Bab 67: Draw

Yun Fao was obviously stronger than Alex, with their weapons interlocked and Alex gradually getting pushed back. But Alex wasn't exactly orthodox in the way he fought, the pulled his head back and smashed it into the unsuspecting nose of Yun Fao.

Alex felt like he just slammed his head into steel, and whilst there was crunch that signified Yun Fao has sustained a broken nose, Alex was also dazed, leaving him open for Yun Fao to swing his autumn Dao upwards, trying to split open Alex's stomach from top to bottom. Alex moved his left hand upwards, swinging east cloud and deflecting the Dao, before taking a step backwards to reorient himself.

However Yun Fao who acted as if his broken nose was nothing moved forward, hoping to lush his advantage as he went for an overhead swing. Alex ducked and crossed both swords towards Yun Fao's midriff, but the autumn Dao fell down on both swords with a loud crash, pushing it into the ground and pulling Alex forwards right into the rising knee of Yun Fao.

*Thud!*

It was a testament to Alex's will that he had not let go of his swords as he fell on his back dazed from the power behind the knee strike. Alex fleet his head ringing, but he knew he was fighting an uphill battle, especially if he decides to go for a direct clash with Yun Fao who was stronger and very much faster than him, and also more resilient. There was no beating or moving this guy, but Alex had no intention of slowing down either.

He jumped right back up, only to see the serrated edged sabre coming for his face. Alex turned to the side, moving his head backwards and moving both his hands like a battering ram as the hilts of both swords slammed into Yun Fao's chest. He gave a small grunt, but Alex was not done yet as he dragged the hilts up and slammed them under his jaw, raising the young cultivator of his feet and sending him crashing to the ground. However unlike Alex he was only down for a second before he jumped back up to his feet and swung the autumn Dao left and right, creating whooshing sounds as he tried to slice into Alex.

*clang! Clang! Clang!*

All three weapons met each other as Alex deflected the strikes one after the other and then stabbed east cloud forward whilst bring west wind down for an overhead strike, aiming at Yun Fao' shoulder. Yun Fao just took a step backwards, completely evading Alex's strike and forcing him to over extend himself. He flicked his wrist and autumn Dao swept upwards, cutting into Alex's shoulder and cheek.

It took Alex a few seconds to realize he was injured, and that his injuries were bleeding a lot. But he ignored the pain and focused on the teen in front of him. Alex held one sword pointed backwards and then pointed the other towards Yun Fao, both arms extended as he crouched down a bit. He took a deep breath, feeling his connections with his swords grow stronger as they began to him a slightly vibrate.

*Fwooosh! Clang! Clang!!*

He was still not as fast as Yun Fao, or as strong or resilient, but Alex could adapt and change his style of fighting to match whatever scenario he finds himself in. Yun Fao blocked the first strike, and had to quickly bring his sabre down to block the final one, however it was just a feint from Alex as his sword shifted to he side and Yun Fao's sabre crashed into the platform. It was just the opening Alex was looking for as he held both swords in a reverse grip and hooked his right leg behind Yun Fao's extended one.

Just like before the hilts of both swords slammed into Yun Fao's poor jaw, this time even cracking them as blood spilled from the side of his mouth. However because Alex had his leg hooked around Yun Fao's, the boy wasn't pushed back and was left vulnerable as Alex pierced both swords into his right foot.

"Gargh!!"

Yun Fao could not resist crying out in pain this time, but he didn't dwell too long on it and slammed the side of his head into Alex's. There was a smack so loud that everyone watching cringed, Alex on the hand lost consciousness immediately as he fell back like a sack of potatoes. It was his head smacking into the ground again that brought him back, however his vision was blurry and the entire arena seemed to be spinning.

This time he had truly lost his swords, except for the spear still on his back. Yun Fao gave a pained grunt and a small yell of pain as he pulled both swords out of his foot and threw them aside right beside his Autumn Dao, he looked at the slowly rising Alex and furrowed his brow in undisguised anger and jumped into the air, turning around and sending a kick into the unsuspecting chest of Alex.

That was more than enough to jar the young boy back to attention, but the feeling of being hit by a sledge hammer was not something he would have loved to trade for his dazed state. Alex flew back and landed hard on the platform, his body dragged back for a few meters with his tracksuit and skin beneath it, getting scrapped raw by the uneven battling stage. Alex was in a shit ton of pain right now.

Yun Fao advance slowly, giving Alex the time he needed to get up to his feet and put up a fist. Yun Fao grunted as he sped up and took to the air, hoping to use another flying kick to send Alex off the platform. Alex shifted to the side and slammed his fist into the stomach of Yun Fao, but even as Yun Fao was smashed to the ground, he was still able to send a kick to Alex's chest. There wasn't much force behind the strike, but it still made the burning pain in his chest a whole lot worse.

Yun Fao placed his hands above his head and kicked up, getting back to his feet as he rushed at Alex, throwing punch after punch at him. Alex took a step back, dodging each fist as the wind itself seemed to warn him. But then Yun Fao changed his pattern of attack and sent a drop kick right into Alex's chest. Alex spat out blood, his rib bones cracked and broken in quite a few places. However he held on tightly to Yun Fao's foot as the boys back slammed onto the ground.

Ignoring the massive amounts of pain he was currently feeling, Alex Moved both legs under his armpit and then he heaved with all of his strength, twisting his body in the process as he angled Yun Fao's face and happily smashed it into the platform. Both boys were sprawled on the platform with Alex not even able to move an inch. Every breath he took seemed to burn and his breathing was nasally, letting out a whistling sound with each breath.

Yun Fao got back up to his feet, blood trailed from his forehead and covered his entire face, giving the young man and even fierce look than normal. His black hair and green eyes seemed to pierce through Alex as he watched the grandson of the legendary Zhang Sanfeng try to pick himself up from the ground. Yun Fao respected him, heck it seemed to have gone on a few notches. For cultivators like them you only ever truly know someone when you've fought them.

These kid was unyielding yet he was not tyrannical. To be honest he was better fighter than Yun Fao as his ability to adapt and switch up his moves was something Yun Fao might not have been able to match if they were on same cultivation level. Almost three months ago, Yun Fao, Louis and three others were chosen from amongst a group of talented new disciples who were mostly commoners to be trained as bodyguards and followers for Alex.

Even if he didn't have a choice, and the power he has now came as a result of the special training, Yun Fao was not willing to serve a weakling or a spoilt brat. Alex was none of those things, in fact it was really hard to imagine if he would be the one protecting Alex or vice versa. But for the first time in his fifteen years of life, Yun Fao felt willing to bow his head to someone else, or maybe it was too early to tell. Alex was still just fourteen, but they had all the time in the world to figure out who they want to be.

Yun Fao bent down and picked Alex up, hanging his arm on his shoulder as they both walked off the platform, much to the stunned reaction of everyone else. Alex couldn't say anything as it hurt to even breath. They both linked away, their weapons lying side by side on the platform as if to show proof that they had both walked off that platform as more than friends. And as they both vanished, the announcers voice rang out.

"Zhang Xiao Feng vs Yun Fao!......Draw!!"