Capítulo 4: The Aftermath
They knew beforehand how this duel supposed to end. When both duelists have close difference in their skill, most likely one of them will die at the end. Yet, when the fight actually start they forgot all that. With that out of the world skill, they might not be a human at all.
No matter what he did before, as a warrior themselves they have to respect someone who put that kind of performance. No one know what to say, so everyone just fell into an awkward silence.
"What a pity." Everyone can only think that way. For such a great swordsman to die so young.
Yang Lei Wen's scream pierced through the wind and raindrops, breaking the silence. She run over the dead body and started to crying out loud.
Mei Huan Shen moves next to cover Yang Fei Xia with a coat. Then she just stands still beside him, understand completely there is no word she can say to console him at that moment. Just being close to him is the best support she can do.
The other Yang family members starts to move after. They have to clean up the mess and console the young lady.
"Wait there." Suddenly on of the constables jumps out to stop the Yang family take the body.
"We are the White Tiger Brigade have an order to capture Lightning Sword dead or alive. Now that he is dead, we have to take his body and weapon to the capital as our proof."
"Our young master has ordered us, that whoever lose the fight, his body to be buried in the Yang family's graveyard. About the weapon, the martial world also has their own rules. Whoever lost in a duel their weapons belonged to the victor. If you are willing to have it, you should ask our young master for that as well." One of Yang Fei Xia's cousin quickly block the constables to take the body. He is Yang Han Bin, who is of now placed as the second in charge of the Yang family.
The constables know it is not the right time to ask for the grieving Yang Fei Xia, but if the body and the sword been moved into the Yang residence there is impossible to get it out. With that in mind the oldest constable brave himself to ask.
"As the martial world and the government have to walk side by side. Especially the Yang family, which always have great relation with both. Either for his body or sword, can please give one of it to us? Not only the White Tiger Brigade will be indebted with you, the whole kingdom will be glad with it. This is a fair way for the Yang family to serve both sides of the world." He tries to pick his word carefully. Giving up his chances to take both, he gives a choice as some sort a leverage for him. At least the Yang family have to give the kingdom some face. Especially a lot of them was a government officers as well, including Yang Fei Xia father himself.
"Sure, the body and the sword you can take both. But of course, one of you have to defeat me in a duel." With a blank stare and flat tone, the Holy Sword broke his silence.
Yang Fei Xia turns around after issuing the challenge, knowing well it is not going to be accepted. Mei Hua Shen follows him as well, this time linking her arms to him. Yang Fei Xia responds by grabbing it tightly pulling her closer to him.
The constables are elated at the first sentence, only to be brought down to despair by the second. No man in the martial world would retract their challenge and the constables can only back down. Their original plan is to ganged up on the Lightning Sword in case he won the duel. Tired and injured surely this guy cannot do much against the five of them. When the duel began, they started to worry that they would not be able to carry that plan. To have one on one duel with one them surely not an option. They better off jump of the cliff rather to fight this beast, at least they will have a better chance to survive that way.
"Well this is unfair. We are representing our kingdom here, how you do not give us face at all? I can understand you want to keep the sword yourself, but you surely can give us the body. We do not even need a whole body, let us take his head off, you can just bury the rest. You know we have to bring back something to proof that our work here has been done." One of the constables is blurted out where he should not. He is the one with the shortest temper, who almost fought even at the inn. It was too late for the other constable to shut him off.
"You have done nothing here but watch a fight. At least you can still bring back the eyes who witnessed it back home. Along your tongue to tell that story. If you do not leave this place at once, you will not be able bring even those home." An older member of the Yang family comes up this time, Yang Bo Lin also known as the "One-eyed Demon Slayer".
He was working for the government along with Yang Fei Xia's father, Yang Ge Xin. It is where he got his nickname. He got his left eye blinded in a fight against bandits. While the Demon Slayer came from his cold-blooded action during his time as commander. Fortunately, his skill able to support his action, otherwise he might not live until today.
The constables may did not know him in person, but they surely heard his famous name before. Now, his only eye gives them deathly stare filled with killing intent. He is not the only on there, some other members of the Yang family step forward, ready to back him up.
The constables not only bring the rage of the host, some of the crowds are emitting the same killing intent towards them. They were hated even before because of their potential to disrupt the duel. Now one them has disrespected the death body of Lightning Sword, which already gain every warriors respect with his skill.
"Never provoked the Yang family." Before they got dispatch the five constables already warned by their commander. This time they are not only provoking them, but almost the whole martial world at once. There is nothing that they can do but to back away, the oldest constable deliver his apologies and everyone get away from that place as fast as possible.
After the situation calmed down some of the crowds start to ask each other about what really happen at the duel. The witnesses invited are becoming the main target of that question. The three of them are highly skilled and everyone can see how they were following the fight until the end.
"Just paid the bards before, they will tell you the stories more detailed than I can." General Yun never has any intention to bother himself with those question.
Sure, the bards from the inn before was present there, but if most of the warriors present unable to follow the match, how is a group of bards able to see its details.
The three of them soon follow the other Yang family to their residence along with their parties. They have been invited officially by the Yang family, it will impolite to not treat them a meal at least.
At the Yang family's main residence Yang Fei Xia has not been show up. Yang Han Bin and Zhang Ren Hui are the one in charge accompanied the guests, with few other members to keep them entertained.
Even most of them are seniors, they understand that Yang Fei Xia have to rest and clean up before show up here. Besides Yang Han Bin who is the second in charge are there with them. Zhang Ren Hui also not ordinary person. He was Yang Ge Xin strategist, a genius that often mistaken as a magician by some people.
After Yang Ge Xin passed away, the government has offered him everything so will continue his position as a strategist for any general in the kingdom. He refused them and chose to became the Yang family strategist instead, which surely gladly accepted by them.
Here they can discuss about the duel earlier more with more ease, since most people in this room able to follow the duel. Even when they saw the same duel, their opinions about it are vary. As they discussed further many of them realize there were a lot of details they missed.
Different people have different point of view. Some focus on their footwork, other drawn to their beautiful swords play and some interested in their breathing technique. But there is one certain detailed brought by Reverend Huang to surprise them all.
At the very last moment of the duel, Lightning Sword has slipped. His cheap sandals unable to grip hard enough through his speed and the wet floor. Every warrior has their own light body technique that enable them to defying gravity at certain level. Even then, they are still bound by it. Lightning Sword trying to cheat the time itself with his immense speed, only to be brought down by his torn sandals are a little bit cruel. But there is no assurance the result would be different if he was not slipped. Anyway, it was a beautiful move by Holy Sword.
Yang Fei Xia finally arrives before the sunset. He is not coming alone, few others Yang family member come with him. There are also Mei Hua Shen and the Jade Sword, Liu Ka Xing.
When he arrives the topic become focused, as everyone curious about his last move. The move that finally end the epic duel. It is so beautiful, but so risky at the same time.
"How can you be sure that he will be there? With that speed and technique, is it really possible to predict his movement? What will happen if you are wrong?" That are questions asked to him, the one throw those questions cannot be identified anymore.
"I never sure he was there. It was a guess, through the calculation I made. I know it seems impossible, but I already know him for so long. I know his strengths, his weaknesses and his habits. With all that I am able to made a guess that seems impossible. If he was not there then I will be the one buried right now." Yang Fei Xia never denies that was luck involved when he won that duel.
His explanation makes sense, so this topic quickly closed. They can only praise him, for his courageous decision. The next topic they are going to ask is more sensitive, yet everyone know this question will be asked anyway.
"We all know the three of you quite close with each other, but we never know you are that close with him. Really, how long have you long each other? Haven't the three of you just cooperate to defeat the bandits of Mount Liang?" It was a famous story everyone knows. Three great swordsmen cooperate together despite their difference, to defeat the greater evil. But Holy Sword's story indicates that he might know the Lightning Sword even before that event.
"To be really know him, I have no idea. But our first meeting, happened a long time ago. I think I was eight or nine years old, at that time."
"What?" His answer not only make the quests surprised, but it shocked everyone in the room.
"Damn, I did not know that. You know him that long? How do you meet each other?" Liu Ka Xing always kept his cool in front of public, but this time he is so shocked that he starts blabbering his true color.
"What else? Of course, we met through a duel" Bitter laugh heard when Yang Fei Xia gave that answer.
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