Interlude: The Unsheathed Blade

Interlude: The Unsheathed Blade

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It began as a slight sense of discomfort, something that could easily be attributed to how exhausted he was after his battle with that damnable Liu Jin. Thats why Han didnt pay any attention to it at first. Even though the feeling persisted after his injuries were treated, Han was content to ignore it, confident it would go away in time.

It did not go away.

His body is free of injuries. There are no foreign substances in his body. His Qi has completely recovered.

And yet, he feels ill.

Every day, his condition grows worse. It has festered and grown to the point it is almost painful. When he sleeps. When he fights. When he eats. No matter what he does, Han cannot escape the feeling of wrongness that accompanies his every moment.

Well, look who it is! The cowardly dog who left all his men behind!

Someone laughs at him. Han stops walking.

You have something to say, Ko? Han asks, trying to make his voice sound gruff and threatening. In this, his condition is somewhat helpful. It gives him enough anger to overcome the limitations of his age.

I think I just did, Ko says, grinning in an ape-ish way. All around the training yard, people stop to listen.

Ko is a large man with a thick, black beard. A fellow raider and quite a bloodthirsty one at that. Rumors say hes a bastard of General Murong, but those rumors are only that, rumors. If every person thought to be a bastard of Murong Bang was one, half the army would come from his loins.

Han knows for a fact thats not possible. As many vices as Murong Bang has, women do not seem to be one of them. He has a collection, certainly, but he has it only because hes expected to have it. The man rarely indulges in them.

Everyone already heard what happened, Ko says, raising his voice. You were beaten like a dog and lost your men to border trash! How could one of us be so pathetic?

Kos grin grows, stretching wide over his bearded face.

Then again, you aint one of us, eh kid? Not really. Youre just a stray that wandered in.

The general accepted me into his army, and the general has already punished me for my failures, Han says, his fists clenched. Do you have a problem with the generals judgment?

For other people, that would have been enough to make them back down. The mere institution that they disagreed with General Murong would have sent them running for the hills.

Unfortunately, Ko is no coward.

Always hiding behind General Murong, he says, making Han grimace. Thats all you know how to do, isnt it? Youre like a pet. Isnt he precious, men? So young and already house-trained.

Many laugh. Hans face grows red.

He wonders if this is why General Murong was so light when punishing him. He had presented himself to the general expecting torture, only omitting the presence of that damned Liu Jin when giving his report because even admitting Liu Jins existence felt like an affront to his pride.

However, when Han finished his report, the general laughed at him and encouraged the rest of the room to laugh with him. That and a thousand lashes were the punishment Han received for his failure. At the time, he had been confused, but by giving him such a light punishment, General Murong might as well have set the entire camp against him.

However, Han does not intend to let himself be humiliated by the likes of Ko.

[Severing Palm]

~~~

I am surprised you did not kill him.

Shut up, Han says, wincing as Bright Sword sews his wound shut. Its not like I didnt try. The bastard had it coming.

But? Bright Sword prompts.

...I couldnt, Han admits in a low voice. I tried, but it was like I couldnt use my full power no matter how much I wanted to.

It is not something Han would admit to anyone else. To admit weakness is to put yourself at someones mercy. However, Bright Sword has always struck Han as a unique existence in Murong Bangs army. Unlike the other soldiers, Bright Sword wears little armor and only ever uses the sword at his side. He is always clean-shaven and immaculate, handsome and completely untouched by the rigors of the battlefield or life at camp.

Bright Sword is also far more knowledgeable than anyone else. Else, Han would not have come to him for help.

I see. Bright Sword hums and rubs his chin. Interesting.

Interesting? Is that what you have to say? Han says, angrily rising to his feet. Im not here to amuse you! I want answers, damn it!

Bright Sword does not shout.

Bright Sword does not speak.

Bright Sword does not move a muscle.

Han immediately sits down and lowers his head. I am sorry, he says. Forgive me. I spoke poorly.

To admit weakness is to put yourself at someones mercy? How foolish of him. Bright Sword is in the Ninth Level of the Heaven Realm. He is the only complete Heaven Realm cultivator Murong Bang has never forced to step into the Renegade Realm.

No, he says. Ill do it.

Brother Qing, you dont need to bother yourself with this rabble!

Ill do it, Liu Jin repeats, rising to his feet and opening the door. It is not just the bandits that need to be dealt with.

Ha! So you finally come out of hiding! One of the bandits, likely their leader, yells at him. There are six of them in total. If you kowtow to me right now, this daddy will-

How foolish are you?

His question stuns the bandits into silence.

Can you not feel the difference in our strength? Liu Jin asks with genuine puzzlement in his voice.

Lady Bai Wen might be using a special ring to hide her Qi, but that still leaves a group of people where the weakest among them is in the Spirit Realm.

Are you perhaps untrained? Is that it? Have you somehow never learned to sense Qi? Or perhaps you simply lack a frame of reference? Are you truly so deficient that you cannot sense that every single person inside those wagons is stronger than the lot of you?

The bandit leaders face turns red. He opens his mouth.

His men are defeated before he gets a single word out. The bandit leader can only gape at the scene.

Run, Liu Jin tells him. Do not test me.

The man flees, not that Liu Jin is watching him anymore. He marches straight to their guide, who has watched the proceedings with an amused smile.

This is the third bandit group, Liu Jin says.

It seems that way, yes.

One might find it suspicious we keep running into very stupid bandits.

One might.

Liu Jin stares at the stone-faced soldier.

The information of our route was deliberately leaked, was it not? I assume Murong Bang or someone else wanted to see how wed react?

Im a soldier, their guide says, shrugging his shoulders. Complicated things like that are not my business.

I see. How brave of you. Usually, one would naturally fear that his passengers might take their anger out on him.

The soldier smirks confidently.

You cant do anything to me. I am your guide to the capital. Without me, you will not get there in one piece.

I see. Liu Jin rubs his chin and nods. That is indeed a strong argument. However, consider this.

A dozen consecutive strikes land on the soldiers chest.

...what?

The soldier blinks and looks at himself. He is unharmed. There is no pain. His armor is not even dented. Nevertheless, he feels something has changed. He looks at Liu Jin with suspicion in his eyes.

What did you do to me?

Impotence, Liu Jin replies.

The soldier pales. What?!

I struck your acupoints in such a way that it will cause impotence, Liu Jin explains matter-of-factly. It is surprisingly easy when you understand the position of every acupoint in the body.

Youre lying! The man shouts, one hand moving to protect his crotch. Youre lying right? Its a joke! Right?

I am afraid not, Liu Jin replies. You will not be engaging in recreational activities anytime soon. Perhaps not ever.

Wait! The soldier says, voice trembling. Ill avoid all the bandits from now on. Ill head straight to the capital. No detours. Just undo this! Please!

Liu Jin thinks it over. Personally, hed prefer to take care of every bandit group between here and the capital. Still, he cannot waste time right now. The priority is meeting Murong Bang.

Very well.

~~~

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