Chapter 63 - Brother Chiangda

"You love aggressive fights, eh? I'll show you one." Tyriece threw the scabbard and held the sword with both hands, ready to strike any minute. While Ming's hands held his scabbard and sword separately.

Ming didn't reply but focused his mind and eyes to Tyriece's sides, including his opponent's feet.

Tyriece saw Ming was distracted and made a downward slash but Ming parried with no difficulty.

Ming retaliated and slashed the sword left and right with speed and accuracy, sending Tyriece to move backward as he fended. However, Verth's magic had gradually taken effect. With every swing of Verth, it produced a low humming swift tune which echoed inside Tyriece's brain, making him flinched every time he heard it. This muddled him and didn't notice where he headed.

Then someone shouted, "Tyriece, watch out. Behind you." Tyriece suddenly jumped sideways and saved himself from falling backward on a pit. And with two big strides, he distanced himself from Ming, giving him a breather.

Seeing their governor was winning, Ming's clansmen and city guards loudly cheered for him, but the other side was in complete silence when they saw their champion almost fell. Though they couldn't see the actual hole, they could see an area where no grass standing. This was their indicator it was a pit. And there were three surrounding the two right now.

'Damn, I thought it's over.' Ming wiped the beads of sweat running down his eyes as he thought of trying another strategy.

Tyriece had seen the pit's indicators when he walked in the field earlier but while defending fast and heavy blows, he slowly forgot them. He hated this. More so, hated to keep on defending; he was an aggressor and had to put his tactics into action.

Hence, when he saw Ming ran toward him again to give him another blow, Tyriece bent to his right side. While avoiding the sword, he swept his sword toward his left to meet Ming's incoming body.

Good thing, Ming's reflexes were fast; His scabbard met the opponent's sword. Tyriece missed cutting Ming's side, but his heavy momentum pushed Ming sideways.

As Ming's feet skidded, he pierced the sword on the ground to break his sliding or else he would fall into a pit at his right. Tyriece took advantage and swung the blade fast toward Ming. The latter laid on the ground and rolled left, saving his neck.

The fight went on for hours and each one almost… just almost, fell to the pits but put their skills into play to save their lives. This time, both camps were silent as the two continued swinging their swords.

As time went on, Ming and Tyriece understood that their skills were on par. It seemed luck would determine the winner. This made both of them frustrated and wished to release their powers to end the bout but held themselves from doing so.

Their shadow's lengths became longer as the fight went on. Dirt was on their faces. Both had bruises and cuts all over their bodies but no one was willing to give up. The people were getting impatient watching this dragging fight but no one left because they knew the war's situation relied on this bout.

As time passed, exhaustion took its toll and momentarily paused their fight near Goding camp's side. Both heaved quick short breaths while using their swords as canes to keep their feet standing. But while they rested, a soldier made a move. He lifted his spear and suddenly thrust it toward Ming.

Ming was caught by surprise as the spear swiftly reached his side and about to plunge his ribs. But his instincts kicked in and sent a strong wind with a wave of his hand. Yet Tyriece beat him in seconds. Tyriece's sword had already met the spear, sending it flying above General Lofey's head.

The general jumped high and simply caught the spear with one hand. But after catching it, he threw it back toward the culprit's feet before his own feet touched the ground. The soldier went pale and fell butt first on the ground as he watched the lance standing in between his legs. He knew he could have died if the general decided to pierce his body.

"Tie him in my tent," yelled General Lofey.

After the law-breaker was brought away, the general walked toward Ming and bowed. "Governor, please accept our apologies for my soldier's action. I never expected him to act that way."

"I want to say I don't mind but I won't. I want to hear his reason for interrupting," said Ming fiercely.

"Please, allow me to discipline my people in my own discretion. I will relay the message to you once I hear his reason. But I believe, he only wanted to help his superior."

Ming understood that the general wished to keep him out of the investigation, so he didn't dare insist on the matter. However, he suspected there was more to it and became wary. There seemed to be a problem in Goding's camp with the way the general acted, but he couldn't point a finger to it. So, Ming dismissed it by saying, "Then, this is my win."

Tyriece held his sword tight to the point his palm went white after he heard Ming declared his win. General Lofey saw it and tapped the young knight's shoulder. Though he couldn't accept his loss, Tyriece had to yield since that soldier was under his squadron.

"I'm sorry for what my man did," Tyriece said but … that soldier would face his wrath, he swore.

At that moment, a light breeze brushed their bodies and reminded Tyriece of that strong wind hitting him when Ming waved his hand. Even now, he could feel the pain where it struck earlier. No doubt, that wind could have cut his flesh if he didn't fortify his body from the start as a stone Chiangda.

With that reminder, Tyriece jerked his head to meet Ming eye to eye... alerting Ming to stand with his sword ready for defense, thinking the other wouldn't back down but... to his shock, the man embraced him real tight and whispered, "I'm glad to meet you, brother Chiangda."