Jiang Long immediately attacked with saber aimed at Yan Ming's head while the sword stabbed towards his dantian. The move was a mess to rapidly put together ideas and instinct. The move there fore was weak and ineffective. Yan Ming laughed but didn't let his guard down. After exchanging ten moves Yan Ming realized that the tenth move was a saber strike but was vastly improved than the first-time Jiang Long had attacked. A smile played on Jiang Longs face as he looked at his newly acquired saber and twirled one more time. He then laughed and immediately discarded his sword and wielded a single saber. Saber was a weapon of choice for mindless slaughter via sheer force. Yan Ming realized that he was becoming a whet stone for Jiang Long. Jiang Long still hadn't used his killing intent as he wanted to sharpen his battle skills.
Yan Ming on the other hand however, had an increasing ugly look on his face. "Jiang Long, do you really expect to master a saber within a span of a single fight? If your skills were as god as your ego, I might even be scared."
Tan Ming immediately sent a huge saber light at Jiang Long. Fast, this particular strike could be described in a single word; fast. Jiang Long didn't have any time to dodge and decide to parry this attack instead. He moved his saber at an extremely bizarre angle and a flicked it to the side as a huge light shined as a line of blood flew out of Jiang Long's shoulder. Although he was injured, Jiang Long had a smile on his face. He was had finally found his weapon of choice, a weapon that suited his current temperament and weapon which was domineering and brutal. Swords were known for their sharpness and extreme flexibility in attacks. Swords were known to harder to wield and required a great deal of accuracy. Saber were different, Saber was heavier than a sword, inflexible, its attacks were not as sharp and definitely not known for accuracy. Saber however was known for its domineering power and reckless momentum. At the same stage and same level of skill under entirely same conditions, a sabers attacks were far more weight and momentum. Despite being a sword, a saber was a weapon of murderer and massacre unlike a sword, known for its accuracy and speed.
After facing Yan Ming's attack, Jiang Long looked at his saber and lifted it slowly in the air and hacked it in the direction of Yan Ming. Another saber light shone and lit the battle field, momentarily stopping all the ongoing battles. Yan Ming on the other and braced himself and held his saber firmly, he then hacked at Jiang Long trying to destroy his attack and injure him for a second time.
Boom. . .
A huge explosion shook the battle field, everyone was silent as they gawked the immensity of the explosion. A few clever, cultivator immediately took the opportunity and slit a few throats or lop of a few heads. Jiang Long and Yan Ming exchanged another round of attacks but of far less strength, it had now turned into a contest of skill. Jiang Long would counter Yan Ming's attack and Yan Ming would reply with a counter to his counter. This exchange of high speed counter continued for a few breaths of time before Jiang Long withdrew and stood at a distance. He was looking at Yan Ming, disappointment clear in his face.
"Yan Ming, this match you have lost and as tribute to your help toward my martial arts, I shall not destroy your body but I will have your saber." Jiang Long declared in a dull voice.
"Hah, Jiang Long, how dare you boast of such bullshi. . ." Yan Long words stopped dead in his mouth as he felt an immense pressure coming from Jiang Long, he felt a cold chill creeping up his spine. Yan Long felt like he was looking at the face of death as he looked at Jiang Long. He tried to activate Ki but failed. He was sweating and his eyes immediately reddened, he had never felt like this in his entire life. He had visited a few executions during his preteen years to harden his heart but never did he expect a demon like Jiang Long was exploring freely in the world. He tried to admit defeat and flee but found no words escaping his lips, his parched throat was unable to produce any sounds. He watched Jiang Long walk slowly to his body and place his saber on his chest, over his heart.
Yan Ming wanted to apologize, he wanted to flee and above all he wanted to live. All the elder's in his clan said that he was a one of a kind talent and would achieve great heights. He had a lot of aspirations, he had a few girlfriends, he had a wise master and a good father. He had a lot of expectations to meet in his life and a lot of aspirations for himself. It was now all going to end in a single battle, and a battle of not his choosing. He watched as Jiang Long's saber sink into his chest as a piercing pain washed over his body. Jiang Long had a cold look in his eyes as he withdrew his Ashura's intent.
"Jiang Long, take my saber and dint fall too early." Yan Ming said in a low b\voice as light soon faded from his eyes as he fell on his back. Jiang Long withdrew his saber and robed Yan Ming's body off his saber.
"Brother, Yan has fallen."
"Murder his killer."
"We must take revenge."
"bury him with our senior."
"Kill" Many cultivators from Ming clan yelled as a few who were closer to Jiang Long instantly made their way to Jiang Long's position. The two men who came first immediately attacked Jiang Long with their mightiest attacks. Jiang Long dodge parried both the strikes together as he impaled his saber into a man's gut. He then attacked another man and pushed him away. A few entrails fell as Jiang Long took out his saber.
"That one needs to die." A young man who was hidden well within the ranks of Shi clan murmured as a fierce look flashed on his face.
The other few men had made their way towards Jiang Long who has waiting for the men to come closer before he engaged them. He wanted to save as much energy as possible. Now that he was using sabers his Ki expenditure was turned up a notch. He swiftly moved as he avoided many strike and only attacked when necessary but when he used his sabers he left either a bloody wound or a dead body behind. With these few battles, he was getting more and more proficient with sabers. After dispatching, a few more disciples, quickly made his way towards the edge of the battle field.
Jiang Long no longer his hot-blooded self as he was when he challenged Lan Long. He had turned cold and calculating. His Ashura's intent made him further clear minded. He knew he was in trouble when his Ki had dropped to barely 20 percent. He needed to escape or find a spot to gather his Ki again.
One the other side of the battle field, a cute girl was struggling with a few cultivators. She was trying her best to defend but has basically at 50 percent of her Ki. She tried to ask a few of her sisters for help but they too were busy with their battles. This girl was named Zun Ming and was one of the younger generations of Ming clan. She had lost her parents and was basically orphaned at a young age but for some reason she was treated very well by all the elders of her clan. She had to cause a huge ruckus and threatened her clan with suicide before she was allowed to leave the clan grounds. Her grandmother had disappeared after her birth and hadn't returned, she had never met her just like her parents.
At the rate at which Zun Ming used her Ki she would barely last an hour or two before running out and getting killed. She had tried all her technique and had still failed to escape. She had reached a point of desperation where she was only able to defend.
"Someone please help." The girl finally yelled out loud, her eyes were red as tears soon began to fell.
"Dammit girl, although I cannot help you, I can send a discreet helper." The old lady laughed as she disappeared from the house
(damn this turned up on the short side. Anyway, I will soon be publishing longer ones. Also, a lot of explanation coming up in the next chapters. Bear with me.)