the lightning-wielding behemoth now standing before her.

But I ignored her to turn about and help Gui Zu from off the ground with a clasp of his hand. “Thanks for stepping in for me, bro. I can take it from here now.”

Gui Zu gave me a huge grin of cracked teeth. “Man am I happy to see you! I’m glad you made it, brother. You sure can cut it close though!”

I laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. “Sorry about that. But it’s good to see you too.”

“Give them hell,” he said before limping away to Yu Li who embraced him with a kiss. Yu Li then waved to me as well, her eyes filled with pride and fury.

“You kick his ass, big brother!” she shouted.

I gave a glance to Jian Yi who shook her head at me but wore a thin-lipped smile.

Her face said it all. “About damn time, asshole.”

I shrugged and smiled back before casting a glare at Hein.

The little prick was sat in a chair with a smug grin on his face, but inside I could sense his fear bubbling over. Next to him, Li Fet my fat landlord, didn’t have the same sense of self to hide his fear like Hein. He wore it all over his face sweating like a pig.

“So…” Hein said, dragging out a long and unnecessary pause. “You finally decide to show up for your punishment, eh Chun?”

I flexed my solid core with [Indifference] while shouldering my axe with a smile. “Yeah. Sorry I’m a little late. I had some real business to tend to before coming to deal with your punk ass.”

His anger spiked like a rocket and he nearly rose from his chair like the puppet he was from me pushing his buttons. But then he stopped himself, seeming to realize what I’d done. He pulled back his anger and stewed internally with deep resentment as he continued to glare.

“You will soon pay dearly for that insult.” Hein shook his head slowly at me. “I’m surprised these people held out for the likes of you, but I’m glad they did. It means I finally have a chance to kill you.”

“Chance being the key word,” Jian Yi said, stepping forward and for a second, I was taken aback by the hint of Frenzy exuding from the burning ember in her soul. Something had reignited within her and I was shocked to see how boldly she approached Hein without a trace of fear at all.

“Now that Chun is here, I suggest we start the duel properly,” she said and then looked to a young man in imperial robes by her side. “Junior Magistrate Hui Long, would you do the honors of resetting the match now that our chief advocate has arrived?”

The man, Hui Long, gave her a bow. “Most certainly.”

He then bowed to Hein. “Young Master Hein of the Silver Leaf Clan, your duel is now prepared with a proper respondent. Do you now wish to proceed with the main duel?”

Before he could reply, Zu Tien stepped before him.

“You are not worthy of fighting my master,” she said, her eyes seething with more hatred than fear as they locked with mine. “You are to duel me instead!”

“Is that right?”

I shrugged my shoulder and utilized my masking technique, flavoring my Frenzy with the small sliver of lightning core still left inside my stomach. The looks of hope within the crowd were replaced with stares of awe as I flexed the power of my solid core.

“You sure about that, sis?”

Zu Tien’s mouth fell open as she backed away, suddenly realizing what I was, or perhaps what I’d become.

“H-how did you gain such power?”

The look of confusion was shared by Hein, who stood from his chair. His eyes scrutinized me, and I knew he was sensing the strength of my core. After a few seconds he gawked in disbelief.

“This must be some kind of trick!” he shouted, fear and anger mixing in his soul. “How in the nine hells have you ascended into the Core Realm? It’s impossible! Even I haven’t—!”

He stopped himself, perhaps realizing what he was about to say.

I grinned at him with [Fear the Flame]. “Like I told you once before. Maybe I’m just better at this cultivation bullshit than the both of you.”

The lemonade in the crowd shot through the roof as even my own sister looked at me with new eyes filled with wonder, the words ‘Core Realm cultivator’ falling from their lips in hushed whispers of awe.

Zu Tien looked as if she wanted to run and hide.

“It is your choice, Young Master Hein,” Hui Long said. “Will you have Zu Tien step in as your second?”

“Or perhaps you wish to forfeit?” Jian Yi added and from within her spirit I could sense the ember flaring even brighter in her soul. “You have seen now how strong our advocate has become. Do you truly wish to risk the loss of face that would come with defeat?”

Jian Yi’s taunt caused even more fear and anger to erupt inside Hein and I channeled every ounce of it to further replenish my strength. His eyes shifted back and forth as if uncertain how to answer, once again outplayed by a wit far exceeding his own.

His eyes narrowed as he settled in for his old tried and true.

Bully those weaker than you.

He placed his foot on Zu Tien’s backside and pushed her forward, causing the girl to fall on her face.

“We will let the match play out as planned,” Hein said with a smirk. “You are worthy to face only the likes of lowly Zu Tien, not me.”

“No!” Li Fet suddenly said. “You should fight him together! Together like I said!”

“Nonsense!” Hein shouted. “He is not strong enough to face just her, much less the two of us. She will fight him alone.”

Zu Tien turned to look at Hein as if he’d just plunged a dagger through her back.

The fear and betrayal in her eyes was palpable and it only grew stronger as she finally stood to face off against me.

Cowardly bastard, I thought. Realizing what strength I now possessed and still pushing Zu Tien to fight me?

The rest of the crowd sensed it too, his false bravado of pitting me against someone lower than him falling as flat as the sincerity in his tone.

The official, Hui Long, seemed to ignore it though and simply gave a nod.

“Then we shall proceed,” he said and gave Zu Tien and I each a quick glance. “As an unofficial duel, there is no time limit. You fight until one of you yields…or death.”

At the mention of the word death, Zu Tien’s fear level jumped another octave.

“Begin!”

I casually lowered my axe from my shoulder and sent a charge of blue lightning through it, trimming its edge with Frenzy. Zu Tien was practically pissing on the floor as she stared back me, eyes wide and soul trembling with fear.

She wasn’t strong enough to fight me and she knew it.

And she wasn’t prepared to die either.

Just a damn kid, I realized. Over pumped on the bravado of facing people weaker than herself. Just like the green bird girl I’d spanked.

Despite it all, Zu Tien faced her fear and dropped into a martial stance to summon her Qi.

“[Eighth Heaven Seven-Point Stri—]!”

She never got the last word out as I closed the distance between us with a burst of solid Frenzy, landing a blow to her stomach. The wind left her lungs with an urk! as I hit her solar plexus and lifted her right off the ground.

I barely used a tenth of my strength, but Zu Tien stared at me with wordless incomprehension, gasping for air like a fish on dry land as she hung on the end of my fist.

“My apologies, Zu Tien.” I let her fall to the ground still gasping, her Qi interrupted by the force of my blow. “I did promise to kill you earlier, but I’m not the same man who made that promise to you now.” With a swift kick, I booted her in the forehead, knocking her instantly unconscious. I then looked to Hein still sat in his chair. “I am one who now knows the responsibility of shouldering immense power. Something you were never taught I assume, Young Master Hein.” I then choked up on my axe and pointed it at him. “But I’m going to give you that lesson now.”

“Wait!” someone cried, and everyone turned to see Li Fet tugging on Hein’s arm.

“We need to stop this!” he shouted. “I’m going to lose everything!!”

Hein slapped him across the face.

“Silence, fool! There is no turning back now!” He stood and then adjusted his robes with a quick pull on his belt. “And how dare you question my ability to lay this insignificant Terran low.”

As Hein stepped into the square a set of silver pins emerged from his back and began floating behind him. I couldn’t sense his Qi, but by the way the magistrate and Jian Yi reacted, he had to be pushing out something respectable.

“You may have advanced some, Chun, but so have I.” He drew his Jian blade which gleamed with a silver edge. “Now you shall see the difference between the sacred arts of a royal clan and whatever garbage technique you’ve picked up from off the streets.”

Thinking back to the capabilities of Fia, he may have a point there, but I didn’t care.

It was my destiny to defeat Hein no matter what. And in my mind, the stronger he was the better. Because only when the [Odds were Against Me] could I perform my best work. As I let the thought of the technique steep, I felt a new flow of Frenzy, but not much.

The curse of the Berserker again.

When you faced down an unknown horror from the plains of Hell, a prick like Hein paled in comparison, no matter how many new tricks he’d learned. Still, I wouldn’t let that deter me. He held yet another advantage over me versus the fights I’d had against that horror and even Hong Feng.

Both those times, I’d utilized not one but two of my most powerful manifestation technique. But now, before my community and the empire in general, I was forced to conform to the rules of society again. The most I could perhaps get away with was a slight use of [Mark of the Giant] the same as I’d done in the arena.

The thought caused the balance of power to shift in my mind.

Were I able to use two of my forms against Hein, I’m sure I could mop the floor with him. After all, Hong Feng had to have been a mid-tier Core Realm cultivator or even more, considering his Demonic powers, but without the augmentation of my Marks, perhaps even my core status might be only equal with Hein now.

The thought caused an edge of uncertainty that fed my Flame.

Hein would have the advantage of going all out, while I would have to hold back.

Certainly that shifted the [Odds Against Me] even more.

“Everyone needs to stand back,” I said as I sent a charge of lightning though my axe again. “This could get ugly.”

Hui Long took a moment to do just that, moving the crowd back to the very edge of the square. It was still a small space to work within compared to the size of the arena, but I would ensure that no one got hurt.

I was almost certain Hein wouldn’t do the same.

“The moment of your death is finally here, Chun,” Hein said with a leer. “Tell me how does it feel?”

I gave him a blank stare of [Indifference]. “I’m sure you’ll be able to tell for yourself soon enough.”

I ignored the scowl he gave me and glanced into the crowd instead, looking for the one face I needed to see the most.

Yu Li.

Thoughts of when I’d first stood up to Hein to defend her as a fledgling Berserker flashed through my mind––the single scar he’d landed on my cheek as a reminder. I had no idea how far I’d have to come to finish what I’d started then, but now the time was finally here. The time to right the wrongs this selfish, arrogant prick had committed against my sister.

The anger of his transgressions rose up in my spirit, fueling my core with Frenzy, my thoughts craving for his demise. It was all I could do now to keep the Demon from taking full control.

I looked to the sky and briefly thanked the lady who had made this all possible.

Thank you, Big Sis. I hope I do you proud.

A deathly silence took hold as the Junior Magistrate Hui Long stepped to the center of the square.

I focused on Hein.

The bastard’s cocky smile never left his face as he stared back at me, which only served to heighten the rage boiling within my soul.

Hui Long raised his arm and then with a shout our final fight began.

“Commence!”