NOVPUBAs the branch clan scions fought their respective opponents, proving to the audience that their performance in the lottery rounds wasn’t a mere fluke, their family members in the skybox were watching with a mix of concern, pride and a small touch of critique.
The elders were impressed with how well their progeny were holding up in the ring, but they thought some of the moves they were performing were still carrying that touch of inexperience that stems from youth.
Of course, there was another person in the skybox who had a...different criticism in regards to the performance of the younger generation. Namely due to it being aimed at the patriarch of the children.
Thankfully though, the Zhen Clan matriarch made sure these barbed words never reached the ears of anyone beside the intended audience. She wanted a good show after all, and honor bound children were massive disruptions to such affairs...at least in her experience.
<<Well color me surprised,>> Prince Jinju Yang remarked in a deceptively casual tone, <<I didn’t expect your progeny to actually keep up their performance from the lottery round. I figured that they must’ve done something tricky in order to pass.>>
<<Just because I’m technically a criminal in the eyes of the clan, and possibly the empire, doesn’t mean I’m bad leader or a bad teacher,>> Zhen Shi replied with a cool tone. Granted, his eye twitched for a second before he had given this answer.
<<You’d be surprise how much fighting was a necessity in those early days.>>
<<Figured, since most of your neighbors were probably reprobates, beasts and bandits. That said, I’m sure you and the beasts got along swimmingly due to your...hobby. Also you were wanted by the Imperial Family for quite some time actually. Hence why there were so many bounty hunters after you and Bai Hua.>>
<<It was a hobby at first, but now I’m a professional. Must’ve been quite the bounty if both the clan and the Imperials were sent after us.>>
<<Enough for three generations to live off of. Of course, Bai Hua was worth more alive. You were worth more dead.>>
<<Figured...but was it you who came up with the price, or one of the people you were sleeping with at the time?>>
<<Both.>>
<<Wow.>>
Zhen Shi had been trying his absolute best to be civil and polite towards Prince Jinju Yang given their history, and how he technically slapped him across the face by eloping with his fiancée, but the latter was making it rather difficult with their barely polite, barbed tongue.
It also probably didn’t help that the prince still looked maddeningly young for his age, a perk from being part dragon, so it felt less like two old men trading a year old grudge, and more like an impudent young man being a pain in the ass.
Zhen Shi knew damn well that Jinju Yang was just trying to goad him into a fight, since it was significantly easier to imprison and torture someone for aggravated assault more so than a crime passion.
One would think having a little over four years to mull over a grudge would be enough time to let it fade...but perhaps Jinju Yang was an exception rather than rule...
Regardless, Zhen Shi and Jinju Yang kept up this cold front style argument until the branch clan scions had all won their respective matches and the next round was announced.
<<Congratulations appears to be in order. Looks like your grandchildren are one step closer to entering the inner circle and one step closer to earning your redemption,>> Jinju Yang praised with an acidic tongue.
<<Tell me, how does it feel having your descendants fight your battles for you?>>
<<...like a proud parent knowing that he did his job.>>
<<Hmm.>>
<<Hush now, the both of you,>> Zhen Xun Tian suddenly interjected, <<it appears that entertaining brute of a grandson you have is about to fight his next match. I want to see if his intimidating words either signed his death warrant or actually worked.>>
As it would turn out...sort of.
____________________________________________
<=Desire cores have been condensed.=>
<[Core of Hate] has been created.>
=[Core of Honor] has been created.=
<[Core of Victory] has been created.>
=[Core of Perfection] has been created.=
<=Please use cores at your earliest convenience.=>
...
<Seriously, milord, at this point we should either be robbing treasuries, raiding wandering ruins or hunting down powerful aether beasts by now...or at least mutate some of them...that or use the beloved childhood toys of some old bastards.>
=To be fair, we are making plans to visit the tomb of one of our prior charges. I’m fairly certain we’ll have load of materials to work with once we get that done with.=
<Yeah...oh! I just remembered something weird about the Storm Queen. You remember how there was that stint in time where it was just me communicating due to our connection being shit?>
=Yes, I was annoyed you didn’t bring them back sooner.=
<Well there was this weird encounter...>
____________________________________________
Zhen Liu didn’t have any time to congratulate his cousins on their first victories in the round robin, before having to get ready for his next round.
A small part of him had hoped that his opponents would’ve forfeit immediately after he had made that threat, but a much larger part of him understood that the young warriors attending this event were anything but ordinary.
Which was why Zhen Liu was sharing a lovely conversation with a man who seemed to be all about speedy assassinations.
<<You know its very hard to believe that you’re an aether puppet master given how you slapped the shit out of your last opponent. They barely managed to get him conscious before his next round because of that slap to the face.>>
<<Oh, he should be so lucky I didn’t literally do that to him. Speaking of though, you’re not at all at tempted to get under my skin to see if it can give you an advantage?>>
<<Normally, I’d say yes...but I get the feeling you’re the type who works better under emotionally volatile situation.>>
<<More or less.>>
<<Figured. Plus, I wanted to see if you’re as good as an aether puppet master you claim to be.>>
’Well then...looks I can actually make use of that identity after all,’ Zhen Liu mused to himself as he stared at his latest opponent across the bubbled arena, faking nonchalance all the while.
His opponent this time was a young man named Lin Fan, a thin looking fellow that was armed with a pair of large knives. The moment Zhen Liu had entered the arena, Lin Fang began bouncing from foot to foot as if he was warming up to go on the attack.
The knives weren’t aether treasures, but the way he wielded them suggested extreme familiarity.
While Zhen Liu was fairly certain those knives wouldn’t actually be able to hurt him, he still had to make it a point to try and dodge Lin Fan’s attacks, or at least come up with clever ways to block them.
Like, for example, using a defensive oriented "aether puppet"...or maybe two.
’Frosttusk. Nepherage. Do you mind if I...’
[Not at all, milord.]
[Go...ahead...]
’Much obliged.’
While Lin Fan was busying himself, bouncing from foot to foot, Zhen Liu subtly ran his hands over the jade bracelet and ivory earring that represented Nepherage and Frosttusk, respectively, and extracted from each of them a strangely decorated marble made of copper and wood.
Once the marbles were in hand, Zhen Liu took up a fighting stance.
’Okay, they think you’re a haughty piece of shit...act like a haughty piece of shit.’
<<Hmmm? Not summoning your puppets yet?,>> Lin Fan asked while still bouncing from foot to foot. At this point, Zhen Liu could sense minute traces of aether leaking from each bounce.
<<Not yet,>> Zhen Liu answered in a breezy tone, <<I’m fairly certain you of all people should understand the importance of keeping a couple tricks up one’s sleeve, right?>>
<<Right...>>
As the conversation between Zhen Liu and Lin Fan came to an end, the Wisdom Elder finally began the countdown for the next round of fighting.
<{"Fighters, get ready to brawl in three! Two...! One! Begin!"}>
[Wind Devil Step!]
*FWOOM!*
’WHOA, HE’S FAST!’
As if to mirror Zhen Liu’s previous bout, Lin Fan rushed at Zhen Liu, faster than a crossbow bolt as wind aether coated his limbs and caused the man to move with deadly precision.
An unarmored warrior like Zhen Liu in this situation would’ve been absolutely fucked right now...thankfully, Zhen Liu had access to several warriors that were significantly more armored than he was.
’Alright you two. Time to play!’
As Lin Fan swung his knife in order to slice open Zhen Liu’s neck, the latter activated the two zako marbles he had conjured up earlier.
Moments before Lin Fan’s knife could cut into flesh, a giant metal arm made of copper appeared out of nowhere and blocked the attack.
<<What the-WHOA!>>
Lin Fan barely had time to retract his blades when a heavy looking wooden club swung down and almost caved his skull in.
Seeing how his attack failed, Lin Fan proceeded to make some room for himself.
<<Apologies, good sir, but these particular puppets of mine aren’t my strongest work, but I want to save those for later. And I’m fairly certain these two will keep you thoroughly entertained...provided you last long enough.>>
____________________________________________
[You know you don’t need to actively taunt him, right?]
’I know Spring Brawler, but this part of the act.’
[Whatever you say...]
