章 2: Chapter no.2 The Umbral Hand's Elite Shadow Corps: A Dangerous Game
[ The Umbral Hand - Cradle of Shadows ]
The arena at the Cradle of Shadows was alive with excitement and anticipation. It was an unusual sight, as students and teachers rarely gathered in such large numbers to witness the training battles between classmates. But this time, the atmosphere was electric, filled with the whispers and wide-eyed gazes of those who had come to watch Huan Jing and Yuzhen face off.
Zhongli and Chen Ling stood at the edge of the arena, their hearts pounding as they looked around at the crowd that had assembled. The usually deserted stands were packed with spectators, including several teachers who had come to observe the match. Zhongli's brow furrowed, his heart heavy with concern as he realized the true intention behind Yuzhen's challenge to Huan Jing. It was not simply a test of skill but a cruel attempt to humiliate his friend in front of the entire school.
Chen Ling, ever the optimist, leaned in close to Huan Jing and whispered encouraging words, attempting to lift her spirits. "You've got this, Huan Jing," he said, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I believe in you. Show them what you're made of!" As he spoke, crumbs from the pastry he had been devouring earlier flew from his mouth, a testament to his enthusiasm.
Despite Chen Ling's attempts to boost Huan Jing's confidence, Zhongli couldn't stand idly by and watch his friend walk into what he perceived as a trap. He approached Huan Jing, his voice full of concern. "Huan Jing, you don't have to do this," he pleaded. "You don't need to prove anything to them, especially not to Yuzhen."
Huan Jing's eyes flashed with defiance as she met Zhongli's gaze. "I appreciate your concern, Zhongli, but I can't back down now. This is my battle to fight," she responded, her voice steely and resolute.
With an air of determination, Huan Jing stepped into the arena, her Chinese hook swords glinting menacingly in the dim light. The crowd fell silent, their breaths caught in their throats as they awaited the start of the duel. Zhongli, still at the edge of the arena, couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was horribly wrong.
Yuzhen stood confidently on the opposite side of the battleground, a sinister smirk playing on her lips as she surveyed Huan Jing with cold, calculating eyes. "So, you decided to show up after all," she taunted. "I hope you're prepared to be humiliated in front of all these people."
Huan Jing's grip tightened on her hook swords as she met Yuzhen's icy stare. "I'm not here for your amusement, Yuzhen," she retorted, her voice steady and unwavering. "I'm here to prove my worth, and I won't let you take that away from me."
Yuzhen's smirk widened, her Indian katars glinting dangerously as she brandished them. "We'll see about that," she sneered, her eyes locked on her opponent. The tension in the air was palpable, crackling with energy as the crowd looked on, waiting with bated breath for the first strike to be thrown in this battle.
.....
The tension in the arena was palpable as Huan Jing and Yuzhen prepared to face off in a brutal and bloody battle. As the crowd watched with bated breath, both fighters readied themselves to unleash their respective martial arts styles: Huan Jing with her Twin Dragon Hook Sword Style, and Yuzhen with her Tiger's Claw Katar Style.
Yuzhen's eyes gleamed with cruel intent as she sized up her opponent. "You really think you can beat me, Huan Jing?" she taunted. "You'll be on your knees, begging for mercy before this is over."
Huan Jing bristled at the insult, her grip tightening on her hook swords. She remained silent, her determination to prove her worth only growing stronger in the face of Yuzhen's mockery.
With a fierce yell, Yuzhen initiated the first attack, lunging at Huan Jing with her signature Tiger Pounce technique. Her katars glinted menacingly as she closed the distance between them in an instant. Huan Jing reacted quickly, her hook swords moving in unison to form a protective barrier in a Dragon's Scales defense. The clash of metal rang throughout the arena as their weapons met.
Yuzhen smirked as she effortlessly dodged Huan Jing's counterattack, a rapid Twin Fangs maneuver. Her body twisted and turned with the grace of a tiger as she executed a Prowling Evasion. Seizing an opening, Yuzhen countered with a series of diagonal slashes in her Striped Assault, aiming to disorient and overwhelm Huan Jing. "Is that all you've got?" she sneered, her voice dripping with contempt.
Blood began to stain the battleground as Huan Jing sustained cuts and bruises from Yuzhen's relentless onslaught. Undeterred by her injuries, Huan Jing launched herself into an Aerial Assault, her body twisting through the air as her hook swords aimed for Yuzhen's head. Yuzhen narrowly ducked beneath the attack and retaliated with a Roaring Riposte, her katars slashing towards Huan Jing's exposed side.
"You're slow, Huan Jing," Yuzhen taunted, her voice cold and cruel. "Too slow to ever stand a chance against me."
The two warriors continued their dance of death, their movements becoming more desperate and vicious with each passing moment. Huan Jing, struggling to keep up with Yuzhen's superior speed and agility, attempted to ensnare her opponent's katar with her Coiling Serpent technique. However, Yuzhen countered with a Bengal's Grasp, using the katar's hilt to immobilize Huan Jing's hook sword and disarm her in return.
With a roar, Huan Jing executed a Dragon's Tail sweep, hoping to knock Yuzhen off her feet and gain an advantage. Yuzhen merely chuckled as she leapt over the sweeping attack, landing gracefully behind Huan Jing. "You really thought that would work?" she taunted, her voice dripping with disdain.
Growing increasingly desperate, Huan Jing launched a Whirling Tempest, her remaining hook sword spinning like a deadly tornado around her. Yuzhen rolled to her feet just in time, evading the attack by a hair's breadth. She couldn't help but laugh as she dodged Huan Jing's attempts to regain control of the fight. "You're out of your league," she spat, her eyes cold and merciless.
As the battle raged on, Yuzhen maintained her dominance over Huan Jing, her attacks landing with brutal precision while she effortlessly evaded her opponent's increasingly frantic counterattacks. Blood and sweat covered the arena floor, a testament to the ferocity of their clash.
Huan Jing, fueled by determination and pride, unleashed a final Dancing Flames technique, her movements a dazzling and unpredictable display of skill. Yuzhen, recognizing the danger, responded with an Ambush Lunge, feinting and then striking at Huan Jing's exposed flank.
The final clash of their weapons echoed throughout the arena, leaving both fighters battered and exhausted. Huan Jing, however, was clearly worse for wear, her body covered in deep gashes and bruises. Yuzhen, on the other hand, sported only minor injuries, her superior skill and speed having kept her largely unscathed.
"You know, I almost feel sorry for you," Yuzhen sneered as she towered over the wounded Huan Jing. "You never stood a chance."
Huan Jing struggled to catch her breath, her entire body aching from the relentless assault. Despite the pain, she refused to bow down to her tormentor, her eyes burning with defiance even as blood and sweat obscured her vision.
Yuzhen scoffed, her disgust evident as she turned to leave the arena. "You're nothing but a joke, Huan Jing," she spat, her words laced with venom. "Don't ever think you can challenge me again."
As Yuzhen lunged toward Huan Jing, a sinister smile spread across her face. She pinned Huan Jing to the ground with her katars, the cold metal pressing against her skin as she prepared to paralyze her from the waist down. The crowd held its breath, fearing the worst.
"Yuzhen, please... don't do this," Huan Jing whispered, her voice weak and trembling. "We've fought. It's over."
Yuzhen's eyes were devoid of any mercy. "This is what happens to those who dare challenge me."
Suddenly, Zhongli and Chen Ling leaped into the arena, their faces etched with determination and fury. Zhongli lunged at Yuzhen, his fingers ready to deliver a lethal acupuncture strike aimed at her head. The tense situation reached a boiling point as the fighters' movements became a blur of motion.
"Yuzhen, stop!" Zhongli shouted, desperation in his voice. "There's no need for this! You've won!"
Zhongli's fingers closed in on Yuzhen's head, only to be stopped in their tracks by the iron grip of one of the teachers. Screams filled the air as Chen Ling was pinned by another teacher, their intervention threatening to quash the brewing chaos. Zhongli breathed a sigh of relief, believing the battle would be stopped before it escalated further.
His relief turned to horror as he realized Yuzhen was still intent on impaling Huan Jing. He pleaded with the teacher to stop the match, but the teacher remained cold and distant. "This is the way of the Cradle of Shadows," the teacher said emotionlessly. "It is not our place to intervene."
Yuzhen's katar found its mark, and Huan Jing's screams reached Zhongli's ears. "Zhongli... I'm sorry," she choked out, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to speak. "Please... remember me."
Fueled by rage and grief, Zhongli attacked the teacher who had restrained him, but before he knew what had happened, he was thrown across the battlefield, bloodied and in pain. As he struggled to rise, he watched in horror as Huan Jing reached out to him, her eyes filled with fear and desperation.
"No!" he screamed, his voice cracking with anguish. "Huan Jing, stay with me! I won't let her take you!"
Yuzhen, her expression cold and merciless, drove her katar through Huan Jing's head. The arena fell silent, the gruesome scene a stark contrast to the cheers and gasps of moments before. Huan Jing's lifeless body slumped to the ground, and the reality of the brutal battle settled over the spectators like a heavy shroud.
Tears streamed down Zhongli's face as he crawled towards Huan Jing's body, his heart breaking with every inch he covered. He cradled her in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'll never forget you, Huan Jing," he whispered, his voice broken. "I promise I'll make this right."
As the sun set on the bloodstained arena, Zhongli vowed to avenge his friend and put an end to the cruel practices that had led to her death. In the face of such heartbreak, he swore that one day, Yuzhen would pay for her crimes.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
[ The Cradle of Shadows - Principal's Office ]
Zhongli and Chen Ling stood before the imposing old man, Principal Huang Li, who was the father of both Huan Jing and Huan Yuzhen. Despite their circumstances, Chen Ling reminded Zhongli to be polite, his voice trembling with fear.
Principal Huang Li studied the pair with a stern gaze. "You are here because you attacked my heir and a teacher of the Cradle of Shadows. You must be punished for your actions."
Zhongli frowned, knowing full well that there was no designated heir to the Cradle of Shadows. The truth suddenly dawned on him: the fight between Huan Jing and Yuzhen was a political battle for the position of the heir. He couldn't help but blurt out, "Was this fight all about determining the heir?"
The old man raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "You're quite perceptive, Zhongli. Yes, that's exactly what it was."
Zhongli's mind raced as he asked, "How long will our punishment last?"
"Each of you will serve a year," Principal Huang Li replied.
Chen Ling and Zhongli exchanged worried glances, realizing that they would miss the Martial Skeleton competition and be held back for a year. Zhongli gritted his teeth, knowing that this setback would make it even harder for him to get his revenge on Yuzhen.
Suddenly, Chen Ling stepped forward. "Principal, I'll serve Zhongli's sentence as well."
Principal Huang Li narrowed his eyes. "Are you willing to serve two years of punishment, young man?"
Chen Ling nodded, his resolve firm. "Yes, I am."
Before Zhongli could protest, Chen Ling swiftly gut-punched him, dropping the dark-skinned boy to his knees. Covertly, he slipped Zhongli a note. As Chen Ling was led away, Principal Huang Li ordered Zhongli to leave, who complied without complaint.
....
Once outside the office, Zhongli opened the note from Chen Ling.
The note from Huan Jing to Zhongli and Chen Ling read:
"Zhongli, Chen Ling,
I'm sorry for keeping this secret from you both. The situation with the heir being chosen is more complicated than you know. I don't have much confidence in winning against Yuzhen, and I ask for your forgiveness for not being honest with you.
I recently discovered that the heir is being chosen early, as opposed to the traditional ceremony where the heir would be chosen when contenders are in their prime. This is due to the ongoing war between the Murim Alliance and the Immortal Demon Sect. The Umbral Hand needs more members, and my father proposed this idea to the higher-ups: the winners of the Martial Skeleton Competition will be taken into the Umbral Hand's elite Shadow Corps. This specialized squadron is trained by the Umbral Hand to serve the Immortal Demon Sect from the shadows, and its members receive specialized training and a position within the ranks.
My father wants his heir to join this notable group and increase his position within the Umbral Hand. I wanted you both to know the truth, even if I may not be able to stop Yuzhen from becoming the heir.
Please forgive me for not telling you sooner.
And I am sorry for giving you both such pain.
I love you both and I wish, I wish, I wish ... I guess I could only wish for a life outside this hellhole for us. I am sorry and goodbye.
Huan Jing."
As Zhongli clenched the note in his hand, he noticed a small addition at the bottom of the letter, written by Chen Ling:
"Zhongli, I've read Huan Jing's letter, and I know that you're the one who can pull off this revenge. Unlike a meathead like me, you have the skill and smarts to make it happen. That's why I'm serving the punishment for you. You need to focus on avenging Huan Jing and stopping Yuzhen. We're all counting on you and I am sorry for pushing this burden on you. Stay strong, brother.
Chen Ling."
Zhongli's eyes filled with anger as he read Chen Ling's final words. The fire of revenge and justice burned within him, fueling his resolve to fight for his friends and bring honor to Huan Jing's memory. With the support and sacrifice of Chen Ling, Zhongli was more determined than ever to steal the prestigious position from Yuzhen and make everyone pay for the death of his friend Huan Jing.
-- 贈り物
が届きました 
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット